Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Salvia macrophylla

Family: (Lamiaceae)

(TP) to 4′.  Peruvian Sage.  Columbia, Peru, Bolivia.  We have grown this plant underglass in pots for a few years and had enough to plant out in our Flower Garden last season.  It was a big presence and performed beautifully.  The architectural, lime green spikes in bud are attractive in themselves, with hints of blue as the flowers start to open.  The flowers are large and typical of a Salvia, but of a striking Persian blue with protruding white filaments tipped with blue anthers.  The leaves add to the show; triangular-hastate in shape and very large, up to 8 inches long and 5 inches wide, and strikingly violet on the underside.  Sun.  4 & 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): Tulbaghia violacea

Family: (Alliaceae)

Tender bulb to 2′.  Society Garlic.  Southern Africa. The genus was named for Ryk Tulbagh (1699-1771), one time governor of The Cape of Good Hope.  Clump-forming, narrow, strap-shaped, gray-green leaves to 12 inches tall have a strong garlic smell when bruised. In early summer, flowering scapes rise bearing terminal umbels of sweetly fragrant, lilac-pink flowers. Each flower is comprised of six narrow tepals, tubular at the base that open to a star shape. A characteristic of Tulbaghia is the modified “corona” in the centre of the flower.  This is a raised crown-like structure, but not “entire” like the trumpet of a Daffodil, this corona has only three raised fleshy protuberances on three of the tepals in the centre of the flower.  Flowers and leaves are edible and may be used in soups and salads.  Long lived in a pot.  Sun.  3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Merendera sobolifera

Family: (Colchicaceae)

Tender bulb to 1″.  Eastern Europe to Central Asia.  Dainty, six-petalled flowers of pale pink to rosy lilac appear in early spring from stout, horizontal, underground stolons.  The linear, grey-green leaves appear after flowering and die back during summer dormancy.  Best grown in a pot to view at eye level .  Sun.  3 & T3, then may need 40º for 2-3 months.

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Cuphea salvadorensis

Family: (Lythraceae)

(TP) to 5′.  Salvadoran Cigar Flower.  Central America.  A large, shrubby perennial producing tubular, red-orange flowers with green tips that attract hummingbirds.  Overwinter indoors.  Ours reliably goes out every year planted in the Order Beds.  Blooms summer into fall.  Sun to part shade.  Moist, well-drained soil.  4 & T3

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Saxifraga stolonifera

Family: Saxifragaceae

(TP) to 6″.  Strawberry Saxifrage.  This sweet Asian native has attractive white blossoms with distinctive pointed petals and bright yellow ovaries. The plant spreads via threadlike stolons, with plantlets taking root in the vicinity of the mother plant. When grown in a pot, the interesting grey-green, mottled foliage quickly crowds the surface and drapes beautifully down the sides.  Easy to grow in average light.  Allow the soil to dry between waterings.  3 & T2

This seed is either sold out or unavailable

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Gomphocarpus physocarpus (syn. Asclepias physocarpus)

Family: Asclepiadaceae

(TP) to 4′.  Bladder Fruit.  Narrow, lanceolate leaves and attractive, hanging, pendant clusters of cream to green-white, starry flowers.  However, the main attraction follows with huge, inflated, spherical, spiny seedpods that are pale green blushed maroon in colour.  They are terrific fresh or dried in flower arrangements.  Sun.  4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Rostrinucula sinensis

Family: (Lamiaceae)

Tender Shrub to 7′.  China.  Collected by the Sino British Expedition to Guizho Province.  This curious Buddleja relative has grown well for us in pots.  Lovely, soft-green, pointed foliage and large terminal, arching spikes formed of chalky-white, tomentose bracts and buds.  The flower spike opens gradually to reveal fragrant, purple-lavender flowers with many extruding white stamens.  Summer.  Well-drained soil.  Sun.  4 & 7 for 4 weeks, then T3

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Begonia carolineifolia

Family: Begoniaceae

Tender evergreen perennial to 12″.  Mexico.  This species of Begonia has quickly become an enviable conversation piece for us.  The palm-like leaves grow on top of large, thick rhizomes, and light pink blooms abound periodically throughout the year.  Bright, indirect light.  4 & T2