Vines, Creepers, Perennials, Grass and Ferns: Perennials
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Astilbe x arendsii 'Amethyst'
False Spiraea or Meadow Sweet is a hardy perennial valued for its light, airy plume-like flower panicles and attractive green to red (ternate) foliage. Amethyst has long, airy dark lavender-lilac plumes. Soil should not dry out; will need regular watering especially if planted in sunny location/drier locations.
Astilbe japonica 'Deutschland'
False Spiraea or Meadow Sweet is a hardy perennial valued for its light, airy white plume-like flower panicles and attractive green to red (ternate) foliage. Blooms in late spring. Soil should not dry out; will need regular watering especially if planted in sunny location/drier locations.
Anemone x 'Honorine Jobert'
Honorine Jobert is on old, proven, Japanese Anemone cultivar from France known for its late blooming white flowers. Single flowers (like poppies) with a centre of golden stamens on tall stems (may need support), grow from a mound of attractive trifoliate dark green foliage. A vigorous grower that prefers partial shade, in a sheltered location and does well in woodland areas.
Alchemilla mollis
Lady's Mantle is a herbaceous perennial known for it's soft, hairy palmately lobed light green leaves. Leaves are slightly tilted up and can collect and hang on to raindrops...an attractive ornamental feature. Sprays of tiney chartreuse flowers are borne above the foliage in late spring, early summer. Remove spent flower heads to control self-seeding.
Achillea millefolium
Common Yarrow blooms from June to September with tiny white flowers held in a corymb (flat flower cluster). Deeply dissected, fern-like aromatic green foliage; flowers are good as cut flowers. Will spread through rhizomes and is a good ground cover choice on slopes. Heat and drought tolerant. Cut back hard after flowering for re-bloom.
Acanthus mollis
Acanthus mollis is commonly known as Bear's Breeches and is a wonderful herbaceous perennial. It has a clumped shape with attractive glossy dark green leaves. It has beautiful large flower spikes that bloom white flowers and offer a unique architectural element to this plant.
Astilbe 'Montgomery'
False Spiraea or Meadow Sweet. Montgomery's foliage emerges burgundy-bronze in spring, maturing glossy green with dark red flower plumes in mid-season. Soil should not dry out; will need regular watering especially if planted in sunny location/drier locations. Best in dappled shade. Deer resistant.
Astilbe x rosea 'Peach Blossom'
False Spiraea or Meadow Sweet (aka A. japonica 'Peach Blossom,). Peach Blossom has fluffy, delicate peach with a hint of pink flower panicles and attractive green glossy leaves. Soil should not dry out; will need regular watering especially if planted in sunny location/drier locations. Blooms in late spring, early summer.
Anemone Pink Party Dress
The Party Dress cultivar of the Japanese Anemone is a beautiful plant. It has poppy like stemmed flowers making it great for cuttings. While displaying a beautiful array of superb intricate pink flowers.
Actaea simplex (racemosa) 'Brunette'
Black Snakeroot or Bugbane (aka Cimicifuga) noted for its brownish-purple astilbe-like ternate (three leaflets or sections) foliage and purple, almost black stems. Foliage tends to hold onto dark colour through the season. Late summer/fall brings tall fluffy flower spires (30cm+) with small, fragrant creamy-white flowers, tinged pink. An architectural plant adding height and colour to the shaded or woodland areas of the landscape. Slow to establish, but worth it!
Actaea simplex 'Atropurpurea'
Black Snakeroot or Bugbane (aka Cimicifuga) has coppery-purple foliage in spring turning olive green in the summer. Reddish-purple stems. Late summer/fall brings tall fluffy flower spires (20cm+) with small, fragrant creamy-white flowers, tinged pink. An architectural plant adding height and colour to the shaded /woodland areas of the landscape. Slow to establish, but worth it!
Anemone x 'September Charm'
September Charm is a welcome late summer/early fall bloomer. Silvery pink flowers with darker rose shading on tall stems (may need support) grow from a mound of attractive trifoliate dark green foliage. A vigorous grower. Prefers partial shade, in a sheltered location and does well in woodland areas.
Astrantia major 'Star of Fire'
Star of Fire Masterwort prefers a shady, moist location. Excellant woodland plant and along a stream/pond. Rounded buttonhead/pincushion flowers are surrounded by burgundy red bracts. Red stems. Suitable as cutflower.
