Lady’s Mantle
Alchemilla mollis
Rosaceae
Form: Rounded mound to height and spread of 24
inches
Foliage: Bright green basal leaves, round (orbicular),
up to 5 inches across, palmately veined and beautifully pleated, with 7-11
lobes. Leaves are densely and smoothly
pubescent, and hold droplets of water or dew along shallowly toothed edges and
at the center of each leaf; medium texture
Flowers: Apetalous, (no petals) chartreuse or
yellow-green, 1/8 inch across. The tiny
flowers form striking sprays in casual compound cymes on stems that may stretch
to 18 inches; May to July
Seedheads: Not effective; flowers dry well
Culture: Part shade to full shade and moist, fertile
soil of average to slightly acid pH.
Protect from late-day west sun to avoid burning leaf margins in hottest
weather. Warmer, more humid locations
can promote fungal diseases on water-holding foliage. After bloom, cut back hard to rejuvenate new
basal leaves. Avoid standing water and
leaf or mulch accumulation in crown.
Uses: A “blender,” working with nearly all colors,
contrasting with magenta and purples or cooling warm colors; edger, mass, cut
flower.
Companions: hardy ageratum, threadleaf coreopsis, lilies,
purple coralbells, gold-edged hostas, blue salvias
Propagation:
Fresh seed or stratified older seed,
division
Cultivars: `Auslese’ - available in the trade, not much difference between
it and the species
`Thriller’ - larger leaves, more flowers with more pleats
Other
Species: A. alpine, alpine lady’s mantle - Very tiny foliage, with deeper pleats and margins
completely lined with fine white hairs.
A rock garden species
Arkansas
Amsonia hubrichtii
Apocynaceae
Form: Uniform, soft vase-shaped clumps of strong
stems, ultimately becoming rounded and full to a height and width of 30 inches
Foliage: Very fine, feathery medium-green leaves,
alternate, linear-lanceolate, 1/8 inch wide or less and 1 to 3 inches
long. Leaves are very densely arranged,
like plumes; fine texture. Excellent long-lasting fall color, beginning in
September; usually a bright shining gold or clear yellow but may be shades of
burgundy
Flowers: Star-shaped, in loose terminal clusters 2 to 3
inches long. Individual flowers are ¼ to
½ inch across with all parts in fives; very pale blue; May
Seedheads: Unusual long, narrow beanpod-like follicle;
somewhat persistent
Culture: Full sun to part shade, well-drained but
moist soil of average fertility. Fairly
drought-tolerant once established.
Carefully divide older plants and discard open woody part of crown. Cut back before bloom to reduce height; after
bloom to develop more dense foliage
Uses:
Texture, backdrop for plants with bold foliage, fall color.
Companions: Asters, especially blue, fall-blooming
anemones, globe thistle, sedum, hostas
Propagation: Self-sows readily; dense roots can be
carefully divided in spring
Other Species: A.
taebernaemontana var. taebernaemontana - nicest in bloom, with dark blue
starlike flowers
A. ciliata, downy
amsonia
A. illustris
Contock Pussytoes
Antennaria parvifolia
Asteraceae
Form: Tiny mat-forming groundcover not exceeding 4
inches in height; spreading by stolons to 18 inches or more; prairie native
Foliage: Basal, dense, silvery gray foliage; each leaf
1 inch long or less; leaves resemble the tip of a paper airplane (spatulate)
arranged at 90 degree angles to one another; ever “gray” through the year; fine
texture
Flowers: Dioecious; (male and female on separate
plants); on upright stems to 6 inches;
rounded corymbs with papery scales that surround the “pussy toes” and
create the visual interest; April to May
Seedheads: Not effective; scales do not persist
Culture: Full sun; rocky, gravelly or sandy
well-drained soil; extremely drought tolerant once established. Do not provide supplemental water, especially
in areas of high humidity and high night time temperatures; and withhold
fertilizer. Plains native useful as an
alternative to introduced silver groundcovers like snow-in-summer (Cerastium
tomentosum).
Uses: Rock garden, edger between steppingstones or
along dry paths, hot spots, grown more for foliage than for flowers.
Companions: thrift, thyme, small sedums, dianthus
Propagation: Spring division or seed
Other species: A.
neglecta, plainleaf pussytoes
A.
dioica, common pussytoes
A. plantaginea,
plantain pussytoes
Japanese Painted Arum
Arum italicum `Pictum’
Araceae
Form: Naturalizing, open clumps from tubers develop
into an open groundcover; height and spread 15 to 24 inches
Foliage: Fabulous marbled dark green arrowhead-shaped
(hastate) simple leaves up to 12 inches long on a long petiole emerge in early
October and last through winter into late spring. This is a tropical-appearing,
unexpected plant capable of withstanding below freezing temperatures and snow
loads. Foliage is dormant by mid-June;
bold texture
Flowers:
Yellow spadix (long, cylindrical stalk) hidden by pale chartreuse spathe with a
long “hood” overhanging the flower; with females at the base, males at the top,
and sterile flowers in between. Very fleeting appearance in May, after which
both flowers and foliage disappear
Seedheads: Ornamental, orange-red berries on an upright,
fleshy stem, rising from the dormant plant; not persistent but effective for
several weeks while ripening.
