Heirloom Plants

An American Camellia Society Camellia Hall of Fame Award winner and an RHS Award of Garden Merit Winner selection! The large, semi-double, rich rose colored flowers are centered by a boss of yellow tipped stamens and are produced from early to midseason. 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 Pink Empress, Akashi Bay, and Nellie Bly. Provide Camellias with a fertile soil rich in organic matter, with average moisture, and a deep organic mulch. See our Camellia and Sasanqua Growing Guide for an in-depth guide to properly planting and growing these beautiful, long-lived, large evergreen shrubs. Item# 9144

Up to 2" wide, deep rosy pink daisies with a complimentary bright yellow eye are produced in abundance over an extended period beginning in late summer and into fall attracting a variety of mainly smaller pollinators but migrating Monarchs may seek these as well. Alma Pötschke New England Aster, a selection of our native Symphyotrichum novae-angliae, is a medium to tall, clump forming, herbaceous perennial growing to about 3-4' high. Its actual full name is Andenken an Alma Pötschke, which translates from the German to Souvenir of Alma Pötschke. An RHS Award of Garden Merit winner, Alma Pötschke is an older German cultivar but it is still one of the best of the larger growing pink flowered forms. Provide a full sun to mostly sunny site in an average to well-drained, fertile soil with average moisture for optimum vigor and flowering. Staking may be needed if plants are grown in overly rich fertile soils. Images courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 13328

Huge flat clusters, becoming dome-shaped as they mature, are composed of numerous small lightly fragrant white flowers that are followed by heavy crops of shiny black berries. The American Elderberry, Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis, is a large growing native deciduous suckering shrub whose cooked fruit and flowers are used to create healthy and delicious confections, syrup, jelly, wine and more. The nectar rich flower clusters attract an array of pollinators and its ripe fruit is sure to attract a host of bird species. Elderberries are monoecious, both male and female at the same time, and are typically at least semi-self fertile but it is generally recommended to plant at least two different plants for cross pollination and the heaviest crops. If you order multiple plants from us, you will receive at least two different selections. The large ripe fruit clusters are a great treat for chickens. The flowers appear to be most fragrant in the evening and likely at night as well suggesting at least some moth pollination. Item #11269

In late spring and summmer, the 4-5" wide, fragrant, white, cupped flowers with contrasting yellow stamens float on the surface of the pond from early morning to noon attracting bees, potentially butterflies, and very likely the hummingbird-like pollinating moths. The American White Waterlily, Nymphaea odorata var. odorata, is a rhizomatous, herbaceous, native, aquatic perennial that produces deep glossy green, round, and up to 10" wide lily pads with a purplish to reddish reverse from a thick woody, branching rhizome. It is easy to establish in any still water like a pond, lake, bayou, or marsh and is found throughout the southcentral and southeastern US, into Canada, and Central America and has also been introduced in the western US. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in still, 1-5' deep water for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 13562

Amplissimus Rose of Sharon produces 2-3" wide, double, purplish-red flowers throughout much of summer on this easy to grow vigorous shrub, which is very tolerant of heat and most growing conditions. Althea or Rose of Sharon is a hardy Hibiscus that naturally develops into a multi-stemmed, vase-shaped deciduous shrub that can be trained into a tree form if desired. Provide an average moist to moderately moist, fertile soil and full sun for optimum growth and flowering. Caterpillar host: Gray hairstreak. Item# 10338.

Clusters of sweetly fragrant, 2" wide, starry, pure white flowers are produced throughout the growing season and may flower nearly year-round under warm tropical conditions. The flowers attract butterflies and pollinating moths. Angel Wing Jasmine, Jasminum laurifolium f. nitidum, is a naturally evergreen, scandent, tropical shrub cloaked in deep dark green, glossy foliage that acts as the perfect foil for the bright white flowers. It has a moderate rate of growth and is typically grown as a 3-5'H x 3-5'W shrub but it can put out long vine-like canes, to 15' or more, that can be trained as an espalier to a support or these can be headed back to keep the plants fuller and bushier. This is one of the easiest and most rewarding of the true Jasmines and it boasts some of the largest flowers in the genus. It can be utilized as a specimen or hedge in areas where the plants are hardy but makes an easy container plant that can be overwintered indoors. Provide an acid, rich fertile, average moist soil with good drainage for optimum vigor and flowering. Tolerant of full sun to light shade. Its reliability has earned it the RHS Award of Garden Merit. Item #9030

