ACANTHUS spinosus   $7.95 qt   Full sun to part sun /  USDA Zones 5b to 9 / Butterfly attractor
I chose this species of Bear's Breeches for its ability to tolerate weather extremes here in Zone 6a. This is a beautiful, statuesque plant grown for its handsome long spikes in early summer, with pink and white floral bracts that make a lovely cut flower.  Height 3 to 4 feet 

ACHILLEA (Yarrow)  Full sun / USDA Zones 3 - 9 /   Deer resistant  /  Butterfly Attractor
Yarrow prefers lean, infertile soil (easy on the compost) with excellent drainage. These easily grown perennials are long blooming, and great cut flowers, fresh or dried. A backbone of the perennial border and garden. 
Achillea 'Apricot Delight'  $8.95 Gallon   This beautiful new yarrow from the 'Tutti Frutti' series caught my eye at the Perennial Plant Association meeting in St. Louis last summer. The large flower clusters range in color from light apricot to bright rose growing to a height of 30 to 36 inches.
Achillea x 'Moonshine' $8.95 2-qt   Glowing canary yellow blooms are held over silvery, fern-like foliage. Height 18 inches
Achillea 'Pomegranate'  $8.95 2-qt   A rich pomegranate red that holds its color well throughout the season. From the 'Tutti Frutti' series of Achillea millefolium hybrids, noted for their compact and sturdy growth habit.
Achillea millefolium 'Terra Cotta'  $8.95 2-qt   Rustic terra cotta orange blooms that fade to pink tones, somewhat like 'Fireland', on shorter stems to two feet height.

ACORUS  gramineus 'Ogon' (Sweet Flag)  $5.95 qt  Full sun to part sun / USDA Zones 5 - 8 / Deer resistant 
We use this dwarf growing, golden- leaved sweet flag in bird bath plantings. Fill your bird bath with potting soil, plant your choice of moisture loving tropicals or perennials, and for insulation, I finish with a layer of sheet moss on top. Add water as needed and Ouila! Instant, mini, water garden! Otherwise, 'Ogon' makes a beautiful clump in perennial beds and borders in average, moist soils. Height 12 inches.

AGASTACHE (Hummingbird Mint) Full sun to half-day sun  /  Deer & rabbit resistant / Hummingbird & Butterfly Attractor See our Tropicals / Annuals listings for more Agastache...All Agastache make wonderful container subjects!!

NEW! Agastache 'Acapulco Yellow and Rose' $5.95 qt / USDA Zones 6 -9 Delicate pale yellow flowers with a hint of rose red. Height 18 inches.
Agastache aurantiaca 'Apricot Sprite'  $5.95 qt  / USDA Zones 6 - 10    Gorgeous, compact clumps of silvery fine textured foliage are capped with endless spikes of peachy-orange blossoms mid to late summer. Well drained soil is critical. Height 18 inches.

NEW! Agastache 'Bolero' $8.95 2-qt / USDA Zones 5 - 9 Brilliant rose-purple tubular blooms spring from deep purple calyces, blooming June through September. Bronze-tinted, minty fragrant leaves. Height 24 to 30 inches.

NEW! Agastache 'Globetrotter' $5.95 qt / USDA Zones 6 - 9 Dense bottlesbrush booms of lilac-pink flowers and bright pink calyces, full of nectar for foraging butterflies, bees and hummingbirds. Combines beautifully with Gaillardia 'Amber Wheels' or echinacea (coneflowers).This is a breeding breakthrough from the typical A. pallida x A. rugosa crosses that usually bear blue or white blooms. Height 30 inches.

Agastache x 'Purple Haze'  $8.95 2-qt  /  USDA Zones 6 - 10   This new hybrid of hummingbird mint is of easy culture, requiring only full sun and any average, well drained soil. Whorled flowers of smoky violet emerge from hot pink calyces, and ascend the rocketing stems in July, continuing well into late summer on three foot stems. A butterfly and hummingbird magnet that provides summer long color, 'Purple Haze' is an unbeatable border perennial! Height 3 feet.

NEW! Agastache 'Raspberry Summer' $5.95 qt / USDA Zones 6 - 10 Raspberry-pink spikes July through September on 2 to 2.5 foot stems.

AJUGA (Bugleweed)
Full sun to part sun /  Deer resistant  /  Butterfly and Hummingbird Attractor
I find this taken-for-granted groundcover and edging perennial positively beautiful in spring. The ground hugging mats of glossy foliage erupt in short, fat spikes of blue beginning in April. Grow in partial sun in hot summer climates. Well drained soil is essential.
Ajuga tenorii  'Chocolate Chip'  $5.49 qt / USDA Zones 4 - 9  Choice, cute, tiny purple leaves on dense mounds w/ blue flowers. Height 2 inches

ALCEA rosea (Hollyhock)
Full sun to half day sun /  USDA Zones 3 - 7    Butterfly and Hummingbird Attractor
The beloved old fashioned hollyhock is not fussy about soil, as long as it is well drained. We offer great time-tested strains grown from high quality seed for that irresistible, lush cottage look. Alcea rosea are bienniel.

NEW!  Alcea 'Halo Perfect Pink' $5.49 qt A mix of bi-colored flowers in shades of pink. Height 5 feet.

NEW! Alcea 'Halo Cerise' $5.49 qt Single petaled cerise pink blooms highlighted with deep purple centers. Ht 5ft

NEW! ALLIUM senescens 'Blue Eddy' $5.95 qt / USDA Zones 4 - 8 A lovely selection of ornamental onion providing globular lilac pink flowers in the late summer border. Butterflies are attracted to the nectar rich blooms as are other beneficial insects. Twisting blue-gray leaves are attractive all season long. Ideal for small areas or edging. Height 8 -12 inches.

NEW! ALLIUM 'Millenium' $8.95 2-qt / USDA Zones 5 - 8 Flowering onions are among my favorite perennials and Mark McDonough (the Onion Man) hybrids are among the best, including Allium 'Millenium'. The narrow, glossy green leaves are deer resistant and morph into handsome clumps that in late summer erupt with twelve inch spikes of rosy purple flower heads. Butterflies and beneficial insects are drawn to the nectar rich blossoms.

AMSONIA (Blue Star)   Full sun to part shade /  USDA Zones 5 - 9 /  Butterfly attractor /   Deer resistant  Graceful and long-lived, work-horse North American natives with attractive foliage turning butter yellow in autumn.  
Amsonia hubrictii   $9.95 Gallon (Thread Leaf Blue Star)   Very fine willowy foliage-- our favorite member of the Blue Star tribe, native to the southeastern U.S. Steel blue flowers in late spring cover the 3 foot stems. This top ten perennial was discovered growing in Arkansas by Leslie Hubricht. Stunning in autumn, when the foliage turns brilliant shades of yellow and orange. A top ten perennial, and a Plants of Merit selection (plantsofmerit.org) from the Missouri Botanical Garden .
Amsonia montana 'Short Stack'   $9.95 2-qt   Amsonia 'Short Stack' is a delightful dwarf version of Blue Star, perfect for small garden areas or for edging purposes. Topping out at ten inches in height, the handsome mounds are covered in April with clusters of sky blue flowers, a harbinger of springtime. The clumps of handsome foliage stay attractive all growing season, and becomes buttery yellow in autumn.
Amsonia x ' Seaford Skies' $9.95 Gallon   Our native Blue Stars are delightful perennials with three seasons of interest. Needing minimal care, they are tough, drought resistant plants and 'Seaford Skies' offers a new look. This vigorous hybrid of A. hubrictii x A. tabernaemontana, flaunts fine textured, willowy, needle-like green foliage on stems growing to 36 inches in height. These stunning clumps mature up to 60 inches wide, and appear to be lit on fire in autumn, when fall color turns to orange to golden yellow. Phlox-like heads of light blue flowers appear in spring, beckoning to early arriving butterflies.

NEW! Amsonia tabernaemontana var. salicifolia (Eastern Bluestar) $9.95 2-qt / Zones 3 - 9 This naturally occuring variation of our lower midwestern U.S. native in easily grown in average soils in full sun to part shade. Pale blue star-like flowers ocur in May on stems of willowy foliage that are attractive all growing season. Low maintenance, as are all amsonia.

ANEMONE Japanese  Full sun to part sun / USDA Zones 5 – 7 / Deer resistant
Marvelous, long blooming perennials providing much needed color in late summer. The leggy, upright stems sprout single, to semi-double flowers on graceful, wiry stems, an elegant scene. Sun to part shade, although they benefit from a bit of afternoon shade in hot summer climates.
NEW! Anemone hybrida 'Honorine Jobert'   $9.95 2-qt   A Plants of Merit selection (plantsofmerit.org) from the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis.  This long time favorite bursts into bloom from mid to late summer, bearing long stems capped in 3 inch, single white blossoms.    Height 3 feet

AQUILEGIA (Columbine)  Full sun to part sun / USDA Zones 3 - 8 /  Hummingbird Attractor
Beloved 'granny' plant, the dancing, whimsical blossoms are irresistible to plantaholics in their springtime mania, AND early arriving hummingbirds. Well drained soil is vital. Full sun to partial sun.
Aquilegia alpina   $5.95 qt    An easily grown and reliable species that is a good performer in warmer, more humid climates, self seeding reliably. Allan Armitage says A. alpina is ' without question, one of the finest species available for the garden '. A profusion of blue-purple blossoms over a long period in spring. Highly recommended. Height 24 inches
Aquilegia canadensis   $5.95 qt    Our wonderful American native, with a tough constitution that will naturalize if left to go to seed. The blooms are lovely dancing things, red and yellow, and spring arriving ruby throated hummingbirds covet them. Resistant to leaf miners. Height 30 inches
NEW!   Aquilegia chrysantha $5.95 qt (Golden Columbine) The longest blooming columbine with large sunshine yellow flowers and a built-in heat tolerance for those warm spring days we often experience here in ourlowest Midwest climate. Simply exquisite! Self sows freely. Height 36 inches.

