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): 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): Salvia argentea

Family: Lamiaceae

(B) to 3′.  Silver Sage.  Southern Europe, Portugal to Bulgaria.  This biennial or short-lived perennial is grown mostly for its two to three-foot wide silver basal rosettes of woolly, wrinkled foliage in its first year.  However, the two to three foot tall spikes of tubular, hooded, white flowers are attractive too, but the main appeal are the rosettes.  May self-sow gently.  Excellent for gravel gardens and drought-resistant plantings.  Blooms spring to summer.  Full sun.  Average, well-drained soil.  4 & T3

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): 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): Echium vulgare

Family: (Boraginaceae)

(B) to 3-½’.  Viper’s Bugloss.  Europe.  Rosettes of slender, bristly foliage from which arise many stout flowering spikes with funnel-shaped flowers along their length.  The buds start off pink, then the five-petalled flowers turn the most exquisite shades of intense blue to violet with five protruding red stamens.  As the flowers fade, they become tinged with crimson. Viper’s Bugloss is one of the best plants to attract bees to your garden by producing nectar throughout the day unlike most plants which only produce nectar for a short period of time.  Sun.  3 & T1