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Perennials

A perennial plant or perennial (Latin per, "through", annus, "year") is a plant that lives for more than two years. When used by gardeners or horticulturalists, this term applies specifically to winter hardy perennial herbaceous plants. Scientifically, woody plants like shrubs and trees are also perennial in their habit.

Perennials, especially small flowering plants, grow and bloom over the spring and summer and then die back every autumn and winter, then return in the spring from their root-stock rather than seeding themselves as an annual plant does. These are known as herbaceous perennials. However, depending on the rigors of local climate, a plant that is a perennial in its native habitat, or in a milder garden, may be treated by a gardener as an annual and planted out every year, from seed, from cuttings or from divisions.

Aster oblongifolius 'Raydon's Favorite'

Aster oblongifolius 'Raydon's Favorite'

Aromatic Aster

Low growing mounds of gray-green foliage are covered in masses of medium-blue flowers with yellow centers in late summer and into fall. Excellent cut flower, aromatic foliage, and tolerant of a wide range of conditions.

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Asteromea mongolica

Asteromea mongolica

Japanese aster

A must-have perennial for the garden. It's extremely tough and easy to grow and it blooms for a long period of time. Double white flowers completely cover this plant from mid-summer to frost. A wonderful perennial to add late-season interest.

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Astilbe 'Amber Moon'

Astilbe 'Amber Moon'

False Spirea

Light up your shade garden with 'Amber Moon'! Bright chartreuse foliage in spring bears a tinge of  red on new leaves. As the foliage softens to gold-green, pink flowers grace the red stems in summer.

Unlicensed propagation prohibited.

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Astilbe 'Delft Lace'

Astilbe 'Delft Lace'

False Spirea

The foliage of 'Delft Lace' emerges maroon maturing to blue green with a silver sheen. Red flower stems hold beautiful, light pink flowers. Like most Astilbe, 'Delft Lace' prefers a shady exposure and moist, well drained soil.
Asexual Propagation is prohibited.

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Astilbe chinensis 'Vision in White'

Astilbe chinensis 'Vision in White'

False Spirea

Creamy white flowers stand out above the smooth, glossy, lacy, green foliage. 'Vision in White' makes an elegant statement as a specimen or in groups to achieve maximum color and impact.

More drought tolerant than traditional Astilbe varieties. Asexual propagation prohibited.

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Astilbe chinensis 'Visions'

Astilbe chinensis 'Visions'

Chinese Astillbe

A lovely addition to the shade garden with softly textured plumes of bright pink blossoms which are produced during the summer. The flowers are beautiful blooming naturally in the landscape, but also work well as cut flowers.

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Astilbe japonica Montgomery

Astilbe japonica Montgomery

Japanese Astilbe

Astilbe 'Montgomery' has bright red plumes of flowers above green lacy leaves. Preferring moist shade, striking when massed, and lovely in mixed containers...a terrific addition to the summer landscape.

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Athyrium 'Godzilla'

Athyrium 'Godzilla'

Japanese Painted Fern

All the same beautiful characteristics of its smaller cousins, but on a grander scale! The large, arching fronds with their lovely silvery markings will form a dense clump that will slowly spread over time. Excellent addition to the shade garden.

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Athyrium x 'Ghost'

Athyrium x 'Ghost'

Ghost Fern

This cross between Japanese Painted and Lady Fern takes the best attributes of both. It has a nice upright form and the fronds have a lovely silvery hue. Maroon colored midribs provide a nice contrast.

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Athyrium filix-femina

Athyrium filix-femina

Lady Fern

Lush, delicate green foliage appears in the spring on this vigorous, easy-to-grow fern. A clump-forming variety that loses its leaves in the winter. Plant in moist, rich soil.

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Athyrium niponicum 'Pictum'

Athyrium niponicum 'Pictum'

Painted Japanese Fern

A very popular fern that boasts silvery foliage and attractive red stems. Plants display their best color if planted where they get morning sun. A slowly spreading variety that loses its leaves in winter. Prefers rich, moist soil.

