Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Campanula medium var. calycanthema Mix

Family: (Campanulaceae)

(B) to 3′.  Cup & Saucer Canterbury Bells.  “Bells that ring from ancient towers, Give their name to summer flowers” – Cicely Mary Barker (1853-1973).

A double-flowered form of the old-fashioned biennial, Canterbury Bells. Plants form a low rosette of green leaves in the first year. The following summer, upright stems bear many large dangling bells with broad calyces under the “cup” that are the same colour as the cup.  These calyces form a “saucer,” hence the common name “Cup & Saucer” Campanula.  We offer a mix which includes shades from white, through pink, rose, blue and lavender.  Stems are superb for cutting.  If grown in the ground, allow some plants to self-seed, which will produce another generation.  We love to grow our in pots for display.  Late spring to mid-summer blooming.  Moist but well-drained soil.  Sun to partial shade.  4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Briza maxima

Family: (Poaceae)

(A) to 2′.  Great Quaking Great.  Eurasia.  An annual ornamental grass prized for its racemes of pale green spikelets which when dry turn a tawny brown and sound similar to rattlesnake tails; the spikelets vibrate and shiver in the slightest breeze.  This Quaking Grass is short lived, but extremely useful in dried arrangements.  Sun.  3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Blackstonia perfoliata

Family: (Gentianaceae)

(A) to 20″.  Yellow Wort.  Native of Britain and is also found around the Mediterranean Basin.  This lovely Gentian relative has stiff clusters of sunny yellow flowers with eight overlapping, pointed petals that close in the afternoon.  Pointed, bluish-green, waxy leaves are in opposite pairs and fused together around the stem.  The waxy leaves help the plant retain water in the arid conditions in which it often thrives.  The first year for us…looking forward to getting it established on the Order Beds.  Blooms June through September.  Sun.  3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Ammi majus

Family: (Apiaceae)

(A) to 3’.  Bishop’s Flower.  Europe, Asia.  A sophisticated Queen Anne’s Lace with large heads of lacy white flowers and deep green foliage.  Great for cutting.  Sun.  3 & T1

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): Salpiglossis sinuata Mix

Family: (Solanaceae)

(A) to 3′. Painted Tongue. South America. This Petunia-esque beauty has four-inch, pale green, elliptic to lanceolate leaves, with a wavy, lobed or toothed margin.  The funnel-shaped flowers are five-lobed, each lobe with a notched apex.  They are velvety in texture, in colours of purple, red, orange and bronze, with contrasting darker veins.  Popular for bedding, cut-flowers, and containers. Blooms early summer. Prefers cool weather so best to sow early indoors, or direct sow when the soil is warm.  Sun to part shade. Moist, fertile, well-drained soil.  4 & T3, cover and keep dark

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Cyclanthera pedata var. edulis

Family: (Cucurbitaceae)

(A) vine to 12′.  Peruvian Cucumber or Slipper Gourd.  Native to Central and South America.  This attractive annual vine has small, greenish white flowers borne in racemes and climbs quite rapidly by means of long, tightly coiled tendrils.  The large, lime green, pedately lobed leaves add great textural interest.  The six-inch long, green fruits are puffy, partially hollow with a thin, white, fleshy layer containing black seeds. The fruits are eaten after removing the seeds and stuffing them with rice or meat.  Young shoots and leaves can also be eaten as greens.  The species has long been cultivated in Asia, where fruits are eaten raw as a substitute for cucumber.  Our original seeds were collected by the Cabot’s on a trip to Nepal…very special.  Sun.  3 & T3

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Dianthus japonicus

Family: (Caryophyllaceae)

(B/P) to 2′.  Hama-nadeshiko, Japanese Dianthus.  Japan and East Asia.  From lush rosettes of thick, glossy, narrowly ovate basal leaves emerge leafy stalks topped with dense clusters of vivid rosy-purple, five-petalled, toothed blooms.  Extremely floriferous the second year from seed and may be somewhat biennial.  Persistent winter foliage develops attractive, rich burgundy overtones.  Not your typical “Pink.”  Blooms midsummer till fall.  Well-drained soil.  Sun.  4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Mirabilis jalapa Salmon

Family: (Nyctaginaceae)

(A/TP) to 3′.  Four o’Clock, Marvel of Peru.  A lovely selection that is perfect in our Peach Bed of the Flower Garden.  Bright green foliage and delightful salmon flowers with a pink centre.  Sun/partial shade.  4 & T3

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Salvia sclarea

Family: (Lamiaceae)

(B) to 3′.  Clary Sage.  Europe to C Asia.  First year rosettes are comprised of substantial, grey-green, rough-textured, ovate to oblong leaves to nine inches.  The following summer brings many upright, pink-tinged flower stems clothed with large, showy, white tinged-rosy-purple bracts which hold the small, blue and white hooded flowers.  Self-sows to keep an ongoing biennial balance with simultaneous first year rosettes and flowering plants.  A very architectural, aromatic and showy plant that needs little care.  Full sun, average garden soil.  4 & T2