Perennials at Digging Dog
Rheum to Succisella

Including Rudbeckia, Salvia, & Schizostylis

Rheum

Rhubarb

Rheum palmatum v. tanguticum ‘Rote Auslese’   

Ornamental Rhubarb

Rote Auslese means “Red Selection”.

One of the most pleasing of the tall ornamental rhubarbs, this prehistoric-looking specimen has colossal, divided leaves, reddish bronze at first, becoming dark green with purple undersides, and eventually quite red in the fall. Airy maroon panicles are produced atop the towering flower stems.

For a bold vignette, stage with other dynamic performers such as Veronicastrum ‘Erica’, and Hemerocallis middendorffii. Rheums require deep, rich soil and appreciate mulching in the summer to keep their roots cool, as they detest extreme heat.

Blooms June–July.

Size: 6-1/2' high x 5' wide; hardy to zone 5.

Rheum palmatum v. tanguticum Rote Auslese (P-0715)
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Rodgersia

Native to China and Japan, this spectacular genus will grow in ordinary garden soil, but give it rich, moist soil along a pond, stream or marshy area and it will thrive. Rodgersias are fine architectural specimens characterized by bold textured leaves that can spread to a foot across, originating from brownish black, fleshy rhizomes. So be sure to provide plenty of space. The numerous unpetaled flowers, colored by intriguing creamy salmon sepals and stamens, are borne on large panicles, and when in bud look almost like miniature cauliflowers.

Rodgersia aesculifolia   

Fingerleaf Rodgersia

Rodgersias are fine architectural specimens characterized by brownish black, fleshy rhizomes and large textured leaves spreading to a foot across, so be sure to provide these plants with plenty of space.

Similar to the palmate leaves of Horse Chestnut, the crinkled foliage of this species is tinted bronze and heavily veined. The 7 leaflets radiate from the center and shaggy brown hair covers the loosely branched stalks, which hold pyramidal flowers, ranging in color from porcelain white to muted pink.

Blooms June–mid-August.

Size: 3' high x 3' wide; hardy to zone 5.

Rodgersia aesculifolia (P-0311)
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Rodgersia podophylla ‘Braunlaub’     

A topnotch foliage plant selected by Ernest Pagels, ‘Braunlaub’ delivers stylish bronzed leaves. Loose ivory-colored panicles rise high above the striking textural clump composed of prominently veined compound leaves divided into 5 to 7 lobed leaflets with sharply serrated edges. Becoming dark green by midsummer and later transmuting brilliant copper and red autumn hues, this Rodgersia’s large richly colored foliage offsets fine textured plants like Carex ‘Oehme’ and Thalictrum ‘Elin’.

Blooms June–mid-August.

Size: 2-1/2' high x 3' wide; hardy to zone 5.

Rodgersia podophylla Braunlaub (P-1551)
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Roscoea

Thrusting upward from fleshy roots late in the spring, Roscoea’s green stems are sheathed by alternate glossy foliage, while its large lobed flowers possess an otherwordly appeal. An exotic-looking genus that counts Ginger among its kin, these Tibetan and Nepalese natives appreciate a deep planting and a thick layer of mulch for winter protection.

Roscoea auriculata   

Its grass green leaves are long and lance-shaped. Held on short terminal spikes, the brilliant purple flowers resemble orchids, and display white to pale violet markings on each petal. To create intrigue, plant on the edge of the woodland garden with Heuchera, Tiarellas, and Tricyrtis.

Blooms July–September.

Size: 16" high x 16" wide; hardy to zone 6.

Roscoea auriculata (P-1156)
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Roscoea cautleyoides   

Once described by British garden author, William Robinson as possessing “...a beauty quite apart”, this rare Chinese woodland perennial lives up to its reputation as its large, openly hooded ghostlike blooms hover just above tall, lush-looking narrow leaves. Bathed in pale moonlit yellows, the exquisitely strange, yet elegant flowers impart a cool luminosity to a drift of Disporum ‘Night Heron’.

Blooms June–July.

Size: 18" high x 12" wide; hardy to zone 6.

Roscoea cautleyoides (p-1321)
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Rudbeckia

Black-Eyed Susan

Named by Linnaeus in honor of his teacher Olaf Rudbeck, this North American genus includes 25 to 30 species, many of them famous summer, especially late season, bloomers. These selections are easy to grow, make fine cut flowers, and will brighten any border or naturalized meadow. Offering interest also in the late fall and winter, they combine well with Aster, Eupatorium, and grasses.

Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Swiss Gold’ 

Black-Eyed Susan

You probably know ‘Swiss Gold’ as Black-Eyed Susan, those robust, bright orange-yellow American daisies with the dark centers. As charming in seed as it is in flower, its abundant chocolate-brown seed heads last until Thanksgiving. Strong stems bear flowers almost 3 ft. high without staking; foliage is dark green and hirsute.

Set a meadow ablaze with a large drift. Effective with Eupatorium ‘Gateway’, Aster ‘Coombe Fishacre’ and Deschampsia ‘Goldgehänge’ for texture.

Blooms August–October.

Size: 2-1/2' high & spreading; hardy to zone 4.

Rudbeckia fulgida Swiss Gold (P-1399)
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Rudbeckia fulgida speciosa (Newmanii) 

Compact Black-Eyed Susan

Somewhat wilder looking than most of the well-known cultivars, this species holds bright orange-yellow flowers with densely clustered petals on strong, wiry stems. In our garden, its open habit is backed by Persicaria ‘Summer Dance’.

Blooms late July–September.

Size: 2' high x 2' wide; hardy to zone 4.

Rudbeckia fulgida speciosa (Newmanii) (P-0552)
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Rudbeckia laciniata ‘Goldquelle’   

This Rudbeckia’s sassy Dahlia-like mop of double lemon-yellow flowers promises to put a smile on your face. Perched atop wiry upstanding stems and handsome narrow-lobed green leaves, the shapely chartreuse-eyed daisies bloom for a long time, while creating a dramatic medium-sized counterpoint to Aconitum ‘Bressingham Spire’s vertical blue-violet shafts.

