Ageratum houstonianum 'Blue Horizon'
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Ageratum houstonianum 'Blue Horizon'
Floss flower describes the thread-like appearance of the fluffy lavender-blue flowers on this annual that grows to 18-24 inches tall on stems with soft green leaves. Flowers bloom freely from spring to fall. Best growth occurs in rich, consistently moist, well-drained soils. This is a superb annual for beds, borders, edgings, mixed plantings, cutting gardens and containers. Plants may be grown from seed.
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Asclepias curassavica
Blood Flower
This tropical blood flower is a 2-3 feet tall sub-shrub that is grown as an annual. Showy reddish-orange flowers with yellow hoods bloom in clusters from late spring to early autumn. This is a larval and nectar plant for monarch butterflies. Best growth occurs in full sun with light, evenly moist soils. Container plants may be cut back and brought inside in winter. Deer resistant.
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Asclepias curassavica
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Brassica oleracea (Acephala Group) 'Redbor'
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Brassica oleracea (Acephala Group) 'Redbor'
This kale is primarily grown in the cool weather of spring or fall as an ornamental foliage plant. Upright red leaves with curled and frilled edges add intense color and interest to gardens. As fall temperatures drop, the leaf color darkens and intensifies. Plants may be grown from seed. Best performance occurs in rich moist loams in full sun.
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Canna 'Striata'
This large tropical canna grows 4-6 feet tall. It thrives in high heat and will serve as an excellent free-flowering annual for sunny garden areas or containers. Large, upright, paddle-shaped, yellow and green striped leaves are magnificent, especially when backlit by sun. Orange flowers bloom in racemes atop purplish stems from summer to early autumn. Rhizomes should be planted in the garden after last spring frost date and lifted in fall after the first frost for overwintering indoors.
(More information). . .(Plant Sources)
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Canna 'Striata'
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Capsicum annuum 'Black Pearl'
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Capsicum annuum 'Black Pearl'
Attractive pearl-like black fruits appear on this ornamental pepper in summer, but the real show begins when those fruits mature to cherry red in sharp contrast with the plant’s superb, season-long, glossy black foliage. Plants typically grow in pyramidal shaped mounds to 18 inches tall and exhibit good tolerance for high heat and humidity. This is an excellent selection for beds, borders or containers. It may be grown from seed.
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Dichondra argentea 'Silver Falls'
Branching silver stems with soft, rounded, fan-shaped, silver leaves spread rapidly on this creeping/trailing foliage plant. In a single season, stems will cascade from a hanging basket to 3-6 feet or will creep along the ground rooting at the nodes to 3-4 feet. It may be purchased in spring as a bedding plant or grown from seed. Tiny greenish-yellow spring flowers are not showy. It is the dense, metallic foliage that impresses.
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Dichondra argentea 'Silver Falls'
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Euphorbia hypericifolia 'Inneuphe'
DIAMOND FROST
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Euphorbia hypericifolia 'Inneuphe'
DIAMOND FROST
This vigorous spurge produces a profuse non-stop bloom of tiny white flowers from spring to frost on plants growing 12-18 inches tall on generally upright stems with gray-green leaves. Plants require sharply drained soil that is allowed to dry between waterings. This annual is an abundant bloomer for border fronts, hanging baskets or containers. Containers may be overwintered indoors.
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Ipomoea quamoclit
Cypress Vine
Grown as an annual locally, this twining tropical vine in the morning glory family typically reaches 6-10 feet in length in a single season. Although thin-stemmed and fragile, it provides superb ornamental cover for decks, trellises, fences and other structures around the home. Scarlet tubular flowers that are star-shaped at the mouth bloom freely from early summer to fall. Deeply cut leaves in threadlike segments give the foliage a ferny appearance. Hummingbirds and butterflies love the flowers.
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Ipomoea quamoclit
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Tecoma stans GOLD STAR
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Tecoma stans GOLD STAR
Thiellow bells
Trumpet-shaped, slightly fragrant, bright yellow flowers bloom from early summer to frost on this 3-4 foot evergreen shrub with odd-pinnate medium green leaves. Deadhead spent flowers to prolong bloom. Flowers are followed by narrow bean-like capsules filled with papery-winged seeds. Plants are commonly sold in patio containers that may be brought indoors before first fall frost for overwintering.
