Pleasant Run Nursery Plant Library - (WHOLESALE ONLY)

The tall white pea-flowered spikes of Baptisia alba var. macrophylla appear in May and June. Black peapods add interest into the fall and winter. A very long lived perennial.

Blue False Indigo, also known as Redneck Lupine, has blue pea-like flowers and glaucous trifoliate leaves.  Asparagus-like buds emerge from the ground in early spring and grow to form a dense bushy long-lived perennial.  Baptisia australis blooms in May and June and is frequented by bees and butterflies.  After flowering deep purple seed pods develop adding interest and sound to the garden.  All Baptisia have deep tap roots and spend the first year or two developing them so site them carefully and expect the real flower show in the third year.  Also Baptisias are very roadside salt and dry site tolerant. 2010 Perennial Plant of the Year.

PRN Preferred:  Easy to grow and does not grow too big.

The yellow pea-shaped flower spikes of Baptisia sphaerocarpa appear in mid summer over disease resistant green foliage. Clump is long lived and increases in size every year.

‘American Goldfinch’ False Indigo is a large floriferous Baptisia, with bright yellow spikes of pea-shaped flowers for a prolonged period in late spring and early summer. The flower spikes are followed by large round seed pods which are held above the neat green foliage throughout the summer. Baptisia ‘American Goldfinch’ is a large, problem-free perennial with a very long lifespan, so give it plenty of room when planting. Another great introduction from Walters Gardens.

‘Blue Bubbly’ False Indigo is part of Hans Hansen’s Decadence® Deluxe series. Baptisia ‘Blue Bubbly’ produces 18” spikes of purple blue pea-shaped flowers starting in late spring. Baptisias make large long-lived clumps which tolerate a wide range of soils and conditions. Plant them in the back of sunny perennial beds and don’t plan to move them unless you have a backhoe.

‘Blueberry Sundae’ False Indigo is part of the Decadence® Deluxe Series from Walters Gardens. The flower spikes are a deep indigo blue and are produced for an extended period from late spring to early summer. The blue green foliage is clean and attractive, and Baptisia ‘Blueberry Sundae’ displays large black seedpods in the fall. Baptisias are deer resistant and long-lived.

‘Cherries Jubilee’ False Indigo is one of the Decadence® series from Proven Winners. The peashaped flowers emerge as maroon buds on sturdy spikes in late spring, opening to a combination of maroon and yellow. As the blooms mature, they take on more yellow tones. Baptisia Decadence® ‘Cherries Jubilee’ is relatively compact, and has bluish green clean foliage which has the added advantage of deer resistance.

Decedence® 'Lemon Meringue' is a new introduction from Hans Hansen's extensive breeding program.  The lemon yellow pea-shaped flowers are held on tall charcoal colored stems above bluish green foliage.  A tough, long lived native perennial, Baptisia 'Lemon Meringue' is a colorful addition to the back of perennial borders as well as an excellent candidate for prairie gardens and dry meadows.  Decadence® Lemon Meringue is drought tolerant, deer resistant and long blooming.   

PRN Preferred: Attractive contrast between the bright yellow flowers and the charcoal stems.

‘Pink Truffles’ False Indigo is in the exciting Decadence® Deluxe series from Hans Hansen and Walters Gardens. The soft pink pea-shaped flowers emerge in late spring and cover the tall green spikes. They age to a soft lavender and the green summer seed capsules turn black in the fall. Bees and pollinators love Baptisia ‘Pink Truffles’, which is extremely long lived like its siblings.  

‘Sparkling Sapphires’ False Indigo is another great new Baptisia cross from the amazing work of Hans Hansen. Baptisia ‘Sparkling Sapphires’ produces violet blue flower spikes in late spring through early summer, attracting butterflies and pollinators. The habit is somewhat compact for a Baptisia. Large black seed pods follow the flower display in summer, adding another interesting visual note.

Decadence® 'Vanilla Cream' False Indigo has 10" spikes of vanilla pea-shaped flowers in May and June.  The petioles are dark gray, making an attractive contrast to the opening flowers.  The clean disease free foliage matures to grayish green in summer, making a wide clump topped by dark charcoal round seedheads.  Baptisias are very long lived perennials and are useful in the back of mixed borders as well as in meadows.  From Hans Hansen's Decadence® series.

‘Dark Chocolate’ False Indigo blooms for an extended period in late spring. The flower spikes are covered with dark brown to purple pea-shaped flowers, crowning the compact habit of Baptisia x ‘Dark Chocolate’. The showy blooms are followed by dark round seedpods in the summer. ‘Dark Chocolate’ False Indigo is another long-lived perennial from the breeding work done by Hans Hansen of Walters Gardens.

