Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Rudbeckia triloba ‘Prairie Glow’

Family: (Asteraceae)

(B/P) to 4′.  Three-lobed Coneflower.  Central Eastern US.  A biennial or short-lived perennial selection which differs from the straight species with burgundy red stems and bicolour blooms. Self-sows in the Red/Orange/Yellow Bed of the Flower Garden where we can identify and sort them by their emerging reddish foliage. The branching stems hold on long to their two-inch wide blooms with rusty orange ray florets tipped with golden yellow surrounding a dark brown central cone.  Summer blooming.  Sun. 4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Ridolfia segetum

Family: (Apiaceae)

(A) to 4′.  False Fennel.  Mediterranean.  Similar to dill and fennel with lacy, finely divided, grey-green, aromatic foliage. Ridolfia sports many large compound umbels comprised of tiny, bright yellow-chartreuse flowers that give a frothy, airy appearance in our Pink/Chartreuse Bed.  Long blooming and great in flower arrangements.  Attractive to pollinators.  3 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Petunia integrifolia (syn. Petunia violacea)

Family: (Solanaceae)

(A/TP) to 2′.  Violet-Flowered Petunia.  Native to the Ecuador Highlands.  This species Petunia produces 1-inch magenta-purple, funnel-shaped, single flowers with darker throats.  Flowers continuously on long branching stems that can weave through neighbouring plants or be staked for a more upright presence. Enjoys summer heat and humidity in the garden but deadhead to keep the show alive.  Can overwinter easily indoors.  4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Dianthus armeria

Family: (Caryophyllaceae)

(A/B) to 2′.  Deptford Pink. Europe. This charmer has a very slender and delicate appearance.  The narrow leaves are widely spaced and paired along the stem.  At the ends of the stems are short-stalked or stalkless clusters of deep-pink flowers that are surrounded by erect, hairy, leaf-like bracts.  The flowers are comprised of five lanceolate petals, each with irregular serrated edges and small white spotting on the upper surface.  Self sows.  Sun.  4 & T2

 

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Consolida ajacis ‘Lilac Spire’

Family: (Ranunculaceae)

(A) to 3′.  A lovely Larkspur that comes true from seed for us each year.  The erect, dense spikes of rich, lilac blooms enhanced by the finely cut, delicate foliage make this treasure a “must-have” for the cottage garden.  Summer.  Self-sows.  Sun.  3 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Browallia americana 'Alba'

Family: (Solanaceae)

(A) to 2.5′.  Exactly like the above, but with pure white blooms.  Very beautiful.  Makes a stunning display along the edge of our White Bed.  Both the white and the blue self-sow for us.  Sun/partial shade.  4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Amaranthus caudatus var. gibbosus

Family: (Amaranthaceae)

(A) to 5′.  Dreadlocks Amaranth.  South America. This variant of Love Lies Bleeding will bring even higher drama to your garden. It is denser and more textured than the straight species.  The woolly, wine-coloured, tassel-like panicles develop through the season into knobby ropes that cascade nearly to the ground and may require staking due to their heaviness.  A prolific self-sower, this Amaranth emerges with warm days and thrives in summer heat and humidity. This variant is a prolific self-sower that typically stays true to its unique form. The colourful blooms can be used in dried arrangements. Sun. 3 & T3

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Ageratum houstonianum ‘Dondo White’

Family: (Asteraceae)

(A) to 2½’.  White Floss Flower.  Mexico and Central America.  This sturdy, taller Floss Flower sports rounded, loose clusters of many heads of white, five-lobed disc florets that float above the foliage.  En masse, the flowers create a soft fuzzy appearance and are attractive to butterflies, bees and other beneficials.  A. ‘Dondo White’ is a cultivated selection and therefore may result in some reversions to the straight species, which is blue, but we have found that most come through as white. The plants will self-sow, however for earlier blooms you may wish to start from seed indoors. We find that surface sowing in situ in our Flower Garden’s White Bed provides us with an excellent mid-to-late summer filler.  Full to part sun.  4 & T3

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Solidago bicolor

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 3′.  Silverrod.  Eastern North America.  An atypical Goldenrod that produces tiny, daisy-like flowers arranged in elongated, cylindrical clusters and have a striking appearance with white petals surrounding yellow disc florets.  So different than the more usual golden yellow clusters of the Goldenrod.  Blooming in late summer to early fall, the flower heads rise above basal rosettes of toothed, grey-green foliage.  This well-behaved native adapts well to most soil and light conditions.  Pollinators of all sorts are attracted to it and birds enjoy the seed.  Part to full sun.  4 & T2   

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Indigofera kirilowii

Family: (Fabaceae)

(P) to 3′.  Kirilow’s Indigo.  Korea, northern China, southern Japan.  A suckering deciduous subshrub featuring compound, pinnate, bright green leaves and rose-pink, pea-like flowers arranged in dense racemes. Graceful Wisteria-like blooms and fine-textured foliage make for a showy display from early to midsummer with intermittent rebloom through autumn.  The bright green foliage turns a golden yellow in fall.  Performs well in mixed borders or as a foundation plant.  Hard winters may kill stems to the ground, but the plant blooms reliably on new growth each season.  Sun.  2B & 3, D & T2