Culture: Plant tubers in average to moist well-drained
soil in part to full shade; tolerates dry shade and root competition once
established. Mark location to avoid
disturbing clumps during summer dormancy. Keep out of reach of animals and
children because of calcium oxalate crystals in plant parts. Few pest or disease problems
Uses: Specimen plant, dramatic foliage in shade
garden, woodland, naturalized areas.
Companions: hellebores, hostas, epimediums, anemones,
variegated Solomon’s seal, variegated brunnera, corydalis, ferns
Propagation: Division; sowing fresh seed (stratify or allow
to self-sow)
Cultivars: ‘Marmoratum’ - more marbled foliage, larger leaves
White Sage
Artemisia ludoviciana
Asteraceae
NATIVE
Form: Wide-ranging rhizomatous plant
that forms colonies of upright stems, height 24 to 36 inches, spread equal or
more.
Foliage: Alternate,
silver, 2 to 4 inches long and ½ inch wide, lanceolate, entire or notched
margins. The stems are white, and the
undersides of the leaves are covered with fine white woolly hairs, giving the
whole plant a ghostly appearance. Fine texture
Flowers: White, very
small, in tight panicles. The flowers
are not effective; the plant is grown for its foliage, which is aromatic in
addition to being attractive.
Seedheads: Not effective
Culture: Full sun;
loose, well-drained soil of low to average fertility. Tolerant of heavier soils if drainage is good, but prefers sand or sandy
loam. Shade, high humidity, overhead
water, or too much moisture or fertilizer will contribute to a floppy habit,
rampant growth, foliar diseases or death.
Cut back to thicken the stand; divide frequently to control spread or
cage in concrete.
Uses: Background, moon garden,
texture.
Companions: plants with
bold texture or contrasting forms.
Daylilies, globe thistle, sedums, penstemon, short grasses, liatris
Propagation: Division
Cultivars: ‘Silver King’
- shorter than the species, beautiful foliage
‘Silver Queen’
- larger leaves with a more rugged texture; smaller than ‘Silver King’
‘Valerie Finnis’
- shorter, a clump-former instead of a runner, with large, entire leaves
Powis Castle
Artemisia x ‘Powis Castle’
Asteraceae
Form: An almost perfect rounded bushel basket when
managed properly; semi-woody plant to a height and spread of 36 inches
Foliage: Pure silver, uniform fine texture; leaves are
alternate and pinnately divided and finely dissected, 3 to 5 inches long
Flowers: Rarely produced
Culture: Full sun to part shade; dry, infertile,
well-drained soils but will tolerate average garden conditions if the soil is
loose. Cut back in spring only to live
wood, after last frost; cutting back in fall can result in reduced hardiness. May be short-lived or questionably hardy in
northern zones, but a gallon plant will reach full size in a single season and
is worth replanting
Uses: Accent or focal point, texture contrast,
screen, moon garden.
Companions:
Coneflowers, goldenrod, ornamental oregano, poppy, germander, dwarf asters
Propagation: Cuttings
Blue False Indigo
Baptisia australis
Fabaceae
Form: Long-lived perennial that assumes shrub-like
proportions, slowly spreading by stolons; broad rounded height and spread to 48
inches or more. Baptisia minor (dwarf blue false
indigo) is half the size; excellent choice for smaller spaces
Foliage: Fine texture created by digitate foliage
with three obovate leaflets up to 3 inches long; bright green to
gray-green; turns black-charcoal gray with heavy freeze and persists into
winter
Flowers: Up to 1 inch long, pea-like, light to deep
indigo blue, loosely arranged on 12 inch upright stalks, May
Seedheads: Showy, fat black pods persist
Culture: Full sun to part shade; dry soil. No
particular pests or diseases
Uses: Structure and form in border; cutting,
texture, hot spots.
Companions: Shrub roses, grasses, mullein, goldenrod,
artemisia, amsonia
Propagation: Does not transplant well in large sizes, and
takes several years to reach good proportions if grown from seed; weevils
attack the seed, which should be harvested in midsummer, scarified, and planted
fresh
Cultivars: Many hybrids are becoming available, such as B. ‘Smoky Hills,’ B. ‘Prairie Twilight Blues’
Other Species: B. leucantha,
B. lactea are also native species.
Pigsqueak/Heartleaf Bergenia
Bergenia
cordifolia
Saxifragaceae
Form: Broad, solid clumps, growing slowly to a
height and spread of 12 to 15 inches
Foliage: Large, bold, leathery, almost-evergreen leaves
up to 12 inches long; thick, broadly oval with undulate (wavy) margins. When well-grown, bergenia is a dramatic texture
and form in the landscape. Foliage turns
burgundy in late winter, and can become severely dessicated in exposed
conditions.
Flowers: On thick scapes, held above foliage, in
irregular, coarse clusters. Each flower is five-petaled, approximately ½ inch
across; usually bright pink but white to deep red cultivars are available.
Flowers are not long-lasting; grown more for the foliage. May
Culture: Part shade to sun in average to moist but
well-drained, fertile soil of neutral to slightly alkaline pH. Protect from drying winds; buds and growing
points often damaged by winter if subjected to standing water or excessive
wind, and plants with this condition rarely recover. Plants perform well at the top of limestone
walls
Seedheads: Not effective
Uses: Texture, edger, specimen, along walls and
paths.
