Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Geranium macrorrhizum

Family: (Geraniaceae)

(P) to 18″. South Europe. An attractive, tough, and easy plant to grow in the flower border or woodland. Palmately lobed leaves are sticky and highly aromatic and contain geranium oil, used in perfumery and pot-pourri. White, pink or magenta flowers bloom from spring throughout summer. Gradually spreads to form an effective, attractive groundcover with reddish bronze colouration in fall. Sun/partial shade. 3 & T1

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Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Hesperis matronalis

Family: (Brassicaceae)

(B/P) to 4′. Dame’s Rocket. Eurasia. Purple, notched, four-petalled flowers in racemes bloom in May, then sporadically through the summer. Lightly scented at night. Naturalized along roadsides. We love this “old-fashioned faithful.” Sun/partial shade. 4 & T3

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Hesperis steveniana

Family: (Brassicaceae)

(B/P) to 3′. Damask Violet. Rarely seen nowadays is this choice plant from Asia Minor. Attractive, grey-green foliage and branching stems bearing innumerable, slender spikes of scented, pale lilac-purple, four-petalled flowers from early summer onwards. Very fragrant. Useful for cutting. Sun/partial shade. 4 & T3

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Heuchera villosa var. macrorhiza

Family: (Saxifragaceae)

(P) to 2′. Giant Maple-leaved Alumroot. Appalachia. Lush clumps of large, fuzzy, sharply pointed, palmately lobed, apple-green leaves are topped with airy sprays of small, creamy white flowers. Blooms late summer and well into fall. A most welcome sight at the end of the season. Moist, well-drained soil. Sun/partial shade. 4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Inula magnifica

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 6′. A good tough plant that is native to the Caucasus. Vivid, deep yellow, spidery daisies with golden centres add a bold presence in the border. Broad, rough foliage clasps the stem. Magnifique. Sun. 4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Isatis praecox

Family: (Brassicaceae)

(B/P) to 4′. Early Woad. We obtained original seed from Glasnevin Botanic Garden, Dublin. We have grown this plant for many years and do not see any significant difference between I. praecox and I. tinctoria. We speculate that it blooms earlier than I. tinctoria. I. praecox is a lovely early summer perennial offering sprays of yellow, four-petalled blooms atop deep green, basal foliage. Self-sows. Sun. 3 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Lathyrus niger

Family: (Fabaceae)

(P) to 3′. Black Pea. Racemes of purple-lilac, lipped flowers. Compound foliage, slightly yellow-green in colour with small, rounded leaflets. A delicately textured plant which nestles in amongst many other plants in our Garden. Sun.  2B & 3, D & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Leonurus sibiricus

Family: (Lamiaceae)

(B) to 6′. Chinese Motherwort. Native to Northeast China and Korea. A huge, imposing presence, each of the branching stems is heavy with small, pale pink, tubular blooms in dense, axillary whorls. Pinnately divided, dark green leaves are deeply veined. An ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine. Summer bloom. Small black nutlets follow. Bizarre and beautiful. Sun. 4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Ligularia dentata

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 4′.  China, Japan.  Orange, branched, daisy-type flowers.  Dark reddish or plain green foliage with toothed leaf margins, some more deeply toothed than others.  A welcomed sight en masse in the latter half of summer.  Likes moisture.  Sun, partial shade.  4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Ligularia stenocephala

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 4′. Native to Japan and northern China. With these variable plants, expect rounded or triangular jagged leaves, light or dark foliage and stems, and spikes of yellow florets. You can’t go wrong. Summer. Moist soil. Sun/partial shade. 4 & T2