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Ajuga (Bugleweed)
Ajugas, as a group, have been overlooked because of the prevalence and pestilence of the common types. These small forms are great for rock gardens, woodland gardens, etc. with their colorful foliage. In addition, improvements to flowering are now being featured, as well as their desirability to swallowtail butterflies. Ajugas are very tough, but perform their best in moist areas of light shade or partial sun. Great as a grow-through plant for spring and summer bulbs. |
Ajuga reptans 'Planet Zork' (Planet Zork Bugleweed)
Part Sun to Light Shade Zone: 5-7 2" tall Origin: Japan
Web-Only!
Okay, I'd probably grow this just for the name, but imagine my excitement when it turned out to be a cool garden plant as well. Most ajugas don't fare well in our heat and humidity, but to my surprise, A. 'Planet Zork' has performed wonderfully in our garden trials. This compact selection comes from Japan where its slow clumping growth habit and upwardly cupped, crinkled, grey-green leaves with a pink overlay are highly prized. Superficially, it looks like Ajuga 'Burgundy Glow' that was sprayed with weedkiller...a likely leftover from the "better gardening through chemicals" program. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #06721
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Ajuga tenorii 'Toffee Chip' PPAF (Toffee Chip Bugleweed)
Part Sun to Light ShadeZone: 4-8 1" tall Origin: Europe
NEW!
This amazingly cute sport from Ajuga 'Valfredda' (Chocolate Chip) was discovered at Oregon's Terra Nova Nurseries. Each tiny green leaf is surrounded by a wide border of creamy yellow. Because of the small nature of the parent and the amount of white on the sport, this is not going to be one of those ajugas that takes over the world...perfect for a miniature train setting or small rock garden. The clumps are topped with towering 3" tall flower spikes of tiny purple flowers in June. Be sure to keep it away from plants like large hostas which will inadvertently smother this baby. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #08219
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Alcea
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Alcea rugosa (Russian Hollyhock)
SunZone: 3-8a 72" tall Origin: Russia
This superb but rarely encountered hollyhock from Russia has been one of the best performers in our display garden. From an evergreen basal rosette of corrugated grey-green leaves, tall sturdy 6-7' spikes arise, beginning in spring. The spikes are clothed along the bottom half with typical hollyhock foliage, while the top half is adorned all summer with large 4" single buttery-yellow flowers. For us, A. rugosa has proven to be a reliable and disease-resistant perennial compared to other hollyhock species. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #04469
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Allium (Onion)
While some of our worst weeds are alliums, so are some great garden plants. The key is to sort through the weedy species, which are also easy and cheap for disreputable nurseries to reproduce, and find the gems. We have been trialing alliums for years. Thanks to the Allium King, Mark McDonough for allowing us to offer some of his great hybrids. As a general rule, allium are easy-to-grow, insect and disease free, very drought tolerant, and acceptable of a wide range of garden conditions.
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Allium canadense 'White Flag' (White Flag Onion)
SunZone: 5-9, guessing 15" tall Origin: USA
Web-Only!
(aka: A. canadensis f. florosum) This wonderful allium is an introduction Dr. Thad Howard discovered in 1985 near Waco, TX. This particular plant stood out in a large patch of typical A. canadense because of the much larger, showier flower heads. Upon close examination, Dr. Howard found this selection did not contain the weedy bulbils of typical A. canadense. The narrow green leaves composing the 18" wide clump are topped in mid-May (NC) with a mass of 2" wide flower heads, each filled with small white flowers. Our 5-year-old clump has over 100 flower heads. The plants go dormant in midsummer and re-emerge in November. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #07460
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Allium 'Millennium' (Millennium Onion)
SunZone: 5-8, at least 12" tall Origin: Hybrid
This stunning A. nutans hybrid comes from the Onion Man, Mark McDonough. A. 'Millennium' represents several generations of breeding (onions) and is head and shoulders above any other alliums we grow. The compact 1' tall x 1' wide clump of narrow glossy green leaves is topped for over a month in late summer with 2" rosy-purple flower heads. We grow A. 'Millennium' in several locations and have never seen any sign of a stray seedling...garliccimo! Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #05466
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Allium senescens 'Blue Eddy' (Blue Eddy Onion)
SunZone: 4-8, at least 4" tall Origin: Europe, Asia
Web-Only!
We are pleased to offer this new selection from the Onion King, Mark McDonough of MA. This selection of A. senescens var. glaucum was made for its dwarf, tightly swirling habit. The pencil-thin, powder-blue leaves make an attractive plant to only 4" tall. In September and October, the clump is topped with 6" stems of light lavender-pink flowers. This is a perfect addition to even the smallest rock garden. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #06401
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Allium 'Sugar Melt' (Sugar Melt Onion)
SunZone: 5-8, at least 6" tall Origin: Hybrid
Web-Only!
We had almost given up on alliums after growing far too many weedy species but have been delighted to find great non-weedy hybrids, thanks to Allium guru Mark McDonough. This hybrid Mark's combines the best traits of both Allium nutans with the popular Allium senescens. A. 'Sugar Melt' has been a standout in our rock garden, making a 6" tall x 8" wide circular clump of narrow green leaves, topped in early July (later in colder climates) with 16" stems of light pink flower balls...a perfect rock garden plant. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #06402
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Allium texanum (Texas Onion)
SunZone: 5-9 15" tall Origin: USA
Web-Only!