Blooms mid-July–September.

Size: 2-1/2'–3' high x 2' wide; hardy to zone 4.

Rudbeckia laciniata Goldquelle (P-1552)
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Rudbeckia occidentalis ‘Green Wizard’ 

If you appreciate the curious, the unusual, the truly unique, then allow this novelty to work some magic in your garden. From a leafy green basal clump appear 3 to 5 in. wide flowers on sturdy stalks, each featuring a huge central chocolate brown boss encompassed by approximately ten large and stiff well-spaced bright green sepals.

Unparalleled as a cut flower fresh or dried, florists, gardeners and birds seek out these extraordinary blooms that first form an intriguing golden ring of pollen around their striking cones. Quick to establish and undemanding, this attention grabber guarantees a flashy display of neon color when paired with Kniphofia linearifolia and Salvia ‘Limelight’.

Blooms July–September.

Size: 3'–5' high x 2-1/2' wide; hardy to zone 4.

Rudbeckia occidentalis Green Wizard (P-1294)
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Rudbeckia paniculata 

Languid petals in lemon yellow shades lazily encircle prominent beehivelike, chartreuse cones during the idle days of summer. With rough surfaces and fuzzy undersides, the broad and deeply clefted green leaves attire sturdy clumping stems in an airy, opposite fashion. This Rudbeckia makes a sunny neighbor for Aster asperulus above our stone wall.

Blooms July–August.

Size: 3'–4' high x 2' wide; hardy to zone 4.

Rudbeckia paniculata (P-1295)
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Rudbeckia subtomentosa 

Sweet Coneflower

A Midwestern prairie girl that delivers outstanding flower power along with unwavering fortitude, this taller Black-Eyed Susan cousin is named for her anise-scented daisies. Radiant yellow petals surround purple-brown domed centers creating a buoyant sea of color all summer long. Perfectly branched for bouquets, the sturdy, straight-backed stems host toothed, deep green lush-looking leaves sporting downy undersides.

Blooms August–September.

Size: 4' high x 2' wide; hardy to zone 3.

Rudbeckia subtomentosa (P-1398)
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Rudbeckia triloba 

Three-Lobed Coneflower

A summertime show stopper, this floriferous Rudbeckia is a denizen of the Great Plains. At its base, the larger leaves are trilobed, forming a handsome bushy mass that gives way to more narrow upper leaves and openly branched, flowering stems.

Completely covered in glorious golden yellow petals circling jet black centers that fade to brown, Rudbeckia triloba is a vivacious addition to the border with companions such as Aconitum ‘Arendsii’ and Pennisetum ‘Moudry’. Not as long-lived as other Rudbeckias, Three-Lobed Coneflower eventually wears itself out, but easily reseeds.

Blooms August–October.

Size: 5'–6' high x 3'–4' wide; hardy to zone 5.

Rudbeckia triloba (P-1147)
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Salvia

Sage

Thought in ancient times to perpetuate good health, an Arab proverb asks, “How shall a man die with sage in his garden?” Our Salvias are diverse perennials, shrubs or subshrubs. Many of them hail from the Mediterranean, Mexico and South America.

Drought tolerant, reliable once established, and generally pest and disease free, they combine an array of flowers and aromatic foliage in many different sizes, shapes, and hues..

Further reading about Salvia:

The Gardener’s Guide to Growing Salvias by John Sutton

The New Book of Salvias Sages for Every Garden by Betsy Clebsch

Salvia ‘Bee’s Bliss’ 

A bee’s bliss, a gardener’s good friend, and very welcome indeed is this Salvia’s ability to grow in difficult, dry conditions. An excellent ground cover, ‘Bee’s Bliss’ bears abundant clusters of lavender-colored blossoms, which embellish its bright, dense mat of slender-leafed, aromatic, gray-green foliage. It willingly spills over a wall, softening hard edges, and maintains a tidy look without much care.

Blooms June–August.

Size: 12" high x 3' wide; hardy to zone 9.

Salvia Bee’s Bliss (p-0802)
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Salvia ‘El Cielo Blue’   

Blue Sky Sage

Selected by Yucca Do Nursery, the interesting foliage of this upright Mexican native makes it one of our favorite Sages. Broad, tapered leaves have an unusual bluish hue on top, while undersides turn purple as they mature. Contrast this with the vivid green of the new growth, and you’re in for quite a foliar show. Well loved by hummingbirds, the small, iridescent, deep purple flowers display a splash of white in their throats.

Blooms late August–October.

Size: 4' high x 2' wide; hardy to zone 8.

Salvia El Cielo Blue (p-0866)
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Salvia ‘Purple Majesty’   

A mainstay at the back of the border, this regal Salvia is a cross between Salvia guaranitica and Salvia gesneraeflora. Rising above the textured mint-green leaves, spikes of vibrant violet-blue blooms add glorious color all summer until frost, and are adored by hummingbirds everywhere. With its upright stance and cool shades, ‘Purple Majesty’ complements the warmer hues of Helianthus angustifolius (Pale Form) for a splendid autumn union.

Blooms June–early November.

Size: 5'–6' high x 3' wide; hardy to zone 7.

Salvia Purple Majesty (P-0967)
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Salvia ‘Silke’s Dream’ 

Discovered by Art Petty of Austin, Texas, this dream Salvia cross inherits the best qualities of both its parents. Like darcyi, it features fantastically colored blooms, and like microphylla, its good-looking stance is short and compact.

Summer brings plentiful, 15 in. spikes of warm-hued, dark orange-red flowers and by fall, the round-tipped, somewhat reflective green foliage is completely blanketed by them. Renown for an easy going, stalwart and floriferous nature, ‘Silke’s Dream’ tantalizes us with its passionate display, while counterposing Salvia corrugata’s deep blue spires.

Blooms July–October.

Size: 2' high x 3' wide; hardy to zone 7.

Salvia Silke’s Dream (p-1358)
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Salvia ‘Waverly’ 

Like a well planned composition, this Salvia blends white fuzzy flowers, blushed with the palest of pinks and predominate purple calyxes against a graceful foil of textured grayish green foliage.

