Heirloom Plants

Worth growing just for its randomly variegated bright white and green variegated foliage that is a standout in the garden. The sleepy, deep red 1" blooms glow like Christmas lights against the white and green foliage. Super easy to grow and care for and your Hummingbirds and Butterflies will show their appreciation for this attractive plant as well. Caterpillar host: Glassy Winged Skipper. This selection does show solid green new growth from time to time which should be pruned away. Item# 712.

Originally touted as the "Blue Rose", this heirloom climbing or rambling rose produces large clusters of 1-1/2" wide, fragrant, deep purple flowers, often with white accents and nicely contrasting yellow stamens, with the flower color deepeing into blue-purple tones as they age. Flowering occurs in mid to late spring to early summer, with flowering occurring earlier in warmer zones. Vielchenblau Climbing Rose is a vigorous, nearly thornless, rambling multi-flora hybrid growing to about 10-12' high making it a good choice as a pillar rose or it can be trained along a fence or other sturdy support. Due to its reliable performance and moderate disease resistance it has been selected as an RHS Award of Garden Merit winner. While Vielchenblau is tolerant of *partial shade, a full sun location with good air circulation and a fertile, average moist soil with good drainage are preferred for optimum growth, disease resistance, and flowering. Item# 715

Large clusters of lightly fragrant, 1 to 1-1/2" wide, 4-'petaled' white flowers often with light green accents are produced in mid to late summer attracting bees, hummingibirds, and other pollinators. The Virgin's Bower, Clematis virginiana, is a vigorous, deciduous, woody native vine climbing via tendril-like leaf petioles up to about 20' high where it has support. It is deer and rabbit resistant, is adaptable to soil types and moisture levels, as well as sunlight, although, plants grown in sun to part shade may flower more profusely. This is not to be confused with the invasive Sweet Autumn Clematis, Clematis terniflora, which has entire or smooth leaflet edges and the foliage is thick and leathery, whereas, Virgin's Bower, C. virginiana, has toothed leaflets and the foliage tends to be a darker green. Female flowers may be followed by densely 'bearded', long lasting seed heads. Note: These are seed raised plants which may have only male, only female, or both flower types on the same plant. Flower and overall plant images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries, all rights reserved. Item# 13179

Small, greenish-white flowers are produced in spring just before or as the new foliage emerges and are an important pollen and nectar resource for native bees as well as for honey production. Flowers on female trees are followed by 1 to 1-1/2" long, edible fruits that ripen to lilac or dark purple and drop in the fall. The Water Tupelo, Nyssa aquatica, is a large, native, deciduous tree with a large conical swollen trunk similar to Bald Cypress with gray bark. The tree is adorned in large, glossy, ovate foliage that is reported to provide good yellow fall color. The Water Tupelo prefers consistently wet to moist soils to shallow standing water and full sun is likely optimum, but trees are relatively tolerant of partial shade. Item#13559

Pyramidal, 6-10" high clusters of small creamy white flowers are produced in mid to late spring attracting a variety of pollinators and are followed by green fruits that ripen to reveal large black seeds covered in a thick translucent yellow to brown tissue that has been utilized as a soap. The Western Soapberry, Sapindus drummondii, is a small to medium-sized, native, deciduous tree with a vase shaped to rounded crown growing to 25-30' high and potentially to 50' high in good quality soils.The medium to deep green pinnately compound foliage provides good yellow fall color and the decorative fruits may remain on the tree into winter. This is a adaptable tree tolerant of a wide range of growing conditions from average moist to dry, acidic to alklaline, and clay to sandy or rocky soils. The plants are unbothered by browsers like deer and the almost 1/2" diameter, shiny black seeds are eaten by birds but are considered toxic to humans and mammals. Provide a full sun to partially shaded site in average to well-drained, average moist, fertile soils for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 13551

Deep red butterfly shaped flowers emerge from the large clusters of starkly contrasting bright white calyxes and are produced throughout the growing season to nearly year-round under warm tropical conditions. The flowers attracting mainly butterflies but potentially hummingbirds other pollinators. The White Bleeding Heart Vine, Clerodendrum thompsonae, is a naturally evergreen, twining, tropical vine cloaked in large, deep green foliage. The White Bleeding Heart Vine may freeze to the ground in the coldest portions of its range but established plants typically return in the spring. An easy and rewarding container or hanging basket specimen where not hardy. Provide a partially shaded to partially sunny site, although plants are adaptable -see *note, in an average moist, fertile, acidic, average to well-drained soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Its ease of care and reliability have earned it the RHS Award of Garden Merit. Item# 723

