FERNS

ADIANTUM  Maidenhair Fern  -  Part Shade   -  Zone 4

Adiantum pedatum  Exquisite lacy green foliage on horizontally branched fronds.  Forms tight clumps.  Grows to about 16" tall.  Will take full sun in good soil.

Adiantum venustum  Exquisite lacy green foliage on horizontally branched fronds.  Forms tight clumps.  This species is much the same as pedatum, but on a shorter plant.  Just 6" tall.  Very cute.

FILIPENDULA Meadow Rue - Sun to Part Shade - Zone 4 

Filipendula ulmaria 'Aurea'   Excellent accent for the partially shaded garden with pleasant yellow-green foliage.  Fluffy pale pink flowers in early summer.  Grows to about 30".

GAILLARDIA - Sun - Zone 3

Gaillardia x hybrida ‘Burgundy’  Rugged plant bears wine-red flowers for most of the summer.  Tolerates dry soil once established.  Grows to 2'.

GENTIANA Gentian - Sun - Zone 3 

Gentiana makinoi ‘Marsha’ Compact and upright growing with rich, violet-blue flowers in late summer.  Likes an acidic organically enriched soil.  Grows to about 20".

GERANIUM Cranesbill - Sun to Part Shade - Zone 4

Geranium cantabrigiense ‘Album’ Excellent ground cover type with white flowers flushed with pink. Scented foliage. Excellent fall color. Groundcover. Grows to about 8".

Geranium wallichianum ‘Rozanne’  This is a relatively new introduction discovered in England and renown for its tendency to bloom prolifically for most of the growing season.  Somewhat lax in habit, it will spread to 2' or so with a height of about 12".  Excellent.

GEUM Avens - Sun to Part Shade - Zone 4 

Geum rivale ‘Flames of Passion’ Rose-red flowers with yellow centers over light green mounds of basal foliage. Blooms in spring and usually again later in the season. Flower spikes grow to 16".

Geum triflorum ‘Prairie Smoke’ Exquisite little plant with light red flowers over feathery mounds of basal foliage. Seed heads resemble wisps of curling smoke. Western native.

GYPSOPHILA Baby’s Breath – Sun to Part Shade – Zone 4

Gypsophila ‘Festival Star’ Compact plant bears sprays of white flowers beginning in mid-summer and lasting for weeks. Excellent as a filler. Grows to 18”.

HELLEBORUS Lenten Rose - Part shade to Shade - Zone 5

Helleborus ‘Ivory Prince’ Exceptional foliage plant with deeply cut, leathery green leaves overlaid with silver shading. Strong grower. White flowers in early spring.

HEUCHERA  Coral Bells - Sun to Part Shade - Zone 4

Heuchera ‘Frosted Violet’ Handsome plant with large, richly colored leaves in a mixture of purple, pink and silver. Grows to 14". Sprays of white flowers.

Heuchera ‘Citronelle’ Tight, mounding plant with pretty lime-green foliage.  Works well in sun or shade and makes a nice foil for darker leaved plants.  Also useful for mixed containers.

Heuchera ‘Mocha’ Mounding plant with large, dusty-chocolate colored leaves. Excellent for contrasting with other plants. Sprays of tiny white flowers appear in mid-summer.

Heuchera ‘Venus’ Small mounding plant has silver leaves with green veins.  Veins on new growth are infused with pink.  Sprays of pink flowers in summer.

HEMEROCALLIS Daylilly – Sun to Part Shade – Zone 4

Hemerocallis ‘My Sweet Rose’ Frosty pink flowers with a ruffled edge. Yellow-green throats contrast nicely with the flower. Strong grower.

Hemerocallis ‘Strutter’s Ball’ 

HIBISCUS Sun to Part Shade – Zone 5

Hibiscus moscheutos ‘Luna Red’ Excellent Hibiscus for smaller gardens. This compact plant bears enormous reddish-pink, disk-like flowers for a month or more beginning in mid-summer.

Hibiscus ‘Summer Storm’ Excellent plant for season long color. Burgundy-green leaves followed by large pink flowers with a deep rosy eye. Needs some space. Grows to 3’ or more.

HOSTA Plantain Lily - Part Shade to Shade - Zone 4

Hosta ‘Birchwood Parky’s Gold’ Excellent yellow- leaved, medium-sized hosta useful for adding some color to the border. Tolerant of sun, particularly in good garden soil. Quick grower. Grows to about 14”.