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Tradescantia pallida 'Purpurea'
Spider Lily
After serving for a number of years as an attractive houseplant, this spiderwort relative is now experiencing increased usage in outdoor applications as an annual ground cover or container plant. It typically grows to 8 inches tall with a trailing habit, featuring rich violet-purple stems and leaves. Three-petaled pink flowers bloom in small clusters mid-summer.
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Tradescantia pallida 'Purpurea'
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Xanthosoma 'Lime Zinger'
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Xanthosoma 'Lime Zinger'
tannia
Huge 18-inch lime green leaves reminiscent of elephant ears adorn this tropical foliage plant that grows from a tuberous rhizome to 3-4 feet tall. Plants are grown for their interesting foliage and not their flowers which are produced infrequently. Leaves may scorch in full sun or turn a flat medium green in too much shade. Rhizomes are planted in the ground or in containers in spring after last frost date and dug up in fall before first frost for overwintering indoors in a cool, dry place. |
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Emeritus Plants of Merit Annuals that we carry are:
Begonia 'Bepared' – Dragon Wing Begonia • Calibrachoa 'Sunbelkist' – Terracotta Million Bells •
Cuphea hyssopifolia – Mexican Heather • Evolvulus 'Hawiian Blue Eyes' • Hemigraphis 'Exotica' •
Laurentia • Lablab purpureus – Hyacinth Bean Vine • Lobularia 'Snow Crystals' – Sweet Alyssum •
Nierembergia 'Mont Blanc' and 'Purple Robe' • Origanum 'Kent Beauty' – Ornamental Oregano • Rudbeckia 'Indian Summer'
Scaevola 'Blue Wonder' – Fan Flower • Strobilanthes – Persian Shield • Verbena bonariensis •
Verbena 'Imagination' • Zinnia angustifolia – Mexican Zinnia
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2008 Perennials
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Amsonia hubrichtii
Blue Star
Star-shaped, powdery blue flowers bloom in clusters in spring atop generally upright stems densely clothed with feathery, soft-textured, almost thread-like leaves. The unique foliage remains bright green throughout summer, but changes to a stunning gold in fall. Foliage clumps grow to 3 feet tall, with stems cascading as the season progresses. Mass or group for best foliage display. Easily grown in borders, open woodland areas and native style gardens. |
Amsonia hubrichtii
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Carex 'Ice Dance'
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Carex 'Ice Dance'
Japanese grass sedge
The stiff, linear, grass-like leaves of this dense, spreading, ornamental sedge are medium green variegated with clear white margins. Plants thrive in moist, shaded areas, typically growing to 12 inches tall. Mass plantings will spread over time by rhizomes to form an attractive ground cover. This is an excellent selection for shaded borders, shade gardens, woodland gardens, low spots and along ponds/streams.
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Ceratostigma plumbaginoides
Plumbago
Emerging in late spring, this rhizomatous, mat-forming ground cover grows to 6-10 inches tall and is particularly noted for its late season attributes. Five-petaled, woodland phlox-like, blue flowers bloom in clusters from mid-summer to frost on stems with medium green leaves that turn a striking bronze-red in fall. Plants overwinter best if the old foliage is left uncut until spring. This is an excellent ground cover for sunny areas with some afternoon shade such as slopes, under trees, in front of shrubs, in rock gardens and for interplanting with spring bulbs.
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Ceratostigma plumbaginoides
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Dianthus 'Feuerhexe' FIREWITCH
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Dianthus 'Feuerhexe' FIREWITCH
Cheddar Pink
From a mound of grassy, silvery blue leaves, this mat-forming dianthus produces clove-scented, bright magenta-pink flowers from spring to early summer atop wiry stems rising to 6-8 inches tall. Best performance occurs in slightly alkaline, sharply-drained soils in full sun. Deadhead spent flowers to encourage additional bloom and gently shear foliage after flowering to improve appearance. Grow in rock gardens, beds, border fronts or stone wall plantings. Effective massed as a ground cover where the foliage can be enjoyed long after flowering.
