Pleasant Run Nursery Plant Library - (WHOLESALE ONLY)

Pachysandra procumbens is a groundcover that is native to the Southeastern US and parts of the PA-NY-NJ tri-state area. It forms a dense carpet, spreading slowly by rhizomes over time to form colonies. Whorled foliage emerges from a fleshy stem, starting as a blue-green and mottling with bronzy-silver through the growing season. A perfect consideration for the woodland or shade garden, this deer resistant, semi-evergreen groundcover is tolerant of, and adaptable to, many different soil types as long as it has full to partial protection from harsh sun. Pachysandra procumbens is known to be drought tolerant once established as long as it is protected by full shade. Fragrant white blooms appear in early April and are somewhat inconspicuously concealed by the new flush of spring foliage. Allegheny Spurge is a great native substitute for over-used, aggressive groundcovers such as Vinca or English Ivy, and is generally considered to be more attractive than its Japanese cousin, Pachysandra terminalis.

Golden Groundsel (formerly Senecio) is a very adaptable native groundcover which produces masses of yellow daisies in spring. Packera aurea flourishes in shady sites, both moist and dry. The green foliage is finely incised and attractive, and the flat topped flower clusters are held above the basal clumps on sturdy stems which makes them good cut flowers. Packera aurea is an excellent groundcover choice for rain gardens, wet meadows and moist to dry woodlands.

'Bowl of Beauty' Herbaceous Peony blooms in late spring and makes a beautiful show with fuchsia pink anemone-form flowers.  The dark pink guard petals surround creamy-yellow petaloids.  Paeonia 'Bowl of Beauty' makes an excellent long stemmed cut flower, with an attractive fragrance.

'Coral Charm' Garden Peony has lovely semi-double bright coral blooms opening in May and June.  Peonies bloom for an extended period, and make great cut flowers with a subtle scent that takes many of us back to our childhood memories.  Paeonia 'Coral Charm' won the 1986 Gold Medal of the American Peony Society.  A Wissing-Klehm selection.

'Coral Sunset' Garden Peony blooms in May and early June, with deep coral semi-double flowers accented by large deep yellow stamens.  Coral pink is an unusual color breakthrough for Peonies, and Paeonia 'Coral Sunset' is Roy Klehm's favorite one (and he should know, since he introduced almost all of them).  Lovely subtle scent, and a great cut flower.

'Flame' Herbaceous Peony is a single red flowered, early blooming classic perennial.  The guard petals are bright rose-red, surrounding the showy yellow stamens.  In addition to making a great cut flower, Paeonia 'Flame' is a good source of pollen and nectar for bees and insects.

‘Immaculate’ Herbaceous Peony produces semi-double ivory white flowers which have an attractive fragrance. Try it as a cut flower, so you get to enjoy the fragrance more. ‘Immaculate’ Peony blooms in May and June.

'Kansas' has double watermelon-red blooms and is an early season bloomer. It makes a lovely cut flower.

'Raspberry Sundae' Herbaceous Peony blooms in May and June, producing "bomb-shaped" blooms of a soft pink accented by center petals of raspberry and cream. The form of the flower is very striking, and makes Paeonia 'Raspberry Sundae' an especially showy cut flower. Like so many other fantastic Peonies, this beauty comes from Klehm Nurseries of Illinois.

‘Red Charm’ Herbaceous Peony blooms in late spring, producing scarlet red double ‘bomb form’ flowers on short thick stems. The blooms of Paeonia ‘Red Charm’ are sterile and as a result hold their petals well as a cut flower. Introduced in 1944 by Peony breeder Lyman D. Glasscock. ‘Red Charm’ won the APS Gold Medal in 1956.

Paeonia suffruticosa ‘Kaoukamon’ is known for producing beautiful, dark maroon flowers with golden yellow stamens that emerge in mid-to-late spring, usually around mid-April, and last until mid-to-late June. The lightly scented blooms are smaller than other Tree Peony varieties but are a wonderful option as the focal point for the pollinator garden, where they’re sure to be visited by butterflies. This long-lived perennial will bloom best in full sun, but can handle part shade and moist - but not overly saturated - soils. Finely lobed foliage takes on a lovely color in the fall, ranging from golden yellows, to brilliant oranges and reds, making this Tree Peony a multi-seasonal favorite. The dark maroon buds and open blooms make excellent, dramatic additions to both the garden as well as to fresh cut flower arrangements.

'Bartzella' Itoh Hybrid Peony has sulfur yellow double flowers in May and June, held on short stems above green disease-resistant foliage.  The blooms have red center flares on petals, and 'Bartzella' makes a lovely short cut flower.  Roger Anderson of Wisconsin introduced Paeonia x 'Bartzella' in 1986, after years of hybridizing work. 2021 PHS Gold Medal Plant.

PRN Preferred:  A heavy bloomer with bright yellow flowers.  Since is it an Itoh, the foliage looks good all season long.

'Border Charm' Itoh Hybrid Peony has bright yellow single flowers made more showy by red flares at the base of the petals.  Paeonia x 'Border Charm' blooms profusely in May and June, and makes a lovely short cut flower.  Since Tree Peony is one of the parents, the foliage is a good disease-resistant green, on short woody stems.  'Border Charm' was hybridized by Don Hollingsworth.

'Cora Louise' Itoh Hybrid Peony is one of the more vigorous Itoh introductions, bred by Roger Anderson of Wisconsin.  It combines excellent hardiness with extremely large showy blooms.  The 10" flowers have white petals which are maroon at the base, surrounding the yellow stamens.  The form is semi-double and the flower production in May is plentiful.  Like all the intersectional Peony hybrids, Paeonia 'Cora Louise' is a wonderful tough addition to the perennial garden. 