Companions: red valerian, roundleaf horehound, low
sedums, Serbian bellflower, stokesia, hostas, cranesbills
Propagation:
Seed or spring division; plant deeply
and mulch
Cultivars: `Silberlicht’ - nearly white flowers, blushed pink
`Rotblum’ - red blooms
Many others, each vying for
better blooms when in fact the foliage is of greatest interest
Other Species: B. purpurascens - deeper purple foliage and flowers
Brunnera/Siberian Bugloss
Brunnera macrophylla
Boraginaceae
Form: Rounded clumps, slightly taller than wide, to
a height of 18 inches and spread of 15 inches, colonizes readily from seed
Foliage: Basal leaves that remain neat all
season. Each leaf is on a long petiole,
strongly cordate or reniform (heart-shaped or kidney-shaped) at the base, ovate
overall, up to 8 inches across. Stem
leaves progressively smaller and sessile; leaves increase in size throughout
the season, medium texture
Flowers: Small, to ¼ inch across, bright blue with yellow
centers, five petals, on open panicled racemes; reminiscent of
forget-me-nots. Racemes elongate and
bloom continues for several weeks. April
to early June
Seedheads: Not effective
Culture: Part to full shade, consistent moisture and
fertile, organic soil. Competes well
with tree roots. Remove spent seedheads
if seedlings are not desired
Uses: Woodland
gardens, naturalized areas under trees, edger, specimen (especially variegated
ones).
Companions: variegated sedges, ajuga, variegated Solomon’s
seal, epimediums, hostas, toadlilies, pachysandra, hellebores
Propagation: Woodland
conditions will encourage seedlings; or sow in early fall; root cuttings,
spring division
Cultivars: `Hadspen Cream’ - irregular creamy white borders, very beautiful in
full shade
`Variegata’ - bold variegation of entire leaf; some green leaves
appear through reversion, and must be removed; intolerant of sun
‘Jack Frost’ -
spectacular silver leaves with dark green veins, reverse of most variegated
plants
‘Looking
Glass’ - almost pure white, not well tested yet
Japanese Sedge
Carex morrowii
Cyperaceae
Form: Vase-shaped mound, with foliage almost
uniformly arranged around the center point; height to 12 inches and spread to
18 inches
Foliage: Dense but fine-textured; triangular in cross
section (typical of all sedges); each leaf thick and up to ½ inch wide and 12
inches long; evergreen
Flowers: Insignificant and produced irregularly in
March to April; brownish; clustered on ends of stems like burs
Seedheads: Not effective
Culture: Full sun to almost full shade and constantly
moist soils; tolerant of compaction and clay but prefers loamy conditions. Provide protection for variegated cultivars
from direct sun, using them to advantage in shaded areas. Prune dead or
tattered foliage in early spring
Uses: Edger, wetlands, pond edges, multi-season
interest, grasslike foliage texture in shade gardens, groundcover.
Companions: Cranesbills, brunnera, hostas, ferns,
turtlehead
Propagation: Spring division
Cultivars: `Variegata’ - distinct
gold to cream longitudinal stripe in each leaf; a very elegant mophead of a
plant but less vigorous than ‘Ice Dance’
`Ice
Dance’ - more upright, foliage is darker
green and wider, distinct white margins on leaves; spreads rapidly to form
thick colonies in moist conditions
‘Beetlemania’ - very small, with gold variegation on leaves that
are whorled like Ringo Star’s bowl haircut
Other species:
C. grayii, Gray’s sedge
C. buchananii, leatherleaf sedge
C. muskigumensis, palm sedge
We have a wonderful array of
NATIVE sedges in the Plains
Yellow Corydalis
Corydalis lutea
Fumariaceae
Form: Even rounded clump, height and spread 12 to
15 inches
Foliage: Blue-green, 2-3 times pinnately
compound. Each leaflet is lobed, up to 4
inches wide, almost fernlike in appearance.
Leaves and stems appear almost succulent but leaves are not thick; fine
texture
Flowers: Bright butter yellow in small axillary
racemes 2 to 3 inches long on short stems.
Individual flowers are ½ inch
long, tubular or spurred with flared tips; extremely long bloom season,
beginning in May with respectable rebloom without deadheading throughout the
summer
Seedheads: Not effective, but seedlings are produced in
abundance
Culture: Part to full shade in moist, well-drained
soil. Protect from west exposure or open, windy sites. Will tolerate alkaline soil and grows easily
in cracks in shaded rock walls or stone patioes. May go dormant in very dry locations;
difficult to successfully transplant large plants.
Uses: Naturalizes in shade garden, edger, mass,
long bloom season, small cut flowers.
Companions: bergenia, snowdrops anemone, epimediums,
hostas, stokesia
Propagation: Seeds very readily, rapidly forming large,
uniform colonies
Other Species: C.
ochroleuca, white corydalis
- similar to yellow corydalis, with pure white flowers.
C. ‘Blackberry
Wine’ - unusual, almost glowing
lavender-purple flowers; hardy and long-blooming but not as long as yellow
corydalis
Myrtle Spurge/Donkeytail Spurge
Euphorbia myrsinites
Euphorbiaceae
Form: A rather uniform mass of gently curving
‘tails,’ with stems packed tightly enough to hide the ground beneath the plant;
height 6 to 12 inches and spread to 18 to 24 inches
Foliage: Thick, fleshy unbranched stems are clothed in
equally fleshy, glaucous blue-green leaves, closely spiraled around the stem to
appear whorled; each sessile leaf is obovate to obovate-oblong and less than 1
long; with a short, sharp tip (mucronate).
