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ASARUM,
Wild Ginger. Shade/partial shade;
inconspicuous flower; excellent groundcover.
canadense. 6"; dull brownish-red
flower; heart shaped leaves; native to Missouri.
europaeum. 6-10"; greenish brown
bell-shaped flowers hide under foliage; beautiful shiny dark
green kidney-shaped leaves; prefers rich soil.
ASCLEPIAS. Sun; blooms in summer;
excellent as a cut flower; cut for repeat blooms; the
butterfly magnet.
exaltata,
Polk Milkweed. Intricately folded
petals of white and green make up unusual petals. Sun.
Native to eastern U.S.
incarnata ‘Cinderella,’
Swamp
Milkweed. 50-60"; rose-pink
flowers with sweet vanilla scent is irresistible to
butterflies. Plants prefer moist conditions but tolerant
dry locations.
i. ‘Ice Ballet’.’ White form of
above.
i. ‘Soul Mate.’
Dense clusters of tiny
vanilla-scented white flowers set in dark red bracts in
summer. 48”.
speciosa. Bell-shaped umbels of
purple-pink flowers throughout the summer make this an
outstanding garden attraction. Large, slightly hairy,
foliage to 40”.
syriaca. This native classis is
best known as a food of larval Monarch butterflies. Robust
with deep pink clusters of fragrant flowers in June and
July, followed by lovely pods of silky seeds in October.
Height 2-4’
purpurascens,
Purple Milkweed. Vivid rose pink
flowers appear for several weeks in early to mid summer
then transform to silky seed pods. Easy to grow in tough
conditions, tolerant of shade, although it blooms best in
sun. Native. Grows 2-4’ tall and 2’ wide.
tuberosa,
Butterfly Weed. 2-3'; brilliant
orange flowers; attracts butterflies; drought tolerant;
Missouri native. Chosen as a
Great Plants by the Nebraska
Statewide Arboretum for its outstanding qualities.
t. ‘Hello Yellow.’ Yellow
selection of above.
t. ‘Gay Butterflies.’
Butterfly weed serves as an adult
nectar source and a larval food source of the Monarch
butterfly. This seed strain may have pure yellow, bright
red, or orange blossoming individuals. Easy to grow in full
sun in well drained soil. Do not disturb roots once
planted.
verticulata,
Whorled Milkweed. Small, almost
orchid-like white flowers borne in 4-6” columnar clusters on
thread-leaf type foliage. Very tolerant of poor, dry soil.
Spreads by rhizomes to form a groundcover in hot, dry
areas. 30”.
ASTER. Sun; blooms summer till
frost; pinch to encourage branching.
cordifolius,
Blue Wood Aster.
Wonderful native aster that
prefers a shady site. Delightful daisies in Sept and Oct.
Wonderful in or along edge of woodland. Works well among
Hostas and Astilbes which look pretty ratty in fall. Native
to woods and dry meadows of most of North America. Prefers
a partially shady site but tolerates sun or deep shade,
flowering best in 3 hours of sun. 2-3’.
cordifolius ‘Avondale.’ Blankets
of light blue flowers appear in fall, when little else is in
bloom. Native to shady woodlands of the eastern U.S. Grows
18-24” tall.
divaricatus.
White Wood Aster. Produces a
fairyland of glistening white small daisies in September and
October. Lovely, naturalized in shade. Prefers average to
dry soil. Grows 2 to 3 feet tall and wide. Native. Deer
resistant. Grow in part to full shade.
dumosus ‘Wood’s Light Blue.’
Clear light blue flowers.
Attractive and compact habit. Foliage is dark green and
disease resistant. 12-16”.
d. ‘Wood’s Pink.’ 16” clear pink
flowers; very attractive and compact.
d ‘Wood’s Purple.’ Charming
purple flowers in late summer and fall. 12-16”.
ericoides ‘Blue Star.’ Hundreds
of elegant sky-blue flowers appear on spreading bushy plant
with needle-fine foliage. 30”.
frikarti ‘Flora’s Delight.’
Long-flowering, with lilac-pink rayed flowers. Best of the
frikarti types. blooms June-frost.
frikarti 'Monch.’
3'; long blooming profuse
lavender/blue flowers; blooms June till frost.
macrophyllus,
Bigleaf Aster. Lavender flower
clusters in late summer and fall. A vigorous grower with
large deep, green foliage. An excellent groundcover that
can form dense carpets. Easy and happy in deep to light
shade. Native to woods and rocky slopes from Quebec to
Maryland. Grows 3-4’. Deer resistant.
novae-angeliae ‘Alma Potchke.’
Bright rose pink flowers on 30 to
36 inch plants that bloom in late summer, early fall.
novae-angliae ‘Purple Dome,’
New England Aster. Dark purple
flowers cover plant in early fall; mildew resistant; forms
attractive mound.
novae-angliae ‘Vibrant Dome.’