'First Arrival' Itoh Peony was introduced by Roger Anderson of Wisconsin in 1986, but the intersectional Peonies have only become well known fairly recently.  'First Arrival' produces large ruffled pink flowers in late spring and early summer over clean green foliage.  The Itoh Peonies combine the best characteristics of both parents, with mildew resistant leaves and compact tight habits.  Their long bloom period makes them a welcome addition to perennial borders.

'Julia Rose' Itoh Hybrid Peony blooms in late spring and early summer, producing a quantity of large apricot to red tinged flowers that are semi-double.  They make an excellent short cut flower, with strong stems and a subtle fragrance.  Since all Itoh Peonies are intersectional hybrids of herbaceous and Tree Peonies, they share the best characteristics of both plants, producing short woody stems and vigorous disease resistant green foliage.  An introduction from Roger Anderson.

'Old Rose Dandy' Itoh Hybrid Peony blooms in May and June, with large single copper petals enhanced by brick-red flares and yellow stamens.  Since 'Old Rose Dandy' is an intersectional hybrid between Tree Peonies and Herbaceous Peonies, the woody stems are quite short and are vigorously covered with handsome disease-resistant foliage.  A cross by Chris Laning in 1993.

Switchgrass or Panicum virgatum is a lovely native ornamental grass. Because there is a lot of variation in seedling populations, a number of wonderful variants have been selected and named (‘Shenandoah’, ‘Heavy Metal’, ‘Northwind’, ‘Purple Tears’ to name a few). Panicum virgatum handles a very wide range of soil and site conditions, and keeps its attractive habit well into the winter. Switchgrass is a very important food source for wildlife in fall and winter.  A popular winter forage for birds and bees that overwinter in the base and the dried foliage creates excellent nesting supplies for native birds.  It is also a food source for skipper caterpillars.

'Cape Breeze' Switch Grass has clean green foliage which retains its color into late October, before turning an attractive tan throughout the winter.  The airy tan inflorescences float above the upright compact plants, and serve as an important winter food source for birds.  Panicum 'Cape Breeze' is an excellent native grass for its tolerance of sterile soils and salty conditions.  Developed and introduced by North Creek Nurseries.

‘Gunsmoke’ Switchgrass is a midsize Panicum with bluish green foliage topped by airy tan seedheads in late summer and fall. Panicum virgatum ‘Gunsmoke’ is sturdy enough to be upright through the winter, with lovely tan foliage that moves attractively in breezy conditions. The seeds feed wildlife in fall and winter, and small grassland birds depend on Switchgrasses for protective cover in winter. An introduction by Walters Gardens.

'Heavy Metal' Switchgrass has blue-green foliage that is very upright, with attractive seedheads appearing in July and lasting throughout the winter. One of the earliest Switchgrasses introduced to the trade like all the Panicums this is an important seed source to feed winter birds.  Selected by Kurt Bluemel.

'Northwind' Switchgrass has green-tan seedheads above blue-green foliage with a very upright habit. Introduced by Roy Diblik of Northwind Perennial Farm in Wisconsin. Our favorite upright Panicum, and the perfect tall grass for tight spots. An excellent tan in the winter.  2014 Perennial Plant of the Year.  Bruce Neary of BCN Horticultural Services loves 'Northwind' because it never flops.

‘Purple Tears’ Switch Grass was found by Piet Oudolf in his garden, and is presumed to be a seedling of Panicum ‘Shenandoah’. The seedheads are stunning, starting with tiny reddish seeds in August which mature to shades of smoky purple and then tan as fall progresses. The green stems are upright and hold up well under winter conditions. Panicum virgatum ‘Purple Tears’ is definitely one of the showiest Switchgrasses to grow.

‘Rotstrahlbusch’ Switchgrass is a lovely selection of our native grass selected originally in Germany (‘Rotstrahlbusch’ means ‘Red Ray Busch’ in German). The silvery green summer foliage begins to develop red tips in late summer, and the blades of Panicum virgatum ‘Rotstrahlbusch’ become distinctly red in fall before turning tan in winter. The airy seedheads add to the beauty from late summer through winter, and the seeds are an important food source for wildlife. This Panicum is surprisingly tolerant of wet sites.

'Shenandoah' Switchgrass has reddish-tan seedheads above reddish-green foliage with burgundy tips. The fall color is a burgundy-red, turning to a soft tan in winter. Selected by Dr. Hans Simon in Germany and brought into this country by the US National Arboretum.  Important food source for winter birds.

PRN Preferred:  One of the shortest and showiest Panicums, with red blade tips in early summer.

'Summer Sunrise' Switchgrass is a compact Panicum, with a neat upright habit and clean bluish green foliage.  The inflorescences are striking, appearing in shades of soft pink in late summer.  They take on shades of pinkish gold in the early fall and Panicum 'Summer Sunrise' turns light tan in late fall and all winter.  This versatile grass is an Introduction by Hoffman Nursery in North Carolina.

‘Thundercloud’ Switchgrass is a cross between Panicum ‘Northwind’ and Panicum ‘Cloud Nine’, hybridized by Gary Trucks of Michigan. Panicum ‘Thundercloud’ shares the best characteristics of both its parents in that it is both tall and consistently upright. Its foliage is blue green and the airy seedheads are beautiful, from their appearance in mid summer to their tan dried winter presence. Once established, Panicum ‘Thundercloud’ should not be irrigated or fertilized. All Panicums should not be cut down in the fall, since their winter beauty is wonderful.

