Cottage Garden

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Container sizes: qt = quart 2-qt = 2 quart GL = gallon Click on for pictures of plants

Abelmoschus manihot (Sunset Hibiscus) $4.25 qt Malvaceae Full sun
I spied this at the J C Raulston Arbroretum in Raleigh NC on a plant trip a few years ago. I was quite taken with it. Actually, I did take it….at least a few seeds that innocently fell into my hand. (My apologies to the staff there---it's their own fault for having so many gorgeous plants wonderfully displayed!) Needless to say, this mallow is quite fetching, with moonlight-yellow blossoms five inches across and a stunning purple throat, springing open every morning from midsummer into autumn. This soft, luminous color is just too hard to resist. A wonderful background subject for any planting, reaching a height of 5 to 7 feet. Collect seed in autumn--like I did--and you'll have a friend forever.

Abutilon (Flowering Maple)   Malvaceae     Hummingbird Attractor!
Full sun in cool summer climates; bright shade to part sun in hot summer climates
Flowering maples are lovely container subjects grown as specimens or in mixed containers. I believe they bloom best when the roots are pot bound, so don’t be tempted to over pot. Hummingbirds absolutely worship them. In fact, this genus of mallows evolved specifically for pollination by hummingbirds!   In hot summer climates provide partial shade (perhaps morning sun only), although in cooler climates they'll happily accept full sun. As houseplants, they will bloom all year. Height 2 to 3 feet, although they can be kept more compact with pruning, which should be done in late winter.
Abutilon ‘Bella Yellow’ $5.49 qt   This parlor maple has large, moon-glow yellow flowers. An outstanding ornamental for semi-shaded patio in containers or hanging baskets, or, trained as a topiary standard (a plant trained on a single stem).
Abutilon 'Bernard Schwartz' $5.49 qt   Charming megopotamicum hybrid that succeeds in hot summer climates, featuring deep orange, pendulous bells with flared corollas. An abundant bloomer throughout the year. Our new favorite.
Abutilon 'Clementine' $5.49 qt   With its large crimson bells in eternal bloom, 'Clementine' is easily one of the most heat tolerant abutilons we have grown. A lovely container plant indoors during the winter holidays, too. This one also makes a wonderful topiary standard.
Abutilon 'Huntington Pink' $5.49 qt   We grew 'Huntington Pink' in a large turquoise-blue container at the base of Brugmansia ‘Pink Beauty’(Angel's Trumpet) with pink and bronze-toned Coleus ‘Haines’ last summer. Fabulous! A good candidate for baskets too, where the lovely, rose, dangling blooms are appreciated up close.
Abutilon megapotamicum ‘Variegatum’ $5.49 qt   Tiny green leaves, speckled and polka-dotted in yellow, provide amazing contrast to the red and yellow bell flowers . This heat tolerant megapotamicum hybrid is perfect for hanging baskets, and prefers more shade due to its lively variegation.
NEW!   Abutilon ‘Melon Sorbet’ $5.49 qt   The large flowers are a delightful soft orange, contrasted by bright red calyces.
Abutilon 'Sunset' $5.49 qt   We brought this little gem back from our Seattle plant-hunting expedition in 1999. Discovered in a tiny, crowded greenhouse at Jungle Fever Nursery in Tacoma, the eye-catching red and yellow bells beckoned from above. I was instantly seduced by its charm, and it now resides in our growing collection of tropicals. Available May 2007.
NEW!   Abutilon ‘Voodoo’ $5.49 qt   Large bell-shaped blooms of deepest red. We were impressed with ‘Voodoo’s’ performance during our very hot, late summer weather last season.

Aeonium 'Schwarzkopf' $5.95 qt Crassulaceae Full sun to half-day sun
Succulent rosettes of chocolate-purple, an irresistible 'touch me' plant. Ideal for containers, so it can be moved to frost-free shelter in winter. Grow this lovely plant in well drained potting soil, avoiding sphagnum peat based mixes. We use a bark based mix (Fafard # 51), and let the soil dry out entirely between waterings.

Acalypha    (Chenille Plant / Copper Leaf)    Euphorbiaceae   Full sun to half-day sun   Attracts Butterflies!
If you’re a veteran tropiholic--or a novice--you are now required (by me) to adopt these lush plants characterized by colorful foliage and feathery, tassel-like flowers. Truly, no tropical garden is complete without them. Chenille plants are perfect in containers or beds given well drained soil that is not soggy wet. Hot sun and high humidity suit them fine, although they adapt quite well to half-day sun and somewhat cooler temperatures.
Acalypha hispida (Red Hot Cat Tail) $5.49 qt   Fuzzy tassels of rosy red, a nectar fantasy for butterflies. The blooms resemble exotic, drooping caterpillars and appear all summer on a vigorous, shrubby plant with broadly oval green leaves. One of the most outstanding container centerpieces I have ever grown. As Kramer would say ‘Hoochie Mama!’ This is one spectacular tropical! Winter hardy to Zone 11.
Acalypha repens 'Firetail' $4.95 qt   Scrambling, tiny green leaves hug the ground creating a carpet of short, pink fuzzy flowers loved by butterflies and hummers. This is a good candidate for edging annual beds or skirting large containers and baskets, blooming endlessly.
Acalypha wilkesiana ‘Beyond Paradise’ $4.95 qt   This tropical beauty from Proven Winners becomes a robust, color-drenched shrub flaunting coppery-red, green and yellow leaves. Small red catkins appear at leaf tips in summer, attracting butterflies. Height 30 to 36 inches.
Acalypha wilkesiana 'Ceylon' $4.95 qt   Bronzy leaves with a high sheen, elaborately curled and edged in intense, hot pink. Height 3 feet.
Acalypha wilkesiana 'Cypress Elf' $4.95     Lacy, finely cut leaves highly variegated in cream, coral and green. A dense, compact mound with an irresistible feathery texture. Height 12 to 15 inches.
Acalypha wilkesiana 'Hoffmannii' $4.95 qt Glossy brilliant green leaves are elaborately furled, the edges highly serrated and painted in yellow. Most unusual and highly coveted tropical that makes a stunning container centerpiece. Height 3 to 4 feet.
Acalypha wilkesiana ‘Inferno’ $4.95 qt   Bronze-pink leaf tips ignite in glowing yellow in hot sun. This new cultivar is definitely different, forming a dense shrub that grows—in my garden-- 24 inches in height and spread. The leaves are smaller and more narrow than other wilkesiana types.
Acalypha wilkesiana 'Kona Coast' $4.95 qt    When you visit Cottage Garden take home a little piece of the Big Island with this outrageously hued chenille plant, our special offering for devotees of highly variegated plants. With colorful large leaves splashed in yellow, ivory, and lime green, it makes an arresting sight in mixed containers or beds, its woody stems often reaching 3 feet in one season. Like all chenilles, 'Kona Coast' comes alive in heat and humidity, drawing garden visitors like moths to a flame. We received this striking and rare acalypha from plantswoman June Hutson at Missouri Botanical Garden. Stunning! Limited quantities in 2007. Height 3 feet.
Acalypha wilkesiana 'Raggedy Ann' $4.95 qt   Lobed and serrated, sizzling coppery -red leaves on an upright plant. This is the newest addition to our collection of chenille plants, and one that looks like no other. Also known as 'Razzle Dazzle'. Height 3 feet.

