Plant Library

A tall, early flowering black cohosh selected from wild seed collected near Asheville, North Carolina in 1994 by Free Spirit Nursery. Strong, upright stems carry broad white bottlebrush flowers in June, rising well above the divided green foliage. The scale and timing give the plant a commanding presence in woodland plantings, offering height and brightness before the later bugbanes come into season. Best in humus rich, consistently moist soil with some protection from afternoon sun.

A compact hummingbird mint with soft apricot flowers held close to the foliage, forming a low, mounded plant that sits comfortably at the front of sunny borders or in containers. The narrow leaves are aromatic and grey green, giving the plant a fine texture even when not in flower. Blooming begins early in summer and continues steadily in warm, open positions with sharp drainage. Short lived in cold, wet winters, but reliable where the soil stays lean and dry through the dormant season.

A tall, narrow hyssop with a remarkably upright, little-branched habit that brings a clean vertical line to late-summer plantings. The flowers sit toward the green end of yellow and aren’t especially showy, though that seems to matter little to insects, which work the spikes steadily through the season. Much of the plant’s character emerges late in the year as the stems dry and darken, creating sharp, pitch-black spikes that hold their shape into winter and offer small birds a modest supply of seed.

The overall effect is architectural rather than floral, pairing well with late perennials and grasses where its lean profile adds quiet tension and height.

A tall, white-flowering form of Korean mint with stiff, upright spires that bring clear vertical structure to mixed plantings. The flowers open in midsummer and continue into early autumn, and the green calyces that remain after flowering hold their shape for months. As the spikes dry, they form a strong winter silhouette until finches and siskins begin working them apart for seed. The dark green, aromatic foliage forms a broad, steady clump that supports the height of the stems. This is the true, vegetatively propagated form known for its longevity and presence in the garden.

A tall, steady hyssop known for its dark purple-black calyces, which hold their colour and shape long after the blue flowers are finished. The contrast between the two is clean and understated, giving the plant a longer visual presence than many summer perennials. Spikes remain upright for months, even through our wet winters, and the plant carries a clear vertical line in mixed borders. Nearly sterile, it stays where it is planted and forms a consistent clump over time. Bees work the flowers steadily, and the drying stems add a fine, architectural note as the season shifts.

A broadly branching hyssop with long, tapered spikes that run nearly the full length of each stem, giving the plant a generous, flowering presence through midsummer. The colour leans toward dark purple-lilac, a deeper shade than is typical for the group, and holds well in full sun. The branching habit creates an open, natural rhythm in mixed plantings, where the flower density reads as a soft band of colour rather than a single vertical line.

‘Purple Haze’ pairs easily with warm-toned perennials and late grasses, and performs reliably in well drained soil with good light. Bees work the spikes steadily as they open.

A small, fine-textured Allium with loose, nodding flower heads that read as soft, open spheres above narrow foliage. The flowers are a clear pink and bring a light, lifted note to midsummer plantings. It works especially well threaded through low grasses where its movement and spacing feel natural. Best in full sun and sandy, freely draining soil, and equally at home in borders or rock gardens. Clumps expand slowly and the plant self-seeds in a gentle, unobtrusive way, adding to its scattered, meadow-like effect.

A fine, airy Allium with loose, nodding umbels of soft white flowers held above narrow, grass-like foliage. The light colouring gives this form a quieter presence than the pink type, bringing small, bright points through midsummer planting. It sits naturally among low grasses or in open gravel beds, where the stems sway easily and the flowers appear to float. Best in full sun and sandy, well drained soil, forming small clumps that widen slowly. It self-seeds in a restrained way, adding a gentle scatter without becoming insistent.