Given to us by David Salmon of High Country Gardens, we planted it in front of Cotinus ‘Grace’, whose leaves repeat the deep color of ‘Santa Barbara’s calyxes.

Blooms late June–early November.

Size: 3' high x 3' wide; hardy to zone 8.

Salvia Waverly (p-0660)
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Salvia argentea 

This bold Mediterranean native serves up a remarkable portion of eye catching appeal on its almost platter-sized, soft and silky white, felted foliage. Emerging in a dramatic basal clump, new leaves are crinkled, but flatten as they grow, while their margins retain a sinuous wave. A spectacular showing of dramatic 2 to 3 ft. candelabralike stems are decorated in small, white, hooded flowers, each with a slight tinge of pink and a subtle grayish calyx.

After the bloom, leaves transmute to a pale gray-green, and when cooler weather returns, they turn silvery once again. Positively show-stopping along a dry wall, or in the herb garden with Lavender and Rosmarinus ‘Maltese White’, Salvia argentea demands well drained soil, tolerates drought, and will live longer if spent flower stalks are attentively removed.

Blooms June–July.

Size: 5' high x 3' wide; hardy to zone 9.

Salvia argentea (p-0678)
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Salvia arizonica   

Arizona Sage

A loose mound of luxuriant verdant foliage and trailing stems, this native of southern Arizona, Texas and northern Mexico thrives in the partial shade of small trees and shrubs. With a multitude of small, bright purple flowers held by smoky violet calyxes and a refreshing minty scent, Arizona Sage makes a delightful understory for Euphorbia griffithii ‘Great Dixter’.

Blooms June–July & again in September.

Size: 18" high x 2' & spreading; hardy to zone 7.

Salvia arizonica (p-0771)
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Salvia azurea ‘Nekan’ 

Pitcher Sage

Highly esteemed for its densely packed whorls of true sky blue flowers, this U.S. native assures a scene stealing, late season hurrah that beckons both butterflies and gardeners. Numerous slender stems stand tall while narrow, linear gray-green leaves are covered in a downy softness. Exhibiting a vigorous drought, heat and cold tolerant nature, this stalwart beauty deserves a prime position in more gardens.

Blooms July–September.

Size: 3'–4' high x 2'–3' wide; hardy to zone 4.

Salvia azurea Nekan (P-0162)
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Salvia brandegeei ‘Pacific Blue’   

Whorls of densely packed, chartreuse terminal buds on strong upright stems provide exciting contrast to the lush green color of ‘Limelight’s foliage. In flower, this cultivar is sure to take center stage as deep bluish purple blooms peek out from the vibrant yellow-green calyxes. Cut back each season to encourage new growth at the base and to maintain a pleasing shape.

Blooms August–early November.

Size: 6' high x 6' wide; hardy to zone 8.

Salvia mexicana Limelight (p-0608)
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Salvia microphylla ‘Dennis’ Pink’   

Touted as one of the best pink-colored microphyllas, these good-sized flowers are not shy in the least. With a full-bodied fuchsia pink hue, the freely borne blooms feature dark charcoal-tinged calyxes, hooded upper petals and prominent lower lips illuminated by singular white splotches. Peaking in spring, continuing through summer and ending with an autumn grand finale, the exuberant long lasting display energizes a bushy aromatic mass of wiry stems and green blunt-tipped, finely toothed leaves. This Salvia remains relatively root-hardy through chilly winters.

Blooms May–October.

Size: 3'–4' high x 3' wide; hardy to zone 8.

Salvia microphylla Dennis’ Pink (P-1537)
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Salvia microphylla ‘Hoja Grande’   

Painted in pretty lipstick shades of cherry-red and magenta, slender whorled flower spikes festoon this shrubby evergreen Salvia. Warm, rosy brown calyxes and attractive ripple-edged green leaves heighten the showy long lasting blooms.

Introduced by Yucca-Do Nursery, the amenable ‘Hoja Grande’ hails from Mexico’s Nuevo Leon, and in our garden jazzes up neighboring Phlomis russeliana, while easily tolerating dry conditions whether the weather’s hot or cool.

Blooms May–June & September–October.

Size: 3'–4' high x 3'–4' wide; hardy to zone 7.

Salvia microphylla Hoja Grande (P-1421)
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Salvia microphylla ‘San Carlos Festival’ 

This captivating Salvia celebrates a festival of color! Splashed with highly saturated magentas and rich ruby throats, the dazzling flowers unfurl from sable-colored calyxes by the hundreds, beginning in spring and extending until fall.

Discovered in Tamaulipas, Mexico, ‘San Carlos Festival’ is well-loved for its extraordinary floral abundance and its attractive compact form, each medium green leaf emphasizing a textured surface, serrated undulating margins and a somewhat triangular shape that broadcasts bronzy tones come winter.

Blooms May–November.

Size: 2' high x 2-1/2'–3' wide; hardy to zone 7.

Salvia microphylla San Carlos Festival (p-1361)
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Salvia microphylla ‘Wild Watermelon’   

“Exuberant” best describes the way extra large, deep watermelon-pink flowers dress up this robust, relatively cold resistant Salvia.

Collected by Don Mahoney at 7000 ft. on Mexico’s Mt. Cerro Potosi, ‘Wild Watermelon’ not only boasts boisterously colored blooms with white-marked throats but neat good-looking foliage and a hardy crown that spreads by layering itself. Most abundant in spring and fall and only sporadically over the summer, its high-spirited floral hues invite a glance either spotlighted in a favorite pot, or backed by white blooming Cistus in the mixed border. Zone 6/7.

Blooms May–June & again in September–October.

Size: 3'–4' high x 4' wide; hardy to zone 7.

Salvia microphylla Wild Watermelon (p-1360)
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Salvia microphylla x greggii ‘Red Velvet’   

Big, brilliant and red, these lavishly colored flowers are double the size of any other microphylla or greggii. Blooming spikes and calyxes the color of dark chocolate dramatically present the plush-as-velvet showing, while a handsome, full bush of glossy, somewhat rounded rich green foliage supports it.

