Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Amsonia elliptica

Family: (Apocynaceae)

(P) to 18″.  Dwarf Oriental Blue-Star.  China, Japan, and Korea.  Amsonia elliptica makes a bushy mound of tight-clumped, upright stems topped with starry, five-petalled, porcelain-blue flowers in early June. The glossy green, broad, grass-like leaves make an excellent backdrop for other garden plants during the summer.  In fall the foliage turns a glowing yellow to orange.  A great Amsonia for the small garden with a good display of flowers and excellent autumn colour.  Sun/partial shade.  3, 7 for 4 weeks, then T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Verbascum chaixii Mix

Family: Scrophulariaceae

(P) to 4′.  Europe and Russia.  A delightful blend of yellow and white Nettle-leaved Mullein. Grey-green, felted, and corrugated leaves form basal rosettes from which rise spire-like, unbranched stems with terminal racemes of five-lobed, flattish, one-inch, yellow or white flowers with violet stamens.  Very versatile.  Mid-summer. Sun.  4 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Aristolochia clematitis

Family: Aristolochiaceae

(P) to 30″.  This non-climbing herbaceous Dutchman’s Pipe has small apetalous, tubular, greenish yellow flowers that bloom from late spring to early summer in clusters from the leaf axils. Each flower has a straight funnel-shaped tube with pointed, curved upper lips (considerably different in appearance from the curved Dutchman’s smoking pipe-type blooms found on some other species in the genus).  Full sun to part shade.  4 & T3

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Agastache foeniculum 'Alba'

Family: Lamiaceae

Short-lived perennial to 3.5′.  White Anise Hyssop.  A white cultivar of the above. Sun/partial shade.  4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Tanacetum parthenium

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 2′.  Feverfew.  Europe.  A short-lived perennial with lovely pale green foliage.  Flowers are small white daisies.  Feverfew sandwiches are good for migraines!  Sun.  4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Conoclinium coelestinum (syn. Eupatorium coelestinum)

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 3′.  Mist Flower, Hardy Ageratum.  Eastern United States.  Small tufts of misty blue flowers cluster in dense panicles on erect stems.  Apple green leaves are triangular-ovate and coarsely toothed.  A sturdy perennial, that performs superbly at the front or mid-border.  Late summer and autumn.  Sun.  4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Salvia verticillata

Family: (Lamiaceae)

(P) to 2.5′.  An interesting plant whether in or out of flower.  Whorls of lavender-blue hooded flowers on long spikes adorn the textural pubescent foliage.  After flowering, the whorls of bracts keep the excitement going.  Also excellent for cutting and drying.  Self-sows when happy.  Full sun. 4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Nepeta parnassica

Family: (Lamiaceae)

(P) to 5′.  Tall Greek Catmint.  Albania and Greece.  Truly the biggest and most impressive Catmint we have ever seen.  Although native to the dry, rocky meadows of the Balkan Peninsula it seems to luxuriate and thrive in our fertile garden soil.  The strong, upright stems bear fragrant, greyish green foliage and produce dense whorls of rich lavender-blue flowers in crowded, elongated spikes.  This is a “sturdy item,” that does not need to be cut back halfway through the season.  Blooms mid-summer onwards and will add stature, colour, and fragrance to the late summer garden.  Sun, well-drained soil.  4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Acanthus hungaricus

Family: Acanthaceae

(P) to 3′.  Bear’s Breeches.  Balkans.  Free-flowering perennial with tall, upright spikes of smoky lavender-pink lipped flowers emerging from reddish purple, ovate bracts.  The flowers appear to have a greenish wash.  Forms a large, imposing clump of arching, deeply-lobed, spiny leaves.  Flowers late summer with persistent architectural beauty.  Well-drained soil.  Sun.  3 & T1

This seed is either sold out or unavailable

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Eryngium giganteum

Family: (Apiaceae)

Short-lived perennial/biennial to 4′.  Miss Willmott’s Ghost.  Miss Willmott was known to scatter this seed surreptitiously in the gardens she visited, leaving her horticultural calling card!  The elongated, dome-shaped, greenish flowerheads are surrounded by spiny tipped, silvery bracts.  Attractive, marbled, grey-green, spiny foliage with dark green basal rosettes adds more drama.  Excellent dried flower.  Self-sows happily.  Well-drained soil.  Sun. 3 & 6 & Δ