Perennials

In our Perennial House you will discover an extensive selection of hardy (zone 2 to 5) perennials. Each variety has been carefully researched and chosen by Katie for its outstanding qualities. We grow over 200 varieties of perennials from seed, cuttings and roots, including many of the premium Proven Winner perennials.
For the shady garden, choose from Astilbe, blue flowered Brunnera (Siberian Bugloss), exotic looking, but easy Ligularia (Elephant Ears) and many more. This year we are growing 13 different varieties of the popular and reliable Hosta which will grow in the sun or shade.
We have plenty of heat tolerant and maintenance free perennials such as Achillea (Yarrow), Daylily, Geranium, Heliopsis (False Sunflower) and many more that thrive in sandy soil and full sun.
We grow ground covers for the sun and shade such as pink Saponaria (Soapwort), drought tolerant Sedum, delicate looking but tough Galium (Sweet Woodruff) and Dark bronze Ajuga (Bugleweed). Fast spreading and easy maintenance.
Browse through our Ornamental Grass collection for many alternatives to flowering perennials. Our grasses are all hardy to zone 5 and easy to grow. Most are clump forming and not at all invasive (a common misconception). They can add terrific texture and presence to the garden. Not to be missed are Miscanthus varieties and hardy Calamagrostis varieties (Feather Reed Grasses).
Varieties that flower all season are always popular and we have a good range of these. Choose from Tradescantia (Spiderwort), Scabiosa (Pincushion Flower), Coreopsis (Tickseed), low growing Campanula (Bellflower) and several more.
Attract Butterfiles to your Garden
Looking for plants that attract Butterflies, flower in the fall, love moisture or just something a little different - whatever your includements - we have the plant for you! We are pleased to offer help in planning your garden. Just let us know the approximate bed dimensions and exposure and we can give you an approximate number of plants included and help you in your choices.
Feel free to stroll around our perennial display gardens for inspiration!!
Newsletter Articles
The following plant information about our Perennials is taken from back issues of our E newsletters. If you are not yet signed up to receive our regular e newsletters throughout the season, you can subscribe here.
Reblooming Daylilies
Easy Flower Power!
May 2016
Daylilies have been grown and loved by North American gardeners forever. They are known for being drought tolerant, reliable perennials with cheerful, no fuss flowers that are happy in full sun. They are one of the easiest perennials to grow. Since most older varieties will bloom only for a couple of weeks, recent breeding has focused on extending bloom time and creating new varieties that rebloom all summer. I am pleased to say that after much winter research, I have selected 5 magnificent reblooming varieties to grow in 2016. Check out the following beauties:
Red Razzmatazz – 32” tall. Large, fire engine red flowers with a yellow throat. Very vigorous.
Buttered Popcorn – 32” tall. Large bright yellow fragrant flowers.
Passionate Returns – 17” tall. Rosy red, ruffled flowers. Extremely floriferous.
Stephanie Returns – 17” tall. Bicoloured peachy pink & rose purple ruffled flowers.
Stella D’Oro – 15” tall. Bright gold, small flowers. Plant in large groups.
You can be sure that any of these premium varieties will reward you with continuous colour all summer long. Just add sun!
Buttered Popcorn and Red Razzmatazz
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Gaillardia Arizona
Thrives in poor, well drained soil
May 2016
Do you have any space near the front of your garden for a happy little perennial that loves heat, blooms all summer and never fails to please? If so, take a look at our two Gaillardia varieties – Arizona Sun and Arizona Apricot. Gaillardia or Blanket Flower is a popular perennial that has undergone recent breeding advances to improve on flowering time and colours. Both varieties thrive best in full sun and poor, well drained soil. For this reason, it is best not to fertilize. Arizona Sun is blanketed in large 3” fiery orange – red flowers tipped with a ring of bright yellow. Apricot boasts large, apricot flowers with yellow tips. Both have an incredibly long blooming season of 3 months or more even in hot and dry conditions. A must for any garden!
Gaillardia Arizona Sun and Arizona Apricot
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Dicentra Gold Heart
New twist on a classic favourite perennial
April 2016
This yellow leaved Bleeding Heart is new find this year and looks absolutely fabulous! Bleeding Hearts are one of the most popular and best loved perennials for shady spring colour. They typically grow quite tall with green foliage and white or pink flowers. Dicentra Gold Heart, however is a radiant yellow leaved Bleeding Heart which will create a brilliant focal point in the shade garden.
It will grow 18” - 24” tall and requires full to part shade. Arching sprays of heart shaped pink flowers appear late spring. As with other varieties of Bleeding Heart, the plant will go dormant in the summer, so plant plenty of other colour around it which will take over the space in the summer and fall. Good companion plants include Hostas, Astilbes or Brunnera. I know I will be finding a space for Gold Heart in my gardens this year – if there are any left!
*Photo courtesy of Walters Gardens Inc.
Monarda Purple Rooster
Great food for bees, hummingbirds and butterflies!
