Acaena inermis ‘Purpurea’ Zn7b (5º to 10ºF) Rosaceae A fantastic small scale evergreen groundcover with leaves shaded deep purple/red. . To only 3" tall and forming small patches to 1' across in full sun to light shade in rich well drained soil. Regular water in summer. Less aggressive than other New Zealand Burrs. Great in winter containers. Extremely pretty planted under Carex testacea. Bold color on a small plant that makes an impact from far away. Great mixed with gold foliaged plants. Acanthus hungaricus Zn6a (-10º to -5ºF) Acanthaceae Hungarian Acanthus is a deciduous species that is hardier to cold and has much finer, more divided leaves. Quickly forming large patches in shade to part shade it competes well with greedy tree roots and even copes with a bit of drought. Water occasionally in summer. In July and August bold, architectural white flower spikes. Leaves 3' tall and as wide with a flower spike to 4' tall. Spreads slowly by the root, a very permanent plant. Completely deciduous in winter, plan for that. Easy to grow and accepts an enormous variety of conditions. This perennial will live a nearly infinite amount of time with little care. Forms large patches in 5-10 years. Protect from slugs when young growth emerges in spring. Acanthus mollis ‘Hollard’s Gold’ Zn7b (5º to 10ºF) Acanthaceae Bold perennial with a golden twist. Famed in Ancient Greek architecture, the leaves of this selection are even more dramatic. Large lobed leaves on a spreading evergreen perennial with 3' tall white/ light purple flowers, late spring and early summer. Dappled shade protected from hot sun for the best leaf color. Summer water in well drained soil. Very permanent, forms 4' patches. Resprouts from roots if moved. Protect from Slugs. Acanthus mollis ‘Tasmanian Angel’ TM Zn7b (5º to 10ºF) Acanthaceae Wow, a beautifully variegated Acanthus, the first of its kind. Classic leaves are splashed and then mostly outlined in pure white. A GOOD vareigation that works, enhances the leaves, does not distract or look diseased. Nice job Tasman people. To 3’ tall and as wide in several years. Evergreen in winter unless the temperature drops below 18º, then it returns with warm weather. Permanent as all Acanthus are in our climate and appreciative of rich well drained soil in part shade. Flower spikes to 3’ tall are SOFT PINK and gorgeous. Extreme summer drought causes plants to go deciduous. PROTECT from slugs and snails, leaves are too gorgeous to be marred. We REALLY like this plant. Acanthus syriacus Zn7a (0º to 5ºF) Acanthaceae A spectacular Bear's Breeches with exquisite fine leaves and in summer 2' tall, 5" wide huge chalice-like blooms. Light yellow and lavender flowers appear in June-July. Full sun in well drained good soil. Occasional summer water though tolerant of drought. The flowers are like no other and the plant should be sited in a forward or conspicuous position. Deciduous in winter. Good looking leaves all season. Give it room to spread. Actaea simplex ‘Black Negligee’ Zn3a (-40º to -35ºF) Ranunculacae Gorgeous deep black finely cut foliage takes center stage on this tough and durable perennial. Clump forming with white flower spikes that rise up to 4’ tall in late summer followed by white berries. Best in deep rich soil with ample moisture during summer. Part shade or high overhead shade. Agapanthus ‘Ella Mae’ PP7297 Zn8a (10º to 15ºF) Alliaceae A beautiful Agapanthus with ultra-marine blue flowers that appear for a very long time in midsummer. Easy to grow with tall flowers that glow from a distance. To 30 tall. Forms a clump up to 2' wide in 5 years. Rich soil that is well drained in full hot sun. Blooms better with summer irrigation. Great container plant if you protect it from temperatures below 20∞F. Semi-deciduous. Loses leaves below 20∞F in the ground- re-grows in spring. Agapanthus x ‘Headbourne Hybrids’ Zn7a (0º to 5ºF) Alliaceae A strain of cold hardy Agapanthus that were developed in England by crossing the cold hardiest deciduous species. Long lived clump forming perennials that relish full hot sun and Rich well amended soil with regular water during the dry summer. 