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Geranium 'Gerwat' ROZANNE
Cranesbill
Large violet blue flowers with small white centers and purple-violet veins contrast well with the deeply-cut green leaves. A vigorous geranium that grows in a mound to 20 inches tall. Exceptional heat tolerance results in almost non-stop flowering from mid-May until frost with minimal burn-out in the heat of the summer. This easy-to-grow variety performs best with regular moisture, part afternoon shade, and well-drained soil. It is an excellent choice for beds, borders, cottage gardens, patio planters or hanging baskets.
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Geranium 'Gerwat' ROZANNE
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Phlox paniculata 'Robert Poore'
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Phlox paniculata 'Robert Poore'
Garden Pholx
Deep magenta flowers in large pyramidal clusters earn this garden classic a place in the sun. Standing 3-5 feet tall, this phlox reaches peak height and bloom simultaneously in early summer. Plants perform best in rich, organic soils with consistent moisture in full sun. Although resistant to mildew, it still appreciates good air circulation. Staking is generally not required in average garden soils.
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Polygonatum odoratum var. pluriflorum 'Variegatum'
Variegated Solomon's seal
Striking, parallel-veined, soft green leaves variegated with white tips and margins highlight this rhizomatous, shade-loving perennial that grows 2-3 feet tall. Leaves turn an attractive yellow in fall. Equally ornamental but more hidden are the small, fragrant, bell-shaped, white flowers that dangle in pairs underneath arching stems in spring. Blue-black berries ripen in fall. Add this to shaded areas of borders, woodland gardens, wild gardens or naturalized areas. |
Polygonatum odoratum var. pluriflorum 'Variegatum'
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Emeritus Plants of Merit Perennials that we carry are:
Anemone 'Honorene Jobert' • Astilbe Chinensis pumela • Baptisia australis • Brunnera macrophylla •
Calamagrostis 'Karl Forster' – Feather Reed Grass • Callirhoe involucrata – Purple Poppy Mallow •Epimedium 'Sulphureum' •
Heliopisis 'Summer Sun' • Helleborus orientalis – Lenton Rose • Hosta 'Halcyon' • Hosta 'June' •
Iris sibirica 'Ceasar's Brother' • Lobelia cardinalis – Cardinal Flower • Mazus reptans •Ophiopogon 'Nigrescens' – Mondo Grass •
Perovskia atriplicifolia – Russian Sage •Polystichum acrostichoides – Pincushion Flower •
Solidago 'Golden Fleece' – Goldenrod • Sporobolus heterolepis – Prairie dropseed • Stachys 'Big Ears' – Lamb's Ear •
Thalictrum rochebruneanum – Meadow Rue • Tricyrtis formosana – Toad Lily
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2008 Viness
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Aristolochia tomentosa
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Aristolochia tomentosa
Dutchman's pipe
Unusual, curved-trumpet-shaped, yellowish-green flowers resembling Dutch smoking pipes bloom in spring on this Missouri native twining vine that grows to 20-30 feet long. Flowers are often hidden behind large, densely-overlapping, heart-shaped, green leaves. Flowers give way to pendant, grayish-brown seed capsules. This vine can quickly cover an arbor, trellis, sun porch, veranda, post or fence. It is a larval plant for the pipe vine swallowtail butterfly and makes an interesting addition to butterfly gardens |
Lonicera sempervirens
Trumpet Honeysuckle
This non-invasive, semi-evergreen, twining honeysuckle vine is noted for its showy, non-stop, spring-to-fall bloom of two-toned tangerine red trumpets that flare at the tips revealing golden throats. Flowers appear in whorled clusters and are very attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies. Flowers give way to orange-red berries that are attractive to birds. Native to the eastern U. S., this vine is a perfect companion for small arbors, trellises and fences. It typically grows to 8-15 feet long, and can be shaped and controlled with occasional trimming. |
Lonicera sempervirens
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The Plants of Merit Shurbs and Trees that we carry will be noted on the upcoming
2008 Trees and Shrubs List with the Plants of Merit logo.
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The following organizations form the Plants of Merit Partnership.
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