Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Astrantia major

Family: (Apiaceae)

(P) to 2.5′. Great Masterwort. Central and eastern Europe. No garden should be without this effortless and beautiful plant. Several greenish white, often blushed pink flowerheads each arranged in a dome with a “collar” of bracts. Dense clumps of divided basal foliage. Content in the flower garden or in the woodland. Summer blooming. Great in flower arrangements, too. Sun/partial shade. PC- 4 weeks. 4 & 7 for 4 weeks, then T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Darmera peltata

Family: (Saxifragaceae)

(P) to 4′. Umbrella Plant. Northern California and Oregon. Broad clusters of pale pink flowers appear in spring before the foliage fully emerges. Astonishing clumps of large, rounded, scalloped leaves on thick, hairy stems. A grand effect for a pond or bog garden; combines well with other moisture lovers such as Primulas and Ligularias. Blooms April to July. Moist to damp soil. Shade/partial shade. 4 & 7 for 4 weeks, then T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Glaucidium palmatum

Family: (Ranunculaceae)

(P) to 2′. Japan. Large-lobed, jagged leaves of fresh green are the background for the Poppy-like flowers of delicate lavender. A sight to behold in the middle of May. Cool seedpods follow. Moist soil. Partial shade. 3 & 7 & Δ

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Jeffersonia diphylla

Family: (Berberidaceae)

(P) to 18″ in flower. Jefferson’s Twinleaf. A native New Yorker. In early spring the emerging foliage is striking in shades of pinkish purple. The stems stay dark and the foliage unfurls into two, blue-green, kidney-shaped, lobed divisions. The eight-petalled, white, cup-shaped flowers face upwards and display a cooling light green centre and creamy yellow coloured stamens. Interesting pear-shaped seed pods with pointed hinged lids hold the shiny brown seeds. Moist woods. Partial shade/shade. 3 & T2 & Δ

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Kirengeshoma palmata

Family: (Hydrangeaceae)

(P) to 6′.  A Japanese dignitary.  Waxy, soft yellow flowers in late summer, leaves of clear green “…placed oppositely up the arching ebony stem.” (GST**).  Kirengeshoma is a star performer for us in the Woodland, Flower Garden and Himalayan Slope.  We love this plant.  Partial shade and good soil.  5 & T2

Open PDF

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Lathyrus vernus

Family: (Fabaceae)

(P) to 12″. Spring Pea. Europe. Purple, pea-like flowers bloom in profusion on this low-growing perennial pea. Foliage is pinnate, providing an almost ferny effect. Simply lovely. Partial shade. 2B & 3, D & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Primula veris

Family: (Primulaceae)

(P) to 12″. Cowslip. Terminal, nodding, one-sided clusters sport deep yellow, sweetly scented flowers with orange spotted throats that are housed in baggy, pale green calyces. Basal rosettes are softly hairy. Spring blooming. Moist soil. Partial shade. 4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Primula veris subsp. macrocalyx

Family: (Primulaceae)

(P) to 12″. Southern Russia through Central Asia. Very similar in flower to the common Cowslip, but a more robust plant with larger, baggier calyces. Thriving happily in our Woodland. Late spring blooming. Moist soil. Partial shade. 4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Salvia koyamae

Family: (Lamiaceae)

(P) to 2.5′. Japanese Yellow Sage. Most Salvias prefer sun, but this unique Salvia, prefers partial shade. Spikes of whorled, large, clear yellow, hooded and lipped flowers bloom nonstop from August until hit by a hard frost. The bold, arrow-shaped foliage makes a handsome groundcover. 4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Stylophorum diphyllum

Family: (Papaveraceae)

(P) to 18″. Celandine Poppy. Eastern North America. Terminal clusters of large, lemon-yellow, saucer-shaped blooms light up the woodland garden in May and June. The irregularly lobed, blue-green foliage with a soft, silvery underside is very handsome. Seed is held for months in pendulous, oblong, white to yellow pods covered in fine hairs. Self-sows. Moist, humus-rich soil. Shade/partial shade. 4 & T1