Heirloom Plants

Large, 1-2" long x 3/8-1/2" diameter, shiny black mulberries with a very sweet flavor are produced in spring and are basically seedless. Fruit can be eaten fresh as well as to make jelly, jams, and even wine. The Illinois Everbearing Mulberry, a highly popular hybrid of Morus alba and the native M. rubra, reliably produces large crops at a young age and is self-pollinating. These are fast growing, medium sized trees with a natural umbrella to rounded shaped mature habit to 30-40' high and wide. Songbirds love the ripe fruit and waves of Cedar Waxwings come through annually to feast on them. Mulberries make an easy and low maintenance fruit tree for homes and gardens. These are cuttings grown from our own tree. Item# 1000

Imperial Blue Plumbago produces large clusters of deep sky blue flowers from early summer until fall. Plumbago is a heat, sun, and drought tolerant tropical or tender perennial that makes a great addition to container gardens or it is often found growing as a groundcover, hedge, tree form, and espaliered on fences in mild winter climates. Item# 9739.

Large clusters of deep red flowers with contrasting dark flecks on the three inner petals sit atop sturdy 10-14" high stems and are produced from late spring or early summer into fall attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The Inca Bandit^™ Alstroemeria or Peruvian Lilies were developed for the garden and have proven to be vigorous and reliable perennials potentially into zone 6. This is a rhizomatous slowly spreading, sun to part shade tolerant perennial that can be utilized for summer to fall color in the garden and landscape as well as for showy, low-maintenance container specimens. Alstroemerias prefer an average moist, fertile, well-drained soil and tend to be sturdiest in sun to part shade locations. Where summers are hot consider providing shade or filtered shade during the hottest part of the day. These also serve as long-lasting and popular fresh cut flowers. Images courtesy of Könst Alstroemeria B.V., all rights reserved. Item# 12946

Large clusters of light and medium coral and apricot colored flowers with a yellow 'throat' and contrasting dark flecks on these same three inner petals and sit atop sturdy 8-12" high stems that are produced from late spring or early summer into fall attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The Inca Husky^™ Alstroemeria or Peruvian Lilies were developed for the garden and have proven to be vigorous and reliable perennials potentially into zone 6. This is a compact growing, rhizomatous slowly spreading, sun to part shade tolerant perennial that can be utilized for summer to fall color in the garden and landscape as well as for showy, low-maintenance container specimens. Alstroemerias prefer an average moist, fertile, well-drained soil and tend to be sturdiest in sun to part shade locations. Where summers are hot consider providing shade or filtered shade during the hottest part of the day. These also serve as long-lasting and popular fresh cut flowers. Images courtesy of Könst Alstroemeria B.V., all rights reserved. Item# 12947

Large clusters of flowers that are composed of cherry red and deep pink outer tepals that subtend the darkly flecked cherry red and pink inner tepals are held on sturdy 8-12" high stems. From a distance the flowers tend to appear more red than pink. Flowering begins in spring or early summer and continues into fall attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The Inca Lolly^™ Alstroemeria or Peruvian Lilies were developed for the garden and have proven to be vigorous and reliable perennials potentially into zone 6. This is a compact growing, rhizomatous slowly spreading, sun to part shade tolerant perennial that can be utilized for summer to fall color in the garden and landscape as well as for showy, low-maintenance container specimens. Alstroemerias prefer an average moist, fertile, well-drained soil and tend to be sturdiest in sun to part shade locations. Where summers are hot consider providing shade or filtered shade during the hottest part of the day. These also serve as long-lasting and popular fresh cut flowers. Images courtesy of Könst Alstroemeria B.V., all rights reserved. Item# 12949