The foliage persists through winter; medium texture.
Flowers: Unisex, greenish, surrounded by pale yellow
bracts in umbels 2 to 4 inches wide; showy against foliage. April to May
Seedheads: Not effective, but bracts remain showy for a
long time
Culture: Full sun to light shade; average to poor,
well-drained soil amended with gravel, sand, or other coarse materials. Poor drainage and overabundant moisture will
kill the plant. Cut back and pull stems
that have rooted to control spread.
Uses: Unusual texture and persistent foliage make
it a good specimen in the border, rock gardens, walls.
Companions: Serbian bellflower, bergenia, rock cress,
dianthus, rock rose
Propagation: Seed, division, cuttings
Dropwort
Filipendula
vulgaris (hexapetala)
Rosaceae
Form: Vase-shaped clumps of basal foliage to a
height and spread of 12 to 18 inches; tends to spread from tuberous root system
to form a loose groundcover
Foliage: Alternate, shiny, very fine-textured,
pinnately-divided leaves, with many sessile leaflets. The plant looks like a curly fern, and
remains quietly showy without burning or tattering for the entire growing
season; fine texture.
Flowers: Flattened inflorescence 4 to 6 inches across
of many small, creamy white flowers, sometimes tinged with pink, on wiry,
curling stems up to 12 inches long with multiple branches. The flowers tend to flop over on the foliage
because of weight and scale; May
Seedheads: Not effective
Culture: Part shade to very light full shade in evenly
moist soil of neutral or slightly alkaline pH.
It also tolerates average garden conditions and wet sites and is also
fairly drought tolerant once established. Remove spent flowers to enjoy the
foliage.
Uses: Edger or casual groundcover, texture, cut
flowers.
Companions: coralbells, stokesia, bergenia, fall-blooming
anemones, Siberian iris
Propagation: Seed, or division of small pieces of tuberous
rootstock, (small pieces will regenerate into new plants easily)
Cultivars: `Flore Pleno’ - double-flowering form
Bigroot Geranium
Geranium macrorhizzum
Geraniaceae
Form: One of the best groundcover hardy geraniums,
rhizomatous, with base of plant becoming almost woody and rather easily broken
off; dense, uniform mass to a height of 12 to 15 inches and spread of 18 inches
or more
Foliage: Strongly aromatic basal leaves, light green,
pubescent and thick, up to 5 inches wide with 5 to 7 divisions cut nearly to
the base; lobes also notched; nearly evergreen.
Often turns shades of deep wine red in winter, and holds up well to
temperature extremes and snow cover.
Medium texture
Flowers: Bright pink to magenta, held above foliage in
terminal clusters on long peduncles.
Five petals form flowers ½ inch to 1 inch across, stamens are prominent
and sepals (calyces) are dark red and inflated like balloons. The flowers are interesting but not
long-lasting; May
Seedheads: Reddish “cranesbills,” persist until fall
Culture: Part to full shade in average loam; prefers
moisture but will tolerate fairly dry conditions, especially after
establishment. Foliage may wilt in late-day sun but recovers well if adequate
water is provided. Competes effectively
with tree roots. Cut tattered foliage
back in late winter; carefully remove leaves and debris to avoid breaking brittle
stems. Diligently watch soil moisture
when transplanting or dividing, which should be done in early spring before
bloom
Uses: Evergreen groundcover, edger, woodland
garden, fragrance garden.
Companions: ferns, astilbe, toadlily, hostas, fall-blooming
anemones, Arkansas
Propagation:
Division, taking short pieces of roots;
stems are arranged like rosettes very close to the surface, with few roots at
the nodes. Seed; do not cover
Cultivars: `Bevan’s Variety’ - shorter, to 10 inches with darker red sepals and
magenta petals
`Ingwersen’s Variety’ - pale pink, leaves slightly glossy, more elegant
Lenten Rose
Helleborus
orientalis
Ranunculaceae
Form: Broad, rounded clumps to a height and spread
of 15 to 18 inches; will colonize thickly in ideal conditions
Foliage: Beautiful, leathery, dark green evergreen
leaves up to 12 inches long, each divided into 7 to 9 serrated segments (not
compound). Margins are sharply serrate,
to the point of reminding a gardener to wear gloves. Leaves appear palmate, rising directly from
rootstock. Bold texture
Flowers: Up to 4 inches wide, cupped and nodding, with
five showy sepals, which may be spotted.
The sepals are stout and can last for three months. Colors range from cream to deep rose to
chartreuse; great variation exists. Very
long season of effectiveness in cool weather, March (sometimes earlier) to June
Seedheads: Not effective
Culture: Part to full shade in moist, well-drained
soils enriched with organic matter; competes well with tree roots. Very slow to
establish; leave clumps undisturbed for best appearance. Foliage can become
burned or tattered by April; cut it back and new leaves will sprout. Maintain a light mulch to conserve water and
encourage production of seedlings
Uses: Elegant clumps, masses or groundcover close
to paths and windows where flowers can be enjoyed even in snow; multi-season
interest, unusual cut flower. Poisonous when ingested.
Companions: variegated hostas, Virginia
Propagation: Self-sown seed is easiest; transplant very
young seedlings to new location
Cultivars: `Winter Joy Bouquet’ - mixed colors, very floriferous
Many
of the available hellebores are hybrids.
