Heirloom Plants

Ducher is considered by many to be the only white China rose. The ivory to white, fragrant, double flowers are produced from spring through fall and are held against soft green foliage. With a more diminutive and refined habit than many China roses, Ducher is small enough for containers or in the garden. Ducher was selected as an Earthkind rose through the Texas AgriLife Extension service. Item# 9709.

Elegantly cupped, lightly fragrant, rose-pink flowers are produced almost non-stop throughout the growing season on this floriferous and disease resistant tea rose. Duchesse de Brabant has an intially upright to vase shaped habit that rounds out at maturity and makes an excellent specimen or use it in mass or as a hedge to wonderful effect. An Earth-Kind© rose selected by the Texas AgriLife Extension service for it's reliability, disease resistance, and flower power. Item# 9711

Coming again in 2022! Small clusters of 2-3" wide brilliant golden yellow trumpet shaped flowers are produced throughout the growing season to potentially year-round under warm tropical conditions and are mainly butterfly pollinated but also attract bees and other pollinators. The Dwarf Allamanda, Allamanda cathartica 'Compacta', is a small, naturally evergreen, tropical shrub growing to 2-3'H x 2-3'W and potentially slightly larger with age. The stems are adorned with whorls of glossy narrow foliage to about 3" long. This is an easy to grow, heat and sunloving tropical with good to excellent flower power and makes an easy container plant that is sure to add a tropical flair to any sunny garden setting. For optimum vigor and flowering provide the Dwarf Allamanda with a full sun to partly shaded location in a fertile, well-drained soil. It is important to allow the soil to become somewhat dry between waterings and the hotter it is generally the happier they are and will sulk under cool (below about 55-60^oF) and wet conditions. Item# 395

Masses of 1/2-3/4" diameter, pom pom-like flowers in various shades of pink, ranging deep rose to near white, seemingly cover up the bare late winter or early spring stems. The Dwarf Pink Double Flowering Almond, Prunus glandulosa 'Rosea Plena', is a small, heirloom, deciduous suckering shrub requiring little care or maintenance in informal garden and landscape settings where it can be allowed to wend its way beneath and around larger plants effectively fading into the background once in leaf. Stems with plump buds showing color can be cut and brought indoors to enjoy on those cool late winter days. The Dwarf Flowering Almond prefers a fertile, average moist, well-drained soil and a full sun to partly shaded site. Item# 400

One of the earliest to begin flowering and an RHS Award of Garden Merit winner! Clusters of lilac-pink tubular flowers are produced in abundance beginning in midspring and continuing into fall and are held against a contrasting foil of long-lasting showy deep bronze-red bracts and exceptionally dark green glossy foliage that takes on purple and bronze tones in winter. The flowers of Abelias attract a variety of pollinators including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Edward Goucher Glossy Abelia, considered to be a hybrid of Abelia x grandiflora x A. shumanii, has a naturally dense, rounded to vase-shaped habit on this medium-sized, evergreen to semi-evergreen shrub. Abelias are known for their toughness and adaptability to a variety of soil types provided they have average or better drainage. Deer resistant, somewhat salt tolerant, and mature, well-established plants are moderately drought resistant. Provide a full sun to part shade site with moderately fertile, average moist soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Long one of our personal favorites! Item# 3041

'Ellen Bosanquet' is one of the reddest of the Crinum Lilies producing large bell-shaped deep reddish pink to nearly maroon colored outward facing trumpets on sturdy stalks to 3'H. This reliable old favorite is known to produce a succession of flowering stalks on well established clumps. Wide medium green strap-like foliage. Crinums are extremely easy old garden favorites that will thrive with little or no care. Item# 3144.

The starry soft primrose yellow, wavy edged flowers are centered by a deeper yellow star shaped throat that is tinged with orange at its edges and are produced in clusters of 3-4 atop light green sturdy stems in late winter to early spring. Evan's Yellow Amaryllis, Hippeastrum evansiae, is a rare and endangered Bolivian Amaryllis species that readily produces offsets at the tips of the fleshy roots during winter dormancy. It is from a relatively dry region and does best in soils with excellent drainage and will prefer a dry winter rest period of 6-8 weeks prior to flowering. Evan's Yellow Amaryllis is considered to be one of the smallest Hippeastrum species and is a naturally deciduous tropical species. It is reported to be hardy into zone 9B, although, it is possible it will withstand colder regions but we have not yet tried it in the ground. Item# 12278

Large rounded clusters composed of a multitude of intense deep red-orange, 1-2" long, tubular flowers and are produced throughout summer and into fall attracting hummingbirds for miles around. The Firecracker Bush, Bouvardia ternifolia, is a naturally small, upright to rounded, subtropical shrub native to the US desert southwest and Mexico growing to 1-2' high and wide but potentially to 4'. Its desert roots makes this an easy and forgiving container plant as well as an excellent addition to the garden and landscape. Provide the Firecracker Bush with a well-drained, fertile, average moist soil in part shade to bright shade for optimum vigor and flowering. Under warm frost free conditions it may flower nearly year-round. Item# 13182