Ruby Vase® Persian Ironwood is an excellent choice as a street tree or a showy specimen for small spaces.  The habit is a narrow vase shape with tight upright branching.  New leaves emerge in spring with an attractive red margin.  The green Hamamelis-like foliage is clean and disease resistant all summer, turning lovely shades of yellow, orange and red in fall.  The small reddish purple spidery flowers are borne in winter on the twigs, providing food for winter pollinators, and the bark of older plants is attractive patches of green, tan and gray. 

'Vanessa' Persian Ironwood was chosen for its upright, columnar form.  Parrotia 'Vanessa' has multi-season appeal, starting in winter and spring when attractive mottled bark is offset by small red spidery flowers.  The oval shaped foliage emerges in spring with burgundy edges to the scalloped leaves.  By summer the foliage is a bright green, taking on stunning shades of red, purple, orange and gold in fall.

Chinese Parrotia or Ironwood is a very rare large shrub or small tree which is highly endangered in its original Chinese habitats.  Brought to England by Roy Lancaster, who received this clone from Mikinori Ogisu, the Japanese Botanist.  Tim Brotzman, the Ohio nurseryman who is a leading expert on Hamamelis, provided this rarity to us.  The green leaves in summer often have a striking purple margin.  The fall color is really spectacular, in shades of red, pink and burgundy.  Parrotia subaequalis is more compact than P. persica, but has more showy exfoliating bark as it matures.  The infrequently appearing red filamentous flowers in winter are similar to Parrotia persica.

Wild Quinine or Feverfew is an interesting native perennial with a number of unusual small wooly white flowers borne in flat-topped showy corymbs. The fragrant green leaves are contrastingly large, making a good setting for the delicate long-lasting blooms. Parthenium has a very long flowering period from late May into August, making it a wonderful back-of-the-border perennial or woods edge softener. Formerly used as a medicinal plant, Wild Quinine is unpalatable to deer and other pests.

'Fenway Park' Boston Ivy has bright yellow leaves that turn to lime-green in summer and brilliant scarlet-red in fall. It was found by Dr. Peter Del Tredici of the Arnold Arboretum near the famous baseball stadium as a chance sport of Parthenocissus tricuspidata.  Boston Ivy is salt tolerant.

'Cassian' Fountain Grass has light gold seedheads above fine green foliage. The seedheads are a little more colorful than 'Hameln' when they first emerge. Introduced by Kurt Bluemel. The winter foliage is a pale tan.

'Hameln' Dwarf Fountain Grass has creamy white seedheads, above fine green foliage. This is the most well-known of the Pennisetums, and a real workhorse. Like all Pennisetums, 'Hameln' does best with good drainage. The thin leaves take on an ivory winter color.

Lumen Gold™ (‘JS Jommenik’) Fountain Grass produces golden foliage in spring with a tight mounded form. The yellow blades hold their striking color throughout the spring and early summer, maturing to lemon or light green later. Pennisetum Lumen Gold™ comes from Belgium where it was found by Jan Spruyt. Like Pennisetum 'Hameln', Lumen Gold™ is crowned by attractive 2" plumes in fall and winter. Best if not cut back until spring.

'Piglet' Fountain Grass is more compact than P. 'Hameln' and hardier and showier than P. 'Little Bunny'. 'Piglet' is a good choice for a really compact space. Seedheads are a soft tan, lasting into early winter.  Introduced by Brent Horvath of Intrinsic Perennials

'Red Head' Fountain Grass has huge smoky burgundy bottlebrush seedheads above wide green leaves. Earlier blooming than 'Moudry' and showier. Selected by Brent Horvath from seedlings of P. 'National Arboretum'. It really turns heads when in bloom, and the winter foliage is attractive.

PRN Preferred: The huge seedheads sport very showy shades of burgundy and black before turning tan in late fall. 

'Karley Rose' Oriental Fountain Grass has very colorful rose-pink inflorescences over green foliage. 'Karley Rose' blooms all summer, with the older seedheads becoming a dark tan. This grass has an open habit.

Penstemon calycosus, commonly called Calico Beardtongue or Long-Sepal Beardtongue for… well… its long sepals, is a favorite of various pollinators including Sphinx moths, butterflies and long-tongued bees that visit its pink-mauve flowers from June to July when it’s in bloom. Native to eastern North America and parts of the Midwest, the snapdragon-like, lipped flowers range in color from pink-mauve to lavender to light purple with a white inner lip, standing upright over glossy, semi-evergreen foliage. Foliage forms in a low-growing, basal-rosette and takes on a gorgeous, bright red fall color. Calico Beardtongue is shade tolerant, but less drought tolerant than other Penstemon species, and prefers moist but well-drained soils.

'Blackbeard' Beardtongue has beautiful foliage in shades of eggplant and dark purple.  The color stays intense throughout the summer and is topped by deep purple stems bearing showy lilac to pink open faced flowers.  Penstemon 'Blackbeard' makes an excellent long lasting cut flower, and when finished blooming in the garden, the seedheads remain deep purple and attractive.  Pollinators like bumblebees, swallowtail butterflies, and ruby-throated hummingbirds are attracted to these native plants. A Walters Nursery introduction.

'Dark Towers' Beardtongue produces light pink trumpet shaped flowers on tall stems in May and June, displayed over wine red basal leaves.  Somewhat taller than P. 'Huskers Red', and darker in foliage and flower color, Penstemon 'Dark Towers' is an introduction from Dale Lindgren on the University of Nebraska.  'Dark Towers' makes an excellent cut flower, and is a good garden attractant for both butterflies and hummingbirds.