June 2015
Monarda or Beebalm is a wonderful old fashioned perennial that is more commonly seen in gardens in its red form. A few years ago, I grew some pink transplants and they turned out to be a rich deep purple – so that’s how I came to discover the lovely Purple Rooster! It has since become a standard item in our perennial collection. Plants grow up to 36” tall and will spread rapidly to form a large clump. Foliage and blooms have a lovely, distinctive fragrance.
As the name suggests, bees love Beebalm flowers as do hummingbirds, butterflies and other pollinators. Plant Beebalm in full sun for best results but remember that it grows tall so the back of the flower bed is a good spot with shorter plants in front. If you are already familiar with Beebalm you will know that it can be prone to a fungal disease called powdery mildew which can cause white marks on the foliage and eventually defoliate plants. The good news however, is that Purple Rooster has been bred to be resistant to powdery mildew – so no problem there, and a real bonus for Beebalm enthusiasts and all gardeners!
*Photo courtesy of Walters Gardens
Russian Sage
Wild and beautiful!
May 2015
Perovskia atriplicifolia or Russian Sage as it is more easily pronounced is a woody, sun loving perennial that flowers late summer, offering sometimes much needed end of season colour. When you are looking at your garden, trying to assess areas that may need new plants, try to imagine how the garden will look by late summer and fall. Is there enough colour? Chances are the answer is no and that Russian Sage might be a great addition to your garden.
Foliage is silver grey, upright and finely divided with a distinct sage type scent. Flowers begin in August and last well into November. They are small and dainty, light azure blue and are held on long branches. The effect is an informal, semi wild and airy look that is equally useful to fill in gaps or plant massed. Russian Sage will get big – up to 3 feet high and wide so make sure you have enough space for this unique perennial.
Russian Sage ~ Wild and beautiful!
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Euphorbia
Easy and showy Cushion Spurge
May 2015
Euphorbia is a showy and easy to grow mounding perennial that looks stunning in the spring and retains interest through the summer and fall. I have Euphorbia planted in my own gardens and am asked by customers numerous times in May what it is! Cushion like, mounded foliage is topped with extremely bright yellow showy bracts in the spring. After the spring colour is finished, plants remain well behaved and mounded for the rest of the season. Mounds will grow to 12 – 18" in height so great for the front or middle of beds.
This year we are growing two types of Euphorbia – the polychroma type which has light green leaves that turn red in the fall and Bonfire which has purplish / reddish / orangeish leaves that turn rich red in the fall. Bonfire is not quite as hardy as polychroma, which is a zone 5, but the dark leaf colour is stunning. Both have the typical bright yellow cheery spring colour. Check them out soon, as I'm sure we will sell out!
Photo courtsey Walters Gardens.
Euphorbia Polychrama and Bonfire
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Helleborus Ivory Prince
Early spring perennial beauties
April 2015
There's nothing as magical as the first spring flowers to appear in the garden after a long winter. Helleborus or Lenten Rose are hardy perennials that flower in early spring. They compliment and provide a more unusual alternative to bulbs. This year we have grown the variety Ivory Prince. Plants form a 12-18" high compact clump of blue green evergreen foliage.
Flowers are held on strong stems above the foliage. Clusters of burgundy pink buds open to outward facing ivory blossoms which become streaked with rose and chartreuse as they age.
As plants are evergreen, the only maintenance required is to clean up old leaves in the spring. Plant in shade to part shade and enjoy year after year.
Photo courtesy Walter Gardens.
Echinacea Pow Wow White
Unique colour Coneflower
June 2014
I love Echinaceas! They are easy plants to grow in this area and bring great colour and happiness to the garden from mid summer and well into the fall. Although the common name of Echinacea is Purple Coneflower, plant breeders have been busy over the last 10 years and there are now a variety of colours to choose from. This year we are growing a white version of the Coneflower which I certainly will be adding to my own garden this year!
Pow Wow White requires full to partial sun and is not fussy about soil. They are quite drought tolerant after they are established. Large 3-4” fragrant white daisy type flowers with a golden centre cone are produced atop relatively short (18-24”), stocky plants. The stems are sturdy and well branched, resulting in many flowers and a showy display. I like to avoid deadheading the flowers after they are done blooming and enjoy the interest and texture that the cones provide in the fall. Like other perennials, you can choose to cut down early winter or in the spring.
Dianthus Black Cherry Wild
Stop and smell the pinks!
May 2014
Dianthus are an old, traditional variety that have been grown in gardens since the mid 1800s. They are also known as Pinks as the fringed petals are usually a variation of pink / red in colour. One of the best features of Dianthus is their scent - they have a lovely unmistakable fragrance of spicy cloves. I remember my Grandfather who was a keen gardener in England growing several types and really being very proud of his Pinks.
