Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Saxifraga crustata var. vochinensis

Family: (Saxifragaceae)

(P) to 6″. East Alps, North and Central Balkans. Forms a tight bun of minute foliage encrusted with white lime deposits. Panicles of tiny, white flowers which occasionally have purple markings at their base, are held on four-inch stems. A “must” for the rock garden. Sun/partial shade. 5 & 7 for 4 weeks then T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Saxifraga exarata subsp. moschata

Family: (Saxifragaceae)

(P) foliage to 6″, flowers to 12″. Mossy Saxifrage.  Mountains of Central and South Europe, Caucasus.  Undulating hummocks of mossy, dense, three-cleft leaves. Wiry stems with sprays of creamy white flowers.  An incredible sight on our Rock Ledge in May . Moist soil.  Sun.  5 & 7 for 4 weeks then T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Scabiosa lucida

Family: (Caprifoliaceae)

(P) to 15″. A petite Pincushion Flower. Central Europe. In late spring, light blue, dense heads are surrounded by bristly, involucral bracts. Deep green, pinnatifid foliage forms a basal rosette. Perfect for the rock garden. Self-sows. Well-drained soil. Sun. 3 & T2 & Δ

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Veronica spicata 'Corymbosa'

Family: (Plantaginaceae)

(P) to 9″. Many-Spiked Speedwell. Many dense spikes of deep blue, star-shaped flowers complement the dark green, toothed foliage. A long bloomer. Sun. 3 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Chasmanthe bicolor

Family: (Iridaceae)

Tender bulb to 3′. Two Colour Cobra Lily. A choice South African bulb to cheer your winter blues. Emerging from dormancy in late fall, the silky, sword-shaped leaves arranged in a fan, precede the hot-coloured blooms in mid-winter. The blooms are alternately arranged on a long raceme, which is laden with the eye-catching, six-petalled, tubular flowers that are up to 3 inches long and feature orange-scarlet upper and lateral tepals. The three, greenish yellow, lower tepals are fused forming a cylindrical perianth tube containing valuable nectar. Sun. 3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Corydalis wilsonii

Family: (Papaveraceae)

(TP) to 12”. A rosette of glaucous, blue-green, pinnate leaves, holding upright racemes of green-tipped, yellow flowers. Fantastic and an easy pot plant. Sun. 4 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Dodonaea viscosa 'Purpurea'

Family: (Sapindaceae)

Tender Shrub to 10′. Hopbush. New Zealand. An attractive, evergreen shrub with elliptical, wavy margined, aromatic, purple-bronze leaves. The flowers, though small, produce an abundance of winged, papery, hop-like fruits. Grown widely throughout the tropics and was used for brewing beer by early European settlers. Foliage may turn lighter green in winter or if not grown in full sun. Makes a striking conservatory plant. 3 & T3

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Dregea sinensis

Family: (Apocynaceae)

(TP to 9′).  We grow this fabulous vine in a pot in our Pit House.  Here, it twines around upright supports and runs along the eaves.  In June, sweetly scented, waxy, white-blushed, pale pink clusters of flowers hang down from above.  Native of China and used to be known as Wattakaka sinensis.  Shame about the name change.  What a treasure.  Sun.  3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Habranthus robustus

Family: (Amaryllidaceae)

Tender bulb to 8″. Rain Lily. A native of Argentina and South Brazil. The three-inch, Lily-like flowers, two per stem, are a blushed pink with darker veining and a green throat. Narrow, strap-like foliage. Grow Habranthus on a cool windowsill in well-drained soil. Easy. Sun. 3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Heimia salicifolia

Family: (Lythraceae)

Tender shrub to 10′.  Willow-leaved Heimia, Elixir of the Sun.  South US, C & S America.  This unusual plant has many slender, woody stems that are densely covered in mostly opposite, narrow, linear, green leaves.  Small flowers have six, bright yellow, somewhat wrinkled, roundly obovate petals.  The petals are attached to the rim of the tube-shaped floral cup with 12 stamens inserted low in the cup.  The flowers arise from the leaf axils and bloom in profusion all summer.  This plant is very accommodating – in the spring we plant it in our Flower Garden and Order Beds then dig it up in the fall.  It never skips a beat.  4 & T2