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| Pussytoes, Shale Barrens |
Zones: 4, 5, 6, 7
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The Shale Barrens Pussytoes is restricted to dry, shaly barrens of the mountains of Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and Delaware where it roots into rock crevices and forms thick mats of small silver leaves. Spreading slowly by runners, over time it will form beautiful silvery mats in dry, partly shady, poor soil. In spring, silvery white, pussy toe shaped clusters of fuzzy flowers appear on stalks up to 15 inches tall. Alumroot, Firepink, and Columbine would be natural companions. Cat# 1267 -more info-
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Available: Not Available
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| Green Dragon |
Zones: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
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Green Dragon is similar to the more familiar Jack-in-the-Pulpit in its general form and structure, but it is a much more dramatic looking plant. A stout single leaf divided into 7 to 15 leaflets which spread a foot or more in width, may grow up to 31/2 feet tall. From its base, a green and brown mottled flower stalk rises in late spring with the same spathe and spadix structure as in Jack-in-the-Pulpit. The spadix is long ( in) and twists snake-like up through the leaflets of the plant. The effect is truly exotic, suggesting Green Dragon may be more at home in a tropical rain forest than in our eastern deciduous forests. But it is fully hardy and will do well in light shade and rich, moist soil. Plants die back down to the ground right after flowering unless they make berries but should emerge again in mid spring. Cat# 1014 -more info-
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Available: Currently
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| $7.00 each
3 to 4 years old plants
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| Glade Savory |
Zones: 6, 7, 8
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The Glade Savory is a rare plant found in rock depressions and gravely soil in full sun in middle Tennessee along with the Tennessee Coneflower, Aromatic Sumac, and Little Bluestem. It has bright green, 1/4 inch , oval, succulent leaves and forms dense mats 3 to 4 inches tall and a foot or so wide. Small pale lavender blue, mint-like flowers occur in full sun or a little shade. So you might try it in a rock garden or in a seepage area. We grow it between paving stones in our front walkway where it is great in full sun but gets a little powdery mildew in shade. Cat# 1194 -more info-
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Available: Currently
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| Chrysogonum virginianum var. virginianum |
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| Green And Gold, Goldenstar |
Zones: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
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Here is the attractive, ever-blooming, low growing, low maintenance perennial that everyone wants. Actually, Green-and-Gold only flowers from March through October, but that's about the longest span you'll find among wildflowers. Peaking in May, the 1-inch wide, 5-petaled flowers look like little yellow daisies rising just above or nestled among neat, dark green, 9 inch high mounds of foliage. For best growth, give Green-and-Gold sun or light shade and rich, well-drained soil. Excessive moisture and heavy mulches encourage fungal attacks so water sparingly, use a pea gravel or sand mulch, or mulch very lightly under the leaves. Green-and-Gold is an excellent plant for the front of the perennial border, retaining most of its green leaves throughout the winter. It would also be good for a rock garden or along a sunny path. Good companion plants include Indian Pink, Alumroot, Blue-eyed Grass, Eared Coreopsis, Dwarf Crested Iris, and Lyre-leaved Sage. Cat# 1052 -more info-
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Available: Currently
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| Gray Conradina |
Zones: 7, 8, 9, 6
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Gray Conradina occurs naturally in far south coastal plain areas under open stands of oaks and pines in dry, sandy, slightly acidic soils. It is little known in cultivation. Gray Conradina grows about 12 inches tall and makes a neat, rounded, spreading clump. The leaves are olive green with a grayish underside. They resemble those of a very fine and lax or soft rosemary, and are very fragrant when brushed. Flowers which look like 1/2 inch pale lavender snapdragons, occur primarily in spring and fall, and intermittently in the summer. Gray Conradina is quite attractive and would be very useful as a border plant or for texture in the garden. They require perfect drainage, full-to-mostly sun, and fairly dry conditions. Good companions include Butterfly Weed, the Echinaceas, Beard-tongue, and Firepink. Cat# 1059 -more info-
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Available: Not available
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| Cumberland Rosemary |
Zones: 5, 6, 7, 8