Large clusters of flowers that are composed of soft primrose yellow outer tepals that subtend the darker yellow inner tepals which are flecked with contrasting dark flecks on 10-14" high stems. Flowering begins in spring or early summer and continues into fall attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The Inca Sundance^™ Alstroemeria or Peruvian Lilies were developed for the garden and have proven to be vigorous and reliable perennials potentially into zone 6. This is a compact growing, rhizomatous slowly spreading, sun to part shade tolerant perennial that can be utilized for summer to fall color in the garden and landscape as well as for showy, low-maintenance container specimens. Alstroemerias prefer an average moist, fertile, well-drained soil and tend to be sturdiest in sun to part shade locations. Where summers are hot consider providing shade or filtered shade during the hottest part of the day. These also serve as long-lasting and popular fresh cut flowers. Images courtesy of Könst Alstroemeria B.V., all rights reserved. Item# 12948

In summer arching spikes of showy green, flattened seed heads, reminiscent of fish hanging on a fishing pole, are produced which eventually fade to tan and remain showy until late winter or early spring. The seed heads flutter even in the slightest of breezes providing motion and interest for months. One of our most recognizable, useful, and adaptable native grasses, Inland Sea Oats, Chasmanthium latifolium, is a deciduous, small to medium-sized perennial that readily develops into a groundcover via both rhizomes and seed. Its shade and moisture tolerance lend it to use as a tallish groundcover in both full sun to lightly shaded, wet to average moist, naturalistic garden and landscape settings. The decorative seedheads are used both fresh and dried in cut flower arrangements and the foliage is utilized by the Northern Pearly-Eye, Salt and Pepper Skipper, Bell's Roadside Skipper, and the Bronzed Roadside Skipper butterflies. This rhizomatous native grass is widely distributed throughout the central and eastern US from near central and eastern Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas to Illinois, Indiana, and Pennsylvannia. Tough, adaptable, provides late summer, fall, and winter color, and it's deer resistant. Item# 13108

The 2-3" wide, white funnel shaped flowers are randomly flecked with pink to red and are produced in late spring. Iveryanum Azalea, a.k.a. Iveryana, is an heirloom dwarf Southern Indica hybrid developing into a 3' high mound of medium to deep green, medium textured, evergreen foliage. It lends itself to bonsai culture but is sure to be a low-maintenance conversation piece in the garden and landscape. Azaleas do best in average moist, acidic soils that are rich in organic matter but have good to excellent drainage and should be top dressed with an organic mulch such as pine straw and pine bark. We recommend using a slow-release, non-burning fertilizer that is labeled for acidic loving plants. Azalea flowers attract a variety of pollinators including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Item# 12797

An Allen Armitage 'no-brainer' perennial! The white full daisies are held atop and among the rich green foliage beginning in mid to late spring to early summer and continuing into fall. The nectar laden flowers are composed of multiple outer rows of white ray petals that have a light tinge of lavender surrounding a dense rounded mass of lemon tinged disc flowers. Japanese Aster, now classified as Aster iinumae previously Asteromea mongolica or Kalimeris mongolica, is a slowly spreading rhizomatous herbaceous bushy perennial growing to about 12-24"H x 18-24"W though some sources suggest that it may reach 36"H. This plant's reliability and flower power have garnered it a top spot among Dr. Armitage's list of "no-brainer" perennials. Provide a full sun to partly shaded site in average moist, average to well-drained, fertile soils for optimum vigor and flowering. Use this easy perennial in both the garden and landscape as a tall groundcover or specimen as well as for easy and free flowering container specimens. Caterpillar host: Field Crescent, Pearl Crescent, Texan Crescent, Roadside Checkerspot, Hoffman's Checkerspot, and American Lady.

Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries, all rights reserved. Item# 13150

The top performer in both attracting pollinators and disease resistance in the Mt. Cuba Center's trials! Huge conical clusters of smaller than typical fragrant lavender-pink flowers are produced over an extended period beginning in midsummer and lasting into fall attracting a host of pollinators including butterflies, hummingbirds, and larger bees. Jeana Garden Phlox is an exceptionally vigorous and free flowering selection of our native Phlox paniculata whose stems can touch on 5' by the end of the growing season. This is a hardy, clump forming, deciduous perennial preferring a full to mostly sunny site in an acidic, average moist, fertile soil with average or better drainage. Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 13194

The large, double pink, carnation-like flowers are produced in great abundance all summer long on this easily grown deciduous shrub. The Rose of Sharon, a cold hardy shrubby Hibiscus species, has a naturally vase shaped habit when young but becomes rounded and full with age and it can also be trained into a tree form with careful pruning. These heirloom pass-a-long plants are quite tolerant of most well-drained, fertile soils in sunny sites and are resistant to periodic, short term drought once well-established. Jimmy's Double Pink Althea or Rose of Sharon is a much loved plant that came to us via John's mother's prized Althea bush when Jimmy, their 4 year old son, picked his mother, Bonnie, a flower and she rooted the cutting some 40 years ago and it still graces our gardens to this day. The flowers, even though double, attract bees, hummingbirds and the occassional butterfly. Caterpillar host: Gray hairstreak. Item# 810

The 2-3" wide mainly white flowers have a nicely contrasting deep cherry red blotch and flecks but are occasionally light pink to light lavender and are produced in mid to late spring. Johga Azalea, a sport of Izayoi and sometimes spelled 'Joga', is a dwarf Satsuki evergreen azalea that slowly develops into a 2-3' high mound of deep green medium-texured foliage. It lends itself to bonsai culture but is sure to be a low-maintenance conversation piece in the garden and landscape. Azaleas do best in average moist, acidic soils that are rich in organic matter but have good to excellent drainage and should be top dressed with an organic mulch such as pine straw and pine bark. We recommend using a slow-release, non-burning fertilizer that is labeled for acidic loving plants. Azalea flowers attract a variety of pollinators including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Item# 12799

The exquisite medium-sized, high centered, formal double, bright white flowers are produced late in the season, March to April, and standout like spotlights against the foil of deep green foliage. This Camellia flower form is sometimes referred to as a 'pine cone' due to its high center and its neatly overlapping petals. Kagiri Camellia is an heirloom, large flowered Japonica type with a densely branching habit and a slow rate of growth eventually developing into an upright to rounded, large evergreen shrub. The slower growing Camellias make good choices for container specimens and bonsai but will still be a cherished addition to the garden or landscape. Provide Camellias with a fertile soil rich in organic matter, with average moisture, and an organic mulch. Images courtesy of Cam Too Camellia Nursery, all rights reserved. Item# 13230

A Camellia Hall of Fame Award winner! The large semi-double rich rose colored flowers are centered by a boss of gold tipped stamens beginning early in the season. Lady Clare Camellia, its name upon import into the US, is a large vigorous Camellia with a somewhat weeping habit with large dark green foliage. This Japanese heirloom, originally known as Akashigata, has also been known by Empress, Akashi Bay, and Nellie Bly. We originally offered this as Pink Empress. Item# 9144

The variably colored medium sized semi-double flowers of this beauty are composed of wavy petals that can range from near white to blush pink with medium pink toward the center and seemingly random splashes, flecks, and stripes of bright red, or no red at all, that surround a boss of yellow stamens. Lady Vansittart Japonica Camellia is another well loved heirloom cultivar with a slow to medium growth rate. Flowers mid to late season. Item# 11573

Loose hyacinth-like spikes of dainty green flowers with recurving petals and contrasting dark purple filaments and yellow stamens are held above the spotted succulent lax green foliage in spring after a dry winter dormancy. This is an easy to grow dwarf scilla or squill, tentatively Ledebouria socialis 'Laxifolia' as there are many similar horticultural forms within this species, is a dwarf growing, evergreen herbaceous tropical succulent that grows from a thickened above ground bulb and readily multiplies happily filling its container. This should make an easy windowsill, porch, or patio plant where it receives bright indirect sunlight or a small amount of cool early morning or filtered sunlight. Provide this easy to grow plant with a well-drained, cactus-like soil and allow the soil to become moderately dry between waterings. If it gets too dry it will wilt to let you know but it readily recovers once moisture is applied. During active growth, average moisture is preferred and it can be allowed to remain a good deal dryer when dormant. We ship 1-3 or more bulbs actively growing in a 2.25" pot. Item# 12451