Introduced by Texas’s Yucca-Do Nursery and Scott Ogden, ‘Red Velvet’ thrives in warm, dry climates, can endure humidity and assures a vivacious presence, especially when partnered with Penstemon Chiapas sp.

Blooms June–October.

Size: 4' high x 4' wide; hardy to zone 7.

Salvia microphylla x greggii Red Velvet (p-1359)
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Salvia nemorosa ‘Amethyst’ 

With the violet-blue tones of the blossoms, and the similar but rosier shades of the enduring calyxes and prominent streaks that mark the leafy upright flower stems, this richly colored Salvia is a jewel. With wavy-edged foliage, this long bloomer exhibits a handsome fullness. Softening the edge of our pathway in the company of Origanum ‘Ed Carmine’, a violet theme is created, while the addition of Kniphofia ‘Border Ballet’ adds a lively splash of melon to the picture.

Blooms early June–September.

Size: 2-1/2' high x 3' wide; hardy to zone 5.

Salvia nemorosa Amethyst (p-0813)
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Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’ 

Unique, blackish magenta tones darken the lustrous flower stems of this superb new cultivar. Set against these upright and lengthy, dark stalks, the violet blossoms appear dazzling, and will bloom well into fall with attentive dead-heading.

A chance seedling found in a German nursery, ‘Caradonna’s tidy base of textured green foliage and plum-hued blooms impart harmonious accents to Sedum ‘Matrona’s smoky colors.

Blooms June–early October.

Size: 2'–2-1/2' high x 3' wide; hardy to zone 4.

Salvia nemorosa Caradonna (p-1133)
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Salvia nemorosa ‘Plumosa’ 

Distinguished by its unique, Astilbe-like plumes, this floriferous, recently rediscovered Salvia delivers eye catching appeal to the edge of the border. With a chenille velvet texture, the dusky mulberry-purple flowers top aromatic, lance-shaped foliage, and look outstanding in arrangements, fresh or dried. ‘Plumosa’s compact, bushy form and vivid, dense blooms are a good match for Veronica ‘Royal Candles’ and Achillea ‘Marmalade’.

Blooms July–September.

Size: 18" high x 3' wide; hardy to zone 4.

Salvia nemorosa Plumosa (p-1135)
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Salvia nemorosa ‘Rosenwein’ 

German for ‘Rose Wine’, let this Salvia bathe your garden with bright rose-hued flowers. Adorning a low mound of tidy green foliage, the upright leafy spikes are offset by prominent, dark earthy pink calyxes and buds of the same shade. Position in the front of the border with Geranium ‘Mavis Simpson’ and Kniphofia ‘Safranvogel’ for an intoxicating display.

Blooms June–August.

Size: 2' high x 2' wide; hardy to zone 5.

Salvia nemorosa Rosenwein (p-0966)
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Salvia nemorosa ‘Sensation Rose’   

We have Dutch nurseryman, Nico Rijnbeek to thank for this exciting new small-statured Salvia. A handsome bed of scalloped-edged, quilted green leaves hosts lovely clear pink flowers with darker calyxes on short branching spires. Its profuse long lasting display, maintained by regular deadheading, and diminutive size make it just right in a container, along a path or anywhere space is limited. (pp#18230)

Blooms May–August.

Size: 15" high x 15" wide; hardy to zone 4.

Salvia nemorosa Sensation Rose (P-1553)
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Salvia nubicola 

Himalayan Yellow Sage

“Nubicola” means “dweller among the clouds,” and the name proclaims its hardiness. The robust, erect stems of this bushy Himalayan native support a wealth of yellow-flowered spires, each bloom warmed by tiny maroon spots and held by bright green calyxes, along with a plenitude of large, arrow-shaped leaves. For an engaging late summer vignette, highlight its vigor by planting with Aster ‘Lady in Black’, Nepeta parnassica and Aconitum ‘Arendsii’.

Blooms mid-August–October.

Size: 4'–5' high x 3-1/2' wide; hardy to zone 5.

Salvia nubicola (p-0865)
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Salvia pratensis ‘Swan Lake’ 

After years of breeding, Jelitto Seeds has just recently introduced this pure white Salvia. Rich green foliage with a wrinkled texture and ruffled margins forms a lush, leafy mound beneath the upstanding snowy spikes. Each delicate, luminous flower nestles in a calyx on a tiny pedestal of small green bracts.

Showy ‘Swan Lake’s species name translates as “growing in meadows,” referring to its sunny native European haunts. A natural for relaxed garden settings amid grasses, it easily accepts varied conditions, especially cold temperatures. Zone 3/4.

Blooms June–August.

Size: 20" high x 12" wide; hardy to zone 4.

Salvia pratensis Swan Lake (p-1283)
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Salvia reptans 

Originally from the high mountains in Mexico, this plant comes to us from Jim Lockman of Oakland, California. It has a soft character with delicate blue flowers and fine textured, light green, spidery leaves, which grow on basal stems. You can cut it back for a second bloom before it disappears in winter. Salvia reptans is perfect in drifts, as an accent in the rockery, or contrasted with Rudbeckia ‘Swiss Gold’.

Blooms August–September.

Size: 15" high x 2' wide; hardy to zone 7.

Salvia reptans (p-0131)
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Salvia sclarea ‘Vatican White’ 

Clary Sage

This nobly architectural Sage has been grown in almost every botanical sanctuary throughout human history. The catalog of its uses is extensive: a flavoring for wines and liqueurs; an oil for perfumes, potpourri and incense (thus becoming known as ‘Vatican White’); while medicinally, it is reputed to ease stomach ailments and stop the aging process!

This choice white cultivar, however, is not that easy to find, and we cultivate it for its stately presence in the border. Large, gray-green leaves—lance-shaped and leathery—remain attractive throughout the season. Each stalwart stem is topped with widely branching panicles of pure white blossoms and big, brilliant, whorled white bracts, which convey a floral effect from May to September.

Combined with the cool hues of Nepeta ‘Pool Bank’ and Euphorbia ‘Red Wing’s warmth, ‘Vatican White’ adds a bright element to an arresting composition. Requiring little water or attention, this vigorous species asks only for a superbly drained site.

