3-4'H Perennials

#3 in Mt. Cuba Center Baptisia trials and the #1 white cultivar! In midspring, loads of dark smokey purple 12-20" high flower spikes adorned with starkly contrasting bright white pea-like, nectar rich flowers are held well above the neat mounds of foliage. Ivory Towers Baptisia or False Indigo, a hybrid of our native species developed by Tony Avent of Plant Delights Nursery, is an easy and low maintenance, deer resistant, large, long-lived clump forming, herbaceous, taprooted perennial maturing to about 4-5'H and equally wide and it maintains its architecturally pleasing vase shaped form throughout the growing season. As the palnts mature they produce more and more flowering spikes with each passing year with some plants producing over a 100 spikes on mature plants. Considered a must for the cutflower garden as the spikes have an excellent vase life. Provide Baptisias with a full to mostly sunny site in a soil with average or better drainage and moderate fertility. Image credit: Tony Avent, Plant Delights, all rights reserved. Item# 13318

Jacob Cline is one of the more reliable selections of Scarlet Bee Balm producing large clusters of brilliant red tubular flowers atop sturdy 3-4' stems in summer. Considered to be one of the most vigorous and disease resistant cultivars available. A clump-forming, slowly spreading winter deciduous perennial that enjoys moist but well-drained soils and ample sunlight. A hummingbird magnet! Item# 10541.

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

One of the top performers in Mt. Cuba Center's Monarda Trials! The dense whorled, almost ball-like clusters of 2" long tubular, fuchsia flowers are subtended by darker fuchsia and purple bracts. The flowers are supported on tall sturdy stems to about 40-48" high beginning in late spring to early summer and attracting hummingbirds, larger butterflies, hummingbird moths, and bees. Judith's Fancy Fuchsia Beebalm, a likely an offspring of a promiscuous Monarda didyma and M. fistulosa, is a taller growing cultivar that has proven to have excellent resistance to powdery mildew. This is a slowly spreading hardy perennial that generally prefers a moist to average moist, fertile soil, optimally in full sun with good air circulation. The seeds are also enjoyed by songbirds. Item# 12952

The dark coppery to burgundy colored cloak of foliage is topped by a summer long display of large full light pink to near white flowers that are delicately marked with darker pink veining and a burgundy eye. A truly remarkable contrast that is impossible to miss in the landscape! A clump forming moisture loving perennial, Kopper King's compact habit and dark foliage make it a stand out when sited behind Louisiana Irises or next to the chartreuse foliage of Maui Gold Elephant Ears. Caterpillar host: Gray hairstreak. Image courtesy of North Creek Nurseries. Item# 10925

Nectar-rich, light purple flowers are produced continuously from spring to fall on tall spikes that butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds cannot seem to resist! Lavender Porterweed is a medium to large growing exceptionally full and vigorous Porterweed was once considered to be a purple form of the highly popular Coral Porterweed although we have learned that this is a sterile or nearly sterile hybrid cultivar. Porterweeds are excellent nectar producers outperforming nearly all other butterfly plants in the garden. Item# 483

Golden yellow quilled ray petals surround deep brown-eyed cones. The unique flowers of Little Henry Sweet Coneflower are produced on many branched sturdy stems beginning in mid to late summer with the show lasting often into fall on well established plants. A compact form of Henry Eilers with sturdier flower stems and an earlier flowering time, Little Henry's poise and uniqueness lend it to use in smaller spaces but it is sure to make a big statement in nearly any garden or landscape. A clump forming, native perennial whose flowers attract a variety of garden beneficials. Image courtesy of Terra Nova Nurseries, www.terranovanurseries.com. Item# 10921.

Dense clusters of fragrant dark azure to blue-violet flowers nearly cover up the nicely contrasting blue-gray foliage of this shrubby perennial beginning in mid to late summer and continuing into fall. The flowers attract butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. Longwood Blue Bluebeard is a vigorous freely flowering selection of Caryopteris growing to 4' high and 3-4' wide and selected by Longwood Gardens of Pennsylvania. Caryopteris prefers a well-drained soil in a full to mostly sunny position. Somewhat drought resistant once well-established. A Missouri Botanic Gardens Plant of Merit award winner. Item# 11671

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

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.

