Alpine, Rock, Miniature, Bonsai and Railroad Gardens
Showing 33–40 of 97 results
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Chrysanthemum alpinum syn. Luecanthemopsis alpina Alpine daisy Z 5-
Short white daisies blooming June-August atop basal foliage, spreads to form small mat.
OUT OF STOCK
Short white daisies blooming June-August atop basal foliage, spreads to form small mat.
Size: 4” x spreading
Care: full sun in well-drained soil
Native: mountains of Europe1st described by French botanist Tournefort, early 1700’s. Wm. Robinson (1883): “A very dwarf plant. The leaves are small, and the abundant flowers are supported on hoary little stems 1 to 3 inches long, are pure white with yellow centres, and are more than 1” across… well deserves cultivation in bare level places, on poor sandy or gravely soil in the rock garden.”
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Clematis fremontii Fremont’s leatherflower Z 4-7
Purple to white nodding bells with petal tips flipped up on this short perennial – not a vine
OUT OF STOCK
Purple to white nodding bells with petal tips flipped up on this short perennial – not a vine
Size: 12-18” x 12”
Care: sun to part shade in moist to moist well-drained soil
Native: Missouri, Kansas & Nebraska1st collected by John C. Fremont (1813-1890) celebrated American explorer, instigator of the “Bear Revolt” that made California independent from Mexico. Governor, then senator of California, owner of California gold mine, abolitionist (“free soil” Republican), leader of soldiers who massacred Native Americans, 1st candidate for president on the Republican ticket and Civil War general fired by Lincoln for freeing the slaves of Missouri. After accumulating fabulous wealth (gold mine) and spending it all, he died in poverty in New York. I call him the most interesting American you never heard of.
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Coreopsis rosea Pink tickseed Z 4-8
Dainty (appearing but actually tough) pink daisies with yellow centers from summer through autumn, very long blooming. Wonderful for rock gardens, groundcover or front of border.
OUT OF STOCK
Dainty (appearing but actually tough) pink daisies with yellow centers from summer through autumn, very long blooming. Wonderful for rock gardens, groundcover or front of border.
Size: 12” x 12” spreading
Care: full sun in well-drained soil. Slow to emerge in spring.
Native: Eastern No. AmericaCoreopsis is Greek meaning “buglike” referring to the seeds looking like little black bugs. Thomas Nuttall 1st collected this flower in 1815 about 20 miles NW of Savannah along the river. He described its native habitat: “in open grassy swamps from New Jersey to Georgia…” William Robinson, father of the mixed perennial border called this “a neat and pretty plant.” In 1913 Sanders wrote that it “make(s) a brilliant display of color (when) grown in masses in sunny borders.”
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Cortusa matthiola syn. Primula matthioli Alpine bells Z 4-9
Demure purple, drooping bells atop a short scape arising from a low carpet of foliage in May-June.
OUT OF STOCK
Demure purple, drooping bells atop a short scape arising from a low carpet of foliage in May-June.
Size: 9” x 10”
Care: shade to part shade in moist soil
Native: AlpsDiscovered in a valley near Vincenza Italy in the foothills of the eastern Alps by Padua botany professor J.A. Cortusus. His friend Mattioli (1500-1577) named it for him and the species was named for Mattioli. According to Mattioli women used the leaves to color their cheeks pink: “the leaves applied to the cheeks, and shortly removed, occasion a beautiful colour, resembling that from the finest rouge. . .” Gerard grew this in London in the 1590’s but it was “at all times rare.” Profiled in 1807 in Curtis’ Botanical Magazine, plate 987
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Corydalis lutea syn. Pseudofumaria lutea Yellow fumitory, Z 4-8
Yellow blooms from late spring - fall. Longest blooming shade flower.
OUT OF STOCK
Yellow blooms from late spring – fall. Longest blooming shade flower
Size: 9-15" x 18"
Care: part shade to shade in moist well-drained to well-drained soil
Native: Throughout EuropeCorydalis is Greek for “lark” korydalos, referring to the shape of flower, a lark’s spur. Lutea means “yellow.” According to 16th century herbalist Culpepper, “Saturn owns the herb” so Corydalis lutea cured Saturn’s diseases of the liver, spleen, leprosy, scabs, itches, cholera, salty blood, jaundice, melancholy, plague, pestilence and red eyes. The Greek Dioscordes claimed that it “hinders fresh springing of hairs on the eye lids.”
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Corydalis ochroleuca syn. Pseudofumaria alba Z 4-8
Creamy white flowers touched with yellow from May to October. One of the longest blooming flowers for shade.
OUT OF STOCK
Creamy white flowers touched with yellow from May to October. One of longest blooming flowers for shade.
Size: 6-12” x 12”
Care: Shade to part shade in well-drained soil
Native: BalkansCorydalis is Greek for “lark” korydalos, referring to the shape of flower resembling a lark’s spur. This species published in 1831. Gertrude Jekyll (1848-1931) planted Corydalis ochroleuca as a “wide carpet” under peonies in her spring garden at her home, Munstead Wood.
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Dendranthema weyrichii syn. Chrysanthemum weyrichii Alpine daisy Z 4-8
Pink or white daisies all summer and fall
OUT OF STOCK
Pink or white daisies all summer and fall. One of the best for groundcover, front of border or rock garden plant.
Size: 6” x 18”
Care: sun in well-drained soil. Drought tolerant.
Native: East Asia & eastern RussiaCollected before 1891
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Dianthus carthusianorum Clusterhead PinkDianthus carthusianorum Carthusian pink, Clusterhead pink Z 5-9
Deep reddish pink flowers atop wiry stems from June until frost
OUT OF STOCK
Rosy carmine pink flowers atop wiry stems from June until frost
Size: 16" x 8"
Care: sun in moist well-drained soil.
Native: Central and southern Europe
Wildlife Value: attracts hummingbirds. Deer resistant.The common name “pink” is from “pinct” referring to the jagged edge of the petals. The word “pink” referring to the color, came from the fact that most of the Dianthus are pink. This species may have come into gardens with the Carthusian monks in the 1100’s.
