Pleasant Run Nursery Plant Library - (WHOLESALE ONLY)

Winter Jasmine has soft yellow flowers appearing in February through March over shiny green leaves. A true signifier of impending spring and wonderful source of nectar for early pollinators.  The green stems of Jasminum nudiflorum add a note of interest in the winter, and are excellent for trailing over rock walls.    A fantastic option for erosion control and can be effective on slopes, or in areas with poor soil.  It can be rejuvenated by severe pruning after flowering.  This plant is native to Southeastern Tibet to Central China.

Common Rush is a wonderful wet site plant, with deep green spaghetti-shaped leaves that stand stiffly upright.  The ivory-white flowers appearing in summer are not showy, but they make an interesting contrast to the unusual foliage, and their seeds produce food for many small birds.  Old foliage should be cut back in early spring.  The stems do appear coarse and stiff, butthey are actually soft to the touch.  Juncus effusus is an attractive upright element for ponds, rain gardens and swampy areas, especially since it is evergreen.

The twisted, corkscrew-like stems of Juncus effusus ‘Big Twister’ are a showstopper in the wetland garden or pond edge where it will provide a tangled textural quality with its dramatic clumping form. This North American native Rush is capable of handling some standing water, and due to its low maintenance requirements and ability to adapt easily, can also be used in containers as an accent plant, or as a filler in cut flower arrangements.

‘Blue Arrows’ Rush is one of Hoffman’s Nursery’s Fantastic Foliage™ series, and this is a very showy evergreen selection. The straight blue green leaves or blades are very dramatic in wet sites or containers. Juncus inflexus ‘Blue Arrows’ thrives in rain gardens bioswales and stream sides, as well as average garden soils. It makes a dramatic central plant in a mixed container. Prune back old growth in spring.

Native to a vast expanse of North America, this diminutive and inconspicuous Path Rush is an ideal groundcover for wetland restoration or areas that receive consistent moisture. A fantastic option for sites where heavy clay soils dominate, and can also handle tough conditions such as roadsides or where soils tend to be compacted. If given the right conditions, Juncus tenuis is capable of becoming slightly weedy and should be considered for wet, sunny areas where reseeding and spreading are desired.

‘Sea Green’ Chinese Juniper has arching branches on a compact spreading form. The foliage is a somewhat dark green which darkens further in the winter. This is a good filler for big spaces, as it makes a nice consistent mass planting. Female form, so it often has silvery fruit.

Hollywood Juniper ('Kaizuka') is a classic conifer because of its unusual irregular branching combined with its dark green needles.  The open, sculpted shape makes this Juniper showy all year, whether planted as a screen of displayed as a specimen.  Hollywood Junipers are quite cold tolerant, so they are particularly effective in large containers on desks or patios.  We have heard from several customers that this is there 'go to' plant for seashore and urban roof top gardens since Hollywood Juniper handles salt and wind very well.  The common name of "Hollywood" is because this versatile evergreen seems to be planted everywhere in California.

The deep green prostrate foliage of 'Bar Harbor' Juniper takes on a purplish cast in winter. A tough evergreen groundcover that works well in rock gardens and in salt-exposed areas.

Eastern Redcedar is a highly variable native conifer, and the selection we offer comes from a seed source that provides columnar, uniform plants.  The neat green evergreen foliage takes on attractive purplish hues in fall and winter.  Juniperus virginiana is dioecius, and female plants bear blue-green "berries" (actually covered cones) which can be extremely showy in winter.  Both wet site and salt tolerant, Eastern Redcedar is an extremely adaptable native, and an important food source for migrating birds.  The wood has long been values for its beautiful color and rot resistance.

'Grey Owl' was selected in 1938 for its unusual habit and foliage color.  This unusual form of Eastern Redcedar is a broad low shrub, bearing silver gray needles thickly on its horizontal branches.  A female form, it will often have little round "berries" (cones) when mature.  Juniperus virginiana 'Grey Owl' is an attractive addition the native conifer groundcover field, showing its rugged adaptability over many years. 2023 PHS Gold Medal Plant.