Clusters of sweetly fragrant, 2" wide, starry, pure white flowers are produced throughout the growing season and may flower nearly year-round under warm tropical conditions. The flowers attract butterflies and pollinating moths. Angel Wing Jasmine, Jasminum laurifolium f. nitidum, is a naturally evergreen, scandent, tropical shrub cloaked in deep dark green, glossy foliage that acts as the perfect foil for the bright white flowers. It has a moderate rate of growth and is typically grown as a 3-5'H x 3-5'W shrub but it can put out long vine-like canes, to 15' or more, that can be trained as an espalier to a support or these can be headed back to keep the plants fuller and bushier. This is one of the easiest and most rewarding of the true Jasmines and it boasts some of the largest flowers in the genus. It can be utilized as a specimen or hedge in areas where the plants are hardy but makes an easy container plant that can be overwintered indoors. Provide an acid, rich fertile, average moist soil with good drainage for optimum vigor and flowering. Tolerant of full sun to light shade. Its reliability has earned it the RHS Award of Garden Merit. Item# 9292

Large clusters of deep reddish pink, nectar and pollen laden flowers are produced from summer nearly to frost attracting loads of bees who are constantly working the flowers along with butterflies and hummingbirds. The Baja Red Rose of Montana, the deepest red selection of Antigonon leptopus selected from seed that originated in Baja California, is a vigorous, heat and sunloving, root hardy, tropical vine that can reach heights to 30'H or more if provided with a support. It can easily be enjoyed on arbors, medium and large trellises, along fences, and we have often seen it being allowed to grow up the bare trunks of palms in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas. The plants produce potato-like tubers from which they return each spring. Provide the Rose of Montana or Coral Vine with a full sun to part shade site in a fertile soil with average or better drainage for optimum vigor and flowering. A favorite for bee keepers! Item# 9027

Spikes of 1" long, hooded, tubular, dark blue-violet flowers with a white bee-guide on the lower lip are produced beginning in about midspring and continuing into midsummer attracting mainly bees, occasional butterflies, and potentially hummingbirds. Barbat or Barbed Skullcap, Scutellaria barbata, is a clump-forming, herbaceous perennial growing to about 12-18" high and is cloaked in medium to deep green foliage. Provide a moist to average moist, fertile soil in a full sun to partly shaded site for optimum vigor and flowering. May reseed on exposed soils. Item# 13196

Tall long-lasting spikes of lavender and purple flowers are held on sturdy stems above the beautiful rich glossy green foliage in late summer and fall. Bear's Breeches is an easy to grow slowly spreading perennial that lends its form, flowers, and foliage to the shaded garden, landscape, and even as a container plant. The leaf pattern of Acanthus mollis was used extensively in Greek architecture. Provide good to average drainage, moderate fertility and average moisture for optimum growth and flowering. Item# 3003

Selected at the esteemed Biltmore Estate, Ashville, NC, the summerlong display of 2" wide dangling Chinese lantern-like flowers are a soft yellow-orange heavily overlaid with a strongly contrasting deep red veining. Biltmore Ball Gown Abutilon or Flowering Maple is an exceptionally hardy and reliable upright growing, naturally evergreen shrubby tropical that has proven to be evergreen in mild zone 8 winters but where it is not reliably hardy it makes an easy container plant that can be overwintered indoors near a sunny window. Abutilons are also known as Parlor Maples as this was a reliably flowering indoor plant and a conversation piece. The flowers attract hummingbirds and other garden beneficials. Provide a full sun to partly shaded site in a fertile, average moist soil. Item# 13087

The sweet dark figs of Mission are the number one favorite for drying. Mission is one of the most widely grown figs in California producing heavy crops of medium to large dark purplish-black pear-shaped fruit with a rich, sweet strawberry red pulp. Good fresh or preserved. Black Mission is self-pollinating and may produce a light breba crop. A good choice for the South as well. The small eye makes it resistant to spoiling. Caterpillar host: Ruddy Daggerwing. Item # 832.

The 6-petaled starry flowers in shades of yellow, orange, and red are heavily speckled and flecked with red and are produced on sturdy stems atop the fans of medium to light green iris-like foliage in summer over a period of several weeks. The flowers of the Blackberry Lily, Belamcanda chinensis or more recently Iris domestica, are followed by seed pods that split open to reveal shiny black round seeds that are sometimes used in dried arrangements for fall. This is a hardy clump forming heirloom perennial with a tough constitution as well as being a colorful and low-maintenance addition to the garden and landscape. It will do best in an average to well-drained, average moist, fertile soil in a full to mostly sunny site. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12304

The large, soft pumpkin orange, trumpet shaped, fragrant flowers are highlighted by a contrasting starry, lemony yellow throat and are held in clusters atop thick, sturdy stems well above the bluish green strap-like foliage. Blossfeld's Amaryllis is a rare but quickly multiplying hardy, bulbous perennial suitable for the garden or as an easy and rewarding container plant. Item# 11586