‘Pink Lemonade’ False Indigo is an unusual bicolor Baptisia from the extraordinary work of Hans Hansen. The peashaped buds of the flower spikes emerge a soft yellow in late spring. As the flowers mature, they take on hues of raspberry pink, set off by charcoal stems. Since the spikes continue to produce flowers for an extended time, both colors are on display simultaneously. Baptisia ‘Pink Lemonade’ is part of Proven Winners’ Decadence® Deluxe series.

Begonia grandis, commonly referred to as Hardy Begonia with its hardiness zone of 6-9, is the only Begonia capable of surviving through Mid-Atlantic winters. Drooping clusters of fragrant, pink inflorescences attract pollinators from July to October. Hardy Begonia is a great consideration for woodland sites with Black Walnut trees due to this plant’s resistance to the allelopathic properties and its capability of handling partial to heavy shade. Begonia grandis prefers moist, well-drained, organic soils, and will reproduce by small bulblets as well as by self-seeding in ideal conditions. Plants will do best if given winter protection.

‘Freckle Face’ Blackberry Lily has several seasons of interests, with flowers in late summer followed by seedheads in fall and early winter. The 2” showy flowers are produced in quantity, displaying bright orange petals with lots of red dots. The seedheads emerge in fall and look like blackberries because of the shiny black berry clusters. Belamcanda chinensis ‘Freckle Face’ is an improvement on the pale orange species, and comes from Walters Gardens in Michigan.

‘Hello Yellow’ Blackberry Lily makes for a very bright splash of color in late summer when most other perennials are praying for reprieve from the heat and humidity. This Iris relative also boasts wonderful seedheads that I remember, fondly, playing with as a child like little maracas.

Bergenia x DRAGONFLY ‘Sakura’ is a versatile, evergreen groundcover that is great for adding color to borders, pathways and mass plantings with part or close to full shade. Upright clusters of semi-double, hot pink flowers reminiscent of cherry blossoms appear from mid-March to early May, and make excellent cut flowers when used in fresh arrangements. Likewise, the foliage, a dark greenish-purple that turns a deep blackish, reddish purple in winter, is also an excellent addition to floral arrangements. The common name of this plant, Pig Squeak (which is arguably the greatest common name ever), refers to the sound the leaves make when rubbed together due in part to the thick, rubbery, foliage texture.

Dura-Heat® ('BNMTF') River Birch has lighter bark than Heritage® Birch, showing lovely whitish tan exfoliating bark at a young age.  Since it hails from Georgia, its heat tolerance is excellent, with the result that its compact dark green leaves are retained all summer.  The fall color is yellow, and its striking bark makes it a particularly welcome addition to the winter landscape.  Like all River Birches, Dura-Heat® is very tolerant of wet sites and resistant to typical Birch diseases.

Heritage® ('Cully') Riverbirch is one of the best Birches for the Northeast.  Discovered in a St. Louis suburb and tested and introduced by the extraordinary plantsman Earl Cully. Noted for it's cold hardiness, beautiful creamy exfoliating bark, disease and borer resistant, wet site tolerant, fast growth habit, we could go on and on...

‘Dragon Lady’ Crossvine produces showy salmon red trumpet-shaped flowers in early to mid summer. Bignonia ‘Dragon Lady’ is vigorous and fast growing, so it does well on strong tall trellises. The semi-evergreen dark green foliage turns shades of bronze and purple in fall. ‘Dragon Lady’ should be pruned vigorously just after blooming to keep it neat and tidy.

Hardy Orchid has rosy purple flowers in May, like miniature Cattleyas.  It is a native of the grassy slopes of central and southern Japan and the cool mountain slopes of China.  Over time is will naturalize and slowly spread.  Bletilla striata prefers moist, well drained soil but will handle some dryness once established. Best planted in spring or early summer.

Side-oats Grama blooms in late summer and early fall, producing interesting side bracts (‘spikelets’) which hang down on one side of the stems. As the seeds mature, they dry to an attractive tan which looks like oats moving in the breeze. Bouteloua curtipendula is a Tall Grass Prairie Plant, growing vigorously in warm weather. It is a larval host for several skipper butterflies and moths, and the mature seedheads feed a multitude of birds and small mammals.

