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Aquilegia (columbine)

Asclepias (butterfly weed)

Astilbe

Buddleia (butterfly bush)

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Achillea

 Achillea millefolium 'Cassis' (red yarrow)

Masses of attractive, intense cherry red flowers from June through September. Excellent border filler, mass planting sun-loving ground cover and cut flower. Hardy and low-maintenance, plants grow to 24" tall. Zone 4
 Achillea ptarmica 'The Pearl' (white yarrow)

Double white flowers are yet another yarrow variation available for the landscape. This one is an excellent substitution for baby's breath, with it's similar blooms but hardier growing characteristics. Grows 18-24" tall and wide. Full sun. Zone 3
 Achillea 'Moonshine' (yellow yarrow)

One of the most popular yarrows throughout the country, this plant has fern-like foliage of silvery-green, and sports sulfur-yellow blooms June through September. Grows 24" tall and wide. Full sun. Zone 3
Aconitum
Aconitum fischeri (monkshood)

True blue nodding hoods align the sides of 24" tall spikes. Plants love moist, but not wet soils, cool summer nights, and protection from the heat of the day. Blooms from August through September. Zone 4
Adenophora

Adenophora liliifolia (ladybells)

From a low rosette of foliage springs fragrant bluebell-like flowers in mid summer 30-36" high. Plants are heat tolerant. Zone 3

Aegopodium

Aegopodium podagraria 'Variegatum' (Bishop's weed)

Densely foliaged fast covering groundcover with silver edged leaves, this easy to grow plant sports clusters of small white flowers in late summer. Thrives in poor soil, but prefers some shade. An excellent plant for difficult shade areas where not much else will grow. Grows 10-15" high. Zone 3

Agastache

 Agastache rupestris (sunset hyssop)

Fantastic perennial with spicy fragrant foliage and tubular, bicolor blooms that fade from bright orange to cool purple. Heat and drought tolerant, this plant grows to about 24" and blooms all summer. We use it in color bowls with annuals, we llike it so much!. Zone 4

Agastache 'Honey Bee Blue' (hummingbird's mint)

Heat and drought tolerant plant covered with blue spikes from early summer through fall. Foliage is fragrant, and butterflies and hummingbirds are attracted to this plant throughout the season. Makes an excellent backdrop for bold flowers like Rudbeckias and Asclepias, growing to about 24-30" tall. Zone 4

Ajania

Ajania pacifica 'Gold and Silver'

White edged foliage is deep glossy green on front with silver matt on back. Excellent foliage texture with golden yellow flowers in late summer and fall. Wonderful Japanese plant grows to 12". Zone 5

Ajuga

Ajuga reptans 'Metallica Crispa' (bugleweed)

Thick, dark purple-black foliage with deeply scalloped edges. Spikes of small blue-purple flowers in late spring. An excellent groundcover or border edger. Grows 6-8" high. Zone 3

Ajuga reptans 'Silver Queen' (bugleweed)

Green foliage is thickly edged in white. Late spring flower spikes of light blue. Grows 6-8" high. Zone 3

Ajuga tenorii 'Chocolate Chip' (bugleweed)

Narrow, burgundy leaves grow only 4" high and are topped in late spring by purple-blue flower spikes. Nice texture and super low habit. Zone 3
Alcea

Alcea rosea (old fashioned single hollyhock)

Nostalgic single flowers in pinks, purples and whites along very tall flower stalks with buds blooming bottom to top during mid summer. Self-seeding biennials will wind there way throughout the garden over the years. Flower spikes grow 5-8' tall. Foliage grow 2-3' high and wide. Zone 3

Alcea rosea 'Summer Carnival' (double hollyhock)

Huge fluffy double flowers in shades of lavender, pink, red, yellow, salmon, and white cover spikes 3-5' tall beginning in early summer. Zone 3

Alcea rosea 'Summer Carnival' (double hollyhock)

Huge fluffy double flowers in shades of lavender, pink, red, yellow, salmon, and white cover spikes 3-5' tall beginning in early summer. Zone 3