'Husker Red' Smooth White Penstemon has pinkish-white flowers on tall stems in June and burgundy red new foliage. The tall white spikes make great cut flowers. Pollinators like bumblebees, swallowtail butterflies, and ruby-throated hummingbirds are attracted to these native plants. 1996 Perennial Plant of the Year.

‘Onyx and Pearls’ Beardtongue comes from Walters Gardens’ breeding program of new beauties. Penstemon digitalis ‘Onyx and Pearls’ is a taller, darker version of this adaptable native, with burgundy foliage and stems which are almost black. The white and pale lavender flower clumps are on tall clusters made even more striking by their black stems. ‘Onyx and Pearls’ blooms for a long period in early to mid summer, and makes an excellent cut flower. The beautiful dark foliage makes a showy rosette well into early winter.  Pollinators like bumblebees, swallowtail butterflies, and ruby-throated hummingbirds are attracted to these native plants.

Penstemon hirsutus, known commonly as Hairy Beardtongue, is a highly versatile perennial that gets its name for the hairy, protruding lower lip of the trumpet-shaped flowers on upright stalks, producing a showy display of soft lavender-violet from May through late June. The foliage of Hairy Beardtongue is the larval host for the Baltimore Checkerspot Butterfly, and the late spring flowers attract various bee species, hummingbirds, and other pollinating insects. The foliage puts on a lovely display of red color in the fall. Penstemon hirsutus is highly adaptable to both full sun and full shade, as well as both moist and dry soil conditions.

Red Rocks® (‘POO85’) Beardtongue is a cross between Mexican and American Penstemons, which gives this selection its large showy deep pink trumpet shaped flowers. Penstemon Red Rocks® is a cross from Bruce Meyers and Plant Select® and shows more cold tolerance than many Penstemon mexicali crosses. The hot pink flower spikes are very attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies, and are a good addition to cut flower arrangements.

‘Prairie Dusk’ Beardtongue was developed in Nebraska and chosen for its showy purple trumpet-shaped flower spikes. Penstemon x ‘Prairie Dusk’ has good cold tolerance and drought resistant when established. The stems of ‘Prairie Dusk’ carry a succession of flowers in early to mid summer, making this a good cut flower. Hummingbirds and butterflies love it.

Russian Sage is a wonderful resilient perennial for dry, sunny and sandy locations. Perovskia atriplicifolia produces showy blue flower spikes in July and August, providing nectar for a number of pollinators. The foliage is beautiful as well, with delicate dissected silvery leaves on woody stems. Russian Sage is thoroughly deer, rabbit and groundhog resistant (that’s the voice of experience!).

‘Blue Steel’ Russian Sage is a seed introduction from PamAm seed, chosen for its showy violet blue flowers which cover the sturdy stems in late summer. Perovskia ‘Blue Steel’ is well named because of the color of both the stems and flowers. Like all Russian Sages, ‘Blue Steel’ is attractive from the time the foliage first emerges into the bloom season ending in the fall. A dry site tolerant, deer repelling woody perennial in the Mint family.

'Denim 'n' Lace' Russian Sage produces sky blue flower spikes for an extended period in mid to late summer.  The lacy blooms are produced on the tips of strong stems with grayish green airy aromatic foliage.  The individual blue flowers on the spikes of 'Denim 'n' Lace' Perovskia are closely spaced so the clumps look fuller than other Perovskias, and the lavender calyces remain showy after the flowers are finished, extending the ornamental qualities.  Excellent drainage is a must for this new introduction from Walters Gardens.

'Little Spire' Russian Sage has blue flowers in July and August, over silver-green aromatic foliage on a compact form, and is dry site tolerant. From Herbert Oudshoorn of Holland.  2020 PHS Gold Medal Plant!

‘Golden Arrow’ Fleece Flower blooms from July to early fall, producing lots of rosy pink to red flower spikes for a prolonged period. The large lance shaped leaves are gold to chartreuse, making a showy background for the blooms. Persicaria amplexicaulis ‘Golden Arrow’ is more compact than most Fleece Flowers, and is a good ornamental addition to the edges of rain gardens and ponds. ‘Golden Arrow’ performs best in partial shade.

Giant Fleece Flower has ivory white plumes in June and July. Persicaria polymorpha is a trouble free, large clump former, not an invasive spreader. It grows so large that it is almost shrub-like and pairs well with Hydrangea paniculatas which are also blooming this time of year.  Fall foliage is often colorful. A Wolfgang Oehme favorite plant. Both wet and dry site tolerant.

‘Goliath’ Large-leafed Phlox produces very large panicles of lavender purple tubular flowers with white eye zones. The blooms appear on tall stems of lance-shaped green leaves in mid to late summer, making Phlox amplifolia ‘Goliath’ a good cut flower. ‘Goliath’ is native to the Appalachians but was a selection made by J. Verschoor of the Netherlands. Deer resistant and attractive to Hummingbirds and other pollinators.

‘Solar Fare’ Carolina Phlox is a disease resistant member of the Earlibeauty® series from Primrose Path’s breeding program. The large bicolored flowers have pink eyes surrounded by white, produced in showy panicles. The green foliage withstands hot and humid summer conditions and is mildew resistant. Phlox carolina ‘Solar Flare’ is a favorite summer nectar source for butterflies, sphinx moths and hummingbirds.