Hosta ‘Blue Mouse Ears’  Diminutive hosta with small blue-green cupped leaves.  As the name implies, the leaves resemble the ears of a mouse.  Very cute.  Grows just 6" tall.

Hosta ‘Eskimo Pie’  This is a large plant with creamy, irregular centers and deep green margins.  Very striking.  Mounding to 3' after several seasons.

Hosta ‘High Society’   Small, handsome plant with with large blue-green margins and thin creamy gold centers.  Coloration is very sharp.  Good for brightening up small places in the shaded garden. Grows to about 10” tall.

Hosta ‘Krossa Regal’   Stately plant with large dusty blue leaves and a strong vase-shaped habit.  Foliage on established plants may reach 30" tall.

Hosta ‘Liberty’  Rounded wavy leaves with bold, creamy-white centers.  Grows to about 16”.    

Hosta ‘Little Sunspot’   Small plant with large yellow centers and irregular green margins.  Leaves are corrugated and slightly cupped.  New. Grows to about 8” tall.

Hosta ‘Maui Buttercups’  New and lovely with medium-sized, golden yellow, slightly cupped leaves.  Forms a small mound.  Grows to about 14”.

Hosta ‘Stained Glass’  Stunning plant with lemon-yellow leaves edged in green.  Makes a large clump about 15" high.  Takes some sun.

Hosta ‘Whirlwind’ Large irregular creamy centers with deep green margins. Leaves have a slightly twisted habit. Medium in size. Grows to about 16”.

Hosta ‘White Christmas’   Bright, showy plant.  Narrow leaves are white with green edges.  Grows to about 12” tall.

Hosta ‘Sum and Substance’  Striking sun tolerant Hosta with enormous chartreuse leaves.  Excellent in mass or as a specimen.  Needs at least a half a day of sun for best color.  Grows to about 30”.

IRIS   Sun to Part Shade  -  Evenly moist  -  Zone 5

Iris ensata 'Variegata'  Lovely accent plant with leaves striped green and white.  Works well with silver and blue foliage plants.  Rich purple blooms in late spring.  Grows to 24" tall.

Kalimeris Japanese Aster – Sun – Zone 5

Kalimeris incise ‘Blue Star’ Compact plant bears small pale blue, star-like flowers with golden yellow centers. Late summer blooming. Grows to about 16”. Drought tolerant once established.

KIRENGESHOMA   Part Shade  -  Evenly moist  -  Zone 5

Kirengeshoma koreana  Interesting and underutilized plant with large maple-like leaves and shrubby growth habit.  Pretty pendant yellow flowers in September.  A must for the shaded garden.

KNAUTIA   Sun - Zone

Knautia macedonica Prolific bloomer bears deep red button-like flowers for most of the season. Somewhat sprawling in habit.

Knautia macedonica 'Mars Midget'  Small free flowering plant bears button-like red blossoms from June until frost.  Deadheading encourages heavy rebloom.

Knautia macedonica 'Thunder and Lightening'  New introduction with the same free flowering habit as the species.  Leaves are green with white margins.  Magenta flowers.  Grows to 14".

LAVENDULA Lavender - Sun - Zone 5

Lavendula x intermedia ‘Grosso’ Among the most fragrant of the lavenders. Flowers are excellent for sachets. Blooms in mid-summer. Grows to 18”. Prefers a well-drained gritty soil.

LIGULARIA  Part Shade - Evenly Moist - Zone 4

Ligularia dentata ‘Britt Marie Crawford’  Large plant with glossy burgundy-bronze leaves.  Orange-yellow daisy-like flowers appear in late summer.  Grows to 3’.

Ligularia dentata ‘Osiris Fantasie’  Large plant with dark green, deeply serrated foliage.  Handsome purple stems.  Yellow flowers in late summer.  Grows to 24".

LEUCANTHEMUM  Shasta Daisy - Sun - Zone 4

Leucanthemum superbum ‘Banana Cream’ Creamy yellow blossoms atop 20" stems from early summer through August. Deadheading will prolong bloom. Carefree.

LINUM Flax – Sun – Zone 4

Linum nanum ‘Sapphire’ Clump-forming plant bears lavender-blue flowers beginning in late spring. Self seeds. Grows to about 16”.