Loose hyacinth-like spikes of dainty green flowers with recurving petals and contrasting dark purple filaments and yellow stamens are held above the spotted succulent lax green foliage in spring after a dry winter dormancy. This is an easy to grow dwarf scilla or squill, tentatively Ledebouria socialis 'Laxifolia' as there are many similar horticultural forms within this species, is a dwarf growing, evergreen herbaceous tropical succulent that grows from a thickened above ground bulb and readily multiplies happily filling its container. This should make an easy windowsill, porch, or patio plant where it receives bright indirect sunlight or a small amount of cool early morning or filtered sunlight. Provide this easy to grow plant with a well-drained, cactus-like soil and allow the soil to become moderately dry between waterings. If it gets too dry it will wilt to let you know but it readily recovers once moisture is applied. During active growth, average moisture is preferred and it can be allowed to remain a good deal dryer when dormant. We ship 3 or more bulbs actively growing in a 4.5" pot. Item# 12452

The Lemon Vine creates a beautiful foliage plant with its yellow to bronze and even orange, thick succulent leaves that adorn this vining tropical cactus. Makes a wonderful hanging basket, allow it to spill from mixed containers, or train it as a vine. More light produces richer foliage color. Mature plants may produce white to pale yellow flowers in spring or fall that may be followed by small cactus fruits. Item# 10350.

Deep violet flowers with a white eye hang like grapes from this upright to arching, deciduous to semi-evergreen shrub. The flowers of Lindley's Butterfly Bush, Buddleja lindleyana, are produced nearly continuously from late spring to fall and attract a variety of pollinators including hummingbirds, butterflies, and larger bees. This is a naturally suckering shrub and will slowly develop into a mass that can be utilized as an informal hedge or at the back of the border. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in well-drained soils for optimal vigor and flowering. Item # 341

Up to 1" wide dense double wonderfully fragrant white flowers are produced in abundance throughout the growing season to year round under warm tropical conditions. The Little Duke Sambac Jasmine is an old cultivar with a compact upright to scandent (a.k.a. vine-like) habit and slightly smaller flowers that is a more vigorous prolifically flowering plant than the Grand Duke of Tuscany Jasmine. The dark green elongated to rounded foliage is reminiscent of Grand Duke Supreme Jasmine but Little Duke Jasmine has denser flowers and is expected to be more compact making it a good choice for container culture or bonsai. Provide a full to part sun site in a fertile well-drained acidic soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 12272

The 2-3" wide cupped fragrant roses have red outer petals with deep rose inner petals and are produced throughout the growing season on this disease resistant small shrub. This long-loved rose from 1834 bears many names attesting to its prowess as a garden and landscape rose and it is one of the few roses that has proven resistant to chili thrips in Florida. It is very similar to the ever popular Craimoisi Superieur with which it is often confused but Louis Philippe generally has a more compact habit growing to 3-4' high and wide on average and the flowers seem to be more pink in the inner petals. Like all China Roses provide this easy to grow plant with a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering though it is fairly adaptable. A excellent rose for hedging, landscapes, and as part of a mixed perennial border. Item# 12300

Much like our old favorite the Butterfly Ginger but with much larger (like the size of a Luna Moth) white fragrant flowers that are borne from early summer to fall on shorter sturdier stems to 3-4'H and large lush tropical foliage. An excellent cut flower whose fragrance can fill a room. Multiplies readily but not uncontrollably. Item# 9775.

Magnolia or Brunswick produces a good crop of medium to large bronze to purple figs with good quality pink to amber flesh with tiny seeds and open eye. The fruit ripens over a long season. Magnolia is considered a good choice for the drier portions of the South and Southwestern US. Caterpillar host: Ruddy Daggerwing. Item# 1113.