'Blue Moon' Woodland Phlox blooms in April and May, producing large violet blue fragrant clumps of flowers on delicate stems.  Phlox divaricata 'Blue Moon' is a particularly showy example of our native groundcover, naturalizing well in woodland settings.  Do not cut back plant in fall, this could result in winter loss. Trims are best done after flowering in late spring. An introduction by the New England Wildflower Society.

PRN Preferred: Large violet blue flowers are fragrant, covering the low green foliage. A lovely woodland groundcover.

‘May Breeze’ Woodland Phlox has clusters of pale blue to white fragrant flowers above delicate green mats of foliage. Phlox divaricata ‘May Breeze’ flourishes in April and May, and is somewhat ephemeral when hot weather sets in. Although ‘May Breeze’ is a North American native, this selection was introduced by Piet Oudolf.

'Blue Paradise' Garden Phlox has fragrant flowers that open pale blue and darken to violet blue in July and August. It has good mildew resistant foliage.  All Phlox varieties we grow are disease resistant cultivars.

'David' Garden Phlox has fragrant white flowers in July and August and disease resistant foliage.  2002 Perennial Plant of the Year.  From FM Mooberry of the Brandywine Conservancy, where Phlox paniculata 'David' was found as a seedling.

'Glamour Girl' Garden Phlox blooms prolifically in mid to late summer.  The bright coral pink flower panicles are displayed on dark stems above mildew resistant green foliage.  Phlox paniculata 'Glamour Girl' has a lot to offer mixed perennial borders, with height, fragrance and butterfly and hummingbird appeal.  An introduction from Walters Garden's breeding program.  Will rebloom if deadheaded right after the first bloom flush. 

'Jeana' Garden Phlox is an unusually mildew-resistant Phlox with bright lavender-pink flowers which have a sweet fragrance. 'Jeana' blooms for an extended time from mid summer to early fall. It was found by (and named after) Jeana Prewitt of Nashville, Tennessee, and the North Creek people got us all enthusiastic about it.  In the Mt Cuba Phlox trials, 'Jeana' was overwhelmingly the most attractive cultivar for all pollinators.

PRN Preferred:  Have trialed Jeana for many years.  Its foliage remains clean all season and it attracts the most butterfies of all the Phlox we grow.  The best performing Phlox in Mt. Cuba's Phlox trials.

'Lord Clayton' Garden Phlox produces large cherry red flower panicles in mid to late summer, but the foliage is the really unusual break through.  The leaves start in spring in shades of eggplant purple with lime green veins.  They mature in summer to bronze and greenish purple, matching a showy background for the showy fragrant flower clumps.  Deadheading will promote an extended flowering period.   Phlox paniculata 'Lord Clayton' makes a showy cut flower, as well as an excellent garden native for pollinators.  Found by garden writer Tammy Clayton in Michigan and introduced by Plants Nouveau.

Phlox paniculata Luminary® ‘Backlight’ is the bright white flowering showstopper in the Luminary® collection, which was bred to produce a prolific flowering tall Garden Phlox with exceptional color as well as disease resistance. From July to September, showy upright panicles of brilliant white flowers over dark green leaves attract various pollinators to the center of the perennial border or moonlight garden, where the glow of the moon illuminates the stark white petals and gives this upright perennial its namesake. This particular selection prefers full sun, but is tolerant of very light shade conditions, as well as high heat and humidity.

The shining star of the Luminary® series, Phlox paniculata ‘Opalescence’ offers stunning upright panicles of cotton candy pink flowers with dark pink centers that bloom consistently throughout several weeks in midsummer over top of lanceolate, dark green foliage, typically from mid-July into early September. This selection is highly resistant to powdery mildew and is also tolerant of part sun conditions, making it a wonderful tall Garden Phlox for mass plantings or as a group in the perennial border. Fresh blooms make an excellent cut flower as the “thriller” in an arrangement, and are attractive to various pollinators such as butterflies, bees, and the occasional hummingbird.

Phlox paniculata Luminary® ‘Ultraviolet’ is the improved version of Phlox paniculata ‘Nicky’, featuring vibrant, fluorescent magenta blooms that appear prolifically over bronzed, dark green foliage from July to September. This tall Garden Phlox remains upright and has high powdery mildew resistance, making it a great selection for the mixed perennial border. While best bloom set will occur in full sun conditions, this particular Tall Garden Phlox is tolerant of part sun conditions. The brightly colored, consistent blooms attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, and make for a great addition to fresh cut flower arrangements.

'Nicky' Garden Phlox has fragrant deep magenta-purple flowers in mid summer. Its very intense color make this and 'Laura' the favorite Phlox of Nanci Angle of Horticultural Management. Introduced by Niche Gardens.

‘Red Riding Hood’ Garden Phlox produces large clumps of cherry red fragrant flowers in mid to late summer. The plants are somewhat compact, and the sturdy stems make Phlox ‘Red Riding Hood’ excellent for cut flower arrangements. The green foliage is more disease resistant if planted in full sun, with good air circulation.

'Sherwood Purple' Creeping Phlox has very fragrant vivid purple flowers in April and May covering the vigorous green foliage. Spreads by stolons to form colonies.  North Creek Nurseries considers it the best groundcover of the P. stolonifera group.

‘Amazing Grace’ Moss Phlox blooms in early spring with white star-shaped flowers covering the green moss-like foliage. Phlox subulata ‘Amazing Grace’ is also called Creeping Phlox because, like all Phlox subulatas, its habit is ground-hugging and spreading. ‘Amazing Grace’ is an excellent addition to rock gardens and borders of paths.

