Perennials & Biennials - Heirloom Garden Plants

Salvia nemorosa  ssp. tesquicola  Meadow sage  Z 5-8 
Rich purple spikes from June to October.  Deadhead in July for bushier, longer bloom. 

Size:  2' x 8 -10"    
Care: sun in well-drained to moist well-drained soil. Drought tolerant.     
Native:  Central Asia.  
Wildlife vlaues: attracts butterfleis & hummingbirds 

Salvia is from the Latin word salveo meaning "to heal" referring to the plant's ancient medicinal uses. This subspecies collected from the wild before 1954.

See Heirloom plant specials to Get 3 plants for only $18.50.  You get 3 for the price of 2, saving $9.25

Salvia sclarea      Clary sage  Reseeding Biennial  Z 5-9
Breathtaking pastel panicles of cream, blue or pink, bi-toned bracts whorl around the stem, spring – summer on this deer resistant plant.

Size:  3’ x 12”
Care:  full sun in moist well-drained soil. Deer resistant.     
Native:  Europe to Central Asia
Wildlife values:  attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.

Salvia is from the Latin salveo meaning “to heal” referring to the plant’s ancient medicinal uses.  Romans made an eye wash from this plant to clear vision; the name “clary” is derived from this.  Germans added this, plus elder flowers, to wine and occasionally used Clary instead of hops to make beer.  In 1100’s an aphrodisiac.  This species introduced to gardens from the south of Europe in 1562.

Salvia verticillata  Lilac sage, whorley clary, Salbey  Z 5-8
Muted lilac blue spikes June to October.  It took 2 years to establish this plant to maturity during which time it was unimpressive but in year 3, it’s fabulous.  You get the benefit of mature plants.

Size:   24” x 18-24” 
Care: sun in moist well-drained to well-drained soil.  Dead head to prolong bloom
Native: Spain to Ukraine, Caucasus to Iran                       
Wildlife value:  Butterfly magnet.

Collected before 1753.

Sanguisorbia menziesii   Menzies' burnet   Z 4-8
Rare raspberry red spikes grace this burnet.

Size: 36" x  2'      
Care:  full sun to part shade in moist well-drained soil  
Native: Alaska, Canada, Pacific NW

Sanguisorba is Latin meaning to "soak up blood", for the plant's reputed ability to clot blood.  This species named for its collector Archibald Menzies (1754-1842), English physician on Vancouver's voyage in 1792 who explored the Pacific Northwest, California, Alaska & Hawaii. 

Saponaria ocymoides   Rock soapwort    Z 4-8 
Cheery pink soapwort, in late spring, hugs the ground. Good for rock gardens, front of border or groundcover.

Size: 3" x  18"  
Care: Sun, well-drained soil, cut back hard after flowering       
Native: Spain to Yugoslavia

Both the botanical and common names come from the plant's use as soap, the leaves "yeelde out of themselves a certain iuice when they are bruised, which scoureth almost as well as sope."  Gerard (1633).  Soapwort is still used today by antique and art restorers for its gentle cleaning: chop dried leaves and roots, boil in water for 5 minutes, and then agitate to make suds.  William Robinson, father of today's mixed perennial border gardens, praised this as bearing "masses of rosy blooms."  American garden cultivation since 1800's.  Received England's Royal Horticultural Society Award of Merit.

Scabiosa lucida   Pincushion flower, Glossy scabiose             Z 4-9
Lilac pincushions all summer & fall 

Size:  8" x 12"    
Care:  full sun in moist well-drained to well-drained soil.  Drought tolerant.       
Native:  Central and Eastern  Europe 
Wildlife value:  attracts butterflies

Scabiosa from Latin scabies referring to the itch caused by a mite infestation, which another Scabiosa species allegedly cured.   Collected before 1779.

Scabiosa ochroleuca  Cream pincushion    Z 4-9
Looking for a non-stop bloomer?  June-October ivory pincushions atop wiry stems

Size: 18"-24" x 18"   
Care: sun to part shade in moist well-drained soil.  Drought tolerant.    
Native: Europe & Asia
Wildlife value:  attracts butterflies

The name scabiosa from Latin scabies referring to the mite infestation that this plant was supposed to cure; ochroleuca means yellowish white.    In gardens by 1753.
See Heirloom plant specials to Get 3 plants for only $17.95.  You get 3 for the price of 2, saving $8.95

Scuttelaria alpina  Alpine skullcap     Z 5-9
Bailey (1913): “A hardy spreading perennial about 10 in. high, with ovate, serrately dentate lvs. And large, purple and white, somewhat yellowish fls. In dense, terminal racemes.  … A handsome rock or low border perennial.” Mounds of two-toned snapdragon-like flowers July - October.