Astilbe chinensis taquetii 'Superba'
Chinese Astilbe is known for it's ability to tolerate sun and drought bettere than other Astilbe's! However, soil should not be allowed to dry out in order to retain good foliage quality. Superba is a taller variety and blooms later in the season with large lavender-pink flower plumes. Seed heads provide additional interest.
Bergenia cordifolia
Heartleaf Bergenia (or Pigsqueak, Elephant's Ears) has leathery, heart-shaped leaves with a wavy edge; reddish-green on the bottom. Evergreen leaves will turn red in fall if cold. Deep pink bell-shaped flowers are held on 30cm stalks in early spring. Prefers light shade; must be kept moist in full sun.
Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost'
Siberian Bugloss has large silver, heart-shaped leaves, with striking green veining that are an eye-catching feature of this plant, and so are the forget-me-not like sky-blue flowers on sprigs. Ideally suited for the woodland garden. A definite winner!!
Baptisia 'Purple Smoke'
False Indigo Purple Smoke forms a tall mound of gray-green trifoliate leaves reminiscent of clover, with taller spikes of purply blue flowers on black stems. Much like lupine! Plants may need support as they grow during the summer. Can be trimmed to create more compact bushy form, after flowering in which case it will not produce the attractive seed pods! Drouhgt-tolerant. Has tap root. Great as cut-flower and appreciated by butterflies! The common name suggests (apparently rightly so) that the blue dye made from False Indigo is inferior to the dye made from the true (tropical) Indigo!
Bergenia cordifolia 'Red Beauty'
Red Beauty Bergenia (Heartleaf Bergenia or Pig squeak) has deep purple-red flowers along with the well-known bronze-burgundy-red spring, fall & winter thick cabbage like foliage (green in summer).
Bergenia 'Silberlicht'
Silverlight Bergenia has low mounds of leathery roundish leaves (evergreen) and in spring clusters of white flowers with prominent red calyxes on 30cm red tinged stalks fade to a pinkish tone. Evergreen perennial.
Bergenia 'Winterglut'
Winterglow Bergenia has pinkish red flower clusters which appear in early spring on thick stems. Leaves turn bronze to ruby red in fall/winter. Slow to turn green in spring. May re-bloom in fall. Evergreen perennial.
Cynara cardunculus
Ornamental Artichoke or Cardoon needs lots of room as this perennial can grow to be 2.0m tall! An eye-catcher with deeply cut blue-green leaves and blue-purple thistle-like flowers from June till September on tall stems. Drought-tolerant once established
Crocosmia 'Emily McKenzie'
Crocosmia (aka Montbretia) is a perennial with sword-shaped leaves. Emily McKenzie is more compact than Lucifer, with bigger flowers. Stunning bright orange flowers with a red halo-like ring around a yellow-orange throat, along tall arching spikes. Suitable for cutting. Flowers from July to September. Crocosmia clumps can be divided every 3 years or, in colder climates, lift the corms and treat like gladioli. Great cut flower.
Crocosmia 'George Davidson'
George Davidson Crocosmia is a perennial with sword-shaped leaves producing small, bright yellow flowers along tall arching spikes (like freesia), suitable for cutting. Flowers from July to September. Attracts hummingbirds.
Crocosmia 'Lucifer'
Lucifer is the hardiest of the Lucifer! A perennial with sword-shaped leaves producing tomato to flame-red flowers along very tall arching spikes, suitable for cutting. Flowers from July to September. GREAT CUT FLOWER
Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam'
Tickseed or Threadleaf Coreopsis, Moonbeam has threadleaf foliage, is drought resistant, low maintenance and bears loads of creamy-yellow daisy flowers from early summer to late fall. Tolerant of hot, dry sites once established.
Coreopsis verticilllata 'Zagreb'
Tickseed or Threadleaf Coreopsis, Zagreb is another drought resistant, threadleaf selection bearing an abundance of bright yellow daisy-like flowers all through summer into fall (re-bloom after shearing). Seeds resemble ticks hence the common name). May spread by means of rhizomes and through self-seeding
Dicentra Formosa
The Western Bleeding Heart is an herbaceous perennial with blue-green foliage that grows in a low spreading form. In late spring pink heart-shaped flowers protrude above the foliage hanging from graceful thin arched stems.