ARTEMISIA (Wormwood)   Full sun / Deer resistant    I've learned to restrain myself with this clan--- their silvery, wooly foliage doesn't always cotton to hot, steamy weather, and they can be garden thugs set on totalitarian rule. The following are two of the best behaved for hot and muggy summer climates.
Artemisia x 'Powis Castle' $5.95 qt / USDA Zones 5 - 7   The best hybrid in years---domes of silvery, filigree foliage. Every gardener needs this beauty. Height 24 inches with a spread of 40 inches

ASCLEPIAS tuberosa (Butterfly Weed)   $9.95 2- qt   Full sun / USDA Zones 4 - 9 /  Deer resistant  /  Hummingbird and Butterfly Attractor   Our much revered native butterfly weed, essential for the brilliant orange blooms appearing in midsummer. Dried blooms are beautiful in arrangements, too, and attract.....what else? Butterflies! Very drought tolerant. Height 22 inches

NEW! ASCLEPIAS incarnata 'Ice Ballet' (Swamp Milkweed) $9.95 GL / Zones 3 - 9 / Deer resistant / Butterfly Attractor Amarvelous long blooming (July and August) white flowering selection of our native milkweed, adapting to moist sites however succeeding in average soils in full sun. Also tolerates clay soils and is a lovely companion to Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm', Phlox paniculata or Lobelia cardinalis. The foliage provides a food source for the larval stage of Monarch butterflies. Height 3 - 4 feet. 

NEW! ASCLEPIAS verticillata (Whorled Milkweed) $9.95 2-qt Full sun / Zones 4 - 8  / Deer resistant / Butterfly Attractor    This native American milkweed is a nature friendly perennial offering up clusters of sweetly scented white blooms in midsummer. The needle-like green foliage is delicately beautiful and host to larval butterflies, becoming orange in autumn. Easily grown in average to dry well drained soils. Available May 2012. Height 1 to 2 feet

ASTER  Full sun /  Deer Resistant  / Butterfly Attractor

NEW! Aster cordifolius 'Avondale' $8.95 GL / Zones 3 - 8 This prolific native aster carpets the ground in starry blue flowers that attract a wide range of beneficial insects and provides glowing color to the autumn garden. It flourishes in shade and tolerates clay soils and adapts to dry conditions. Lovely cutflower material. Height 18 to 24 inches.

NEW!   Aster nova-angliae 'Alma Potschke' $9.95 Gallon This is an older cultivar, a truly classic New England aster. The brilliant fuchsia pink blooms in September are glorious, on 30 to 36 inch tall clumps. Even lovelier is the beneficial insect activity....lots of bees and butterflies collecting pollen and nectar for migration and winter sustenance. Height 3 feet.
Aster oblongifolius 'Dream of Beauty'  $9.95 Gallon / USDA Zones 3 - 8  Masses of sugar-pink flowers with burnt orange centers in fall. As tough as the species and very floriferous, on clumps that are more compact. Height 15 inches
Aster oblongifolius 'Raydon's Favorite'  $8.95 Gallon /  USDA Zones 3 - 8    Our favorite native American aster, thriving on neglect, with the best disease reisistance of all. In October the tight, wide mounds are smothered in lavender-blue flowers, a perfect compliment to autumnal foliage in oranges and reds. We rate it in the ' top ten' list of perennials to grow. Height 18 - 24 inches  

ASTEROEMEA mongolica (Japanese Aster)   $8.95 2-qt / USDA Zones 4 - 8 /  Butterfly Attractor   Fresh semi-double white daisies overly finely serrated bright green foliage, blooming over a long period in summer. A first rate border plant, lovely as a companion to daylilies. Height 30 inches

BAPTISIA (False Indigo)     Full sun  /  Deer resistant / Butterfly Attractor
Those of us who lust for lupines, but are unable to grow them in hot, muggy summers, happily settle for the native baptisias, or false indigos. Their erect spikes of pea-like flowers that appear in late spring closely resemble those of lupine, and cover the lusty, shrub-like growth that emerges in spring like fat asparagus shoots. Baptisias love rich, deep soils, although they are tolerant of poorer soils, albeit well drained.
Baptisia  x 'Purple Smoke' $11.95 Gallon /  USDA Zones 4 - 9   Cool, giant smoky purple flowers on charcoal stems tower over handsome clumps of fresh green foliage. Gorgeous! Increasing in beauty every year, this is a choice new introduction resulting from a natural cross between B. australis x B. alba. Height 3 - 4 feet
NEW! Baptisia 'Decadence Lemon Meringue' $12.95 GL / USDA Zones 4 - 9 Beautiful vase-shaped clumps of blue green foliage and charcoal stems support oodles of lemon yellow flowers....truly beautiful in late spring! This Hans Hansen hybrid is produced from cuttings and like his other hybrids, boasts a more compact yet vigorous habit. Height 36 inches.
Baptisia x. variicolor 'Twilight Prairie Blues' $11.95 Gallon /  USDA Zones 4 - 8    This stunning new interspecific cross of B. australis x B. sphaerocarpa has the horticultural world all a-buzz. Hybridized by Jim Ault of the Chicago Botanic Garden, 'Twilight Prairie Blues' becomes a vigorous clump of handsome blue-green foliage, erupting into spikes of deep violet flowers, highlighted by lemon- yellow keel petals in late spring. Amazing!  Height 42 inches, spreading to 5 feet.

BOLTONIA (False Aster)
Full sun /  Deer resistant /  Butterfly Attractor
Boltonia asteroides var. latisquama 'Jim Crockett'  $5.95 qt / USDA Zones 4 - 9  This exciting new dwarf boltonia was developed by Dr. Thomas Boyle of the University of Massachusetts and named in honor of Jim Crockett, former host of the Victory Garden. Boltonias are known for their easy culture and tough constitution, so I sat up and took notice when this new compact form came along this year. Topping out at only twenty inches in height, 'Jim Crockett' is covered in two- inch mauve-violet daisies from mid to late summer. This promises to be a hot new introduction in native plants!
Boltonia asteroides 'Snowbank' $5.95 qt / USDA Zones 4 - 8   A gorgeous sight in early September. Billowing clouds of clean, white daisies on erect stems to 4 to 5 feet. This U.S. native is much underrated and underused, with handsome, disease free foliage throughout spring and summer, morphing into a giant daisy machine in September. A Plants of Merit selection (plantsofmerit.org) from the Missouri Botanical Garden.

CALLIRHOE involucrata (Wine Cups)    $8.95 2-qt  Full sun  / USDA Zones 4 - 7 /   Deer Resistant  /  Butterfly and Hummingbird Attractor   A drought tolerant ground hugging native a-blaze with 2 inch, cup shaped, screamin' fuchsia  blooms from early to midsummer. Peerless grown on rock walls or berms, a virtual blanket of color!  2004 Plants of Merit selection (plantsofmerit.org) from the Missouri Botanical Garden.  Height 12 inches, spreading to 3 feet across.

CAMPANULA  poscharskyana (Serbian Bellflower )  $5.95 qt  USDA Zones 3 - 7   Full sun to part shade / Deer resistant     This is an easily grown bellflower, covered in dainty white star shaped blossoms in early summer.  Superb in dry walls or rockeries where the prostrate stems colonize, forming extravagant clumps covered in bloom in early summer….. gossamer clouds of blue!  The most carefree bellflower of all. Height 8 - 12 inches

CARYOPTERIS x clandonensis 'First Choice'  $11.95 GL  Full sun to part shade / USDA Zones 5 - 9 / Deer resistant  /  Butterfly Attractor
Dense clusters of deep purple blooms make an outstanding display. The nectar rich blooms attract beneficial insects. Caryopteris are sun-loving and thrive in well drained soils of average fertility. They are ideal companions to rudbeckia, daylilies, sedum and summer blooming phlox. Height 30 inches.

NEW! CARYOPTERIS incana 'Jason' $8.95 2-qt / Root hardy to Zone 5 This is a woody shrub with luminous chartreuse foliage and amethyst blue flowers that sometimes self sow in the garden. The blooms appear from July through August on current season growth and are a wonderful butterfly, bee and beneficial insect attractor. Height 30 inches.

