Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Helianthus mollis

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 4′. Ashy Sunflower. Tallgrass prairie, Michigan to Ohio. The dense, soft hairs that cover the stems and clasping, broadly ovate leaves, give the whole plant an attractive, ashen grey appearance. The large individual blooms are a rich buttercup yellow, appearing from midsummer into early autumn over open, somewhat wide and spreading clumps. A widespread and drought tolerant native for a wild garden or an informal planting. Sun. 3 & T3

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Echinops tjanschanicus

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 5′.  A tall, imposing Globe Thistle from Kazakhstan and the mountains of Central Asia.  A vigorous, erect, clump-forming, architectural perennial with spiny, deeply-divided, grey-green leaves, white beneath, and rounded, thistle-like, violet-blue flowerheads in summer.  Both Echinops make great cut flowers.  Sun.  4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Cephalaria gigantea

Family: (Caprifoliaceae)

(P) to 6′. Giant Yellow Scabious. Caucasus to Siberia. Magnificent clumps of distinctive foliage, divided into oblong spear-shaped leaflets producing tall, wiry branching stems ending in masses of delightful primrose-yellow pincushion blooms. Blooms July to August. Moist, well-drained soil. Sun. 3 & T2 & Δ

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Aralia continentalis

Family: (Araliaceae)

(P) to 4′. Manchurian Spikenard. Clump-forming, architectural perennial with arching stems of alternate, bipinnate leaves. In midsummer, many terminal racemes of green flowers are soon followed by globose, blue-black fruit. Partial shade. Likes moisture. 3 & 7 for 4 months, then T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Angelica polymorpha

Family: (Apiaceae)

(P) to 6′. China. Exquisite, airy umbels of small, creamy white flowers and attractive lobed leaves. The flowering umbels look like a perfect firework display. A choice plant. Sun. 3 & 6

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Amsonia rigida

Family: (Apocynaceae)

(P) to 2′. Stiff Bluestar. Southern Georgia and Northern Florida. A smaller Amsonia with a distinctive, dark reddish purple colouration to its emerging stems contrasting beautifully with the shiny, leathery, elliptical leaves. Loose cymes of light blue, starry flowers. The outer flower tube is flushed a darker hue giving it more pizzazz. Surprisingly hardy given its southern origin. Moist, well drained sandy soil. Sun/partial shade. 3, 7 for 4 weeks, then T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Amsonia ciliata

Family: (Apocynaceae)

(P) to 20″. Narrow-Leaved Bluestar. This native of open sandy woodland and prairies from North Carolina to Missouri resembles a petite, more refined version of the Arkansas Bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii) with five-petalled, starry, periwinkle-blue flowers in early summer. The narrow, almost needle-like foliage turns a brilliant golden yellow in the fall. Dry, well-drained soil. Sun. 3 & 7 for 12 weeks, then T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Talinum paniculatum 'Aureum'

Family: (Portulacaceae)

(A) to 2.5′.  Jewels-of-Opar.  Southeast US to Central America.  Many slender flower stalks bear panicles of shiny, red-orange, three-part buds followed by tiny, rose-red, ¼-inch flowers containing 15 to 20 stamens.  Jewel-like, ruby-orange, rounded berries that eventually turn black.  The bright yellow-green, fleshy leaves make this a “must-have” in the yellow border.  Sun.  4 & T3

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Tripterygium regelii

Family: (Celastraceae)

Hardy vine to 30′. Regel’s Threewingnut. China, Manchuria and Korea. A sprawling, scandent, shrubby plant with small, white, green tinged flowers in large terminal panicles up to eight inches long. Produces green, three winged fruits that dry like the samaras of elm trees. Dark green, broadly rounded, alternate leaves. Notable as Beatrix Farrand’s favourite vine. Sun. PC- 4 weeks, 3 & T1

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Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Thermopsis villosa

Family: (Fabaceae)

(P) to 5′. Carolina Lupine. Southeastern United States. Tall spikes of bright-yellow, pea-like flowers over loose clumps of glaucous, softly downy foliage with three-part, clover-like elliptical leaflets. Blooms in early summer. Well-drained soil. Sun. 1 & 2B then 3 & T2