Monarda Bee-Balm – Sun to Part Shade – Zone 4

Monarda ‘Fireball’ Wine-red flowers in summer appear atop a compact, clump-forming plant. Excellent for attracting hummingbirds and butterflies. Prefers an evenly moist soil.

Mukdenia - Part Shade - Zone 4

Mukdenia rossii ‘Karusaba’ Interesting foliage plant for semi-shade. Forms a low growing, slow-spreading mound of fan-shaped leaves. Foliage changes from bronze to green to red as the season progresses.oft blue flowers. Very pretty.

NEPETA  Catmint - Sun to Part Shade - Zone 3

Nepeta faassenii ‘Blue Wonder’ Grey-green foliar mounds are covered with soft lavender-blue flowers for most of the summer. Durable and adaptable to drier soils. Shear after flowering for rebloom. Grows to about 16".

Nepeta ‘Early Bird’ Among the earliest Nepeta to bloom, this cultivar features a compact habit and long bloom time.  Flowers begin in mid-spring and last for several weeks. Can be shorn to encourage more blooms.

Nepeta ‘Little Trudy’ Compact cultivar grows to just 14” or so. Clump-forming with silvery blue-green foliage and a long period of bloom beginning in late spring.

PACHYSANDRA  -  Shade to Part Shade  -  Zone 4

Pachysandra procumbens  Native. Slow growing spreading plant with handsome foliage.  Deciduous.  Red color in fall.  Grows to about 6".

PAEONIA PEONY - Sun to Part Shade - Zone 4

Paeonia lactiflora ‘Buckeye Belle’ Semi double maroon-red flowers in late spring.  Grows to about 2'.

Paeonia lactiflora ‘Butter Bowl’ Single, silvery-pink flowers with yellow centers.  Blooms fade almost to white as they pass.  Heavy bloomer.  Grows to 30".

Paeonia lactiflora ‘Coral Charm’ Semi-double coral-pink flowers in late spring. Young plants will often produce several buds. Strong grower and less floppy than fully double peonies. Grows to about 26”.

Paeonia lactiflora ‘Hot Chocolate’ Single flowers with chocolate-red petals and a cocoa colored centers.  Grows to 30".

Paeonea ‘Pay Off’ Rich burgundy-red petals with cream-yellow centers. Single. Grows to about 28”.

Paeonia ‘Thumbelina’ Low-growing mounding form with distinctive frilly foliage. Single cerise-pink flowers with yellow centers. Great for small spaces. Grows to about 15”.

PAPAVER  Poppy - Sun - Zone 3

Papaver orientale ‘Marlene’  Handsome plant with purplish-red flowers and strong stems.  Grows to about 2’.

Papaver nudicaule ‘Spring Fever Red’ Delicate crepe-paper-like petals are watermelon-red with yellow centers. Blooms in early spring before going dormant. Self-seeds.

PERSICARIA - Sun to Part Shade - Zone 3

Persicaria affinis ‘Dimity’ Short spreading plant with narrow light green leaves and spikes of pink flowers from early summer on.  Makes a good groundcover.

Persicaria amplexicaulis ‘Pink Elephant’ Compact plant with long, gray-green leaves and pink flower spikes beginning in late June and lasting several weeks.

Persicaria polymorpha  Bold clump-forming plant with plumes of white flowers from mid to late summer.  Plants can grow up to 5' tall and will tolerate drier soils, but does best with ample moisture.  Striking.

PODOPHYLLUM Mayapple - Part Shade - Zone 3

Podophyllum peltatum  This native plant makes a great groundcover for shady places.  Forms colonies of umbrella-like leaves.  White flowers are often obscured by foliage.  Grows to 12" tall.

POLYGONATUM Solomon's Seal - Part Shade - Zone 4

Polygonatum humile  This charming species of Solomon's Seal makes an interesting little ground cover for the semi-shaded garden.  Bears small white, bell-shaped flowers in the spring.  Grows to 6" tall.

Polygonatum odoratum ‘Variegatum’ Elegant shade perennial with nodding stems adorned with white bell-shaped flowers in late spring.  Leaf margins are particularly attractive with streaks of creamy variegation.