Spikes of deep red upward facing funnel-shaped flowers are produced non-stop from mid to late spring to fall atop the rich glossy deep green foliage attracting hummingbirds, occasional butterflies, and long-tongued bees. Flame Red Hummingbird Bush, a selection of Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii, is a small decidous native shrub from South Texas with excellent flower power. This easy and reliable heirloom has an upright to spreading busny habit rarely exceeding 3-4' in height (3'x3' is fairly typical in our zone 8B gardens) and it revels in the heat and sun of summer and is undaunted by the high humidity and high rainfall of the southeastern US. In the northernmost portion of its hardiness range, zones 7A-8A, the Hummingbird Bush may freeze back to near groundlevel in the hardest winters but readily returns to flowering by mid to late spring. Provide a full sun to mostly sunny site in a well-drained, fertile, average moist soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Small and tough enough for container culture but it also makes a low-maintenance addition the garden and landscape. Item# 13176

Long white fragrant trumpets are held on tall sturdy stems in mid to late summer. One of the tallest lilies that may reach 7' or more. Extremely easy to grow and readily naturalizes. A favorite pass-along heirloom that will adorn your garden for years to come. The Formosa or Phillipine Lily attracts a variety of pollinators including Hummingbird Moths and so makes an excellent addition to the Moon/Moth garden with it's large showy white flowers. Item# 9521.

The sweetly fragrant clusters of flowers open purple (yesterday), fade through lavender (today), and finally to pure white (tomorrow) creating a beautiful multi-colored effect on this popular tropical to subtropical naturally evergreen shrub. Flowering occurs in late winter and spring and they are pollinated by butterflies. The Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow can be enjoyed as a container plant where not hardy or in the ground in mild winter regions. It prefers mildly acidic, moderately fertile, average moist soils and cool sunlight to filtered shade. Item# 11168

The upright, drum-shaped flower heads are composed of tiny, nectar rich, white to light purple flowers that are produced from spring until frost attracting a variety of smaller pollinators. Frog Fruit-LA, a Louisiana selection of Phyla nodiflora, is a stoloniferous, mat-forming, evergreen to deciduous, native perennial groundcover adorned in deep green, narrow foliage. It seems to thrive in moist sites but is moderately tolerant to short-term drought once well-established. Frog Fruit has become one of the top recommendations for a lawn replacement due to its naturally low, dense growing habit reaching about 2-4" high and up to 6" high at flowering. A food source for the Common Buckeye, Phaon Crescent, and White Peacock butterfly caterpillars as well as a nectar source for a host of pollinators. Provide a moist to average moist site in sunny sites and plants are adaptable to soil types. Item# 12521

A low growing member of the Verbena family, Frogfruit makes a beautiful, easy groundcover that is covered by tiny heads of dainty, nectar filled white flowers from late spring to fall. They enjoy moist soils but are moderately drought resistant once well established. A food source for the Common Buckeye, Phaon Crescent, and White Peacock butterfly caterpillars as well as a nectar source for a host of pollinators. This species, Phyla nodiflora var. nodiflora, is native to every continent except Antarctica. It is important not to mow/prune until flowering is complete. Frogfruit is being more widely used as a lawn grass replacement option. Note: This selection is from central Florida and has more rounded foliage than what we have normally offered and is shown in the main image. Item# 10524

The large 1-1/2" long tubular color-changing flowers are produced in spike-like clusters from the leaf axils and start out yellow and fade through orange into red tones and are held on 3-4'H sturdy stems. The flowers are produced during the spring, where plants are not frozen to the ground, and/or in fall just in time for migrating hummingbirds. The Giant Cigar Plant, Cuphea micropetala, is a herbaceous, slowly spreading, upright to branching perennial cloaked in dark green glossy foliage. Considered by many to be the most reliably cold hardy Cuphea species surviving into zone 7B if provided a breathable winter mulch. It typically spreads stoloniferously and via rhizomes but is not considered invasive or aggressive. As with basically all Cupheas, the Giant Cigar is heat and sunloving and will benefit from average moisture, in fertile soils with average or better drainage. Where not hardy it can easily be maintained as a medium to medium-large container plant. Item# 429