CERATOSTIGMA plumbaginoides (Leadwort)   $9.95 2-qt
Full sun to part shade/  USDA Zones 5 - 8 / Butterfly attractor /   Deer resistant
Peacock blue flowers mid to late summer on ground-hugging, spreading plants. An easily grown, invaluable and tough groundcover. Height 6 inches

CHELONE obliqua 'Hot Lips'  $9.95 GL
Full sun to part shade/  USDA Zones 4 - 7 /   Deer resistant/ Butterfly Attractor
This wetland native American is valuable for its mid to late summer bloom period, when deep hot- pink flower heads, resembling a turtle's head, crown the three foot stems. Great for native pollinators, too, as the nectar attracts butterflies. Height 3  feet

CHRYSANTHEMUM  Full sun to half-day sun /  USDA Zones 5 - 9 / Butterfly Attractor
Visit our nursery in fall for a large selection of bedding mums for autumn decorating. In spring, we always offer the following, which are solidly winter hardy and more graceful than bedding mums, ideal for incorporating into the perennial garden.
Chrysanthemum 'Bold Felicia'  $8.95 Gallon   Deep fuchsia, semi -double daisies with a bright yellow button center on low, dense mounds.
Chrysanthemum 'Rhumba'  $8.95 Gallon   All the beautiful colors of autumnal foliage are included in this compact growing, hardy chrysanthemum. Deep red buds open to coral red flowers that take on peach tones. Each bloom is centered in yellow. Height 18 inches
Chrysanthemum 'Single Apricot'  $8.95 2-qt / USDA Zones 5b - 9  We have grown this mum for years and adore it. The blooms engulf vigorous, mounding plants in October, with a typical 'daisy' form, colored a glowing pale apricot with chartreuse eyes. I've never seen another mum with this luscious color!  A top ten perennial! Height 18 -24 inches

NEW! 'GLOBAL WARMING' CHRYSANTHEMUMS $8.95 GL / USDA Zones 4 - 9 I simply love this new series of VERY winter hardy, low maintenance mums from Dunvegan Nursery. What I adore most, of course, is the lovely daisy flower form, presented in a soft color palette. The series has an incredible ability to survive late frosts, extending the bloom season well into October ( warmer autumns are said to be the effect of 'global warming', hence the name). Better yet, Global Warming mums are superb perennials that attract and provide pollen and nectar for beneficial insects at a time when they are collecting food for winter survival. Most notably honey bees! Do a good thing for yourself and Mother Nature...plant some Global Warming mums. Varieties listed below:

Chrysanthemum 'Brandywine Sunset' Glowing apricot pink daisies.

Chrysanthemum 'Glowing Embers' Soft red daisy blooms, blending beautifully with the pastels of its companion Global WArming mum.

Chrysanthemum 'Purple Mist' Lavender pink daisies.

COREOPSIS (Tickseed)
Full sun to part sun /  Deer resistant /  Butterfly Attractor
Indispensable perennials for summer long color. They thrive in well drained soil, on the dry side. Mine have always preferred a leaner soil, not so richly endowed with compost. Keeping them 'deadheaded', meaning to remove faded blooms, promotes longer bloom.

NEW! Coreopsis 'Cosmic Evolution' $9.95 GL Large white blooms, similar to cosmos, that turn pink under cool conditions. This new 'Big Bang' hybrid from Darrell Probst blooms from June well into September. Zones 5 - 9. Succeeds in any well drained soil of low to average fertility. Height 18 - 24 inches. Native cultivar.

NEW! Coreopsis 'Dream Catcher' $9.95 GL Vibrant magenta-pink blossoms with a darker eye zone are stunning! The blooms appear all summer long and are ideal companions to echinacea (coneflowers) and rudbeckia. Height 18- 24 inches. Native cultivar.
Coreopsis x 'Full Moon' $9.95 2-qt  / USDA Zones 5 - 9   What a beauty this first introduction from Darrelll Probst's Big Band series is!  'Full Moon' features large--- a full three inches across---canary yellow blooms of amazing substance and grace, over fresh green mounds of disease-resistant, vigorous, clumps. Height 24 - 30 inches
Coreopsis 'Redshift' $9.95 2-qt / USDA Zones 5 - 9  Another beautiful and unusual coreopsis from hybridizer Darrell Probst, from the Big Bang series. 'Red Shift' bears 2 inch creamy yellow blooms with a red eye. In cool weather, the blossoms range in color from solid red to yellow with red streaked petals. Height 30 to 36 inches
Coreopsis verticillata 'Golden Showers' $7.95 2-qt / USDA Zones 4 - 9   A great selection of our native species. Long blooming, golden yellow flowers on erect stems of finely cut foliage. Height 24 inches.
Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonray' $9.95 2-qt  / USDA Zones 4 - 9    A sport of the ever-popular 'Moonbeam', Coreopsis 'Moonray' produces masses of light creamy yellow blossoms over a long period in summer. Clumps of fine-textured foliage grow to 18 - 24 inches
Coreopsis verticillata 'Sienna Sunset'  $9.95 2-qt  / USDA Zones 5 - 9   'Sienna Sunset' is a stunner!  With built in C. verticillata toughness and longevity of bloom, here is an amazing color breakthrough in coreopsis. Blooms are generously born over clumps of fine textured foliage, a rich burnt sienna that gradually lightens to orange. Height 15 - 20 inches

ECHINACEA (Coneflower)   Full sun to half-day sun / USDA Zones 4 - 9 /   Deer resistant  /  Butterfly Attractor
Our lovely native American coneflowers reward us with beautiful blooms, while offering Mother Nature a feast for her songbirds. Butterflies and bees collect pollen and nectar from  the extraordinary orange 'cones', and goldfinches covet the seed produced in fall.  Easily grown in well drained, average to dry soils. They make lovely cut flowers that epitomize summer elegance.

NEW! Echinacea 'Firebird' $13.95 2-qt This flaming red-orange coneflower screams summer color! The dark coppery brown cone centers tipped in brilliant orange provide an amazing color echo. Height 25 inches.
NEW!   Echinacea 'Flame Thrower'   $13.95 2-qt   Truly stunning orange and yellow hued flower petals  with a glowing reddish-brown cone center. One of the earliest of the coneflowers to bloom. Height 36 inches
Echinacea 'Pixie Meadowbrite' $13.95 GL This charming E. tennesseensis hybrid from Chicagoland Grows is compact in height with upward facing soft pink flowers that have a simple and lovely wildflower charm. Long season of bloom. Height 24 - 30 inches.

Echinacea 'Pow Wow Wild Berry' $8.95 GL A seed grown type with great longevity in the garden, producing amazing cerise-pink blossoms contrasting with large and beautiful orange and bronze cone centers. Produces seed for foraging songbirds. Grown from seed. Height 24 inches.

Echinacea 'Pow Wow White' $8.95 GL Pure white, 4 inch booms with a golden yellow cone centers that are prolifically produced over a long period. Grown from seed.Height 24 inches.

Echinacea tenneseensis 'Rocky Top Hybrids' $8.95 2-qt  USDA Zones 5 - 9     A picture of delicate wildflower beauty! With more narrow flower petals that curve upward, 'Rocky Top' is a lovely addition to a naturalized area.  This is a tap rooted species that does not like coddling with organic matter, mulch, or fertilizer. Dry lean soils suits it fine and it happily adapts to half -day sun.  Grown from seed. Height 30 inches

EUPATORIUM (Joe Pye Weed)
Full sun to part shade / Butterfly and Hummingbird Attractor
Disregard the 'weed' in Joe Pye Weed, for this lovely native is anything but a weed. The huge, rounded flower heads create runways for butterflies, a marvelous sight in the mid to late summer border all the while creating a stunning background plant for the perennial bed or landscape. Thrives in moist to wet soils of average soil (perfect for rain gardens).
Eupatorium dubium 'Little Joe' $10.95 Gallon /   USDA Zones 4 - 9   Here is the perfect fit for smaller gardens, a choice, dwarf Joe Pye only growing to a 30 inch height, crowned with marvelous heads of lavender-rose on wine-red stems. 'Little Joe' is more tolerant of light shade, with the same vivid color of 'Gateway'.

NEW! Eupatorium maculatum 'Glenda' $11.95 GL / USDA Zones 4 - 8 This compact Joe Pye flaunts large flower clusters of lavender-pink on wonderfully contrasting glossy burgundy stems and deep green foliage. An excellent choice for rain gardens or any average moist garden soils. Superb butterfly attractor blooming in late summer. 

EUPHORBIA (Spurge)
Full sun to part shade  /  Deer resistant  /  Drought Tolerant
Great foliage interest in this genus, the euphorbias always fascinate. We offer some of the more winter hardy species, and grow them as specimen plants or groundcover. They never fail to intrigue visiting gardeners. The following require well drained soil of average fertility.
Euphorbia cyparissias 'Fen's Ruby' $5.95 qt / USDA Zones 6 - 8   Finely divided thread- like leaves form ground hugging mounds that may run amok in rich, well drained soils, but are more restrained in heavier, less fertile soils. Beautiful bronze foliage emerges in spring, capped with typical yellow 'blooms' botanically known as cyathium. Great for bank plantings and ground covers. Full sun or part shade. Available in June 2012.
Euphorbia dulcis 'Chameleon' $6.95 qt  /  USDA Zones 5 - 7  A beauty of bronzy-purple succulent leaves, morphing into tight, near perfect, 15 inch tall mounds, typically lit with yellow cyathium 'blooms' in spring. Benefits from light shade in hot summer climates, otherwise, full sun. A Great rock garden plant, or for use in edging perennial beds. Self sows

GAILLARDIA (Blanket flower)
Full sun  /  Deer and Rabbit Resistant  /  Drought Tolerant /  Butterfly Attractor
Gaillardia aristata 'Amber Wheels'  $8.95 2-qt  /  USDA Zones 5 - 9    'Amber Wheels' differs from other G. aristata cultivars, with extremely large, golden fringed  petals, surrounding a prominent, bull's eye red center. In bloom throughout the summer months, this astonishing new blanket flower is being introduced by Jelitto Seed Co. of Germany. Like all blanket flowers, 'Amber Wheels' offers a long bloom period.Height 18 - 24 inches
Gaillardia aristata 'Oranges & Lemons' $9.95 2-qt / USDA Zones 6 - 9   Pure sunshine! Large peachy, orange petals are tipped yellow and surround a golden cone. Drought and heat tolerant, blooming their sunny little heads off all summer. Well drained soil is essential. Height 24 in

Gaillardia aristata 'Arizona Red Shades' $5.95 qt / USDA Zones 5 - 9 Hot red petaled disc flowers are produced en masse over a long period in summer. Noted for its compact habit, only reaching 10 to 12 inches in height. Seed grown.

