Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Persicaria orientalis (syn. Polygonum orientale)

Family: (Polygonaceae)

(A) to 7′. Kiss-Me-Over-The-Garden-Gate. Southeastern Asia and Australia. A spectacular, old-fashioned cottage garden favourite with lush, heart-shaped leaves and fast growing, stout, branching stems bearing in late summer flamboyant, arching, three to four inches long, pendulous, crimson-pink flower clusters. Makes an excellent cut flower too. Self-sows. Prefers moist, rich soil. Flowers from midsummer until frost. Direct sow or 3 & 7 for 3 weeks then T2.

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Reseda luteola

Family: (Resedaceae)

(A/B) to 5’. Dyer’s Rocket. Long, meandering, slender spikes of small, yellowish flowers top narrow, lance-shaped leaves. A dyer’s plant yielding flavone, used to colour textiles yellow. Long blooming and self-sows. We just love it. Sun. 4 & T2. Best in situ.

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Salvia farinacea

Family: (Lamiaceae)

(A) to 3′. Mealy Sage. Native to Texas and Mexico. Tubular, two-lipped, violet-blue flowers are densely congested in whorls along erect stems creating a 4″-8″ spike above the numerous grey-green, lance-shaped leaves. The common name is in reference to the mealy-white (sometimes purple) appearance of the sepals, which are covered with felted hairs. A long-bloomer. Sun/partial shade. 4 & T2

This seed is either sold out or unavailable

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Silene armeria

Family: (Caryophyllaceae)

(A) to 8″.  Sweet William Catchfly.  Europe.  Grey-green, glaucous leaves and loose clusters of tubular, bright rose-pink flowers with five notched petals.  Flowers profusely July through August.  A cheerful and easy self-sower.  An old fashioned beauty that is a mainstay in grandmother’s garden.  Sun.  3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Tinantia erecta

Family: (Commelinaceae)

(A) to 3.5′.  Widow’s Tears.  Mexico to South America.  This exotic beauty unfurls a host of sugar pink, three-petalled flowers all through the heat of summer.  Forms sturdy, upright clumps with fleshy, bright green, ribbed, lanceolate foliage.  Reliable self-sower in place.  Sun/partial shade.  4 & T3

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Verbena bonariensis

Family: (Verbenaceae)

(A/TP) to 5′.  South American Vervain.  A great “see-through” plant for the flower border.  Bristly, dark green, stiff stems have a few, three-inch long, clasping, lanceolate leaves.  Numerous, small, rosy purple, tufted flowers cluster in flat-topped cymes.  Blooms all summer.  Gently self-sows when happy.  Sun.  3, D & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Nonea lutea

Family: (Boraginaceae)

(A/B) to 10″. Yellow Monkswort. SW Asia, SW Russia. This early spring bloomer forms large mats of dark green, lanceolate leaves that are rough in texture with a peculiar pustulated surface. The primrose yellow, five-petalled flowers are borne in the leaf axils similar to Pulmonaria. A reliable self-sower. Sun. Best sown in situ or 3 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Agastache foeniculum

Family: (Lamiaceae)

Short-lived perennial to 3.5′.  Anise Hyssop.  A North American native with aromatic, anise-scented foliage.  Lavender-blue flowers appear in many-flowered verticillasters which are densely packed into showy, cylindrical, terminal flower spikes up to 6 inches long.  Mid-summer bloomer attractive to all pollinators. Self-sows.  Sun/partial shade.  4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Agrimonia eupatoria

Family: (Rosaceae)

(P) to 3′. Agrimony, Church Steeples. Europe. An ancient, domestic medicinal herb long used for the treatment of wounds and snakebites. This charming, long blooming garden flower has tall, slender spikes of bright yellow, five-petalled blooms. The fruit is burr-like with hooked bristles to aid dispersal by animals. The deep green, softly hairy, pinnately-divided leaves have silvery undersides. The entire plant is sweetly fragrant, especially the flowers, whose perfume is said to be reminiscent of ripe apricots. June to September. Well-drained soil. Sun. 3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Althaea cannabina

Family: (Malvaceae)

(P) 7′. Europe. A tall, wiry plant producing lavender-pink, cup-shaped blooms with darker central eyes in the leaf axils of slender, branching stems. The palmately lobed leaves are roughly pubescent with a greyish white underside. “The whole plant is light and graceful.” (GST**). Moist soil. Sun. 3 & T2