The flowers in April of 'Candy Stripe' Moss Phlox are pink and white stripes, over creeping thread-like green foliage. Needs good drainage.

‘Drummond’s Pink’ Moss Phlox makes a low carpet of green needle-like foliage which is topped by bright pink star-shaped flowers in early spring. The foliage is semi-evergreen, so Phlox subulata ‘Drummond’s Pink’ is a good addition to rock gardens and edges of paths.

'Emerald Blue' Moss Phlox is covered with lavender blue flowers in April. Creeping green thread-like foliage is perfect for rock gardens and around walks. Prefers good drainage.

‘Emerald Pink’ Moss Phlox makes a dense carpet of delicate green foliage which somewhat resembles Moss (hence the name). Phlox subulata ‘Emerald Pink’ is covered with masses of bright pink notched flowers in April and May. Since it is a northeast native, Moss Phlox is a good suggestion for naturalizing in sunny well-drained locations where a low groundcover is needed. It also is a lovely addition to rock gardens.

'Red Wings' Moss Phlox blooms profusely in April, with fuchsia red flowers covering the semi-evergreen needle-like leaves for several weeks.  The green foliage forms a carpet-like mat, spreading slowly to cover the ground thoroughly.  Phlox 'Red Wings' performs well in rock gardens and along walls, where it has good drainage.

'Scarlet Flame' Moss Phlox has scarlet-rose flowers in April over creeping green thread-like foliage. Works well in rock gardens. Needs good drainage.

'Snowflake' Moss Phlox becomes covered with white flowers in April over creeping green foliage. Excellent for rock gardens, walls and paths. Best in well-drained soil.

'Fashionably Early Crystal' Garden Phlox is another beauty from the prolific plant breeder Hans Hansen.  A cross between P. maculata and P. paniculata, 'Fashionably Early Crystal' combines great attributes of both parents.  The thick leathery leaves are narrow and highly disease resistant, and the habit is stoloniferous, the large fragrant flowers are white with tiny lavender eyes, and produced in quantity for a month in early summer.  If deadheaded, there is often some reblooming in fall.

‘Fashionably Early Flamingo’ Hybrid Phlox starts blooming in early summer and continues intermittently into fall if deadheaded. The flowers are lavender pink and produced in clumps on tall disease free stems. The habit is stoloniferous, so Phlox ‘Fashionably Early Flamingo’ will spread to make a wide patch eventually. The name refers to the earlier bloom period, 2 to 3 weeks before Phlox paniculata.

'Violet Pinwheels' is a beautiful Moss Phlox hybrid from Dr Jim Ault and Chicagoland Grows®.  The habit is low and similar to Phlox subulata, but the flowers are a bright violet, a color hard to find in the subulatas.  The petals are large and finely notched, resembling their "Pinwheel" name.  This exciting new color option would look excellent in rock gardens and around garden paths.  Needs good drainage.

'Wanda' hybrid Phlox was shared with Alan Armitage by the gardener who found this spontaneous seedling in her garden.  During the testing in the UGC trial gardens, its long flowering period and number of pink blooms really made Phlox x 'Wanda' a standout.  The habit is compact and full, with good disease and heat resistance.  'Wanda' would make a great container plant because it blooms most of the summer and even into the fall. 

Coppertina® ('Mindia') Ninebark has light pink flowers in June, copper-colored foliage and good red fall color. It comes from Minier Nursery in France. Physocarpus is also wet site tolerant.  Its peeling winter bark increases in showiness as Ninebarks age revealing layers of reddish to light brown inner bark, hence the common name of Ninebark. 

Ginger Wine® Ninebark ('SMNPOBLR') is a showy native shrub, offering attractive flowers and foliage from spring through fall.  The leaves start as shades of orange and red in spring, and mature to burgundy in summer.  The fall color is a mix of red and burgundy.  The delicate pinkish white flower clusters appear in late spring and are followed by attractive red seedheads.  Physocarpus Ginger Wine® also offers winter interest with tan peeling bark on the older wood.

Summer Wine® ('Seward') Ninebark has pinkish white button-like flowers in June over a compact habit, and bright bronze-purple foliage. Physocarpus opulifolius Summer Wine® has a reddish-purple fall color and is also wet site tolerant.

Summer Wine® Black is the darkest Physocarpus on the market to date.  The foliage is such a dark purple that it approaches black, and the delicate pink flower clumps really stand out in contrast when they appear in June.  As the leaves mature throughout the summer, they take on some more bronzy tones, followed by showy reddish purple fall color.  If desired, pruning is most appropriate right after blooming.

Sweet Cherry Tea™ (‘ZLEBiC5’) Ninebark has fine delicate leaves which emerge reddish orange and rapidly mature to deep purple. The flowers have dark pink buds which open to profuse pink clusters in June. The first heavy flowering period leads to the production of rather showy red fruit which feeds small birds. Fall color is shades of red and burgundy, and older plants have an interesting exfoliating bark. A Plants Nouveau introduction from Breeder David Zlasak.

Tiny Wine® ('SMPOTW') Dwarf Ninebark is a dwarf form of our native Physocarpus, with burgundy to bronze foliage.  The flowers start opening in late spring, forming bunches of pink and white button-like flowers by June.  The showy purple bronze summer foliage is followed by reddish purple fall shades.  Does not need pruning, is deer resistant and wet site tolerant; Tiny Wine® is a big step forward for Physocarpus.

