Perennials & Biennials
Showing 9–16 of 512 results
-
Aconitum napellus Monkshood Wolfsbane Z 5-8 POISON
Striking, late summer to fall tall stalks, top third covered with flowers, blue washed purple each topped with a hood, in ancient times like a monks’ hood, today like a sweatshirt’s hoody.
OUT OF STOCK
Striking, late summer to fall on the top third of tall stalks, covered with flowers, blue washed purple each topped with a hood, in ancient times like a monks’ hood, today like a sweatshirt’s hoody.
Size: 2-3’x 12”
Care: part shade, cool, moist soil
Native: Europe
Wildlife Value: Aconitums are unusual. They change sex, which, in turn increases procreation! When first blooming they have a “male phase” of about 5-6 days when pollen is available, and the plant produces more nectar and stronger scent. Then the male parts wither making the pollen available to the female parts. The pollen is toxic to bees so most avoid it leaving more for the female parts, therefore increasing fertilization. However, bees are able to collect nectar without harm. https://botany.one/2019/11/aconitum-offers-bees-more-nectar-to-carry-its-toxic-pollen/ Also deer resistant.
Awards: Elisabeth Carey Miller Botanical Garden Great Plant PicksThe name Aconitum is from the mythical hill Aconitus in Pontica where Hercules fought with Cerberus. The Monkshood reputedly sprang from the jaws of Cerberus, the guard dog of the underworld. Believed to make a potion that helped witches fly. Identified by Dioscorides in De Materica Medica for medicinal use c. 70 A.D. Philip Miller in The Gardener’s Dictionary (1768) wrote that the name Aconitum comes from Greek word for dart “because the Barbarians used to daub their darts therewith.” Used by physicians in 1200’s and to poison wolves: “This Wolf’s bayne of all poisons is the most hastie poison.” Wm. Turner, 1560’s. Called Monkshood due to the shape of each flower like a monk’s hood. Introduced to the new world by John Winthrop in 1631.
-
Adenophora lilifolia Ladybells Z 3-8
Fragrant, flared, drooping bluebells in midsummer, July and August
Fragrant, flared, drooping bluebells in midsummer, July and August
Size: 18" x 12" spreading
Care: full sun to part shade in moist, well-drained soil
Native: central Europe east to SiberiaAdenophora is Greek from aden meaning “gland” and phore meaning “to bear.” Named and renamed many times from 1753. “Fragrant blue flowers, freely borne on a loose pyramidal inflorescence.” H.H. Thomas, 1915. “Well suited for the mixed border.” William Robinson, 1899.
-
Adiantum pedatum Maidenhair fern Z 4-9
Grown for its delicate-appearing leaflets arranged in rows. One of internationally known garden designer Piet Oudolf’s 100 “MUST HAVE” plants, Gardens Illustrated 94 (2013)
Grown for its delicate-appearing leaflets arranged in rows. One of internationally known garden designer Piet Oudolf’s 100 “MUST HAVE” plants, Gardens Illustrated 94 (2013)
Size: 12-24”x 12”
Care: Shade in moist to moist, well-drained soil
Native: all parts of No. America including Wisconsin
Awards: England’s Royal Horticultural Society Award of Merit.Cherokee made a tea from this for flu, fever, and rheumatism, paralysis and asthma. Native Americans used stem to make a hair wash and applied a topical poultice of masticated fronds to wounds to stop bleeding. 1st described by French botanist Cornut in 1635. Introduced to gardens in 1635 from Canada where it grew in “such quantities that the French sent it from thence in package for other goods and the apothecaries at Paris use it for (another Maidenhair) in all their compositions in which that is ordered.” Philip Miller (1768). Englishman Tradescant the Younger introduced it to English gardens in 1638 when he sent it from Virginia Colony to London. English herbalist Nicholas Culpepper claimed it as “a good remedy for coughs, asthmas, pleurisy, etc., and on account of being a gentle diauretic, also in jaundice, gravel and other impurities of the kidneys.” (1652). Father of mixed perennial gardens, William Robinson, called this “elegant…unquestionably one of the most distinct and beautiful of the hardy ferns.” The Garden 1876.