Doronicum orientale 'Leonardo'
The Leonardo cultivar of the Doronicum orientale is a beautiful spring blooming perrenial. It is more commonly known as Leopard's Bane and has bright yellow flowers that resemble daisies.
Dicentra spectabilis
Common Bleeding Heart brings old-fashioned country charm to the spring shade garden. Rose-pink heart shaped flowers with protruding white inner petals dangle from arching stems above soft green divided foliage. Great in a woodland setting.
Euphorbia characias 'Wulfenii'
Evergreen spurge is an architectural perennial. Stalks of blue-green evergreen foliage topped by a huge dome of chartreuse yellow "flowers" (bracts). Flowering from early spring to mid-summer. Drought tolerant once established. Biennial: produces leaves the first year and flowers the second year. Cut to base when stem is finished flowering but wear gloves as sap is a skin/eye irritant.
Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus'
Purple Coneflower, Magnus has large, deep-magenta daisy-like flowers (petals are more horizontal than the species), with a brown-red centre cone. Flowers from summer till fall and attracts butterflies. Great as a cut flower and seed heads are interesting as well. Drought-tolerant
Euphorbia polychroma
Cushion Spurge is a popular perennial with its bright yellow flowers with chartreuse bracts on a cushion of pale green foliage and looks great planted along spring-flowering bulbs. Drought tolerant.
Echinacea purpurea 'Powwow Wild Berry'
This Coneflower selection from the PanAm Seed Co forms a mound of dark green, coarse leaves. By midsummer large deep magenta pink daisy-like flowers with an orange brown centre cone will bloom in abundance till fall. Coneflowers like it sunny and hot. Drought tolerant once established. Attracts Butterflies. Excellent cut flower.
Euphorbia x Redwing ('Charam')
Redwing is a hybrid spurge (E. amygdaloides x E. martinii) Blue-green narrow (lineair) foliage is arranged in whorls around the stems and takes on a distinctive red tint in late winter. Red buds on reddish stems open in spring with an abundance of sulphur-yellow green flower clusters hiding the foliage beneath! Stunning! The individual flowers are small and held in cupped bracts. Flowers that remain late in the season will turn red. Flowering shoots can be cut back after flowering to maintain compact form. Herbaceous Perennial/ semi-evergreen in some locations. Milky sap may be irritating to skin, all parts are toxic if ingested.
Echinacea purpurea 'White Swan'
White Coneflower, White Swan has daisy-like, lightly-scented, flowers with drooping white petals and an orange yellow-greenish conical centre. Good as cut flowers and attracting butterflies.
Geranium cantabrigiense 'Biokovo'
The Biokovo Geranium cultivar is commonly known as the 'Hardy Geranium.' It is a hardy perrenial that is easily grown in most soils and both full sun and full shade. It has dark green oliage and blooms a delicate white-pink flower.
Geranium x cantabrigiense 'Karmina'
Karmina Cranesbill is a spreading (rhizome) Cranesbill, up to 30cm in height with pink flowers blooming from late spring on. Repeat bloomer. Round, broadly lobed medium green (fragrant) foliage. Groundcover (will naturalize) .
Geranium x 'Johnson's Blue'
Johnson's Blue is one of the most popular blue Cranesbills. Mid-summer brings large, lavender-blue flowers with a reddish-pink tinge. Finely cut foliage.
Gunnera manicata
Giant Rhubarb or Dinosaur Food has leaves that can get to 2.5-3m across - a massive, architectural plant! The leaves are roundish, deeply cut and sit on prickly stalks and the underside of foliage has prickles on veins. Tall flower spikes with green and red flowers. A bold feature plant along the water. Prefers lots of moisture and semi-shade. Protect plant from winter injury with its own dead leaves.
Geranium macrorrhizum 'Ingwersen's Variety'
Ingwersen's Variety is a popular Bigroot Cranesbill forming a spreading mound of large extremely fragrant leaves and pale-pink flowers in early summer. Drought, heat and shade tolerant.
Heuchera "Chocolate Ruffles"
A unique variety of purple Heuchera for its ruffled leaves. New foliage emerges as a coppery pink that darkens to a rich chocolate colour as they mature. Has purple flowers that extend up to 30 centimetres above the shrub creating an intersting visual landscape. Can be utilized as groundcover, row planting, or visual depth in contemporary gardens.
