Peren_P 09

Perennials

Papaver orientale ‘Patty’s Plum’ Zn4a (-30º to -25ºF) Papaveraceae

An Oriental Poppy with flowers of the most amazing smokey, plum purple. Flowers

are very large and appear in mid-spring. A vigorous perennial that thrives in enriched garden soil. Handles summer drought by going dormant. Flower stalks to 28" tall . Full sun to light shade. Reflected heat or drought can cause the flowers to fade more quickly. Easily the best purple Oriental Poppy to date. Good to try where deer are a problem.

Papaver spicatum Zn7a (0º to 5ºF) Papaveraceae

The Turkish Spike Poppy is surprisingly absent from gardens. From a 20" spike, much like a hollyhock, soft pastel apricot flowers rise above a rosette of neat light green scalloped foliage. Appreciates RICH, well drained soil with regular water. Spectacular at the front of a border. Blooms late June to July- then summer dormant. Returns in fall. Works well with roses or combined with soft yellow Daylilies. Soft looking perennial. Click for a larger photo.

Parahebe catarractae ‘Delight’ Zn7b (5º to 10ºF) Scrophulariaceae

'Delight' is an excellent evergreen perennial or small shrub with profuse sprays of

lavender-blue flowers nonstop from June until frost. Finely serrated shiny green leaves and mahogany stems to 8" tall and 18" wide. Full sun to light shade, well drained soil with regular water in summer- avoid reflected heat. Easy, rewarding plant with an incredibly long season of bloom. Shear back spent flowers and more will appear.

Parahebe cattaractae ‘Miss Willmott’ Zn7b (5º to 10ºf) Scrophulariaceae

Diminutive evergreen shrub/perennial with glossy toothed leaves and mahogany stems. Selected for its relatively large sprays of white flowers each with a central spot of violet. The flowers are produced profusely from June until frost. A light and airy plant to 8" tall and spreading to 18" wide. Full sun to light shade and well drained soil. Regular water in summer. Cut back hard in early spring. Works well on slopes.

Parahebe olsenii Zn7b (5º to 10ºF) Scrophulariaceae

This adorable evergreen perennial eats cute for breakfast. Small round leaves have a rubbery

quality on a very low and ground hugging plant. Above the foliage appear clouds of cupped white flowers with a center of raspberry pink. These flowers begin in June and are continuous throughout August. To only 3” tall spreading to form a clump to a little more than a foot wide. Part shade

to full sun- with protection from reflected heat. This is a true alpine plant requiring rich fast draining

soils with regular summer irrigation. Adorable in rock gardens- along pathways. New Zealand.

Parahebe perfoliata (Derwentia perfoliata) Zn7b (5º to 10ºF) Scrophulariaceae

Stately and architectural this dramatic perennial combines wonderful foliage with beautiful

summer flowers. Each glaucous blue leaf encircles the stem in an immitation of a miniature

Eucalyptus. Growing from a dense central core these stems reach up to three feet tall. In

mid-summer spikes of clear violet blue flowers appear at the tips. This plant is decidedly upright

in full sun- trailing in part shade. Give it room to grow in well drained soil with regular water

during summer. It may be cut back hard in early spring to refresh. Click for photo. of flower

Pelargonium sidiodes ‘Xera Strain’ Zn8a (10º to 15ºF) Geraniaceae

Our own seed strain of this popular hardy rock garden perennial with flowers that come in a myriad of shades from bright blue/purple to deep burgundy and even black. Silvery rosettes of leaves. Grow in gritty soil in the ground for excellent drainage or in a pot that can be protected in winter. Forms a bulb after a while. Best on slopes. Full sun, regular water in summer. To 14" tall in bloom, rosettes to 1' wide.

Penstemon ‘Enor’ Zn7a (0º to 5ºF) Scrophulariaceae

'Enor' is a hardy and easy to grow perennial Penstemon for full sun and well drained soil. Deep purple flowers rise to 24" tall with a dusty bloom on the outside and appear from June until frost. Great with Catmints and Salvias. Exceptionally dark green lusterous, glossy foliage. Nice cut flower, and eventually forms a clump to 2' wide. Very reliable. One of the most striking of the border-types.

