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Acorus (Sweet Flag)
Long prized in Japanese gardens, acorus have finally gained the acceptance of American gardeners. Acorus are best used as evergreen accent plants in moist woodland gardens or as marginal aquatics, where their unique colorations give great effect in the summer as well as the winter. Their subtle charm as evergreen groundcover improves with age, as they blend effectively with a wide array of woodland plants.
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Acorus gramineus 'Minimus Aureus' (Dwarf Golden Sweet Flag)
Part Sun to Light Shade Zone: 5-9 3" tall Origin: China, Japan
Open House/Web-Only!
Despite the long name, the dwarf golden sweet flag is one of the most striking and certainly the cutest of the acorus. The tufts of tiny, golden grasslike foliage makes a slowly spreading patch to 2' wide in 5 years. If you get out the magnifying glass, you'll notice the tiny aroid-like tan spadices (flowers) in early summer. Acorus 'Minimus Aureus' makes a bright little groundcover in moist areas where it makes either a feature specimen or a filler between stepping stones...a real highlight in the woodland garden. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #00323
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Adiantopsis
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Adiantopsis chlorophylla coll. #A1AG-261 (Argentine False Maidenhair)
Sun to Part SunZone: 7b-10 24" tall Origin: Argentina
Open House/Web-Only!
I first encountered this cool, deciduous fern (related to cheilanthes) north of Tucuman, Argentina. In form, it looked like a Cheilanthes lanosa on steroids. The 2' tall, very lacy fronds have nearly black stipes and form a gorgeous, 2' tall x 2' wide clump. In the wild, we saw it growing on a moist ditch bank...the opposite conditions from most cheilanthes. So far, it has been surprisingly hardy in our trials, enduring 8 degrees F with no problems. I understand that the Evil Empire of Taxonomy is working to disassemble this species into many little pieces...stay tuned. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #05384
SOLD OUT
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Adiantum (Maidenhair Fern)
We have long been fascinated by the simple beauty of maidenhair ferns as well as their amazing worldwide distribution. Often, the same species, which are native in the US, are also native around the world. Adiantum are typically found on neutral to alkaline moist soils, and these conditions make for good garden success as well. Despite their dainty appearance, they are tough, easy-to-grow garden subjects. |
Adiantum pedatum (Northern Maidenhair Fern)
Part Sun to Light ShadeZone: 3-8 24" tall Origin: USA
Open House/Web-Only!
Without a doubt, this is one of our most elegant natives. The horizontal horseshoe-like wreath of foliage rests atop 18-24" tall, wiry black stems. Northern maidenhair fern thrives in moist, rich soil but also grows well in all but the driest of garden sites. The light airy texture serves as a perfect backdrop for hostas and other bold foliage plants. In early April, this deciduous native unfurls for a true Kodak moment...in 10 years, expect a 2' wide clump to develop. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #00320
SOLD OUT
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Adiantum venustum (Himalayan Maidenhair Fern)
Light ShadeZone: 4b-8a 6" tall Origin: China
We are thrilled to again offer one of the most coveted of the hardy maidenhair ferns. According to Dr. John Mickel, in "Ferns for American Gardens", "The Himalayan maidenhair has become one of the great all-time ferns." This dainty-looking semi-evergreen gem is amazingly cold hardy, but less so in long hot summers, although it has performed admirably in our NC garden when given enough summer moisture. While slow to get started, A. venustum makes a nice patch to 3' wide in 5-10 years, depending on the quality of soil preparation. This is an easy-to-grow winner for the woodland garden! Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #03658
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Agapanthus (Lily of the Nile)
The tropical-looking, strap-like foliage of Lily-of-the-Nile blends well into many planting schemes, but the flower heads are out-of-this-world gorgeous spheres of tubular blue (or white) flowers held high on sturdy stalks. We are excited to offer the following hardy selections of these South African natives. Agapanthus require plenty of moisture throughout the growing season, and a handful of organic fertilizer never hurts.
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Agapanthus 'Back in Black' PP 16,244 (Back in Black Lily-of-the-Nile)
Sun to Part SunZone: 7b-10, at least 24" tall Origin: Hybrid
Not to be confused with the alien fighters of a similar name, Agapanthus 'Back in Black' is a new Lily-of-the-Nile from Holland's Piet Zonneveld. This 2005 introduction produces dark green flower scapes, which age to black, from the strap-like green foliage in late summer. The 2' tall flower scapes are topped with flower heads of very dark blue-purple flowers...quite striking. This is patented as an A. africanus selection, but being an open pollinated seedling, this species assignment is highly suspect.
Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #06170
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Agapanthus 'Blue Globe' (Lily-of-the-Nile)
SunZone: 7b-10, guessing 36" tall Origin: Hybrid
Open House/Web-Only!