Agapanthus 'Elaine' $14.95 GL (Lily of the Nile) Agapanthaceae Full sun to half-day sun Butterfly Attractor!
You've been begging us for a vigorous, long blooming, Lily of the Nile, so here it is. Jason Delaney, the renowned, superhero Bulb Boy of the Missouri Botanical Garden, told me about this exceptional cultivar with deep blue flowers, carelessly blooming throughout the summer months in the Heckmann Bulb Garden. I saw it and was equally impressed, and a better, more classy, container plant I cannot think of. Height 3 - 5 feet.

Agastache   (Hummingbird Mint)            Lamiaceae              Full sun to half-day sun
Hummingbird / Butterfly Attractor! Rabbit & Deer resistant!
(Say Ag-ah-stack-ee or Ah-gass-ta-kee)     The following selections of agastache are xeric southwestern U.S. and northern Mexican natives and hybrids with colorful blooms, scented foliage, and abundant nectar for enticing hummingbirds. They are excellent annuals for containers where they are not hardy. We recommend a fast draining soil-less mix such as Fafard # 51 or #52, composed of 65% composted pine bark, a coarse mix. Plant the crown high in the mix, then mulch with a two inch layer of fine gravel or Turface. Let the mix dry out well between waterings and use a slow release fertilizer like Osmocote incorporated into the mix. In the garden grow them in well drained, porous soils in raised beds. Excellent drainage will provide for long lived, happily flowering plants. Stay away from pine bark or compost mulch, substituting instead a two inch layer of fine gravel. Water infrequently, but deeply. See our Sun Perennials page for additional agastache.
NEW!   Agastache ‘Desert Sunrise’   $4.95 qt   Zones 6-10    This new introduction from High Country Gardens boasts tall, willowy stems packed with nectar rich flowers, a rainbow of orange, pink, and purple. A hybrid of A. rupestris and A. cana, it adapts more readily to better soils than other xeric (drought thriving) types. Expect mid to late summer and autumn bloom….just in time for migrating hummers. Height 3 – 4 feet.
NEW!   Agastache ‘Firebird’ $4.95 qt   Zones 6-11   Deep orange flowers kissed with crimson are a siren to hummers, butterflies and bees. This makes for a wonderful ballet of movement in the garden, a magnet for gardeners potted in sunny patio containers. Stems rising to 2 – 3 feet are packed with minty fresh scented leaves. A reliable hybrid of A. coccinea and A. rupestris hybridized by Richard Dufresne of North Carolina, better known as the Salvia Guru.
NEW!   Agastache x rupestris ‘Orange Flare’ $4.95 qt   Zones 6-9   Fragrant, finely textured leaves morph into beautiful silvery clumps. In late summer and autumn long-lasting spikes of flashy, deep papaya-orange flowers are loaded with nectar for pollinators. Drought tolerant. Height 30 – 36 inches.
Agastache cana ‘Purple Pygmy’ (Texas Hummingbird Mint) $4.95 qt   Zones 6-9   This Fleuroselect winner is a new seed-grown hybrid boasting a tight, dense clumping habit. In midsummer erect purple-pink spikes of flowers crown the plants, a butterfly’s dream come true. Height 16 – 24 inches.
NEW!   Agastache ‘Tutti Frutti’ $4.95 qt Zones 6-11   This is perhaps the longest blooming agastache we offer, flaunting lavender pink flowers from early summer into autumn. Butterflies and hummingbirds adore it. Height 4 – 6 feet.

Ageratum houstonianum ‘High Tide Blue’ $4.25 qt Asteraceae Full sun to half-day sun Butterfly Attractor!
‘High Tide Blue’ exhibits improved heat and humidity tolerance in this genus, a tall and vigorous F1 hybrid, ideal for bedding and cut flower use. The dense, shrub like plants are covered in powder-puff blooms of light violet blue all season. We were very pleased with its performance last summer in our tropical bed. Height 24 inches.

