SUN PERENNIALS

Sun Perennials

This group of perennials requires a miniumum of 5-6 hours sunshine per day to achieve their maximum ornamental effect.

In Southern zones, many of these plants will tolerate less direct sunshine and more shade.

Morning sun is preferable to more intense levels of afternoon sun.

As the amount of shade increases, flowering generally decreases.

We ship well-established plants in 2.06 quart/1.95 liter pots, unless otherwise noted.

Echinacea (Coneflower)

Popular and beloved Echinacea, also known as Coneflower, are a group of easily grown sun perennials that have been wonderfully enriched with new introductions in recent years. The new selections exhibit a range of sizes and a spectacular spectrum of colors. New forms include a number of eye-catching doubles. Successions of freely produced blooms are displayed on strong stems from midsummer into fall. Echinacea are healthy, disease resistant, strong growing plants. These new hybrids of our native Coneflower are a magnet for butterflies when in bloom and are enjoyed by seed feeding birds in fall, making them an environmentally friendly component in any landscape. Echinacea are excellent in a flower border and make wonderful companions for grasses and other native plants. They are also outstanding for bouquets, providing long lasting cut flowers for indoor enjoyment.

Geranium (Cranesbill)

Hardy Geraniums have long been popular, easily grown versatile component of temperate gardens. Their numerous uses include herbaceous and mixed border plantings, containers and the outstanding ground cover potential of numerous low growing selections. Extremely floriferous over an extended period from early through late summer, the flowers exhibit a wide range of color and form. Of equal ornamental value and complimentary to the flowers is the variously colored and formed foliage. These indispensable sun lovers offer an ongoing interest and excitement that is ensured by a steady stream of worthy new introductions.

Monarda (Beebalm, Bergamot)

Although popular with generations of gardens, many older selections of our native Bee Balm or Bergamot are prone to unsightly foliage infections of Powdery Mildew. Modern breeding programs, especially several undertaken in Canada, have resulted in a number of outstanding new introductions displaying attractive disease resistant leaves. These new selections exhibit a range of growth forms; including a few outstanding dwarf varieties that greatly enhance flower forms in a range of bright, eyecatching color and attract butterflies. One of the easiest grown perennials especially in cooler summer climates provided one does not allow plants to dry out in summer. Precautions should also be taken to avoid excessive winter moisture which can easily cause rotting.

Papaver (Oriental Poppy)

Poppies are one of the showiest of all perennials during late spring and early summer. Huge crepe-like petalled flowers exist in an ever increasing range of colors and develop from large expectant nodding buds. Prominent velvety black-purple seed capsules surrounded by black stamens and bold black flares create a stunning focal point to each flower. Handsome prominent silvery-green hairy foliage adds additional appeal. Locate in an open sunny position and a well drained not overly rich soil. This flamboyant plant dominates any border planting. Summer dormancy. Zone 3-7

Phlox paniculata (Phlox)

Popular for over a hundred years, the Tall Garden Phlox remains a worthy component of the mid to late summer flower garden. Large colorful heads of tightly packed florets emit a rich, unique fragrance that graces through the garden and home when used in floral arrangements. Unfortunately, the foliage of many older varieties is subject to infections of Powdery Mildew especially in our warm, humid climate. Resistance to this problem is paramount in the selecting and introduction of new varieties. Sighting plants in a location that maximizes air circulation can significantly reduces disease problems. Newer vigorous and healthy introductions exhibit a wide range of flower form and color combined with an extended floral display period which is a factor enhanced by regular deadheading of spent flowers. Many new selections are now available in a range of forms and size many with strong stems that reduce the need for staking. These positive new traits combined with attractive, healthy foliage ensure the future popularity of these classic, longtime favorites.

Sedum (Stonecrop)

As water shortages, usage restrictions and conservation become more common; drought tolerance assumes greater importance when selecting plants for your landscape. The thick, fleshy, succulent foliage of sedums, with their wide range of form and colors, enhance value in present day gardens. Many of the newer tall, upright growing, clumps forming varieties produce stout, sturdy stems required to support the often massive flowerheads which develop during summer and burst into bloom during fall. Spent flowerheads, if left intact, create both ornamental winter interests, especially when covered by a blanket of snow and provides winter food for birds. Sedums are tough, easily grown, drought tolerant perennials with an extremely long period of ornamental interest.

Best Sellers 2013

Most popular with our customers! It is always interesting to see what plants other enthusiastic gardeners choose most frequently. Some best sellers are new this year, some are returning favorites, but each has something special to offer in your garden.

Good for Cut Flowers

Cut Flower tips

Cut blooms in the cool of the day. Do not cut more than one third of a plant's stems and foliage, leave plenty to nourish the plant for future growth. Re-cut stems at an angle just before putting in a vase. Make the fresh cuts under water for best water uptake. Change water in the vase frequently.

Experiment and have fun: store-bought blooms need to withstand shipping, but home gardeners can snip even delicate blooms for bouquets!

New in 2013

We are happy to offer our customers new plant varieties including many that are exclusive to our company or extremely difficult to locate. Our selections are based upon many outstanding features including extended seasonal interest of flowers, foliage and overall form combined with ease of culture. We hope you enjoy these selections!

Proven Winners® Plants

Proven Winners® works with plant breeders around the world to test and introduce plant varieties that are vigorous, healthy, vibrant, and unique. They are grown in trial gardens in places such as Michigan, New Hampshire, California, Germany, Japan, and Florida to experience a variety of growing conditions.

Plants are chosen for a variety of characteristics: easy to care for and grow, plentiful blooms, bright and colorful features, long season of bloom, disease free.

We are pleased to offer our top choices of these fine plants.

Grasses

Grasses are a versatile group with selections for sunny or shady areas.

Grasses for sunny spots add lovely arching forms to the flower and shrub border. They range in height from tall, back of the border plants to smaller varieties for the front edge of a planting. They can add fine linear texture, dramatic height, color that changes with the seasons, or decorative seedheads that sway in the slightest breeze. Many of the varieties we offer are selections of native grasses known for their beauty, toughness, and, when established, their drought tolerance. They complement each other when planted in groups, and also are wonderful with Echinacea, Salvia, Veronica, and other sun lovers.

Grasses for shady areas add a flowing, graceful touch to borders and containers. We offer choice varieties of the shade grass Hakonechloa, known as Japanese Forest Grass. Their slim, linear foliage looks great with the broad leaves of shade lovers such as Hosta and Heuchera. They add a finishing touch along the shady side of a shrub border, and look especially lovely growing near the base of Japanese Maples and Tree Peonies. They prefer a loamy, compost-enriched soil. In the northern parts of their range, provide them with mulch in winter.

Leave grasses in the garden for fall and winter interest, cut back in early spring to make room for new growth.

Siberian Iris

These invaluable clump forming, long-lived perennials have both foliage and floral appeal. Slender, graceful upright leaves remain fresh and appealing throughout the gardening season forming an ideal backdrop from early to midsummer for the elegant, tall stemmed flowers. In addition to the traditional blue and rich purple flowers, more recent hybrids display a wide range of colors including whites, yellow, strawberry-pink and reddish tones with longer lasting flowers sometimes exhibiting a tendency for reblooming. Plant height varies with some dwarf selections especially valuable for smaller gardens. In moist well drained soil, strong growth can result in the development of a valuable ornamental groundcover. Plantings can create striking contrasts when associated with such rounded shrubs like early flowering Azaleas.