Perennials - All

Large 6-8" burgundy and cream, widely flaring Dutchman's Pipe shaped flowers are borne from summer to fall on this vigorous and easy to grow perennial vine. A fast growing root hardy perennial into zone 8, the Dutchman's Pipevine makes a quick summer screen and a definite conversation piece anytime it's in flower. This Pipevine is acceptable as a host plant for the Polydamas Swallowtail but not for the more common Pipevine Swallowtail. Click the image for more detailed information. Item# 394.

Clusters of fiery-orange tubular flowers are seemingly borne continuously from mid to late spring to fall, where grown as a die-back perennial, to potentially nearly year-round under warm tropical conditions attracting mainly hummingbirds but also larger butterflies. The Dwarf Mexican Firebush, Hamelia patens var. glabra 'Nana', is a naturally evergreen, heat and sunloving, tropical shrub that acts like a die-back perennial returning from the crown in spring in areas where freezes occur. This compact form of the Mexican Firebush lends it to use in smaller spaces and containers as well as in the garden and landscape. The Dwarf Mexican Firebush appears to be just as hardy as the standard larger growing form and we have seen it take temperatures as low as 8^oF with no problems carrying its hardiness well into zone 8. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist, well-drained, fertile soil for optimum vigor and continuous flowering. Item# 403

The sweetly contrasting bicolor flowers are composed of two large soft shell pink lower petals and a bright rosy pink tube and hood all emerging from maroon tinged calyxes and spikes. Dyson's Joy Salvia, or simply Joy Salvia, is likely a selection or hybrid of Salvia greggii or Autumn Sage, and develops into a compact rounded plant growing to about 2' x 2' that can be enjoyed as a container plant as well as in the garden and landscape. The brightly colored flowers attract low flying hummingbirds, occasional butterflies, and other pollinators with its nectar rich flowers. Provide a well-drained soil in full to mostly sunny conditions and never keep soggy wet. An RHS Award of Garden Merit winner! Photos courtesy of New World Plants, LTD., all rights reserved. Item# 13140

Purple falls with prominent darker red-purple veining and a contrasting gold signal topped by the light lavender standards that deepen to purple at their outer edges, and are topped by light blush pink style arms.purple standards. Earline Sudduth Louisiana Iris flowers in midseason, typically April, flowering and grows to about 30-36"H. Louisiana Irises are easy and adaptable, rhizomatous perennials with fans of deep green sword-like foliage and seem as at home in standing water as they do in average moist garden soils. Remember that these plants do most of their growing in fall and winter and so this is when they should be fed and fall is also a great time to divide plants if desired. Provide a full to mostly sunny site for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 13340

The large, up to 6-7" diameter, rounded clusters are composed of deep violet blue, trumpet shaped flowers that become pendant as they open are held on sturdy 3-4' high stems in summer. Elaine Agapanthus or Lily of the Nile is a vigorous, clump forming, naturally evergreen, tropical, root hardy perennial with arching, narrow strap-like, medium green foliage. Provide Agapanthus with a full sun to partly shaded site in a rich fertile, average moist soil with average or better drainage for optimum vigor and flowering. Makes an easy and low-maintenance container plant where not hardy. Agapanthus flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. May be fully winter deciduous in areas where moderate to hard freezes occur. The image is of Purple Cloud Agapanthus is shown here for reference. Item# 13351

'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.

Rich purple, 1" wide daisies with a nicely contrasting sunny yellow eye are produced in mass in fall attracting bees and other smaller pollinators with a late season burst of color just in time for LSU Football! Geaux Tigers! Ezo Murasaki Japanese Woods Aster or Asian Aster, a selection of Aster ageratoides var. ageratoides, is a vigorous rhizomatous perennial adorned with deep green ovate foliage that makes an easy warm season groundcover topping out at about 24" high. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in average moist, fertile, average to well-drained soils. Caterpillar host: Field Crescent, Pearl Crescent, Texan Crescent, Roadside Checkerspot, Hoffman's Checkerspot, and American Lady. Item# 13049

Dense clusters of large pink tubular flowers with a white lower lip are born in late summer and early fall on this easy native perennial. Excellent for attracting bees. This is the latest flowering Physostegia that we grow. The Fall Obedient Plant will readily spread by rhizomes creating a mass of sturdy, 3-4' stems. An easy and reliable native perennial. Item# 10420.