'Blonde Ambition' Blue Grama is a lovely low maintenance native grass which has unusually shaped inflorescences. The orange to straw colored flowers are held horizontally off the stems, so that they look like tiny feathers.  'Blonde Ambition' produces chartreuse flowers (instead of purple for the species) on taller flowering stems.  This is especially lovely when back lit by afternoon sun. When planted in mass, Bouteloua 'Blonde Ambition' can serve as an infrequently mowed lawn, since it does best in full sun. It was introduced by David Salman of High Country Gardens, and brought to our attention by Steve Castorani of North Creek Nurseries.

PRN Preferred:  A fun whimsy appeal, what other grass has horizontal seedhead that last well into the winter?

The beautiful seed heads of Quaking Grass start appearing in June and are a wonderful addition to cut and dry flower arrangements. Seed heads make a lovely sound in the wind. Prefers a dry, well drained site.

Heartleaf Brunnera blue forget-me-not-like flowers which appear over heart-shaped leaves for eight to ten weeks starting in early to mid-spring through June.  Due to the rough texture of the leaves, deer and rabbits tend to leave Brunnera macrophylla alone.  A native to several regions of Eastern Europe and Asia, it must have a moist spot and part to full shade. A slow spreader and will also self-seed.

'Silver Heart' Heartleaf Brunnera blooms in April and May, with cobalt blue flowers held over stunning silver and green heart-shaped leaves.  The leaves are similar to the other new silver-laced cultivars but Brunnera 'Silver Heart' has thicker, more pubescent foliage, so it tolerates our hot East Coast summers better.  All Brunneras perform best with moderate but consistent moisture, and the effect of the large blue flowers over the silver foliage is spectacular in the spring.

'Black Knight' Butterfly Bush boasts fragrant purplish violet flowers starting in late June. This Buddleia has a vigorous and large habit, and blooms all summer into fall.

'Miss Molly' Butterfly Bush starts blooming in July and continues all summer without deadheading.  The fragrant flowers are pinkish rub red and plentiful.  Buddleia davidii 'Miss Molly' is a midsized Butterfly Bush, so it works well in the back of perennial beds as well as a low hedge.  Butterflies and hummingbirds consume the nectar all summer.  Another beauty from Dr Dennis Werner of NC State, who crossed 'Miss Ruby' with 'Attraction' to produce 'Miss Molly'.

Flutterby Petite® 'Blue Heaven' ('Podaras #8') Butterfly Bush is a new introduction to the groundcover Buddleia world, with blue fragrant flowers all summer over low growing silvery foliage. It is largely sterile, and is a great nectar source for hummingbirds, butterflies and other insects. A Ball Ornamentals introduction from hybridizing work by Peter Podaras.

PRN Preferred: Although quite compact in habit, Petite® ‘Blue Heaven’ is a very heavy bloomer all summer and shows better cold tolerance than many other ‘dwarf’ Buddleias. 

Lo & Behold Ruby Chip® (‘SMNBDD’) Butterfly Bush has the same shocking pink blooms as Buddleia ‘Miss Molly’, but on a dense compact habit. The flowers start in June and are produced all summer, especially if occasionally deadheaded. The green deer resistant foliage is dense and tight, so Buddleia Ruby Chip® makes a great addition to sunny perennial borders. Megan Mathey of Spring Meadows Nursery is the breeder of this dwarf beauty.

'Purple Haze' Butterfly Bush is an exciting new groundcover Buddleia with a low mounding habit and an all summer display of bluish purple fragrant flowers. The foliage is green, the flowering branches are arching, and the flowers are sterile. Another breakthrough from Dr. Dennis Werner of NCSU.

Pugster Blue® ('SMNBDBT') Butterfly Bush blooms throughout the summer and into the fall, producing large blue flowers on sturdy short stems. The growth habit of Buddleia x Pugster Blue® is very compact, making this a good candidate for containers and perennial borders. The blooms are fragrant, and attract butterflies and other pollinators all summer. The Pugster® series from Spring Meadow shows better winter cold tolerance than other dwarf Buddleias.

Pugster Pinker® (‘SMNBDB’) Butterfly Bush has large deep pink fragrant flower spikes on a compact, sturdy plant all summer. The Pugster® series shows good cold tolerance and does not require pruning because of the neat compact habit. Megan Mathey is the breeder and Spring Meadow Nurseries is the introducer through the Proven Winners® program.

Pugster White® (‘SMNBDW’) Butterfly Bush is a compact but sturdy Buddleia, with large fragrant white flowers. The short stature means that the Buddleia x Pugster White® does not need the pruning that earlier large cultivars have required. Also, the Pugster® series is somewhat more cold tolerant than several earlier Buddleia cultivars. This would make a good potted plant for sunny patios in summer.

