Perennials

Irish Moss forms an evergreen mat of mossy foliage that is covered with tiny white flowers in May and June. Prefers good drainage.

‘Purple Knockout’ Lyre-leaf Sage is a native Sage which has bright purple basal foliage, especially in spring and early summer. The flower spikes are largely inconspicuous but attract bees and butterflies. Salvia lyrata ‘Purple Knockout’ seeds readily and can form a dense groundcover in a sunny location, much like purple Ajugas do in shade. ‘Purple Knockout’ performs best in well drained sites, and with its showy basal foliage would make a good green roof candidate.

‘Bumbleberry’ Meadow Sage is a new color break from Walters Gardens, producing deep fuchsia pink flower spikes in May and June. The calyxes from which the flowers emerge are dark purple, producing a very colorful effect. The habit is compact, so this Salvia performs well in tight spaces and containers. Deadhead after first bloom flush and enjoy a longer flowering period. Part of the ‘Bumble’ Series,’ as in bumble bees.

PRN Preferred: A beautiful color introduction, with fuchia pike flower spikes on a compact plant.

‘Bumbleblue’ Meadow Sage is one of the ‘Bumble’ Series of Salvias from Walters Gardens. The flower spikes are a deep clear blue, covering the compact plant profusely from late spring through early summer. Pollinators of all kinds are drawn to Salvia nemorosa ‘Bumbleblue’ when in bloom, and deer and rabbits leave it alone. This is a good plant for sunny containers as well as garden borders.

Bumblesnow Meadow Sage is part of the ‘Bumble’ series (as in bumblebee) from Walters Gardens. Salvia ‘Bumblesnow’ produces lots of pure white flower spikes in May and June. The habit is compact and the green foliage is disease free and deer resistant. If deadheaded soon after blooming, Salvia ‘Bumblesnow’ will lightly rebloom. Like all Salvias, ‘Bumblesnow’ is a great pollinator magnet.

'Caradonna' Hybrid Sage has violet-blue flowers on tall dark purple flower stems in late spring to early summer, making a very showy combination. From Zillmer Plants in Germany and introduced into this country by super plant dudes, Dale Hendricks and Ron Strasko while at North Creek Nurseries.

PRN Preferred:  Heidi's favorite Salvia because the tall dark purple spikes are so showy.

Marcus® ('Haeumanarc') Hybrid Sage has violet-blue flowers on a very compact form, like a short Salvia 'May Night'. From Haussermann Nursery in Germany. It reblooms well when deadheaded.

Hoary Skullcap blooms in mid summer, producing floriferous racemes of deep blue two-lipped flowers on tall square-edged stems (mint family, of course). Scutellaria incarnata is an adaptable native that looks best in natural settings like meadows, stream edges and the edges of the woods. Hoary Skullcap is drought tolerant when established, but also thrives in moist rich soils. Scutellaria is attractive to pollinators but not to deer.

'Blue Spruce' Stonecrop grows in a mat of silvery-blue narrow foliage reminiscent of blue Spruce needles. The small yellow flowers appear in July and this Sedum must have a dry, well-drained site. Semi-evergreen.

Sieboldi Stonecrop has bluish green round fleshy leaves which turn shades of dark pink in the fall. The flower clusters also appear in late summer and fall, in shades of rose pink. Sedum sieboldi makes a showy low growing ground cover, as the foliage is very regular and neat. The habit is weeping when in a container or on a wall. Excellent addition to dry rock gardens and very cold tolerant. (New name is Hylotelephium).

'Dragon's Blood' Sedum or Stonecrop is an excellent groundcover for sunny dry locations.  The orange-bronze succulent foliage spreads out to form a tight evergreen mat.  Useful for lining paths, rock gardens and gentle dry slopes, Sedum 'Dragon's Blood' even tolerates dog traffic.  The flowers appear in late summer in attractive clumps of rose red, providing food for bees and other pollinators.  As the days shorten, 'Dragon's Blood' takes on darker red foliage coloration.

‘John Creech’ Caucasian Stonecrop was brought to the US from Siberia by Dr. John Creech of the National Arboretum in 1971. The rounded flat fleshy leaves are paired along the ground hugging stems, forming a thick evergreen mat in dry, poor soil sites. The foliage is green in summer but takes on shades of burgundy in fall and winter, the flower clusters of Sedum spurium ‘John Creech’ appear in mid summer in shades of pinkish red. This is a great Sedum for green roofs because of its excellent heat and cold tolerance.

The red tinged evergreen foliage of 'Red Carpet' Two Row Stonecrop turns burgundy in winter, especially in full sun. There is some production of red flowers in summer. Sedum spurium 'Red Carpet' produces a thick mat in dry locations, and works beautifully in roof gardens.