Much breeding has taken place in the last 150 years and today we have a range of Dianthus varieties to choose from that will withstand our Canadian climate. This year we have grown a lovely variety called Black Cherry Wild. Flowers are fragrant, double and deep red with a white edge. They appear early summer atop a low, neat mound of grey – green foliage. Reblooming should occur in early fall. The plants are short – up to 6”, so ideal for rock beds or the very front of borders. Plant Black Cherry Wild in full sun or part shade in well drained soil.
New Coral Bells
Choose from Blackcurrant or Cinnamon Curls
May 2014
Coral Bells are lovely perennials to have in the garden. They form well behaved, tidy mounds of foliage and are best appreciated near the front of beds. Flowers are insignificant – the beauty of Coral Bells lies in the foliage. We have grown 2 new Coral Bell varieties this year. Both are lovely plants and are happy grown in sun or shade. Blackcurrant (right) features striking plum - black foliage overlaid with silver. Cinnamon Curls (below) is a beautiful coppery orange – red in colour. Each will grow to about 12” height and width and are hardy to zone 4.
I love using plants with coloured foliage and am always searching for new varieties to create interesting colour contrasts. I will be sure to find a spot for these little beauties this year!
New Coral Bells ~ Cinnamon Curls
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Bergenia Winter Glow
Easy spring colour in sun or shade
May 2014
Bergenia, with the fun common name of ‘Pig Squeak’ is a wonderful addition to any garden, but is often under used. Why, I’m not sure as it is an easy and beautiful perennial to grow in most soils, tolerating any light conditions from full sun to full shade. Bergenia is hardy, tough and long lived - easy to please! We grow the variety Winter Glow which produces large, shiny, evergreen leaves with a unique leathery appearance. In the spring, bright pink flowers appear on strong stems held above the foliage, providing fantastic early colour. The foliage looks good all summer and in the fall gives great colour interest as it turns a gorgeous shade of reddish – bronze. It is equally suited to mass planting as a ground cover, growing about a foot high or grown in small groups. As it is evergreen, do not cut the foliage down in the fall, just gently clean up the brown or raggedy leaves in the spring. Got you intrigued? Find Bergenia in our perennial house this spring!
(Photo courtesy of Walters Gardens)
Lupin Popsicle Pink
Easy cottage garden favourites
May 2013
Lupins are showy old fashioned perennials that every garden should have! They bring great colour and interest to the early summer garden, flowering at the same time as Peonies, Siberian Iris and Columbines and filling a gap between spring bulbs and summer blooming perennials. This year we are growing the variety Popsicle Pink which is shorter than most other Lupin varieties and therefore a little sturdier. They grow 18 – 24” high with tall and stately pink flower spikes rising above the foliage. The Popsicle series of Lupins also flower about 2 weeks earlier than most other types of Lupins. Only one rule to remember – Lupins usually look a little tired after flowering, so plant a summer or fall flowering full and bushy plant in front of your Lupin to hide the foliage. Lupins love full sun and also make excellent cut flowers.
*Photo courtesy of Walters Gardens
Creeping Phlox Red Wing
Vibrant spring time colour!
May 2013
Need an extra splash of colour in your garden in the spring? Creeping Phlox Red Wing may be the plant for you! Vibrant carmine pink flowers are extremely eye catching, blooming when most other perennials are just starting to poke out of the ground. This hardy perennial ground cover forms a low growing carpet of evergreen foliage which is completely smothered in flowers in the spring. It looks fabulous in rock beds or tumbling over a wall. Ensure that you plant in full sun and well drained soil as it will easily rot in soil that is too wet. After the blooms are finished, the dense foliage continues to look great for the remainder of the year. Creeping Phlox will spread quickly to form a large patch and is a very easy, bright and cheery addition to your garden. (Photo courtesy of Walters Gardens)
Lavender Munstead
Add some sweet fragrance to your garden!
May 2013
Lavender is one of my favourite perennials! We used to grow it in our cut flower fields many years ago. Its unmistakable sweet fragrance is widely used in commercial soaps, shampoos and air fresheners – but why settle for the artificial scent when it’s easy to grow fresh in your own garden! Lavender is a low, woody, mounding perennial with small grey – green leaves and spikes of showy blue flowers in the summer. There are many varieties available, but I find Munstead to be the hardiest and most reliable variety for this area. Plants grow about a foot high and up to two feet wide, so perfect for the front of the bed. Plant in full sun in average to dry soil. Lavender does not like ‘wet feet’ and will be quite drought tolerant once it’s established. Due to its woodiness, do not cut back in the fall as you would other perennials – it will not be very forgiving! In the spring give it a light trim to remove old flower heads and tidy it up. One of the great features of Lavender is that like other strongly scented plants, deer and rabbits will not eat it! (Out in the country that’s reason enough to grow it!) If you are interested in crafts or decorating with Lavender, harvest stems in full bloom and hang to dry. At the farm, it’s usually one of the first perennials to sell out, so come by soon for the best selection! (Photo courtesy of Walters Gardens)
Delphinium Majic Fountains
2 foot blooms in gorgeous colours!