Penstemon heterophyllus ‘Electric Blue’ Zn7a (0º to 5ºF) Schrophulariaceae

A wonderful Penstemon with zappy true blue flowers that smother the foliage for up to 6 weeks in late spring and then sporadically after that. This is likely to be one of the hardiest selections of Penstemon heterophyllus. In planted flower boxes at our nursery they sailed through our trip down to the single digits and did not skip a beat. Other selections of Penstemon heterophyllus are dodgy below 10ºF so this was a great surprise.To 2’ tall forming a clump eventually as wide. Full sun in rich well drained soil with average to no water. Cut back hard after the first flush of bloom and water and more will appear, all the way until frost.

Penstemon heterophyllus ‘Margarita BOP’ Zn7b (5º to 10ºF) Scrophulariaceae

First of all, the B.O.P. stands for "Beneath our porch" where this EXCELLENT Penstemon was found growing at a California Nursery. Continuous flowers that

emerge blue and stay blue in cool weather, fade partly to purple in hot weather.

Full sun and well drained soil that is not too rich. Excellent blue/gray foliage. To 20" tall and as wide. Cut back hard in spring. Occasional summer water. Magical with Zauschnerias.

Penstemon hirsutus ‘Pygmaeus’ Zn4a (-30º to -25ºF) Scrophulariaceae

This is the excellent dwarf form of the eastern native hairy penstemon. Forming a low clump on

inches tall it becomes smothered in masses of tubular flowers that are brushed with purple

blue on the outside and white and pink on the interior. It slowly spreads to several feet wide

and is adaptable to a variety of soil types as long as they drain well. Full sun with regular

summer water for the best appearance. Adorable in rock gardens, slopes.

Penstemon pinifolius Zn5a (-20º to -15ºF) Scrophulariaceae

Western Pine-leaved Penstemon has small needle-like leaves and in late spring and summer copious small brillant 1" long orange/red flowers. Forms a woody stems and is one of the longest lived perennial Penstemons. Full sun well drained soil with occasional water in summer. Great in rock gardens or on steep slopes. To 10" tall and about 2' wide. Cut back hard in early spring. Hummingbird heaven. Evergreen.

Penstemon pinifolius ‘Mersea Yellow’ Zn5a (-20º to -15ºF) Scrophulariaceae

As for the above but with clear yellow flowers.

Penstemon pinifolius ‘Melon’ Zn5a (-20º to -15ºF) Scrophulariaceae

As for the above but with lovely light melon colored flowers.

Penstemon x ‘Schooley’s Coral’ Zn4b (-25º to -20ºF) Scrophulariaceae

This tough and cold hardy perennial Penstemon produces spikes of a wonderful clear coral

for months in summer. Extending from a basal rosette the stems reach 2’ tall. The tubular

coral flowers with an interior of white are loved by hummingbirds and gardeners a like.

If spent flower spikes are removed more flowers will follow. Rich, well drained soil in full

sun for optimal performance. Easy to grow with occasional summer irrigation.

Phlomis anatolica ‘Lloyd’s Variety’ Zn7b (5º to 10ºF) Lamiaceae

A distinct variety of Jerusalem Sage with superior deep yellow flowers that are surprisingly fragrant

and handsome silver quilted foliage. Eventually this becomes a woody shrub to 3’ tall and

as wide. The flowers with the fragrance of cloves appear in whorls in June and July. Full sun

and very well drained soil with light water in summer.

Phlomis fruiticosa ‘Quilted Leaf’ Zn7b (5º to 10ºF) Lamiaceae

This selection of Jersalem Sage has large leaves that are silvery green and have

a quilted appearance to the surface. It forms a woody perennial in time to 3’ tall

and as wide. Bright yellow flowers appear in whorls and are displayed on thick

stems above the leaves.

Phlox divaricatus ‘Louisiana Blue’ Zn4a (-30º to -25ºF) Polemoniaceae

Something of a misnomer this beautiful, tough but delicate appearing perennial from eastern

North America is not really blue, but rather a vivid and intense purple with slight blue

shading. The masses of large flowers appear at the tip of upright growing stems. This

wildflower takes well to gardens in rich well drained soil with ample moisture. The boisterous

flowers appear in late April and continue to early June. Excellent in a woodland border.