Alchemilla

Alchemilla mollis (lady's mantle)

An excellent border plant or groundcover, blooms in early summer in airy sprays of greenish-yellow hover over large, round leaves with serrated edges. Grows best in cool, moist areas. Plants grow 12-18" tall and wide. Zone 3
Allium

Allium caeruleum

The elusive true blue in a low maintenance, hardy 12-15" tall plants. 1 1/2" sky blue, round flower heads appear in June. Great in the rock garden, green roof or among perennials. Xeric plants produce nectar for butterflies. Zone 3
Allium schoenoprasum subspecies senescens 'Mongolian Gem'

Northern Asia native has nice blue-green foliage growing to 18" high with large, 2" lavender-pink globe flowers . Foliage turns bronzy-yellow in fall. Can be used as a culinary herb as well as an ornamental. Same hardiness and xeric qualities as other Alliums. Zone 3
Alyssum

Alyssum montanum 'Berggold' (mountain gold alyssum)

Groundcover of fine foliage with masses of yellow fragrant gold flowers in spring. Grows to 8" high. Zone 3

Amorpha

 Amorpha canescens (lead plant)

Prefers dry or well drained site in full sun. Grows to 4' tall with blue flower spikes in July and August. Excellent interplanted in native grasses! Zone 3
Amsonia

Amsonia ciliata (threadleaf bluestar)

Bright blue blossoms mid summer on 30" tall plants of fine, feathery leaves which turn bright gold in fall. Zone 4
Amsonia hubrichtii (bluestar)

Pale blue flowers over fine, needle-like leaves on densley rounded plants that grow up to 36" high and wide. Excellent bright yellow fall foliage color. Try planting with 'Crimson Pygmy' barberry and any silve artemisia for a fabulous color contrast spring through fall! Zone 4
Amsonia tabernaemontana (bluestar)

Star-shaped pale blue flowers bloom from late spring through mid summer over willow-like foliage. A maintenance free native plant with cool foliage. Zone 4
Anchusa

Anchusa azurea (alkanet)

Bright blue flowers on long panicles in June. Great cut flowers. Plant grows 3-4' in height. Plant in full sun. Zone 4
Anemone

Anemone tomentosum 'Robustissima' (grape leaf anemone, fall anemone)

Large pink flowers bloom on tall stems in fall. Wonderful planted with Limonium latifolia (perennial statice). Grows to 24-30" high. Zone 5

Anemone sylvestris (snowdrops)

Pure white nodding spring flowers naturalize in good soil. Grows to 18" high. Zone 3

Angelica

Angelica gigas

Superb biennial grows to 4' high and wide with fantastic foliage and large antique-pink flower heads summer through fall when most others are wilting! Full sun to partial shade. Zone 4
Aquilegia

Aquilegia canadensis (columbine)

Pure yellow selection blooming April through early June. Grows 12-24" in height, and will self seed somewhat in the garden. Zone 3

Aquilegia vulgaris 'Woodside Gold' (columbine)

Golden-yellow spring foliage makes a great contrast to other plants, and shows off the blue and rose colored flowers above.

Aquilegia vulgaris 'Black Barlow' (columbine)

Fully double blooms with very short spurs bloom almost black on tall stems over compact foliage. Grows to 24-30" high. Doesn't appear to self-propagate true to cultivar from seed in our gardens. Zone 3

Aquilegia vulgaris 'Nora Barlow' (columbine)

Fully double blooms with very short spurs in reds, pinks and greens. Grows to 24-30" high. Doesn't appear to self-propagate true to cultivar from seed in our gardens. Zone 3

Aquilegia vulgaris 'Woodside Variegata' (columbine)

Spurred blooms of blue and rose-pink open mid to late spring over beautifully variegated yellow and green marbled foliage. These easy to grow perennials spread by seed each year. Grows to 18-24" high. Zone 3

Aquilegia x hybrida 'McKana's Hybrids' (columbine)