Blooms June–July.

Size: 2-1/2' high x 2' wide; hardy to zone 4.

Salvia sclarea Vatican White (p-1136)
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Salvia semiatrata 

Intricate bicolored flowers, a lovely blend of lilac-colored upper petals and midnight purple lower lips, are held by muted pink calyxes against a foil of handsome, dark green, textured foliage. Perfect for the rocky border or atop a wall where its detail can be enjoyed at eye level, this small-leafed hardy Mexican native combines well with Phygelius and Geranium ‘Buxton’s Variety’ and its long lasting blooms make an excellent addition to any flower arrangement.

Blooms June–October.

Size: 3' high x 3' wide; hardy to zone 8.

Salvia semiatrata (P-0712)
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Salvia sinaloensis 

Sinaloa Blue Sage

Indigenous to the Mexican province Sinaloa, this compact bushy Salvia displays tantalizing color. Low growing stems initially trail on the ground, concealed by dark green, textured leaves infused with plum-purple hues, and bronze-tinted new growth. Well above the narrow foliage, deep blue, airy, upright spikes feature spaced whorls of sable calyxes and vivid flowers marked with two subtle white lines on each lower lip.

A charmer for the border’s edge, a stone wall or the rock garden, Salvia sinaloensis spreads by underground rhizomes, disappears in the winter, and appreciates well drained soil.

Blooms June–October.

Size: 6"–10" high x 15"–18" wide; hardy to zone 8.

Salvia sinaloensis (p-1134)
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Salvia urica 

Blue Bush Sage

Hailing from the warm, moist mountainous haunts of Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras, this tender, yet irresistible Salvia produces inch long, whorled deep blue-violet flowers on short stalks above a verdurous semi-upright mass. Lax stems carry velvety soft, dark green textured leaves that are deltoid in shape and saw-toothed along the margins. Tended by green calyxes, the long blooming flowers feature unusual incurved lower lips with light undersides and provide a cool-colored late season fanfare, complementing roses and pink or white blooming Asters.

A topnotch container specimen, Blue Bush Sage needs to be protected when temperatures drop to 30°. Zone 9/10.

Blooms August–November.

Size: 2'–3' high x 2'–3' wide; hardy to zone 10.

Salvia urica (P-1480)
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Salvia vanhoutii (Burgundy Form)   

Van Houtt’s Brazilian Sage

This showy Salvia makes a dazzling container plant. The large, layered, burgundy buds have pointed sepals and open into numerous dark carmine-colored flowers with wine-red calyxes. Intriguing raised red ridges run horizontally around the stems at regular intervals like rungs on a ladder, connecting the reddish leaf petioles of each pair of opposite leaves.

Be sure to provide winter protection, as Salvia vanhoutii is hardy only in warmer climates.

Blooms July–October.

Size: 4' high x 4' wide; hardy to zone 9.

Salvia vanhoutii (Burgundy Form) (p-0775)
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Salvia vanhoutii ex. ‘Paul’   

We have Salvia enthusiast Barbara Smith to thank for this uniquely colored vanhoutii, she named after her son. Tall whorled spikes showcase nearly 3 in. long tubular flowers and calyxes in antique-hushed shades of heliotrope. An openly branched habit attired with light green leaves supports the enticing display and after the flowers have faded, persistent calyxes provide further appeal. In spite of being tender, this spectacular Salvia will turn quite a few heads and is definitely worth the extra effort needed to safeguard it from the cold.

Blooms July–October.

Size: 4' high x 4' wide; hardy to zone 9.

Salvia vanhoutii ex. Paul (p-1225)
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Salvia verticillata ‘Purple Rain’ 

When Virgil wrote “Steep thyself in a bowl of summertime,” he may well have been inspired by this Salvia. Petals of deep purple gather like raindrops in tiered pools to form these whorled flowers. Broad, opposite, almost thistlelike triangular leaves provide a solid base for the tall, branching stems.

Blooms June–September.

Size: 2' high x 2' wide; hardy to zone 6.

Salvia verticillata Purple Rain (p-0132)
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Salvia x jamensis ‘Pat Vlasto’ 

Pat Vlasto Autumn Sage

One of the toughest cultivars of the species, this radiant long blooming Sage can handle a variety of growing conditions. Against a fine textured background of small, glossy green leaves, the watermelon-colored flowers are offset by red-hued stems and sable-colored calyxes. For echoes of warm color, pair ‘Pat Vlasto’ with Phygelius ‘African Queen’.

Blooms June–mid-October.

Size: 3' high x 3' wide; hardy to zone 8.

Salvia x jamensis Pat Vlasto (P-1107)
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Sanguisorba

Burnet

A profusion of dense and oblong, catkin-like blooms sway above decorative pinnate foliage, generating interest for months. Happiest in a sunny spot where the soil stays moist, these vigorous perennials offer contrasting clarity to the softer, less defined forms in the naturalized garden.

Sanguisorba menziesii   

An assemblage of refined, blue-gray, feathery foliage gives way to slender, branching stems and tightly arranged, finger-length blooms in vivid, dark red shades. Earlier to flower than other Sanguisorbas, this enticing perennial cavorts with Penstemon ‘Raven’ and Achillea ‘Sawa Sawa’ in our border.

Blooms May–July.

Size: 2-3/4' high x 16"–18" wide; hardy to zone 4.

Sanguisorba menziesii (p-1148)
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Sanguisorba obtusa   

Residing on wiry arching stems, soft pink fingerlike spikes look fluffy and feminine. They nod lazy heads at the handsome bushy mass of tranquil blue-green leaves marked by indented margins that grows below.

Blooms August–September.

Size: 2-1/2' high x 18" wide; hardy to zone 4.

Sanguisorba obtusa (P-1400)
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Sanguisorba officinalis   

Great Burnet

Embodied with astringent properties, the Great Burnet’s handsome foliage can soothe not only inflamed skin but your senses as well.