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

A rare color among Hardy Hibiscus, Marshamallow Moon produces medium to large, solid white, 6" wide saucer-shaped flowers with good substance and are produced in abundance from summer to fall. The flowers are a stand out against the backdrop of deep green foliage. Marshamallow Moon Hardy or Perennial Hibiscus is an indeterminate type meaning that they both begin flowering earlier and flower all up and down the stems instead of just on the upper half of the plant creating a knockout display in the garden and landscape. Provide a full to mostly sunny location in moist to average moist to wet, moderately fertile soils. Caterpillar host: Gray hairstreak. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 13299

The typical Mexican Butterfly Weed that produces clusters of orange to red-orange flowers with contrasting sunny yellow centers are produced from mid to late spring to frost or nearly year round under warm tropical conditions. An excellent host plant for Monarch, Queen, and Soldier Butterflies. It has a naturally upright to vase shaped habit and the stems are adorned with medium sized deep green narrow foliage. Mexican Butterfly Weed can be grown as a short-lived (2-3 years usually) die-back perennial in zones 8-9, it should remain evergreen in zone 10, and is commonly grown as an annual in colder zones. Makes a wonderful heat and sunloving plant with something of a tropical look. Use Mexican Butterfly Weed at the back of the perennial border or in mixed combination pots. Item# 502

Large clusters of fiery orange-red tubular flowers are produced from summer through fall to yearround in warm tropical climates and attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Clusters of shiny black 3/8" fruit develop on pollinated flowers and are utilized by songbirds. When grown in full to mostly sunny conditions the foliage generally has a reddish tinge. The Firebush, Hamelia patens var. patens, is native to the southern half of Florida and is evergreen under frost free conditions and can develop into a medium to large shrub. *We have grown this species in our zone 8B gardens for over 30 years as a quite reliable 3-4' high die-back perennial. Each winter it freezes back to its crown and then returns in mid to late spring to flower through much of summer and into fall. Provide a full to mostly sunny site, although they are fairly tolerant, for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 10668

Large 8-9" wide glowing deep red flowers are held against the dark burgundy maple-like foliage of this hardy Hibiscus. Midnight Marvel Perennial Hibiscus is a show stopper that absolutely pops in the summer and early fall landscape! Another excellent Walter's Gardens introduction, this hardy Hibiscus is sure to make a statement whether in the garden and landscape or all on its own. Like some of the other Walter's Gardens Hibiscus introduction, Midnight Marvel flowers all the way from the top to the bottom of these naturally rounded plants. Provide full to mostly sun and a moderately rich moist soil. Caterpillar host: Gray hairstreak. Item# 11420

Midnight Mexican Bush Sage produces long, rich purple, tubular flowers that emerge from velvety purple calyxes creating long upright to gently arching spikes of flowers in late summer and fall (and spring where protected from freezing). Soft velvety finely textured foliage on a durable and deer proof, reliable, clump forming perennial. Great for hummingbirds and butterflies! Item# 2981.

Deep glowing red full Hibiscus flowers are held against the deep burgundy foliage of this exceptionally beautiful hardy and compact Hibiscus and Mimi is sure to be a conversation piece in any garden. Begins flowering early and at a young age. This is a cold hardy perennial Hibiscus that is well suited to container culture or in moist garden settings as well as in the shallow edges of water gardens, ponds, and in bog gardens. Caterpillar host: Gray hairstreak. Item# 11149

One of the hardiest Lantana on the market, Miss Huff thumbs her nose at cold weather all the way to zone 7! A wonderfully free flowering Lantana whose clusters of flowers open yellow, fade to orange, coral, and finally near pink and are born from summer to frost. An excellent choice for butterflies! Miss Huff Lantana comes highly recommended by Texas horticulturist and plantsman Greg Grant and is also a 2003 Georgia Gold Medal winner. Item# 9727.

Clusters of deep red to red-orange flowers are each centered by contrasting orange to gold coronas but the most interesting thing about this cultivar is that is cloaked in beautifully variegated cream, pink, and green narrow foliage. Monarch Promise Butterflyweed, a selection of Asclepias curassavica, is an upright growing to vase-shaped, naturally evergreen, herbaceous tropical that flowers from spring to fall. It is sure to make for a colorful addition to containers as well as in the garden and landscape. In areas where freezes occur, like zone 8B, Butterfly Milkweed plants may freeze to the ground and generally return from the roots in spring but we cannot vouch for this specific cultivar's reliability as a die-back perennial. Caterpillar host: Queen and Monarch. Item# 12088

A rare and endangered perennial Hibiscus that is native to just a few counties in east Texas. 3-5" wide, creamy white Hibiscus flowers with a burgundy eye are born from mid-summer to fall. Finely textured, and deeply cut, deep green foliage adds to the charm of this Hibiscus. Seems to do equally well under moist conditions as under average garden conditions. Caterpillar host: Gray hairstreak. Item# 9400.