Allamanda   Apocynaceae   Full sun to half-day sun
Allamandas are tropical classics thriving in heat and high humidity. Train the vining forms on a wire obelisk or trellis stuck in a container, or in rich garden soil. Pruning can be done in spring to maintain shape and encourage flowering.
Allamanda schottii $4.95 qt   All the wonderful qualities of vining allamanda in a dense, shrubby form—actually, the only true non-vining shrub in the genus. Trumpet-shaped golden yellow flowers, dependably born in summer and fall. A splendid container plant. Height 3 feet.
Allamanda violacea 'Cherries Jubilee' $7.95 qt   Huge, flaring, deep- throated trumpets of rosy red and creamy ivory…screamers! This is one of the most rewarding tropicals we have ever grown, peerless in containers when given a support to wind around and bloomin’ its ever- lovin’ head off from mid-July well into September. Grow it in a container, underplanted with Coleus ‘Gold Brocade’ , Lantana ‘Athens Rose’, and throw in a maidenhair vine (Muhlenbergia axillaris) and basket grass (Oplismenus hirtellus) for frilly, cascading texture. Voila!

ALOCASIA (Elephant Ear)     Araceae   Deer resistant
Warmth is required, and in cool summer climates this can be accomplished in full sun. In hot summer climates, filtered sunlight, or morning sun only. ‘Portora’ and plumbea ‘Nigra’ can be grown in full sun.These are some of the finest and most garden worthy selections of this large family of aroids. They make outstanding container centerpieces and grow equally well in beds of organically rich, well drained soil.
Alocasia 'Aurora' (Pink Stem Elephant Ear)   $14.95 2-qt   A shimmering, silver-leaved beauty, held aloft on hot-pink stems. Smashing! Perfect for shady containers and beds, or houseplant culture. Height 30 inches
Alocasia 'Hilo Beauty' $9.95 qt     A polka dot elephant ear! Ear-aholics gravitate instantly to this outlandish beauty. The parrot green leaves are spotted cream, an irresistible picture of exotic wonder, perfectly partnered in containers or rich soil with coleus, alternanthera, and all other plants tropical. Height 18 - 24 inches.
Alocasia 'Frydek'   $9.95 qt    Deep velvet green leaves with a startling contrast of silvery white veins. Perfectly stunning, especially under planted in silvery Pilea glauca ‘Aquamarine’ or with the tiny variegated leaves of cream and green of Pilea microphylla variegata carpeted beneath. Unlimited design possibilities for shade gardeners, and a great houseplant, too.
Alocasia macrorrhiza ‘Lutea’ (Glow Worms Elephant Ear) $14.95 2-qt   The towering leaf stems of Alocasia ‘Lutea’, spiraling upright from the ground, are glowing chartreuse-yellow. They appear to be illuminated by the stage light of the Jungle Gods. These luminescent stems carry stiffly upright, glossy green leaves, themselves electrically veined in yellow. For an awesome contrast, underplant ‘Lutea’ with inky purple Coleus ‘Blackberry Waffles’, and for a color echo of intense yellow, surround the coleus with Lantana ‘New Gold’. Splendiferous ear for containers, or planted in fertile, well drained soil in half sun to full sun. Height 4 feet.
Alocasia 'Portora' $14.95 GL    Eeegads! My first comment on seeing this spectacular ear with huge, glossy, and ruffle-edged leaves pointing skyward on six foot stems. Massive, bold, awesome, this ear's got it all and will create a fascinating architectural element in your garden, getting larger and more impressive every year. Originating at Aroidia Research in Florida, 'Portora' is a hybrid of A. portei and A. odora bred by LariAnn Garner (http://www.aroidiaresearch.org/). Grow in rich, moist soil or large containers, get out your cabana clothes, and cancel that cruise.....tropicalismo ala Midwest! Divide with a chainsaw. Height 6 to 7 feet. Full sun to part shade.
Alocasia plumbea Nigra $9.95 qt   One of the showiest ears yet! Jet black, polished stems and glossy green leaves, their tips shooting skyward. A fabulous garden centerpiece surrounded by lantana and coleus. This ear can be grown in full sun. Height 3 – 4 feet.
NEW!   Alocasia ‘White Knight’ $11.95 qt   This beautiful hybrid of Alocasia amazonica, the African Mask elephant ear, will put oomph! in shady containers. The tall, pale green stems, heavily speckled purple, support deep green arrow ‘ears’ that are veined in silver, the entire leaf glossed with a reflective, high sheen. Leaf undersides are purple. Truly lovely, and a tall and elegant beauty eventually reaching heights of 3 to 5 feet. Zones 9