This was the Perennial Plant of the Year in 2005
Other species: H.
orientalis
H. foetidus
American Alumroot
Heuchera
americana
Saxifragaceae
Form: Rounded basal mounds to a height and spread
of 18 inches; vertical flower stems to a height of 30 inches
Foliage: Beautiful rounded leaves 3 inches across with
toothed margins, 5 to 7 lobes and a heart-shaped (cordate) base. Scattered stiff hairs on leaf surfaces; young
foliage is mottled and purplish-brown; turns green with age but new leaves will
be produced all season with proper. care.
Evergreen, with the purple deepening and remaining showy through the winter;
medium texture
Flowers: Panicles of small urn-shaped flowers, up to ¼
inch long, greenish or reddish tinged; on wiry stems; not grown for the
flowers. May to June
Seedheads: Not effective
Culture: Part to almost full shade, especially to
avoid burning the leaf margins of cultivars with deeper purple foliage. Avoid west exposures or strong reflection
from pavement. Average soil with good
drainage and even moisture. Plants will
not produce new foliage if allowed to dry out.
Selectively cut old foliage to ground in early spring, remove spent
flowers. Alumroots have a thick, almost
woody root, and tend to heave themselves out of the ground; mulch will reduce
this.
Uses: Border, edger, multi-season foliage interest,
contrast.
Companions: Astilbe, Japanese painted fern, bloodred
cranesbill (especially the white one), plumbago, lady’s mantle
Cultivars: The following
cultivars and hybrids could be assigned to either species…
`Dale’s Strain’
- silver-blue marbled foliage; shorter, to 15 inches, good groundcover and more drought tolerant
`Pewter Moon’
- upper leaf surface marbled with a pewter-gray cast; underside deep maroon
purple; flowers light creamy pink; height only to 12 inches
`Montrose Ruby’
- doesn’t turn brown-purple as quickly as `Palace Purple;’ foliage dark purple
with silver mottling, parents are ‘Dale’s Strain’ and `Palace Purple’
`Stormy
Seas
‘Amber
Waves,’ ‘Peach Melba’ - newest colors, which are somewhere between yellow, gold,
orange, and chartreuse and may be short-liv
Other Species: Heuchera micrantha, small-flowered alumroot - has heart-shaped leaves, 2 to 4 inches long,
gray-green in color with rounded lobes
Coral Bells
Heuchera
sanguinea
Saxifragaceae
Form: Broadly rounded basal mounds to a height of
12 inches and spread of 15 inches; flower stems to 24 inches and vertical. Smaller foliage and smaller plant than its
cousins; bigger, showier flowers
Foliage: Rounded to kidney-shaped bright green leaves,
may be faintly mottled with lighter green.
Leaves are up to 3 inches across with a heart-shaped base, 5 to 6 lobes
with slightly dentate margins and hairy petioles; medium-fine texture
Flowers: ½ inch long, campanulate (bell-shaped), red
with variation from white to raspberry to light pink in cultivars; branched,
airy panicles that last for several weeks.
Wiry stems hold flowers well above the foliage. May to July
Culture: Full sun to part shade and loose soils
enriched with organic matter; excellent drainage and avoid heavy clay or acid
soils. Crowns will often heave out of the ground in the winter; mulch after
frost to help prevent this. Remove spent
flowers to encourage sporadic rebloom
Uses: Border, edger, mass, cottage garden, cut
flowers.
Companions: dwarf asters, cranesbills, garden phlox,
veronica, threadleaf coreopsis, ‘Sprite’ astilbe
Propagation: Division, taking care to get a good piece of
the root and buds
Cultivars: Most cultivars are probably of mixed parentage, with H. x brizioides figuring somewhere
into the line
`June Bride’ -
white flowers with slight pink tinge
`Chatterbox’ -
floriferous, bright pink, large flowers
`Firefly’ - shorter,
deep wine-red flowers
‘Ruby Bells’ -
deepest red on a short plant
`Mt. St.
Helens
`Raspberry Regal’
- deep raspberry red flowers on long leafless stems excellent for cutting
`Snow Angel’ -
Bluebird Nursery, green leaves mottled with cream and white, pink flowers;
needs protection from west sun but supersedes other white-variegated selections
Hosta
Hosta x
Liliaceae
Form: The ‘standard’ form for hostas is a rounded mound of
foliage, ranging in size from diminutive 4”-6” plants to cultivars 5 feet
across.
Foliage: Typically bold, each leaf being more or less
elliptic, ovate, or lanceolate with an entire and often wavy margin. Distinct pairs of lateral veins give the
blade tissue texture. The petiole is
winged, frequently longer than the leaves, and distinctly furrowed or keeled
like the prow of a boat. Colors range
from glaucous gray-blue to chartreuse to dark green, with variegation in darker
greens, cream or white, marginal, blotching, or striping. The latest breeding includes plants such as
‘Red October,’ with a distinctly red petiole.
Flowers: White to lilac, funnelform, diminutive or
nondescript to 3 inches long and showy.
Some are extremely fragrant. They
are borne in racemes, either tightly arranged or scattered, and are either
considered a prominent part of the plant or something to be removed in favor of
the foliage. The flowering stalk length
varies with the species or cultivar, as do the foliage and flowers; many
varieties hold the flowers distinctly upright above the basal leaves.
