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): Stachys macrantha

Family: (Lamiaceae)

(P) to 2.5′. Caucasus. One to covet. Wavy-edged, dark green foliage and spikes of purplish pink, hooded, lipped flowers. Excellent in the border. Sun/partial shade. 3 & T2

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

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Vernonia altissima

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 8′. Tall Ironweed. Eastern North America. Loose, flattened clusters of thistle-like, purple flowers atop towering stems. Large irregularly toothed and pointed leaves. Not for the faint of heart! Blooms from late summer into autumn. Moist soil. Sun/partial shade.  3 & T1 for 3 months, then T2

 

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Sedum middendorfianum

Family: (Crassulaceae)

(P) to 8″.  Chinese Mountain Stonecrop.  East Siberia to North China.  A non-stop performer in all seasons.  Narrow, spathulate, leathery, deep green leaves with toothed tips whorl around showy red stems.  In early summer, the dense, semi-evergreen mats support multitudes of five-petalled, bright flowers ranging in colour from yellow to fiery orange-red.  Seedheads dry to a beautiful deep maroon, persisting for the remainder of the season, atop the spectacular autumn foliage show in brilliant shades of red.  One of our favourite, most reliable plants for the well-drained, full-sun garden.  4 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Antennaria dioica 'Minima'

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 3″. Half the size of regular Pussy-toes, this adorable little carpeting perennial is at home in the sunny rock garden, alpine trough or growing between stepping stones. It forms a flat mat of tiny silver edged, grey-green leaves. Short stems with tight terminal clusters of buds that resemble the toes of a cat, open to papery white flowers with a pinkish tinge. A billowing cloud of fluffy seedheads follows. Blooms in late spring. A tough and useful plant. Well-drained soil and sun. 3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Incarvillea arguta

Family: (Bignoniaceae)

(A,TP) to 2′. Himalayan Gloxinia. China. Bobbing, pale pink, fluted flowers bloom throughout the summer. Attractive glossy, lacy foliage too. Produces many persistent, long, slender, leathery, seedpods. Alas, not hardy for us. We lift ours for the winter and well worth the effort. Well-drained soil. 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): Lunaria annua ‘Rosemary Verey’

Family: (Brassicaceae)

(B) to 3′. A rare variety of the Honesty or Money Plant with deep purple, irregularly marked and margined heart-shaped leaves which are topped with branching stems of four-petalled, bright purple-magenta flowers. The unique purple, papery seed cases are an added delight and great in dried arrangements. Spring. Sun/partial shade. 3 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Mirabilis dichotoma

Family: (Nyctaginaceae)

(TP) to 3.5′. Mexico. An old-fashioned favourite, in cultivation since at least 1640, but now rarely seen. Forms bushy clumps of dark green, heart-shaped leaves with many yellow, trumpet-shaped blooms all summer long. We dig up the tuber and store like Dahlias. Sun/partial shade. 4 & T3