Aloe          Asphodelaceae        Hummingbird Attractor! Full sun (although mine have succeeded quite well with 5 hours of sun a day)
These exotic succulents native to Africa, Madagascar, and the Arabian peninsula make spectacular specimens for container gardens, and I adore their beautiful architecture and statuesque presence, using them liberally in many of my tropical venues. The delightful coral, red and yellow blooms are adored by nectar-hungry hummingbirds. All form evergreen rosettes of fleshy, sword-like, spiny leaves of glaucous blue, emerald green, and many dazzling new hybrids appear in spotted and variegated forms. They are easily over-wintered in a cool, brightly lit, frost free area, maturing in size and beauty from year to year. ‘Pups’ on new growth at the crown divide easily. A recommended soil-less container mix is Fafard # 51 or # 52, or 1 part loamy garden soil and 1 part Turface (available at horticultural supply stores). A patio collection combined with other succulents in containers is positively riveting!
Aloe bakeri hybrid    $4.95   3- inch pot    A beautiful hybrid of Aloe bakeri. The brown-green, undulating leaves, are edged in terra cotta pink, and rise from a stemless rosette. A mystical undersea creature is brought to mind…..a touchy, feel-y octopus! Stunning in containers, alone or with companion succulents.
Aloe ‘Doran Black’   $4.95   3-inch pot   Captivating! Ghostly white spear-shaped leaves, emerging from fleshy rosettes, are heavily stippled in green and slate gray. Simply beautiful, especially when crowned with winter-time, tubular, coral blooms held aloft on bronze-red stems. Limited numbers available for 2008.
Aloe 'Lizard Lips'   $4.95   3-inch pot   Succulents are irresistible enough with plain old green leaves, but 'Lizard Lips' has crossed the line in plants to lust after. Like a fleshy, spotted starfish, the celandon green leaves take on a beige- pink hue in the cooler months of the year. The 'stars' are thickly clustered on mature plants, and look lovely when fat spikes of tubular, coral blooms emerge throughout spring, summer, autumn AND winter. Hummers love these nectar-rich flowers. A wonderful, small, succulent guaranteed to lure you down the path to ALOE ADDICTION!
Aloe ‘Wamsley’s Blue’ $4.95   3-inch pot   Thickly clustered, upright, powdery-blue spears with a vigorous habit.
Aloe 'Winter Sky'    $4.95   3 inch pot   My love affair with trendy succulent plants continues to grow, and aloes are among my favorite in this tribe. Easily grown, they provide a wonderful texture and architecture with their starry shapes and fleshly leaves. 'Winter Sky' is a diminutive aloe, with petite rosettes of glaucous blue leaves, tightly clustered, and prickly margined. In bloom throughout the year, the long-stalked flower heads of pendulous coral-red flowers are a favorite of hummingbirds. Right at home in containers.

Aloysia triphylla (Lemon Verbena) $4.95 qt Verbenaceae Full sun to half-day sun. Intensely scented…more lemony than lemon! The fragrant leaves of this South American tree are reason enough to grow this popular tropical. It makes a super looking topiary 'standard' (trained to a single stem) and the dried leaves are used in potpourri. A have a soft spot in my heart for this plant, having grown it since I began gardening 30 years ago. Height 3 to 6 feet.

Alpinia zerumbet 'Variegated' (Shell Ginger) $14.95 2-qt Zingiberaceae Bright filtered light, or morning sun only One of our most talked about tropicals, with look-at-me deep green leaves streaked bright yellow, on reed-like stems forming lush, impressive clumps. Rarely flowers, but who cares when the foliage is so drop dead gorgeous?? This is a popular ginger (non-edible) that is easily grown with the delicious aroma of ginger when touched. Easily wintered over in a cool (above 32F degrees) and dry spot (a basement will do), variegated shell ginger grows more impressive every year, making a fabulous conversation piece in containers on the summertime shaded patio. Peerless in mixed containers. Height, in containers, is 3 feet.

Alternanthera (Calico Plant)    Amaranthaceae Full sun to half-day sun   These are all easily grown, versatile tropicals grown for their extravagant foliage color and textures. They do double duty as groundcovers and edgings in beds, cascading from baskets, or as 'weavers' meandering their way through plantings adding a lush, cottage look. Their colorful leaves are the perfect compliment to flowering tropicals, elephant ears, and patterned coleus. Quite simply, they are indispensable.
Alternanthera dentata 'Grenadine' $4.95 qt   This was one of our most popular new tropicals last year. And why not? The deeply colored leaves of pink and purple are saturated with color, playfully wandering about as a low groundcover or 'weaver'. ‘Grenadine’ grows best with some degree of afternoon shade in hot summer climates. Height 12 inches.
NEW!   Alternanthera dentata ‘Mai Tai’ $5.49 qt A parade of color for shade containers and beds. Multi-hued leaves are amazing, striped and splashed in yellow, red, and light green. Height 12 inches. Spread 18 - 24 inches.
Alternanthera dentata 'Party Time' $4.95 qt    Now here's a new calico plant that would make any garden sing 'party time'. The small leaves are vividly splashed in fuchsia and parrot green, weaving and winding a path in, out, and around, and offering a perfect touch of cottage style to containers and beds. Heat and humidity? Not a problem. ‘Party Time’ grows best with some degree of shade in hot summer climates. Height 16 inches.
Alternanthera dentata 'Purple Knight' $4.95 qt    Dream weaver. That's what I call it. Winding, knitting and zig-zagging stems and leaves in deep, glossy burgundy bring that essential blowsy wildness to any container planting or garden bed. A cinch to grow and the cut stems are great filler for bouquets. You need this plant. Height 15 to 24 inches, spreading to 3 or 4 feet.
Alternanthera ficoidea 'Gold Threads' $4.95 qt     The grass like tufts of this lovely small plant are a glowing chartreuse to golden yellow. An awesome annual groundcover and 'dot' plant……like a golden turf. Height 6 inches, spreading to 12 inches.
Alternanthera ficoidea 'Red Threads' $4.95 qt     I had a wide grin on my face returning from my plant expedition to North Carolina a few years back. The reason? A hot new plant to share with you. 'Red Threads' has it all, texture (frilly, narrow leaves), color (ruby red), and oh! so easy to grow. I can't think of a better, more heat tolerant edging plant for annual beds, where the ruby leaves will provide a perfect contrast to neon-hued annuals. Or in containers, spilling over the edge and weaving amongst all those wonderful new petunias and cupheas you'll be sure to want this season. Put this one on your list! Height 8 inches, spreading 15 inches.]

