Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Asclepias purpurascens

Family: (Apocynaceae)

(P) to 4′.  Purple Milkweed.  Northeast and Central United States.  Large, dark, rosy-purple umbels on a tough, reliable plant now sadly rarely found in the wild.  Broadly elliptical, grey-green foliage.  An important butterfly plant that is a good non-invasive substitute for Common Milkweed.  Very showy.  Flowers July through August.  Moist, well-drained soil.  Sun.  4 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Francoa appendiculata

Family: (Francoaceae)

(TP) to 2-½’.  Maiden’s Wreath. Chile. From an evergreen basal rosette of crinkled, wavy-edged, dark green foliage emerge graceful flowering spikes of bell shaped, shell pink flowers marked with delicate red stripes.  Excellent in a pot outdoors for a summer display then overwinter in a cool greenhouse.  Summer blooming.  Moist, well-drained soil.  Sun/partial shade. 4 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Patrinia monandra

Family: Caprifoliaceae

(P) to 4′.  Golden Lace.  China to Taiwan.  A showy, clump-forming perennial with five-petalled, yellow-green flowers borne on dense, upright, branched, flat-topped clusters.  As the flowers fade, the bleached, flat seed heads provide an extended period of interest lasting through late summer.  Basal, dark green, lobed foliage with crenate margins.  An uncommon, stunning species great for the flower garden.  Sun to part shade.  3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Primula japonica 'Alba'

Family: (Primulaceae)

(P) to 18″.  A candleabra-like inflorescence of tiered white blossoms arranged in whorls along the stem.  Leaves are sphathulate, quite long and irregularly toothed.  A spring-blooming charmer for the woodland or pond edge.  Moist soil.  Partial shade.  4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Azorina vidalii

Family: (Campanulaceae)

(TP) to 18″.  Azores Bellflower.  Azores.  Particularly interesting for the cool greenhouse. Thick fleshy deep green leaves give rise to a candelabra of two-inch waxy, dusky pink bells. Sun. 4 & T3

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Pimpinella major 'Rosea'

Family: (Apiaceae)

(P) to 3′.  Greater Burnet Saxifrage.  A gorgeous pink flowered form of this European native.  Airy, arching, delicate umbels of pale pink are held above a leafy basal rosette of serrated, fern-like foliage.  Summer blooming.  Sun/partial shade.  Moist, well-drained soil.  4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Pycnanthemum pilosum

Family: (Lamiaceae)

(P) to 3′.  Hairy Mountain Mint.  Eastern and Central US.  This herbaceous perennial branches frequently to create a slender bushy appearance with flowers appearing in both terminal and axillary clusters.  The stems are light green, 4-angled, densely pubescent on all sides (giving an overall grey appearance), and very aromatic when bruised.  The upper stems terminate in branching flowerheads that are flat-topped, spanning up to one inch across.  The typical mint-like flowers are hooded and lipped with purple specks and dots scattered across its throat and the lobes of its lips.  The nectar-rich flowers are very attractive to many native pollinators.  A good candidate for the white garden.  Sun.  4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Clematis serratifolia

Family: (Ranunculaceae)

Hardy vine to 9′.  Korean Clematis.  A graceful Clematis with ovate to lanceolate, serrated leaves that sets forth a succession of soft yellow, nodding bells with violet stamens.  The flowers have a delicate lemon scent and bloom from August to October.  An added delight is the fluffy, white, snowball seed heads that cover the plant until winter. A stunning beauty for the late summer garden.  Sun/partial shade.  3 & 7 for 8 weeks, then T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Dianthus knappii

Family: (Caryophyllaceae)

(B/P) to 16″.  A unique, yellow flowered Dianthus native to scrubby hillsides and dry, grassy meadows in the Western Balkans.  Dense, terminal clusters of soft lemon yellow flowers on slender, nodding stems.  Loose, grassy clumps of narrow, pale green foliage.  A short-lived perennial that often dies after blooming, best treated as biennial.  Blooms in midsummer.  Well-drained soil.  Sun/partial shade.  4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Leonotis menthifolia

Family: (Lamiaceae)

(TP) to 2′.  Mint-leaved Lion’s Ear.  South Africa.  Vibrant, warm orange, tubular flowers are held in whorls.  Small, serrated leaves have a pungent, spicy fragrance, reminiscent of Agastache.  A long blooming, compact Lion’s Ear perfect for containers.  Overwinter in a frost-free conservatory.  Summer through to fall.  Sun.  4 & T2