Pugster® Amethyst ('SMNBDL') Butterfly Bush is a more cold tolerant compact Buddleia, with large lavender purple blooms on short sturdy stems.  Pugster® Amethyst starts blooming in June and keeps on flowering until early fall.  A Spring Meadows introduction, this Buddleia is recommended for use in rock gardens, perennial beds and tighter sites than most Buddleia can handle.

As many of you are already aware, the threat of Boxwood Blight is increasing in our area. At PRN, we are taking additional steps to provide healthy Boxwoods. First, we only source from growers who can provide Boxwood Compliance Certificates. Additionally, we are limiting access to our Boxwoods at the nursery. This is being done to reduce the risk of spreading the disease to healthy plants. Boxwood Blight is often transmitted through spores carried on shoes and clothing, and resistant but healthy Boxwoods have been shown to carry the disease as well. Customers will be able to view and order Boxwoods from PRN but they will be a “PRN Pull Only”. These extra precautions will keep PRN clean from Boxwood Blight so you can feel reassured that you are purchasing healthy, disease free Boxwoods which will thrive at your job site.

NewGen™ Freedom® (‘SB300’) Boxwood comes from years of testing by Saunders Brothers Nursery of Virginia, in their Boxwood Blight resistance trials. Freedom® and Independence® are both highly resistant to both Blight and Boxwood Leafminer. Buxus NewGen™ Freedom® is the taller of the two, with a rounded but vigorous habit. It makes a beautiful green hedge or foundation planning, and benefits from a light yearly pruning to maintain the tight shape.

New Gen™ Independence (‘SB108’) Boxwood was found as a chance seedling near Williamsburg, VA. The Boxwood Kings of Saunders Brothers selected it after years of observing Independence® because of its proven excellent resistance to both Boxwood Blight and Boxwood Leafminer. Buxus New Gen™ Independence® is the best replacement for English Boxwood in size and shape. The evergreen foliage maintains its deep green color well in the winter.

'Little Missy' Little Leaf Boxwood is an excellent substitute for Buxus 'Justin Brouwers' is areas where Boxwood Blight is increasingly a problem.  The Buxus microphylla cultivars are much more resistant to the effects of the blight, and 'Little Missy', with it's compact mounding habit and diminutive size works well where really small Boxwoods are needed.  The leaves are lustrous dark green and tolerate sun well.  Buxus 'Little Missy' does well with trimming, so it can be used to make knot gardens and short formal hedges.

Baby Gem™ ('Gregem') Little Leaf Boxwood is a sport of Buxus 'Winter Gem' with a tighter habit and neater foliage.  Although Buxus Baby Gem™ eventually reaches the size of its parent, it is slower growing and needs little pruning.  The summer color is a good dark green, and Baby Gem™ does not bronze in winter.  An introduction from Greenleaf Nursery of Oklahoma.

'Jim Stauffer' Little Leaf Boxwood is a vigorous and formal microphylla cross, with good cold tolerance.  Buxus microphylla var. japonica 'Jim Stauffer' maintains a neat rounded habit with little pruning, and makes an attractive foundation plant or tight hedge.  This Boxwood has shown good resistance to both Boxwood Blight and Leaf miner.  

'Winter Gem' Little Leaf Boxwood has large glossy evergreen leaves with bronze backs and an upright rounded habit. Winter color is a bronzy green.

'Dee Runk' Common Boxwood has glossy dark green foliage that makes its conical shape a standout. It is evergreen, disease resistant and slow growing and is an exciting newcomer to the Boxwood scene.

Fastigiate Common Boxwood has dark green foliage which often has a bluish cast to the evergreen leaves.  The habit is a neat upright cone, somewhat wider at the base than B. 'Dee Runk'.  Buxus s. 'Fastigiata' shows minimal bronzing in the winter, and makes an impressive formal specimen.

'Vardar Valley' Common Boxwood is an unusually tough Buxus sempervirens, with excellent insect and disease resistance coupled with attractive green foliage that has a distinctive bluish cast.  It was found by Edgar Anderson of the Arnold Arboretum and Missouri Botanical Garden in 1945, along a river in Macedonia.  After years of observation it was named and released by the Arnold Arboretum because of its proven excellence.  Slow growing and compact, it forms an excellent low maintenance shrub for shady locations.

A cross between B. sinica var. insularis and B. sempervirens, 'Green Gem' Boxwood is a slow growing round evergreen that combines excellent hardiness with good winter color. An introduction by Sheridan Nurseries of Ontario, Canada.

'Green Velvet' Boxwood is a very hardy selection from Sheridan Nurseries in Canada. Glossy evergreen foliage on a round maintenance free shrub.