Angelonia   (Summer Snapdragon)      Scrophulariaceae   Hummingbird Attractor! Full sun to half-day sun Deer resistant
Angelonia is a great alternative to snapdragons, with built-in heat tolerance for those of us in sultry summer climates. Knee high clumps of fine narrow leaves are crowned with beautifully colored, hooded blossoms, loved by bees and butterflies. They are truly lovely massed in containers or beds, and the blooms are quite fragrant.
Angelonia ‘Serena Series’    This seed grown angelonia is the TOPS for long and hot, humid summer climates. They provide a more compact habit than other hybrids and are forever in bloom. I can’t say enough good things about ‘Serena’ after having trialed the complete series last summer. Superb in containers and fragrant too!
'Serena Purple’   $3.95 qt    ‘Serena Lavender Pink’ $3.95 qt ‘Serena White’ $3.95 qt

Anisacanthus (Texas Firecracker) Acanthaceae Hummingbird Attractor! Full sun
Anisacanthus wrightii   $5.95 qt    This heat and sun loving Texas native and make way for a flurry of hummers….adoring fans of the nectar-rich, red 'firecracker' blooms. Easily grown in dry and well drained soils. In the north, use it as a wonderful container plant, kept on the dry side. Butterflies flock to it, too. Height 24 inches.
Anisacanthus x 'Pumpkin' $5.95 qt   Very similar to A. wrightii, with true orange blossoms.

Anthericum (St. Bernard’s Lily)
NEW! Anthericum liliago $4.95 qt I think these are enchanting plants for border or containers. The grassy, deep green blades form compact clumps immune to heat and humidity or hot sun. They are crowned throughout summer and autumn with wispy floral stems upon which dance delicate white flowers.
NEW! Anthericum liliago variegated $7.95 qt This is a beautiful variegated form of the species given to us by Stan Tyson of Rivendell Botanic Garden. The leaves are brightly variegated in creamy white, color echoeing the petite and airy white blooms.

Argyranthemum (Cobbity Daisy) Asteraceae Full sun to half-day sun
For those insatiable daisy loves. Cobbity daisies are great in containers and baskets, especially for the cooler seasons of spring and autumn. Those lucky enough to live in cooler summer climates (at or below 75 to 80 degrees F maximum temperatures) can grow these beauties as premier annuals all season long, in full sun.
Argyranthemum frutescens 'Butterfly' $4.25 qt The best heat tolerant cultivar, with fresh yellow daisies for months on end.

ARISTOLOCHIA (Dutchman’s Pipe)    Aristolochiaceae   Partial sun---plants will benefit from afternoon shade
I am particularly fond of the exotic, often outrageous Aristolochia tribe, the noble Dutchman’s Pipe family. Similar to our native vine, A. tomentosa, these tender tropicals offer showier, if not bizarre, blooms that continue their raucous show throughout the hot summer months into early to mid autumn. Grow them in hanging baskets, in a container with an obelisk for support, or in-ground on a trellis or arbor.
Aristolochia elegans (Calico Flower) $7.95 qt   Calico flower is perhaps the most rewarding of the tropical dutchman’s pipe vines. An easy and dependable bloomer with charming, four-inch maroon blooms veined in white, and a fast grower, perfect for containers with a wire teepee inserted for support. Great for hanging baskets, too!
Aristolochia ringens $7.95 qt   Once filled with pipe vine lust, your taste for the bizarre will lead you to A. ringens, the Pelican Vine. Try to prepare yourself for the mind bending blooms, garishly costumed like the head of an exotic bird---a must for plant nerds smitten with jungle fever!

ASCLEPIAS curassivca (Mexican Bloodflower/ Butterfly Weed)     Asclepiadaceae Hummingbird Attractor! Full sun to half-day sun
Everyone has room for a few Mexican Bloodflowers, and the monarch butterflies will thank you! These beauties bloom continuously throughout summer, prospering in heat and humidity, on narrow stems growing to 3 three tall. Perfect for incorporating into annual or perennial beds, where they delightfully self-sow, and useful cut flowers, too.
'Silky Gold'   $4.25   qt   Clusters of yellow nectar-rich flowers, a favorite of butterflies and hummingbirds.
'Silky Deep Red'   $4.25 qt Deepest red flower clusters.

ASPARAGUS densiflorus ' Myersi' $14.95 gallon Liliaceae Full sun to half-day sun
The Foxtail Fern is a sell-out every spring, a beauty with unique soft, needle-thin evergreen foliage clustered on erect, full and arching fronds. Spectacular growing solo in large containers! An easy houseplant, too, increasing in size and beauty every year. Height 18 - 30 inches.

NEW! ASPLENIUM bulbiferum (Mother Spleenwort Fern / Hens and Chicks Fern) $5.95 qt Aspleniaceae
I first saw and admired this lovely tropical fern in the Linnaean House at the Missouri Botanical Garden. It starred as a groundcover planting beneath camellias that were in full bloom in February when I visited. The incredibly lacy fronds are a vivid green on black stems, and at maturity, offer baby plants, bulbils, on frond tips. The bulbils can be removed and planted to increase your supply of this gorgeous fern from New Zealand. Easily grown, preferring shade to part shade, and a wonderful container specimen or houseplant. Height 24 – 30 inches.

NEW! BASIL ‘Pesto Perpetuo’ $4.95 qt
A superb ornamental basil, with an intensely fragrant and tasty leaf perfect for seasoning. The tight clumps are packed with lovely variegated cream and green leaves that stay attractive through summer’s worst heat and humidity. My plants rarely flower in summer, instead producing prodigious amounts of leaves that I greedily harvest for my kitchen. A lovely container subject, richly perfumed for aromatherapy too. We also offer the green leaved version, called columnar basil at the same price.