May 2012
Gardens tall and stately, deep rich blue Delphiniums are one of the classic garden perennials that add such a majic touch to the summer garden. Tall spikes of flowers rise up above the foliage and bloom in June and July. This season, we are growing the Majic Fountains series which offer the same colour and habit of the traditional tall Delphinium but on a smaller scale. Semi-dwarf plants grow to only three feet tall, two of which is the length of the flower spike. They are extremely upright and unlike the taller varieties require no staking.
Photo courtesy of Walters Gardens
Choose from white, lilac, pink, sky blue, white with dark bee, dark blue with white bee and dark blue with dark bee. The "bee" is the mark in the centre of each flower in the spike. My favourite are the gorgeous blue shades which are what Delphiniums are renowned for. Magic Fountains is an excellent mid to back garden perennial and makes gorgeous cut flowers. Its toxicity usually discourages rabbits & deer. Delphiniums prefer a rich soil, so add some compost, manure or fertilizer to your soil to provide good nutrition. Plant in full sun and you can expect to enjoy blooms for three or four years. After this time, plants usually get tired and no longer bloom well. Don’t be dissuaded by the shorter life span of this plant – they are easy to replace with fresh young specimens!
Black Snakeroot
Distinctive specimen perennial for the shade
May 2012
I have a bit of a thing for perennials with coloured foliage and this beauty is no exception! Black Snakeroot (Cimicifuga) is a wonderful perennial full of distinction and character. The variety that we are growing this year is called Hillside Black Beauty and is the darkest Cimicifuga to date. Striking dark purplish - black lacy fern like foliage grows in an upright clump, reaching 4 to 6’ through the season. Fragrant 1’ long bottlebrush flowers are white with a blush pink tinge and bloom in the late summer and fall. Black Snakeroot, (also known as Bugbane) is excellent for adding height and fall interest to the garden. It is a very reliable and easy perennial - I have been planting various varieties of Cimicifuga for 20 years in this area and most of these original plants are still growing. It does prefer full to part shade but will also grow well in full sun with a good water supply. Striking!!
Lady's Mantle
Beautiful after a rain!!
May 2012
Lady’s Mantle (Alchemilla mollis) is definitely one of my top perennials of all time!! In fact my garden crew now tease me as I incorporate so many of them into my garden designs!! Low, well behaved mounds of soft scallop shaped leaves grow in the spring to be about a foot in height. In late spring, tiny green yellow flowers are held in billowing sprays on stems above the foliage, creating a bright, airy and delicate appearance. The flowers will persist into late summer when they will darken. If the summer is dry, the seed heads can provide interest right into the fall and there is no need to dead head. I like planting Ladies Mantle at the front of beds, usually in small or medium size groupings. They look great lining a pathway as the flowers will cascade over the path. Take a peek at your Lady’s Mantle after a rain and you will be rewarded with a gorgeous sight - leaves are left sprinkled with beautiful water droplets. Ladies Mantle are reliable perennials, being very easy to grow and reasonably drought tolerant – just plant in full sun and enjoy them come back year after year!
Aquilegia Origami Mix
Old fashioned Columbine
April 2012
Columbine are popular old fashioned perennials and are a lovely addition to the garden in spring and early summer. Over the years, we have grown various varieties of this spring beauty. This year we are growing Origami which blooms in a mix of different pastel colours including blue, pink, white, red and yellow. (Purchase plants in bloom if you are concerned about colour). Flowers are large and up to 3” in size and are so perfect looking that they almost don’t look real! Blooms are held on tall stems above the ferny foliage and will reach 14 – 18” in height. Photo courtesy of Walters Gardens
This hybrid variety blooms up to 3 months – a lot longer than the older varieties. Plant in full sun or partial shade in average soil. I love to scatter Columbines in between summer flowering plants as they bloom earlier and don’t take up much space. Although very easy to grow, look for damage from the leaf miner which tunnels inside the leaves, usually in the summer. If this occurs, cut the leaves back and let it re grow. Hummingbirds and butterflies also love these plants so make sure you plant some for them!
Polemonium Heavenly Habit
Jacob's Ladder - a hit of colour for the shady garden
June 2011
Jacob's Ladder is a much underused perennial which performs beautifully in full or part shade or even full sun if not in too hot a location. Green fern like foliage emerges in early spring and grows upwards about 12 to 15". Medium blue flowers with a yellow centre are produced in early to mid summer and are held in spires on the upright stems. There are various variegated leafed forms, but I find that the green foliage forms always perform better. Heavenly Habit is also shorter than other types and I find it to be just the perfect height for the front of a bed. It is a very reliable perennial, returning without trouble each year and also hardy, being rated as a zone 3 - so no special winter treatment required. As with most perennials, I recommend planting in groups of 3 or more for the best effect. If you have not discovered Jacob's Ladder yet, find a spot for one in your garden - or if you happen to have a Jacob in your family, this one's a must!!