Heuchera 'Lime Rickey'
Lime Rickey is a great Coral Bells selection adding bright colour and texture to the plant border with its ruffled lime green coloured leaves.
Heuchera micrantha 'Palace Purple'
Palace Purple is the first selection of Coral Bells with purple leaves. Purplish bronze to olive green maple shaped leaves have an outstanding purple colour underneath. Provide part shade in hot locations to prevent fading of leaf colour. Dainty flower spikes from late spring to mid-summer.
Helleborus x hybr. 'Royal Heritage'
Royal Heritage Lenten Rose hybrid strain blooms from late winter, when the snow is on the ground, to early spring with delicate, nodding rose-like medium sized flowers ranging in colour from white, green, pink to purple and reds. Leathery, evergreen, deeply cut foliage. Remove scorched/old foliage. Poisonous - Can irritate skin quite badly.
Heuchera "Sugar Plum"
"Sugar Plum" coral bells is a new hybrid that has a very distinctive silvery purple leaf with deep purple venation making for a very unique plant. Its infloresence has light pink flowers with dark purple stems. Possesses high tolerance to both heat and humidity in comparison to the rest of the coral bells family. Great for stand out interest in the garden bed or for mass planting.
Ligularia dentata 'Britt Marie Crawford'
Black-leafed Golden Ray (or Bigleaf Ligularia, Elephant Ears, Leopard Plant or Summer Ragwort to name a few...) is a spectacular background perennial with its large, dark chocolate coloured rounded foliage and masses of daisylike golden flowers appearing in August. Very effective alongside a pond or stream or in a large tub planter. Too much sun will cause temporary wilting.
Liriope muscari 'Big Blue'
Big Blue Lily Turf is one of the better selections of Blue Lily Turf. Very attractive evergreen as ground cover, or as edging plant. May need trimming in early spring. Flowers are dark violet and appear on spikes followed by black berries. Will tolerate dry spells (in shade) and will grow in sun with consistent moisture.
Liatris spicata
Blazing Star is a herbaceous perennial widely grown as a commercial cutflower. It forms a low clump of tufts of grassy foliage that form tall "bottle-brush" stalks. The magenta-purple flowers open from the top downwards in late summer thru early fall.
Ligularia stenocephala 'The Rocket'
This classic Ligularia (Narrow-spiked Ligularia aka Leopard plat, Ragwort or Rayflower) has large, triangular, deeply toothed/divided leaves with purple-black stems. In mid-late summer the flower spikes shoot like rockets into the air, covered with yellow flowers.
Nepeta 'Walker's Low'
Catmint is a perennial with a medium height; it has a tall clumped form, with grey green foliage. Catmint has a long bloom time of blue violet flowers that complement the tangy aromatic foliage.
Perovskia atriplicifolia
Russian Sage is a long flowering (July-October) herbaceous perennial. Fern-like silvery-green foliage, fragrant when touched or bruised. Tiny, violet-blue flowers in branched/tierd panicles with an "airy" feel to them.
Paeonia lactiflora 'Bowl of Beauty'
Japanese anemone style flower with an outer ring of rose-pink petals and a center of frilly light yellow petals. Blooms mid-season. Grows 24-36"(60-70cm) tall.
Paeonia lactiflora 'Coral Sunset'
Intense coral pink, loosely petalled, semi-double peony with a bright yellow center. Lightly fragrant. Blooms early. Grows to 28"(70cm) tall.
Paeonia lactiflora 'Duchesse De Nemours'
Wonderfully fragrant double 5" blooms, opening clear white and aging to cream. Originated in France in 1856. Blooms mid-season. Grows to 36"(90cm) tall.
Paeonia delaveyi
Maroon Tree Peony has single crinkled, blood-red flowers with centre clump of bushy yellow stamens. The nodding flowers are wonderfully fragrant and 5-7.5cm in diameter. Green leaves are deeply divided into oval to lance-shaped leaflets which remain attractive all growing season.
Paeonia lactiflora 'Gay Paree'
Japanese anemone style flower with fuschia pink outer petals and a cream center suffused with pink. Sweetly fragrant flower should not need staking. Blooms mid-season. Grows 18-36"(45-90cm) tall.