GAURA (Appleblossom Grass)
Full sun to half-day sun /  USDA Zones 5 - 8 /  Drought Tolerant / Deer resistant  / Butterfly Attractor
This southern U.S. native species has become wildly popular, with many selections receiving cultivar status. Those exquisitely dainty flowers and wand-like stems earn this tough perennial the fond nickname, Apple Blossom Grass. Grow them in average to rich, well drained soil in full sun, and deadhead to promote a longer bloom period. They tolerate heat, humidity and drought quite well. 'Tough as a boot, delicate as a butterfly' says it all.
Gaura lindheimeri 'Dauphine' $9.95 2-qt    We have been amazed by 'Dauphine', a generous self sower that has made its permanent home along the south side of our greenhouse. Growing without a care, new seedlings pop up every spring and by late summer and fall we are rewarded with gossamer clouds of white, tinged pink, blooms en masse. This has been a permanent and much beloved feature of our nursery! Height 3 to 4 feet

NEW! Gaura 'Crimson Butterflies' $9.95 2-qt 'Crimson Butterflies' produces dark crimson leaves and short stems that hold hot pink flowers. This is one of the most compact of gaura, developed from the original cultivar 'Siskiyou Pink'. Like all gaura, resistant to heat and high humidity, blooming from early to late summer.

GERANIUM  (Cranesbill)
Full sun to part shade /  Deer resistant / Butterfly Attractor
Anyone who gardens needs hardy geraniums, and those in the know consider them prized and collectible perennials. Ideal for groundcover and edging, they bloom for long periods, with foliage that remains handsome throughout the steamy summer months. Perennial geraniums are happiest in fertile, moist, but well drained soils.
Geranium cantabrigiense 'St. Ola' $5.95 qt /  USDA  Zones 5 - 7  A handsome groundcover of glossy, petite green leaves that stay handsome all summer,  covered in dainty white, tinged pink blooms in spring and early summer. Very shade tolerant, too. Height 6 - 8 inches

NEW! Geranium 'Pink Penny' $11.95 2-qt / USDA Zones 5 - 8 A rose-pink version of 'Jolly Bee' and 'Rozanne' with the same summer long blooming habit. Flowers are wisked with dark burgundy veins over dissected green leaves.
Geranium phaeum 'Samobor' $5.95 qt / USDA Zones 4 - 8   This eye-catching new cultivar of the Mourning Widow geranium is not only easy to grow, but has a one- two punch---beautiful foliage AND flowers. Each leaf is tattooed in a purple- black blotch, perfectly echoing the starry, purple flowers that appear in airy clusters in early summer. Height 18 - 24 inches
Geranium 'Rozanne'   $9.95  2-qt  / USDA Zones 5 - 8   The finest hardy geranium, out performing all others in hot, humid summer climates. This beautiful and vigorous hybrid from Blooms of Bressingham is covered with endless violet blue flowers all season, over compact, handsome clumps with a neat, mounded habit. We can't say enough good things about this marvelous geranium. A 2005 Plants of Merit selection (plantsofmerit.org) from the Missouri Botanical Garden . Height 15 - 18 inches

HELIANTHUS (Sunflower)
Full sun  / Butterfly and Bird Attractor
Of the perennial sunflowers, I love the following for their sturdy upright habit, winter hardiness, disease resistance, and generous show of flowers. They are shining stars in the summer and autumn border, and a perfect compliment to ornamental grasses, also at their pinnacle of beauty in summer and autumn.

Helianthus augustifolius 'First Light' (Swamp Sunflower)  $9.95 Gallon / USDA Zones 5 – 9a   This is an awesome addition to the perennial border, ideal with ornamental grasses and asters for a scene stealing late summer show. 'First Light' is a compact selection of our native swamp sunflower covered in orange yellow daisies that migrating butterflies dote on, only growing to a height ofg 3 to 4 feet. Succeeding in any fertile garden soil, however it prefers moist areas.
Helianthus microcephalus (Small Headed Sunflower) $8.95 GL / USDA Zones 5 - 9   A lovely Eastern American native species blooming from mid to late summer. H. microcephalus is known and loved for its hardiness and dependability, with upright, strong stemmed  and fine-textured clumps of long blooming clear yellow flowers that appear from a distance to be golden clouds. American goldfinches feed on the seed in autumn and winter. Height 5 - 6 feet.

NEW! Helianthus x multiflorus 'Capenoch Star' $9.95 GL / USDA Zones 4 - 8 A handsome perennial sunflower that resembles a single-petaled dahlia....however, on 5 to 6 foot stems! The bright yellow blooms offer wide centers that produce pollen and nectar, an important attractant to bees and butterflies. Prefers moist soil, but is tolerant of drought and light shade.

HELIOPSIS (False Sunflower)  Full sun /  USDA Zones 3 – 8 /  Butterfly Attractor

Heliopsis helianthoides  'Summer Nights'  $9.95 2-qt    This North American native is all dressed up. The sunny daisy-like, yellow- rayed blooms of 'Prairie Sunset' sit on top of deep, dark stems, a beautiful contrast! Gorgeous cutflower, too. Height 3 feet
HELIOPSIS helianthoides 'Tuscan Sun'  $10.95 2-qt    'Tuscan Sun' is a wonderful compact form of our celebrated native heliopsis covered in deep golden flowers in midsummer. Its more restrained habit lends it for use in smaller gardens and the front of the border with fellow natives like Liatris (Blazing Star). Height 18 inches   

HEMEROCALLIS (Daylily)
Full sun to part sun /  USDA Zones 3 - 9 /  Hummingbird Attractor
'Autumn Minaret' $8.95 Gallon   We behold this tall-stemmed beauty in worshipped reverence, and wouldn't be without it in our gardens. Blooming from mid July to mid September, the fragrant, bronze-throated, yellow trumpets wave gracefully about on willowy stems four to six feet tall. The hummers zero in on this one. A perfect background perennial, spectacular planted in groups and peerless for landscaping. Height 6 feet
'Barbara Mitchell' $12.95 Gallon   Incredibly beautiful soft lavender-pink, rounded flowers of heavy substance.  An eyezone of deeper pink rings the yellow center. Height 24 inches
 'Challenger' $9.95 Gallon  Another old Stout hybrid, a graceful, billowing presence similar to 'Autumn Minaret', with spidery red blooms beginning in midsummer. Spectacular in large groups, and quite vigorous. Height 70 inches.

NEW! 'Earlybird Cardinal' $13.95 GL From renowned breeder Darrell Apps comes this reliably repeat blooming daylily shaded in watermelon red. 'Earlybird Cardinal' begins blooming early and continues to produce blooms throughout summer, when provided with regular irrigation. Height 24 inches.
'Hyperion' $9.95 Gallon  Classic old-timer, with large lemony-yellow, very fragrant, blooms held aloft on 3 foot stems. Truly beautiful and classic!

'Irish Envy' $10.95 Gallon     Rounded blooms of citron yellow are elegant with some rebloom and a sweet fragrance. Height 30 inches.
'Janice Brown' $10.95 Gallon   Baby ribbon pink ruffled petals with a large raspberry-pink band and green throat.  Height 24 – 30 inches
'Ruffled Apricot'   $10.95 Gallon   This Stout award winner is astonishing in its early show of prolific, huge and radiant apricot-orange blooms with a pink midrib. Fragrant! Height 30 inches

HESPERIS matronalis (Sweet Rocket)   $5.95 qt
Full sun to part sun /  USDA Zones 3 - 8 / Butterfly and Hummingbird Attractor
A superb nature friendly perennial that is necessary for casual borders and cottage gardens. Self seeding reliably every year, Sweet Rocket rewards with voluptuous heads of wonderfully fragrant flower clusters of lilac and purple in late spring, similar to summer flowering phlox (P. paniculata). A peerless cutflower, and great for attracting butterflies and beneficial insects to the garden.  Any average, well drained garden soil. Grown from seed. Height 30 - 36 inches

HEUCHERA (Coral Bells)
Full sun to part sun  /  Zones 4 - 9  / Deer resistant  /Hummingbird & Butterfly Attractor
The following H. americana x villosa hybrid coral bells are mostly grown for their incredible foliage painted in silver, orange, purple and mahogany. Could these leaves have been painted by Monet? I have waded through the heucheral abyss of new hybrids currently flooding the market, and have selected some of our favorites. Full sun to part shade.  Foliage height on these cultivars is generally 15 inches, spreading to 24 inches.

Heuchera x 'Blackout'  $12.95  2-qt    With darker leaves than 'Obsidian' and a more vigorous grower!  Creamy white flowers contrast beautifully with the deepest purple foliage.