Lightly fragrant the common name of Sweet William is applicable. To 18” tall forming clumps.

Cut back hard after blooming for a compact tuft of foliage. Excellent with late blooming

bulbs.

Phlomis lanata Zn8a (10º to 15ºF) Lamiaceae

A shrubby form of Phlomis with lovely quilted leaves at the ends of small woody branches. In late spring and summer copious arching yellow flowers emerge from every tip. The flowers last a very long time. Best in full sun with very well drained soil and no additional water once it has begun to grow. Extremely tolerant of drought. Very nice with small ornamental grasses, good in rock gardens. Handsome plant year round.

Phormium ‘Apricot Queen’ Zn8b (15º to 20ºF) Phormiaceae

One of the most striking of the New Zealand Flax for its light green and cream lined leaves with a center that turns a glowing apricot in full sun. RICH soil, full sun to part shade and REGULAR water during summer to speed growth. Phormiums must be well watered during the summer otherwise they will not be able to regrow after a large freeze. Very tolerant of clay soil, if irrigated.

Phormium cookianum ‘Tricolor’ Zn8b (15º to 20ºF) Phormiaceae

A variegated form of the Mountain Flax with leaves striped in cream and edges of

bright red. To 3' tall and forming an arching clump as wide. Full sun in rich soil with regular water during the dry months. Only Phormiums that are well irrigated

through the dry summer months will regrow after a large freeze. Tolerant of

clay if irrigated. Apply fertilizer regularly in containers.

Phormium ‘Duet’ Zn8b (15º to 20ºF) Phormiaceae

A dwarf New Zealand Flax that is great in containers. Full sun with rich soil and regular water brings the best results. To 2' tall and as wide with olive green leaves edged in cream and tinted with pink during colder weather. Only Phormiums that are well irrigated during the dry summer months will be able to regrow after a large freeze. O.K. in clay if well irrigated. Good with moisture loving ornamental grasses.

Phormium ‘Maori Chief’ Zn8b (15º to 20ºF) Phormiaceae

A very vertical growing New Zealand Flax with beautiful leaves of red,

bronze and cream. To 5' tall and as wide. Full sun to part shade with regular water in rich soil. Excellent container plant, apply regular fertilzer. Works very well at the coast, and can take brutal winds. Keep New Zealand Flax in active growth year round to establish a large root system. Drought stressed plants are less hardy to cold. Water in summer.

Phormium ‘Maori Maiden’ Zn8a (10º to 15ºF) Phormiaceae

A compact and spectacular New Zealand Flax with arching leaves of vivid pink to red and stripes of bronze on the edges. Consistently one of the cold hardiest Flax selections. RICH soil with REGULAR summer water to perform at its peak. To 3' tall and arching to form a clump as wide. Excellent container plant with regular water and fertilizer. Avoid reflected heat. Trim off old leaves in early spring.

Phormium ‘Maori Sunrise’ Zn8b (15º to 20ºF) Phormiaceae

One of the most spectacular of the New Zealand Flax, Maori Sunrise glows with stripes of rich coral reds, light browns and tans. To 3' tall and forming an amazing clump. Rich soil in full sun with regular water. Protect containerized plants from low temps. Phormiums that are well irrigated during the dry summer months will be able to regrow after a large freeze, below 15ºF.

Phormium tenax (green) Zn8b (15º to 20ºF) Phormiaceae

New Zealand Flax . Handsome sea-green leaves up to 3" wide and to 5' tall. This seed strain from an exceptionally upright form. Makes an impressive clump in a short period of time in RICH soil with regular WATER in summer. Full sun to light shade. Phormiums that are well watered during summer will be much better adapted to deal with winter cold. Red flowers on 8' spikes following a mild (above 15ºF) winter. Regular water in containers.

