Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Abutilon theophrasti

Family: (Malvaceae)

(A) to 3′.  Velvet Leaf, China Jute.  A Native of southern Asia whose specific epithet commemorates the ancient Greek botanist-philosopher, Theophrastus.  Velvet Leaf has been grown in China since around 2000 BCE for its strong, jute-like fibre.  The alternately arranged leaves are light green, cordate, pubescent and up to eight inches long and wide.  A solitary flower about ¾-inch across emerges from the axils of the upper leaves. Each flower consists of five petals that are yellow to orange-yellow, five light green, pubescent sepals, and numerous stamens with golden yellow anthers that surround the pistil in a loose cluster. The flowers are followed by interesting fruit that is initially light green, but quickly turns brown or black with maturity. This fruit (schizocarp) is a circular cup-shaped disc of 9 to 15 carpels, each with a beak on the margin of the disc.  Blooms July to August.  Well-drained soil.  Sun/partial shade.  3 & T3

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Lobelia inflata

Family: (Campanulaceae)

(A) to 3′.  Indian Tobacco.  Another great native North American plant for the flower border!  Spikes of small fan-shaped light blue flowers with a bearded lower lip are followed by fat balloons filled with seeds.  Long blooming from summer to frost.  The alkaloid Lobeline, was used until recently to appease nicotine cravings.  Sun.  3 & 6A

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Echinacea purpurea

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 3.5′.  Purple Coneflower.  North America.  Large, warm rose-purple daisies with slightly reflexed petals blooming from July into September.  A beautiful native wildflower that is at home in the garden.  Well-drained soil.  Sun.  4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Corydalis sempervirens

Family: (Papaveraceae)

(B) to 12″.  Rock Harlequin.  North America.  Open panicles of tubular pink flowers with conspicuous yellow tips.  Attractive glaucous green, fine-cut foliage.  Biennial, but will self-seed.  Awesome en masse.  Sun/partial shade.  4 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Silphium perfoliatum var. connatum

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 8′.  Hairy Cup-Plant. This plant is found wild from the mountains of West Virginia to North Carolina.  It has rough, hairy stems and leaves, with branched, open sprays of cheerful, golden yellow, sunflower-like blooms with green centres.  It differs from S. perfoliatum by having larger ray florets and blooming a few weeks earlier.  Sun.  3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Rudbeckia subtomentosa

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 6′. Sweet Black-eyed Susan. Tallgrass Prairie. A host of two-inch, bright yellow-petalled, dark-eyed daisies. Bushy clumps of downy, sweet scented, grey-green leaves; the lower leaves being three cleft. Blooms in late summer. Moist to well-drained soil. Sun. 3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Solidago caesia

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 3′. Blue-stemmed Goldenrod. Eastern North America. A plant of the woodland edge and clearings. Graceful, arching, bluish tinged stems with small, golden yellow flowers clustered in the leaf axils. The narrow, dark green, lance-shaped leaves are sharply toothed and slightly hairy. Blooms August through September. Well-drained soil. Partial shade. 4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Agastache scrophulariifolia

Family: (Lamiaceae)

(P) to 5′. Purple Giant Hyssop. Native to eastern North America. Many terminal spikes of small, violet to rosy pink flowers on tall, branching stems. The coarsely toothed, lanceolate leaves are aromatic. Blooms July to September. Well-drained soil. Sun/partial shade. 4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Agrimonia gryposepala

Family: (Rosaceae)

(P) to 5′. Tall Agrimony. North America. Slender, erect racemes of bright yellow, five-petalled blooms open from the bottom upwards, atop upright, softly hairy plants bearing paired, coarsely toothed, chartreuse green leaves. This native of open woods and thickets makes a surprisingly attractive garden plant. A patch planted outside our greenhouses was a joy all summer. Well-drained soil. Partial shade/sun. 3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Aquilegia canadensis

Family: (Ranunculaceae)

(P) to 2′. Honeysuckle Columbine. A native of eastern North America. Nodding blossoms with red spurs surrounding yellow petals and yellow anthers and an extended stigma. Dark stems and delicate foliage. Late spring to early summer bloomer. Self-sows readily. Sun/partial shade. 4 & T2