Clusters of pure-white, butterfly-shaped, fragrant flowers are produced in clusters in summer atop the tropical looking, rich green foliage and sturdy lush stems attracting both butterflies and the hummingbird-like Sphinx Moths. Cut the flowers and put them in a vase and they can perfume an entire room with their sweet heady fragrance. The White Butterfly Ginger, Hedychium coronarium, is a rhizomatous and slowly spreading, naturally evergreen tropical that acts like a die-back perennial in areas where freezes occur, reliably returning in zones 7B to 10. The Hedychium Gingers typically grow and flower best where they receive at least some direct sunlight for 3-4 hours during the day and generally have the best looking foliage where they receive shade during the heat of the day. A planting on the east facing side of a house, tree or other structure where they receive morning sun is often optimum. Provide an average moist to moist, average to well-drained, moderately fertile soil to keep this easy and reliable heirloom growing and flowering. Item# 1065

Large long-lasting clusters of fragrant, trumpet-shaped, nectar rich, white flowers are produced from mid to late spring or early summer until fall attracting a bevy of butterflies, bees, hummingbird moths, and hummingbirds. The White Chinese Abelia, a selection of Abelia chinesis, is a moderately vigorous, upright to rounded, semi-evergreen to deciduous, easy and durable shrub with a fairly dense branching habit growing to about 6-8' high and wide. The plants are cloaked in glossy, deep green, medium textured foliage that acts as a wonderful foil for the bright white flowers. Abelias make tough, reliable, disease and pest resistant, long-lived additions to the garden and landscape that can be allowed to grow in their natural form, and where we find they tend to flower most profusely, as well as a formal hedge. Provide these easy to grow shrubs with a full to mostly sunny site in a well-drained, fertile, average moist soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 9680

This uncommon pure white form of the Chinese Ground Orchid produces spikes of almost butterfly-like flowers in spring to early summer, depending on your zone, atop the wide pleated medium green foliage. This hardy heirloom perennial may very well be the easiest Orchid to grow in zones 6-9. Bletillas readily multiply into a groundcover like mass of plants foliage and flowering stems. It prefers a well-drained, humus rich acidic to neutral soil in a spot with cool or filtered sunlight. The Chinese Ground Orchid makes an easy addition to the mixed perennial border in the garden or landscape. It can also be grown as an easy and low-maintenance container plant for the shaded porch or patio. Item# 11791

The large pure white football shaped buds open to fragrant white trumpets sitting atop sturdy stems. This vigorous Crinum was generously shared with us by Marc Pastorek of Pastorek Habitats and is similar to Crinum x powellii 'Album' and C. moorei 'Alba' and may be the latter, or a hybrid of it, due to the shape of the medium to light green strap-like foliage. Provide a full sun to part shade position for optimum vigor and flowering. Shipped as an established plant growing in soil in its own container. Item# 11809

White Lightening Turk's Cap is a new Greg Grant introduction with a more vigorous growth habit and produces loads of pure white blossoms that are held against the dark green foliage. Mix this one in with your red flowered Turk's Caps for a wonderful contrast where it will flower from late May to November. Caterpillar host: Glassy Winged Skipper. Item# 9738

A rare or at least uncommon color form of the ever popular Blue Pea Vine producing large white blossoms held against medium green to blue green foliage on a small vine with excellent flower power. The White Pea Vine makes the perfect vine for container culture on small trellises, mailboxes, and fences that will flower from spring nearly all the way until frost. By some accounts it is a tender perennial in mild winters but is more generally grown as an annual and it readily returns from seeds saved the previous winter. Provide a full to partial sun location in a moderately fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Caterpillar host: Longtail Skipper. Item# 11952

A streak of clear bright white adorns the starkly contrasting brilliant true red flowers of this compact China Rose. Chi Long Han Zhu Rose, which roughly translates to White Pearl in Red Dragon's Mouth, is an easy to grow heirloom garden rose and was among the first repeat flowering roses exported out of China. A densely branching shrub rose with red to bronze new growth with good disease resistance and excellent flower power. Chi Long Han Zhu can flower for 10-12 months a year and in the coldest winters it may take a brief respite only to show off again in mild winter weather. Compact enough for container culture and smaller garden settings it can still hold its own in the garden, mixed perennial border, and landscape. Item# 11701

2" white star-like cupped flowers are held above and among the deep green rush-like foliage of this hardy but dainty little bulb in summer and fall. A freely multiplying perennial that will surprise you with it's display after a rain. Use rainlilies at the front of the border, as an accent plant, in rock gardens, or along stepping stones and walks. Multiple plants per pot. Item# 9391.