30" spikes of deep to light blue flowers in June to July. Nice cutflower and very good with Daylillies and hardy Geraniums. Disappears completely in winter. LOVES rich soil. Agapanthus moorei Zn6b (-5º to 0ºF) Alliaceae "Bell Agapanthus" is a cold hardy, deciduous species from high elevations in South Africa. In July and August 30" spikes of deep blue flowers rise from the handsome green foliage. Full sun and RICH well drained soil with occasional water insummer. Completely deciduous in winter (like a Hosta). Great with Day lillies and Croscosmia. Long lived and more flowers appear each year as the clump expands. Xera Plants Introduction 2002 Agastache x ‘Coral Moon’ Zn7a (0º to 5ºF) Lamiaceae A lovely perennial flowering Hyssop with delicious saturated coral colored flowers. To 28" tall and forming a clump to a foot across. Blooms continuously from June until frost- flower spikes get larger and more showy with time. Remove spent flowers to encourage more. Excellent combined with the purple-blue flowers of Penstemon 'Margarita BOP'. Occasional summer water in rich well drained soil. Good in containers. Xera Plants Introduction 2006 Agastache ‘Mandarin Dream’ Zn7b (5º to 10ºF) Lamiaceae For dreams of a REALLY orange Agastache, with flowers the color of a Mandarin Orange this new compact variety is just what we've been looking for. Copious amounts of glowing orange flowers top a plant with aromatic foliage. To 14" tall and as wide, flowers appear from early June to frost. Full hot sun and well drained soil, with only occasional summer water. Good container plant- takes reflected heat well. Hummingbirds love it. Xera Plants Introduction 2004 Agastache x ‘Shaniko’ Zn7a (0º to 5ºF) Lamiaceae A very pretty flowering Hyssop with pale-ghostly melon flowers held by dark red calyxes. To 20" tall and forming a clump. Full sun and well drained soil. Cut back hard in early spring. Occasional summer water. Blooms late May through summer. A very airy texture and good in containers where you can brush the aromatic foliage.Combines well with deep blue Agapanthus and Salvia x 'Playa Rosa'. Agastache rupestre Zn7a (0º to 5ºF) Lamiaceae The queen of the flowering hyssops, this southwestern native is one of the best for garden culture. Very light textured gray/green leaves with a lovely aromatic fragrance provide a great backdrop to the flowers which emerge light orange and then "change" to light purple. The bicolor effect is a knockout. Well drained soil in full sun to very light shade with occasional summer water. Allium sikkimensis Zn5a (-20º to -15ºF) Lilaceae A really well behaved ornamental onion with relatively large true light blue flowers in June to early August. Fine grassy foliage forms a very tight clump to only 8" tall and to 6" wide in three years. In mid-summer pendant bells of soft blue develop on 10" tall stalks. Easily grown in full sun to light shade in moist well drained soil, though it will look after itself. Front of a border or in a rock garden. Does not seed itself, though you might wish that it did. Alstroemeria x ‘Butterscotch’ Zn7a (0º to 5ºF) Lilaceae A non-invasive garden hybrid Peruvian Lily of the beautiful color. Butterscotch flowers with throats intricately hatched with dark brown. Forms a clump to 18" and as tall in bloom. Pull, do not cut Alstroemerias for cutflowers- for which they last weeks. Full sun and rich well drained soil with LOTS of organic fertilizer. Winter deciduous, protect from slugs. Blooms appear June to frost. Alstroemerias are long lasting cut flowers. Pull them from the base rather than cutting them, its better for the plant. Alstroemeria ‘Glory of the Andes’ Zn7a (0º to 5ºF) Lilaceae Beautiful Inca Lily, w/ soft green leaves edged in cream/yellow June through August 3' spikes of vivid gold flowers marked with maroon hash-marks. Unusual, it has a light sweet fragrance. Clump forming-to 30" wide. Full sun/ light shade in rich well drained soil. Regular water. Ideal cut flower but do not to cut, instead pull stems gently, they pop cleanly from the base. Winter deciduous- protect from slugs as it emerges in spring. Non-invasive variety. Alstromeria psittacina ‘Variegata’ Zn7a (0º to 5º) Lilaceae A wonderful perennial for part shade with delicate leaves edged with streaks of white and in mid summer dramatic deep red flowers also edged in white and with purple streaks. To 30" and spreading, but never becoming a pest. Rich garden soil with regular water. Great cutflower that should never be cut, but rather pulled from the base of the plant. Cutting the stems leaves them vulnerable. Elegant. Anthriscus ‘Ravenswing’ Zn5a (-20º to -15ºF) Apiaceae The beautiful dark fillagree leaves of this biennial make it one of the most dramatic for a lightly shaded border. In early June umbels of white flowers appear as great contrast. Full sun to light shade with regular water and rich soil. Too much shade results in green leaves. Reseeds, and dark seedlings may be easily moved or potted on. Deciduous. To 2' tall and as wide. Aquilegia chrysantha ‘Long Spurred’ Zn5a (-20º to -15ºF) Ranunculaceae Golden Columbine is a fantastic species from the mountains of Arizona. Clear yellow flowers w/ incredibly long and graceful spurs are displayed in May-June. One of the most beautiful of all Columbine. Blue green fine foliage adds to the perfect