PRN Preferred:  A native, low growing Eastern Redcedar.  Very adaptable.

'Taylor' Eastern Redcedar is a very narrow selection of Juniperus virginiana, found originally in Taylor, Nebraska.  'Taylor' has attractive silvery blue green needles and round berry-like cones which are an important food source for birds.  'Taylor' Eastern Redcedar is considered to be the most dry site tolerant of the Juniperus virginiana selections available.  It also has better than average resistance to Cedar Apple Rust. Many love it becasue it is similar in appearance to an Italian Cypress.

PRN Preferred: The attractive bluish green needles are displayed on a very narrow upright habit.

'Blue Star' Japanese Aster has pale blue Aster-like flowers held above deep green foliage, blooming from June to fall. Kalimeris incisa 'Blue Star' is a deservedly popular perennial in Europe. The habit is neat and compact, and it never flags in hot weather.  Blooms are good for cut flower or dried flower arrangements.  

PRN Preferred:  Blooms for a very long time, carefree compact plant.

Easy to grow and a prolific summer bloomer, Kalimeris integrifolia ‘Daisy Mae’ is a must-have, low maintenance perennial that bees and butterflies adore. White, daisy-like flowers with golden yellow centers bloom continuously from July to September over a compact mound of dark green foliage. This dutiful perennial is highly tolerant of drought conditions, and thrives in both heat and humidity. Birds will consume the leftover seedheads if spent flowers are not cut back.

'Carol' Mountain Laurel produces beautiful flower clumps in May and June.  The buds are red but the ballet shirt shaped flowers are pale pink to white when fully open.  The shiny green foliage is evergreen and somewhat leathery.  Kalmia 'Carol' is particularly showy when naturalized and planted in mass.  As Kalmias mature, they can become picturesquely open in habit, but if a tighter evergreen is desired, they can be pruned yearly, preferably soon after blooming.

'Carousel' Mountain Laurel blooms in May and June, with pink buds opening to white flowers accented by burgundy splotches and stripes.  The habit is upright and dense, making Kalmia 'Carousel' an excellent candidate for an evergreen natural looking hedge or screen.  Kalmia latifolia does well in acidic soils.  The evergreen foliage is attractive all year because of its lustrous dark green appearance. 

‘Pink Charm’ Mountain Laurel has vivid pink masses of flowers in May and June. The buds are dark red on the flower clumps, which open to the classic ballet skirt form New Englanders know and love. The foliage is evergreen and lustrous, making it attractive all year. Thrives best in well-drained acidic soil. Since Kalmia is a broadleaf evergreen, protection from winter winds is important.

'Raspberry Glow' Mountain Laurel comes from Dick Jaynes of Broken Arrow Nursery, and is a sibling of Kalmia 'Sarah'.  The buds are raspberry red, opening to a vivd deep pink in May and June.  The ballet skirt shaped flowers are borne in large clusters over deep green lustrous foliage.  Kalmia 'Raspberry Glow' tolerates a wide range of light conditions, and is one of the few broadleaf evergreens that is deer resistant.

‘Tiddlywinks’ Mountain Laurel produces dark pink clusters of flower buds in late spring. They open to soft pink “ballet skirt” flowers in early summer, displayed over lustrous evergreen leaves on a very compact plant. Kalmia latifolia ‘Tiddlywinks’ is considered a dwarf, but the flower clumps are normal sized, so they are particularly impressive on the small sized Mountain Laurel. Another beauty from Dick Jaynes of Broken Arrow Nursery in Connecticut.

The interesting thick-petaled yellow bell-like flowers of Kirengeshoma palmata appear on blackish stems in August and September, followed by weird three horned seed capsules (Dr. Alan Armitage calls them "Stephen King ... Fruit").  Features large (8") coarsely toothed, deeply lobed leaves resembling a Maple or Sycamore leaf.  Slow to get established, Yellow Waxbells needs a moist woodland. Kirengeshoma comes from Japan, where it is considered highly endangered in the wild.