Size: 6-10” x 12” 
Care: Sun in well-drained to moist well-drained soil           
Native: Pyrenees, Appennines to the Balkans; central Russia to southern Siberia

Linnaeus’ imaginative mind named this genus after the Latin sculellum meaning “a little dish,” because of its resemblance to the flower’s helmet-shaped calyx.  In gardens before 1753. 

Sedum album  White stonecrop   Z 4-8 
Rounded leaflets green turning red in fall and winter; dainty white flowers in mid-summer.  Perfect for rock gardens, front of border, fairy gardens, roof gardens, troughs and groundcover or any place with drought.

Size: 4” x 12” spreading  
Care: sun in well-drained soil  - thrives on neglect.  Deer resistant & drought tolerant.  
Native: Europe, west & north Asia

Sedum means “plant that sits.”  “Live forever” is an ancient Greek name for sedums. The Roman Pliny claimed that sedum’s juice treated wounds.  In the 1500’s English herbalist Gerard called sedums “very full of life,” referring to succulent’s quality of being very easy to grow.  This species ollected before 1671. It “grows naturally upon old walls in many parts of England.” Gardeners Dictionary, 1768.  In 1867 described as “growing, ever so luxuriantly upon roofs and walls (as well as) the rocks at Great Malvern…” Botany of Worcestershire. Landscape designer Andrew Jackson Downing recommended this for edging, 1868.   

See Heirloom plant specials to  Get 3 plants for only $9.90.  You get 3 for the price of 2, saving $4.95.

Sedum ‘Autumn Joy' syn. ‘Herbstfreude'   Z 4-9
Classic, large flat flower heads turn from green to rose blooming in September and October.  A staple for autumn in the garden.

Size: 30” x 12”      
Care: full sun in well-drained soil

Sedum means “plant that sits.”  “Live forever” is an ancient Greek name for sedums. The Roman Pliny claimed that sedum’s juice treated wounds.  In the 1500’s English herbalist Gerard called sedums “very full of life,” referring to succulent’s quality of being very easy to grow.  Autumn Joy introduced to gardens before 1920 by the George Arends Nursery in Ronsdorf, Germany.  Received England’s Royal Horticultural Society Award of Merit.

 See Heirloom plant specials to Get 3 plants for only $16.50,  3 for the price of 2 plants,saving $8.25

Sedum divergens Spreading stonecrop, Cascade stonecrop, Pacific stonecrop  Z 5-8
Yellow flowers in summer over tiny, bright red, round glossy leaves

Size: 2-4” x spreader    
Care: Sun in well-drained to moist well-drained soil.  Deer resistant and drought tolerant. 
Native: Alaska to northern California

Sedum means “plant that sits.”  “Live forever” is an ancient Greek name for sedums. The Roman Pliny claimed that sedum’s juice treated wounds.  In the 1500’s English herbalist Gerard called sedums “very full of life,” referring to succulent’s quality of being very easy to grow.  Divergens means “spreads widely from center.” Thompson & Okanagon Native Americans  ade a laxative and hemorrhoid remedy from this.  Haisla and Gitksan ate the leaves.  Seneco Watson & W.N. Suksdorf collected this in 1880 in “Washington Territory near the summit of Yakima Pass.” 

Sedum ewersii v. homophyllum  syn. Hylotelephium ewersii v. homophyllum   Z 5-9
Pinkish-red flowers top glaucus leaves June-July.

Size: 2-3” x 19”   
Care:  sun in well-drained to moist well-drained soil.  Drought tolerant.  Deer resistant          
Native: Himalayas & Mongolia

Sedum means “plant that sits.”  “Live forever” is an ancient Greek name for sedums. The Roman Pliny claimed that sedum’s juice treated wounds.  In the 1500’s English herbalist Gerard called sedums “very full of life,” referring to succulent’s quality of being very easy to grow.  The species collected before 1851.  This variety is a dwarf form of the species, selected by 1950.

Sedum grisebachii   Stonecrop      Z 4-9
Yellow flowers over red foliage in summer.  Good for rock gardens, front of border, fairy gardens, roof gardens, troughs and groundcover, or any place with drought.

Size: 2” x spreading  
Care:  sun in well-drained soil, thrives on neglect. Drought tolerant & deer resistant.   
Native: Europe

Sedum means “plant that sits.”  “Live forever” is an ancient Greek name for sedums. The Roman Pliny claimed that sedum’s juice treated wounds.  In the 1500’s English herbalist Gerard called sedums “very full of life,” referring to succulent’s quality of being very easy to grow.  This species collected around 1850.

Sedum hispanicum  var. minus ‘Purple Form’  Little Blue Spanish stonecrop, Tiny buttons  Z 4-9
 Many petite faintly pink flowers in June, soft, succulent, glaucous leaves form a perfect mound. Great for rock gardens, front of border, fairy gardens, roof garden, troughs and groundcover, or any place with drought.

Size: 2” x 8”  spreading   
Care: sun to part sun in well-drained soil.  Drought tolerant & deer resistant.  
Native: Southern Europe, Balkan peninsula

The variety minus is considered a synonym of the species which was described by the father of botany, Linnaeus, in 1753. 