combination for this tightly clumping perennial to 8" wide with flower spikes to 22" tall. Full sun to very light shade in well drained rich soil, water in summer. Combine with blues for oooooohs. Xera Plants Introduction Aquilegia vulgaris ‘Dead Spider’ Zn4a (-30º to -25ºF) Ranunculaceae Droopy, drippy.....gray flowers on a Columbine. It just showed up in our garden and persisted. We grew to love it, we had never seen a gray flowered Columbine. Fresh green leaves and droopy, but cool, gray flowers. Full sun to light shade. In average but well drained soil. The homeliest Columbine in the west? I think not! Actually, its very pretty. Aquilegia formosa Zn5a (-20º to -15ºF) Ranunculaceae A PNW native perennial Columbine with very delicate blue green foliage and apricot orange and yellow flowers that appear in May and June. Adapted to our winter/wet- summer/dry climate and should not be over watered in summer. Benign neglect is good. Part shade, well drained soil. Flower spikes to 24" tall. Long-lived for a columbine, will often form permanent patches in part shade. Lovely plant. PNW NATIVE Aquilegia viridiflora Zn4a (-30º to -25ºF) Ranunculaceae This great species Columbine has delicate blue/green leaves and in mid to late spring FRAGRANT flowers of green and brown. The fragrance is somewhat like Honeysuckle and carries for quite a distance. Short lived perennial that reseeds. Full sun to light shade in rich soil with occasional summer water. Groovy cutflower. Often reblooms if spent flower heads are removed. Xera Plants Introduction Aquilega vulgaris ‘Icy Blue’ Zn4a (-30º to -25ºF) Ranunculaceae A gold leaved Columbine with exquisite white flowers that open white and then change to the lightest icy blue. To 20" tall for part shade to full sun in average to rich soil with regular water in summer. Remove damaged leaves to force new ones. Great in a woodland with blue leaved Hosta. The most golden of gold-leaved Aquilegia. Reseeds true and small plants are easily spotted and easy to move. . Aralia californica Zn7a (0º to 5ºF) Araliaceae Our native Elk Clover is an exceptional member of the Ivy family that forms huge clumps with bold leaves and striking white flowers. To 8' tall and as wide it is fully deciduous in winter. An inhabitant of partly shady locations from central western Oregon south. In June spherical heads of round flowers are followed by red and black berries, beloved by birds. Part shade with regular water. Great for tropical effects. Easy. PNW NATIVE Arisaema taiwanense Zn7a (0º to 5ºF) A dramatic and easy woodland perennial that emerges in late spring. Tall propeller shaped leaves have a stem dotted in chocolate brown. Just below the leaf the fascinating brown flower appears with a darker brown hood that terminates into a tail that droops forward. To 2' tall - forming small colonies. Rich, moist soil in part shade to shade. Regular water. Pepper red seeds appear in summer. Completely deciduous in winter. Artemesia canescens Zn6a (-10º to -5ºF) Asteraceae A superb foliage plant for dry sunny areas, this Artemisia from Iran mixes very well with other perennial. Intricate foliage forms a gray haze on an evergreen dome shaped plant to 14" tall and 20" wide. Full sun and well drained soil. May be cut back to the base in early spring to refresh. Occasional summer water, but not soggy. Excellent on slopes with such plants as Zauschneria and hardy Geraniums. (syn. A. armeniacum) Arthropodium candidum ‘Purpureum’ Zn8a (10º to 15ºF) Lilaceae This New Zealand Rock Lily is excellent for growing in rock gardens and troughs. Striking strap-shaped leaves of pink mottled with brown form rosettes. In late summer and fall small scapes of delicate white flowers appear. Part shade with regular water. Seeds itself, but is not a pest. To 8" tall and 10" across and deciduous in winter. Japanese gardens, near ponds around rocks and paths. Asarum splendens Zn6a (-10 to -5ºF) Aristolochaceae Chinese Ginger is a splendid ground cover (heh) for shade. This easy to grow evergreen perennial has heart shaped leaves with a zone of silver on top and red on the underside. 