Culture: Hostas prefer part to moderate shade, although some
will tolerate sun if given good soil and moisture—particularly in more northern
zones. They are easy to divide; however,
many gardeners make the mistake of buying them too small (quarts) and/or
dividing them too frequently. Slugs,
rabbits, voles, hosta virus X disease and various crown rots can diminish a
planting, as can hail storms. When old
plants get a dead, woody center, dig and divide the plant and reset in fertile
soil. They are propagated by tissue
culture or spring division; some can be produced by seed.
Uses: Use hostas as specimens, edgers, under the canopy of
trees (they are drought tolerant once established) in shade gardens and
naturalized areas. Unfortunately, they
turn to mush after the first freeze, and offer not even a speck of winter
interest.
Companions:
Propagation: Division
Cultivars: There are too many hostas to learn or own, even for
the avid hostite. A few are included
here.
Wavy Hosta
Hosta
undulata
Liliaceae
Foliage: One of the many species of hostas grown
mostly for the foliage, with the flowers being a bonus. Each leaf is 6 inches
long, elliptic or ovate, wavy, with 8-10 pairs of lateral veins, a clear white
center and bright green margins; abrupt point on end of leaf. Petioles are winged and dotted with red;
deeply furrowed
Flowers: Lilac, funnelform flowers 2 inches long in
loose racemes on stems 12 inches to 24 inches long; August
Seedheads: Not effective
Cultivars: `Albo-marginata’
- the reverse of the species, with white margins and green interiors
Fragrant Hosta
Hosta plantaginea
Liliaceae
Form: Broad, slightly arching mound, to a height
and spread of 18 to 24 inches; flower
scapes held above foliage to a height of 24 to 30 inches
Foliage: Heart-shaped basal leaves up to 10 inches
long, on the yellow side of green; pointed tips; 7 to 9 veins each side of the
midrib; coarse or bold texture
Flowers: Trumpet-shaped and pure white, very fragrant;
4 to 5 inches long and surrounded by a large bract; densely clustered near top
of raceme and pointing out at an angle; August to September
Cultivars: Too numerous to even begin to list
`Honeybells’ - (H. plantaginea x H. lancifolia = Hosta
`Honeybells’) wavy leaves, yellow-green, fragrant lilac flowers
`Royal
Standard’ - (Hosta plantaginea
`Royal Standard’) old favorite with puckered, deep-veined green-yellow foliage,
to 3’
Siebold Hosta
Hosta sieboldiana
Liliaceae
Form: Large, dramatic clumps, wide-spreading but
vase-like because of long, upright petioles; height to 36 inches; spread to 48
inches
Foliage: Thick, heart-shaped to rounded; up to 12
inches wide and 15 inches long; blue-green, 12-14 pairs of veins; coarse or
bold texture
Flowers: Lilac or white; coarse and not showy; usually
buried in foliage, not elegant; August
Seedheads: Not effective
Cultivars: `Frances Williams’ - (Hosta sieboldiana var. elegans `Frances Williams’)
seedling of H. siebolidiana var. elegans; gold-banded leaves;
very large and dominant
`Krossa Regal’
- (Hosta `Krossa Regal’) related with H. sieboldiana as one
parent; vase-shaped, with leaves held upright on long petioles; up to 48 inches
tall and wide without flowers; leathery foliage with silver-blue tinge; one of
the few that defies slugs and snails; flowers open, sparse on raceme, up to 2
feet above foliage
Blue Hosta
Hosta ventricosa
Liliaceae
Form: Rounded mound to 36 inches height and spread
Foliage: On relatively short petioles, almost as broad
as wide, up to 9 inches long; netted vein appearance that differs from other
parallel-veined hostas; coarse or bold texture
Flowers:
Dark purple with stripes, flowers at ends of raceme bell-shaped; as many as 30
on 36 inch stems without bracts; August to September
Cultivars: `Aureo-marginata’ - yellow to white margins, green blades; very dramatic
Sum and Substance Hosta
Form: Huge clump, more spreading than upright, to a
height of 30 inches and spread of 48
inches
Foliage: Giant chartreuse foliage, with no variegation
Flowers: Lavender, in August. Not particularly effective
Guacamole Hosta
Form: Rounded mound to a height and spread of 24
inches
Foliage: Reverse sport of ‘Fragrant Bouquet’ with dark
green margins and slight striping in a bright green to dark chartreuse blade
Flowers: White, dense, extremely fragrant, late August
to early July
Patriot Hosta
Form: Spreading mound 18 to 24 inches wide and up
to 18 inches tall
Foliage: Pure white variegation in wide swaths along
the margins, with bright slightly dusty green and paler green blade tissue
Flowers: Lavender, July to August
Orris Root/Sweet Iris
Iris
pallida
Iridaceae
Form: Vertical, spreading clumps to a height and spread
of 18 inches; 36 inches in flower; rhizomatous
Foliage: Strong, swordlike gray-green leaves more
important than the flowers, especially if the variegated cultivars are chosen;
effective for a long time into fall or early winter; coarse or bold texture
Flowers: Lavender-blue, with a fragrance like grape
juice; all floral parts in threes, 3 inner segments or standards and 3 outer
segments or falls. The flowers are
insignificant in comparison to iris species and hybrids grown for their
flowers. May-June
Seedheads: Not effective
Culture: Full sun with protection from west sun for
variegated cultivars; average to light, well-drained soil; tolerant of drought
once established. Slow growing; takes
years to reach size where division is necessary. When replanting divisions, keep the rhizome
at the soil surface. Remove spent
flowers after bloom; watch for iris borers
Uses: Mass, specimen, contrast, rock garden.