Breaking away from the traditional floral color gradient of the genus, Kniphofia x ‘Gold Rush’ boasts pure, brilliant yellow blooms all summer long from June to September. The tropical appearance of this drought tolerant perennial is a great addition to the full sun perennial border, or container planting, where it can act as the linear element of a composition with its overall height of 4-5’. Unique, sunshine yellow blooms stand upright above blue-green, grass-like foliage, and are often visited by hummingbirds and butterflies.

Kniphofia x ‘Backdraft’ is a selection from the Pyromania® collection by Proven Winners® which features a stunning gradient of bright, fiery reds and oranges that fade to a creamy yellow on upright flower spikes. Bringing serious drama to the summer landscape, the bold inflorescences persist in the garden with a remarkably long bloom time from June to September. The tropical appearance of this cold hardy South African perennial adds an air of exoticism to the full sun garden or container with its slender, grass-like foliage and explosion of color when in bloom.

The perfect vertical accent to the full sun perennial border, Kniphofia x ‘Hot and Cold’ of the Pyromania® collection is covered with upright, bi-colored flowers over its long blooming period from June to September. The coral-tangerine to creamy white bi-colored flowers add drama and a tropical feel to the landscape, contrasting against the blue-green grass-like foliage. This South African native is highly drought tolerant, and is known to deter deer and rabbits while attracting pollinators like hummingbirds and butterflies.

Perfect for adding the vertical accent to the full sun perennial border, Kniphofia x ‘Rocket’s Red Glare’ is a selection from the Pyromania® collection that presents a fiery, rainbow palette of sunrise red to creamy yellow with its long-lasting blooms. From June to September, the unique, exotic-looking blooms continuously appear above strappy, arching blue-green foliage. Like the other Red Hot Poker types in the Pyromania® collection, the blooms remain sturdily upright throughout the bloom season and do not require staking. This South African native requires good drainage and can tolerate sandy or rocky soils.

A golden yellow flowering member of the Pyromania® collection, Kniphofia x ‘Solar Flare’ promises consistent blooms from June to September that are sure to attract hummingbirds and butterflies to the full sun perennial border or container garden. This Red Hot Poker selection brings drama to the landscape with its upright spikes of long-blooming, bright yellow flowers over top of slender, arching, grass-like foliage. This cold hardy perennial is a great consideration as a backdrop or as a central, vertical accent to shorter, summer-blooming perennials.

Cherry Dazzle® ('GAMAD 1') Crapemyrtle is a product of Dr. Michael Dirr's Razzle Dazzle® Crapemyrtle series, where excellent cold and disease resistance is combined with very compact sizes.  Cherry Dazzle® is covered with cherry red flowers starting in July, borne on a ground-hugging habit.  The new foliage starts out reddish, and the fall color is shades of burgundy-red.  This showy Crapemyrtle is small enough to mix well in perennial beds, and also has possible application as a short showy hedge.

Beautiful, bold, black-leaved Lagerstroemia Thunderstruck™ White Lightning™ ('JM4') is a fast-and-easy-growing, cold hardy Crapemyrtle that is prized for its stunning, glossy, dark burgundy-black foliage and prolific white blooms from June to September. The tallest of the black-leaved Crapemyrtles, this particular selection is a cross of the popular Lagerstroemia ‘Natchez’ with Lagerstroemia ‘Ebony and Ivory’, boasting a wider canopy and taller stature than ‘Natchez’, as well as the similar, dramatic, darkly-colored foliage of ‘Ebony and Ivory’. This is a wonderful specimen tree that can (and should!) be admired for its appearance – from the color contrast between the creamy white blooms and dark foliage, to the finely exfoliating bark that provides winter interest.

'Muskogee' Crapemyrtle has lavender flowers in July and August and red-orange fall color. The mature bark is shades of tan and grey.  One of several mildew resistant hybrids (crosses between L. indica and L. fauriei) that were developed by the National Arboretum and named after Native American Indian tribes. Introduced in 1978.

'Natchez' Crapemyrtle has white flowers in July and August, spectacular mottled exfoliating bark in shades of tan and chocolate, and yellow-red fall color. From Dr. Egolf and the US National Arboretum, Lagerstroemia x 'Natchez' is truly a four season plant. Per Phil Normandy of Brookside Gardens in Maryland, all the fauriei crosses like Natchez rebloom reliably after their first summer display.