NEW! Heuchera villosa 'Autumn Bride' $8.95 2-qt Fuzzy chartreuse to lime green foliage and spikes of pure white flowers in the fall. Ht 2ft Spreads 3-4ft Full sun to part sun This is a superb tough plant for dry shade.
Heuchera villosa 'Bronze Wave'  $12.95  2-qt     Superb vigor, heat and humidity tolerance and persistent color make this new villosa hybrid a top performer. With shiny, deep rosy purple foliage on compact clumps, this selection from noted hybridizer Charles Oliver of the Primrose Path makes an ideal groundcover for dry, semi-shaded areas where it competes happily with tree roots. Panicles of airy white blooms appear in late summer and early fall. We say bravo to 'Bronze Wave' after its stunning performance in our challenging growing season in 2007!
Heuchera villosa 'Caramel' $12.95 2-qt  A vigorous new selection of our native southeastern coral bell, H. villosa, 'Caramel' glows warmly in the shade garden with leaves of honey-apricot. Airy panicles of white flowers appear later than other heuchera, in midsummer, on 3 foot wands. With its H. villosa heritage, 'Caramel' is more heat tolerant and adaptable to muggy, humid U.S. climates. Destined for the Heuchera Hall of Fame!
Heuchera villosa 'Citronelle'  $12.95 2-qt    Glowing chartreuse leaves, with the built-in toughness of H. villosa heritage. This promises to be the finest chartreuse-leaved heuchera for growing in hot, muggy summer climates.
NEW!   Heuchera 'Georgia Peach' $12.95 2-qt   Peachy-orange tones appear in spring foliage that matures to rosy pink. A Heuchera villosa hybrid, promising heat and humidity tolerance.

HIBISCUS moschuetos (Rose Mallow)
Full sun /  USDA Zones 4 - 9 /  Deer resistant /  Hummingbird Attractor
If you need a perennial that speaks tropicalismo, look no further. These hardy, new hybrid mallows erupt in awesome dinner plate size blooms in the heat and humidity of summer and feature improved compact habit, and lush, beautiful foliage. Lovely when partnered with ornamental grasses.
Hibiscus 'Moy Grande' $13.95  Gallon  At the height of summer, I count on perennial hibiscus to deliver the punch, that much needed presence of large, blowsy, flowers that speaks of tropicalismo. In typical Texas style, 'Moy Grande' (bred at the San Antonio Botanical Gardens ) boasts the largest flowers of any perennial hibiscus, with phenomenal hybrid vigor. From July through August, the spectacular, huge rose-pink flowers spring open over clumps of what has been called 'the cleanest foliage of the bunch', and look equally stylish as background plantings in perennial beds or in landscape applications. Highly recommended! Height 4 feet - 5 feet.
Hibiscus 'Pink Elephant' $14.95 1.5 Gallon  Huge pink flowers with overlapping petals and a deep red eye. Height 5 to 6 feet.
NEW!   Hibiscus 'Cranberry Crush'  $14.95 1.5 Gallon  A super long blooming cultivar with 9 to 11 inch magenta-red flowers on reddish purple stems. New growth emerges bronze and mature to deep green. Height 4 to 5 feet.

HYPERICUM calycinum 'Stardust' ( St. John's Wort)  $8.95 2-qt /  USDA Zones 5 - 7/ Attracts Butterflies   Hypericum calycinum is a widely grown, meat and potatoes perennial ideal for groundcover use in dry, shaded to semi-shaded areas. 'Stardust' offers a twist on the common theme, with green foliage tipped in creamy white to yellow new growth, providing a handsome background for the brilliant yellow flowers.

KALIMERIS yomena 'Shogun' (Japanese Aster) $8.95 2-qt  Full sun to part shade / USDA Zones 6 - 8 /  Butterfly Attractor  Grown mostly for its lovely variegated foliage, green leaves widely edged in yellow. Small lavender daisies are born in late summer. Height 15 inches

Kniphofia (Torch Lily / Red Hot Poker)
Full sun /  USDA Zones 5-8 /  Deer & rabbit resistant /  Hummingbird Attractor/ Drought Tolerant
Torch Lilies are among my favorite perennials, and I have had great success growing them here in Zone 5b. Well drained, loamy soil works fine. Heavy clay soils are thumbs down, as winter survival depends heavily on sharp drainage.  Gorgeous companions to Phlox paniculata, and a fine cut flower, too.
Kniphofia 'Candlelight'  $8.95 Gallon  This is one of the longest blooming of the Torch Lilies, with butter-yellow flowers that fade to creamy white, perfect for incorporating into any color scheme.  Its compact form, with an 18 inch height, makes it valuable for smaller areas also.
NEW! Kniphofia 'Echo Mango'   $9.95 GL   This is a new species to me, and I am told, one of the most reliably cold hardy. The dwarf clumps of thick-leaved blue-green tufts of foliage are crowned in coral red blooms opening to pale yellow in early summer. This is the shortest of the torch lilies that I have ever grown, and would be ideal for edging purposes or in a rock garden. Really beautiful!   Zones 5 - 8

LAVANDULA x intermedia 'Provence' (Lavender)  $8.95 2-qt  
Full sun /  USDA Zones 5 - 9 /  Deer resistant / Butterfly Attractor/ Drought Tolerant
They come in droves, lavender devotees determined to grow that sweetly scented shrub--- usually after their English lavender has languished in our hot, steamy summers, or disappeared entirely in our frigid Midwestern winters. These same gardeners now rave about Lavender ' Provence', a hybrid of L. latifolia and L. augustifolia. Borrowing the best qualities from each parent, ' Provence ' is more rot resistant and vigorous, with deep violet flowers that are extremely fragrant. A proven winner for us! Height 24-30 inches

LEUCANTHEMUM (Shasta Daisy)
Full sun /  USDA Zones 5 - 9 /  Butterfly Attractor
Leucanthemum superbum 'Banana Cream'  $9.95 - 2qt  Full flowers with an extra row of ray petals, a lovely shade of lemon yellow fading to creamy white. With a super compact habit---at an 18 inch height---'Banana Cream' is a strong grower and rapid multiplier.
Leucanthemum superbum 'Becky'  $8.95 2-qt   There are a lot of Shasta Daisies around, but none more sturdy, long lived, or tolerant of heat and humidity than 'Becky'. My hands down favorite! A Plants of Merit selection (plantsofmerit.org) from the Missouri Botanical Garden.  Height 30 - 36 inches
Leucanthemum superbum 'Gold Rush'  $9.95 2-qt   What astonishing blooms 'Gold Rush' has! This is a Shasta daisy all dressed up, flaunting double, highly frilled blooms. The outer petals are white and surrounded by a powderpuff center of shorter yellow petals.  Most impressive is the height, at fourteen inches, therefore no staking required!  Height 14 inches

LIATRIS spicata 'Kobold' (Gayfeather) $5.95 qt
Full sun / USDA Zones 3 - 9 /   Deer resistant / Butterfly Attractor/ Drought Tolerant
Allan Armitage calls L. spicata the 'best species for the garden', and he rates 'Kobold' as one of the finest cultivars of this native perennial. A premier cut flower, the fat spikes of rosy-lavender appear in early summer, and lure butterflies. The plants we offer are seed grown. Height 18 to 30 inches

LOBELIA   (Cardinal Flower)
Full sun to part shade /  Deer resistant / Hummingbird and Butterfly Attractor
Lobelia cardinalis 'Friend Green Tomatoes'  $5.95 qt /  USDA Zones 4 - 9   This cultivar of our native Cardinal Flower boasts added vigor and hummers adore the brilliant red spikes that appear in midsummer. For the best show, plant in groups. Lobelia cardinalis is a Plants of Merit selection (plantsofmerit.org) from the Missouri Botanical Garden . Height 4 to 5 feet
Lobelia siphilitica (Blue Cardinal Flower)   $5.95 qt /  USDA Zones 4 - 9   Tall spires of tubular blue flowers, another native species that lures hummingbirds and butterflies!  Height 3 to 5 feet

LYCHNIS coronaria 'Abbotswood Rose' (Maltese Cross) $8.95 GL / USDA Zones 4 - 8 We don't grow many alpine-type plants, but this raucous spring bloomer is hard to do without. Seeding throughout the garden, but not invasive, the felty gray leaves form rosettes that erupt in May with flaming fuchsia pink flower clusters that I suspect hummingbirds will enjoy. Well drained soil is essential. Full sun to light shade.

LYSIMACHIA nummularia Aurea   $4.95 4 - inch pot /  Zones 3 - 9   This low growing groundcover perennial has recently become popular as a container plant. The trailing stems of round, brilliant chartreuse to gold leaves are a perfect contrast in mixed containers playfully cascading over pot’s edge. As a garden perennial, lysimachia prefers moist soil that is well drained in shade to partially shaded areas, where it creates a prostrate carpet of glowing lime green. Height 3 inches  Spread 24 inches

NEW! LYTHRUM virgatum 'Pink Spires' $6.95 qt or $9.95 GL A sterile selection of Purple Loosestrife covered in tall showy spikes of rich deep pink all summer long. Although this hybrid sets no seed, we recommmend not growing it near wetland areas. Ht 3-4ft Full sun

MAZUS
Full sun to part shade / USDA Zones 5 - 8
Mazus reptans   $4.95 - 4 inch pot   A 2004 Plants of Merit selection (plantsofmerit.org) from the Missouri Botanical Garden .  Mazus has proven itself to be one fine groundcover, tolerant of the many weather extremes experienced here in Zones 5 & 6.  Picture lush, ground- hugging mats of tiny green leaves, capped with a flurry of blue snapdragon-like blooms, erupting in spring.  Indispensable and ideal for planting between paving stones in sun or shade. Moist but well drained soil.  Height 2 inches

MONARDA (Bee Balm)
Full sun to part shade / USDA Zones 4 - 8 / Deer Resistant! / Hummingbird and Butterfly Attractor!
Tall stems of colorful blooms and wonderful aromatic foliage, make Bee Balm a chosen perennial. The vivid flowers, rich in nectar, broadcast to bees, butterflies and hummingbirds that dance about on the colorful blooms in July. Quite the show! Our selections are all mildew resistant.

