Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Pulsatilla ambigua

Family: (Ranunculaceae)

(P) to 12″. Siberia. Finely cut feathery foliage. Conspicuous, silvery, downy buds that open out into large, six-tepalled, velvety, iridescent blue-violet flowers. Central boss of bright yellow stamens surrounded by a ring of staminodes contrast beautifully with the petals. Attractive and persistent feathery seedheads to follow. Sun. 3 & T2 & Δ

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): Saxifraga cebennensis

Family: (Saxifragaceae)

(TP) to 7″.  Rare species found only in Cevennes region of southern France, where it adorns the steep limestone gorges with large, domed, dark green, “mossy” cushions.  Tight rosettes of curiously notched leaves smell distinctly of toast and jam.  Completely covered in May with rounded, pure white flowers on one-inch stems.  Easy to grow, but not fully hardy, needs the shelter of an alpine house against winter damp.  Sun.  5 & 7 for 4 weeks, then T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Isatis glauca

Family: (Brassicaceae)

(B/P) to 3-½’.  Woad.  Asia Minor to Iran.  A lovely, short-lived perennial with dense panicles of large, golden yellow, four-petalled flowers atop glabrous, blue-green, basal foliage.  Attractive blackish bronze, dangling, persistent, papery fruits to follow.  This plant was once the ancient world’s only source of blue dye.  Late spring/early summer.  Self-sows.  Well-drained soil.  Sun.  3 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Narcissus viridiflorus

Family: (Amaryllidaceae)

Tender bulb to 12″. Southwest Spain, Morocco. Grows in damp fields, blooming in autumn. Like the name suggests, this Narcissus has green flowers. Umbels of three to five slender-petalled, matte green, sweetly scented flowers are very petite and delicate. Extremely choice. Sun. 3 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Linaria purpurea 'Springside White'

Family: (Plantaginaceae)

(P) to 2′. Europe. A delightful white form of Toadflax. Slender racemes of glistening, pure white, spurred, snapdragon-like flowers. Attractive, narrow, silver-grey foliage. A fine cut flower and a perfect addition to the border. Sun. 4 & T3

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Puya mirabilis

Family: (Bromeliaceae)

(TP) to 5′. Argentina and Bolivia. Silvery-brown, finely toothed leaves. Delicate, three petalled, chartreuse-green flowers with golden anthers appear intermittently on stalks up to five feet tall. A very distinct looking Puya. Choice. Sun. 4 & T2, keep moist

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Lithospermum erythrorhizon

Family: (Boraginaceae)

(P) to 2.5′. Chinese or Red-rooted Gromwell. East Asia. A bristly or coarsely hairy, upright perennial with greyish green, lanceolate leaves. Terminal clusters of numerous, small, five-petalled, white flowers in midsummer are followed by white, shiny fruits along the dark stems.  Very cool.  The dried roots produce a purple dye and the entire plant has been used since ancient times for burns, cuts, and skin conditions in Chinese herbal medicine. Moist, well-drained soil. Sun/partial shade. 3 & T2 & Δ

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Clematis texensis

Family: (Ranunculaceae)

Hardy vine to 9′.  Scarlet Leatherflower.  Southwest US.  Urn-shaped flowers consist of four, thick, leather-like, rose-red to scarlet coloured tepals that recurve at the tip to reveal a paler interior.  Flowers are borne only on new growth and are held atop purple pedicels in axillary clusters of one to seven. The delicate foliage is a glaucous green and the ovate to rounded leaves with wavy margins enhance the charm of the flowers.  A mass of feathery balls of plumed achenes follows the floral display. At Stonecrop ours grows in a crevice on the Rock Ledge.  This is a very hardy and relatively drought tolerant Clematis.  A long bloomer from mid-summer through fall.  3 & 7 for 8 weeks, then T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Sisymbrium luteum (syn. Hesperis lutea)

Family: (Brassicaceae)

(P) to 4′. Japan and Korea. Forms a bushy clump of coarsely pilose, pinnate, grey-green foliage that freely produces dense, elongated racemes of four-petalled, pale yellow flowers in summer. Good for cutting. Well-drained soil. Sun/partial shade. 4 & T3