Wild Stonecrop is an unusual Sedum in that it is shade and tolerates more moisture than most Sedums, as well as native.  The green succulent foliage is fine, often forming dense groundcover mats.  The delicate starry white flowers hover above the leaves in April and May, attracting butterflies and native pollinators.  Like other stonecrops, Sedum ternatum is deer and rabbit resistant.

'Coral Reef' Stonecrop has very attractive round shaped flat green leaves which take on shades of copper and bronze in fall and winter.  The leaves are close together on the stems, producing an unusual texture which looks interesting in mixed containers or in masses.  An added element is the delicate white to pink flowers which appear above the foliage in July and August.  'Coral Reef' works well in mixed containers and green roofs, as well as in groundcover mass plantings.

'Autumn Joy' ('Herbstfreude') Showy Stonecrop has rose-pink flowers, blue foliage and needs a dry site to perform best. The spent flowerheads remain an attractive tan rose color. Sedum x 'Autumn Joy' was introduced by Georg Arends of Germany. Our favorite common name for it, 'Pink Broccoli', comes from writer Ruth Clausen.  We formerly listed 'Autumn Joy' as deer resistant but based on our own experience with have decided it may not be.

'Dazzleberry' Stonecrop was developed by Chris Hansen, and is the original cultivar of Sunsparkler® Series.  The semi-evergreen foliage makes a beautiful blue-green mat, over which hover the vivid raspberry-pink flower clusters.  Sedum x 'Dazzleberry' blooms from mid summer into early fall.  Because of its long season of interest, 'Dazzleberry' makes an excellent plant for mixed containers, as well as a good groundcover for sunny dry locations. 

PRN Preferred: The mat-forming blue-green foliage is topped in late summer and early fall by showy raspberry pink flower clusters. Great groundcover for dry sunny locations. 

‘Firecracker’ Stonecrop is part of the Sunsparkler® series of groundcover Sedums hybridized by Chris Hansen. Sedum 'Firecracker' produces burgundy red fine foliage all summer. It is topped with hot pink flower clumps in late summer and early fall. The round succulent leaves become more intense in color as the days shorten. A good choice for rock gardens and containers in sunny locations.

'Little Miss Sunshine' Stonecrop blooms heavily in early summer, producing lots of bright yellow spiky flower clumps covering the lustrous green succulent leaves.  The foliage is delicately toothed, and 'Little Miss Sunshine' slowly expands to make a low attractive mat.  Excellent for rock gardens, winter containers and roof gardens, this groundcover Sedum is very showy in bloom and low maintenance the rest of the year.

‘Night Embers’ Autumn Stonecrop starts blooming in late summer and is topped with mauve pink clusters into the fall. The succulent foliage is a very showy dark purple, held on stiff upright stems. Sedum x ‘Night Embers’ must be in a dry location to perform well, so rock gardens are a perfect location. Another improved plant option from Walters Gardens.

‘Steel the Show’ Stonecrop is a lovely groundcover Sedum with delicate steel blue succulent leaves and a tight, dense habit. The silvery foliage is covered with bright pink star-shaped flowers in early fall, providing food for butterflies and other pollinators. Sedum x ‘Steel the Show’ is one of the latest blooming Sedums, and performs best in sunny well-drained sites. Deer and rabbit resistant.

‘Cherry Tart’ Stonecrop comes from Chris Hansen’s Sunsparkler® series of showy Sedums. The succulent foliage keeps its shade of reddish purple from late spring well into the fall. Sedum x Sunsparkler® ‘Cherry Tart’ is crowned with large clumps of bright pink flowers in late summer, attracting butterflies and pollinators. The groundcover habit makes ‘Cherry Tart’ a good addition to rock gardens and dry perennial borders.

'Lime Zinger' Stonecrop is a new addition to the Sunsparkler® series of groundcover Sedums.  The foliage has apple-green leaves which are attractively edged with rosy red margins.  Clusters of soft pink flowers hover above the compact foliage in mid to late summer.  Sedum x 'Lime Zinger' comes from the breeding work of Chris Hansen, and would be a showy addition to rock gardens and green roofs.

‘Vera Jamison’ Stonecrop was found in England by Vera Jamison as a spontaneous cross in her garden. The round flat leaves start as grayish green and turn deep burgundy as the sun grows stronger. The stems add to this beauty in shades of purple, and the late summer flower clusters are dusky pink. Excellent for rock gardens and mixed containers. (New name is Hylotelephium).

'Cobweb' Hens and Chicks add year-round interest to rock gardens, containers and troughs. It's perfectly round succulent buttons are covered with silver netting just like cobwebs. The pink flowers appear on 6" stalks above the rosettes. The common name "House Leek" actually refers to its ancient use as a plant to plug "leaks" in thatched roofs.  Prefers dry sites.