PRN Preferred:  Amazing bark color added to the excellent cold tolerance really make this Crapemyrtle a winner.

'Tuscarora' Crapemyrtle has big coral-pink flowers blooming in July and August. A little more tender than the toughest of the Lagerstroemias, its flowers and open multi stem habit make it a show-stopper. Lagerstroemia x 'Tuscarora' is another winner from Dr. Don Egolf and the US National Arboretum.

'Orchid Frost' Spotted Nettle has lots of orchid-pink flowers from April to June on top of silver leaves with blue-green margins. It has good disease resistance and was found by Mike Bovio of English Gardens. Trim in summer when it becomes leggy and may rebloom in fall.  The silvery foliage brightens up a shady spot in the garden, also works well trailing in containers.

‘Phenomenal’ Lavender ('Niko') is a sport of L. ‘Grosso’, displaying greater disease resistance, vigor and winter hardiness. It was found and introduced by Peace Tree Farms of Pennsylvania, and has shown excellent flower production and survival in commercial Lavender farms. The flowers are tall and fragrant, set off by clear silver foliage. Blooms appear in mid summer and last a long time, making an excellent cut flower. Excellent drainage helps survival.  Semi-evergreen.

PRN Preferred:  Proven to be the most hardy and reliable Lavender we have ever grown.  Great success in containers and in the landscape.

‘Sensational!’ Lavender is the next generation after Lavandula x ‘Phenomenal.’ It has even showier lavender purple flower spikes on thick stems over heavier silvery foliage, with equal cold tolerance. If planted in good drainage, Lavandula ‘Sensational!’ should overwinter well, making a large clump the next year.  It has a slightly denser, more upright habit compared to L. ‘Phenomenal’ with a very long bloom time.  A very strong grower at our nursery, we love it.  Another wonderful introductin from Peace Tree Farms of Pennsylvania.

Leptodermis oblonga is a dwarf ground-hugging shrub with small purple-pink lilac-shaped flowers starting in June and continuing all summer. Native to northern China.  The blooms are very fragrant and produces flowers beginning is early summer and intermittently throughout much of the growing season.  It is late to leaf out in spring but give it time, blooms on new wood.  Sometimes referred to as baby Lilac shrub.  We continue to be amazed at its subtle but relentless flower power.  The small habit of this plant makes it a perfect addition to the front of the bed or small residential lots.

Rosy purple pea-like flowers explode in August and September. Lespedeza 'Gibraltar' is a semi-woody shrub with an arching, fountain-like habit.   Treat as cut-back shrub by cutting to the ground in late winter to early spring.  It will respond by producing rapid annual growth.  'Gibraltar' Bush Clover tolerates dry sites and looks amazing cascading down walls or over embankments.  It was found by the great plantsman (and artist!) William Frederick, Jr. of Delaware.  In our experience, Gibraltar is indistinguishable from Lespedeza 'Spring Grove'.

'Becky' Shasta Daisy has white flowers over glossy green leaves for an extended summer bloom period. Taller than other cutivars but does not need staking.  A long lasting cut flower.  Consider cutting stems back to basal leaves after flowering to preserve plant energies and perhaps prolong plant life.  It was named for Becky Steward of Decatur, GA. 2003 Perennial Plant of the Year. Salt tolerant.

‘Goldfinch’ Shasta Daisy blooms for an extended period in summer, producing bright lemon yellow semi-double daisies over clean green foliage. Leucanthemum x superbum ‘Goldfinch’ is the most yellow Shasta Daisy to date, making a great cut flower. Deadheading prolongs the bloom period. ‘Goldfinch’ is a good choice for sunny site containers.

'Snowcap' Shasta Daisy is a compact Leucanthemum which is covered with large bright white daisy flowers for an extended period in June and July.  The dark green foliage is attractive and disease free, making 'Snowcap' an excellent candidate for boarders or mass planting.  Deadheading spent flowers improves reblooming in Shasta Daisies.  Like L. 'Becky', 'Snowcap' is salt tolerant.