POTENTILLA   - Sun  -  Zone 4

Potentilla verna 'Nana'  Very nice little groundcover with dark green deeply cut foliage.  Forms a dense carpet of ground hugging foliage.  Small yellow flowers appear on short stems in spring.  Ev​ergreen.

PRIMULA   Primrose  - Part Shade  -  Zone 4

Primula polyantha 'Francessa'  Frilly greenish-yellow flowers.  Unique among primroses for its flower color.  Grows to 6" tall.

PHYTOLACCA   -  Sun to Part Shade  -  Zone 5

Phytolacca americana 'Silberstein'  Variegated Pokeweed  Excellent foliage plant with long green speckled, cream colored leaves.  Slow to mature.  White flowers in summer followed by dark purple berries.  Poisonous.

RODGERSIA  -  Moist Soil  - Pt Shade to Shade  -  Zone 5

Rodgersia aesculifolia ‘Chocolate Wings’  Large clump-forming plant has glossy, bronze colored foliage with pink flowers that darken to red.  Grows to 40”.

Salvia Sage – Sun – Zone 5

Salvia ‘Pink Friesland’ Compact plant bears lavender-pink blossoms beginning in early summer and lasting for several weeks. Grows to about 20”.

SANGUISORBA Burnett - Sun to Part Shade - Zone 3

Sanguisorba menziesii ‘Dali Marble’ Toothed, blue green leaves with a white edge followed by maroon-red bottlebrush flowers in late summer.  Grows to 30".

Sanguisorba officianalis ‘Tanna’ Toothed green leaves on a dense little compact plant. Mounding in habit with red-pink bottlebrush type flowers in late summer. Grows to about 14”.

SCABIOSA Pincushion Flower – Sun – Zone 5

Scabiosa columbaria ‘Pink Mist’ Season long blooms on a tidy, clump forming plant. Pink blossoms appear in late spring and continue for several weeks. Deadheading will prolong bloom. Grows to about 12”.

SEDUM Stonecrop  Sun - Well Drained Soil

Sedum ‘Cherry Tart’ Low-growing spreading form with succulent round foliage. Burgundy-red foliage all season long and rose-pink flowers in late summer.

Sedum ‘Lime Zinger’ Low-growing plant good for hot dry soils. Succulent round leaves are a dusty lime-green with red margins. Pink flowers in late summer. Grows to 6”.

Sedum ‘Maestro’  Small upright plant forms mounds of fleshy green foliage with a red blush.  Foliage color deepens as the season progresses, until it is something of a dusty purple.  Small clusters of pink flowers appear in late summer. Grows to about 16”.

Sedum ‘Matrona’  This is a mounding plant with attractive purple-grey foliage all season long and topped with clusters of rose-pink flowers in late summer.  Grows to about 16” tall.

STACHYS  Lamb's Ears - Sun - Zone 4

Stachys ‘Helene von Stein’ Handsome accent plant with large silvery foliage.  Leaves have a soft fuzzy texture.  Purple flowers are secondary to the foliage.  Works nicely for both color and texture.  Grows to about 8" tall by 2' wide.

Stachys officianalis ‘Pink Cotton Candy’ Mounds of small waffled, tongue-shaped leaves bear clusters of small rose-pink flowers beginning in early summer. Blooms last for a month or more. Drought tolerant. Grows to 16”.

STOKESIA - Sun - Zone 5

Stokesia laevis ‘Elf’ This is a dense, low growing plant reaching just 8" tall.  Violet-blue flowers appear in mid-summer and last until fall.

THALICTRUM Meadow Rue – Sun – Zone 4

Thalictrum aquiligiifolium ‘Thundercloud’ Large but light in form with handsome blue-green foliage and deep purple-pink flowers in summer. Grows 3-4’ tall.

Thalictrum rochebrunianum Large plant with delicate, fern-like, blue-green foliage and sprays of lavender-colored blossoms in early summer. Up to 5’ tall when in bloom.

TIARELLA Foamflower – Part Shade - Zone 4

Tiarella ‘Timbuktu’  Handsome plant with yellow-green oak-like foliage with a spray of purple-red color at the center.  White bottlebrush flowers in spring.

VERONICA Speedwell – Sun – Zone 4

Veronica spicata ‘Red Fox’ Compact and long blooming, this clump-forming perennial produces bunches of rose-pink flower spikes beginning in early summer and lasting for a month or more. Grows to about 14”. Drought tolerant once established.​