‘Short and Sweet’ Wild Pink blooms heavily in April and May, producing bright pink 5 petaled flowers on short delicate stems above the carpet of leaves. Silene ‘Short and Sweet’ makes an effective groundcover for sunny and shady sites with good drainage. When in bloom, this produces a quantity of nectar for pollinators and hummingbirds. A good addition to rock gardens and green roofs.

Sisyrinchium angustifolium 'Lucerne' has blue flowers with yellow eyes and blooms most of the summer. This Blue Eyed Grass tolerates dry and salty sites very well and the flowers only open on sunny days.

‘Golden Rockets’ Goldenrod is a seedling selection introduced by Jellito Seed. Solidago rigida ‘Golden Rockets’ produces dense rounded umbels of bright gold flowers in late summer and early fall. The habit is compact and slowly spreading (rhizomatous), making it a good choice for mixed borders, meadows and sunny banks. Since ‘Golden Rockets’ has excellent salt tolerance, it functions well near roads and walkways. Like all Goldenrods, this is a very important food source for native bee’s and pollinators.

'Fireworks' Rough Stemmed Goldenrod has bright yellow flowers in late summer on a compact slowly spreading plant. Selected by Ken Moore of the NC Botanical Garden and introduced by Niche Gardens. Try Solidago rugosa 'Fireworks' as a cut flower; it is great!  An important source of seed for winter birds.

'Solar Cascade' Short's Goldenrod is a named selection of our rarest native Goldenrod. Found only in parts of Kentucky and Indiana, it has great drought and sterile soil tolerance. 'Solar Cascade' was chosen for its showy, cascading yellow flowers, as well as its long bloom period in late summer and early fall.  It is flourishing in the parking median at the Cincinnati Zoo; 'Solar Cascade' loves the heat and lean soil providing zoo visitors with weeks of blooms.  The green foliage is highly disease resistant, so a mass planting of 'Solar Cascade' stays attractive right up until the end of the season. Since it tends to stay in a clump instead of suckering, it also works well in mixed perennial boarders.  Hummingbirds and insects love it.

'Golden Fleece' Goldenrod has golden yellow flowers from mid August to October over semi-evergreen foliage. This Solidago spreads to form a tough adaptable groundcover with some shade tolerance. Another wonderful introduction from the Mt. Cuba folks.  Winter birds eat the seeds.

PRN Preferred: This short Goldenrod is shade tolerant.

The lemon-yellow flowers of 'Little Lemon' Goldenrod appear in late summer over extremely compact, finely textured foliage. Solidago x 'Little Lemon' was bred originally as a good florist pot plant.

PRN Preferred:  Colorful long lasting flowers on a tidy, compact plant.

‘Little Redhead’ Indian Pink is a selection by Hans Hansen of Walters Gardens of one of our most beautiful native wildflowers. Spigelia marilandica ‘Little Red Head’ was chosen for its tight upright habit, and it has a plethora of vivid red tubular flowers with bright yellow interiors. This is a hummingbird favorite, blooming for an extended period during the summer. In order to get good overwintering, Spigelias are best if planted in spring or early summer.

'Hummelo' Alpine Betony was named after Piet Oudolf's hometown. The low growing rosette of textured green leaves is topped by showy spikes of lavender-pink flowers in mid summer for an extended period. Stachys 'Hummelo' is a tough, carefree beauty and used extensively on the High Line Park in NYC. If you haven't gone there yet, go soon!  2019 Perennial Plant of the Year.

'Pink Cotton Candy' Betony has fat bright pink flower spikes held on tall stems above the green basal rosette. The cotton candy pink flowers are produced for a long period of time in early to mid summer, and are tall enough to make a good cut flower. Found by Richard Hawke of the Chicago Botanic Garden.

‘Summer Crush’ Betony produces tall spikes of delicate two-lipped pink and white flowers in June and July. The bicolored flowers make good cut flowers because of their long leafless stems, emerging from dark green wrinkled basal foliage. Stachys x ‘Summer Crush’ is rhizomatous, so it can be used as an attractive deer resistant groundcover. An introduction from Brent Horvath of Intrinsic Perennials.

'Peachie's Pick' Stokes Aster was found by Mississippi plants woman Peachie Saxton.  Stokesia 'Peachie's Pick' is a compact version of this long blooming native, with large lavender blue flowers.  Stokes Asters flower virtually all summer, especially when spent blooms are deadheaded.  When established, Stokesia Peachie's Pick is surprisingly drought tolerant and overwinters best in well drained locations.