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): Erinus alpinus var. albus

Family: (Plantaginaceae)

(P) to 4″. White Fairy Foxglove.  C & S Europe.  An adorable alpine. Evergreen mats are covered in spring with crisp, white, notched, hooded flowers in terminal racemes. A low maintenance rock garden classic. Sun 4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Rodgersia pinnata 'Elegans'

Family: (Saxifragaceae)

(P) to 4′.  A native of China.  Pinnate leaves of a rusty bronze-green are attractive in the garden throughout the growing season and into the fall.  This special cultivar offers branched, arching panicles of flowers with pinkish calyces and numerous white stamens giving the appearance of an overall froth of pinkish cream blossoms.  A delightful sight in summer.  Partial shade, moist soil.  5 & T2

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

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

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

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

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

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