Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Inula ensifolia

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 18″. Swordleaf Inula. Eastern Europe. A sturdy little plant with narrow, stalkless 4″ leaves on erect branching stems carrying terminal, solitary golden yellow daisies. Very likable. Blooms mid-summer onwards. Sun. 4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Habranthus tubispathus (syn. Habranthus texanus)

Family: (Amaryllidaceae)

Tender bulb to 8″.  Rio Grande Copper Lily.  Argentina and Uruguay.  Flowers have a copper-coloured exterior and are golden yellow within.  The solitary, upward facing blooms are 1½ inches in length and about the same diameter when open.  Blooms in the spring, but often, there is another flush in the fall.  Leaves appear after flowering.  Sun.  3 & T2

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): 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): Halesia monticola var. vestita

Family: (Styracaceae)

Hardy tree to 60′. Mountain Silverbell. Southern Appalachia. Visitors to Stonecrop in early May always admire this beautiful tree in full bloom. A mass of pendulous, pink bells appear before the leaves fully emerge. Seed was collected from our specimen, which is var. vestita having larger, pink, bell flowers, whereas the species has white bells. Makes a choice understory tree. Rich, well-drained acidic soil. Well worth the wait. Sun/partial shade. 3 & 6

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Lepechinia hastata

Family: (Lamiaceae)

Tender subshrub to 6′. Americas. The specific epithet hastata is descriptive of the large, arrow-shaped, velvety grey-green leaves for which this tender subshrub is grown. Of equal value are the ten-inch long flower spikes adorned with numerous, one-inch long, rosy purple flowers of classic “Lamium-esque” form, sitting upon smoky purple pedicels. A striking specimen for a sunny spot in your home. Blooms on and off throughout the year. Sun. 4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Centaurium scilloides

Family: (Gentianaceae)

(P) to 6″ . Perennial Centaury. Europe. This charmer has neat tufts of small, dark green, pointed, glossy leaves. Erect stems carry clear pink, five-petalled flowers with prominent yellow anthers in dense clusters. Blooms late summer. Short-lived but self-sows gently. Sun/partial shade.  3 & T1 & Δ

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Aquilegia viridiflora

Family: (Ranunculaceae)

(P) to 12″. Eastern Siberia to Northwest China. This unique Columbine has long, spurred petals of a deep, purplish brown colour and smaller, shorter sepals that are a definite green. Prominent, yellow central cone of pistils and stamens add a nice contrast. Tight clumps of basal foliage are biternate and a finely pubescent, bluish green, with the nodding, fragrant flowers held on short, sturdy, upright stems. Whilst like all Columbines, a relatively short-lived perennial, this one has a distinctive appeal. Sun/partial shade. 4 & T2

This seed is either sold out or unavailable

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Polygonatum giganteum

Family: (Asparagaceae)

(P) to 7′. Giant Solomon’s Seal. Statuesque and unmistakable. This spectacular giant is similar to Polygonatum biflorum in everything but size. Bell-shaped, greenish white, tubular flowers hang from the tall arching stems in early summer with the dark blue berries following in fall. Moist soil. Shade/partial shade. 3 & 6

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Astilbe chinensis var. davidii

Family: (Saxifragaceae)

(P) to 6′. China and Japan. A tall and spectacular Astilbe. Late to bloom, but when the erect, branched, tapering panicles of rosy-purple blooms appear in late summer, it is well worth the wait. The foliage is attractive too with dense, sturdy clumps of serrated leaflets that emerge a gorgeous coppery bronze in the spring before turning a lustrous, dusty dark green. August. Moist soil. Sun/partial shade. 4 & T1