Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Ammobium altatum

Family: (Asteraceae)

(A) to 3′.  Winged Everlasting.  Although a perennial in Australia, we treat this tender perennial as an annual.  The pure white, stiff, papery ray florets are short and layered and surround bright yellow, central discs. Unusual greyish green stems are flat and winged along the edges.  Flowers are in abundance throughout the season.  An interesting and easy to grow annual that dries beautifully.  Sun. 3 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Penstemon hirsutus

Family: (Plantaginaceae)

(P) to 2′.  Hairy Beard-Tongue.  A very hardy Penstemon that is native to eastern North America.  Lovely, dusky, pale purple flowers with white lobes add a subtle presence to the spring garden.  Leaves are lanceolate and acute.  Both leaves and stems are covered by very fine hairs.  Sun/partial shade. 3 & 6 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Cerinthe major 'Purpurascens'

Family: (Boraginaceae)

(A) to 2′.  Honeywort.  Mediterranean.  Fleshy, blue-green leaves with white mottling, spiral up the stem, gradually turning to purple.  Colourful bracts surround clusters of small, rich purple-blue, tubular, nodding flowers with cream interiors.  Simply lovely.  Sun.  3 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Salvia coccinea 'Brenthurst'

Family: Lamiaceae

(A/TP) to 2.5′.  A cool-coloured cousin of the red bedding Salvia with numerous spikes of bicoloured,  lipped blooms.  The pale whitish pink upper hoods and three lobed, deeper pink lower lips contrast nicely against the dark tinted calyces and stems.  Blooms late summer and lasts until frost.  Sun. 4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Nepeta parnassica

Family: (Lamiaceae)

(P) to 5′.  Tall Greek Catmint.  Albania and Greece.  Truly the biggest and most impressive Catmint we have ever seen.  Although native to the dry, rocky meadows of the Balkan Peninsula it seems to luxuriate and thrive in our fertile garden soil.  The strong, upright stems bear fragrant, greyish green foliage and produce dense whorls of rich lavender-blue flowers in crowded, elongated spikes.  This is a “sturdy item,” that does not need to be cut back halfway through the season.  Blooms mid-summer onwards and will add stature, colour, and fragrance to the late summer garden.  Sun, well-drained soil.  4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Helenium autumnale

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 5′.  Sneezeweed.  Eastern North America.  A plant of swamps and wet meadows.  The branching sprays of warm, golden yellow daisies have prominent yellow centres and distinctive, reflexed, notched petals.  The lance-shaped leaves are decurrent, extending down the stiff, branched stems, giving them a noticeable “winged” appearance.  The dried leaves were once used as snuff, hence the name.  Blooms late August through September.  Prefers moist or wet soil.  Sun.  3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Francoa sonchifolia

Family: Melianthaceae

(TP) to 2-½’.  Wedding Flower.  Chile.  In mid-summer, graceful, long-lasting, unbranched stems bear compact racemes of dark pink buds.  The buds open into soft pink flowers with darker pink markings.  Deeply lobed, spoon-shaped leaves form attractive, evergreen rosettes.  Best grown in pots for outdoor display and overwintered in a cool greenhouse.  Moist, well-drained soil.  Sun/partial shade.  4 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Francoa ramosa

Family: (Melianthaceae)

(TP) to 3′.  Bridal Wreath.  A native plant of Chile that Miss Jekyll loved to grow in pots to enhance her summer display on the terrace.  Many slender spikes of sessile flowers rise above scalloped, deep green basal foliage.  The four petalled flowers are of the palest pink flushed white.  Early summer bloomer.  Follow Miss Jekyll’s lead, grow it in a pot, display outdoors and overwinter in a cool greenhouse.  Moist, well-drained soil.  Sun/partial shade.  4 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Eucomis zambesiaca

Family: Asparagaceae

Tender bulb to 12″.  South Africa.  Narrow racemes of open, creamy white flowers.  The first Eucomis to bloom, producing flower spikes as early as late spring.  Easy to grow.  Sun.  3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Centaurea phrygia

Family: Asteraceae

(P) to 4′.  Wig Knapweed.  Europe – meadows, field margins and open woods.  A sparsely hairy to roughly textured perennial that combines well with informal plantings of ornamental grasses.  The purplish lilac flowers have long, obliquely funnel-shaped, deeply divided, upward sweeping, outer ray florets; the central disc florets are smaller and tubular.  Leaves are alternate, short-stalked and broadly lanceolate, with a regularly toothed margin.  Sun.  3 & T2

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