NEW! Monarda fistulosa 'Claire Grace' $8.95 GL This selection of our native M. fistulosa is one of the best for drier areas. The very mildew resistant clumps support bronze stems highlighted with purple pink blooms that are beacons to butterflies, hummingbirds and beneficial insects. Mildew resistant. Height 30 - 36 inches.

NEW! Monarda 'Coral Reef' $8.95 GL A hot pink flowering selection, razzmatazz! Height 36 inches.
Monarda didyma'Jacob Cline' $8.95 Gallon   Very large screaming red flowers, highly mildew resistant, a hummingbird's dream!  Height 3 - 4 feet
NEW!   Monarda didyma 'Pink Lace'  $9.95 Gallon / USDA Zones 4 - 9  Beautiful light pink flowers have a dark purple center and are produced atop dark stems, a lovely contast.  This is a compact hybrid ideal for foreground planting.

NEW! Monarda didyma 'Purple Rooster' $9.95 GL A hot new selection...very purple and bodacious flowers! Height 36 inches. Mildew resistant.
Monarda didyma 'Raspberry Wine'  $8.95 Gallon  / USDA Zones 4 - 9  Buds that resemble raspberries open to reveal raspberry red flowers, a vigorous hybrid with an extended bloom period. Height 30 to 42 inches

NEPETA (Catmint)
Full sun to part shade / Deer and rabbit resistant!  / Butterfly Attractor and Hummingbird Attractor!
NEW! Nepeta 'Little Trudy' $9.95 GL / USDA Zones 4 - 9   This catmint is most notable for its compactness, shorter than other hybrids. This is a definite advantage in hot & muggy summer climates where nepetas tend to shoot up, then collapse at the height of bloom. 'Little Trudy' also has smaller, more petite, gray-green foliage that is smothered in spring and early summer with numerous violet blue flowers. Drought resistant, too.
 
OENOTHERA (Sundrops)
Full sun /  Deer resistant /  Butterfly Attractor/ Drought Tolerant
North American natives, easily grown in average, very well drained soil. A cheerful and dependable source of color in the summer garden.
Oenothera glazioviana (aka O. lamarckiana) 'Tina James Magic' (Twirling Primrose)  $5.95 qt USDA Zones 4 - 8    Tina is evidently a party girl staging her evening soirees around this magical evening primrose. At the predictable hour, the 4 inch primrose yellow blooms spin open, astounding an eager audience of gardeners and luring night flying moths with sweet fragrance. Kids are lured too, a perfect lesson in the wonders of nature. Biennial by nature, 'Tina James' produces a flat rosette of foliage in the first year and happily seeds about once established. Party hearty, plantoholics! What fun!  Height 3 to 4 feet 

NEW! Oenothera fruticosa 'Fireworks' $8.95 2-qt / USDA Zones 3 - 9 We are proud to offer the true form of 'Fireworks', a selection of our native O. fruticosa. Canary yellow blossoms appear over a long period in early to midsummer. Spectacular! Height 24 inches.
Oenothera missouriensis ( Missouri Primrose / Evening Primrose)   $5.49 qt  USDA Zones 4 - 7   Our popular native Ozark Sundrop, luminous with huge lemon yellow blossoms throughout summer. Available in May 2012. Height 12 inches
Oenothera berlandieri 'Golden Summer'  $8.95 2-qt /  USDA Zones 5 - 8   Glowing gold to chartreuse foliage capped in pink cup-shaped blossoms over an extended period in summer. This hybrid shows a more restrained habit than the species. Height 15 inches

ORIGANUM 'Norton's Gold' (Creeping Golden Oregano)  $5.95 qt
Full sun to part shade / USDA Zones 5 - 8 / Deer resistant
I can't remember where I found this plant, but it's a hot item here at the nursery. A beautiful thicket of ground hugging, fragrant, golden leaves, useful for edging or paving, turning a luminous chartreuse by summertime. Ideal planted between paving stones or meandering through a rockery. Well drained soil is essential. Height 3 inches

PAEONIA  (Peony)
Full sun to light shade  / USDA Zones 3 - 8  / Deer resistant
What other plant in spring is so voluptuous with fragrant, huge blossoms, so lush, that you want to bury your face into it?  (As I do). Peonies are very long lived perennials, becoming family members, and essential cut flowers.

NEW! Peony 'Paula Fay' $18.95 GL A gorgeous, glowing hot pink semi-petaled flower, an early bloomer to extend the peony season. 'Paula Fay' is considered a classic, bringing spectacular color to the spring garden. Height 36 inches.

PENSTEMON (Beardtongue)
Full sun  /  Hummingbird and Butterfly Attractor
Penstemons are pure joy when they are engulfed in early summertime blooms, with a flurry of hummingbirds dancing about. Their culture is specific, foregoing additional fertilizers or compost, while providing very well drained soil.

NEW! Penstemon digitalis 'Dark Towers' $5.95 qt / USDA Zones 4 - 8 Pink, late spring flowers and dark red foliage.....considered a 'souped up' version of Penstemon 'Husker Red'. Our native P. digitalis is the finest species for our lower midwest climate, bearing up well to heat and humidity and sometimes heavy soils that western U.S. penstemons detest. All of the cultivars of P. digitalis are superb for attracting beneficial insects, butterflies and hummingbirds. You need this plant! Height 36 inches.
Penstemon digitalis 'Mystica' $8.95 - 2qt  /  USDA  Zones 4 - 8    A sister plant to 'Husker Red' developed by Ernst Benary Seed Company. We poor, penstemon-deprived Midwesterners can dote on these new P. digitalis hybrids. They work for us! Bred from our very own native penstemon stock, they offer large flower clusters on branching stalks, above a basal rosette of lustrous bronze foliage, with inherent toughness to survive Midwestern heat and humidity. 'Mystica' differs from 'Husker Red', with light lavender-pink blooms. For average, well drained soil conditions in full sun to light shade. Deer resistant, and a lovely cut flower. Height 30 inches

PEROVSKIA atriplicifolia 'Little Spire' (Russian Sage)  $8.95  2- qt
Full sun / USDA Zones 5 - 9 /  Deer resistant!  / Butterfly Attractor!
This compact selection of Russian Sage has all the attributes of earlier cultivars. Gleaming blue spikes of flowers persist through summer, oblivious to heat. This lovely, soft blue color can go anywhere, and looks superb with any number of other perennials in a mixed border. A top ten perennial!  Height 2 feet  Perovskia atriplicifolia is a Plants of Merit (plantsofmerit.org) selection from the Missouri Botanical Garden .

PHLOX pilosa ssp. sangamonensis (Sangamon River Prairie Phlox) $5.95qt   USDA Zones 3 - 8 / Hummingbird and Butterfly Attractor!  I was enchanted by this low growing selection of our Illinois native phlox last summer. It bloomed for a good six weeks beginning in late spring, with airy clusters of deep pink flowers hovering over clean green leaves that were free of mildew. Easily grown in any sunny area in well drained soil, and a superb and colorful, low maintenance groundcover. Also, very heat and humidity tolerant! Height 18 inches Available in June 2012.

PHLOX paniculata (Tall Garden Phlox)
Full sun  /  USDA Zones 4 - 8  /  Butterfly and Hummingbird Attractor!
Phlox paniculata are the backbone of the summer garden, adored for their voluptuous heads of fragrant blooms in a wide range of colors. Our selections were chosen for their performance in hot, muggy summer climates and disease resistance.  Plant in full sun in fertile, well drained soil.
Phlox paniculata 'Blue Paradise'  $9.95 Gallon  Stunning!  Florets open pale blue and deepen to violet blue, an unusual shade in this selection of our native P. paniculata. Height  3 feet  
Phlox paniculata 'David' $9.95 Gallon   A tireless performer, and the best white flowering, most disease resistant, tall garden phlox available. A Plants of Merit selection (plantsofmerit.org) from the Missouri Botanical Garden . Height 3 feet.

NEW! Phlox 'Eva Cullum' $9.95 GLThis is a wonderful disease resistant selection with clear pink flowers accented with maroon eyes. The flower heads are large, fragrant and simply put...luscious! Sturdy and compact. Height 30 inches.

NEW! Phlox 'Hesperis' $5.95 qt Available in June 2012. This is a truly tough and amazingly disease resistant selection of our native P. paniculata. It also has a wonderful, more dainty wildflower charm than other cultivars, with smaller but persistently blooming flowerheads. The color is lovely....a lavender rose, and the fragrance is delightful. Butterflies adore it.