Companions: hummingbird mint, Shasta daisy, peonies,
yarrow, dwarf or tall asters, goldenrod, sedum, veronica
Propagation: Division in late summer
Cultivars: `Argentea Variegata’ - (often seen in the trade as simply `Variegata’), cream and white edges to
leaves, flowers clear blue
Roundleaf Horehound/Silver Edged Horehound
Marrubium rotundifolium
Lamiaceae
Form: Spreading clumps with stems that trail from
center of plant to drape over walls and edges; height 12 inches, spread 24
inches
Foliage: Soft, round to oval opposite leaves, ¾ inch
to 1 inch, with finely toothed margins.
The leaves are often cupped upwards to reveal distinctly silver,
pubescent underside, and are densely arranged on petioles as long as the
leaves. Fine texture like very miniature
lambs ears.
Flowers: Yellowish green, not showy, packed in whorls
at leaf axils on square flowering stems; occur only on older plants; May
Culture: Full sun; average to dry soil with excellent
drainage and good air circulation; tolerant of alkaline conditions. If flowering occurs, removing spent flower
stems to rejuvenate foliage.
Uses: Rock gardens, walls and paths, edger.
Companions: rock rose, basket-of-gold, germander,
dianthus, donkeytail spurge, rock cress. Unusual plant that adds visual
contrast
Propagation:
Division or cuttings
Allegheny Pachysandra
Pachysandra
procumbens
Buxaceae
Form: Clumps that very slowly spread to form a low,
uniform groundcover; height 9 inches, spread of individual clumps 12 inches
(will fill in to 24 inches over time)
Foliage: Alternate, simple leaves, entire at the base
and coarsely toothed toward the apex.
The leaves are often densely clustered in whorls or “tufts” toward the
ends of the stems, and are up to 5 inches long.
Color is dull green with unusual purple mottling that is most evident on
older leaves. Reliably evergreen when
placed in full shade and protected from winter winds; medium texture
Flowers: Small, white with pale pink tints on spikes to
5 inches long, but often hidden in foliage since they originate at ground
level; dioecious, May
Culture: Part to full shade; loose soil enriched with
organic matter; remove tattered evergreen foliage in early spring. Voles and mice can be a problem, as can crown
rot and root rot.
Uses: Elegant individual clumps in shade garden;
groundcover for the patient gardener.
Companions: variegated Solomon’s seal, Japanese painted
fern, corydalis, European ginger, lamium, foamy bells, toad lily
Propagation:
Division
Fernleaf Peony
Paeonia
tenuifolia
Ranunculaceae (Paeoniaceae)
Form: A
long-lived clump from large thickened or tuberous roots, very
slow-growing to a height and spread of 36 inches
Foliage: Leaves finely divided like large ferns;
alternate and biternate, bright green and distinctly more ornamental and
garden-worthy than the common peony
Flowers: Single, up to 6 inches across, very fragrant,
8 broad petals, deep carmine red with contrasting center of yellow stamens;
bloom a month or more earlier than P. suffruticosa
Culture: Full sun to part shade, well-drained loamy
soil. Tolerant of fairly tough
conditions once established. Divide in
August, leaving at least 3 eyes on each division, taking care to plant the eyes
at a height no more than 1 inch deeper or shallower than original plant. Division is not needed unless plants fail to
flower after establishment. Rarely need
caging or staking
Remove
spent foliage to discourage botrytis
Cultivars: `Sweetie’
- foliage intermediate between P. tenuifolia and P. suffruticosa;
not as fernlike but more ornamental and half as large as P. suffruticosa;
extremely fragrant
Other Species:
P.
tenuissima, fernleaf
peony- a connoisseur’s plant, long-lived, expensive, and difficult
Fragrant Solomon’s Seal
Polygonatum
multiflorum (also listed as P. odoratum)
Liliaceae
Form: Arching colonizer from many jointed rhizomes
just below the surface; height and spread 24 inches
Foliage: In early spring, bright pink shoots break the
ground and rapidly elongate to form unbranched, arching stems with alternate,
bright green leaves to 4 inches long, nearly sessile, ovate-lanceolate to
ovate, with 2 to 5 veins parallel to entire margins; leaf arrangement is
elegant; medium-fine texture. Fall foliage color is pale yellow-gold and fairly
persistent
Flowers: Narrowly bell-shaped, creamy white-green, up
to 1 inch long and pendulous, usually in pairs hanging beneath stems on wiry
peduncles from leaf axils, slightly fragrant. April to May
Seedheads: Round, blue-black fruits like dark blueberries, quietly
ornamental in fall against gold foliage
Culture: Moist, loamy soil in part to full shade is
best, but will tolerate a fair amount of sun if protected from dessicating
winds. Competes well with tree
roots. Mark location; slow to emerge in
spring, and new shoots will appear in unknown places
Uses: Woodland
garden, accent, specimen.