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Cumberland Rosemary is a very rare plant known only from several counties in Tennessee and Kentucky where it grows on gravelly river banks which are seasonally flooded then left high and dry in the summer. The plant looks like a semi-prostrate juniper growing about 12 inches tall and spreading several feet. Its leaves are semi-evergreen and look like those of Rosemary. They are wonderfully and strongly scented as you would imagine a wild Rosemary and can apparently be used like Rosemary in cooking. Lavender-blue flowers appear in midsummer. Grow Cumberland Rosemary in well-drained soil or pure sand in full sun. Use it for its fine bristly texture where a low plant is needed. It would be very effective at the edge of a retaining wall where passersby might brush against the foliage, releasing its pleasant scent. It is federally Threatened. USFWS PRT# - TEO68568-0. Cat# 1060 -more info-
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Available: Currently
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| Conradina verticillata 'Cumberland Snow' |
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| Cumberland Snow Conradina, White Cumberland Rosema |
Zones: 5, 6, 7, 8
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'Cumberland Snow' is the white form of Cumberland Rosemary, a very rare plant known only from several counties in Tennessee and Kentucky where it grows on gravelly river banks which are seasonally flooded then left high and dry in the summer. The plant looks like a semi-prostrate juniper growing about 12 inches tall and spreading several feet. Its leaves are semi-evergreen and look like those of Rosemary. They are wonderfully and strongly scented as you would imagine a wild Rosemary and can apparently be used like Rosemary. 'Cumberland Snow' has pure white flowers appearing in midsummer. Grow it in well-drained soil or pure sand in full sun. Use it for its fine bristly texture where a low plant is needed. It would be very effective at the edge of a retaining wall where passersby might brush against the foliage, releasing its pleasant scent. Cat# 1061 -more info-
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Available: Currently
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| Franklinia |
Zones: 5, 6, 7, 8
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Franklinia is a handsome, well-shaped, single or multi-stemmed small tree with smooth gray bark and spreading open branches. It has 5 inch, oblong leaves that turn fiery red and orange inthe fall. Furthermore, in July and August, it has fragrant, 3 inch, 5 petaled, white, somewhat ruffled and cupped flowers with tufts of yellow stamens. This 10 to 25 foot tall tree is definitly a specimen kind of plant that deserves the most prominent planting place. The camelia-like flowers are stunning enough to stop traffic but the tree shape with its candelabra type branching and the great fall color are also outstanding. And if that's not enought to make you want one, then read about its interesting history; In 1770, John Bartram first discovered the tree growing along the Altamaha River in Georgia. He collected a few specimens for his garden and also gave some to his friend Ben Franklin for whom he later named the plant. And that was the last (and only) time the plant was seen in the wild. It is thought that a disease that killed cotton plants also wiped out the wild Franklinias. So all existing plants now are descendants of the original collection. Well, how do you grow it? This is one plant where proper siting and soil conditions are mandatory. Franklinia prefers full sun to light shade and moist, acidic, well drainied soil with a fairly high organic content. Given these conditions, it is a rapid grower and should reward you with year round beauty. Cat# 1263 -more info-
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Available: Not available
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| $15.00 each
in quart pots
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| Bluets, Quaker Ladies |
Zones: 5, 6, 7
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Bluets occur throughout the eastern United States in deciduous woods, old fields, and roadsides but are noticeable only when they flower in late spring. From tiny 1 inch tufts of foliage, 4 petaled pale blue flowers with yellow eyes, tower on slender stalks to 3 inches high! A single clump may have a dozen or so flowering stalks. Bluets are challenging to get established. They seem to need lean soil and because of their diminutive size, freedom from competition. They also tend to be short-lived, although we've found that as long as they receive regular water, they stay up and visible. First drought which is around July 1 here, and they're going underground. But once established, Bluets selfsow and can form cheerful colonies coming up in unlikely places. Locally they grow in open shade and well-drained acidic poor soil always with moss, but generally they want spring moisture and a little sun. They will find where they're comfortable after a few generations. A natural with Crested Iris, Dwarf Eared Coreopsis, and Blue-eyed Grass, they're worth a try. Cat# 1265 -more info-
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Available: Not available
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| Ginseng, Sang |
Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
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Ginseng is an ancient Chinese herbal remedy for stress and exhaustion, and it helps increase physical and mental performance. With a dwindling availability of the Chinese variety, there is a now booming trade in wild collected American Ginseng which grows in moist, rich, neutral to alkaline woods usually north facing of eastern North America. It is also grown commercially here but cultivated roots are worth much less per ounce than the wild ones. That said, Ginseng makes an interesting addition to the wild garden. Growing to around 1 foot tall, a whorl of 3 or 4 long-stemmed leaves are palmately divided into more-or-less hickory shaped leaflets. In the leaflet juncture, sits an umbel of greenish puffy flowers in spring which is followed by a cluster of dark red coffee bean-like berries in late summer that eventually birds will eat. Ginseng is a neat plant for a special place. Not the easiest thing to grow, it wants shade, and good, moist, cool, alkaline soil. A top dressing of dolomitic lime each fall wouldn't be a bad idea. And if you grow lots of it, you might want to put a fence around it or keep guard! Cat# 1350 -more info-
