2021 New Plants

The arrowhead shaped medium green foliage is decorated with darker purplish green round spots when young then matures to a rich medium green. Soon after leafing back out in spring, African False Hosta, Drimiopsis maculata, produces arching 1" diameter dense rounded spikes of small white buds that mature to green once the flowers open.This is a naturally decidous clump-forming, readily multiplying, semi-hardy tropical bulb that is well suited to shaded conditions and is suprisingly considered hardy in the garden into zone 7B per Tony Avent of Plant Delights. The shade-loving African False Hosta is well suited to container culture where it makes an easy and low-maintenance specimen plant, utilize it in mixed succulent gardens, as a groundcover under larger plants provided it gets sufficient light, as well as in the shaded garden or landscape. Its main requirement is a very well-drained soil. During active growth, average moisture is preferred and it can be allowed to remain a good deal dryer when dormant. We ship 3 flowering-sized bulbs actively growing in a 4.5" pot. Item# 12276

The arrowhead shaped medium green foliage is decorated with darker purplish green round spots when young then matures to a rich medium green. Soon after leafing back out in spring, African False Hosta, Drimiopsis maculata, produces arching 1" diameter dense rounded spikes of small white buds that mature to green once the flowers open.This is a naturally decidous clump-forming, readily multiplying, semi-hardy tropical bulb that is well suited to shaded conditions and is suprisingly considered hardy in the garden into zone 7B per Tony Avent of Plant Delights. The shade-loving African False Hosta is well suited to container culture where it makes an easy and low-maintenance specimen plant, utilize it in mixed succulent gardens, as a groundcover under larger plants provided it gets sufficient light, as well as in the shaded garden or landscape. Its main requirement is a very well-drained soil. 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# 12277

Tall sturdy branching spikes adorned with tubular, two-lipped, pale sky blue flowers with a slightly darker blue hood are produced from spring or early summer into fall attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. African Sky Salvia is a vigorous, freely flowering, clump-forming, deer and drought resistant, tropical, shrubby perennial with medium green, rough, fragrant foliage perfectly suited to hot sunny sites in well-drained soils. It can be even be grown as a clipped hedge in freeze free, tropical locations. Use African Sky Salvia in containers for an easy care, pollinator attracting plant with a long season of flowering. This is quite different from the similarly named, spring and fall flowering Salvia uliginosa 'African Skies', a selection of Bog Sage. Item# 12552

This may be the heirloom fig Amato, sometimes incorrectly Amata, that was imported by Amato Tassa from Italy during his immigration from Italy. An article was written about his Mr. Tassa's 25' high fig tree in Washington, D.C. in the October 8, 1910 issue of the Washington Times as fresh ripened figs seem to be almost unknown from that area at that time. In Dr. Ira Condit's Figs: a Monograph he lists this variety as Royal with the synonyms: Obispo, Trojano di Napoli, Tassa Brown, and Geraci Black and suggests that it was imported several times and was given a variety of names. Dr. Condit states that it produces both a fair breba crop and a decent primary crop of medium to large, black, violet, to green, turbinate, or flattened and with little or no neck, with a modereately rich, sweet flavor and an amber to strawberry flesh. It has a medium to large eye and so may be best suited to drier climates. Amato's cold hardiness, as proven by its ability to apparently thrive and produce in the Washington, D.C. area, should make this a good fig to try in more northerly latitudes. These were kindly shared with us by Christine Jones. Item# 11450

"Nothing says American like this big, bold, and beautiful native cultivar, which will make a dramatic statement in your garden come late spring. Gorgeous, golden yellow flower spikes rise up above its wide habit. This is one of the most floriferous Baptisia we offer, producing loads of brightly colored spikes for many weeks. After the blooming season, 'American Goldfinch' produces attractive round seed pods in the fall. This is the perfect specimen for filling in a large space in your garden or for mass plantings in landscapes." - Walter's Gardens. American Goldfinch Baptisia, a hybrid cultivar of our native species (a.k.a. nativar), has exceptional vigor as well as foliage that lasts through summer. These are easy and low-maintenance, deer resistant, long-lived, taprooted perennials that 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. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12670

Ooh la la! Oh my my! As sexy as Hot Lips but in an all new shade! The spikes of two-lipped tubular bright white flowers are tipped with a broad band of amethyst, between violet and purple, at the tips of the petals creating a dark and mysterious contrast. Flowers may be solid amethyst when the weather is cool and dreary but quickly revert to their two-toned splendor with a little sunshine. Amethyst Lips Salvia begins flowering in late spring or early summer and continues until fall, all the while attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Amethyst Lips Salvia, a hybrid of the two native species S. greggii and S. microphyllai, a.k a S. x jamesonii, develops into a naturally rounded, shrub-like perennial that may remain evergreen in mild winter climates, like zones 9B-10, but acts like a die-back perennial where temperatures fall much below about 30^oF. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in well-drained, average moist, fertile soils for maximum flower power. Item# 12473