-
Adiantum venustum Himalayan maidenhair fern Z 5-8
Black stems hold triangular, delicate, lacy fronds of tiny leaflets
OUT OF STOCK
Black stems hold triangular, delicate, lacy fronds of tiny leaflets. Favorite short fern.
Size: 6" x 12", slow spreader
Care: part or light shade in moist well-drained soil but tolerates any soil
Native: China and Himalayan Mountains
Awards: Great Plant Pick from Elisabeth Cary Miller Botanic Garden & Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden MeritAdiantum is from Greek adiantos, “unwettable” because its fronds repel water. Venustum means attractive in Latin. (We think it should be “venustumest” for most attractive.) Collected for gardens by 1841.
-
Adlumia fungosa Allegheny vine, Climbing fumitory, Bleeding heart vine Biennial Z 4-8
Dangling pink to white Bleeding heart-like flowers bloom all summer, June-September. Fern-like foliage on twining stems
OUT OF STOCK
Dangling pink to white Bleeding heart-like flowers bloom all summer, June-September. Fern-like foliage on twining stems
Size: 6-10’ x 12”
Care: part shade to shade in moist to moist well-drained, acidic soil
Native: Nova Scotia to No. Carolina west to Minnesota Wisconsin native status-special concern
Wildlife Value: attracts bumblebees1st described in 1789 (Aiton, Vol. 3 Hortus Kewensis).
-
Aethionema cordifolia Lebanon stonecress Persian candytuft Z 4-8
Short subshrub with lovely, tiny blue-green leaves on upright stems with terminal clusters of pale pink blooms in spring. Perfect for rock gardens and front of the border.
OUT OF STOCK
Aethionema cordifolia Lebanon stonecress, Persian candytuft Z 4-8
Short subshrub with lovely, tiny blue-green leaves on upright stems with terminal clusters of pale pink blooms in spring. Perfect for rock gardens and front of the border.Size: 6-8” x 12-15”
Care: sun in well-drained soil. Sheer back after blooming to keep compact and rebloom.
Native: Lebanon and possibly Caucasus on chalky summits.Collected before 1841. Foster: “…when planted in quantity does wonders for mass effect in the rock garden or alpine lawn.” January 1876 issue of The Garden called these “very attractive dwarf rock garden plants.” Aethionema from aitho meaning scorch and nema for filament.
-
Aethionema grandiflorum Persian stonecress Z 5-8
Bushy, low growing perennial with blue-green leaves and spikes of fragrant pink to lavender flowers, June-July
OUT OF STOCK
Bushy, low growing perennial with blue-green leaves and spikes of fragrant pink to lavender flowers, June-July
Size: 6-12” x 12-18”
Care: full sun in well-drained soil. Drought tolerant.
Native: Iran, Iraq, Caucasus, Turkey
Wildlife Value: attracts honeybees & other pollinators, Deer & Rabbit resistant.
Awards: Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural SocietyShort-lived perennial, but self-seeds where happy. Described in 1849 by Pierre Edmond Boissier and Rudolph Friedrich Hohenacker.
-
Agastache foeniculum Anise hyssop Z 4-8
Purplish-blue spikes from July to October, very fragrant.
Purplish-blue spikes from July to October, very fragrant.
Size: 2-3' x 12"
Care: Full sun in well-drained soil, heat and drought tolerant.
Native: North America
Wildlife Value: Skipper butterflies and Rusty patched Bumble Bees love Anise hyssop’s nectar, Deer resistant.The name Agastache is from Greek agan and stachys meaning much like an ear of wheat referring to the shape of the flower spike. Anise hyssop leaves were used by American Americans of the Missouri River region to make tea and as a sweetener in cooking. For Cheyenne it relieved chest pain due to coughing or to a dispirited heart. Listed as an aromatic herb in Bernard McMahon’s 1805 book, American Gardener’s Calendar.