The vigorous, rounded clumps present an airy, cool green arrangement of deeply cut toothed basal leaves that convey a relaxed feel to the landscape. Come summer, the mood changes when thin, tall branching stems lift tightly set, blood red bottlebrushes. Creating quite a fervor, especially when grown en masse, the alluring color and shape of the flowers dramatically counter-pose Seseli gummiferum’s white umbels.

Blooms July–October.

Size: 3'–4' high x 2' wide; hardy to zone 4.

Sanguisorba officinalis (p-1158)
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Sanguisorba officinalis ‘Red Thunder’   

Derived from a Korean collection of Sanguisorba officinalis, this high-fashion Sanguisorba was selected by Dutch plantsman Piet Oudolf for its deep ruby-red bobbles, perched on tall stiffer stems. Whether in the border or a meadow planting, a bouquet or frost-covered in the garden’s winter light, their distinctive silhouette inspires as much drama as a gathering thunderhead. A bluish green bed of pinnate foliage with toothed leaflets launches the strong floral display that can be superimposed against lofty silvery plumed Miscanthus, whorled Veronicastrum blooms and Helianthus ‘Capenoch Star’.

Blooms July–October.

Size: 3'–4' high x 2' wide; hardy to zone 4.

Sanguisorba officinalis Red Thunder (P-1542)
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Sanguisorba officinalis ‘Tanna’   

Well suited for the smaller scale garden, ‘Tanna’s mound of ferny leaf fronds makes an elegant host to the cylindrical, burgundy flower spires that playfully top foot-long stems. Cultivated since the Middle Ages, the cucumber-flavored foliage has been a welcome addition in the salad bowl.

Blooms July–August.

Size: 18" high x 12" wide; hardy to zone 4.

Sanguisorba officinalis Tanna (P-0864)
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Sanguisorba tenuifolia ‘Alba’   

A textural delight of saw-toothed, finely divided leaves, ‘Alba’s clump-forming mound lays the foundation for slim, fluffy white, drooping blooms. These elegant cylindrical flowers, abundantly borne on tall branching stems well above the vigorous greenery, look like luminous catkins caught in a rain shower.

Blooms September–October.

Size: 4'–5' high x 18" wide; hardy to zone 4.

Sanguisorba tenuifolia Alba (p-1465)
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Saponaria

Soapwort

Naturals for the rockery or a well drained border, their paired leaves promise a lengthy profusion of flowers in showy clusters. These low growing European charmers like a lean soil.

Saponaria x lempergii ‘Max Frei’ 

Pretty loose bouquets of pure pink, inch-wide blossoms blanket ‘Max Frei’s noninvasive mass of slender and shiny green leaves nearly all summer long. Let this superlative Swiss hybrid spill over the edge of a bed, beautify a rock wall, or act as a colorful, small-scale ground cover.

Blooms June–October.

Size: 12" high x 18"–2' wide; hardy to zone 5.

Saponaria x lempergii Max Frei (p-0133)
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Saponaria x oliviana 

Polish Soapwort

Nestled on tidy, tight green evergreen cushions of very thin, succulentlike foliage, the myriad, nearly stemless blooms in ravishing rose-red hues stage an unbeatable display. Tuck Polish Soapwort into a crevice and you’ll soon see why this pumilio and caespitosa hybrid is touted as one of the most superb, freely flowering additions for the rockery.

Blooms June–July.

Size: 3"–4" high x 12" wide; hardy to zone 4.

Saponaria x oliviana (p-1284)
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Scabiosa

Scabiosa ochroleuca 

Pin-Cushion Flower

With charm to sway, this undemanding Scabiosa celebrates a seemingly endless supply of pincushion-style flowers in hushed lemon shades. Finely dissected gray-green foliage fashions a refined, soft-looking tuft from which branched wiry stems arise. A first-rate cut flower, the blithesome display is enhanced by intriguing etched green buds and makes a happy addition to a cottage garden or a more natural setting.

Blooms July–September.

Size: 2-1/2' high x 3' wide; hardy to zone 5.

Scabiosa ochroleuca (P-0486)
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Schizostylis

Kaffir Lily

These South African evergreen bulbs promise to ease the sadness that comes at summer’s end by offering a burst of fresh autumn color.

Schizostylis coccinea ‘Alba’   

Blooming on each 18 in. stem above green, sword- shaped blades are 10 to 30 snow white, starlike flowers. We contrast the blooms and foliage with the textured, golden leaves of Geranium ‘Ann Folkard’.

Blooms September–December.

Size: 18" high x 10" wide; hardy to zone 6.

Schizostylis coccinea Alba (P-0419)
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Schizostylis coccinea ‘Sunrise’ 

With an extended blooming period and bigger blossoms than most other Schizostylis, lily-esque ‘Sunrise’ is likely to brighten your Christmas table. Slim buds and deep pink blooms stand amidst an ebullient forest of strapping greenery. Let it flourish in a pot on the patio, where its plentiful flowers are close at hand.

Blooms September–December.

Size: 15" high x 10" wide; hardy to zone 6.

Schizostylis coccinea Sunrise (P-0809)
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Scutellaria

Skullcap

Late in the season, after the charming hooded blooms have faded, pairs of scallop-shaped, warmly colored seed capsules, resembling small inverted skullcaps, add intriguing detail to these Mint family members. Our easy-to-grow selections appreciate a sunny, quick-draining site, and happily mingle with medium-sized Euphorbias, Diascias and Nepetas.

Scutellaria alpina ‘Moonbeam’ 

Yellow Alpine Skullcap

The species originates in the mountains of southern Europe and Russia, and this ‘Moonbeam’s lush and low bushy mat of scalloped, ovate green-gray leaves is an excellent foil for its crowded clusters of light yellow blooms. Trailing stems turn upward and, at their tips, Snapdragon-like flowers form a four-sided raceme.

Requiring well drained soil and shade during hot afternoons, this little treasure goes well in a container, or in the rockery with Edraianthus graminifolius and Origanum libanoticum.

Blooms May–September.

Size: 10" high x 12" wide; hardy to zone 5.