Phormium ‘Surfer’ Zn8b (15º to 20ºF) Phormiaceae

A zippy Flax with twisted bronze leaves and a center vein of olive green. To 4' tall and forming a clump as wide. Full sun to light shade in RICH, well drained soil with REGULAR irrigation during summer. Protected location. Freezes to the ground below 15∞F, resprouts from the base in late spring. Good container subject, combines well with Corokia and Black Mondo Grass.

Phormium ‘Yellow Wave’ Zn8b (15º to 20ºF) Phormiaceae

Moderate growing New Zealand Flax with wide arching leaves that are mostly yellow in the center with stipes of Olive green along the edges. To 3' tall and forming a clump as wide. Full sun in RICH soil with REGULAR water during the dry summer months. Phormium that are not irrigated lose roots during the dry months and are not as hardy to cold in the winter. Good, but wide, container plant.

Phygelius x ‘Native Sons’ Zn7a (0º to 5ºF) Scrophulariacae

One of the most vividly colored of all Cape Fuchsia this variety makes a long show with bright magenta/purple flowers on tall stems for up to four months. The unique saturated color makes it a natural in combination with burgundy or maroon leaved plants. Exceptional with Actaea ‘Black Negligee’ in light shade to full sun with regular water in summer. Remove spent flower spikes to encourage more. Rich soil . Cut back hard in mid-spring to tidy and reinvigorate the plant. May freeze to the ground in temperatures below 15ºF

Xera Plants Introduction

Phygelius x ‘Peach Trombone’ Zn7a (0º to 5ºF) Scrophulariaceae

Blush pink/red at the flower base then turning to a nice light yellow as it flares out at the tip, edged in light red. Compact to only 2' tall and forming a clump a little wider. Full sun to very light shade in rich to good soil, water in summer. Prune to the ground in early spring to re-tidy the plant. Blooms from late May to frost. Remove spent flower spikes to encourage more. Our selection from seed. Compact grower.

Phygelius x ‘Salmon Leap’ Zn7a (0º to 5ºF) Scrophulariaceae

'Salmon Leap' produces vivid salmon orange flowers in a stunning display from early summmer until frost. To 3' tall and as wide in average soil, with regular irrigation. Plants may be much larger and spread underground in rich soil May be pruned to the ground in early spring to refresh the plant. Full sun for maximum flowering. Hummingbird heaven. Combines nicely with blue flowers- Agapanthus, Salvias, Cypella coelestis.

Phyteuma scheuchzeri Zn5a (-20º to -15ºF) Campanulaceae

A dainty and remarkable perennial from the Alps that is closely related to Campanulas.

Also known as horned rampion the unusual flowers are spherical with spiked protrusions

and are violet blue. They extend above a clump of fine bright green foliage from May through

July. To 1’ tall in bloom- slightly wider in dimension. Full sun to light shade in rich well

drained soil with ample water in summer. Easy to grow and unusual.

Polystichum x dycei Zn5b (-15º to -10ºF) Dryopteraceae

An excellent hybrid fern that is the product of an Australian native with a species from Asia.

Large- to 3’, glossy fronds radiate from a center on a large growing plant that eventually

forms colonies. Part shade to shade in rich well drained soil with ample moisture during

the driest months. Evergreen and good looking year round.

Polystichum setiferum ‘Divisilobum’ Zn5a (-20º to -15ºF) Dryopteraceae

Soft shield fern is a tough plant with a delicate look. Long, finely segmented fronds emerge grass green and turn darker in summer. Angled leaves rise to 2' tall on a fern that eventually forms large clumps to 3' across. Rich, humusy soil with regular water through the first summer and then amazingly self sufficient. Part shade to shade. Tolerates root competition from trees, shrubs. Not bothered by deer. EVERGREEN.

Polystichum sp. ‘Shiny Holly’ Zn5a (-20º to -15ºF) Dryopteraceae

Handsome and brilliant shiny green leaves that are attractive year round make this an instant and then long lived winner in a garden. Excellent in part shade to shade in well drained soil. Established plants are even tolerant of dry shade. Beautiful beneath Rhododendrons with deep brown indumentum. A natural for shady planters. To 18” tall and 30” wide in time. Regular water to establish and speed growth.