Coast Leucothoe is a lovely spring blooming broad leaf evergreen, with white flower racemes in April and May. Leucothoe axillaris's branching habit is an interesting zigzag and in winter it's foliage takes on hues of red and burgundy.   Prefers acid, moist soil and does not tolerate drought and wind so site correctly.  Native to the Southeastern US, Leucothoe axillaris flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.

The new growth of 'Rainbow' Doghobble is a striking blend of white, pink and green changing to cream and green as it matures, Leucothoe fontanesiana 'Rainbow' has white fragrant flowers in May. A selection by Girard Nursery in Ohio. Evergreen, turning plum colored in winter.

The wide powder blue leaves of 'Blue Dune' Lyme Grass combine with seedheads that look a little like barley. An aggressive spreader that likes dry sites. Leymus arenarius 'Blue Dune' is good for erosion control because it's so vigorous.  Native to the coastal areas of Western Europe, it is found in sand dunes as well as regular soils. Salt and wind tolerant.

Rough Blazing Star blooms later than Liatris spicata, producing tall upright stalks with rose-purple disk florets spaced evenly along the stems.  The flower spikes emerge from basal tufts of long thin green leaves and bloom August and September.  Because the fluffy flowers appear at the same time rather than sequentially, Liatris aspera makes an excellent cut flower.  Hummingbirds and butterflies benefit from the late summer nectar production.

Dwarf Blazing Star is a lovely native plant with delicate strap-like foliage topped by magenta-purple flower spikes in August and September. The shiny green leaves have an almost grass-like appearance. Blooming begins at the top of the flower stalk and progresses downward, butterflies and insects love the late season flowers.  Native to the southern Appalachian Mountains and found in dry prairies and open glades.  Due to its ability to adapt to harsh dry sunny conditions, Liatris microcephala is a good option for planting on a green roof.

'Floristan White' Gayfeather has white flower spikes in June and July.  Liatris spicata 'Floristan White' was developed in Germany for the cut flower market.   Enjoyed by numerous pollinators such as bees, butterflies and Hummigbird moths.  The spent flowers mature into soft tufts of golden brown.  Liatris spicata is a tall vertical element in the garden.

'Kobold' Gayfeather has lavender-magenta flower spikes blooming in June and July.  The florets begin opening at the top of the flower stalk and progress downward.  The stems are covered with long narrow green leaves.  Liatris spicata 'Kobold' makes a great cut flower and is more compact than the species.  It attracts many pollinators and, if deadheaded promptly, will rebloom.

The bright yellow daisy-like flowers of 'Othello' Bigleaf Goldenray appear in mid summer above big bronzy green leaves with purple undersides. Ligularia prefers moist sites so its perfect for along streams, ponds, pools or bog gardens. Good plant for a shady area on the north side of a house.

Limonium latifolium is a sun loving, salt tolerant perennial known commonly as Sea Lavender for the sprays of tiny, blue-lavender flowers that rise above basal rosettes of leathery, semi-evergreen foliage between July and September. Long lasting, heat tolerant blooms make a great textural addition to the well-drained garden bed, and make an excellent cut flower in arrangements. The Latin name Limonium refers to the Greek term “leimon”, meaning “meadow”, and specifically refers to salt meadows in the case of this sea-side European native perennial.

The leathery narrow green leaves of Greybush Spicebush turn the most spectacular combination of orange, red and purple in fall. Leaves are held throughout the winter, turning a very attractive tan. Since it holds its leaves, Lindera angustifolia (formerly glauca var. salicifolia) is a good screening alternative for traditional evergreens. Shiny black small fruit appears in the fall. It is Landscape Architect Michael Van Valkenburgh's newest favorite all-season shrub.

PRN Preferred: Super shrub!  Attractive all four seasons.  In the fall, many customers have asked "What's that shrub that looks like it is on fire?!".  Truly, unbeatable fall color.

