Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Platycodon grandiflorus 'Perlmutterschale'

Family: (Campanulaceae)

(P) to 3′.  Mother of Pearl Balloon Flower. A lovely, delicate pale pink version of the above with spidery, dark pink veins.  Blooms from mid-summer and into the autumn when flowers are dead-headed.  Sun.  4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Datisca cannabina

Family: (Datiscaceae)

(P) to 7′. False Hemp. An imposing herbaceous plant from India with graceful arching stems and finely divided foliage. A midsummer bloomer with ornamental tassel-like yellow flowers in racemes. This herb yields a yellow dye often used for silks. We have enjoyed it in a pot and now love it in the garden. Sun. 3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Stachys macrantha

Family: (Lamiaceae)

(P) to 2.5′. Caucasus. One to covet. Wavy-edged, dark green foliage and spikes of purplish pink, hooded, lipped flowers. Excellent in the border. Sun/partial shade. 3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Thermopsis villosa

Family: (Fabaceae)

(P) to 5′. Carolina Lupine. Southeastern United States. Tall spikes of bright-yellow, pea-like flowers over loose clumps of glaucous, softly downy foliage with three-part, clover-like elliptical leaflets. Blooms in early summer. Well-drained soil. Sun. 1 & 2B then 3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Vernonia altissima

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 8′. Tall Ironweed. Eastern North America. Loose, flattened clusters of thistle-like, purple flowers atop towering stems. Large irregularly toothed and pointed leaves. Not for the faint of heart! Blooms from late summer into autumn. Moist soil. Sun/partial shade.  3 & T1 for 3 months, then T2

 

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Angelica polymorpha

Family: (Apiaceae)

(P) to 6′. China. Exquisite, airy umbels of small, creamy white flowers and attractive lobed leaves. The flowering umbels look like a perfect firework display. A choice plant. Sun. 3 & 6

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Echinops tjanschanicus

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 5′.  A tall, imposing Globe Thistle from Kazakhstan and the mountains of Central Asia.  A vigorous, erect, clump-forming, architectural perennial with spiny, deeply-divided, grey-green leaves, white beneath, and rounded, thistle-like, violet-blue flowerheads in summer.  Both Echinops make great cut flowers.  Sun.  4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Isatis glauca

Family: (Brassicaceae)

(B/P) to 3-½’.  Woad.  Asia Minor to Iran.  A lovely, short-lived perennial with dense panicles of large, golden yellow, four-petalled flowers atop glabrous, blue-green, basal foliage.  Attractive blackish bronze, dangling, persistent, papery fruits to follow.  This plant was once the ancient world’s only source of blue dye.  Late spring/early summer.  Self-sows.  Well-drained soil.  Sun.  3 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Linaria purpurea 'Springside White'

Family: (Plantaginaceae)

(P) to 2′. Europe. A delightful white form of Toadflax. Slender racemes of glistening, pure white, spurred, snapdragon-like flowers. Attractive, narrow, silver-grey foliage. A fine cut flower and a perfect addition to the border. Sun. 4 & T3

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Lithospermum erythrorhizon

Family: (Boraginaceae)

(P) to 2.5′. Chinese or Red-rooted Gromwell. East Asia. A bristly or coarsely hairy, upright perennial with greyish green, lanceolate leaves. Terminal clusters of numerous, small, five-petalled, white flowers in midsummer are followed by white, shiny fruits along the dark stems.  Very cool.  The dried roots produce a purple dye and the entire plant has been used since ancient times for burns, cuts, and skin conditions in Chinese herbal medicine. Moist, well-drained soil. Sun/partial shade. 3 & T2 & Δ