2004 Perennial Plant of the Year.

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Baptisia Decadence® 'Lemon Meringue'

Baptisia Decadence® 'Lemon Meringue'

False Indigo

Beyond just a yellow cultivar of baptisia, Decadence® Lemon Meringue shows off the lemon yellow flowers above the blue-green foliage on dark grey stems. Gorgeous, long-blooming, easy to grow and versatile in the landscape with it's shorter compact habit, 'Lemon Meringue' is one of the best new baptisia introductions.

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Baptisia Decadence® Deluxe 'Pink Lemonade'

Baptisia Decadence® Deluxe 'Pink Lemonade'

False Indigo

This long-lived perennial has subtle yellow flowers that transform to a soft Pink Lemonade that appear in late spring followed by seed pods that add ornamental interest. Baptisia Decadence® 'Pink Lemonade' has a full, short and compact shaped habit. An easy to grow perennial that needs little maintenance.

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Baptisia Decadence® Deluxe 'Pink Truffles'

Baptisia Decadence® Deluxe 'Pink Truffles'

False Indigo

This long-lived perennial has clear pink, pea-like flowers that appear in late spring followed by seed pods that add ornamental interest. Baptisia Decadence® 'Pink Truffles' has a compact and shorter habit than other Baptisia. An easy to grow perennial that needs little maintenance.

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Baptisia australis

Baptisia australis

False Blue Indigo

This North American native is an early spring bloomer with indigo blue, pea-shaped flowers covering tall spikes. Deer resistant and very drought tolerant once established. 2010 Perennial Plant of the Year.

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Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost'

Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost'

Heart-Leaf Brunnera

Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost' has mounding, heart-shaped foliage with frosty silver tones and delicate veining. Sprays of light blue, forget-me-not-like flowers bloom in spring. Excellent for woodland settings.

2012 Perennial Plant of the Year. Asexual propagation prohibited.

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Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack of Diamonds'

Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack of Diamonds'

Brunnera

This Brunnera offers huge 9-10" leaves that overlap dramatically at the base and look circular from a distance. The heavy silver overlay and vivid, wide, dark green veining pattern provide stunning appeal in shady spots. In the spring the baby blue, forget-me-not type blossoms hang gentle over the foliage.

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Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster'

Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster'

Feather Reed Grass

Reddish-bronze flower spikes bloom in early summer, later maturing to a nice straw color. One of the first grasses to bloom and one of the best medium-sized ornamental grasses.

Serves as an excellent backdrop for low-growing plants and will provide movement in the garden with the slightest breeze. 2001 Perennial Plant of the Year.

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Calamintha nepeta subsp. nepeta

Calamintha nepeta subsp. nepeta

A low-growing mound of deep green leaves gives off a lovely mint scent throughout your garden space. Pale, lilac-colored blooms appear in the summer and fall enhancing your garden appearance. This perennial is deer resistant and drought tolerant.

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Caltha palustris

Caltha palustris

Marsh Marigold

This native plant has bright yellow flowers resembling a buttercup with nice glossy, kidney-shaped leaves.  A consistently moist site is best for Caltha and would work great along a pond's edge, stream bank or a bog garden.

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Canna 'Red Velvet'

Canna 'Red Velvet'

Canna Lily

'Red Velvet' will add flare to your garden with its fiery red flowers and bronze purple foliage. Canna lilies are perfect for planting beside a pond or stream and their enormous, tropical-like foliage make for a striking display when planted in masses. Blooms midsummer to fall. Requires full sun. Planting too early in the spring could increase chance of frost damage. Can tolerate average soils, but needs plenty of watering.

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Canna Cannova® Bronze Orange

Canna Cannova® Bronze Orange

Canna Lily

Canna 'Bronze Orange' is a bronze-leafed Canna which grows about 4' tall and has lovely orange flowers. Great for summer containers, in beds or as a border.