The exceptionally dark purple to near black tubular flowers peek out of the mealy white 1" long tubular calyxes that are borne in whorls around equally white stems in summer and into fall. Andean Silver-Leaf Sage, Salvia discolor, is a shrubby naturally scandent or sprawling herbaceous perennial from the Peruvian Andes Mountains that grows to about 2-3 feet high and 2-3 feet wide. The ovate dark green glossy opposite foliage has a brightly contrasting white reverse and is borne along mealy white stems. The foliage, stems, and buds are fragrant when brushed or bruised. Also known as Peruvian or Concolor Sage it is widely grown as 3'x3' shrub in the warmer parts of Europe. It is listed as being tolerant of part shade but we find it to be most vigorous in full to mostly sunny conditions in average moist well-drained soils. Item# 12239

The rounded flower clusters open sunny yellow, fade to orange, and finally mature to a deep purplish pink to near purple all atop a neatly rounded mound forming plant growing to about 18-24"H x 24-36"W. Anne Marie Lantana's neat full rounded habit lend it to use as a medium-sized container specimen plant for sunny sites or add it to the garden and landscape for spring to fall color. This is a sport of Irene Lantana discovered and introduced by the Kearley family who own Robrick Nursery, Hawthorne, FL and was named in honor of their youngest daughter. The flowers of Lantana attract a myriad of pollinators including bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and other garden beneficials. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a fertile, average moist soil for optimum vigor and continuous flowering. Images courtesy of Robrick Nursery, all rights reserved. Item# 12432

The large periwinkle blue semi-double star-shaped flowers open from balloon shaped buds throughout the summer months. Astra Semi-Double Blue Balloon Flower is a dwarf and compact clump forming taprooted herbaceous perennial that produces more and more flowering stems as the plants age. This dwarf seed grown strain tops out at just 8-12" high making for an easy and long flowering container specimen or a colorful conversation starting perennial for the sunny garden and landscape. Ballon Flowers do best in full to mostly sunny, average moist, well-drained, fertile soils. Images courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12314

The clusters of fragrant starry white flowers with a touch of contrasting red to burgundy at the base of the corona may be produced throughout the year under warm tropical conditions. The sweet and almost honey-like, spicily fragrant flowers attract butterflies, hummingbird moths, and other pollinators. The Australian Waxflower, Hoya australis, is an exceptionally vigorous growing, twining, evergreen, tropical vine with glossy rounded ovate foliage and burgundy new growth. It naturally wants to climb and the vines can reach 30' long if offered support but it can also easily be trained to a small 3' high trellis or as a hanging basket specimen. This appears to be one of the easier to grow species and is reported to tolerate some cool sunlight although the leaves may become more olive or yellowish green than the typical deep green coloration under high light conditions. Item# 12343

The large rounded, thick, tough, blue-green to deep olive green, evergreen foliage is long-lived and as the name suggests you can sign your name on a young leaf and watch it grow as the leaf expands. The Autograph Tree, Clusia rosea, is an upright growing tropical to subtropical tree from the Caribbean and southern Florida that produces white to pink, 2-3 inch wide, waxy flowers that open at night and may last into morning on overcast days and are followed by 2-3" diameter green fruits that eventually fall and split open to reveal bright red-orange seeds that attract birds. Although this is a tropical tree it can easily be maintained as container shrub with pruning. Provide full sun to part sun in a well-drained, average moist soil. Its night opening flowering suggest moth pollination making this a good addition to the moon moth garden. Drought resistant and a forgiving and easy container specimen. Item# 12609

An unusual bicolored Mexican Petunia, Aztec Pink and White™ Ruellia produces pure white trumpets with contrasting magenta throats that are born freely from late spring or early summer until first frost to year round under warm tropical conditions atop medium-sized sturdy stems. This Mexican Petunia is a relatively new, compact, seed and pollen sterile selection that can spend more energy on flowering instead of adding unwanted seedlings to the garden. It 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 medium-sized groundcover in difficult sites. The flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Provide Mexican Petunias with a full to part sun site in an average moist to wet, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 12599

Large clusters of rich purple to red-purple flowers sit atop the sturdy 3-4' stems of this medium sized Ironweed in summer and potentially into fall. Baldwin's or Western Ironweed, Vernonia baldwinii, is an excellent source of midsummer pollen and nectar for long-tongued bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. This species is more drought resistant than many Ironweeds once well-established and it is important to note that this species can colonize an area via long rhizomes. Its ability to colonize an area may make it a better choice for naturalistic areas like meadows, prairies, and roadsides than in more formal garden settings. Provide good drainage and a full sun to mostly sunny site with average moisture. Deadhead once flowering is complete to prevent unwanted seedlings. Item# 12356