Rudbeckia Varieties
Black Eyed Susans
June 2011
Black Eyed Susan - fantastic colour for summer and fall Rudbeckia, more commonly known as Black Eyed Susan are bright yellow daisy flowers that grow beautifully in our climate and soils. These hardy perennials add a bright burst of colour to the late summer and fall garden and are easy to grow. Rudbeckia Goldsturm is the most commonly grown variety of Black Eyed Susan, growing about 24" tall. This year we have grown a new dwarf variety of Rudbeckia, known as City Garden. This selection grows only 12" in height, so is perfectly suited to small gardens or planting close to the front of the bed. Both varieties produce masses of large golden yellow daisy flowers with a distinct dark brown central cone. They provide bright and cheery colour from mid summer until October. The plants have a sturdy, upright habit and spread to form a large patch fairly quickly. They love full sun and are fairly drought tolerant. All in all, a must for every garden!
Brunnera
True blue for spring!
May 2011
Brunnera or Siberian Bugloss is one of my favourite all time perennials. It is fairly uncommon and deserves to be planted a lot more than it is! It is a reliable, easy care perennial and once established will pop up year after year. Low clumps of heart shaped leaves grow to about 12" and produce upright, airy sprays of true blue forget-me-not type flowers. One of the great features of this plant is that it will grow in a variety of conditions, from full shade, part shade to full sun, although I find it does do better in a little shade. It flowers from May to July, although the foliage mounds look great all year. Brunnera comes either with plain green foliage or in variegated forms - such as Jack Frost, shown in the photo or Hadspen Cream. The variegated types are really stunning, with green and silver patterned foliage - ensure you plant them at the front of the bed where they will be seen. Plant in groups of 3 or more for the best effect. Drop by soon to check out our stunning Brunnera collection!
Poppy Summer Breeze
Bright and cheery early blooms
April 2011
This beautiful little perennial poppy really is difficult to resist! Bright orange, simple papery flowers wave on wiry stems above the foliage. Flowers are smaller than the more common oriental poppy but the blooming period is longer. Summer Breeze grows to about 12" tall, prefers full sun but will tolerate dappled shade and will help attract hummingbirds and bees to your garden. For the best effect, plant in groups of 3 or more and scatter throughout the garden. It flowers in early summer and is a great filler between the early bulbs and Peonies and the midsummer bloomers such as Daisies and Daylilies. Stop by soon to check out these happy little beauties!
Primula Pacific hybrids
Great in the garden or in spring container plantings
April 2011
One of the things I remember about growing up in the UK is the abundance of spring blooming Primroses and Polyanthas and consequently I still have a soft spot for them. They even grow wild in hedgerows over there (well used to...!!) While not quite such vigorous growers here in Ontario, they are still easy to grow and are a delight in both the spring garden or in containers. I'd love to see Primulas used more in our parks and city plantings in addition to the impressive range of Pansies and Violas that are more commonly planted. Primula Pacific Hybrids form a low mound of foliage with large colourful flowers in the spring. Colours include yellow, maroon, lavender, white, pink and violet, most with eyes of contrasting colours. In the garden, they are a hardy zone 3 perennial that loves shade or part shade. Plant where they will receive as much moisture as possible. They also look fantastic in spring container plantings, along with Violas and Pansies - just plant out into the ground in June. Available in 3.5" or 1 gallon pots.
Helleborus Pink Frost
Lenten Roses are a real gem in the spring garden
April 2011
I have never seen a Helleborus flower that didn't make me stop in my tracks! These early spring bloomers are absolutely magnificent and new varieties are much sought after by perennial enthusiasts. There are two main types available in this area, Christmas Rose, (H. niger), and Lenten Rose, (H. orientalis hybrids). The Lenten Rose is generally considered easier to please than the Christmas Rose, thriving in shade or part shade. Our Lenten Rose Pink Frost is brand new this year and comes from a breeding project in Germany. Plants form vigorous clumps of evergreen leaves, about 12" in height with a silvery sheen and red stems. Flower stalks appear in early spring with abundant 2-3" nodding light rose blossoms which age to burgundy.
Helleborus is a zone 5 plant, so a sheltered location and a winter mulch of loose leaves is a good idea. Plants require moisture early in the spring, but later in the summer will tolerate moderate drought - great in this area! The only maintenance required is to cut off the old leaves in late winter before the buds appear. Drop by soon to see this incredible flower - I'm definitely reserving a few for my own gardens!
Rudbeckia Triloba
Black Eyed Susan with a twist!
June 2010
Most gardeners are familiar with the popular garden perennial Rudbeckia or Black Eyed Susan with its dazzling displays of bright yellow flowers in late summer and fall. The most commonly grown variety is 'Goldsturm' which has large flowers. Rudbeckia triloba is a more unusual type of perennial Black Eyed Susan. It grows taller than Goldsturm - about 4 feet in height and forms a large, upright bush. In summer and fall, hundreds of small flowers are produced all over, giving the plant a bright, airy appearance. The flowers are the traditional yellow daisies with black centres, but are only about 1" in size. Rudbeckia triloba is quite drought tolerant and prefers full sun, but will tolerate some shade too. I grew it in my old perennial gardens which I never watered and had some afternoon shade from trees. They provided a lovely blast of colour from mid summer on. Rudbeckia triloba will often self seed, creating a casual, country feel and forming a lovely patch over a few years, but don't worry, they are easily kept under control and are not invasive. Try planting with other fall flowering plants such as Sedum, Aster or Russian Sage.