Large, spurred flowers in assorted bicolors- blue, pink, red, lavender, yellow and white- mid to late spring. These easy to grow perennials spread by seed each year. Grows to 24-30" high. Zone 3

Arabis

Arabis blepharophylla 'Spring Charm' (rock cress)

Large rose-purple flowers in early spring open on dwarf plants that grow 4-9" tall. Excellent rock garden plants, they combine beautifully with assorted dianthus, aremeria and creeping phlox. Zone 3
Arabis causcasica 'Snowcap' (rock cress)

Dwarf plants are densley covered with masses of snow-white blooms in early spring. A very hardy rock garden plant, it prefers dry conditions. Zone 4
Aralia

  Aralia racemosa (American spikenard)

3-5' tall native with crisp green foliage on reddish stems topped in early summer with stately white plumes followed by clusters of black drupes. Roots used in root beer and medicinally. Grows in part to full shade. Zone 5
Arisaem

 Arisaem tryphyllum (Jack-in-the-Pulpit)

This woodland native produces unique brown and green flowers in a vase shape amidst the green foliage. Plants grow 2-3' tall in woodland soil. Zone 4
Armeria

Armeria maritima 'Alba' (white sea thrift)

Pure white globes on stems 8-10" tall in ealry spring over low, grassy foliage. Nice little rock garden plants, they also pretty tough. Zone 4
Armeria maritima 'Rubrifolia' (red leaved thrift)

Deep pink globes top stems 6-8" tall over low, grassy, purple foliage. Excellent rock garden plants. Zone 4
Artemisia

 Artemisia ludoviciana 'Silver King'

Striking white-leaved contrast plant grows to 3' tall. Fantastic for cut flower arrangements, and can also be used for drying. Grows in full sun and prefers well-drained soil. Zone 4

 Artemisia ludoviciana 'Valerie Finnis'

Felty, white jagged leaves. This foliage plant makes a wonderful accent plant in the perennial bed. Flowers are white, but not considered ornamental. The foliage is aromatic, and can be dried for arrangements. Grows 18-24" tall and wide. Zone 4

Artemisia 'Powis Castle'

Lacy, dense foliage in a tall mound. Wonderful neutral for bringing flower varieties together in the landscape. Large growing, dense and rounded, plants will grow up to 2-3' tall with an equal spread. Sometimes short-lived, but worth the risk! Zone 5

Artemisia schmidtiana 'Silver Mound'

Neat, mounding habit with silvery, fern-like foliage. Nice background plant and foliage contrast specimen, its looks lasting well into winter. Grows only 12" high with a spread of about 18". Zone 3

Artemisia stelleriana (old woman, hardy dusty miller)

Woolly, thick white foliage makes an excellent contrast plant. Grows to 12" high and 24" across, and will cascade along rock edging. Zone 3/4

Artemisia vulgaris 'Oriental Limelight'

Very bright yellow, green and white variegated foliage is nicely serrated and offers a great foliage contrast around other perennials and shrubs. A rapid spreader, plant it where it can wind through the garden or use it in container plantings. Grows 2-3' tall. Zone 4
Aruncus

Aruncus diocus 'Child of Two Worlds' (goatsbeard)

Vey showy white panicles open in early summer over feathery foliage. Plants grow to 4' in height and make wonderful background plantings. Prefers moist but well drained locations. Zone 5
Asarum

 Asarum canadense (wild ginger)

6-8" woodland native groundcover with heart-shaped leaves. Requires humus-rich soil. Zone 3
Asclepias
Asclepias incarnata

Native swamp milkweed grows 2-4' tall. Zone 5

Asclepias incarnata 'Cinderella' (pink swamp milkweed)

Dark, rosy pink, lightly fragrant flower clusters from early summer through fall. Plants grow 3-5' tall. Zone 3

Asclepias incarnata 'Ice Ballet' (white swamp milkweed)

White flower clusters are long-lasting. Plants grow up to 40" tall. Zone 5

Asclepias syriacus (butterfly milkweed)

