Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Boehmeria platanifolia

Family: (Urticaceae)

Perennial to 3′. Asian False Nettle. China, Japan, Korea. A subtle and unique plant for the woodland garden. The large, apple-green leaves have deeply serrated edges and are covered with tiny hairs, giving the plant an overall soft glow. The opposite leaves attach to the sturdy stems with contrasting red petioles. The leaves, in orderly pairs, are aligned at 90° to the pairs above and below.  Tannish-green tassel, catkin-like flowers emerge from the branch tips in August and continue to droop into the fall.  Partial shade.  3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Hosta sieboldiana var. elegans

Family: (Asparagaceae)

(P) to 3′. “…most sumptuous of all the Hostas.” (GST**).  Huge, broad, glaucous, heavily textured, bluish green leaves form magnificent, stately clumps that add accent and poise to the woodland garden.  The pale lilac-white flowers appear in early to midsummer, though they barely emerge from beneath the foliage.  3 & T3, then it may need 40º for 2-3 months.

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Lychnis viscaria subsp. atropurpurea

Family: (Caryophyllaceae)

(P) to 18″. Balkan’s Catchfly. This striking Catchfly has reddish purple marked leaves, purplish stems, and 10-inch panicles of deep purple, five-petalled flowers. Eye-catching.  Late spring. Sun. 4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Kirengeshoma palmata Koreana Group (syn. Kirengeshoma koreana)

Family: (Hydrangeaceae)

 

(P) to 4′.  A Korean dignitary.  Large, sharply lobed, maple-like leaves in opposite pairs display a handsome silvery pubescence when emerging in spring.  The foliage provides interest through late summer when the flowers emerge.  Pale yellow, waxy, five-petalled flowers are borne on a stiffly upright inflorescence.  Blooms a bit earlier than K. palmata.   A “must-have.”  Prefers partial shade.  5 & T2

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): Hypericum buckleyi

Family: (Hypericaceae)

Dwarf shrub to 6″. Blue Ridge St. John’s Wort from the mountains of North Carolina and Georgia. Small, golden yellow flowers with five reflexed petals and a central tuft of prominent stamens adorn the branch tips of this low, spreading alpine shrublet. Small bluish green, elliptical leaves have paler undersides and turn a nice reddish colour in the autumn. Summer blooming. Moist, well-drained soil. 4 & 7 for 4 weeks then T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Draba hispanica

Family: (Brassicaceae)

(P) to 3″. Spain. Mounding cushion plant with tufted, dark green, needle-like leaves. Silver-grey in colour. Yellow, four-petalled flowers appear on small, three-inch flower stalks in early spring. Sun. 3 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Aquilegia flabellata var. pumila f. rosea

Family: (Ranunculaceae)

(P) to 6″. Fan Columbine.  A Japanese garden treasure with short-spurred, pale pink, nodding flowers in spring.  Biternate to triternate, blue-green foliage is somewhat suggestive of meadow rue.  The leaflets of this species are rounded and fan-shaped, hence the common name.  Adorable.  Sun. 4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Draba bruniifolia

Family: (Brassicaceae)

(P) to 4″.  Caucasus to Turkey.  An excellent and carefree Draba for the rock garden or trough.  The slender, hairy leaves form a nice mound of stiff, woolly rosettes. In early spring, corymbs of small, showy, four-petalled, bright yellow flowers rise just above the tight green mat and last for weeks.  Full sun in well-drained soil.  3 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Ramonda myconi 'Rosea'

Family: (Gesneriaceae)

(P) to 6″. Shade lover from the Pyrenees. The classic R. myconi boasts flowers in shades of lilac while this form is pure pink. Deep green, broad, rough, very crinkled leaves form a flat rosette that persists year round. Likes to grow on north-facing vertical cliffs or in a cool crevice. 4 & T1