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Canna Pretoria

Canna Pretoria

Variegated Canna Lily

Also known as Canna 'Bengal Tiger' growing up to six feet tall! 'Pretoria' has sensational yellow and green variegated leaves that are flanked by orange blooms in the summertime!

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Canna Tenerife

Canna Tenerife

Canna Lily

Canna 'Tenerife' has a golden flower with specks of orange atop full green foliage that lasts from early spring to the first frost. This beautiful Lily prefers full-sun and can grow up to three feet, this can be a wonderful center to a landscape and the flowers can be used in arrangements!

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Carex Feather Falls™

Carex Feather Falls™

Sedge

An extraordinary Carex that boasts incredibly long, variegated foliage. Equally beautiful in the garden spilling onto the ground or in a container cascading over the edge. The clumping habit and sun tolerance makes this a unique, versatile perennial.

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Carex laxiculmis 'Hobb'

Carex laxiculmis 'Hobb'

Sedge

This North American native is a terrific evergreen addition to any shade garden. The bright blue leaves form a tidy mound. With adequate moisture it will even thrive in full sun!

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Carex oshimensis 'Evergold'

Carex oshimensis 'Evergold'

Sedge

'Evergold' has a flowing habit and striking variegated foliage. The dark green margins are a dramatic contrast for the yellow centers creating a bright display in a shady spot.

Once established, 'Evergold' can tolerate a range of climatic conditions but does not respond well to extreme heat.

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Carex oshimensis EverColor® 'Everillo'

Carex oshimensis EverColor® 'Everillo'

Sedge

The bright yellow to chartreuse leaves of this evergreen sedge will add a splash of bright color to a shade garden. A perfect companion to hosta and fern, it will also tolerate dry shade. Asexual propagation prohibited.

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Carex pensylvanica

Carex pensylvanica

Sedge

Native to the US and Canada, Carex pensylvanica prefers drier soils than most other Carex species, although it will thrive in moist conditions with adequate drainage. The semi-evergreen leaves gracefully arch in a slow creeping mound that grows best in dappled to full shade.

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Ceratostigma plumbaginoides

Ceratostigma plumbaginoides

Leadwort

Ceratostigma plumbaginoides' deep blue 3/4" flowers bloom from late summer through the fall when the foliage becomes a striking red color. Grows best in well-drained soil. Makes an excellent ground cover for sunny areas.

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Chasmanthium latifolium

Chasmanthium latifolium

Northern Sea Oats

Broad-leaved, pale green foliage arches gracefully under the weight of seed-heads that emerge in June and remain attractive into the winter. Grows well even in dry shade. Reseeding nature makes it useful for filling in large areas.

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Chelone obliqua Tiny Tortuga™

Chelone obliqua Tiny Tortuga™

Turtlehead

Pink blooms set amongst shiny dark green foliage. This native perennial blooms from mid-summer to fall with a compact habit, and is a favorite of butterflies. Asexual propagation prohibited.

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Chrysogonum virginianum 'Allen Bush'

Chrysogonum virginianum 'Allen Bush'

Green and Gold

Native to woodland areas, this groundcover has star-shaped flowers that bloom abundantly in the spring.  Flowers will die down in the heat of the summer in the hotter regions but will rebloom in the fall.  This plant can tolerate sunnier conditions as long as there is adequate moisture and good drainage.

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Clematis 'Roguchi'

Clematis 'Roguchi'

Bell-flowered Clematis

Stunning bell-shaped blossoms drape this climbing plant through the summer months. The blooms have a lovely purple coloration with a deeper interior. Needs support on trellises.

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Clematis 'Ville de Lyon'

Clematis 'Ville de Lyon'

Clematis

A large flowering variety with petals that are purple on the rim, fading to a lighter mauve on the interiors. Blossoms can reach up to 7" in diameter.

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