Paeonia suffruticosa 'Hanakisoi'
Pink frilly flowers darkening toward the yellow center of stamens. Flowers appear early and can be 8"( 20cm) across Shrubs can reach 60"(1.5M) tall with time.
Paeonia lutea
The Lemon-Yellow Tree Peony (aka Paeonia delaveyi var. lutea) is similar to delaveyi with single, cup-shaped lemon-yellow flowers (5-7.5cm). The "tree" is a lot smaller than delaveyi, growing to about 60cm tall. Light green, lacey foliage is another very attractive feature of lutea.
Paeonia lactiflora 'Nippon Beauty'
Japanese anemone style flower with rich red outer petals with a center of red, tipped with yellow. Blooms late. Grows to 32"( 80cm) tall.
Paeonia ostii 'Phoenix White'
Phoenix White Tree Peony flowers in mid-spring with bold, almost pure white flowers. Attractive foliage all season on a plant to 1.25m in height. Phoenix White is the easiest to care for.
Paeonia lactiflora 'Sarah Bernhardt'
Large double, delightfully fragrant blooms to 8"(20cm) in a rich sumptuous pink. Blooms mid-season. Grows to 36"(90cm) tall.
Phormium 'Surfer Bronze'
"Surfer Bronze" is a slow growing, compact variety of New Zealand flax. It possesses dark bronze foliage usually ribbed with either red or green. It can tolerate high winds as well as salty soils which makes it popular along coast lines around the world.
Phormium tenax 'Shiraz'
"Shiraz" New Zealand flax stands out due ot its rich, vibrant leaf colour that is bound to catch anyones eye. A mixture of dark purple, red, and green form a unique blend perfect for garden interest or row planting. New Zealand flax in general is a highly adaptable plant that can grow in a variety of sun, soil, or water conditions adding to its versatility.
Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm'
Goldsturm Rudbeckia (Black-eyed Susan or Coneflower) is one of the most popular perennials! The compact plants are covered with deep (orange) yellow daisy-like flowers with a cone-shaped brown center blooming from July until October! Very effective as mass planting combined with grasses. Suitable as cutflower. Note: Common names can refer to different plants: Black-eyed Susan more often refers to Rudbeckia hirta, and Echinaecea is also known as coneflower!
Rodgersia henrici
Fingerleaf Rodgersia (R. pinnata 'Superba' or Rodgersia aesculifolia var henrici) have leaves resembling those of a horse chestnut tree. They emerge with a purple to rusty red tinge in spring maturing to dark green. Tall astilbe-like rose flowers turn darker, reddish-purple, with age.
Rodgersia podophylla 'Braunlaub'
Braunlaub Rodger's flower is a great woodland plant as it likes shady, moist locations. Large compound, serrated, leathery leaves emerge bronze, have strong veining and hold their colour well through the early season changing to bronze/dark green by summer. Long flower stems, held well above the foliage, produce cream flowers (with a hint of red) similar to astilbe flowers from mid to late summer fading to pink as they age.
Rodgersia pinnata 'Chocolate Wings'
Chocolate Wings Featherleaf Rodgersia goes through a kaleidoscope of colours. * The large, serrated, deeply veined (chestnut tree like) leaves emerge chocolate brown to bronze purple, changing to green, bronze and red before turning bronze again in fall. Tall flower stalks open in early summer to pale-pink flowers which darken to burgundy-red in time. Interesting seed heads. Great woodland or architectural plant. Will grow in sun if soil is consistently moist.
Rheum palmatum var. tanguticum
Ornamental Rhubarb has huge, serrated leaves resembling those of rhubarb (60-90cm wide), BUT should NOT be eaten! The purple-red new leaves will turn green, but the undersides of the leaves remain purple-red. Tall red flower spikes rise well above the foliage with dark red buds opening to fragrant flowers in shades of pink to red between June and August. A bold waterside plant. SHOULD NOT BE EATEN, POISONOUS!
Sedum x 'Autumn Joy'
Autumn Joy Stonecrop has large succulent light green leaves which make a nice background for the large flower heads in fall. The flowers change from dark pink to bronze to rusty red as the weather gets cooler. Adds great colour to the fall garden, with added winter interest from the seed heads. Will tolerate short periods of drought.