Perennials
Acanthus mollis
Acanthus mollis offers unusual pink-mauve flower spikes with white interior petals and purple calyces in July, held 3' to 4' above large shiny leaves. Bear's Breeches needs a shady, moist protected spot in the landscape.
H: 36 Inches · S: 36 Inches · Zone: 6
Acanthus spinosus
The pinkish mauve flower spikes with white interiors of Spiny Bear's Breeches look the same as those of Acanthus mollis, but the leaves look more spiny (they aren't) and the plant is more cold tolerant. This plant makes an amazing show for 2 months in the summer on the north side of our house.
H: 36 Inches · S: 36 Inches · Zone: 6
Achillea millefolium
A long-blooming perennial with delicate white flowers from May to September that attract both bees and butterflies. Highly dissected, fern-like, grey-green foliage provides interesting texture throughout the growing season. Pleasant fragrance makes it great for use in the sensory or medicinal garden. Heat, humidity, drought, and salt tolerant.
H: 30 Inches · S: 30 Inches · Zone: 3
Achillea millefolium 'Sassy Summer Sangria' PP31355
Deep red flat flower clumps held on sturdy stems above green fernlike foliage. Blooms most of the summer if deadheaded.
H: 36 Inches · S: 40 Inches · Zone: 3
Achillea millefolium 'Sassy Summer Silver' PP31754
Soft yellow flat flower clumps are held on long stems above ferny green foliage clumps. Blooms for extended period in the summer.
H: 28 Inches · S: 32 Inches · Zone: 3
Achillea millefolium 'Sassy Summer Sunset' PP31412
Dark orange flat flower clumps held on tall sturdy stems above ferny green foliage. Blooms for most of summer if deadheaded.
H: 34 Inches · S: 24 Inches · Zone: 3
Achillea millefolium 'Sassy Summer Taffy' PP31755
Deep pink to soft pink flower clumps on sturdy stems over green fern-like foliage. Bloom period is from early to late summer when deadheaded.
H: 30 Inches · S: 24 Inches · Zone: 3
Achillea ptarmica 'Peter Cottontail' PP31756
Round button-like white flowers cover green mounded plant in mid to late summer. Deer resistant and dry site tolerant.
H: 20 Inches · S: 20 Inches · Zone: 3
Achillea x 'Moonshine'
The bright yellow flat flowers of 'Moonshine' Yarrow appear in mid to late summer above ferny silvery gray foliage. Salt and dry site tolerant, Achillea x 'Moonshine' is a Blooms of Bressingham® selection.
H: 24 Inches · S: 12 Inches · Zone: 3
Aconitum carmichaelii 'Arendsii'
The cobalt blue flowers of Azure Monkshood appear in late summer and early fall. Aconitum carmichaelii 'Arendsii' blooms for a long period, and Dr. Alan Armitage says "it's the best late flowering Monkshood in cultivation."
H: 36 Inches · S: 24 Inches · Zone: 4
Aconitum fischeri
Spikes of deep azure blooms appear from August to October Great for deterring rabbits, deer, and slugs due to highly toxic sap.
H: 24 Inches · S: 12 Inches · Zone: 4
Acorus gramineus 'Minimus Aureus'
Dwarf Golden Sweet Flag is a wonderful plant for walkways as well as rain gardens and stream edges, because it is tolerant of foot traffic as well as significant moisture. The evergreen foliage is like tiny thick bladed grass tufts and when crushed, it releases an attractive sweet scent. The tufts slowly expand to make a short yellowish green mat. Although it looks like a grass, Acorus gramineus 'Minimus Aureus' is actually more closely related to the Iris family.
H: 4 Inches · S: 8 Inches · Zone: 5
Acorus gramineus 'Ogon'
'Ogon' Sweet Flag has bright yellow stiffly upright leaves that are a vivid addition to a wet site in the shade. The clumps of Acorus 'Ogon' get larger with age. This Sweet Flag is evergreen so it provides great winter interest. Introduced into the US by Barry Yinger. Per Diane Guidone formerly of Rumson, NJ, Acorus withstood salt inundation in the recent hurricanes really well.
H: 15 Inches · S: 12 Inches · Zone: 5
Actaea pachypoda
White flower spikes appear above green Astilbe-like foliage in spring. White berries with a black dot on the end, looking like doll's eyes, appear in summer. The fruit is highly toxic.
H: 24 Inches · S: 30 Inches · Zone: 3
Actaea racemosa
Snakeroot or Cohosh is a spectacular addition to the late summer flower garden with tall, rocket-like spires of ivory white, fragrant flowers which are held high above the green foliage. The bloom period is longer than a month and insects love it (great for nature photographers). Actaea racemosa is best in moist, shady locations.
H: 72 Inches · S: 48 Inches · Zone: 4
Actaea simplex 'Atropurpurea'
Branched Bugbane has fragrant white flowers in late summer, over purplish bronze foliage. By mid summer the leaves take on a green hue. Bees and butterflies love the blooms. Per noted plantsman David Culp, Actaea do very well under Black Walnuts.
H: 48 Inches · S: 36 Inches · Zone: 4
Actaea simplex 'Hillside Black Beauty' PP9988
'Hillside Black Beauty' Kamchatka Bugbane has white fragrant flowers in late summer that tower over dark purple foliage. A great source of nectar and pollen for insects. The leaf color is particularly intense in early summer before bloom time.
H: 48 Inches · S: 36 Inches · Zone: 4
Actaea x 'Chocoholic' PP24821
'Chocoholic' Bugbane is shorter than other dark purple Actaeas, but what it lacks in stature it makes up for in the beauty of its foliage. The leaves emerge in the spring as a dark bronzy purple and turn more green by mid summer. The fragrant white flower spikes tower over the foliage in the late summer, attracting all manner of pollinators. This is particularly attractive when paired with shade tolerant gold foliage plants. Consistent moisture is necessary for the best performance.
H: 36 Inches · S: 24 Inches · Zone: 4
Agastache foeniculum
Lavender flowers on erect stems bloom June through September. Anise scented foliage adds another dimension to an already great native perennial.
H: 36 Inches · S: 24 Inches · Zone: 4
Agastache rugosa 'Golden Jubilee'
Lavender blue fragrant flower spikes top chartreuse yellow fragrant foliage. A showy choice for sunny well-drained sites.
H: 30 Inches · S: 24 Inches · Zone: 5
Agastache x 'Black Adder'
'Black Adder' Anise Hyssop has prolific deep blue bottlebrush flowers from mid summer to fall. Compact habit and excellent hardiness make this a very exciting Agastache. Dry site tolerant with deliciously fragrant foliage. From Coen Jansen.
H: 24 Inches · S: 24 Inches · Zone: 6
Agastache x 'Blue Boa' PP24050
'Blue Boa' Anise Hyssop is an improvement on 'Blue Fortune'. The large fragrant flower spikes are larger and deeper blue in color, verging on violet. The foliage is a bright green and wonderfully fragrant when touched. Agastache x 'Blue Boa' blooms for a prolonged time in mid to late summer, especially when deadheaded after the initial flowers flush. Although 'Blue Boa' Hyssop has proven itself to be very cold tolerant, it needs excellent drainage to survive our winters. Introduced by Terra Nova, and winner of a number of Horticultural Awards.
H: 30 Inches · S: 18 Inches · Zone: 5