Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Hypericum ascyron

Family: (Hypericaceae)

Hardy shrub to 5′. Great St. John’s Wort. Asia and northeast United States. Two-inch, pale yellow, five-petalled flowers bloom in June against a backdrop of small, pale green leaves. Large seedpods follow. Attractive vase shape. Sun. 3 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Hydrangea quercifolia

Family: (Hydrangeaceae)

Shrub to 8′. Oakleaf Hydrangea. This native of Georgia and Tennessee southwards is one of our all-time favourite “must have” shrubs. Forming full, rounded mounds of lobed and scalloped, oak-like leaves, it is graced in June with showy almost conical foot-long inflorescences of creamy white, often fading to soft pink with age. In fall, the large coarsely textured leaves develop rich hues of purple, scarlet and orange, providing some of the most vivid of autumnal colour. It grows better for us in some shade and with winter protection, as one would except from this southern belle. Prefers a moist, acidic but well-drained woodsy soil. 5 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Halesia monticola var. vestita

Family: (Styracaceae)

Hardy tree to 60′. Mountain Silverbell. Southern Appalachia. Visitors to Stonecrop in early May always admire this beautiful tree in full bloom. A mass of pendulous, pink bells appear before the leaves fully emerge. Seed was collected from our specimen, which is var. vestita having larger, pink, bell flowers, whereas the species has white bells. Makes a choice understory tree. Rich, well-drained acidic soil. Well worth the wait. Sun/partial shade. 3 & 6

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Clethra alnifolia

Family: (Clethraceae)

Shrub to 7′.  Summersweet.  Eastern North America.  Creamy white blooms borne on current season’s growth in two to six-inch long, and ¾-inch wide, upright racemes.  Lovely to look at, but even lovelier to smell with a delightful fragrance that perfumes the garden in July and August.  Vibrant yellow foliage in fall.  A carefree shrub with a dense, mounded habit.  Moist, but well-drained soil.  Sun/partial shade.  3 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Clerodendrum trichotomum

Family: (Lamiaceae)

Hardy shrub to 10′. Harlequin Glorybower. Japan. Cymes of fragrant, white flowers with prominent stamens in late summer followed by pink seedpods, opening to expose metallic blue berries. A special beauty in both flower and fruit. Sun. PC- 4 weeks, 3 & T1

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Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Clematis hexapetala

Family: (Ranunculaceae)

Hardy vine to 10′. Northeast China, Japan. This Clematis resembles the Sweet Autumn Clematis. Many flowered cymes of one-inch, white blooms with prominent, creamy stamens are borne in profusion. However, the major distinction is the early summer bloom. A focal point in our White Bed, growing up a tripod. Sun. 3 & 7 for 8 weeks, then T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Calycanthus floridus

Family: (Calycanthaceae)

Woody shrub to 6′. Carolina Allspice. Maroon, strawberry scented flowers. Fruits are hard, fig-shaped capsules. Good autumn colour. A tough and attractive shrub. Sun. PC- 8 weeks, 1 then 3 & T2 & Δ

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Tibouchina urvilleana

Family: (Melastomataceae)

(TP) to 12′. Princess Flower, Glory Bush. Brazil. The silky, saturated purple blooms are the best. These showy, five-petalled flowers appear on terminal, three-forked panicles and display long, purple stamens. Fresh green, ovate, and acute leaves have prominent, parallel veins and are felted with soft, white hairs. Cool temperatures cause the leaves to change colour to blushed peach to red. We have a handsome specimen in a warm greenhouse and we love adding smaller plants to the flower beds, and grow many in pots. Moist soil. Sun. 3 & T2

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Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Ruscus aculeatus

Family: (Asparagaceae)

Tender evergreen shrub to 3′. Butcher’s Broom. Mediterranean, Central Europe. This is a stellar plant for pot culture in your home. Numerous, dark, glossy green stems are covered with sharp, rigid, scale-like leaves called cladophylls. Tiny, white flowers arise in the centre of the cladophylls and are followed by incredible, bold, red berries which persist indefinitely. Very interesting. Sun/partial shade. 3 & T3, then it may need 40

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Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Puya chilensis

Family: (Bromeliaceae)

(TP) to 13′. An easy, “must-have” native to the arid hillsides of Central Chile. Dense, basal rosettes of pale green leaves reach up to three feet in length, and are amply equipped with hooked, leathery, marginal spines. In the wild, the flowers appear on stalks up to 10 feet tall atop which sits a three-foot long flowerhead. These prominent flowers have strident, green-yellow sepals, chartreuse petals, and bright yellow anthers. Our greenhouse specimen reaches a respectable five feet. Sun. 4 & T2, keep moist