Antiqued lavender-pink, large, round flower clusters appear in summer, followed by large, ornamental seed pods over thick, dark green, rounded leaves that resemble those of a rubber tree plant. Growing 3-6' in height, these plants are wonderful mixed with just about anything for textural contrast, are needed by monarch butterly caterpillars and are effortless to grow. They will spread by self-seeding, but are easily kept under control by pulling unwanted plants. Zone 5

Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly weed)

Showy orange flower heads bloom in early summer and continue for a long period on 24-30" plants. Very tough plants tolerate heat and drought in horrible clay soil. Fanstastic interplanted with native grasses, Rudbeckias and other native flowers. Butterflies love it, too. Zone 5

Aster

Aster 'Alert'

Deep crimson red flowers in late summer and fall on dwarf plants growing 12-15" high and wide. Extremely showy. Zone 3

Aster dumosus 'Wood's Blue'

Lavender-blue flowers for 4-6 weeks from July through September on mildew-resistant, compact plants growing only 8-12" tall and wide. Excellent in container plantings also. Zone 3

Aster frikartii x 'Wunder von Stafa'

Large blue-violet flowers with gold center from June to frost. Dense and rounded, growing 18-24" tall and wide. Zone 4

Aster novae-angliae 'Alma Potschke' (New England aster)

Masses of large, neon, rose-pink flowers on very hardy native plants. Grows to 4'. Zone 3
Astilbe

Astilbe arendsii 'Fanal'

An early to mid summer bloomer with wonderful bronze foliage. Blood-red flower plumes are narrow and long. Plumes grow 20" high. Zone 3

Astilbe arendsii 'White Gloria'

An early to mid summer bloomer with stocky, clear white plumes. Plumes grow to 24" in height. Zone 3

Astilbe chinensis 'Pumilla'

Wonderful used as a low 10-12" tall groundcover, this little astilbe is covered with masses of lavender-pink blooms in late summer. This dwarf variety is more tolerant of dry sites than other astilbes, which prefer good moistre-retentive soil. Zone 4

Astilbe chinensis 'Purple Candles'

This late summer bloomer has dark foliage topped with purple-rose plumes. Tall grower to3'. Zone 3
Astilbe chinensis 'Visions'

Fragrant raspberry-purple flower plumes grow to 14" in mid to late summer. Another astilbe for drier sites. Zone 3

Astilbe japonica 'Rheinland'

An early summer bloomer with large, full plumes of pink reaching 24" in height. Zone 3

Astilbe simplicifolia 'Sprite'

Light pink flower plumes grow only 12" high in late summer. Wonderful bronze foliage is deeply cut. Another great container choice. Zone 4

Astilbe thunbergii 'Ostrich Plume'

Large, 30-40" salmon colored plumes open mid to late summer. Zone 4
Astilbe 'Flamingo'

Flamingo pink flowers are presented on wide, airy plumes that are held upright. Blossoms are slightly fragrant and produced on well-branched stems. Blooms in late summer over glossy, dark green foliage. Plumes grow 20" high. Zone 4
Astilbe japonica 'Montgomery'

Dark red, triangular shaped plumes are borne on darker red stems. Blooms in mid to late summer. Leaves emerge with a bronze-red tint in spring, then turn dark green. Plumes reach 20-24" high. Zone 4
Astilbe 'Rock 'n' Roll'

Puffy white plumes with a pyramidal shape bloom in early summer. Large, coarsely textured, dark green foliage and reddish stems grow 20" tall. Zone 4
Atriplex

 Atriplex canescens (four-winged salt bush)

Shrubby perennial with silver-gray ferny foliage to 2' in height with inconspicuous flowers that are followed by four-winged seed pods. Drought resistant plants are preferred by wildlife for their salt content. An excellent garden plant that we hope will provide a more long-lived alternative to 'Powis Castle' Artemisia. Zone 3
Baptisia

Baptisia australis 'Purple Smoke' (baptisia, false indigo)