NEW! Phlox paniculata 'Jeana' $9.95 GLSimply gorgeous! A very statuesque plant with outstanding disease resistance and highly perfumed lavender pink flowerheads presented with a tiered effect on the sturdy stems. Height 3 to 4 feet.
Phlox paniculata 'Katherine' $9.95 Gallon   Very popular newer selection with unique purple blooms, eye-zoned with a white star center. Eye catching! Height 24-30 inches
Phlox paniculata 'Nicky'  $9.95 Gallon  The darkest flowers of any tall garden phlox! Sweetly fragrant deep magenta blooms born on 3 foot stems.
Phlox paniculata 'Robert Poore'  $9.95 Gallon  This wonderful cultivar has it all!  Disease resistance, longevity of bloom and sturdy stems packed with brilliant pink flowers. We have grown this phlox and have come to admire it as one of the best. A Plants of Merit selection (plantsofmerit.org)   Height  40 - 48 inches

POTENTILLA verna nana (Cinquefoil)  $5.49 qt
Full sun  /  USDA Zones 4 - 7 / Deer resistant!
Bright green, prostrate carpets of tiny leaves, covered in starry yellow flowers in spring. A clumping species that is easily divided in early spring. Perfect for rockery or planting in drier areas between flagstones. Height 2 inches.

PYCNANTHEMUM muticam (Short Toothed Mountain Mint) $9.95 GL  I adore this plant! A north American native, it provides clouds of silvery foliage in any sunny to partially sunny area with average soil. Better yet, I can't think of a more important plant for the food source iit supplies to a host of important beneficial insects. You'll be entertained watching them hover and collect pollen and nectar from the pink button flowers that occur over a long period in summer. Tough as nails, I wouldn't be without it in my garden! Seedheads left to ripen provide winter cover for insects. Deer resistant. Height 30 - 36 inches.

RATIBIDA (Mexican Hat / Prairie Coneflower) Full sun /  Deer Resistant!  /  Attracts Butterflies and Birds!  Charming native prairie plants with a pronounced cone center and seeds that attract wild birds. Great for naturalizing in dry, poor soils and very drought resistant!
Ratibida pinnata  (Grey- Head Coneflower)  $4.95 - 4" pot / Zones 3 - 8   This central North American native thrives in clay soils, preferring to forego compost or mulch. The dainty yellow ray petals surround a high cone center and droop elegantly.....like a sombrero!   Height 3 to 5 feet
Ratibida columnifera 'Red Midget'  $4.95 - 4" pot / Zones 3 - 9   Yellow edged, red petals on dwarf plants growing to a height of 15 inches.

RUDBECKIA (Coneflower / Black Eyed Susan)
Full sun to part shade / USDA Zones 3 - 8 / Butterfly Attractor!
It's simple. Rudbeckias are near ideal perennials, nature friendly and lovely companioned with just about any other summer blooming plant, most notably Perovskia (Russian Sage).  Butterflies love the flowers and finches adore the seedheads that form in late summer and autumn. The following species are native North American coneflowers, tough and durable.

Rudbeckia fulgida 'City Garden'    $9.95 2-qt  / USDA Zones 4 - 10   A great selection for the smaller garden where a more compact plant is required, 'City Garden' is a baby sister to 'Goldsturm', equally floriferous and tough. At half the height of 'Goldsturm' this petite new introduction is also superb for rock gardens or edging perennial beds. Height 12 inches
Rudbeckia fulgida 'Early Bird Gold'   $9.95  2-qt / USDA Zones 4 - 10   Extended flowering period is offered with 'Early Bird Gold'. A day length neutral selection, this means that 'Early Bird Gold' sets bloom during the shorter days of late spring and early summer offering its colorful clumps of golden-rayed blooms over a longer period, well into late summer.  Height 24 inches.

NEW! Rudbeckia hirta (Illinois ecotype) $5.49 qt Simply lovely for naturalizing if you want a simple understated 'wildflower' charm. A self-seeding hardy annual, collected by Bluestem Prairie Nursery in Hillsboro, Illinois.

Rudbeckia hirta 'Prairie Sun'  $4.95 qt /  USDA Zones 3 - 8  This seed selection of our native R. hirta offers huge flowers with lime green cone centers that just scream summer! R. hirta is extremely tolerant of hot and humid summers, thriving in fertile, well drained soils in full sun. Usually grown as an annual, all cultivars of Rudbeckia hirta generally self seed under optimum conditions. Superb butterfly attractor and lovely planted with Russian sage (perovskia).  Height 30 - 36 inches
Rudbeckia laciniata 'Autumn Sun' (aka 'Herbstonne')  $9.95 2-qt  / USDA Zones 5 - 9   This North American native is a butterfly magnet with seed that American goldfinches covet in the late summer and autumn months. An indispensable nature friendly perennial with a rhizomatous habit that is peerless for background planting. The yellow ray flowers are produced en masse with bright green cone centers.   Height 5 to 7 feet
Rudbeckia subtomentosa 'Henry Eilers'   $11.95 2-qt / USDA Zones 5 - 9   We are proud to offer this cultivar of our U.S. native Rudbeckia subtomentosa, named for local plantsman and nurseryman Henry Eilers of Litchfield , IL . Unusual, quilled true yellow blooms are a standout, rising on four to five foot stems and making superb cutflowers and likewise are stunning planted en masse. Easily grown in average, well drained soils and beautiful companioned with Joe Pye Weed (eupatorium) and ornamental grasses. Full sun to partial shade. Height 4 to 5 feet

SALVIA (Sage)
Full sun to part shade /  Deer and Rabbit Resistant! / Butterfly and Hummingbird Attractor!
I dote on sages, and ANYTHING labeled 'salvia' gets my attention quick. Yes, it's true I have a salvia 'habit' and I need my 'fix' all growing season, be they tender or perennial sages. The following are my favorite perennial types for full sun.  See our Annuals/Tropicals list for lots more!
Salvia greggii 'Wild Thing'  $5.49 qt / USDA Zones 5b - 10  Available in May 2012. I am excited about finding this selection of autumn sage, hardy to St. Louis, MO, just across the Mississippi River from our nursery in Piasa, IL. We have it now, so try it out. The blooms are cherry red, fading to pink tones and appear en masse in June, and after deadheading, a great rebloom in autumn. As with all salvias, a fabulous butterfly/hummingbird attractor. Well drained soil is critical for winter survival.
Salvia guaranitica 'Blue Ensign'  $5.49 qt  / USDA Zones 5b - 9   This is the most winter hardy S. guaranitica selection we offer, to at least Zone 5b. The blooms are cobalt blue, without the black calyces of Salvia 'Black and Blue'. We have a devoted following to this plant; it blooms from July to frost, providing a wonderful source of blue flowers that you'll adore….along with the hummers!   Full sun to half day sun. Height 3 to 4 feet

Salvia x 'Marischino' $5.95 qt / USDA Zones 6 - 10 This is one of the most winter hardy of the S.x microphylla hybrids. I have grown it for years and it is safely endures our winters here in Zone 6a (formerly 5b!). The flowers appear throughout summer, a luscious shade of lipstick red that hummingbirds can't resist. Provide well drained soil and do not cut back the stems in autumn....your plants will survive winter best with their stems left intact. Trim back in early spring. Great for containers too! Height 24 inches.
NEW! Salvia nemerosa 'Caradonna' $5.49 qt / USDA Zones 3 - 8 This cultivar is appreciated for its rigidly upright stems, dark purple stems and lovely bright violet-blue flowers appearing in late spring and early summer. Height 24 inches.

SALVIA 'Sensation Rose'   $8.95 2-qt/  USDA Zones 4 - 7  This is a very compact salvia similar to 'Marcus', with deep rose pink flowers over a long period in spring and early summer. Height 10 -12 inches
Salvia nemorosa 'Marcus'   $8.95 2-qt / USDA Zones 4 - 7   Dwarf clumps, covered in violet blue flowers in May and June. Easily grown-- and necessary-- since tall cultivars nearly always flop over in their peak of bloom. Superb for edging!  Height 12 inches
Salvia greggii 'Ultra Violet'  $4.95 qt  /  Zones 5b - 9   'Ultra Violet' sings with color in the late summer and autumn garden, drawing in hummingbirds and butterflies like a magnet!  The purple blooms are luscious and partner beautifully with orange Agastache. Height 20 inches
Salvia reptans 'West Texas Form' (Cobalt Sage) $11.95 2-qt / USDA Zones 6 - 10  Wispy clumps of slender stems and fine leaves, lovely enough when not in bloom, but in September and October the stems are capped with royal blue, lipped blossoms, beloved by hummers. This beautiful American native has been thoroughly winter hardy for us here in the lower midwestern U.S. (southwestern Illinois). Height 3 feet.

SCABIOSA (Pincushion Flower)
Full sun to part shade  /  USDA Zones 3 - 7 / Butterfly Attractor!
These new, dwarf cultivars are fabulous for edging perennial beds, rose beds, or for use in rock gardens. They bloom tirelessly throughout the summer, if deadheaded, and are worshipped by butterflies. Height 12 - 15 inches.
Scabiosa columbaria 'Butterfly Blue' $5.95 qt   Lovely lavender blue pincushion flowers. Perennial Plant Association 2000 Plant of the Year and a Plants of Merit selection (plantsofmerit.org) from the Missouri Botanical Garden .