Scutellaria alpina Moonbeam (P-1226)
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Scutellaria suffrutescens ‘Texas Rose’ 

Pink Skullcap

For its tidy swath of dark pink infill, the masses of Snapdragon-like blooms adorning the diminutive, glossy green foliage of ‘Texas Rose’ get our vote. With a dainty, yet durable, low profile, it makes an endearing addition to the rockery, or along a pathway nestled amidst Dianthus ‘Mendlesham Maid’ and Geranium ‘Johnson’s Blue’.

Blooms mid-June–mid-October.

Size: 4"–6" high x 15" wide; hardy to zone 7.

Scutellaria suffrutescens Texas Rose (P-0808)
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Sedum

Stonecrop

Tough yet delightful, beloved by butterflies and bees, these succulent perennials flourish even in lean and mean soils. The blooms assert a decidedly horizontal element to the garden as long lasting, flat umbels of starry flowers emerge from buds in broccolilike clusters. Supported by stout, sturdy stems, the blooms mature through a range of colors, extending the visual delight well into winter.

Asking only for good drainage along with an occasional sip of water, Sedums are durable, reliable and almost maintenance-free.

Sedum ‘Autumn Fire’ 

Thanks to Norseco Nursery in Quebec for this newly improved form of the commonly planted ‘Autumn Joy’. Strong, stout stems lined with dentate, gray-green, fleshy leaves support the more substantial, longer lasting blooms. Bold clusters of closely packed, rosy pink flowers age to a salmon bronze, later casting coppery red shades upon the autumn landscape.

Blooms August–October.

Size: 2' high x 18" wide; hardy to zone 4.

Sedum Autumn Fire (P-1141)
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Sedum ‘Matrona’ 

A new German cultivar, ‘Matrona’s smoky pink flowers age to russet as winter approaches. Her red-hued, glistening stems are upright and lined with luscious blue-green foliage, each thick leaf displaying a vermilion midrib and margin. Plant our softly colored “matron” with Aster ‘Lady in Black’, Euphorbia ‘Jade Dragon’ and Pennisetum ‘Tall Tails’ for an arresting union.

Blooms August–October.

Size: 18"–2' high x 18" wide; hardy to zone 4.

Sedum Matrona (P-1142)
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Sedum ‘Purple Emperor’ 

Injecting an element of mysterious allure, ‘Purple Emperor’ hosts tantalizing, deep purple succulent foliage fastened to compact, dark reddish pink stems. Summer offers a perky lift as tight set, plum-hued buds become star-shaped flowers in dusky orchid shades.

Introduced by England’s former Washfield Nursery after it was discovered in the Sussex garden of the proprietor’s parents, this new, regally colored Sedum holds the coveted 2002 Outstanding Perennial Plant Award, and is an enticing counterpoint for Euphorbia ‘Black Pearl’.

Blooms July–August.

Size: 15" high x 18" wide; hardy to zone 4.

Sedum Purple Emperor (p-1301)
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Sedum spectabile ‘Indian Chief’ 

‘Indian Chief’ commands our attention when its tranquil, pale green leaves and thick stems shoulder fiery red slabs of concentrated flowers. As the garden begins to wane, the hot-blooded blooms develop rusty chestnut hues and impart a vivid intensity to companions like Molinia ‘Bergfreund’ or Rudbeckia ‘Swiss Gold’.

Blooms August–October.

Size: 2' high x 18" wide; hardy to zone 4.

Sedum spectabile Indian Chief (P-1401)
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Sedum spectabile ‘Neon’ 

An enhanced sport of Sedum ‘Brilliant’, this Sedum promises to dazzle. Larger, rounder, and more intensely colored than its relation, ‘Neon’ boasts close-knit bouquets with electrifying magenta flowers, which offset the cool shades of its succulent, light green foliage.

Blooms August–October.

Size: 18"–2' high x 18" wide; hardy to zone 4.

Sedum spectabile Neon (P-1143)
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Sedum telephium ‘Munstead Red’’   

An old favorite of Gertrude Jekyll’s, this low growing beauty delivers dense cauliflowerlike clusters elegantly painted in rosy reds and burnished with auburn tones come late fall. Straight maroon stems and toothed, pur-ple-infused, thick gray-green leaves create a trim, compelling foundation for the plush floral slices. Zone 3/4.

Blooms August–October.

Size: 18" high x 12" wide; hardy to zone 4.

Sedum telephium Munstead Red’ (P-1540)
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Sedum telephium ssp. ruprechtii ‘Hab Gray’   

A hardy Russian native whose uninspired name belies its enduring good looks. ‘Hab Gray’ makes a bold statement with long, upright yet arching stems and intriguing colors. Stiff reddish stalks are offset by succulent foliage that’s glaucous, smoky purple and blush-tinged, while large domed clusters of tiny rose-hued buds and refreshing lemon-white flowers sojourn above. Zone 3/4.

Blooms August–October.

Size: 16" high x 16" wide; hardy to zone 4.

Sedum telephium ssp. ruprechtii Hab Gray (P-1541)
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Selinum

Cow Parsley

Selinum wallichianum 

This refined Himalayan beauty happens to be one of our favorite perennial umbellifers. With untold elegance, infinitely divided leaves craft a delicate, lacelike transparency. The compact yet airy green canopy is framed by distinctive, purple-infused branching stems that elevate a charming, late season display of white flattened umbels.

Subduing the riotous array of summertime blooms, it seldom needs staking, appreciates a well draining moist niche and can be sited amid Filipendula rubra ‘Venusta’ and Echinacea Big Sky ‘Sunrise’.

Blooms June–August.

Size: 3'–4' high x 18" wide; hardy to zone 7.

Selinum wallichianum (P-1406)
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Seseli

Seseli gummiferum   

Moon Carrot

Dressed in lacy elegance, thick upright stems entertain a wealth of silver-gray fernlike foliage. The starry, snow-white flowers blush with pinkish hues as they explode from tight white buds, fashioning huge, branched flat umbels perched well above the poised architectural foundation.

A mesmerizing focal point for the perennial border or a meadow planting, Moon Carrot favors well drained soil, makes an exquisite cut flower and easily reseeds, offering some consolation for the fact that it can be short-lived.

