Perennials & Biennials

Showing 137–144 of 548 results

  • Clematis fremontii Fremont’s leatherflower Z 4-7

    Purple to white nodding bells with petal tips flipped up

    Buy

    OUT OF STOCK

    Purple to white nodding bells with petal tips flipped up on this short perennial – not a vine

    Size: 12" x 12"
    Care: full sun to part shade in moist to moist well-drained soil
    Native: Missouri, Kansas & Nebraska

    1st collected by John C. Fremont (1813-1890) celebrated American explorer, participant in the “Bear Revolt” that made California independent from Mexico & in turn part of the United States, Governor of California, 1st Senator of California, owner of a California gold mine, abolitionist, 1st candidate for US president on the Republican ticket and Civil War general fired by Lincoln for freeing the slaves of Missouri.  After accumulating fabulous wealth and spending it all, he died in poverty in New York.

  • Clematis heracleifolia PERENNIAL Z 3-8

    Hyacinth look alike sky blue flowers in August and September. One of internationally known garden designer Piet Oudolf’s 100 “MUST HAVE” plants, Gardens Illustrated 94 (2013)

    $15.95/bareroot

    Buy

    Hyacinth look alike sky blue flowers in August and September. One of internationally known garden designer Piet Oudolf’s 100 “MUST HAVE” plants, Gardens Illustrated 94 (2013)

    Size: 30” x 3’
    Care: sun in moist well-drained soil. Prune back to 6” above ground in spring
    Native: hillsides in central China

    Collected by French missionary Armand David before 1841. ”A sub-shrubby kind from China, bearing large quantities of tubular blue flowers … “ H.H. Thomas 1915

  • Codonopsis ovata syn. Glosocomia ovata syn. Wahlenbergia roylei Kashmir Bellflower, Bonnet Bellflower Z 3-7

    Large, single, pendulous, milky-blue bell-shaped flowers flared at the tips. Blooms July-August.

    Placeholder

    Buy

    OUT OF STOCK

    Large, single, pendulous, milky-blue bell-shaped flowers flared at the tips. Blooms July-August.

    Size: 15” x 15”
    Care: sun to part shade in moist well-drained soil
    Native: Himalayas, from Pakistan to Kashmir
    Wildlife Value: attracts Bees
    Size: Root is edible (but not tasty) when cooked. It can also be dried and ground into a powder. A famine food, used when all else fails. The roots and leaves have been used in its native areas to make a poultice for the treatment of bruises, ulcers and wounds. Medicinal use published 1895.

    Collected before 1835.

  • Convallaria majalis Lily of the Valley Z 2-7

    Classic - dainty alabaster white bells perfume the air

    $7.75/pot

    Buy

    Classic – dainty alabaster bells perfume the air in spring. Fragrance unmistakeable. Wonderful groundcover under trees.

    Can not ship to: Maryland

    Size: 9" x Spreading.
    Care: part shade to shade in moist to well-drained soil. Drought tolerant
    Native: north temperate zones in the world.

    Cultivated since at least 1000 B.C. The Norse goddess of dawn adopted it as her special flower. One legend claims the plant first appeared on the spot where St. Leonard shed blood while slaying the dragons. 17th century herbalists used Lily of the Valley to improve memory and strengthen the heartbeat. Grown by Jefferson.

  • Coreopsis rosea Pink tickseed Z 4-8

    pink daisies with yellow centers from summer through autumn

    $8.75/pot

    Buy

    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: 10” x 12”
    Care: full sun in moist well-drained soil. Slow to emerge in spring so don't forget where it is.
    Native: Eastern No. America
    Wildlife Value: Attracts butterflies

    Coreopsis 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.”

  • Coreopsis verticillata Thread leafed tickseed Z 4-9

    All summer into fall, non-stop - yolk yellow daisies

    $8.75/bareroot

    Buy

    All summer into fall, free-blooming non-stop – yolk yellow daisies atop wirey stems.

    Size: 24" x 18" spreading
    Care: Sun to part shade well-drained soil, drought tolerant
    Native: S.E. U.S.
    Wildlife Value: attracts butterflies

    Exported from its native America to England in 1759. Used to dye cloth red.

  • Cornus canadensis Bunchberry, Creeping dogwood Z 2-7

    white, pointed bracts in spring and showy scarlet berries

    Buy

    OUT OF STOCK

    Four white, pointed bracts in spring and showy scarlet berries in fall

    Size: 6” x Indefinite but slow growing
    Care: part shade in moist, acidic soil. Needs moisture to establish
    Native: Northern areas from the east to the west coasts of No. America, Wisconsin native.
    Wildlife Value: Host for the caterpillar of the Spring azure butterfly.

    Abnaki Indians used this to cure side pains.  Algonquin made a cathartic tea, cured colds and stomach aches and Delaware reduced body pains. Chippewa, Cree and Eskimo smoked the berries. Probably 1st collected for gardens by John Bartram.  Offered for sale in Bartram Garden’s 1783 Broadside, America’s 1st plant catalog.   “One of the prettiest plants for the bog garden or the cool parts of the rock garden.”  William Robinson, 1899. Pressed specimen in Emily Dickinson’s herbarium.

  • Cortusa matthiola Alpine bells Z 4-9

    Demure purple, drooping bells atop a short scape arising from a low carpet of foliage in May-June.

    Buy

    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: Alps

    Discovered 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