An uncommon color form of the Rose of Montana producing large often pyramidal sprays of lacy white flowers from spring to fall on mature plants and are held against a foil of medium green heart-shaped foliage. The flowers are in constant use by honeybees and occasionally by butterflies. The Rosa Montana or Coral Vine, Antigonon leptopus 'Album', is a tendriled, tuberous tropical vine that is evergreen in frost free regions but acts like a die-back perennial in areas that experience freezing temperatures returning from the tubers in spring. As a perennial vine, it typically remains in the 8-15' range but can exceed 40' high in tropical regions. Provide a full sun to mostly sunny site in a well-drained, average moist, fertile soil for optimum growth and flowering. Easy to grow with moderate drought resistant once well-established, though this may reduce growth and flowering. In areas where hard freezes occur, plant out early in the growing season and no later than by midsummer to help insure winter survival. Item# 826

Large dense panicles of 1" long, pure white, foxglove-like flowers are held atop upright to arching, 24-36" high stems and are produced beginning in mid to late spring and may continue well into summer attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. This wildflower's popularity for bouquets has made it nearly endangered in some areas. White Wand Penstemon, Penstemon tubaeflorus var. tubaeflorus, is a rosette forming, herbaceous, native perennial whose rich green foliage often exhibits deep maroon tinges, edges, or the entire rosette may be maroon during portions of the year. The small black seeds may be utilized by smaller songbirds and small mammals. Provide a full sun to partly shaded site in well-drained, average moist to dryish, fertile soils for optimum vigor and flowering. White Wand Penstemon is a component of the Tall Grass Prairies and makes an easy addition to naturalistic settings like roadsides, meadows, and prairies as well as in the perennial garden or landscape. Item# 9542

In late summer and fall loads of dainty 1/2-1" wide white daisies, with yellow centers or disk flowers that age to red-purple, literally cover the plants for weeks and offer nectar and pollen to a variety of smaller pollinators. The White Wood Aster, Aster divaricatum now Eurybia divaricata, is a medium-sized bushy, shade and drought tolerant, vigorously spreading rhizomatous, native perennial common throughout the Eastern US. This is one of the earliest Asters to begin flowering in late summer and can even be utilized as a mum replacement in containers if desired. The White Wood Aster may be best suited to semi-shaded to shaded, naturalistic areas where it will readily colonize eventually creating a groundcover-like mass of offsets. Provide a partly shaded site in average to well-drained soils with average to dryish (once well-established) moisture conditions. Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries, all rights reserved. Item# 12991

Deep wine-red cupped flowers with contrasting creamy white stamens cover this durable native groundcover in spring with flowering often continuing well into mid-summer and flowering again in fall. Winecups make excellent choice where it can be allowed to naturalize or where it can be enjoyed spilling from large containers or over a wall. This tough native tap-rooted perennial reliably returns year after year and has been selected as a Plant Select® Award winner. Provide a full sun to partly shade site and Winecups are adaptable to soil types but prefer average moisture. Item# 9232

From flattened iris-like bluish-green fans emerge spikes of deep coral 1" wide flowers that have a contrasting splotch of dark orange-red at the base of the three lower petals that acts as a 'bee guide' and the flowers are produced over an extended period in late winter, early spring, to spring depending on your zone. Woodland Painted Petals or Flowering Grass, Freesia laxa, is an easily grown cormous heirloom perennial and RHS Award of Garden Merit winner which readily multiplies via seed to make a loose groundcover. Provide an average to well-drained soil in a full to partly sunny site for optimum vigor and flowering. Freesia laxa is suitable for container culture as well as in the garden and landscape. Naturally winter dormant. Typically 2-3 or more bulbs per pot. Item# 12370

Light blue narrow rays surround the eye of contrasting yellow disc flowers sit atop the neat mounds of foliage beginning in late summer and continuing into fall. The nectar rich flowers attract a variety of smaller pollinators. Wood's Light Blue New York Aster, a selection of Symphyotrichum novi-belgii or Aster novi-belgii, is a 8-12" x 8-12" compact selection of the species that is a good choice as a replacement for fall mums and can be enjoyed as both a container plant as well as near the front of the border in the garden and landscape. Provide a full to partly shaded site in an average moist, average to well-drained, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. 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# 13151