Plants
Scabiosa 'Butterfly Blue'
This 2000 Perennial Plant of the Year sports lacy lavender blue flowers 2″ in diameter. This selection will bloom the entire season if deadheaded and boasts perhaps to most consistent color of any perennial on the market. Also known as ‘Pincushion Flower,’ this perennial derives it common name from the stames that emerge from the center of the flower giving it the appearence of pins sticking in a pincushion. (Quick tip: plant ‘Butterfly Blue’ with Coreopsis ‘Moonbeam,’ Dianthus ‘Neon Star’ and a perennial grass for a low maintenece professional looking garden that provides plenty of color all season)
Salvia 'Marcus'
A nice tidy dwarf variety of salvia, ‘Marcus boasts a ton of color for its size, becoming almost entirely covered in attractive purple-blue flower spikes. Great for perennial borders of in the foreground of the garden, ‘Marcus’ also looks great in pots.
Pulmonaria 'Moonshine'
Also know as Lungwort, ‘Moonshine’ offers an attractive mound of rounded leaves that are almost completely speckled with silver, and boasts a profusion of blue flowers on one foot tall stems in spring. A nice shade speicmen with great long term value – when the flowers are spent, simply trim them back and ‘Moonshine’ makes for a great foliage plant.
Origanum 'Kent Beauty'
In my opnion this variety is the most beautiful of the ornamental oreganos. ‘Kent Beauty’ has a semi-mounded habit of oval silver-green leaves. The dainty flowers emerge en mass in spring into summer, starting out mauve and aging to deep pinks and purples. Great for use as a groundcover or espcially attractive when used it pots. I particulary like ‘Kent Beauty’ because when the flowers die and dry they retain every bit of their appeal and the dried flowers look great in floral arrangement.
Dianthus 'Neon Star'
This special little plant is perhaps our most popular perennial and there is little mystery why – outstanding deep neon pink flowers bloom all year atop an attractive mound of low growing, spiky blue-grey foliage. This variety comes highly reccomended by everyone I’ve talked to.
Perovskia atriplicifolia
Known as Russian Sage, and the 1997 Perennial of the year winner, this wonderful summer blooming perennial shows off spkies of rich blue flowers on tall stems graced by lacy, fragrant blue-grey foliage . Great for use in mass plantings or in the back of sun gardens, Russian Sage has extremely long lasting blooms and provides a exceptional backdrop for yellow bloomers such as Coreopsis or Rudbeckia. It dervies its name from a Russian General, hence the name Russian Sage, but despites it etemological history it is a great, hardy plant for Minnesota.
Phlox 'Junior Dance'
A great low-growing and mildew resistance phlox, ‘Junior Dance’ features huge flower clusters of light pink florets with white eyes.
Dianthus 'Sweet William'
The blossoms of ‘Sweet William’ are a gorgeous collage of reds, pinks and whites atop small flower stalks. A vigorous grower and confident spreader ‘Sweet William’ works great as a groundcover, for use in borders or anywhere a carpet of awesomly colored flowers is desired. One of the oldest garden plants, ‘Sweet William’ was cultivated in the 1500′s, brought to the American garden in 1750 and grown by Thomas Jeffereson. In the language of flowers ‘Sweet William’ symbolizes gallantry.
Phlox 'Starfire'
This excellent phlox selection blooms in vibrant deep crimson red atop three foot tall stalks. It also sports deep dark green foliage that provides a perfect contrast to its flowers.
Phlox 'David'
The 2002 Perennial of the Year, ‘David’ has been the king of white phlox since its early propagation in the early 1700′s. Sporting long lasting pure white blooms held atop fairly tall stems the fragrant flower clusters are 6-9″ across with one inch diamater florets. Boasting a long bloom time and outstanding color this phlox is a must have and looks great when planted with Echinace ‘Magnus.’
Lychnis 'Vesuvius'
A truly unique and eye-catching perennial, this variety of Lychnis boasts one of a kind vivid bright blood-orange flowers. The plant also has attractive purple and green foliage and establishes itself well over time. The plant give the effect of “warming” up the garden and makes a suprisingly great color contrast with blue blooming Salvia.
Galium odoratum
Also called Sweet Woodruft, Galium is a wonderfuly dense groundcover of deep green lanced shaped leaves that feature dainty fragrant white flowers in spring. The aromatic qualties of the plant are paticuarly intense when dried and used in everything from prefumes to accent teas or wine. A great shade groundcover that boasts both attractive foliage and plenty of spring color. Spreads by both creeping and self seeding.
Lilium 'Stargazer'
The most popular of the lilies for as long as I can remember, gardeners have come to know and love ‘Stargazer’ by its name and for its beautiful and intrictite flowers. Bright crimson pink flowers with purple spots and light borders, the star shaped flowers of this lily are showstoppers and make first class cut flowers.
Coreopsis 'Zagreb'
An awesome variety of threadleaved Coreopsis, ‘Zagreb’ is slightly shorter than ‘Moonbeam’ and boasts intense deep yellow flowers that bloom en mass atop daintily leaved stems. Extremely long blooming and hardy, this coreopsis is somewhat drought tolerant and can tolerate poor soil. A great selection for long lasting color.
Echinacea 'Tiki Torch'
An exciting introduction to the coneflower family, ‘Tiki Torch’ feature large bright orange flowers that fade to a pumkin color as they age. Especially intense and long lasting blooms that make great cut flowers. The truly unique color of the flowers make it a great contrasting plant to virtually anything – from knockout roses to pink sedums.
Echinacea 'Tomato Soup'
Simply put – ‘Tomato Soup’ is the best red coneflower of all time. 32″ tall clumps are topped with huge 5″ deep red flowers in mid-summer. The color of the flowers is so intense it must be seen to be believed. Excellent when planted with other yellow echinacea, ‘Tomato Soup’ is a bold selection and one of the most exciting perennial introductions in the past ten years.
Salvia 'May Night'
This 1997 perennial plant of the year features deep indigo blue flowers on sturdy stalks. A particularly dense blooming salvia, expect to see mulitple flowers bloom on one stalk. ‘May Night’ is a specimen prized for the abundence of color it boast in spring and its ablilty to re-bloom after being a cut-back.
Salvia 'Caradonna'
A truly unique selection of Salvia, ‘Caradonna’ boasts deep regal purple blooms on sturdy wine-red stems. More upright and spiky than other varieties, ‘Caradonna’ needs no staking. The deep purple color of the blooms and stems go great with yellow blooming varieties of perennial like Coreopsis ‘Moonbeam’ or Achellia ‘Moonshine.’ My personal favorite Saliva.
Salvia 'Blue Hills
The truest blue of all the salvia, ‘Blue Hills’ feature a dense mound of foliage that boasts dense sky blue flower stalks in spring. A long time favorite due to its striking flower color this salvia is a most welcome addition to any Minnesota garden.
Phlox 'Junior Dream'
A great introduction from the ‘Junior’ sereies of phlox, ‘Junior Dream’ features giant round purple flowers held atop short sturdy stems. A great low-maintenence variety due to its compact habit and powdery mildew resistance.
