2-3'H Perennials

Dense clusters of dainty white to lavender tubular flowers top the hairy blue-green to green fragrant foliage in summer. The small nectar rich flowers of Hairy Mountain Mint attract a wide variety of pollinators, and are especially important to native bees. This is a rhizomatous native perennial that will readily spread especially in moist soils. Hairy Mountainmint, Pycnanthemum verticillatum var. pilosum, is native to the northcentral US, mainly Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, Arkansas, eastern Tennessee, eastern Kentucky and as far south as northern Mississippi. It is typically found in moist, calcareous soils but can tolerate drier sites where it is less likely to spread aggressively. Item# 11763

The purple to magenta falls and standards are edged in white with a white reverse and are accented by a yellow signal and are centered by magenta style arms. Holly Joy Carol Louisiana Iris is a mid to late season flowering selection growing to about 30-34" high. Louisiana Irises are easy and adaptable, rhizomatous perennials with fans of deep green sword-like foliage and seem as at home in standing water as they do in average moist garden soils. Remember that these plants do most of their growing in fall and winter and so this is when they should be fed and fall is also a great time to divide plants if desired. Provide a full to mostly sunny site for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 13432

Spikes of red lipped, pure white or occasionally solid red, two-lipped tubular flowers are produced continuously from spring to fall on this durable drought and heat resistant perennial salvia. Hot Lips Salvia develops into a mounding upright to spreading plant that loves the heat and sun. It is considered a hybrid by some but most experts consider it to be a selection of Littleleaf Sage, S. microphylla. Its bicolor flowers attract a variety of pollinators including hummingbirds, butterflies, and larger bees. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a fertile well-draining soil for optimum vigor and flower power. In areas that experience hard freezes plant this Salvia out between early spring to midsummer to ensure winter survival. Hot Lips Salvia was selected as a Royal Horticulture Society Award of Garden Merit Winner for 2015. Item# 3002

Clusters of 2" deep reddish orange upward facing tubular blooms are born from summer to fall, making this a choice plant for fall migrating Hummingbirds. The bright nectar rich flowers are held on sturdy stems above the beautiful bluish gray velvety foliage on this tough little heat and sun loving perennial. Typically freezes to the ground in winter but readily returns in spring. Drought tolerant once well established and does best in well drained soils. Caterpillar host: White Peacock and Malachite. Item# 9563.

The bluest of the blues! Blue Arrowleaf Sage produces large branching clusters composed of dense spikes of 1" vivid cobalt blue tubular flowers that may be produced nearly throughout the year on this hybrid Salvia. Blue Arrowleaf Sage has large velvety arrowhead shaped aromatic foliage that seems to retain its tidiness throughout the growing season. The nectar rich flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies alike. Grow it in the garden or as as a medium-sized container plant. Item# 9949

Large rounded clusters of deep sky blue, salverform flowers are produced spring to fall to potentially year round under warm tropical conditions and are mainly butterfly pollinated. Imperial Blue Plumbago, a slightly darker selection of Plumbago auriculata, is a naturally evergreen, mounding to scandent or vine-like shrubby tropical that typically grows to about 1-2' high and 3-4' wide by the end of the growing season. This is an easy hanging basket or container specimen and can be utilized as a filler or trailer in combination planters as well as for patio trees, espaliers, or vining along a fence in areas that don't experience hard freezes, like in zones 10-11. It also makes a showy addition to the garden and landscape and plants are fairly adaptable to sun to brightly shaded sites. Plumbago will do best in rich and fertile, average moist, acidic soils with good drainage. Item# 9739

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

In mid to late summer large clusters of frilly deep purple flowers sit atop short sturdy stems that are covered in fine dark green narrow foliage giving this tough as nails perennial as soft pleasing texture even when not in flower. Iron Butterfly Ironweed is as tough as its name implies, even though this is a selection of a rare species, it can tolerate short periods of drought or periodic inundation with ease. A nice tightly clump forming perennial from the works of Dr. Allen Armitage and the UGA horticulture program. The flowers provide much needed late summer fodder for bees, butterflies, and other garden beneficials. Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries, all rights reserved. Item# 10929.

