Plant Library

A robust selection of queen of the prairie with large pink flower plumes held on tall stems. Forms substantial colonies through spreading rhizomes. The large divided leaves create bold texture. Native to eastern North American wet prairies and meadows.

Suitable for wild gardens, extensive mowed meadow fences, forest edges, and steep banks. Combines well with darmera, tall sanguisorbas, and purple loosestrife. The spreading nature requires space but creates dramatic effect. Needs consistent moisture for best performance. The pink plumes make strong summer impact.

A meadowsweet native to European wet meadows and stream sides forming substantial clumps with fragrant creamy-white flower plumes. The divided foliage creates attractive mounds. Prefers consistently moist to wet conditions. The flowers have sweet fragrance.

Suitable for bog gardens, stream banks, and consistently moist borders. Native to Europe and Asia in wet habitats. The fragrant plumes attract pollinators. Historically used medicinally. The substantial clumps create bold presence in moist sites. Tolerates standing water better than many perennials.

Dwarf fothergilla is most valuable and attractive mildly suckering shrub for back of border as well as edge of woodland. Attractive scented flowers appear in fat rounded terminal spikes just before leaves develop. The dark green leaves turn bright yellow often mixed with orange in fall. Fall colouring seems to develop best in full sun positions.

Great Plant Pick. Although quite dense shrub with more or less rounded outline when left alone, handsome shapes can be developed by careful pruning. Quite easy to please but prefers acidic conditions. Native to eastern United States. The bottlebrush-like flowers are sweetly scented. Suitable for woodland edges and shrub borders. No serious pest problems.

A coastal strawberry with shiny ground-hugging foliage forming sizeable colonies over time. Tolerates drought once established. White flowers appear but fruit production is minimal with what appears being immediately sampled by dogs and birds. Native to Pacific coasts.

Excellent groundcover for coastal gardens with salt tolerance. The glossy foliage remains attractive year-round. Spreads by runners to cover ground. Native from Alaska to South America along coasts. The drought tolerance once established makes it suitable for low-water gardens. More ornamental than productive.

A woodland strawberry producing small white flowers followed by tiny intensely flavored fruit. Spreads by runners to form groundcover. Native across northern hemisphere in woods and clearings. The trifoliate leaves create attractive low mats.

More shade-tolerant than garden strawberries. The wild fruit is prized for concentrated flavor. Suitable for woodland gardens and naturalistic plantings. Some forms are everbearing producing fruit through summer. The spreading habit creates effective groundcover in appropriate sites.

An alpine strawberry selection producing small intensely flavored fruit continuously through summer into fall. Does not produce runners making it suitable for borders and containers. The white flowers and small red fruit appear simultaneously over extended period.

The everbearing habit provides continuous harvest. The lack of runners makes it clump-forming and manageable. The small fruit is prized for intense flavor. Suitable for edging, herb gardens, and containers. The continuous flowering and fruiting extend ornamental interest. Compact habit suits small spaces.

A native wild strawberry forming low spreading mats with white flowers followed by small edible fruit. The trifoliate leaves turn attractive colours in fall. Spreads by runners to create groundcover. Native across eastern North America in open woods and meadows.

More tolerant of shade than cultivated strawberries. The fruit is small but flavourful. Suitable for naturalistic plantings and native gardens. The runners create expanding mats suitable for groundcover. Fall colour adds seasonal interest. Birds and small mammals enjoy the fruit.

A Chilean native forming rosettes of lobed foliage with tall wiry stems bearing white to pale pink flowers in terminal spikes. The flowers appear over extended period through summer. The basal foliage remains evergreen in mild climates.

Requires excellent drainage and protection from hard frost. Suitable for mild coastal gardens. The tall flower spikes provide airy vertical interest. The evergreen rosettes provide winter interest in appropriate climates. Also known as bridal wreath.