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): Linaria triornithophora

Family: (Plantaginaceae)

(P) to 3′.  Three-Birds-Flying.  From Spain and Portugal.  Fascinating, long, single-spurred, lilac-purple flowers are speckled and etched with purplish black and a dab of yellow.  The flowers are arranged around the stems in groups of three, looking incredibly just like budgerigars, hence the common name.  Broad, grey-green, ribbed foliage clasps the stem.  Sun.  4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Aristea ecklonii

Family: (Iridaceae)

Tender bulb to 2′.  South Africa.  Beautiful star-shaped flowers of a deep, pure blue on tall branching stems that appear from June onward.  Evergreen, sword-shaped foliage.  Choice and unusual, a star attraction that summers on our Deck.  Moist, rich soil.  Sun/partial shade.  3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Leonotis menthaefolia

Family: (Lamiaceae)

(TP) to 2′.  Mint-leaved Lion’s Ear.  South Africa.  Vibrant, warm orange, tubular flowers are held in whorls.  Small, serrated leaves have a pungent, spicy fragrance, reminiscent of Agastache.  A long blooming, compact Lion’s Ear perfect for containers.  Overwinter in a frost-free conservatory.  Summer through to fall.  Sun.  4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Ennealophus euryandrus (syn. Herbertia euryandra)

Family: (Iridaceae)

Tender bulb to 12″.  Argentina.  This Iris relative has pleated linear to lanceolate leaves.  Intriguing, blue to violet flowers with three large, broadly spreading, triangular to obovate, outer tepals with white markings at the base…they look like an airplane propeller.  The three smaller, inner tepals are rounded, erect and reflexed, with a spot of orange on the reflex.  In the centre, the trifid, white stigma is showy and heavily clefted, with the stamens held below.  The flowers only last for part of a day. Grows on humid slopes near the forest’s edge but nicely for us in a pot.  3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Tweedia caerulea

Family: (Apocynaceae)

(TA/P) to 3′.  Brazil and Uruguay.  Twining vine or subshrub with downy, ovate, grey-green leaves up to 3 inches long.  Star-shaped, five-petalled, sky blue flowers with a prominent cream stigma are borne in loose clusters.   Long, vertical, felted, boat-shaped seedpods are full of brown seeds attached to silken threads.  Sun/partial shade.  4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Primula malacoides Mix

Family: (Primulaceae)

(TP) to 18″.  Fairy Primrose.  China.  Stonecroppers are in love with this charming, floriferous beauty as it lights up the End House from December through late spring with its showy tiers of blooms.  Rising from a rosette of soft green, ruffled leaves with shallowly dentate lobes come many slender stems carrying 20 to 30 blooms in tiers.  Deeply notched, five-petalled flowers have a prominent yellow eye.  Seed collected from our plants is a mix of bright pink, mauve and white flowers.  Prefers fertile soil and part sun.  4 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Cistus creticus subsp. incanus

Family: (Cistaceae)

Tender shrublet to 3′.  Cretian Rock Rose.  South Europe, North Africa.  Stems are upright with small, oval, grey-green, finely pubescent leaves.  Solitary flowers are 2 inches in diameter, formed by five tissue-paper-like petals of a pink-lavender, marked yellow at the base.  The central boss of yellow-orange stamens catches the eye.  Buds are covered in fine hairs.  Teas made from Cistus are credited for having a variety of healing powers.  Sun and well-draining soil for pots.  3 & T2

This seed is either sold out or unavailable

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Francoa sonchifolia

Family: Melianthaceae

(TP) to 2.5′.  Maiden’s Wreath.  Chile.  Graceful, long-lasting spires of pale rose-pink flowers.  Deeply lobed, spoon-shaped leaves form attractive, evergreen rosettes.  Extremely decorative and unusual foliage.  Best grown in pots and overwintered in a cool greenhouse.  Moist, well-drained soil.  Summer blooming.  Sun/partial shade.  4 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Francoa ramosa

Family: (Melianthaceae)

(TP) to 3′.  Branched Bridal Wreath.  A native plant of Chile that Miss Jekyll loved to grow in pots.  Many slender spikes of dusky rose, sessile flowers rise above scalloped basal foliage.  Early summer bloomer.  Try it in the cool greenhouse and follow Miss Jekyll’s lead.  Sun/partial shade.  4 & T1