Irish and Scotch Moss
Gorgeous in flagstone cracks
June 2010
We've been planting Irish and Scotch Moss for years at many of our landscape jobs. After Chris has installed a flagstone patio or pathway, I will come along behind and fill in the cracks with moss. The moss creates a flat carpet over the stone, softening the harshness of the stone and is fine to walk on too. Irish Moss is a dark, rich green, whereas Scotch Moss is a brighter lime green / yellow. Both produce tiny white flowers from time to time through the season and will spread quite fast. The plants can be squeezed into cracks as small as an inch wide, but don't forget to dig out the gravel first and replace with topsoil. It's a lovely detail to finish off a pathway or patio and of course the moss can always be allowed to grow in the garden too. Some gardeners are even using these mosses and low spreading thymes as a lawn replacement - no more grass cutting!
Echinacea Sundown & Sunrise
Unique orange and yellow Coneflowers!
May 2010
In recent years, plant breeders have been working to breed various colours and forms of Echinaceas (Purple Cone Flowers) and now there are several to choose from. These two Echinaceas are my favourites of the new breeding and are real must haves for plant collectors! Like their purple cousins, Echinacea Sundown and Sunrise are vigorous and hardy, with strong stems and produce single daisy like flowers mid to late summer. But wait until you see the gorgeous colours…Sundown has with beautiful fragrant orange flowers with a brown cone. Sunrise is also fragrant, but with soft citron yellow flowers with the central cone starting out green and turning gold. Both types grow 30 - 36" in height and require full sun. Our plants this year look amazing. They are bushy and in bud right now and are looking for homes!!
Clematis
Stunning blooms in sun or shade
April 2010
Clematis vines are a fantastic group of plants offering bold seasonal colour. At the farm, we grow a range of types that can be divided into 2 broad groups - the beautiful large flowered hybrids and the more subtle but still stunning smaller flowered species types. Both types can be grown on a trellis against a wall or can be trained to ramble over rocks or stumps. The larger flowered hybrid types prefer full or partial sun and produce plenty of bright colourful blooms.
The old gardening saying that 'Clematis likes its head in the sun and its roots in the cool' is very true, so try to plant another perennial at its base or mulch the soil to keep the roots cool. The small flowered species types will grow in any light conditions, ranging from full sun to full shade. They are very vigorous and quick growers and make more, but smaller flowers than the hybrid types. I am particularly fond of the less common yellow Clematis tanguitina, but we also grow Blue Dancer and Pink Flamingo in the species types. In hybrid types, choose from the popular deep purple Jackmannii or red Ville de Lyon.
Bleeding Heart - Dicentra spectabilis
A 'must have' spring perennial
April 2010
An oldie but a goodie, Dicentra spectabilis would have been found in your Grandmother's garden and is still a popular perennial today. This gorgeous spring bloomer is one of the first perennials to bloom and seems to grow as you watch it, often reaching heights of 3 feet tall and wide. Bleeding Heart prefers shade or part shade, but I have grown many in full sun too. The pink 'bleeding hearts' hang down from long stems, giving the whole plant a delicate feel. This plant, however is far from delicate and once established will persist and spread in your garden for years. Once the warm weather arrives in July, the plant will die down naturally, so ensure that you plant another bushy summer or fall flowering perennial like a Daylily or Black Eyed Susan in front of it to hide the dying stems. Our crop this year is magnificent - come and see for yourself!
Heliopsis Tuscan Sun
Perennial Sunflower
June 2009
This perennial Sunflower Heliopsis Tuscan Sun is an easy perennial which will reward you in summer with beautiful rich yellow - orange daisy flowers. Tuscan Sun is shorter than most other Heliopsis varieties, making it useful in the middle or nearer the front of the garden. It grows 16 - 20" in height, forming a bushy clump. It is reasonably drought tolerant, requiring full sun and needing no special soil. Plant in a group of three for a professional effect! Beautiful combined with blue Catmint in front and Ornamental Grasses behind. For a treat, cut some flowers and brighten up your kitchen table with a bouquet of Tuscan Sun!
Gaura Stratosphere White & Pink Picotee
Non stop blooms all season!
June 2009
These lovely Gauras are absolutely stunning! Bred by the plant breeding experts at Proven Winners, they are sure to be winners in your garden. Masses of small 'butterfly' like flowers are held above the foliage and dance around in the wind, bringing graceful motion to your garden. However, these beauties are far from delicate - they thrive in full sun and are heat and drought tolerant with non stop blooms all season. We grew Stratosphere White last year for the first time and sold out fast, so this year also grew Stratosphere Pink Picotee. Plants grow approx 12 - 16" in height and look great in the garden or containers. The only thing to remember with these plants is that they are rated as hardiness zone 5, so to help them through the winter, plant in a sheltered location, protect with mulch or leaves in the fall and hope for the best! (Even if they don't make it through the winter, you will not be disappointed!)
