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): 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): 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): 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): Kirengeshoma palmata Koreana Group

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): Jeffersonia dubia

Family: (Berberidaceae)

(P) to 12″. Manchuria. Asian species of our own native Twinleaf. Large cup-shaped, blue-lavender, six-petalled flowers transform into cupped seed capsules with lids. Bright green, kidney shaped leaves are bi-lobed and rounded though not fully divided, like J. diphylla. Moist woods. April to May. Part shade/shade. 3 & T2 & Δ

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.  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): 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): Aruncus aethusifolius

Family: (Rosaceae)

(P) to 12″. A miniature Goat’s Beard from Korea. Bright green, finely dissected foliage forms a thick, lacy carpet. Small, dense, branched spikes of Astilbe-like, tiny, creamy flowers appear in summer. Foliage turns a beautiful burgundy in fall. Partial shade. 4 & T1