BEGONIA       Begoniaceae
NEW!   Begonia ‘Benigo’ $5.95 qt Shade   Fiery pink leaves mature to deep copper, finely spotted in pink. A durable angel-wing type of begonia for muggy summer climates, thriving in shade to semi-shade containers. Pink flowers appear continuously.
Begonia ‘Buttered Popcorn’ $4.95 qt   Full sun to half-day sun   A beautiful angel wing hybrid, very similar to the Dragon Wing series. Performance in heat and humidity is considered top-notch, with scrumptious, pendulous, white blossoms ideal for baskets or containers. Growth habit is vigorous, with a height of 24 to 30 inches.
NEW!   Begonia ‘Capricorn’ $5.95 qt   Shade The jewel-toned leaves of ‘Capricorn’ appear in a snail-like curl, with oxblood red bull’s eye radiates into hot pink, white and silvery green leaf centers. The leaf edge is maroon, tightly curled. Truly beautiful, and exceptional in shade hanging baskets. A rex type begonia.
NEW!   ‘Concord’ $5.95qt   Shade   This shade loving begonia is a lovely patio or indoor houseplant. With a tight and compact habit, the tiny and succulent purple-bronze leaves have tightly frilled, crispy edges. Adorable pink and white flowers clusters appear continuously. Height 15 “
Begonia 'Dragon Wing Baby Pink' $4.95 qt   Full sun to half-day sun   This is the most heat and stress tolerant Angel Wing yet, great for sultry summer climates. With a denser and more compact habit than the taller 'Dragon Wings', 'Baby Pink' is covered in delicate rose pink blooms and small angel wing leaves. Height 12 to 15 inches. Full sun or part shade.
Begonia ‘Dragon Wing Pink’ $4.95 qt   Full sun to half day sun The ‘Dragon Wing’ series of begonias are a godsend for gardeners in demanding hot and humid summer climates. Sailing through summer’s worst, in full sun or half-day sun, they are premier container plants filled with beauty and color the entire season. ‘Dragon Wing Pink’ is the pink-flowered counterpart of ‘Dragon Wing Red’ with the same dependable characteristics. Height 30 inches.
Begonia 'Dragon Wing Red' $4.95 qt   Full sun to half-day sun   Our most popular container begonia, thriving in hot sun, heat and humidity---where other begonias dare not tread. Similar to 'Dragon Wing Pink', with never-ending bright crimson flowers that are at their best in full sun. Height 30 - 36 inches. A Missouri Botanical Garden Plants of Merit selection (plantsofmerit.org).
NEW!   Begonia ‘Evelyn Weidner’ $5.95 qt   Shade    Another lovely rex type begonia, with bold color markings of hot pink and silver. The undulating leaves whirl into a snail-like curl.
Begonia ‘Sinbad’ $5.95 qt   Full to partial shade   ‘Sinbad’ is a beautiful angel wing hybrid with heavily spotted, silvery leaves eternally capped with pink flowers. Being from a hot and humid summer area where many of my begonia trials end up in the compost pile, I have been amazed at the endurance of ‘Sinbad’. It is truly tough, maintaining its beautiful leaves and flowers in sweltering summer weather. Highly recommended.
Begonia 'Snow Capped' $5.95 qt   Shade   A lovely cane begonia with intensely spotted leaves in silver, and continuous clusters of deep rose- red blossoms. For shade containers or houseplant use.
Begonia 'My Special Angel' $5.95 qt   Shade   A perfect angel wing begonia for houseplant culture or patio shade containers, with silver-spotted leaves and chains of bright pink flowers. Plus, I’ve never seen a smidge of mildew on one! One of the best.

BOUVARDIA ternifolia (Scarlet Bouvardia) (Not available for 2008) Rubiaceae Hummingbird Attractor! Full sun to half day sun
"We don't get many cuttings because it's always in bloom---it doesn't produce a lot of vegetative growth". (No sympathy here). "Right, it's always covered with those neon red blooms….lookout! Incoming hummers!" (I see lust in their eyes). A repeated scene every summer, here at our nursery. All eyes are riveted to THAT color when they enter the greenhouse, so intense, so awe-inspiring. Wear your sunglasses! One of the finest centerpieces for mixed tropical containers. Height 2 to 3 feet. See our image at the top of this page.

BREYNIA   (Hawaiian Snow Bush)           Euphorbiaceae         Full sun to half-day sun
Breynia disticha nana $4.95 qt    Low growing mounds of soft textured cream and green variegated leaves…..beautiful against the deep amethyst stems. Breynia are ideal container tropicals, adaptable to variable light conditions from full sun to shade. Height 12 - 15 inches.
Breynia disticha roseo-picta $5.49 qt    A top ten tropical, so very beautiful in pink, cream and green leaves, and perfect in beds of well drained soil or containers. Create a beautiful tropical bouquet in a container with Colocasia ‘Black Magic’, Coleus ‘Aurora’, Breynia disticha roseo-picta, and Petunia ‘Supertunia Vista Fuchsia’. Laughs at heat and humidity! Height 3 to 4 feet.