Ligularia Desdemona
Create a dramatic tropical effect!!
May 2009
Ligularia Desdemona is one of my favourite perennials! Its beautiful large dark green - purple foliage can create a bold tropical effect in the garden. (Bring out the Margarittas!!) The yellow Daisy flowers rise above the foliage, blooming late summer and fall, offering excellent colour at a time of year that often needs a colour lift. Ligularia Desdemona is very easy to grow, reaching a height of about 3 feet and forming a large bushy clump over the years of about 2 - 3 feet width. It thrives in full to part shade but will also do fine in full sun if given enough moisture. When it is 'happy' it will seed freely and you will have some babies to replant or leave to fill out the patch. Don't worry, it will not become invasive!! Beautiful planted singly as a specimen, but better in a group of 3 or more...
Tiarella Stargazer 'Mercury'
May 2009
This lovely little perennial Foamflower is new from 'Proven Winners' plant breeders and looks beautiful right now. Foamflowers are one of the less common perennials and make a gorgeous addition to a shaded or semi shaded garden. They are closely related to Coral Bells and form a similar low clump of leaves with airy sprays of light pink or white flowers in late Spring and early Summer. The species are woodland plants, native to North America, but several hybrid forms have been developed in recent years. Stargazer Mercury likes shade or part shade and grows 8 - 12" in height. The foliage is star shaped and strongly marked with red and green. A profusion of light pink fluffy flower spikes rise above the foliage, giving a delicate, wispy appearance. They look fantastic at the front of a bed or massed in a group.
Hakonechloa macra Aureola
2009 Perennial of the Year
April 2009
Unless you are fluent in Latin, Hakonechloa is a bit of a mouthful, so let's just call this beautiful ornamental grass by its common name Hakone Grass! This Japanese grass has been selected by the Perennial Plant Association as the 2009 Perennial Plant of the Year and is well worth trying in your garden. The bright foliage is variegated yellow and green, turning reddish pink in the fall. It grows 12 - 18" in height and will grow in full sun, but prefers partial shade. Try as a ground cover, a front of the garden specimen, a mass planting or in a container.
Other plants awarded the honour of the Perennial Plant of the Year are listed on the Perennial Plant Association's website at perennialplant.org. All are excellent selections and we grow most of them. Why not start a collection in your garden of these must have perennials?
Ornamental Grass
Calamagrostis Karl Foerster
June 2008
I am a huge fan of ornamental grasses. Not only do they provide interesting structure and texture in the garden, but they are easy to grow, drought tolerant and low maintenance. Calamagrostis Karl Foerster or Feather Reed Grass was named the Perennial Plant of the Year in 2001 and is an amazing find.
It grows in sun or shade and has an upright habit, reaching 4-5 feet by the end of the summer. Golden flowers appear in August and remain attractive well into winter. Roots do not spread underground like some invasive grasses, instead the plant grows slowly outward to create an easily controlled clump. The only maintenance required is to cut down dead stems in the Spring. Karl Foerster looks fantastic in groups of 3 or massed in larger groups and makes a stunning show against a house wall or nestled into a corner.
Asiatic Lilies Cappuccino & Honey Bee
Easy to grow and very unique flowers!
June 2008
These two new unique Asiatic Lilies we have grown this year are now flowering and look absolutely stunning! Cappuccino flowers are cream with purple speckles and Honey Bee are bright yellow with purple speckles. They definitely add an exotic and unusual touch to the garden. Both varieties are tall, reaching 30 - 48" in height. Flowers are held on top of strong stems. The plants need no special treatment - after flowering, deadhead and let the foliage continue to grow, then trim down in the fall as with other perennials. Over the years, the bulbs will increase and more stems will be sent up. They are also gorgeous as cut flowers - I have had a couple of broken stems in a vase now for a week and they still look great!
Leucanthemum Broadway Lights
A Daisy with a difference!
May 2008
Shasta Daisies have long been enjoyed as reliable, showy perennials. This year we are growing the brand new Broadway Lights and it is a little different than other Daisies. The flowers on this gorgeous Shasta Daisy open bright yellow, lighten to a soft butter shade, then turn white when mature. Since Broadway Lights is such a profuse bloomer, the plants are constantly covered with blooms in 3 different colours. It grows 18 - 24" and flowers mid summer. Plant in full or part sun and enjoy this unique beauty.