Large clusters of nicely contrasting two-toned, deep blue and pale blue to near white, butterfly-shaped flowers with dainty recurving styles and stamens are produced during the warmer months of the year and attract a variety of pollinators. The Blue Butterfly Bush, Rotheca myricoides 'Ugandense' and once classified with the Clerodendrum, is a medium to large, naturally evergreen, vigorous growing, heat and sunloving, tropical shrub that can attain heights of 10-12' but is more commonly maintained as a 4-6' high shrub. Its long canes lend it to use as a tree standard or as an espalier where it isn't exposed to hard freezes or allow it to grow into an informal specimen or hedge. It can also be maintained as a container plant where not reliably hardy but should be protected from freezing temperatures. *Plants can act like die-back perennials into zones 8-9 with the stems freezing to near ground level when temperatures fall below about 25^oF and plants will benefit from a mulch to help the crown overwinter. Provide a full sun to partly shaded site in an average moist, well-drained, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. The Blue Butterfly Bush's ease of care and reliability have garnered it the RHS Award of Garden Merit. Item# 10681

The large, 3-4'' wide, blue to lavender, Hibiscus-like flowers are produced throughout the warmer months of the year to year-round under warm frost free conditions. The Blue Hibiscus, Alyogyne huegelii, is an upright to rounded, naturally evergreen, Australian native shrub that is heat and sunloving and is somewhat drought resistant once well-established. It is fairly adaptable to soil types and moisture as long as they are provided with excellent drainage, otherwise it tends to be fairly short-lived. Full sun is optimal and it can be enjoyed both as a container plant as well as making a nice specimen or informal hedge in the garden and landscape. It is sometimes trained as a tree standard to good effect. Plants tend to be somewhat open and if foliage becomes too sparse or the plants too larger they can be pruned back fairly hard and will put out vigorous new growth and some sources suggest that it flowers best after a good pruning. Caterpillar host: Gray hairstreak. Item# 12881

Spikes of 1/2" long, tubular, two-lipped, deep azure blue flowers have a contrasting bright white bee-guide and throat are produced in late spring or early summer and continue into fall atop the tall wispy stems. The nectar rich flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Bog Sage, Salvia uliginosa, is a rhizomatous, herbaceous perennial producing a multitude of tall thin wiry stems that can reach 5-6' high in rich fertile moist soils but tends to remain shorter, 3-4' high or so, under average moist garden conditions, which it can tolerate quite well, despite its name, once fully established. it tends to be more restrained under drier conditions as well. Its long flowering season and ease of care have garnered Bog Sage the RHS Award of Garden Merit. It can tolerate full sun in the cooler portions of its range but may be at its best where it receives a little midday shade in areas with hot summer climates. Item# 12906

Clusters of sunny yellow orchid-like flowers are borne in summer and into fall to yearround under warm tropical conditions on this vigorous twining vine. The Brazilian Golden Orchid Vine, Stigmaphyllon ciliatum, is a naturally evergreen woody twining climbing with dark green arrowhead shaped foliage that has a heart-shaped, or cordate, leaf base and fine bristles along their edges as well as along the sepals. It is not quite as cold hardy as the Yellow Butterfly Vine, Mascagnia macroptera, with which it is easily confused but it has larger flowers. The flowers attract a variety of pollinators including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Where not hardy it is easily overwintered indoors in a warm sunny location. Provide a well-drained, moderately fertile, acid soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 12001

Brown Turkey is the ultimate Southern fig producing large crops of medium to large, brown to maroon, turbinate figs over a long season that begins in June. The flesh is strawberry red and is sweet with good flavor. The Texas Everbearing fig is also known as Brown Turkey fig.  This is probably the most reliable and commonly grown fig in Southern regions but it is the standard bearer for hardiness tolerating the climate of zone 5. It is known to fruit if frozen to the ground as well. Resistant to spoiling and splitting and good fresh, dried, or preserved. Self pollinating and with a small but open eye. Caterpillar host: Ruddy Daggerwing. Item# 920.

Large, 2" wide, coral to peachy pink, Camellia-like blossoms adorn this Quince in late winter and early spring. Cameo Flowering Quince, a selection of Chaenomeles x speciosa, is a tough and easy deciduous shrub with good drought tolerance and excellent resistance to leaf spot diseases that can defoliate some cultivars early in the growing season. Cut stems of Flowering Quince, with well developed flower buds that are showing color, can be cut and brought indoors as cut flowers. Prune after flowering as Quince flower on old wood or last season's growth. Provide the Cameo Flowering Quince with a full to mostly sunny site in a fertile, average to well-drained soil. Dr. Michael Dirr in Dirr's Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs mentions its disease resistance and states that it is "One of my favorite quinces and a long prized specimen in the Dirr garden." Item# 12773