‘Miss Manners’ Obedient Plant looks like a Snapdragon, producing lots of white spikes of flowers above the glossy green foliage. Physostegia virginiana ‘Miss Manners’ blooms for an extended period, from June to September, and attracts pollinators all summer. Darrell Probst selected ‘Miss Manners’ from the native Physostegias because the habit is more compact and less of an aggressive spreader. A long blooming choice for sunny raingardens, meadows and mixed borders.

‘Pink Manners’ Obedient Plant is taller than ‘Miss Manners’, but the lavender pink flowers have the same Snapdragon look and the same sturdy spikes. Unlike the native species Obedient Plant, Physostegia virginiana ‘Pink Manners’ is not an aggressive spreader, which is why Darrell Probst selected and patented it. ‘Pink Manners’ blooms from June to September, and makes a showy addition to the higher levels of sunny rain gardens.

The red buds of 'Dorothy Wycoff' Japanese Pieris open to pale pink, highly fragrant flowers in March and April, serving as an important food source for early spring insects. Pieris japonica 'Dorothy Wycoff' is a compact form with dark green evergreen leaves.

'Flaming Silver' Japanese Pieris has dark green lustrous leaves with bright white margins.  The new growth emerges in shades of red with pink margins, followed by fragrant white bells in pendant clumps in March and April.  According to Michael Dirr, 'Flaming Silver' is a more vigorous grower than Pieris 'Variegata' and it is certainly more showy with wider white margins on the evergreen leaves.

‘Katsura’ Japanese Andromeda produces strings of white fragrant bells on pendent panicles in early spring. The new growth emerging in spring in vivid shades of bronze and red. The new leaves mature in summer to a lustrous green. The flower buds for the next year start developing in the summer and add to the winter interest by taking on shades of purple and red. Pieris japonica ‘Katsura’ is evergreen and should be protected from afternoon winter sun.

The fragrant white flowers of 'Mountain Fire' Japanese Pieris appear in March and April, with bright red new growth appearing on top of the shiny green, evergreen foliage almost all summer. The color of Pieris japonica 'Mountain Fire' make it look like a very refined Photinia.

Exclamation!™ ('Morton Circle') London Planetree is a hybrid selection by Dr George Ware at the Morton Arboretum.  The controlled cross is between our native Sycamore and the Asian species.  Platanus x acerifolia Exclamation!™ gets its name for its very upright pyramidal in the winter landscape.  In addition to its very upright regular straight habit, Exclamation!™ is also resistant to both Anthracnose and frost cracking, so it makes a very versatile fast growing shade tree which tolerates a broad spectrum of site conditions.  Introduced by Chicagolad Grows®.

Creeping Jacob’s Ladder is an attractive woodland native, producing drooping clusters of small blue flowers in April. The clusters (corymbs) are followed in summer by buff and tan fruits which songbirds eat. Polemonium reptans makes a groundcover mostly through seeding, as it is not stoloniferous. The delicate stems are laddered with small green leaves, making an attractive filler or naturalizer in woodlands and moist shade gardens.  They are an important source of early spring pollen to fire-colored beetles and syrphid flies.

‘Stairway to Heaven’ Creeping Jacob’s Ladder was found by Bill Cullina while at New England’s Garden in the Woods. Polemonium reptans ‘Stairway to Heaven’ is a variegated selection of our native Jacob’s Ladder, which adds showy yellow and green foliage to the spring display of blue nodding flower clusters. Polemonium flourishes in moist woodland settings, and is somewhat ephemeral in hot summer weather. The royalties go to support the Garden in the Woods.

‘Ruby Slippers’ Solomon’s Seal emerges in spring with red stems supporting the clean green leaves along the length of the stems. Delicate pendant white flowers hang below each pair of leaves in late spring. The blooms are delicately fragrant, and the cut stems make an attractive addition to flower arrangements. Since Polygonatum ‘Ruby Slippers’ spreads slowly to make a solid mat, this Solomon’s Seal makes an excellent shade ground cover.

Variegated Solomon's Seal has white flowers in the spring, over green leaves with white edges. Polygonatum odoratum 'Variegatum' likes moist sites and will colonize slowly to form a large patch eventually. It is also surprisingly dry site tolerant.  2013 Perennial Plant of the Year.

Christmas Fern has green, shiny foliage.  Young fiddleheads in spring are silvery and scaled.  Polystichum acrostichoides is evergreen and looks like a Boston Fern. It will not spread or naturalize, but in time the clumps will increase in size.  Songbirds will use parts and scale-like hairs in nest construction. Christmas Fern hugs the ground in winter.

PRN Preferred:  We love the hardiness and the neat evergreen foliage of this fern.

'Flying Dragon' Hardy Orange (syn. 'Monstrosa') is a citrus that can actually be grown in the Northeast.  The fruits are golf ball sized yellow-gold oranges in the fall that can be made into a very tart marmalade (lots of sugar needed).  The deliciously fragrant white flowers are bourne on the deep green contorted, thorny stems in April and May.  The twigs are ornamental for both structure and color in the winter.  Just make sure Poncirus 'Flying Dragon' is not planted near play areas, as the thorns are significant. 

‘Magdalena’ Self-heal is a lovely low growing native groundcover, introduced by Brent Horvath of Intrinsic Perennials. Prunella vulgaris ‘Magdalena’ has attractive dissected foliage topped by short purple flower spikes in spring and early summer. Self-heal reblooms in late summer and early fall, in the cooler temperatures. Prunella is semi-evergreen, as well as deer resistant.

Bush Cherry blooms in early spring, when its shrubby branches become covered with bright pink blossoms.  The flower display is often followed by small red fruit which is attractive to wildlife.  The fall color is a good yellow.  Since Prunus jacqunemontii is a very early spring bloomer, it makes a great cut branch for early forcing.  Another common name is 'Afghan Cherry'.