See Heirloom plant specials to  Get 3 plants for only $9.90.  You get 3 for the price of 2, saving $4.95.

Sedum hispanicum  var. minus ‘Purple Form’  Little Blue Spanish stonecrop, Tiny buttons  Z 4-9
 Many petite faintly pink flowers in June, soft, succulent, glaucous leaves form a perfect mound. Great for rock gardens, front of border, fairy gardens, roof garden, troughs and groundcover, or any place with drought.

Size: 2” x 8”  spreading   
Care: sun to part sun in well-drained soil.  Drought tolerant & deer resistant.  
Native: Southern Europe, Balkan peninsula

The variety minus is considered a synonym of the species which was described by the father of botany, Linnaeus, in 1753. 

See Heirloom plant specials to  Get 3 plants for only $9.90.  You get 3 for the price of 2, saving $4.95.

Sedum kamtschaticum var. kamtschaticum ‘Variegatum’  Russian stonecrop   Z 3-9
Cupped pink tinged green foliage with cream edges.  Star-like yellow flowers in summer turning crimson in fall. Perfect for rock gardens, front of border, fairy gardens, roof garden, troughs and groundcover, or any place with drought.

Size: 6-8” x 10-12”         
Care: sun in well-drained soil.       
Native: Russia

The species described in 1841. This variegated variety in gardens before 1933 (Bailey).
Recipient Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit and Elisabeth Carey Miller Botanical Garden Great Plant Pick.

Sedum oreganum    Oregon stonecrop  Z 2-9
Spreading carpet of succulent green leaves, red in full sun, like a miniature Jade Plant. Yellow starry flowers bloom in summer. Perfect for rock gardens, front of border, fairy gardens, roof gardens, troughs and groundcover, or any place with drought.

Size: 4-6” x 12-20” spreading 
Care: sun in well-drained soil, thrives on neglect. Drought tolerant & deer resistant.
Native: No. California to Alaska

Sedum means “plant that sits.”  “Live forever” is an ancient Greek name for sedums. The Roman Pliny claimed that sedum’s juice treated wounds.  In the 1500’s English herbalist Gerard called sedums “very full of life,” referring to succulent’s quality of being very easy to grow. Separated leaf rosettes of this species can look like a bowl of reddish green "berries." The Kwakiutl people of British Columbia called Oregon Stonecrop "Crows' Strawberries," used as a garnish, fried as a vegetable or added to soups. Collected for gardens and named by plant hunter extraordinaire Thomas Nuttall after his trip to the Pacific, the Wyeth Expedition before 1834.

Sedum sieboldii      October Daphne   Z 3-9
Fleshy gray-green foliage edged with pink encircles the prostrate stems, flowering strawberry pink in fall.                          

Size:   4" x  8"             
Care:  full sun in moist well-drained to well-drained soil. Drought tolerant and deer resistant.          
Native:  Japan 

Sedum means "plant that sits."  "Live forever" is an ancient Greek name for the plant. The Roman Pliny claimed that sedum's juice treated wounds.  In the 1500's English herbalist Gerard called sedums "very full of life," referring to succulent's quality of being very easy to grow.  William Robinson described Sedum sieboldii as "a beautiful Stonecrop loved by slugs." (We have not found that, the slug part, to be true.)  American garden cultivation by 1850.

Sedum spurium ‘Coccineum’  Dragon’s blood   Z 4-9
Star-shaped crimson flowers August – September atop succulent red-tinged leaves

Size: 6” x 24”   
Care: sun to part shade in well-drained soil.  Drought tolerant.  Deer resistant.           
Native: Caucasus Mountains

Sedum means “plant that sits.”  “Live forever” is an ancient Greek name for sedums. The Roman Pliny claimed that sedum’s juice treated wounds.  In the 1500’s English herbalist Gerard called sedums “very full of life,” referring to succulent’s quality of being very easy to grow.  Spurium means “false.”  Collected before 1826.

See Heirloom plant specials to Get 3 plants for only $9.90.  You get 3 for the price of 2, saving $4.95.

Sedum tetractinum  Chinese sedum        In Chinese: Si mang jing tian    Z 4-8
Bright yellow flowers tipped in red August-Sept. – gorgeous bronze leaves in fall

Size: 2-3” x 12” & spreading   
Care:  sun in moist well-drained to well-drained soil.  Drought tolerant.  Deer resistant    
Native:  among rocks near streams in Anhui, Guangdong, Guizhon & Jiangxi provinces

Sedum means “plant that sits.”  “Live forever” is an ancient Greek name for sedums. The Roman Pliny claimed that sedum’s juice treated wounds.  In the 1500’s English herbalist Gerard called sedums “very full of life,” referring to succulent’s quality of being very easy to grow.  This species 1^st described in 1931.