SCUTELLARIA incana  (Downy Skullcap)  $5.49 qt / USDA Zones 3 - 7 / Butterfly Attractor! / Deer resistant!
Hyssop skullcap is our own U.S. native, bearing violet blue flowers on spike-like racemes over very attractive, handsome green mounds of foliage in mid to late summer.  The blooms attract bumblebees, their primary pollinator, and they are delightful to watch, creating an aerial ballet in the garden. Grow downy skullcap in moist to average, well drained soil in sun to partial shade. Height 3 feet.  

SEDUM (Live Forever / Stonecrops)
Full sun  /  Butterfly Attractor! / Rabbit resistant!
Stonecrops are workhorses of the perennial border. Given excellent drainage and average to poor soil, they manage searing heat and sticky humidity notches above other perennials, and are butterfly magnets in summer and fall. Great for groundcover use, edging, cut flower material, and they are awesome companioned with ornamental grasses, asters and daylilies.
Sedum rupestre 'Angelina' $5.49 qt  / USDA Zones 5b - 11  An stunning carpet of succulent, needle-like foliage painted in glowing chartreuse to gold in spring and summer, taking on autumnal hues of orange and red later in the season. A luminous, low maintenance plant for dry areas that are well drained, or for average soil in sun to half sun. Also makes a great container plant! Height 3 - 5 inches. Winter hardiness increases when planted in well drained soil.

Sedum telephium ssp. ruprechtii 'Hab Gray'  $8.95 2-qt / Zones 4 - 8    Clusters of rose-hued buds open to creamy yellow flowers over glaucous grey-green leaves in late summer.  Height 20 inches
Sedum telephium 'Sunset Cloud'  $8.95 2-qt / USDA Zones 3 - 9   'Sunset Cloud' is a smaller sedum ideal for edging, or areas of the garden where taller varieties would be out of place. The dollar sized, blue-green leaves forming trailing stems and compact mounds that are covered in late summer with clouds of vibrant rose red flowers that butterflies adore. Considered an improved 'Vera Jameson'.  Height  12 - 18 inches
Sedum tetractinum (Chinese Sedum)   $5.49 qt / USDA Zones 4 - 8   We found this ground hugging gem on a recent trip to Raleigh , NC , a current hotbed of perennial plant treasures. The plump, round leaves of this Chinese native, are densely arranged on trailing stems….looking like a succulent carpet that says 'touch me'. The leaves are magnificent in cooler weather when they turn a deep, orange-bronze, and small starry yellow blossoms appear in summer. You'll get the best foliage color in infertile soil. Height 3 inches

SILENE regia 'Prairie Fire' (Royal Catchfly)  $11.95 2-qt  /  Full sun  /  USDA Zones 4 - 8  /  Butterfly and Hummingbird Attractor
Lookout!  Incoming hummers!! This selection of our Midwest native S. regia brazenly waves its Technicolor red flower panicles on 3 to 4 foot stems in June and July, a colorful flag for hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. Sadly, S. regia is now on the Illinois endangered plant list, so we need to get this lovely plant into cultivation. I asked the Grow Native! people and they told me good drainage is paramount to growing S. regia--- where in nature it springs from rocky open woods and prairies of average to loamy soil. The cultivar 'Prairie Fire' is a natural tetraploid selected by native plant nurseryman Neil Dibol of Prairie Nursery fame.  Height 3 - 4 feet

SOLIDAGO (Goldenrod)
Full sun  / Deer resistant /   Butterfly and Bird Attractor
If you don't have at least one Goldenrod in your garden, you're missing out. Present day cultivars offer dense, compact and floriferous growth that in autumn is every bit as lovely as the ubiquitous mum. Those beautiful wands of gold and yellow are also highly coveted for fresh or dried floral arrangements, too, and by the way, they do NOT cause hayfever.  A fun fact, solidagos attract tiny pollinators that birds feed on!
NEW! Solidago shortii 'Solar Cascade' $9.95 GL / USDA Zones 3 - 8 Few plants are as under appreciated as the solidagos. They are perfect pollen and nectar producers for beneficial insects and the seed is appreciated by songbirds in autumn and winter. 'Solar Cascade' is stunning, providing a dramatic waterfall effect of sparkling yellow in the fall garden that is unequaled. In perfect harmony with our colorful native Aster nova-angliae cultivars, and easily performing in an average garden soil in full sun to partial shade. Very drought tolerant! Height 24 - 30 inches.

STACHYS (Betony)
Full sun to part shade /  Deer resistant /  Butterfly and Hummingbird Attractor

Stachys macrantha 'Superba' (Big Betony)  $8.95 2-qt / USDA Zones      This old timer was a favored perennial right at home in my first garden, back in the early seventies. In May and June---while my antique shrub roses put on their show---the basal rosettes of Stachys ‘Macrantha’ would erupt into spiraling stems of rosy-lavender flower spikes. A brazen floral floozie! Hummers and butterflies zero in on that sweet nectar, and I have come to treasure this hardy and low maintenance perennial for its long bloom season, with lush, green mounds of foliage that stay great looking all season. A great cutflower, too.  Bloom height is 24 – 30 inches, with foliage in compact mounds to 18 inches.A Plants of Merit selection (plantsofmerit.org) from the Missouri Botanical Garden.

Stachys minima $5.49 qt or $9.95 GL Absolutely the most floriferous Stachys we have ever seen. Pink-purple flowers bloom on four to six-inch spikes in June and July. Forms a dense mound of dark, glossy green foliage. Very much like its cousin, ‘Hummelo’, it is smaller in size but huge in the flower department. Well-drained soil.

Stachys monieri 'Hummelo' (Dwarf Betony)   $8.95 2-qt /  USDA Zones 4 - 10    This is a shorter version of Stachys 'Macrantha', with blooms more of a pink hue. Ultra cute, and perfect for foreground planting and edging, or rock gardens, with the ability to stay fresh looking all summer. Bloom height 22 inches, with foliage height at 8 to 10 inches

STOKESIA (Stokes' Aster)
Full sun /  USDA Zones 5 - 9 / Deer and rabbit resistant / Butterfly attractor
Large, blowsy, cornflower-like blooms appear in the heat of summer, dancing on neat mounds of deep green leaves. Our Southeastern native S. laevis can't be beat for its heat tolerance and floriferous summertime show. Tough and enduring and a nice cut flower, too.
NEW!  Stokesia laevis 'Blue Danube'   $8.95 2-qt   A dwarf sport of 'Blue Danube' with a very short and compact habit. The lavender blue flowers are two inches across, with a feathery domed center. Beautiful, heat tolerant and highly desirable as an edging to perennial beds.
Stachys laevis 'Color Wheel' $8.95 2-qt   This dwarf selection forms a short, compact clump of deep green leaves topped by large, violet blue flowers in midsummer. Great heat and humidity tolerance! Height 15 inches

THALICTRUM (Meadow Rue) $8.95 2-qt /  Full sun to part shade /  USDA Zones 4 - 7 /Deer resistant /  Hummingbird attractor
Thalictrum rochebrunianum 'Lavender Mist' $9.95 2-qt    A 2004 Plants of Merit selection (plantsofmerit.org) from the Missouri Botanical Garden . T. rochebrunianum is a native of Japan -and a perennial that's got it all, beautiful foliage AND gorgeous flowers. An exceptional cut flower, too, with upright, sturdy stems that hold clouds of tiny columbine-like, lavender-purple flowers in early summer. Height 4 - 6 feet.

NEW! VERBENA x hybrida 'Blue Princess' $5.95 qt / USDA Zones 7b -10 A lavender blue carpet! This vigorous hybrid will spread three feet wide with nonstop bloom its first summer. Relatively winter hardy, I suspect, in sheltered areas in the lower midwest. A real treat for butterflies! Well drained soil is essential with full sun. Available in May 2012.

NEW! VERBENA x hybrida 'Princess Bride' $5.95 qt / USDA Zones 7b - 10 A naturally occuring hybrid of 'Blue Princess', with medium pink flowers with dark maroon centers. Flowers are fragrant. Relatively winter hardy, I suspect, in sheltered areas in the lower midwest. Well drained soil is essential in full sun. Available in May 2012.

NEW!   VERNONIA  lettermanii  'Iron Butterfly'  $9.95  2-qt /  USDA Zones 4 - 9 /  Butterfly Attractor / Deer Resistant   This Arkansas native features mounds of fine textured foliage, similar to Amsonia hubrichtii that in late summer are covered in purple flowers that lure butterflies. Also attracted are various tiny beneficial insects that songbirds feed on. 'Iron Butterfly' is very tolerant of hot and dry locations but still able to flourish in average garden soils that are well drained.  Our most exciting, new native cultivar (nativar) this year!  Height 30 - 36 inches

VERONICA (Speedwell)
Full sun to part sun /  Deer resistant  /  Butterfly and Hummingbird attractor
I have discarded many a veronica in my long gardening career. Some of the worst are floppers, diving to the ground at the height of bloom in an impersonation of Greg Louganis.  Then there are those with yucky foliage, tainted by foliar disease by midsummer. Most prefer full sun, but adapt well to partial shade, and make great groundcovers for small areas or for edging perennial borders. I plan on keeping the following winners in my veronica repertoire and I know you'll love them too. Full sun to light shade.

Veronica spicata 'Royal Candles' $5.49 qt  USDA Zones 3 - 8   Dense, disease resistant mounds, thickly clustered with violet blue spikes, like fat 'candles'. A great improvement over older cultivars of Veronica spicata. Height 18 inches