Astilbe Vision in Red
Long lasting colour for the shade
May 2008
This fabulous Astilbe is one of my favourite perennials! Long lasting, upright, fluffy dark red flowers are very striking and last for 6 to 8 weeks in July and August. When the flowers are finished, the glossy foliage remains fresh and full and the seed heads are interesting into the fall. Vision in Red will grow better in some shade, but unlike most other Astilbes can also withstand some drought and tolerate sun. It grows 15 - 20" tall and is absolutely stunning planted in a group of 3 or more. The photo shows a group of Astilbe Vision in Red plants still in bud, combined with Ligularia Desdemona, Yew, Ladies Mantle and Hydrangea Annabelle.
Geranium Rozanne
2008 Perennial Plant of the Year
March 2008
The Perennial Plant Association has awarded the title of Perennial Plant of the Year to Geranium Rozanne. This hardy Geranium was discovered in a garden in Somerset, England in 1989 but was not brought to North America until recently. It has 2.5" wide, iridescent violet-blue saucer shaped flowers with purple-violet veins and white centres. The flowers last nonstop from spring to fall and require no deadheading. It is reported to be identical to Geranium Jolly Bee which we also grow and is absolutely stunning!
Plants awarded the honour of the Perennial Plant of the Year are a definite must in your garden! Previous winners are listed on the Perennial Plant Associations website at www.perennialplant.org and we grow most of them too.
Scabiosa Butterfly Blue
Pincushion Flower
September 2007
This hardy perennial was named Perennial Plant of the Year in 2000. It is easy to grow, likes full sun and flowers virtually all season long with a copious display of lavender blue 'Pincushion' flowers. Butterfly Blue looks fantastic planted in groups and Butterflies love them. Attractive lacy foliage is grey - green.
They look magnificent!
Geranium Jolly Bee
Continuous colour!
June 2007
Geraniums are such beautiful perennials, but their flowering period is usually only a couple of months. Geranium Jolly Bee is a new perennial Geranium that flowers from May to October. It also has very 'well behaved' foliage that stays low and mounded and does not become big and leggy. Flowers are mid blue and require no deadheading. As with other perennials, I always recommend planting in 3s for the best effect. Sounds too good to be true?? Stop by and see for yourself!!
Oriental Lily Brazilia
Avening Women's Institute Centennial Lily
May 2007
2007 is the 100th anniversary of the Avening Women's Institute. In order to mark this historic event and honour the members of the local W.I. we are growing a special Centennial Lily. Brazilia features gorgeous white flowers with rose edges and speckles in the centre. It is easy to grow, reaching about 3 feet and of course is beautifully scented, as all Oriental Lilies are. On Saturday 5 May, at their Centennial Celebrations, Katie presented a Brazilia Lily to each of the members of the Avening W.I. We have grown plenty of extra plants, available for purchase at the farm. These Lilies are real beauties and would make a lovely Mothers Day gift!
Sedum Garnet Brocade
New for 2007!
May 2007
This exciting new perennial Sedum Garnet Brocade is not to be missed! Throughout the spring and early summer a mound of burgundy foliage will form, gradually growing 12 - 18" in height. Burgundy flowers bloom from August to October and seed heads remain interesting throughout the winter. Garnet Brocade is very easy to care for and extremely drought tolerant. If you are a fan of the much more common Sedum Autumn Beauty this new variety will complement it nicely. If you are new to gardening, this plant is a no fail easy perennial!
Pansys and Primulas
Create a Happy Spring Planting at your Door!
April 2007
Spruce up those sad looking winter planters with some colourful Spring beauties for a fresh new look! Simply combine some hardy Pansys and Primulas with those leftover evergreen boughs and Dogwood sticks. This year we are growing Panolas, a cross between a Pansy and a Viola. They combine the flower colour and size of Pansys with the hardiness and heat tolerance of Violas. We are also growing blue, pink and yellow Primula. Both Pansys and Primulas have fantastic cold tolerance and will take a heavy frost, making them a perfect choice for a colourful early spring planting.
Heuchera Creme Brule & Mocha Mint
Stunning New Perennials
April 2007
New this year are 2 gorgeous Heucheras (Coral Bells), bred by the Proven Winners people. Both grow to a height of 12", love full sun or part shade and are hardy to zone 4. Creme Brule features unusual, ruffled amber - gold foliage (image below). Mocha Mint is equally as stunning with green foliage overlaid with a wash of silver. Although grown primarily for their foliage, coral pink flowers add a nice touch. Foliage colour and texture is so important in the perennial garden, these unique little beauties deserve a place up front!
Nepeta Walker's Low
2007 Perennial Plant of the Year
March 2007
We are so excited about this fantastic new perennial Catmint. Nepeta Walker's Low is easy to grow with a long blooming period. Flowers are gorgeous blue-violet and scented foliage is grey-green. Growing 30 to 36 inches wide and tall, it is taller than the more common edging selections of Catmint. (The name is not related to plant size!!) It attracts bees and butterflies, but is deer and rabbit resistant. Plant in full or partial sun for enjoyment all season.
Plants awarded the honour of the Perennial Plant of the Year are a definite must in your garden! Previous winners are listed on the Perennial Plant Associations website at www.perennialplant.org and we grow most of them too.