Equisetum hyemale v. affine . . Scouring Rush
. . 24to 36 in. . . Sun to lt. shade
. . Zones 2 to 10 . . Avg. to wet soil Native
Round, segmented, reed-like stems are essentially leafless. Evergreen. Stoloniferous. It prefers, but does not require, wet soil. Commonly used at the edge of ponds or streams.
The Equisetum species are found on every continent except Australia. Equisetums have hardly changed since prehistoric times, when they formed a large part of the vegetation that decomposed to form coal seams. They contain alkaloids and various minerals, including silica. Because of the abrasive property of silica, they were used for scouring pots and pans.
. . . . Often found along old railroad tracks, as the rail workers used them for diswashing. The discarded stems took root and flourished.
#1204 . . Quart pot . . $4.75
Erigeron pulchellus . . Robin's Plantain
. . 2 to 4 in. . . Sun to mod. shade
. . Zones 4 to 8 . . Avg. soil . . Spring
Native
Fine-petaled white flowers on 1 ft. stems change to pink as they age. Spring bloom. Glossy, crinkled leaves hug the ground making an excellent small area cover. Moderate rate. Space about 8 to 12 in.
A plant that deserves more use in the garden. The ground hugging foliage of Robin's Plantain gives it a place in front of or between taller plants. Remove the faded flower stems for appearance and to prevent unwanted seeding.
Once used as a cure for snake bite.
#1008 . . Quart pot . . $4.75
Eupatorium fistulosum . . Joe-pye Weed
. . 6 to 8 ft. . . Sun to mod.shade
. . Zones 4 to 9 . . Avg. soil . . Late Summer
Native
Strong straight stems with whorled leaves. Huge pink to purple flower heads in August. Best in full sun with moist soil.
Joe-Pye is an outstanding garden plant. Its neat and symmetrical form contrasts well with bushy, rounded plants. Just be sure to place it behind everything else. It does get tall.
There is some confusion as to what the herbal uses were. The name "Joe-Pye" has been applied to many of the Eupatorium species.
#1067 . . Quart pot . . $4.75
Eupatorium hyssopifolium . . Hyssop-leaved Eupatorium
. . 3 to 4 ft. . . Sun
. . To Zone 5 . . Avg. soil . . Late Summer
Native
Fuzzy clusters of white flowers in late summer. Very narrow, linear to lanceolate leaves. Good for naturalizing in the wild garden.
#1427 . . Quart pot . . $4.75
Eupatorium purpureum "Gateway" . . Joe Pye Weed "Gateway"
. . 4 ft. . . Sun to mod. shade
. . Zones 3 to 9 . . Rich, moist soil . . Summer
Native Selection
A compact form of Joe-Pye Weed, with the same huge dusky pink to purple flower heads, and strong straight stems with whorled leaves.
An outstanding garden plant, especially attractive to bees and butterflies. The chocolate seedheads can be used in flower arrangements.
. . . . Eupatorium means "of a noble father." It was named after Mithridates Eupator, a ruler who discovered that a species of Eupatorium was an antidote to poison.
#1917 . . Quart pot . . $4.75
Eupatorium serotinum . . Late-Blooming Eupatorium
. . 2 to 4 ft. . . Sun
. . To Zone . . Avg. soil . . L. Summer to E. Fall
Native
A white blooming species having flower heads up to 16 inches in breadth. A durable plant often found in old fields and along railroads.
#1505 . . Quart pot . . $4.75
Geranium macrorrhizum . . Geranium "Walter Ingwersen"
. . 15 to 18 in. . . Sun to lt. shade
. . Zones 4 to 8 . . Avg. soil . . L. Spring to E. Summer
Europe
A vigorous, heat tolerant, drought-resistant, pink flowering selection notable for the delightful fragrance of its divided, rounded foliage.
It is semievergreen, but does develop bright autumn color. It can be used as a dense, weed-proof ground cover, for either sun or shade.
#1918 . . Quart pot . . $4.75
Glechoma hederacea cv. . . Variegated Ground Ivy "Variegata"
. . 2 in. . . Sun to mod. shade
. . Zone 6 . . Avg. soil, moist . . Spring
Europe
The serrated kidney-shaped leaves of this purple-flowering selection have a showy, white variegation, which differs from leaf to leaf. Fast spreading and does well in shady areas.
Actually a mint, and closely related to catnip, it makes an excellent evergreen ground cover for dampish, shady places.
It was once used to clarify, flavor and preserve beer and ale.
Although rarely used today, it is reputedly an astringent, diuretic, stimulant and tonic.
. . . . Glechoma is Greek for pennyroyal and hederacea means ivy.
#1725 . . Quart pot . . $4.75
Helianthus decapetalus . . Thinleaf Sunflower
. . 4 to 6 ft. . . Sun
. . Zones 5 to 8 . . Avg. soil . . Late Summer
Native
Profuse three inch, light yellow flowers in late summer make a handsome display. Parent plant of a number of Helianthus hybrids.
#1519 . . Quart pot . . $4.75
Helianthus maximiliani . . Maximilian Sunflower
. . To 10 ft. . . Sun
. . Zones 3 to 8 . . Avg. soil . . Late Summer
Native
Numerous 3 inch, bright yellow flowers. Late summer. Tall, strong stems. Native to the Central Plains states.
Good source of forage for wildlife.