Lindera benzoin has delicate pale yellow flowers in early spring, a standout in leafless woodsy vistas. The leaves, twigs and fruit are all fantastically fragrant when bruised and in that way great for connecting people to nature  In the fall the lemon yellow foliage lights up the woods. Plants are dioecious and female plants produce shiny red fruit which is an important food source for migrating birds.  It is a host plant for the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail and Spicebush Swallowtail.  Our native Spicebush is wet site tolerant and deciduous.

Extremely narrow form, 'Slender Silhouette' American Sweetgum was introduced by that superb plantsman Don Shadow. It has beautiful glossy green leaves and is wet site tolerant. Liquidambar styraciflua 'Slender Silhouette’ is best planted in poor soils, this will slow its growth rate allowing the plant to keep it upright, narrow habit.  When planted in rich soils it sometimes will grow too fast causing the branches to split open.  If pruning is necessary to remove straggler branches, it should be done in late winter to early spring before the tree leaves out.  The fall color is yellow to burgundy.  Virtually fruitless as a young tree, it will gradually begin to produce a few fruits, but they are much less in number than the species.  'Slender Silhouette' makes an amazing upright element in the landscape, a great choice for tight spaces, medians or as a screen that borders along property lines. 

PRN Preferred:  Amazing structure and trouble free foliage.

The lavender-blue flowers of 'Big Blue' Lily-turf appear in late summer. Liriope tolerates dry and difficult sites, and is an evergreen spreader. The flower spikes make good short cut flowers.  Flowers are followed by round, shiny black berries that remain through the winter months. 

'Royal Purple' Lily-turf produces purple flower spikes in August and September, held above dark green strap-like foliage.  Liriope 'Royal Purple' makes a tough, neat groundcover, slowly spreading to make wide, weed repelling patches.  The flower spikes make attractive long lasting cut flowers, and the evergreen leaves are a consistent source of winter color.  In the fall, Liriope 'Royal Purple' produces black shiny berries on the spent flower spikes.

Lavender-blue flowers in late summer appear over cream and green striped foliage. Variegated Lily-turf tolerates dry sites and is a showy evergreen clump.  Can be used in a mass planting or as a single perennial specimen.

The scarlet flowers of Cardinal flower appear in August and September. Lobelia cardinalis is wet site loving and can handle breif flooding.  It attracts hummingbirds and numerous butterflies.   The common name is in reference to the red robes worn by Roman Catholic cardinals.  Lobelia cardinalis seeds itself beautifully in wetland areas, along streams and in rain gardens.

'Black Truffle' Cardinal flower has leaves which are purple to black, especially in spring and early summer.  Lobelia cardinalis 'Black Truffle' produces 4' spikes of vivid red flowers from July to September, attracting hummingbirds, butterflies and other pollinators like mad.  This very showy native is an introduction by Peter Heus of West Virginia, and is being marketed by Plants Nouveau and North Creek's American Beauties Program.

‘Pink Flame’ Cardinal Flower is an introduction by Brent Horvath of Intrinsic Perennial Gardens. A seed selection, Lobelia ‘Pink Flame’ primarily blooms bright pink, but there may be some red flower spike variation. Like traditional Cardinal Flowers, ‘Pink Flame’ is a magnet for hummingbirds and pollinators in late summer, when the tall spikes appear in moist and wet sites. All Lobelias are deer resistant.

White Cardinal Flower has all of the attributes that are known and loved in the red-flowering straight species, with the addition of pure white blossoms instead of the typical scarlet red. From July to October, the white, two-lipped flowers emerge overtop of a basal rosette of chartreuse foliage, attracting both hummingbirds and butterflies. The foliage color of White Cardinal Flower is also lighter than the straight red species, taking on more of a chartreuse hue than the typical green. This late season bloomer is tolerant of clay soils and works well along the stream bank or in other moist, low-lying areas.

Big Blue Lobelia has clear blue flower spikes appearing in August and September, attracting hummingbirds, bumblebees and long-tounged bees. Given enough moisture, Lobelia siphilitica does well in full sun, even more than L. cardinalis. Very wet site tolerant, and naturalizes well from seed.  Plants are indigenous to wet prairies, soggy meadows, edges of ponds, wet pastures.  