Potentilla gelida Zn4a (-30º to -25ºF) Rosaceae

WOW! Spectacular foliage. An herbaceous Potentilla from the Himalaya with shockingly silver pinnate leaves. Forms a rosette to 2' wide and in mid summer silvery spires of deep yellow flowers. It is for the foliage though that this plant shines. Literally. Full sun that is well drained, summer water. Best where you can see the entire rosette of leaves. Deciduous. Wonderful in drifts. Excellent with Molinia caerulea 'Variegata'. Thanks, Dan.

Potentilla tonguei Zn4b (-25º to -20ºF) Rosaceae

Excellent little mat forming perennial with handsome leaves and in late spring and early summer an initial burst of 1" amber orange flowers followed by a smattering until frost. The center of the flower is surrounded by darker orange. Tough, permanent and well behaved plant to 4" tall and spreading to 1' x 1' wide in a year. Good soil and adequate drainage. Semi-evergreen. Full sun to light shade.

Primula ‘Gold Laced’ Zn5a (-20º to -15ºF) Primulaceae

(Syn. 'Mahogany Sunrise') As if created by a master jeweler the cheery flowers of this primrose begin appearing in late winter and continue through spring. Mahogany flowers with a delicate edge of bright gold and center with a slight hint of green. Dependable perennial. Full sun to light shade and fertile soil. Regular water in summer. Protect from slugs. Awesome with Luzula sylvatica 'Aurea'.

Primula polyanthus ‘Hose in Hose’ Zn5a (-20º to -15ºF) Primulaceae

A long-lived perennial Primrose with masses of delicate hose in hose primrose yellow flowers. The double form of the flowers born on 6" long stems give extra substance to the showy flowers. Forms clumps to 18" wide in two years. Blooms late winter to early summer in part shade in rich, moisture retentive soil. Divide in late summer every few years. Grown for over 200 years. A hose in hose primrose primrose.

Primula sieboldii ‘Ice Princess’ Zn4a (-30º to -25ºF) Primulaceae

A beautiful selection of Primula sieboldii with lacy, snowflake-like flowers that are lilac on the reverse and white in the center. A colony-forming perennial that sends up masses of 10" tall flowers from early April to late May. Moist rich soil that has been amended is best. Summer dormant (disappears completely in late June). Works well under rhododendrons or other large shrubs in part shade, especially if given irrigation.

Primula sieboldii ‘Late Snow’ Zn4a (-30º to -25ºF) Primulaceae

An outstanding selection of this tough perennial with profuse and large blossoms of pure white. Best in rich soil with regular irrigation during summer. Takes dry conditions when established. Blooms late April to May. 18” tall in bloom eventually forming large colonies

Primula sieboldii ‘Lacy Lady’ Zn4a (-30º to -25ºF) Primulaceae

Lacy indeed, large snowflake shaped flowers that are white in the center and swirled with

deep rose on the edges and back of the petal. Floriferous and fun tough perennial for

rich, moist soil in part shade. Blooms late April to early May eventually forming clumps.

Primula vulgaris ‘Francesca’ Zn5a (-20º to -15ºF) Primulaceae

Its difficult to tell where the leaves end and the petals of this flower begin. Fresh green flowers have a yellow throat and appear for months on this one of the strongest growing and longest lived forms of the common Primrose. It spreads to form permanent patches in rich moist soil. The curious and beautiful flowers appear on stems to 5” tall and are effective for months. Less inclined to slug

damage than other Primrose. It also makes an unusual cutflower as well. It begins blooming in

early March and commences in June- a spectacularly long show.

Primula vulgaris ‘Genevieve’ Zn5a (-20º to -15ºF) Primulaceae

A wonderful perennial Primrose given to us by a friend and a GREAT PLANT PICK! We agree.

Deep maroon foliage and stems are the perfect backdrop to light lavender pink flowers with a soft yellow center that appear for nearly three months in spring. It spreads to form colonies in rich moist soil with ample water during summer. This plant endures and does not go away gaining strength

and steam as it develops. A wonderful perennial primula.

Prostanthera cuneata see shrubs O-Q

Perennials return year after year and are the organic heart of the garden. They represent the most sustainable type of landscaping. So many are available today that we focus on the best and most unusual.