Blooms July–August.

Size: 2'–3' high x 10"–15" wide; hardy to zone 5.

Seseli gummiferum (P-1354)
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Silene

Silene uniflora ‘Compacta’ 

Double Bladder Campion

An all-star ground cover named for its decorative bladder-shaped calyxes, this European Campion stays smothered with dainty five-petaled flowers all summer long. Low gray-green cushions of tiny, lancelike fleshy leaves promote the pink-blushed white blooms and curious rosy sable-colored “balloons” on short, upright branching stems.

Easy going and irresistible, it can be nestled alongside a pathway, in a trough or the rockery, or anywhere its deeply rooted semi-evergreen habit is provided a well drained sunny site.

Blooms June–August.

Size: 6" high x 8" wide; hardy to zone 3.

Silene uniflora Compacta (P-1407)
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Silphium

Silphium integrifolium 

Bursting with optimism, this grandiose Midwestern native and Sunflower relative pushes a colony of stout and singular, erect stalks skyward. Coarse textured, rough-hewn lanceolate leaves march up purple-tinged stems, which branch out near their tops to deliver vivacious, 3 in. wide yellow daisies late in the season.

Beloved by songbirds and butterflies, long blooming and undaunted by heavy clay, Silphium integrifolium is undeniably tough and well suited for natural areas or borders alongside tall perennials such as Phlox ‘David’ or Salvia ‘Blue Ensign’.

Blooms August–September.

Size: 4'–6' high x 2' wide; hardy to zone 5.

Silphium integrifolium (P-1403)
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Sisyrinchium

Sisyrinchium striatum 

Yellow Blue-Eyed Grass

Native to Chile, this elegant member of the Iris family is notable for its creamy multitudes of pale yellow blooms; each is centered with a deep buttery colored eye, and the back of each petal has a pronounced purple stripe—hence the epithet “striatum.” The slender flowering stems arise from erect, evergreen clumps of spiky green-gray leaves that extend to 18 in. Set off Yellow Blue-Eyed Grass with the dark, leafy foliage of Eupatorium ‘Chocolate’.

Blooms June–July.

Size: 2' high x 2' wide; hardy to zone 7.

Sisyrinchium striatum (P-0896)
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Solidago

Golden Rod

Solidago rugosa ‘Fireworks’ 

Golden Rod

This one should be called ‘Finale’, a more accurate description of the multitude of fluffy golden sprays on nearly horizontal flowering spikes that seem to burst from this lush green bushy perennial like sizzling skyrockets. Excellent interspersed with Asters, grasses and other meadow plants, this familiar eastern species is a real treat in gardens west of the Rockies as well.

Blooms September–October.

Size: 4' high x 2' wide; hardy to zone 4.

Solidago rugosa Fireworks (P-0667)
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Stachys

Lamb's Ear

The genus Stachys is like one of those families where every member is exceptional for something different—one bold, another soft, the next strong or perfectly smart—and they all get along with just about everybody. Diverse, sturdy, dependable, calling them mere ground covers is an understatement. Indispensable is more accurate.

Stachys byzantina ‘Helen von Stein’   

As soft as velvet, supple as suede, this Stachys has leaves so much like lamb’s ears they could twitch at flies! The palest silver, its foliage is broad (2-½ in. wide) with a finely serrated margin, and is a delight with Allium christophii.

Blooms July–September.

Size: 8" high x 3' wide; hardy to zone 4.

Stachys byzantina Helen von Stein (p-0136)
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Stachys byzantina ‘Primrose Heron’ 

Golden Lamb’s Ears

This unique, golden-leafed Lamb’s Ear will enhance your garden with a warm glow in light shade.

Blooms June–July.

Size: 8" high x 2-1/2' wide; hardy to zone 4.

Stachys byzantina Primrose Heron (P-0218)
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Stachys byzantina ‘Silky Fleece’ 

As soft as velvet, supple as suede, this truly dwarf Stachys has small fuzzy leaves so much like lamb’s ears they could twitch at flies! The tantalizing foliage is the palest silver color and forms a low dense cushion for endearing spires of tiny, red-tinged lilac flowers.

A recent Jelitto Seeds introduction, sun-loving ‘Silky Fleece’ easily mingles with many different plants and can be tucked into a rock garden or used as an edger, but will sulk in hot humid weather.

Blooms July–August.

Size: 10" high x 10" wide; hardy to zone 5.

Stachys byzantina Silky Fleece (P-1404)
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Stachys macrantha ‘Superba’ 

Poised on sturdy, curving stems, the showy terminal spikes host pretty pink tubular flowers and green calyxes arranged in evenly spaced whorls. Scalloped lance-like foliage forms an appealing, dark green leafy mound, some 20 in. below the long lasting blooms. Matched with Achillea ‘Hella Glashoff’ and Aster asperlus, this well-favored Stachys graces the edge of our pathway.

Blooms July–mid-October.

Size: 2-1/4' high x 2' wide; hardy to zone 4.

Stachys macrantha Superba (p-1144)
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Stachys maxima 

All summer long you can enjoy this versatile plant’s 3 in. dark rosy purple flowers held upright on short stalks. In the front of the border, a tight assemblage of green, scalloped leaves creates a crisp, tidy look that can be even further heightened by planting it alongside Stachys ‘Primrose Heron’ and Kniphofia ‘Vanilla’.

Blooms June–September.

Size: 10"–12" high x 18" wide; hardy to zone 4.

Stachys maxima (p-0365)
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Stachys monieri ‘Hummelo’ 

Painted in plush, deep fuchsia shades, droves of tightset, tubular flowers are lifted above a tidy, compact rosette on stout, straight stalks. With crinkled and round-tipped medium green foliage that stays close to the ground, this perky, nearly evergreen perennial should be granted a front-row seat where its long blooming act can easily be savored.

Blooms June–August.

Size: 20" high x 12" wide; hardy to zone 4.

Stachys monieri Hummelo (p-1285)
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Stokesia

Stokes Aster

Stokesia laevis ‘Omega Skyrocket’