Large clusters of white flowers with a light purple eye are produced beginning in late spring or early summer and continuing into midsummer with some rebloom in fall. Fashionably Early Crystal Phlox is a hybrid that is similar to Garden Phlox, Phlox paniculata, but begins flowering about 2 weeks earlier, has exceptional disease resistance and thick deep green foliage, and slowly spreads to develop into a mass of foliage and 30" high flower stems. Attracts butterflies. Image courtesy of Walter's Gardens, www.waltersgardens.com. Item# 11748

Large clusters of lightly fragrant, lavender-pink flowers with a darker purple eye, the flowers fade to light lavender as they age, are held atop tall sturdy stems beginning in mid to late spring or early summer, depending on your cold hardiness zone, and continuing into summer with some rebloom in fall. Fashionably Early Flamingo Phlox is a highly disease resistant, slowly spreading perennial with deep green, thick waxy foliage. We have truly been impressed by Fashionably Early Phlox series, not only their exceptional flower power and vigor but also by their exceptionally clean healthy foliage. Fashionably Early Flamingo Phlox begins flowering a few weeks earlier than Garden Phlox, Phlox paniculata, and provides an intermediate height plant that makes an easy and low maintenance groundcover for the garden and landscape. The flowers of Phlox are mainly butterfly pollinated although they may also draw hummingbirds and larger bees that rob the nectar. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12579

Large clusters of light fuchsia pink flowers with a darker pink eye are produced beginning in mid to late spring or early summer, depending on your cold hardiness zone, and continuing into midsummer with some rebloom in fall. Fashionably Early Princess Phlox is a hybrid that is similar to Garden Phlox, Phlox paniculata, in height but begins flowering about 2-3 weeks earlier (Fashionably Early Princess Phlox is the first of this series to begin flowering), has exceptional disease resistant thick deep green foliage, and slowly spreads to develop into a mass of foliage and 30" high flower stems. Attracts butterflies. Image courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 11912

Producing large, often branched, clusters of large pink tubular flowers in summer atop sturdy 4-7' high stems with narrow medium green foliage. Adored by Hummingbirds and other long-tonged pollinators. Finger False Dragonhead is a rare species that seems quite happy in average garden settings where it readily multiplies by rhizomes. This is evident by the host of new rosettes that emerge in winter for spring's flowers. Item# 10238.

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

Brilliant red tubular flowers are borne in tall branching spikes atop the glossy deep green foliage in fall and winter. An upright yet bushy shrubby perennial that enjoys shady conditions. Firespike is sure to attract hummingbirds and larger butterflies. It also makes an easy indoor plant where its flowers can be enjoyed through much of winter. Item# 420.

2022 Missouri Botanic Garden Plants of Merit selection! 18" long arching spikes composed of numerous dark golden yellow flowers burst onto the scene in late summer and fall creating a much needed feast of nectar and pollen for bees, butterflies including migratory Monarchs, and other garden beneficials. Fireworks is an award winning selection of the native Roughleaf Goldenrod, Solidago rugosa, and it won top marks in the Goldenrod trials at the Chicago Botanic Gardens. This is a hardy, clump-forming slowly spreading (a.k.a. short rhizomatous) herbaceous perennial that is both adaptable and manageable. Fireworks Goldenrod prefers a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist to moist fertile soil although it is tolerant of part shade, part sun conditions. Use this easy to grow native perennial in naturalistic settings and in mixed perennial gardens and landscapes. Item# 12313

Plants are covered by clusters of 2-3" wide, widely flaring, 4-petalled, glowing sunny yellow flowers in late spring and early summer and are held against red tinged foliage and even darker red new growth, flower buds, and winter rosettes. Fireworks Sundrops, a selection of our native Oenothera fruticosa subsp. glauca, but has a more compact, 12-18" high habit than the species. This is a tough and easy clump forming to short-rhizomatous, herbaceous perennial well suited to sunny, well-drained sites and plants typically need little additional attention once established in the landscape. Unlike many of the Evening Primroses, Sundrop flowers are open during the day providing nectar and pollen to a variety of bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries, all rights reserved. Item# 10160

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

Large, flat displays of rich yellow flowers are born over an exteded period in summer that lasts until early fall. Flat-Top or Shiny Goldenrod provides a perfect landing platform for pollinators while they enjoy its rich nectar and pollen. Unlike many of the Goldenrods this is a true clump forming perennial that stays where you put it. It gets the name Shiny Goldenrod from its shiny foliage. Item# 10683.

Up to 1" wide, light purple to blue, yellow-eyed daisies are borne in small clusters and singly atop a dense mound of bristly arching stems over an extended period in late summer and fall attracting a variety of smaller pollinators, especially bees. The Flax-Leaf Ankle-Aster, Ionactis lineariifolia but potentially I. repens (see additional notes on this plant's full product page), is a clump forming, herbaceous, native perennial that grows from a woody base producing a multitude of small wiry stems that are adorned with very narrow, stiff, fine, gray-green foliage. The plants naturally form a fairly dense rounded and spreading mound of stems to about 12-18" high and 16-24" wide. Locally, we normally find this plant on deep, dryish, poor sandy or loamy soils. This unusual Aster is native to much of the central and eastern US. It is a tough, deer and drought resistant, native perennial that is suitable for the perennial garden, rock gardens, and xeriscaping as well as for naturalistic areas like meadows and roadsides. The plants are moderately shade tolerant, but may flower best where they receive 4-6 hours or more of direct sunlight. Provide the Flax-Leaf Ankle-Aster with a sharply draining sandy, loamy, or rocky soil and average moisture during initial establishment. Item# 10692