This selection of the deciduous A. africanus makes a typical rosette of green, strap-shaped leaves. In July, the clumps are topped with 3' tall flower spikes ending in a 5" diameter sphere of light blue flowers...perfect to provide color during the summer months. This is a new cultivar for us that we have brought in for trials and have only a few to spare...enjoy. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #05248
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Agapanthus 'Elaine' PP 7303 (Lily-of-the-Nile)
Sun to Part SunZone: 7-10, at least 36" tall Origin: Hybrid
From California's Archie Amate comes this 1990 introduction, a phenomenally vigorous evergreen (in mild climates). Lily-of-the-Nile makes a fast-growing 3' tall clump of green strap-like leaves, topped in midsummer with dark blue-violet (RHS 93A), 8" wide flower heads on 50" tall stems. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #03513
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Agapanthus inapertus 'Nigrescens' (Black Drooping Lily-of-the-Nile)
SunZone: 7b-10, at least 24" tall Origin: S. Africa
This fully deciduous South African agapanthus species can be found in open meadows in the Drakensberg and surrounding mountain ranges. The clumps of strap-like green leaves are topped in July with 2' tall spikes of dark purple-black pendulous flowers in July...a very nice selection. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #06939
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Agapanthus inapertus ssp. pendulus 'Graskop' (Graskop Lily-of-the-Nile)
SunZone: 7b-10, at least 36" tall Origin: S. Africa
I first observed this amazing clone en masse at the famed Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden in Cape Town. Agapanthus 'Graskop' was discovered in 1985 in the town of Graskop (not to be confused with the pond vegetation eating fish) in the northeast Transvaal region of South Africa. The clumps of narrow green foliage are topped in summer with 3' spikes of terminal flower heads, each composed of 30-40 flowers that emerge as black buds, then open with dark violet-blue pendulous flowers...simply stunning. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #08510
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Agapanthus 'Stevie's Wonder' (Stevie's Wonder Lily-of-the-Nile)
SunZone: 7b-10, at least 36" tall Origin: Hybrid
This introduction from California's Emerissa Gardens is one I picked up on a West Coast swing many years ago...as much for the name as anything else. Over the years, this has been the star in our agapanthus trials, both for winter hardiness and good flowering. The 2.5' to 3' tall spikes are topped with 4" ball-shaped heads composed of rich blue-violet flowers. I think you will find this a superb garden-worthy clone, sure to be the sunshine of your life...we'll get yours on the way, signed, sealed, delivered.
Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #08250
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Agapanthus 'Storm Cloud' (Lily-of-the-Nile)
Sun to Part SunZone: 7b-10, at least 24" tall Origin: Hybrid
Thanks to Barrie Coate for setting us straight on the origin of this great plant. When Barrie was director of the Saratoga Horticultural Foundation, he selected this gem from thousands of open pollinated seedlings from the deciduous A. 'Mood Indigo'. The resulting evergreen selection (only to 28 degrees F) is a dynamite lily-of-the-Nile with the typical strap-like foliage to 24" tall. Through late summer, the huge clumps of foliage are topped with giant, magnificent flower heads of bluish-purple on very sturdy stalks to 4' tall...WOW! Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #01342
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Agapanthus 'White Heaven' EUPBR 2026, PP 15,811 (White Heaven Lily-of-the-Nile)
Sun to Part SunZone: 8-10 36" tall Origin: S. Africa
From Kees de Jong of Holland comes an amazing agapanthus that appeared in his cut flower field of blue Agapanthus africanus. The deciduous (evergreen in mild climates), 1.5" wide green foliage makes a 2' wide clump, topped in midsummer with 30" stalks of huge 10" flower heads of up to 80 pure white flowers each. It took Barry Bonds years of steroid use to get a head this large...Agapanthus 'White Heaven' has consistently tested clean. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #06390
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Agastache
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Agastache 'Blue Fortune' (Blue Fortune Anise Hyssop)
SunZone: 6-9, at least 36" tall Origin: USA Hybrid
Open House/Web-Only!
When my friend Gert Fortgens of Arboretum Trompenburg in Holland told me about his cross of the US native A. foeniculum with the Korean A. rugosa, the offspring sounded too good to be true. However, after trialing A. 'Blue Fortune' in our dry garden, I consider it one of the finest new perennials in years! In the spring, the strong new stalks shoot upward to 3' tall, clothed with fuzzy, licorice-scented leaves. From early spring through summer, the stems are topped with hundreds of large bottlebrush, blue-lavender flowers that attract a stunning array of pollinators! A. 'Blue Fortune' needs an open, well drained site for best performance. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #03209
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