Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Deinanthe caerulea

Family: Hydrangeaceae

(P) to 18″.  False Hydrangea.  China.  An unusual herbaceous Hydrangea relative first identified in the wild in the early 20th century by Ernest Henry Wilson, (1876-1930).  Medium-to-dark green leaves up to eight inches long are rugose with dentate margins, prominent veins and pointed tips.  Nodding, cup-shaped, violet-blue, fertile flowers bloom above the foliage in June-July.  The petals of each flower curl around a decorative central boss of light violet stamens. A great collector’s pick for the shade garden.  Best grown in peaty, fertile, humus-rich, well-drained but consistently moist soils in light shade.  4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Tiarella cordifolia

Family: Saxifragaceae

(P) to 12″.  Foam Flower.  North America.  A creeping groundcover with attractive, rich green, maple-shaped leaves heavily puckered and creased along the main veins.  Racemes of small, starry, fluffy white flowers rise above the foliage.  Partial shade/shade.  4 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Astilbe chinensis

Family: Saxifragaceae

(P) to 3′.  China.  This clump-forming perennial features graceful, fern-like mounds of mostly basal, compound leaves with sharply-toothed leaflets that emerge coppery bronze. Tiny rose-purple flowers are densely packed into erect, plume-like flower panicles rising above the foliage on slender stems. August.  A tough and reliable plant that provides long-lasting interest through the season.  Moist soil.  Sun/partial shade.  4 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Cardamine heptaphylla

Family: (Brassicaceae)

(P) to 15″.  Seven-leaved Toothwort.  Central and Western Europe.  This woodland charmer is characterized by the smooth, erect, unbranched stem with few but large ovate-lanceolate and irregularly toothed leaves.  The stem is topped with an inflorescence composed by a cluster of four cup-shaped, broad flowers carried by a long pedicel.  Flowers may be white, pink, or purplish with petals that are somewhat wrinkled.  Blooms from April to July.  Partial shade.  Prefer moist, humus-rich soil. 3 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Syneilesis intermedia coll. DJHT 99104

Family: Asteraceae

(P) to 2′.  Japan.  Purchased from Heronswood Nursery in 2001.  Wonderful foliage plant very reminiscent of Aconitum, with woolly, peltate, filigreed leaves.  Clusters of small, fluffy pink flowerheads atop stiff, dark stems.  Intriguing.  Partial shade.  4 & T2

This seed is either sold out or unavailable

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Dodecatheon meadia f. album

Family: (Primulaceae)

(P) to 18″.  A wonderful white form of the above.  Very reliable in our Woodland.  Blooms in May.  Summer dormant.  Partial shade.  3 & T2

This seed is either sold out or unavailable

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Helleborus foetidus

Family: Ranunculaceae

(P) to 2.5′.  Stinking Hellebore.  British native.  In mid-winter, terminal clusters of pendulous, green flowers are edged with red.  Dissected, shiny, dark green foliage.  Architectural.  Sun/partial shade.  3 & 72ºF for 6 weeks, followed by 25-39ºF for 6-8 weeks.

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Syneilesis aconitifolia

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 2′.  Shredded Umbrella Plant.  Japan.  Wonderful foliage plant very reminiscent of Aconitum, with woolly, peltate, deeply divided leaves.  Clusters of small, fluffy pink flowerheads atop stiff, dark stems.  Intriguing.  Partial shade.  4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Semiaquilegia ecalcarata

Family: (Ranunculaceae)

(P) to 16″.  False Columbine.  A native of eastern Asia with exquisite mauve-purple , bell-shaped, nodding flowers resembling spurless Columbines.  A delicate addition to the woodland.  We have ours self-sowing nicely around the troughs near the Gardeners’ Bothy.  Blooms in late spring.  Sun/partial shade.   4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Hydrophyllum virginianum

Family: (Boraginaceae)

(P) to 3′.  Virginia Water Leaf.  Northeastern native.  Loose cymes of delicate, white-to-pale violet, campanulate flowers with protruding stamens.  Lobed irregular leaves.  Blooms May to July.  Partial shade.  3 & T1