‘Chestnut Hill’ Cherry Hill is an introduction by the Morris Arboretum of Philadelphia. A more compact form of Prunus ‘Otto Luykens,’ Prunus laurocerasus ‘Chestnut Hill’ is named after the beautiful community in which it was found. Evergreen and rounded in habit, ‘Chestnut Hill’ thrives in shade as well as sun, and tolerates salty conditions better than most broadleaf evergreens. This dark green compact Cherry Laurel can be used as a foundation shrub or as a short dense hedge plant.

The dark green evergreen foliage of 'Otto Luykens' Common Cherry Laurel is compact, topped with highly fragrant white flowers in April and May. Prunus laurocerasus 'Otto Luykens' is an excellent broadleaf evergreen for shady locations with deer problems.  It tolerates salt spray well.  Introduced by Hesse Nurseries of Germany.

The first Cherry to bloom in the spring, 'Okame' has bright pink semi-double flowers which appear in late March to early April. Prunus x 'Okame' is a fine-textured cold hardy small tree that lights up the landscape at a time when we all need it. We first heard of this from Paul Meyer of the Morris Arboretum when it was introduced to the US, and it's still our favorite.

Prunus x yedoensis has soft pink flowers that open before the foliage emerges in early April. 'Yoshino' Cherry makes up the famous Cherry Blossom display in Washington DC along with 'Kwanzan' Cherry. Fall foliage is yellow to orange.

Prunus x yedoensis ‘Akebono’, meaning ‘daybreak’ in Japanese, is a lovely, small deciduous tree that provides multiple seasons of interest and attracts birds to the specimen or cottage garden. Delicate, light pink double blooms appear in early spring around late March to early April, filling the canopy with a soft mist of blooms that is akin to the pastel palette of an early spring morning sky. Small black fruits follow in the summer, that are a favorite of native and migrating bird species alike. Its glossy, dark green foliage achieves a rainbow of beautiful reds, oranges and yellows in autumn before dropping. Prunus x yedoensis ‘Akebono’ was introduced to the trade in 1925 by W.B. Clarke Nursery in San Jose, California. Seedlings of the cultivar were provided to the Washington D.C.’s Tidal Basin in the National Mall, where they intermingle amongst some 2,000+ other Yoshino Flowering Cherry trees in order to signify the cordial relationship between Japan and America. In fact, in Japan, the ‘Akebono’ cultivar is called ‘Amerika’.

‘Moonshine’ Lungwort is the most silvery of the Pulmonarias we grow. The small ice blue flowers appear in mid spring over the mildew resistant foliage. The leaves are more rounded, with narrow dark green margins and green flecks on the bright silver surfaces. Pulmonaria x ‘Moonshine’ is a Terra Nova® introduction which seems to handle our warm and humid East Coast summers well.

Pulmonaria x ‘Raspberry Frost’, which was introduced as a sport variety of Pulmonaria x ‘Raspberry Splash’ by Terra Nova Nurseries, features vibrant raspberry to coral-red blooms in early spring from March to May. This discovery is noted for its attractive foliage that remains semi-evergreen through mild winters and exhibits splotchy variegated patterns of silvery green and creamy white, as well as creamy white leaf margins, which distinguish it from its original form. Lungwort tends to be deer resistant, but is attractive to hummingbirds and will provide early season interest to the pollinator garden where it is tolerant of part to full shade conditions.

‘Sissinghurst White’ Lungwort blooms in mid spring, with clusters of white flowers emerging from pale pink buds. The foliage is dark green speckled with white flecks. Pulmonaria x ‘Sissinghurst White’ is named for the famous English “White” garden at Sissinghurst Castle designed by Vita Sackville-West.

Appalachian Mountain Mint has attractively fragrant foliage topped by spiky round silvery white flowers in late summer. The blooms are highly attractive to butterflies. Since Pycanthemum flexuosum spreads by underground stolons, it does a good job on slopes and stream sides. The fall foliage color takes on shades of red for added interest.  This fragrant native is adaptable to many different site conditions and is the larval host for the grey hairstreak butterfly, whose caterpillar stage has a symbiotic relationship with ants, making this species doubly important for natural ecological processes.  Very deer resistant.

As the summer advances the new leaves of Mountain Mint take on a silvery-white coloration to the point where they look like small white Poinsettias. The small pink flowers are a great butterfly attractant, and the foliage is deliciously aromatic. This plant is one of the significant late summer beauties on the High Line in NYC.  Its rapid growth habit makes Pycnanthemum muticum a great groundcover.

PRN Preferred:  Attracts the most pollinators we've ever seen, very critter resistant.

Slender Mountain Mint blooms for a long period during the summer, and attracts an amazing variety of pollinators while blooming. The flowers are small but plentiful white clumps, topping the highly fragrant green foliage. Pycnanthemum tenuifolium spreads aggressively by rhizomes, becoming a very large patch in a wide variety of soil types. Slender Mountain Mint is the host for larvae of the Gray Hairstreak Butterfly.

Mountain Mint is a member of the Mint family, which explains the fragrance emitted when the foliage is crushed and its unattractiveness to deer and rabbits. The white flowers are produced in mid to late summer, held in dense clusters which attract a multitude of pollinators and butterflies. Pycnanthemum virginianum thrives in wet meadows and other moist sites, making it a good native choice for sunny rain gardens. It's substantial production of nectar makes this an important candidate for pollinator gardens.