#1457 . . Quart pot . . $4.75
Helianthus microcephalus . . Small-head Sunflower
. . To 6 ft. . . Sun to lt. shade
. . To Zone 5 . . Avg. soil . . Late Summer
Native
The yellow flowers are smaller (1 to 2 inches) than most Sunflowers. Attractive deep green foliage. Tolerates moderate shade. Native to woodland margins in the Southeast.
#1311 . . Quart pot . . $5.00
Helianthus mollis . . Ashey Sunflower
. . To 6 ft. . . Sun
. . Zones 4 to 9 . . Avg. to poor soil . . Late Summer
Native
Gray-green, densely hairy leaves are soft to the touch. Bears numerous four inch, yellow flowers in late summer.
#1518 . . Quart pot . . $4.75
Hemerocalis fulva . . Tawny Daylily
. . To 32 in. . . Sun to lt. shade
. . To Zone 4 . . Avg. soil . . Summer
Japan
This is the common orange roadside daylily. Useful as a ground cover for banks and areas that don't get much care. Very hardy and spreads fast. Not bothered by pests or disease. Blooms early summer. Plant 18 to 24 in.
Tawny Daylily is so widespread and has been cultivated so long that it is often believed to be a native plant. It has been cultivated in Europe and Asia for centuries and was introduced here in colonial times.
Both flowers and tubers are edible.
#1016 . . Quart pot . . $4.75
Hemerocalis lilioasphodelus . . Lemon Lily
. . 18 to 30 inches . . Sun to lt. shade
. . Zones 3 to 9 . . Avg. soil . . Spring
Asia
Unforgettably fragrant, clear yellow blooms in spring--earliest of the Daylilies. An old garden plant first described in 1596. Easily grown--spreads freely.
#1320 . . Quart pot . . $5.00
Hemerocalis x . . Daylily "Stella D'oro"
. . 12 to 24 in. . . Sun
. . To Zone 4 . . Avg. soil . . All season
Hybrid
Well known (at least most advertised) hybrid daylily. Narrow foliage and neat habit. Stays small. Not invasive. Yellow-gold flowers from late spring to fall, with heaviest bloom in the spring. Excellent in the border. The name means "Star of Gold".
#1018 . . Quart pot . . $4.75
Heuchera americana . . Alumroot
. . 8 to 12 in. . . Lt. to full shade
. . Zones 5 to 8 . . Avg. soil . . Spring
Native
Round, lobed leaves mottled with gray and burgundy. Foliage persists into winter. Excellent foliage plant for the rock, border or woodland garden.
In spring, the airy flower stalks reach to 3 ft., but are quite plain. The multi-colored foliage is the distinctive feature of Alumroot.
The astringent root was powdered and used for sores, wounds and cancers.
#1076 . . Quart pot . . $4.75
Heuchera micrantha x . . Coral Bells "Palace purple"
. . 15 in. . . Sun to lt. shade
. . Zones 4 to 8 . . Avg. soil, well drained . . Summer
Hybrid
Metallic, purple-bronze marbled clumping foliage and a waving mass of feathery stems with minute blush-white blooms.
Raised from wild-collected seeds at Kew Gardens, the name "Palace Purple" is in commemoration of Kew Palace, built in 1631, long before this species was introduced to England from its native US.
#1921 . . Quart pot . . $4.75
Heuchera villosa . . Hairy Alumroot
. . 6 to 8 in. . . Lt. to full shade
. . Zones est. 5 to 8 . . Moist, well drained soil . . Late Summer
Native
Tiny, white flowers on an airy 1 to 2 foot stalk. Blooms for a long period in late summer. Forms clumps of sharply lobed, slightly hairy leaves.
The foliage lacks the color variations of H. americana, but the bloom is more showy. Best planted against a dark background to enhance the white flowers.
#1313 . . Quart pot . . $5.00
Hibiscus moscheutos . . Rose Mallow
. . 3 to 6 ft. . . Sun
. . Zones 5 to 9 . . Avg. soil, moist . . Summer
Native
Huge, 8 inch, usually pink flowers in summer. Herbacious perennial--foliage dies back in winter. Native to Eastern wetlands.
#1281 . . Quart pot . . $4.75
Hibiscus palustris forma peckii . . Crimson-eyed Rose Mallow
. . 3 to 6 ft. . . Sun
. . Zones 5 to 9 . . Avg. soil, moist . . Summer
Native
Huge white flowers with a red eye. The blooms, which are very large, last only one day but the many buds bloom one at a time over along period from midsumer to fall.
Although found in the wild in marshes or pond edges, this striking perennial will grow very well in garden soil that is not too dry. This hibiscus starts to grow very late in the spring and eventually makes big clumps which live for years.
#1516 . . Quart pot . . $5.00
Hierochloe odorata . . Sweetgrass
. . 18 in. . . Sun
. . Zone 5 . . Avg. soil, moist Native
A native grass, interesting primarily for its subtle scent, a combination of coumarin and vanilla, with graceful brownish panicles in mid-summer.
This is the source of the sweetgrass braids which were used as sacred incense by the North American Indians.
It was also sacred to early Europeans, and is still strewn on church floors on festival days. When dried, the scent becomes more intense. Sweetgrass is also useful in basketry.
. . . . The name is from the Greek, hieros meaning sacred, and chloemeaning grass.
#1802 . . Quart pot . . $4.75
Last Modified: 5/3/2004
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