6" tall to 2' x 2' wide in 3 years. Small brown flowers born born in spring at the base of the stems. Well drained woodland soil, regular water in summer, established plants can wilt, water returns them to luster in 1/2 hr w/ no crisping. Evergreen to 15∞F Bait for slugs. Asclepias speciosa Zn4a (-30º to -25ºF) Asclepidaceae A widespread species of Milkweed that is found throughout a huge area of western North America. Gray green leaves are large and almost succulent. In summer fragrant star-like flowers appear on top . Followed by elongated pods that spit to disperse the familiar silky seed heads. To 2’ tall and forming a clump. Full sun and well drained soil. Naturally adapted to drought once established. Very architectural plant with other dry loving creatures. Completely deciduous in winter. PNW NATIVE Asclepias tuberosa Zn4a (-30º to -25ºF) Asclepidaceae One of the conspicuous and celebrated butterfly plants native to large sections of eastern North America on sandy soils. Tuberous rooted woody based perennial that rises to 30” tall each year to display its vivid orange/yellow flowers in mid to late summer. Full sun and well drained soil are best. Long-lived when established. In our climate it seems to do better with occasional summer water. Takes several years to get established and then really perform. Be patient. It can be a difficult plant to locate in nurseries because it REALLY hates being in a pot and takes several years to bulk up to saleable size. Wonderful with the deep blue flowers of Salvia ‘Nuevo Leon’ and appropriately wild looking to fit in with ornamental grasses. Completley winter deciduous, remember where you plant it. Aspidistra elatior Zn7a (0º to 5ºF) Lilaceae Cast Iron Plant, famous for adaptation to nearly pitch black shade. Easy evergreen perennial in this climate forming 30" tall clumps over time. Best in dry shade with occasional water, under stairwells, dry dark planters. Small flowers appear at the ground and look a like individual slices of pepperoni. Seriously. Protect from bright sun. NOT just a houseplant- easy to grow outside. Good under bamboo. Astelia alpina Zn7a (0º to 5ºF) Lilaceae The cold hardiest Silver Sword (Astelia) this Tasmanian alpine plant is also known as 'Pineapple Grass'. Glistening rosettes of old gold spread very slowly in part shade to light shade. Best in moist well drained soil - it also tolerates a surprising amount of drought when established. A very rare plant, beautifu year round but its evergreen leaves are especially stunning in winter. To 6" tall x 8" wide. Wonderful container plant- avoid hot locations. Astelia chathamica Zn8b (15º to 20ºF) Lilaceae The silver swords of Astelia might possibly be one of the best architectural plants for Northwest gardens. Silvery spikes to about 3' tall and forming a clump, they are best in a protected location in rich soil with regular water. Excellent in containers (that should be protected from hard freezes) and capable of regrowing from the base if frozen to the ground. Culture and hardiness as for Phormiums. Mulch in fall. Astelia nervosa ‘Westland’ Zn8a (10º to 15ºF) Lilaceae WOW. All Astelias are not created equal. Some are MUCH hardier to cold including this amazing selection with silver gilded leaves brushed with bronze. Undamaged to 10ºF, with strong winds, it has thrived in many gardens (in) PDX for years. To 2' tall and forming an evergreen clump as wide. RICH, well drained soil with regular water in summer. Avoid hot soil. Full sun to woodland conditions. GREAT PLANT. May be hardier than 10ºF. Athyrium n. p. ‘Silver Falls’ pp#12803 Athyrium nipponicum-pictum ‘Silver Falls’ Zn4a (-30º to -25ºF) Dryopertaceae An extraordinary selection of Japanese Painted Fern with large, very silver leaves brushed mid-vein with a touch of burgundy. Robust and long-lived deciduous perennial in part shade to shade, rich soil with regular summer water. Comes up a little late (mid April) forming clumps to 1' tall and a little wider. INSANELY beautiful with dark leaved Cimicifuga and blue leaved Hosta. Not bothered by deer. http://www.xeraplants.com/Xera_Plants_Inc/Categories_home.html

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Acaena anserinifolia ‘Blue Haze’  Zn7b (5º to 10ºF) Rosaceae

Acaena pronounced (uh-KANE-uh) is a pretty evergreen groundcover native to New Zealand with handsome pinnate  leaves. Wonderful contrast with bright greens and yellows. Mixes well with Rubus c. ‘Golden Quilt’.  Light shade with regular water when dry. To 4" tall-spread nearly indefinite. Roots as it grows and stabilizes soil. Flowers burr-like in summer. Better in rich rather than poor soil.

deer resistance

dry shade

low water /no water

Perennials return year after year and are the organic heart of the garden. They represent the most sustainable type of landscaping. So many are available today that we focus on the best and most unusual.

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Perennials

Agastache ‘Shaniko’

Agastache ‘Coral Moon’

Acanthus mollis ‘Tasmanian Angel’

Alstroemeria  ‘Butterscotch’

Aralia californica

Artemesia canescens

perennials

perennials         A

perennials         A

Salvia ‘Nuevo Leon’

perennials         A

Plants for problem areas

Agastache ‘Mandarin Dream’

Aquilegia vulgaris ‘Icy Blue’

Acaena inermis ‘Purpurea’ w/ Sedum reflexum ‘Angelina’