Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Hibiscus moscheutos subsp. palustris White

Family: (Malvaceae)

(P) to 7′.  Swamp Rose Mallow.  Eastern US.  A lovely white version of the above with a dark pink centre.  Late summer bloomer.  1 & 2B, then 3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Hibiscus moscheutos subsp. palustris Pink

Family: (Malvaceae)

(P) to 7′. Swamp Rose Mallow. Eastern US. It is hard to believe this robust, lush-foliaged plant with incredible saucer-sized, rose-pink, crepe-paper blooms is in fact a hardy native. Late to emerge in spring, but once they do, they grow quickly and so require a moist fertile soil to really thrive – the edge of a pond or marsh, rich in organic matter is ideal. Late summer bloomer. 1 & 2B, then 3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Calamintha nepeta

Family: (Lamiaceae)

(P) to 2′.  Calamint.  Europe and Asia.  Loose mounds of deliciously aromatic foliage are literally covered from August until frost with dainty, lavender, and white, hooded flowers with a tri-lobed lower lip.  The soft, mid-green leaves are attractive too, and in a well-drained, sunny pot it makes the perfect edge to path or border.  Sun.  3 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Nigella damascena 'Miss Jekyll Blue'

Family: (Ranunculaceae)

(A) to 18″.  Love-in-a-Mist.  South Europe.  Soft, many-petalled, sky blue flowers are surrounded by curved, feathery bracts.  Upright stems covered with delicate, fern-like foliage make the blossoms appear to be floating on a misty green bed.  Fawn-coloured, inflated, papery seedheads are attractive when dried.  Sun.  3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Primula japonica 'Alba'

Family: (Primulaceae)

(P) to 18″.  A candleabra-like inflorescence of tiered white blossoms arranged in whorls along the stem.  Leaves are sphathulate, quite long and irregularly toothed.  A spring-blooming charmer for the woodland or pond edge.  Moist soil.  Partial shade.  4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Trachelium caeruleum

Family: (Campanulaceae)

(A or TP) to 3′.  Blue Throatwort.  Mediterranean.  Large, umbellate clusters on upright stems bear many small, five-petalled flowers dotted with a white exserted style that looks like a tiny white pin.  The flowers are a vibrant violet and lightly scented.  Attractive dark foliage is toothed with purple veins. A long bloomer that makes a great cut flower.  Sun with afternoon shade.  Well-drained soil.  4 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Azorina vidalii

Family: (Campanulaceae)

(TP) to 18″.  Azores Bellflower.  Azores.  Particularly interesting for the cool greenhouse. Thick fleshy deep green leaves give rise to a candelabra of two-inch waxy, dusky pink bells. Sun. 4 & T3

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Cardamine heptaphylla

Family: (Brassicaceae)

(P) to 15″.  Seven-leaved Toothwort.  Central and Western Europe.  This woodland charmer is characterized by the smooth, erect, unbranched stem with few but large ovate-lanceolate and irregularly toothed leaves.  The stem is topped with an inflorescence composed by a cluster of four cup-shaped, broad flowers carried by a long pedicel.  Flowers may be white, pink, or purplish with petals that are somewhat wrinkled.  Blooms from April to July.  Partial shade.  Prefer moist, humus-rich soil. 3 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Schivereckia doefleri (syn. Draba doerfleri)

Family: (Brassicaceae)

(P) to 6”.  Eastern Europe. A tough and attractive dwarf cushion with grey-green loose rosettes of oblanceolate, slightly toothed leaves. Four-petalled white flowers in terminal racemes of up to fifteen in late spring.  Long-lasting, buff-coloured seedheads follow.  Sun.  3 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Allium moly

Family: (Alliaceae)

Hardy bulb to 12″.  Golden Garlic.  Southern and southwestern Europe.   Star-shaped, 1/2” diameter, bright yellow flowers appear in loose umbels atop leafless stalks in late spring above with flat, tulip-like, blue-green, basal leaves which appear in 2’s.  Sun.  3 & 6