Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Sanguisorba officinalis

Family: (Rosaceae)

(P) to 6′.  Great Burnet.  A tall, airy herb with a mass of ¾-inch maroon drumsticks.  Basal leaves have dark green, glossy leaflets.  Quite a sight growing through our purple fennel.  We love it in the herb garden and in the flower garden.  Easy to grow in moist, rich soil.  Blooms June to October.  Sun.  3 & T2 & Δ

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Scrophularia nodosa

Family: (Scrophulariaceae)

(P) to 3′. Common Figwort. Europe. Dainty brown flowers are surrounded by green sepals on racemes in branched terminal clusters. Leaves are entire, ovate, and acute. A good plant for sun/partial shade. Self-sows. 3 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Scutellaria altissima

Family: (Lamiaceae)

(P) to 3′. Soaring Skullcap. Southeast Europe, Caucasus. Bushy perennial with light green, serrated, slightly downy, oval leaves. Numerous, one-sided racemes of many, pale blue, tubular, lipped flowers. A welcome presence in our Gravel Garden. Well-drained soil. Sun/partial shade. 3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Senna marilandica (syn. Cassia marilandica)

Family: (Caesalpiniaceae)

(P) to 6′.  Southern Wild Senna.  Eastern North America.  Very similar to the above, the flowers of Senna marilandica have styles with short appressed hairs, while the flowers of Senna hebecarpa have styles with long spreading hairs.  Southern Wild Senna, because its range doesn’t extend as far north as a closely related species, Senna hebecarpa (Wild Senna). Blooms from July to September.  Well-drained soil.  Sun/partial shade.  1 & 3 & T3

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Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Sium sisarum

Family: (Apiaceae)

(P) to 3′. Skirret, Ratbait. Europe to East Asia. Aromatic, shiny leaves with three to eleven leaflets that are lanceolate and toothed. Umbels of small, white flowers with involucral bracts. Long-blooming. Moist soil. Sun. 3 & 6

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Teucrium hircanicum

Family: (Lamiaceae)

(P) to 2′. Wood Sage. This native of Persia has orchid-purple, hooded flowers with bell-shaped bracts that bloom on stiff spikes throughout summer. Aromatic, bright green leaves are ovate, notched, and puckered. Moist soil. Sun. 3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Thalictrum lucidum

Family: (Ranunculaceae)

(P) to 5′. Shining Meadow Rue. Europe to temperate Asia. A Thalictrum with a neat twist. Shiny, angular, dark blue-green leaves have a geometric look to them. The soft, fluffy, creamy yellow panicles of flowers are quite unique. A long, summer bloomer. Sun/partial shade. 3 & T1 & Δ

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Verbascum chaixii

Family: (Scrophulariaceae)

(P) to 4′. Nettle-leaved Mullein. Europe and Russia. Numerous yellow flowers with violet stamens bloom in panicles. Grey-green, felted, and corrugated leaves form basal rosettes. Midsummer. Sun. 4 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Yucca filamentosa

Family: (Asparagaceae)

(P) to 6’+.  Adam’s Needle.  A native of Southeastern North America.  Architectural, strap-like, sharply pointed, blue-green foliage with white, thread filaments curling along the leaf margins.  In late spring, a flowering stalk that looks like a gigantic Asparagus spear, rises from the center of each rosette.  Long, conical panicle of nodding, bell-shaped, glossy, creamy white, fragrant flowers are long-lasting.  Fruits are elliptical dehiscent capsules.  Yuccas will form a small colony over time from basal offsets.  One of Miss Jekyll’s favourite accent plants, and ours too.  Well-drained soil.  Sun.  3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Carex muskingumensis

Family: (Cyperaceae)

(P) to 2′.  Palm Sedge.  Western North America.  A trouble-free sedge that thrives at the edge of our Rock Ledge.  Ribbed, ½-inch-wide leaf blades are pale green.  Dense seedheads are persistent and attractive.  Sun.  4 & T2