Possibly a cross between ‘Purple
Dome’ and ‘Alma Potchke’. Rose colored blooms in fall on
compact, 19” plants.
oblongifolius
‘Dream of Beauty.’ Masses of
sugar-pink flowers with burnt orange centers bloom late
summer into fall. Grows well in many soil types including
clay. Needs a lot of space to spread. Height 12”Spread 24”
o. ‘October Skies,’
Aromatic Aster. This short bushy
grower forms a low mound loaded with purple-blue flowers
with yellow centers into late fall. Stays compact. Highly
tolerant of drought and poor soil. 18”.
oolentagiensis,
Sky Blue Aster. Missouri native
with masses of sky blue flowers with yellow centers in
fall. Tolerant of dry conditions. Sun to part shade.
24-36”.
tongolensis ‘Spring Blue.’ A
spring and fall blooming aster! Abundant half dollar size
bright lavender flowers appear in late spring through early
summer, then reappear once again in late summer and fall.
Great compact habit. 15-18” tall. Cut back after flowering
to promote rebloom.
t.
‘Wartburg Star’ Blue-violet
flowers with orange center bloom in spring. Sun. Height
15-20”.
‘English Country Side.’ Beautiful
lavender-blue blooms, tinged with pink for 6 weeks in late
summer and fall. Grows to 3 to 4 feet tall and wide. Grow
in full sun to part shade in average soil. Attracts
butterflies. Drought tolerant.
‘Island Somoa.’ Very compact
plants with sky blue flowers. 12-18”.
‘Island Tonga.’ Same as above
with deep pink flowers.
ASTEROMEA mongolica.
Also known as
Kalimeris. Tough and easy to grow,
this enchanting aster cousin is covered in hundreds of
double white flowers from mid-summer to frost. One of the
best whites for the perennial border. Reaches 2 to 3 feet
tall and wide. Easy to grow in full sun in average soil.
Drought tolerant. Deer resistant.
ASTILBE: shade/partial shade;
bloom times vary. Flower clusters rise in fluffy plumes
over mounded ferny foliage. Astilbes are excellent contrast
plants to other shade perennials with large leaves such as
Bergenia, Hosta and Ligularia. A good cut flower that will
also enhance dried bouquets. They prefer rich, moist soil
high in organic matter and only morning sun. Intolerant of
drought while growing.
arendsii Hybrids.
This group contains plants with a
great variety of sizes, colors and flowering times.
‘Bressingham Beauty.’
Outstanding fluffy salmon plumes
atop attractive foliage. 24”.
‘Cattleya.’ Stately, 40” pink
flower plumes rise over ferny foliage.
‘Fanal.’ 2'; deep red flowers
June-July.
‘Flamingo.’ Well branched
flamingo-pink flowers in summer. Slight fragrance. 20”.
‘Red Charm.’ Gracefully arching
rose-red flowers on taller plants to 40”. A later blooming
astilbe. A tough, yet delicate looking addition to any
shade garden.
‘Showstar.’ Excellent dwarf
series with feathery plumes in a charming mix of pink, white
and rose red. Showtime is held over from mid-spring well
into summer. 12”.
chinensis.
Sturdy, solidly-fluffed, slim
branching flower spikes. Deeply cut, rough-textured dark or
reddish-green foliage. This tough species is more sun and
drought tolerant than others.
‘Diamonds’ and Pearls.’
Pure white,
thick flower plumes rise up 28” over mounds of ferny
foliage. Tough plants that stand up well to heat and
humidity.
‘Love and Pride.’
Stately 36”
rose pink flower stalks arise from 15” mounds of deep green
foliage.
‘Maggie Dailey.’
Dense 28”
purple flower spikes top mounds of ferny foliage.
‘Milk and Honey.’
A white
astilbe that holds up under sun and drought. Creamy white
plumes turn light pink as they age. Bushy foliage is
somewhat marbled with green and silver when young.
Vigorous, prolific bloomer. 30”.
‘Pumila.’
12"; lilac-rose flower
Aug.-Sept., excellent dried; drought tolerant.
‘Purpurkerze.’ Lilac purple flower
spikes bloom atop shiny dark foliage. Flowers are very large
and thick. Height 36”.
‘Superba.’ Easy to grow, late
blooming astilbe with thick, upright, large rose-purple
flowers in June. Grows 38” tall.
‘Valerie.’ Soft bluish-purple,
dense, blocky flower plumes. Heavy bloomer, 18-20”.
‘Vision.’
12-14"; showy light purple
flowers.
‘Visions’
Dwarf.’ Dwarf form of above.
‘Vision in Pink.’ Robust grower,
drought tolerant, thick upright pale pink plumes. 18”.
‘Vision in Red.’
long blooming red flowers on
dwarf 15” plants.
japonica Hybrids.
Pyramidal shaped plumes over
narrow, sharply toothed, glossy dark green foliage.