Privet Honeysuckle is a beautiful evergreen shrub with low horizontal branches that will root-in and slowly spread over time, making it a good choice as a woody groundcover or as a slope stabilizer.  Native to China, it is salt tolerant and does well in seashore settings.  It is easy to shape by pruning and is an excellent choice for shady deer-dominated areas.  Lonicera pileata often produces glowing amethyst fruits in late summer on older plants. 

PRN Preferred:  Works much better than any Cotoneaster as a groundcover.  This evergreen works well in dry sites.

The tubular yellow flowers of 'John Clayton' Trumpet Honeysuckle appear on a compact repeat-blooming form. This Lonicera was found in 1991 on the grounds of a 17th century church in Gloucester, Virginia.  Lonicera sempervirens flowers on new growth, avoid pruning until after flowering.  Best grown on a support such as a arbor, fence or trellis.  Although flowers of this native plant are only mildly fragrant they are loved by butterflies and other pollinators.  Lonicera sempervirens 'John Clayton' will produce berries in the fall which are quickly eating by birds.  Named after John Clayton who was a colonial botanist and plant collector from Gloucester County, Virginia.

The coral red flowers of 'Major Wheeler' Trumpet Honeysuckle bloom for a very long time from late spring through the summer especially with a post-bloom trim.  Loved by hummingbirds. Lonicera sempervirens 'Major Wheeler' has clean foliage; blooms on previous year's growth and new growth.  'Major Wheeler' is a non-aggressive, non-invasive honeysuckle that needs the support of a trellis, cage or fence to wind and wrap itself around.  Found by Charles Wheeler of the NC Botanical Garden Foundation.  PHS Gold Medal Plant 2015.

PRN Preferred:  Very showy red flowers and disease free foliage, blooms for a very long time.

Showstopping royal purple and white spikes of bi-colored flowers stand erect over velvety, blue-green, palmate foliage, blooming from late April to June. The sturdy, upright structure and mounding habit that Lupinus polyphyllus Westcountry™ ‘Blacksmith’ has to offer make it the perfect vertical accent to shorter early-summer flowering perennials, with the deep purple contrasting nicely with the typical white, pink and yellow flowers of the mid-to-late spring. Lupines are known to attract butterflies and even the occasional hummingbird, but are typically deer and rabbit resistant.

Like the warm rays of light pouring out of city windows at night, the stunning creamy yellow and burgundy-purple bi-colored flowers of Lupinus ‘Manhattan Lights’ of the Westcountry™ series stand tall and noble above blue-green palmate foliage, blooming from mid-May to early June. The floral colors of this mounding perennial are truly something to behold, a feat of many years of trial and error in Lupine cultivation. The striking and unique floral color of this Lupine cultivar as well as its upright, sturdy, mounding habit make it the perfect mid-garden vertical accent where it can act as the backdrop to smaller, late-spring blooming perennials. Lupines are known to attract butterflies and even the occasional hummingbird, but are typically deer and rabbit resistant.

Bold spikes of deep red, upright flowers with hints of creamy white emerge above mounding blue-green palmate foliage from late May to early June. Lupinus ‘Red Rum’ of the Westcountry™ by George Russell of West Country Nursery. The erect, sturdy flowers of this Lupine cultivar make for the perfect vertical accent to the pollinator garden or mid-garden border, where it will be appreciated by butterflies and hummingbirds alike.

Lance-leaved Loosestrife has burgundy to maroon delicate foliage appearing in spring. The small but plentiful yellow blossoms appear in early spring and continue throughout the summer, making an attractive crown to the dark foliage. Lysimachia lanceolata var. purpurea is a subtle but tough native ground cover, spreading by rhizomes in both full sun and light shade. The expanding patches of Lance-leaved Loosestrife function as weed suppressors.

Golden Creeping Jenny has bright, golden yellow leaves that hug the ground and form a dense, attractive mat. Small yellow flowers in spring are not conspicuous, but the leaves turn a bronzy-gold fall color. Best yellow color in full sun; foliage is lime green in shade.  Lysimachia is great for rock gardens, container and trailing over walls, fast spreading.  It makes a great contrast when paired with dark leaved plants.