Companions: Low, mounded plants like hostas, corydalis, small columbine, epimedium, pulmonaria
Companions: Low, mounded plants like hostas, corydalis, small columbine, epimedium, pulmonaria
Propagation: Divide in spring or fall, taking at least one
bud on each division
Cultivars: `Variegatum’ -
leaves edged with white; attractive throughout the growing season
Bethlehem
Pulmonaria
saccharata
Boraginaceae
Form: Low rounded clumps to a height and spread of
15 inches; spreading slowly from stolons
Foliage: Dark green, roughly pubescent leaves that
look like white paint spattered over them in irregular blotches; elliptical
with pointed tips; up to 9 inches long and 3 inches wide medium-coarse texture;
stem leaves linear-lanceolate, up to 6” long
Flowers: Funnel-shaped, in terminal, branched cymes on
12 inch stems, each flower ½ inch to ¾ inch long, pink when open but change to
blue with age; usually appear after the leaves.
Bloom season is lengthy, especially in cooler weather. April to May
Seedheads: Not effective
Culture: Part to full shade in moist, loamy soil; even
moisture and good drainage required to avoid root rot in winter. Tolerant of acidity under pines.
Uses: Edger, small specimen in naturalized areas,
woodland garden.
Companions: ferns, celandine poppy, corydalis, small
daffodils, snowdrop anemone, astilbe
Propagation: By seed or divisions, watering well; cultivars
should be vegetatively propagated
Cultivars: `Mrs. Moon’ - may be a hybrid, but lovely
nevertheless—large leaves, pink buds that turn blue
`Spilled
Milk’ - mostly silver foliage
`Sissinghurst
White’ - white flowers, silver-white spots; foliage not as nice but flowers are
better
Other species:
P. angustifolia
P. longifolia - same mottling,
same flowers; very different foliage, usually long and lanceolate, deep dark
green
Garden Sage
Salvia officinalis
Lamiaceae
Form: Mounded, rounded to a height and spread of 18
inches
Foliage: Silver-gray or silver-green, with soft hairs
covering all surfaces; 2 to 4 inches long and up to 1 inch wide, rounded tip;
medium texture
Flowers: Seen only on well-established plants; deep
blue-purple on open spikes; typical mint flowers with open throat and lower
lobes; May to June
Seedheads: Not effective
Culture: Full sun, average soil with excellent
drainage. Avoid standing water or poor
winter drainage. Do not cut plants back
until spring; older growth becomes almost woody
Uses: Hot spots, culinary, pollinators, texture and
color differences (especially variegated ones)
Companions:
Propagation: Seed, cuttings
Cultivars: `Purpurea’ - purple foliage
`Tricolor’ -
variegated with purple and cream.
Neither of these are winter hardy above zone 6, but they make excellent
container plants
Lamb’s Ear
Stachys
lanata (S. byzantina)
Lamiaceae
Form: Wide-spreading, uniform groundcover to a
height of 12 inches and spread of 24 inches; flowering height to 24 inches
Foliage: Pettable, velvety white densely pubescent
leaves, thickly clustered, oblong, 4 inches or more in length; coarse or bold
texture
Flowers: ½ inch to 1 inch long, magenta-purple on
twisted, square-stemmed spikes to 12 inches, usually detract from the overall
appearance of the plant
Seedheads: Not effective, but can be used in dried
arrangements if handled carefully
Culture: Full sun to part shade, poor to average soil
with excellent drainage; withstands salt and streetside conditions if standing
water or snow piles can be avoided; extremely drought tolerant once
established. If foliar diseases result
from overwatering or high humidity, shear plant and new leaves will
emerge. Cut back hard in very early
spring
Uses: Hot spots, texture, tactile gardens,
contrast, edger, groundcover.
Companions: catmint, yarrow, Russian sage, sedum,
germander, donkeytail spurge, roundleaf horehound, iris
Propagation: Division in spring (rhizomes are close to
surface and should not be allowed to dry out; seed
Cultivars: `Helene von Stein’ - leaves at least twice as large as
species, more rounded; slightly greener; rarely if ever flowers; tolerates
nearly full shade and remains dense
`Silver
Carpet’ - spreads rapidly to form a groundcover, non-flowering
Other Species: S. macrantha - is unlike the groundcover forms, with a mound of
bright green toothed foliage topped in early summer with ornamental flowers in
brilliant violet.
Adam’s Needle Yucca
Yucca filamentosa
Agavaceae
Form: Broad, vase-shaped mounds reach a height of
24 to 36 inches and equal spread.
Foliage: Swordlike evergreen, from 1 ½ to 4 inches wide, taper to a sharp point at
the apex. The margins have white curling
filaments; far fewer than those of Y.
glauca.
Flowers: Creamy white to pale greenish bell-shaped
flowers dangle from stalks that can reach up to 60 inches. The inflorescence is a branched panicle; each
bell is 1” to 2” long.
Seedheads: Not effective. The flowering stalk should be removed after
bloom for a tidier appearance
Culture: Full sun to very light shade and thin,
well-drained soils promote vigorous growth.
Yucca is very drought tolerant and long-lived; its deep tap root makes
it difficult to move when large, and the production of offsets and propagation
from root cuttings makes it hard to eradicate.
Uses: Specimen, hot spots, winter interest,
architectural structure
Companions:
Propagation: Seed, offsets
Cultivars: ‘Bright Edge’ - distinct yellow margin
‘Variegata’
- white margins’
`Color
Guard’ - cream, burgundy, pink, green, gold, very dramatic