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

A vigorous award winning Louisiana Iris, Jeri produces loads of large, rich dark purple flowers in spring that are sure to stop traffic. Its vigor lends it to use as a tall groundcover for moist areas or it will do just fine in average moist garden soils. Provide Louisiana Irises with a moist to average moist to moderately wet site for the best results in a full to mostly sunny position. In average moist sites consider providing midday or filtered shade. Louisiana Iris make easy additions to bog gardens and along ponds, lakes, or other consistently moist sites. Jeri Louisiana Iris won the Ira S. Nelson award in 1986. Item# 10488

A Texas Superstar® selection! The large pyramidal to domed clusters of dark-eyed, light pink, lightly fragrant flowers are produced atop tall sturdy stems in summer and potentially into fall attracting mainly butterflies. John Fanick Garden Phlox, a selection of Phlox paniculata, is a disease resistant, clump forming, upright growing, herbaceous, native perennial growing to about 3' high and 1-2' wide. Garden Phlox will do best in an open, full sun to partially shaded site, with a well-draining, rich and fertile, acidic soil with average moisture and an organic mulch is highly recommended. John Fanick is one of the few disease resistant Garden Phlox recommended for the hot and humid south by Texas Horticulturist and author Greg Grant. Item# 10267

Kevin Matthews Louisiana Iris produces large purple flowers with contrasting golden daggers outlined in black along the outer edges of the standards. This is a vigorous and hardy Louisiana Iris that is part of the Fallen Heroes series hybridized by Lee-Ann Connelly, now Shearouse, and marketed by Ag3 Inc. A portion of the price of each plant is donated to the Fallen First Responders charity that aids the children of both Firefighters and Law Enforcement. Multiplies readily in average garden soils, moist to wet soils, or they can be set in water gardens where the container is just below the water's surface. Provide a full to mostly sunny site for optimum vigor and flowering. Images courtesy of AG3, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12140

Spring and summer offer up a mound of dark purplish-black foliage that covers up in late summer and fall with contrasting white daisies with a purplish-red eye. The flowers of Lady in Black Calico or Woodland Aster attract a myriad of pollinators like bees, smaller butterflies, and other garden beneficials at a time when many are stock piling for winter. This is an easy and reliable clump forming native perennial selected for its deep dark foliage. Lady in Black Woodland Aster is tolerant of light shade but will have the darkest foliage where it receives the most direct sunlight. May reseed on exposed soils. 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# 12114

Multitudes of 3-4" wide golden yellow daisies with a tan to dark brown 'eye' sit atop sturdy 18-24" stems and are produced in late spring to early summer and may repeat if deadheaded. The Large-Flower or Rough Coneflower, Rudbeckia grandiflora, is a tough and easy to grow clump forming perennial that can produce 80 or more flowering stems per clump once mature. This is probably one of the most underutilized native perennials as it has one of the most uniform habits of the native Coneflowers, it is long-lived and it can tolerate the moist to wet settings of acid bogs as well as short periods of drought once well-established. This is one of the major components of our Once-Mown Meadows here onsite. Provide a full to mostly sunny site for optimum vigor and flowering. Deer and rabbit resistant and the flowers attract a variety of smaller pollinators. Item# 9885

Deep glowing red, starry flowers with tubular throats are held on sturdy 24-36" high stems and flower over an extended period beginning in summer and often into fall under good conditions. An obviously hummingbird pollinated perennial but it aslo attracts some larger butterflies, especially Sulphurs. The Louisiana Catchfly, Silene subciliata, is a rare, drought resistant, clump forming, tap-rooted, native perennial that is found only in Western Louisiana and East Texas. It is typically seen growing on well-drained sandy loams to loamy sands and so areas with good to excellent drainage will be optimum. While the Louisiana Catchfly can tolerate the filtered shade of open Longleaf Pine forests, plants tend to be sturdier and shorter in full to mostly sunny sites. The rosettes are cloaked in rounded narrow, medium-green foliage and remain evergreen in zone 8B. This is one of the few Silenes that easily tolerates the heat and humidity of Southeastern summers. Easy and reliable once established. Item# 9522

A sterile clump forming selection! Machu™ Morado Ruellia produces a summer long display of purple trumpet shaped flowers that attract bees and larger butterflies. This new introduction boasts a slightly more compact habit than the similar Purple Showers but with all the flower power, heat tolerance, and adaptability and with a sterile non-invasive clump forming habit. Machu™ Morado Ruellia or Mexican Petunia is an easy to grow heat and sunloving tropical well suited to container culture as well as in the garden and landscape. Adaptable to soil types but prefers a sunny site in a fertile moist to average moist soil. Item# 12072

Exceptionally fragrant with a strong spearmint aroma! Malcolm's Whiteleaf Mountainmint, a.k.a. Malcolm's Mint, was selected and introduced by its namesake Dr. Malcolm Vidrine for its strong minty fragrance in lieu of the typical, sometimes camphor-like, fragrance more common to this species. This is a clump forming native perennial with an upright to rounded growth habit reaching about 3' high by flowering. The dainty flowers are pollinated by a variety of smaller pollinators but are especially relished by bees. Easy to grow and deer and pest resistant. Whiteleaf Mountainmint is somewhat drought resistant once well-established. Clusters of tiny, light pink, tubular flowers are encircled by a mass of velvety white, bract-like leaves in mid to late summer. Item# 12627