This recently discovered species from TX and into OK was published in 1990 by Dr. Thad Howard. Allium texanum was split off from the larger A. canadensis group and has proved to be very unique. The narrow blue-grey foliage forms an 18" wide mound, topped from mid-May to late June (NC) with a mass of 15" tall stalks, each topped with attractive umbels of white flowers. By late summer, the clumps are dormant, but re-emerge in November. We're always nervous about the potential weediness of alliums, but this has been a "good actor" in our trials. We would like to thank Dr. Howard for sharing with us so we may share with you.
Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #07465
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Allium victorialis 'Cantabria' (Victory Onion)
Sun to Part SunZone: 5-7, at least 12" tall Origin: Spain
Web-Only!
(A. victorialis ARMH 7827) This unique onion has long been a favorite for its early-emerging (March) 1' tall x 3" wide, glossy green, upright paddle-shaped leaves, topped in May with a 2' tall flower spike, ending in a 2.25" wide ball of greenish white flowers. This particular selection of the widespread (Europe through Asia) E. victorialis was collected at 5000' in Northern Spain's autonomous region, Cantabria. We have grown A. victorialis for 10+ years and are yet to have a single seedling...a superb garden specimen. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #08028
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Alocasia (Elephant Ear)
Many of these aroids are proving to be hardy in the garden...in our Zone 7b garden. Even with their hardiness, the central bulb may die out during a cold winter and the plant will re-sprout from small side bulbs. This can often be prevented by a 1'+ pile of leaf mulch over the main crown in winter. Alocasia differs technically from colocasias in ovary characters, but in most cases, have shiny leaves while most colocasias have matte finish leaves. Another difference is that alocasia leaves can be divided or undivided whereas colocasia leaves are always undivided. Moist, rich soils produce the best plants. |
Alocasia cucullata 'Yellow Tail' (Yellow-edge Hooded Elephant Ear)
Sun to Part SunZone: 7b-10 36" tall Origin: Burma, India
Web-Only!
This quirky little elephant ear has fared very well in our trials for the last 5 years. In shape, it resembles a vigorous form of typical A. cucullata, forming 3' tall x 3' wide clumps of small, twisty, thick, glossy green leaves. This particular selection has leaves that are bordered with an irregular, narrow yellow edge...a plant for collectors who need every one. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #07588
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Alocasia macrorrhizos (Giant Upright Elephant Ear)
Sun to Light ShadeZone: 7b-10 72" tall Origin: India
(syn: Alocasia macrorrhiza) This very cool elephant ear is quite different from the typical C. esculenta. The thick sculpted, glossy green leaves are held upright on dramatically rigid stems. A clump of giant upright elephant ear is guaranteed to stop visitors in their tracks...especially if they walk into it! A. macrorrhizos has been quite hardy in the Raleigh area, surviving 0 degrees F but prefers it a bit warmer. Pot size: 2 qt. (1.892 L) #01160
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Alocasia macrorrhizos 'Shock Treatment' (Shock Treatment Upright Elephant Ear)
Sun to Part SunZone: 7b-10 36" tall Origin: Vietnam
NEW!
In 2005, we were botanizing north of Hanoi and after finding our road washed out, we retreated through a series of uninteresting back roads until sighting this bizarre form of the common Alocasia macrorrhizos in the front yard of a small home. The owner gladly shared a piece, that we subsequently named A. 'Shock Treatment'. This mutation of A. macrorrhizos makes a 3' tall clumper with glossy green leaves that are bizarrely twisted and crinkled. This is a larger version of Alocasia cucculata 'Crinkles'. So far, this has proven as winter hardy as regular A. macrorrhizos. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #07121
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Alocasia 'Portodora' (Hybrid Upright Elephant Ear)
Sun to Part SunZone: 7b-10 96" tall Origin: Hybrid
(syn: A. x portora 'Portodora') This superb alocasia hybrid was selected by Ron Weeks, from seedlings of a cross made by LariAnn Garner of Aroidia Research. This hybrid of A. odora x A. portei makes a stunning upright clump that is essentially an improved A. macrorrhizos. Each giant, green, heavily-scalloped leaf is held sturdily upright atop the thick, muscular purple stalks. This is truly an architectural specimen plant for any garden. As with all elephant ears, a moist, rich organic soil is best. A good thick winter mulch helps prevent rot in cold, wet soils. Pot size: 2 qt. (1.892 L) #03654
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Alocasia wentii (Hardy Elephant Ear)
Part Sun to Light ShadeZone: 7b-10 36" tall Origin: New Guinea
Although this hardy and easy-to-grow elephant ear was first described in 1916, the true species is still virtually unknown in horticultural circles (thanks to Peter Boyce formerly of Kew Gardens for confirming the identity of our specimen). From the remote mountains of New Guinea, Alocasia wentii is one of the very few alocasias that we have found to be winter hardy in our Zone 7b climate. The glossy bronze-green leaves reach 1' in length as they adorn this tightly clumping elephant ear. As the breeze blows, you will enjoy the contrasting metallic-purple leaf backs. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #02967
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