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Available: Not available
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| Rhododendron calendulaceum |
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| Azalea, Flame |
Zones: 5, 6, 7, 8
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Flame Azalea is common to the Appalachians where it lights up the late spring woods with every pale and brilliant shade of yellow, orange, red, and salmon. The 2 inch, non-fragrant flowers are borne in open trusses just as their leaves are beginning to come out. Plants are loosely branched and upright growing to about 6 feet. Fall foliage color is yellow or pale red. It likes good soil that is well drained, and bright indirect light. Cat# 1311 -more info-
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Available: Not Available
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| $12.00 each
in quart pots
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| Piedmont Azalea |
Zones: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
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Perhaps the most common of the azaleas native to the southeast, Piedmont Azalea inhabits moist to dry areas in light shade. It is stoloniferous and an erect grower to 9 feet. Mid-spring flowers range from white to deep pink and are very sweetly fragrant. In addition to its wonderful smell, Piedmont Azalea is particularly useful because it tolerates drier conditions and because it naturalizes fairly readily eventually forming small colonies. Cat# 1277 -more info-
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Available: Currently
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| $12.00 each
in quart pots
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| Rhododendron periclymenoides |
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| Pinxterbloom Azalea |
Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
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Pinxterbloom occurs naturally along streams and in bogs in light woods. It is well adapted, though, to drier, rocky soils. Mid to late spring flowers are 1 1/2 to 2 inches wide, are borne in trusses of 6 to 12, and appear just before the leaves emerge. The delicate petals curl back exposing long stamens and styles. Flowers range from soft pink to dark pink and are sweetly scented and very beautiful. Growing to about 6 feet tall, it is more densely branched than other deciduous azaleas and spreads by stolons or underground runners. It is a terrific choice for naturalizing in moister areas. Cat# 1312 -more info-
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Available: Currently
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| $12.00 each
in quart pots
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| Plumleaf Azalea |
Zones: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
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How about an azalea that blooms in mid summer? This one has rich orange-red flowers and has a rounded full shape to 8 feet or so. It grows naturally in sandy soil areas in the southeast so drainage is important! No fragrance or fall color, but what other azalea blooms so late? Use this one as an accent shrub in light shade. Cat# 1278 -more info-
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Available: Currently
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| $12.00 each
in quart pots
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| Skullcap, Heartleaf |
Zones: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
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From shale barrens in the mountains of West Virginia, comes the Heartleaf Skullcap. Forming 2-foot mounds of blue-green and green, 1 1/2 inch crinkly, heart-shaped leaves, Skullcap has mid-summer flowers, which resemble blue-lavender snapdragons, on 2 to 6 inch stems. This showy Skullcap spreads by small, thickened, underground runners, and needs excellent drainage, dry, gritty soil, and part shade. It frequently goes dormant after flowering in mid-summer thereby avoiding summer-time stresses. Other plants preferring the same conditions are Conradina, Pussytoes, Dwarf Iris, Birdsfoot Violet, and Glade Savory. Cat# 1389 -more info-
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Available: Not available
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| Indian Pink |
Zones: 6, 7, 8, 9
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Want some color in the shade in summer? Try Indian Pink for early summer flowers in good soil and light shade. Clumps grow to 2 feet tall. Leaves occur along stems in 4 to 7 pairs, and flowers occur in one-sided, curving, terminal clusters. Individual flowers are a blazing scarlet, tubular, and have 5 pointed lobes that are bright yellow on the inside. The colors are strong and vivid. Good companions would include Eared Coreopsis, Golden Groundsel, and Sundrops. Cat# 1208 -more info-
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Available: Fall 2010
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| $12.00 each
in quart pots
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