The rounded flower clusters open a sunny yellow eventually fading into golds at maturity all the while attracting bees, butterflies, and low flying hummingbirds. Bandolero® Pineapple Lantana, new in 2020, boasts bigger bolder flowers, larger growing more vigorous, mound-forming plants that grow to about 1/3 larger than the Bandana® Lantanas making them a better choice in cooler summer climates. Utilize the Bandolero Lantana's flower power in larger containers as low-maintenance specimen plants or in mixed company as well as for reliable spring to fall color in the garden and landscape. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in average moist, fertile, average to well-drained soils. Images courtesy of Syngenta Flowers, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12569

Fiery rounded flower clusters open a deep golden orange darkening into intense red at maturity all the while attracting bees, butterflies, and low flying hummingbirds. Bandolero® Red Lantana, new in 2020, boasts bigger bolder flowers, larger growing more vigorous, mound-forming plants that grow to about 1/3 larger than the Bandana® Lantanas making them a better choice in cooler summer climates. Utilize the Bandolero Lantana's flower power in larger containers as low-maintenance specimen plants or in mixed company as well as for reliable spring to fall color in the garden and landscape. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in average moist, fertile, average to well-drained soils. Images courtesy of Syngenta Flowers, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12567

The rounded flower clusters open a soft lemony yellow and quickly fading into clean bright white at maturity all the while attracting bees, butterflies, and low flying hummingbirds. Bandolero® White Lantana, new in 2020, boasts bigger bolder flowers, larger growing more vigorous, mound-forming plants that grow to about 1/3 larger than the Bandana® Lantanas making them a better choice in cooler summer climates. Utilize the Bandolero Lantana's flower power in larger containers as low-maintenance specimen plants or in mixed company as well as for reliable spring to fall color in the garden and landscape. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in average moist, fertile, average to well-drained soils. Images courtesy of Syngenta Flowers, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12568

The intensely fragrant, up to 4" wide, double white flowers may produced throughout much of the year under warm tropical conditions and are held against a foil of large glossy dark green foliage. Belmont Gardenia is almost old enough to be an heirloom variety being patented in 1934 by Walter E. Lenk on Belmont Estate, Massachussets. In his patent application, PP93, he states that "The variety is an extraordinarily heavy producer and can be propagated rapidly. If not pinched back this variety blooms almost continuously and readily adapts itself to maximum production of blossoms in the Winter when they are so valuable." Obviously, Mr. Lenk developed it for greenhouse production but it has proven to be a highly desirable Gardenia clone that is still popular today and has proven to be hardy into zone 7. It is fairly similar to Aimee Yoshioka and Miami Supreme in vigor and flower size. In the garden and landscape, expect flowering to be heaviest in spring and summer with some repeat flowering into fall on mature plants. Item# 12299

Tall dense spikes of deep rosy pink foxglove flowers with a creamy yellow throat flecked and speckled with burgundy are produced beginning in late spring with the show continuing into fall above the rosettes of dark green foliage. Berry Canary Digiplexis, is the first cross-generic hybrid between the tropical Canary Island Isoplexis (now classified as a Digitalis) and Digitalis purpurea producing a vigorous exceptionally free flowering hybrid. These new longer flowering Foxgloves can be added to the garden and landscape but also make showy container specimens. The flowers are sure to draw in a variety of pollinators for the nectar rich reward. Berry Canary Digiplexis is considered hardy in zone 8, in colder climates it makes a worthy annual. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12302

The sweet melon scented, 8-10" wide huge white flowers are produced in midspring and can potentially reach 12" across with pollinated flowers producing large cones with bright orange-red fleshy seeds. One of the most notable aspects of the Bigleaf Magnolia, Magnolia macrophylla, as its name suggest is its huge, wide, bluish-green foliage with a white reverse that can be up to 30" long and over 12" wide boasting the largest leaves of any native North American tree. This is a medium sized, deciduous tree with a slow to moderate rate of growth with a pyramidal habit when young eventually developing a rounded crown at maturity. Provide the Bigleaf Magnolia with an average moist, well-drained, acidic soil rich in organic matter preferably sited out of strong winds to protect the foliage. It can be grown in full sun to partly shaded conditions and flowering usually begins at around 10 years of age. The flowers offer nectar to a variety of pollinators and the ripe fruit is utilized by birds and small mammals. Item# 12600

Arching 2-3" long spikes adorned with numerous whitish to greenish tiny flowers are produced from the leaf axils with pollinated flowers producing small round, 1/5" diameter fruits that start out green and mature through orange-red to black. The Black Pepper Plant is a tropical, evergreen vine with glossy, deep green foliage. It uses adventitious roots to support itself on the bark of nearby trees, shrubs, or wooden trellises and supports. It branches readily creating a full lush decorative vine. Black Pepper prefers a mildly acidic to neutral, average moist to moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter but should not be allowed to remain soggy wet. Item# 12581