BRUGMANSIA   (Angel’s Trumpet)    Solanaceae      Full sun to half day sun; in hot summer climates, bright afternoon shade is recommended
Nothing elicits more comment from visitors to our nursery than our collection of Angel's Trumpets. Where else do you get huge, elegant and exotic blooms in shades of the sunset, so fragrant and romantic at night? Brugmansia aphrodisiaca! Check out my personal favorites 'Charles Grimaldi' and 'Super Nova' in the greenhouse this spring. The pendulous trumpets of these beauties often number 100 at a time on our year old specimen plants, and no better container tropical exists for head turning appeal. Ask for our culture sheet to easily coax these beauties into a scene stealing show. Remember, all plant parts are poisonous if ingested. Height 4 to 8 feet.
Brugmansia 'Charles Grimaldi' $11.95 2-qt   Large and flaring salmon-orange trumpets, one of the best.
NEW!   Brugmansia ‘Dr. D.’ $14.95 2-qt   Golden trumpets, a lovely hybrid of ‘Dr. Suess’ and ‘Ecuador Pink’ by Eric Knight
Brugmansia ‘Inca Sun’ $14.95 GL   This hot new cultivar is creating a riot among tropiholics. Intrigued by its description, we trialed ‘Inca Sun’ last summer at Cottage Garden (Zone 5b), and found ourselves dumbfounded by its everblooming habit. Always in bloom---unlike older cultivars that bloom in monthly flushes---‘Inca Sun’ never rested, continually throwing out lovely yellow-peach trumpets with an intoxicating evening fragrance. Grown from a rooted cutting received in late winter, it morphed into a handsome 5 foot shrub by late summer, the star of our tropical commune. Heavy flowering is dependent on ample fertilization, and we use Osmocote in the soil-less mix, plus a well balanced liquid feed twice a week as a supplement. Destined for the Bruggie Hall of Fame, ‘Inca Sun’ was hybridized by Kyle Courtney of Norwalk,Iowa. A fabulous container specimen---and don’t even THINK of putting it in a pot less than 2 feet wide by 2 feet deep. Shame! Our plant prospered in full sun received from morning to midafternoon.
Brugmansia 'Pink Beauty' $11.95 2-qt   Just like the name says. Very long, sensuous trumpets of deep pink. When in bloom, a collective sigh is heard around the world. Height 4 – 6 feet.
Brugmansia 'Snowbank' $11.95 2-qt   A hot new number, said to be a tetraploid, with bolder, incredible, vivid variegated leaves of cream and green--- beautiful by themselves. Large peach trumpets appear in flushes.
Brugmansia 'Super Nova' $11.95 2-qt   Enormous white trumpets, our favorite bruggie. If I were allowed only one tropical in my garden, this would be it. Height 5 – 8 feet.
Brugmansia 'Sunset' $11.95 2-qt   An old favorite of ours, simply loaded with dozens of peach trumpets in every flush of bloom. I have counted over 150 (yes, I said one hundred fifty!) blooms on a two year old plant. You guessed it, they are heavy feeders. Expect compact but vigorous growth, with highly variegated cream and green leaves. Height 4 to 5 feet.
NEW!   Brugmansia ‘Sweetheart’ $14.95 2-qt   Double blooms, like a flower within a flower, a beautiful shade of creamy white. Hybridized by Alice Harris.
Brugmansia versicolor $11.95 2-qt Pure elegance in peach……very, very long and narrow trumpets, on plants taller and more narrow in silhouette. Quite the show in large pots, under-planted with bronze and purple hued coleus, and hot orange New Guinea impatiens. Slower to bloom than the cultivars, but worth the wait.
NEW!   Brugmansia versicolor flora plena (Double Peach) $14.95 2-qt   Beautiful, pendulous double blooms hued soft peach. We just received this plant from Stan Tyson of Rivendell Botanic Gardens, for which we are grateful to him.

BRUNFELSIA nitida (Cuban Raintree) $9.95 qt Solanaceae Full sun to part sun (I grow mine very successfully in morning sun only
A top ten tropical, this Cuban native is a show-off , dressed in alarmingly beautiful fountains of 5 inch long and narrow creamy white trumpets, just dripping perfume in the evening hours. Those outrageous blossoms appear in generous flushes, perhaps once a month, and commence at an early age. Very special. Height 24 to 30 inches in containers.

CALIBRACHOA (see Petunia)

CALADIUM     Araceae    Full sun to shade
Caladium humboldtii 'Mini White' $7.95- 4 inch pot   This miniature species is totally awesome. 'Teensy weensy' plant devotees will adore the tiny emerald green leaves, heavily polka-dotted in white, and are pleasantly surprised by the vigorous growth this Lilliputian gem throws out. Easily grown in containers of well drained potting soil, and perfect for terrariums, C. humboldtii thrives in partial sun or shade. Height 6 inches.
Caladium ‘Miss Muffet' $4.95 qt    Killer chartreuse and cream leaves, playfully dotted in red. Our most popular caladium. Full sun to shade.
Caladium ‘Red Flash’ $4.95 qt   You’ll love the stunning leaves of ‘Red Flash’. From the ‘Florida’ series of caladiums bred for thick-substanced leaves, ‘Red Flash’ will tolerate a sunny position, offering up large red leaves, eye zoned in dark red leaf veins and randomly splashed in pink polka dots. Caladiums are typically reserved for shady sites, but they will thrive in sunnier areas--- they’re grown commercially in full sun in Florida! To do so successfully, soil must be light and very well drained. Irrigate regularly, like you would any annual.

CALLISIA repens (Itsy Bitsy Inch Plant) $3.95 4- inch pot Commelinaceae Full sun to full shade
A fleshy, prostrate carpet of tiny, waxed lime green leaves meandering here, there and everywhere--- perfect cascading over pot's edge, too. Callisia looks great with dark-hued coleus and is a great ground-hugging, chartreuse-y, succulent carpet spilling beneath taller tropical chums. Height 1 - 2 inches. Spread---out to there! Adaptable to full sun or shade.

CALLISIA repens ‘Bianca’ $4.95 4-inch pot Commelinaceae Full sun to full shade
This is an interesting variation on the species. Callisia repens creates a billowing mass of tiny, succulent green leaves, with a generous splash of pink and cream thrown in. A great houseplant, too.