The fragrant very large 5" wide cupped flowers, when pollinated, produce the largest fruit of any of the Passion Fruits and mature to be 5-6" wide and 8-12" long (wow!). The Giant Granadilla, Passiflora quadrangularis, is a vigorous tropical vine with winged square stems and large oval leaves. It prefers a deep, well-drained, moist to average moist, fertile soil and a full to partly sunny position. High humidity and temperatures of 60^oF or more are required for fruit set and pollination. The Giant Granadilla is considered to be self-sterile and so it requires another species or a different clone (ours are clonally propagated), like Passiflora phoenicia 'Ruby Glow', for cross pollination. Caterpillar host: Gulf Fritillary, Julia Butterfly, Variegated Fritillary, and Zebra Longwing. Item# 11818

Giant Pink Turk's Cap produces a seemingly endless display of 2-3" long, pendant, sleepy light pink flowers from late summer through spring where kept free from frosts and provided with ample sunlight. Smooth, narrow, waxy, rich green foliage. Excellent for Hummingbirds and other long-tongued pollinators. This is a vigorous, shrub-like woody perennial that can reach 8-12' in mild winter climates and few plants can compete with the enormous amount of flowers that this plant can produce. Item# 566.

Dr. Allen says "Butterflies drink lots of nectar from these plants and I find the pink to have smaller leaves and to be in flower later in the year and thus are used by migrating monarchs. The caterpillars of the io moth (Automeris io) and Straight Lined Mallow Moth (Bagisara rectifascia) are reported to use these plants.'

The largest of the Turkscaps producing up to 3" long, pendant, sleepy-hibiscus-like, deep red flowers singly and in clusters and are produced beginning in late summer and continuing through spring in warm winter climates attracting a variety of larger butterflies, hummingbirds, and larger bees. The Giant Red Turk's Cap, Malvaviscus penduliflorus, is a moderately vigorous, naturally evergreen, large, tropical shrub and may grow to 8-12' high in warm winter climates, but acts like a root hardy, die-back perennial where freezes occur, typically reaching to 3-5' by the end of the growing season. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist, fertile soil with average or better drainage. Few winter flowering tropicals can compete with the enormous amount of flowers that this plant can produce. Item# 9993

Giant White Turk's Cap produces a seemingly endless display of 2-3" long, pendant, sleepy pure white flowers from late summer through spring where kept free from frosts and provided with ample sunlight. Smooth, narrow, waxy, rich green foliage. Excellent for Hummingbirds and other long-tongued pollinators. This is a vigorous, shrub-like woody perennial that can reach 8-12' in mild winter climates and few plants can compete with the enormous amount of flowers that this plant can produce. Item# 11889.

Gigantea is truly one of our favorites. The deep red and contrasting pure white flowers are each uniquely variegated and can range from nearly solid red to pure white and the variegation of each flower can consist of splashes, to flecks, to half red/half white flowers. The midseason flowers range in form from anemone-like to double. Truly a joy in the garden! Item# 10344.

Flat topped clusters composed of numerous tiny, golden yellow flowers atop sturdy stems in mid to late spring to summer attracting a host of smaller pollinators. Golden Alexanders, Zizea aurea, is a native, clump forming, herbaceous perennial with deep green foliage growing to about 2-3' high. The deep green, glossy, lobed foliage is utilized by the Eastern Black and Ozark Swallowtail caterpillars and the ripened seed heads are utilized by songbirds. It is native throughout much of the central and eastern US in moist woodlands, roadsides, meadows, and prairies. Provide a full sun to partially shaded site in a moist to average moist, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 11774

3" wide golden yellow trumpet shaped flowers are held against a foil of glossy, deep green foliage are produced from spring to fall to potentially year-round on mature plants attracting butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. The Golden Butterfly Allamanda, a selection of Allamanda cathartica, is a compact form of this naturally evergreen, tropical, scandent shrub growing to 2-3' high and wide making it the perfect choice for a tropical specimen container plant and can also be enjoyed in hanging baskets and sunny window boxes. The key to success with Allandas is an average moist, fertile, well-draining soil, that should be allowed to become semi-dry between waterings, and a warm to hot, full sun to part sun site. Item# 12782

10" golden yellow flowers that resemble a lotus when first opening, sit atop nearly leafless thick sturdy stems and last for months on mature plants. When young the plants look just like dwarf bananas with long rounded medium-green tropical foliage. This is tough, hardy, and easily grown, tightly clump forming rhizomatous tropical. After flowering is finished the mature plant produces a multitude of pups and then dies making way for the young plants which should flower in their 2nd or 3rd year. Item# 9578.

White lightly fragrant frilly witch hazel-like flowers nearly cover the backdrop of medium-sized oval dark olive green foliage in spring. Green Giant Loropetalum is a vigorous large evergreen shrub with a naturally rounded upright form and is well suited for use as a screen, hedge, or specimen plant. A relatively unknown heirloom shrub until the purple foliaged forms came on the scene in the 1980's and 1990's, Chinese Witch Hazel has few pests or disease problems when grown in a well-drained, acidic to neutral soil with average fertility in a full sun to partly shaded site. Item# 11623