Category: Rarium | Sub-Category: Annuals for Sun
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
Category: Rarium | Sub-Category: Perennials for Sun
Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Sanguisorba obtusa 'Chatto'
Family: (Rosaceae)
(P) to 4′. Japanese Burnet. An elegant plant with striking, blue-grey, toothed, pinnate foliage which is sparsely topped with white bottle brush flowers. A reliable and beautiful performer that is admired more for the foliage than flower. Midsummer. Sun. 3 & T2 & Δ
Category: Rarium | Sub-Category: Perennials for Sun
Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Centaurea macrocephala
Family: (Asteraceae)
(P) to 3′. Great Golden Knapweed. Caucasus. A large, leafy, robust plant bearing sturdy stems topped with incredible, rich golden yellow, hemispherical, thistle-like blooms. The fringed, rusty brown coloured involucre of bracts is very prominent and persists. Midsummer. Makes excellent dried cut flowers. Sun. 3, D & T2
This seed is either sold out or unavailable
Category: Rarium | Sub-Category: Perennials for Sun
Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Echinops exaltatus
Family: (Asteraceae)
(P) to 6′. Tall Globe Thistle. Eastern Europe to Russia. Globular flowerheads composed of numerous, tiny, pale blue florets. Flowerheads to 2-½ inches in diameter stand tall on sturdy, downy-white stems and mature into dense, prickly seedheads. The bold, greyish green, thistle-like foliage forms an impressive clump. This summer-to-fall bloomer is a magnet for bees, hoverflies and butterflies. Sun. 4 & T2
Category: Rarium | Sub-Category: Perennials for Sun
Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Campanula punctata f. albiflora
Family: (Campanulaceae)
(P) to 2′. A midsummer bloomer with pendulous, tubular bells to two inches long, white with a pink blush on the outside of the petals. Inside the bells are many crimson flecks and fine white hairs. Flowers appear in terminal racemes at the ends of two feet long, branched, flower stalks. Charming and in full bloom for the 4th of July. Sun/partial shade. 4 & T2
Category: Rarium | Sub-Category: Perennials for Sun
Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Digitalis parviflora
Family: (Plantaginaceae)
(P) to 2′. Spanish Foxglove. This is a true perennial species of Foxglove, native to the mountains of northern Spain. Plants form a rosette of dark, deeply veined, green leaves bearing in early summer, tightly packed spikes of small, rusty orange-red to chocolate brown flowers on stiff, leafy, upright stems. Eye-catching. Well-drained soil. Sun. 4 & T2
Category: Rarium | Sub-Category: Perennials for Sun
Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Paeonia ostii
Family: (Paeoniaceae)
(P) to 5′. Osti’s Tree Peony. China. Named for Dr. Gian Lupo Osti, President of the International Dendrological Society. This woody peony is very floriferous with six-inch wide, sweetly fragrant, pure-white flowers with ruffled edges. In the centre of the flower is a cluster of pistils with prominent red stigmas surrounded by a mass of stamens with yellow anthers and pink filaments. When the petals drop, the big, fleshy receptacle is exposed with a green, drooping calyx and fat fruits/carpels with the still-prominent red stigmas, all together resembling a court jester’s hat. The attractive, medium green foliage is deeply divided into oval to lance-shaped leaflets on red petioles and is good-looking throughout the season. A real show-stopper in our Order Beds. Sun/partial shade. 3 & 6A
Category: Rarium | Sub-Category: Perennials for Sun
Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Clematis heracleifolia
Family: (Ranunculaceae)
(P) to 3′. This herbaceous, non-climbing clematis can be found in the blue/lavender/grey bed of the Flower Garden. The individual florets are tight, blue, and reminiscent of Hyacinth blooms, opening wide to expose pale centres and numerous cream stamens. Silvery, fluffy seedheads provide later beauty. Pleasantly fragrant. Full sun to partial shade in cool, moist soil. 3 & 7 for 8 weeks, then T2
Category: Rarium | Sub-Category: Perennials for Sun
Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Silphium terebinthinaceum
Family: (Asteraceae)
(P) to 6′. The Prairie Dock. Tall stems of yellow daisies. The giant leaves can reach three feet in length. Rough, flat, dark green and extremely handsome leaves. Fabulous foliage plant. Sun. 3 & T2