Showy racemes of pea-shaped indigo-colored flowers in late spring. Dependable and long-lived, this plant does well at the back of the garden, and in a wide range of soils. This hybrid is a chance cross of B. australis and B. alba, and has the charcoal-gray stems of alba and the blue color from australe. Grows up to 3' in height. Zone 3

Baptisia australis 'Minor' (dwarf baptisia)

This plant looks like a miniature version of the popular False Indigo. Lovely blue flowers useful for small spaces or the front of the garden bed. Grows 15-24" high. Zone 4
Baptisia lactea (prairie baptisia)

Stately 3-4' native prairie plant with white flowers in June followed by black pods that make wonderful arrangement subjects. Grows in full sun to light shade and attracts butterflies. Grows 3-4' tall. Zone 4
Baptisia 'Carolina Moonlight'

This sister to the popular Baptisia 'Purple Smoke'. 53" spikes appear in late spring with stunning 18" spikes of soft buttery-yellow. Long-lived, heat-loving, and drought tolerant. Zone 4
Baptisia 'Wayne's World'

A selection of the native B. alba, B. 'Wayne's World' is a vigorously growing selection that forms a full-figured upright clump to 4' tall. In spring, 3' wide emerging clumps are topped with dramatic 18" spikes of white.
Belemcanda

Belamcanda chinensis (blackberry lily)

Orange lily-shaped flowers are spotted with maroon, and the seed clusters that follow resemble blackberries. Foliage resembles that of iris plants. Grows 24-30" high. Zone 4
Bellis

Bellis perennis (English daisy)

Small double blooms of deep pink with yellow centers on stems 6-8" tall. Pretty little edgers, or try them intermixed with blue fescue or hair grass. Zone 4
Bergenia

Bergenia cordifolia (pig squeak)

From large, thick , glossy, rounded leaves emerge 18-24" stems holding clusters of antique pink flowers in spring and early summer. Foliage turns beautiful shades of red and pink in fall. Plants are drought and heat tolerant. Excellent mixed with grasses and other finely textures perennials. Zone 3
Brunnera

Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost'

Dark green heart-shaped foliage is veiled in silver. Sprays of sky-blue flowers in late spring. Wonderful companion for hostas and other woodland plants. Plants grow 12-15" high and wide. Zone 3
Brunnera macrophylla 'Variegata '

Dark green heart-shaped foliage is edged in white and topped with sprays of sky-blue flowers in late spring. Wonderful companion for hostas and other woodland plants. Plants grow 12-15" high and wide. Zone 3
Buddleia

Buddleia davidii 'Black Knight' (butterfly bush)

Deep purple blooms each with a dark orange eye on large shrubby plants that grow 6-8' high. Plants should be cut to the ground in late fall or early spring because flowers are produced on new growth. Zone 5

Buddleia davidii 'Harlequin' (variegated butterfly bush)

Interesting variegated foliage of deep green edged in yellow with purple flowers on dwarf plants growing only 3-4' tall and wide. Plants should be cut to the ground in late fall or early spring because flowers are produced on new growth. Zone 5

Buddleia davidii 'Pink Delight'

Deep pink flowers on 5-8' tall, shrubby plants. Plants should be cut to the ground in late fall or early spring because flowers are produced on new growth. Zone 5

Buddleia davidii 'Royal Red'

The truest red with brilliant panicles up to 20" long. Shrubby plants grow up to 9' tall. Plants should be cut to the ground in late fall or early spring because flowers are produced on new growth. Zone 5

Buddleia davidii 'White Profusion'

White spikes attract butterflies and grow 4-5' tall. Zone 5

Buddleia nanhoensis 'Nanho Blue'

Lavender-blue flowers on dwarf plants with silvery foliage 2-3' tall. Plants should be cut to the ground in late fall or early spring because flowers are produced on new growth. Zone 5

Buddleia x weyeriana 'Golden Glow'

Yellow flower spikes cover this medium butterfly bush that grows to 5'. Fantastic planted with shasta daisies, rudbeckias and coreopsis. Plants should be cut to the ground in late fall or early spring because flowers are produced on new growth. Zone 5

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