‘Deutschland.’
24"; white flower June-July;
vigorous.
‘Ellie.’ Considered my many as
the best white cultivar as the very full and large
pure-white plumes fade to green rather than bown. 20”.
‘Montgomery.’
Large trusses of dark red.
Leaves emerge bronze in spring, changing to green.
‘Peach Blossom.’ 24”;
light salmon pink plumes, short
and narrow.
‘Red Sentinel.’ 24"; deep crimson
flowers that are open and elegant July-Aug.
‘Rheinland.’ 24"; clear pink.
simplicifolia Hybrids.
Compact plants of bronze-tinged deeply-divided leaves and
short, broad, overhanging plumes. This group prefers a
rich, moist soil. Water during dry months.
‘Darwin’s Snow Sprite.’ Compact
white plumes, similar to ‘Sprite’ only more robust and
slightly taller. 12”.
‘Hennie Graafland.’ Upright
trusses top ferny foliage. Vigorous grower. 16”.z
‘Key Biscayne.’ A seedling of
‘Sprite’ with fuller, light pink flowers on reddish stems.
Unique two-tone green foliage with a dark red edge. 14-16”.
‘Key Largo.’ Plants produce twice
as many flowers as other types. Bright shell pink flowers
top shiny dark green foliage. 16-20”
‘Key West.’ Shimmering
carmine-red flowers top wonderful dark burgundy foliage.
Produces twice as many flowers than other types. 16-20”.
‘Sprite’.
12"; lovely shell pink flowers;
attractive dark bronze foliage; 1994 Perennial Plant of the
Year.
‘White Sensation.’ Long blooming
pure white flowers appear in summer. Grows 18”.
thunbergii Hybrids.
Tall plants with loosely-branched,
drooping plumes.
‘Moerheims Glory.’
75-80”; large white arching
plumes.
‘Ostrich Plume.’ 30”; numerous
bright pink, drooping flower spikes; mid to late season
bloomer. Deer resistant!
Hybrids
‘Alive and Kicking.’ Excellent
genetics has produced plants with more vibrant colors and
stronger roots than the straight species. 10” dark rose
pink flower plumes top 40” plants.
chinensis var. taquetii ‘Purple Cats.’
rosy purple flowers and great
foliage. 30”.
‘Color Flash.’
Colorful foliage is what
extinguishes these plants. leaves emerge green then
transform to rich burgundy and purple. Fluffy pink flowers
appear in early summer. Grows to 20”.
‘Delft Lace.’ Deep salmon pink
buds open to soft apricot pink flowers. Lacy, deep green
foliage with a light silver overlay. Height 24-36” Spread
24”. Exceptional variety.
‘Erika.’ Upright clusters of
triangular shaped clear pink flowers bloom in midsummer.
‘Fireberry.’ Vibrant raspberry
pink flowers. Blooms early to mid-summer. Form petite clump
of green foliage.
‘Islamorada.’ Cherry red plumes
above a glossy green foliage. Compact and RE-BLOOMS! Height
12”.
‘Rise and Shine.’ Excellent
genetics has produced plants with more vibrant colors and
stronger roots than the straight species. Hot pink plumes
top 27” tall plants.
ASTILBOIDES,
also know as
Rodgersia tabularis,
Umbrella Plant. Partial shade and
evenly moist soil.
tabularis. Huge, bright green
leaves that can measure in excess of 24” across; the effect
in the garden is dramatic, for there simply is no bolder
foliage to be found among hardy perennials; creamy white
plumes appear in summer; grows 3’ tall and 3-4’ wide.
ASTRANTIA ‘Star of Heaven.’ White
and green starry flowers have a prominent central cone.
Long blooming in summer. Ornamental, deeply lobed leaves.
Good for borders or naturalized areas. Part shade.
Excellent fresh and dried cut flower. 24”.
major ‘Ruby Wedding’ Dark red
flowers heads. Flowers early spring and reblooms late
summer. Height 22”
‘Major Claret.’ Dark red flowers
bloom atop spectacular black stems add interest and color
appeal. Makes a great cut flower. Height 28-30”.
AURINIA (formerly Alyssum),
Basket of Gold. Sun; blooms in
spring; good for rock garden.
saxatilis,
‘Summit’. New and improved seed
strain with an earlier bloom time. Clusters of golden
yellow flowers blanket the foliage early to late spring.
Forms a large prostrate, ground covering mound in the
landscape, reaching 7 - 9 inches tall. Gray fuzzy leaves
are deer resistant. Grow in full sun in well drained soil.
Attracts butterflies.
wulfenianum. Gold flowers May
through July on 6” long lived plants with silver leaves.
‘Berggold’ Masses of fragrant
yellow flowers bloom in spring. Foliage makes a fantastic
groundcover. Height 8” Spread 12”.
‘Gold Dust.’ 10"; bright yellow
flower. |