Deep violet trumpets are born freely from late spring or early summer until first frost to year round under warm tropical conditions atop sturdy stems. Mayan™ Purple Ruellia or Mexican Petunia is a relatively new seed and pollen sterile selection that can spend more energy on flowering instead of adding unwanted seedlings to the garden. In many regards it is similar to but outperforms Purple Showers in overall flower power and disease resistance. It is also a tetraploid so the funnel-shaped flowers are slightly larger than your typical Mexican Petunias. The Mexican Petunia is a naturally evergreen, rhizomatous or spreading, tropical perennial that is grown as a die-back perennial in zones 8-9. It can be grown as a low maintenance container specimen plant, in mixed container gardens, as well as in the garden and landscape. It can also be used as a tall groundcover in difficult sites. The flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Provide Mexican Petunias with a full sun to part sun site in an average moist to wet, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 12435

2-3" wide rounded clusters of white to light rose pink flowers, sometimes with green to purple tones, are produced in late spring and summer attracting bees and other smaller pollinators. Mexican Whorled Milkweed, Asclepias fascicularis, is considered one of the better native Milkweeds for garden culture. This West Coast native, rhizomatous perennial grows to about 2-3' high and spreads to about 2-3' wide with its many stems adorned in narrow medium green foliage and are readily utilized by Monarch butterflies as a larval food source. It is highly drought resistant once fully established though plants tend to look and flower best under average moisture conditions. Mexican Whorled Milkweed is found in all West Coast states including into Idaho, Utah, and Nevada as well as into Baja Mexico. Provide a full to mostly sunny site, in a well-drained soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Naturally enters dormancy in late summer returning in spring. Caterpillar host: Queen and Monarch. Item# 12974

The arching spikes of 1" long, velvety, tubular, purple flowers emerge from long lasting, velvety, purple calyxes in late summer and into fall, and potentially spring where plants are protected from freezing temperatures, attracting Monarch butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators. Midnight Mexican Bush Sage, a selection of Salvia leucantha, is a multi-stemmed, clump forming and slowly spreading perennial whose 3-4' high, upright to slightly arching stems are cloaked in velvety, narrow lance-shaped, green to gray-green foliage that adorns the young white stems. This is a heat and sunloving, salt tolerant, and deer proof plant that typically does best in an average moist, well-draining soils but are somewhat drought resistant once fully established. Its uniform habit lends it to use in formal to informal garden and landscape settings as well as medium to large containers. It is considered reliably hardy in zones 8-10 and it can be enjoyed as an annual in colder winter regions. In areas that experience hard freezes, plant out as early in the growing season as possible to ensure a strong crown before frost arrives and a breathable winter mulch and excellent drainage will further help to ensure winter survival. Selected as a Texas Super Star© Plant and as an RHS Award of Garden Merit winner. Item# 2981

The nearly 1/2" wide, deep purple flowers with starkly contrasting white eyes are produced along the wispy elongating flower spikes from spring to frost attracting a variety of pollinators including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Midnight Moon Improved Porterweed, a hybrid that includes Stachytarpheta cayennensis in its lineage, is a compact growing, well-branched, naturally evergreen tropical growing to about 2-3' high and 1-2' wide. This improved version sports larger, even deeper purple flowers with a similar growth habit to its predecessor. This Porterweed is small and compact enough for container culture as a specimen or in mixed company or utilize it as a summer long pollinator magnet for the garden and landscape. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist, fertile, average to well-drained soil for optimum vigor and maximum flowering. Item# 12081

A multiple award winning Louisiana Iris producing deep currant red falls with contrasting golden yellow signals and with slightly lighter red standards with a darker midvein and dark style arms. My Friend Dick Louisiana Iris is midseason flowering and grows to about 34-36" high. Louisiana Irises are easy and adaptable, rhizomatous perennials with fans of deep green sword-like foliage and seem as at home in standing water as they do in average moist garden soils. Remember that these plants do most of their growing in fall and winter and so this is when they should be fed and fall is also a great time to divide plants if desired. Provide a full to mostly sunny site for optimum vigor and flowering. My Friend Dick has been awarded the Debaillon Medal in 2007, an Award of Merit in 2005, and an Honorable Mention in 2003. Item# 13446