CANNA    Cannaceae     Hummingbird Attractor!       Full sun to half-day sun
Canna 'Australia' $11.95 2-qt   Cannaphiles know, they've seen it. But those with upturned noses, who would NEVER plant a canna in their tastefully planned beds, are now looking twice. Nearly black leaves are a standout in cannadom….and those cardinal red blooms, oh man! What a ruckus this one causes in containers, too, perfect with coleus, lantana, shrimp plants, the list goes on. Get here early so you canna get one. Height 5 - 6 feet.
Canna 'Constitution' $11.95 2-qt   This is a compact grower from the Longwood Gardens series. The long purple-gray leaves, and deep pink flower buds that open to creamy pink flowers were just made for garden folk who shy away from the flashier hybrids. A dreamy combination of color, perfect partnered with Lantana 'Athens Rose', Breynia (Hawaiian Snow Bush), and Coleus 'Garnet Robe'. Height 4 to 5 feet. Limited quantities in 2008.
Canna 'Erebus' $11.95 2-qt   Whoa! Bluer than blue, glaucous leaves pointing skyward and topped with pendulous rose pink blooms. An incredible color combo, especially when combined with the multi-hued leaves of Breynia roseo-picta (Hawaiian Snowbush). Height 6 feet.
Canna 'Minerva' (aka 'Striped Beauty') $11.95 2-qt   What's prettier? The foliage or the flowers? It's a draw. Neon-yellow flowers emerging from red buds, and pinstriped leaves of parrot green and cream will turn heads and stop traffic! Height 5 - 6 feet.
Canna 'Orange Punch' $11.95 2-qt    Not available for 2008.   Gazing at the remarkable blooms of 'Orange Punch' takes me back to my Orange Crush soda days. Back then that color always held the promise of something delicious to be savored, just as this incredible new canna does now. Intense is the word here, for no other similar hued canna can match the fluorescence in its color. At six feet in the air, the large petaled blooms create hummer runways, and when I stand gazing at those screaming blooms against a blue sky, I can taste that Orange Crush soda of yesterday. MMMmmmm, let's drink to this one cannaphiles. Height 5 - 6 feet.
Canna 'Pretoria' $11.95 2-qt   An all-time-favorite canna here at Cottage Garden. Jaws drop and swooning spells occur when visitors spy this beauty in its full, summertime glory---bright yellow and green striped leaves with hotter than hot, huge orange flowers that hummers fight for. Height 5 - 6 feet.
Canna 'Princess Di' $11.95 2-qt   This very lovely canna rewards with huge clusters of luminous, coral-orange blossoms---a hue that integrates into any color theme, pastel or hot. The handsome green leaves are densely arranged on a plant growing 3 to 4 feet.
Canna 'Tropicana' $11.95 2-qt   ‘Tropicana' is a parade of psychedelic color that carries me back to the sixties. The pinstriped leaves of red, pink, yellow and green and volcanic orange flowers are mind blowing! Height 4 - 5 feet. A great container canna, too.

NEW! Caryopteris x clandonensis ‘Summer Sorbet’ $7.95 qt Full sun to half-day sun Verbenaceae Butterfly Attractor!
For those anything-but-green gardeners, smitten with variegated plants, I recommend this lovely perennial. The foliage is flashy, indeed, with bright green leaves boldly edged in yellow. Violet blue flowers appear in whorls up and down the stem in midsummer, attracting butterflies. Height 30-36 inches. Zones 5 - 9

NEW! Caryopteris incana ‘Blue Myth’ $4.95 qt Full sun to half-day sun Verbenaceae Butterfly Attractor!
If you’re looking for a spectacular show of blue in late summer look no further. C. incana is the more heat tolerant, upright, counterpart to Caryopteris clandonensis, with the same zesty fragrant foliage, hued silvery blue. ‘Blue Myth’ is a seed grown selection that begins its floral extravaganza in August, continuing into September. The deep violet blue, long lasting flower clusters are superb cutflowers, and attract butterflies in the garden. Plant a drift in your perennial bed next to sedum, late blooming daylilies, or asters Likewise, superb in annual and tropical beds, a real punch of color when you need it most! Height 36 inches. Zones 6 – 10.

CENTAUREA gymnanthera ‘Colchester White’ $4.95 qt   Full sun to half-day sun      Asteraceae
I often describe this as dusty miller on steroids. ‘Colchester White’ boasts amazing vigor growing into a 24 inch mound of deeply cut, felted, silver leaves. A real beauty for container art or garden borders in dryish soil. Spidery pink flowers on 30 inches stems are icing on the cake, but seem to appear only during the cooler months of the year. Zones 8 - 10

CESTRUM   (Night Jasmine)       Solanaceae     Hummingbird Attractor!   Full sun to half-day sun
Cestrum diurnum (Willow Leaved Jasmine) $7.95 qt    Small, tubular flowers of creamy white in tight clusters, dripping with a sweet candy-like fragrance. The blooms are open day and night, and attract pollinators like butterflies and night flying moths. Super in containers on the patio. Height 2 to 3 feet.
Cestrum nocturnum (Night Blooming Jasmine) $5.95 qt      This sweetly fragrant cestrum lures in the evening hours, blooming continuously on new growth all growing season. Place it near a patio and enjoy the aerial combat of hummers and night flying moths as they fight over the nectar rich, chartreuse blooms. This makes a lovely topiary standard. Just remove the lower growing stems to train it as a single-stem tree. Plop it in large pot and go overboard by under-planting with other fragrant plants like heliotrope, brunfelsia, petunia….a virtual perfume factory in a pot!
Cestrum x 'Orange Peel' $5.95 qt     A hybrid of C. diurnum x C. nocturnum, this charmer has blossoms that are open throughout the day and night. Blooms appear in tight and profuse clusters of orange-yellow tubular flowers non-stop throughout the growing season. This is an interesting container centerpiece, surrounded by Coleus 'Rustic Orange' and Justicia (Shrimp Plant), or a wonderful topiary trained to a single stem. Very fast growing, too!

CISSUS discolor (Rex Begonia Vine) $7.95 qt Vitaceae