Plant Library

A taller burnet than the name might suggest, starting to bloom later than most and continuing past midsummer. The flowers are held on tall stems and provide extended interest through summer. The foliage forms attractive basal clumps.

Thrives in sun with soil that retains moisture but drains well. The extended flowering period makes it valuable for borders and naturalistic plantings. Combines well with grasses and late summer perennials. Excellent as a cut flower, providing informal character to arrangements.

Narrow, finely serrated leaflets form lush basal foliage. Tall flowering stems emerge in summer, initially upright but becoming more divergent as they develop. The stems branch intensely over the top third, displaying profuse quantities of pendulous, slender, fluffy white tails up to twelve centimetres long that move in the slightest breeze.

Thrives in sun with moisture-retentive soil. The pendulous white flower spikes create a graceful, airy effect. A few stems may lean away from the plant, making them excellent for summer bouquets. Combines well with late summer perennials and provides elegant vertical interest.

A clump-forming soapwort with lax stems forming rounded pillows that are smothered from midsummer until fall with deep pink, saucer-shaped flowers about two centimetres across. The profusion of blooms creates substantial colour over an extended period.

Easily established at the front of borders or in rockeries. Thrives in sun with well-drained soil. The mounding habit and extended flowering make it valuable for edging and rock gardens. Combines attractively with lower campanulas, salvias, Russian sage, and oregano.

Pale yellow flowers appear continuously from early summer onwards on long, branched stems rising from quickly developing rosettes. The flowers are held well above the foliage and attract numerous pollinators throughout the extended flowering period.

Perfect for naturalistic and cottage gardens where it can create informal drifts through its freely seeding habit. Thrives in sun with well-drained soil. The continuous flowering from summer through autumn and the pale yellow colouration make it valuable for extended season interest. Self-seeds enthusiastically in appropriate conditions.

Stiffly upright-growing stems with cordate, opposite, coarsely serrated leaves form bushy plants. Flowers grow on one side and are neatly aligned in single rows along elegant stems reaching up to thirty centimetres long. The medium violet-blue flowers are about one and a half centimetres long with white markings on the lower lip. The typical flattened seed capsules that follow are architecturally interesting.

Native to southeastern Europe where it grows along sunny forest edges in moisture-retentive soil. Can be deadheaded directly following initial bloom to generate new flowers in August. Self-seeds under favourable conditions and can form sizeable colonies. Best used in wilder and cottage gardens where the self-seeding habit is acceptable.

Forms slowly spreading, non-seeding, leafy clumps of stiffly upright, branched stems topped from midsummer until early fall with short, dense, blue spikes. The two-lipped flowers are up to two centimetres long and soft blue in colour. Both foliage and flowers are covered with fine, grayish-white hairs.

Native to eastern North America. The good habit paired with late blooming time make this the best general border plant within this group of native skullcaps. Thrives in sun with average, well-drained soil. The soft blue flowers and hairy foliage provide textural interest and the extended flowering period offers reliable late summer colour.

A pubescent perennial with square stems clothed in ovate, heart-shaped green leaves with crenate-serrate margins. Snapdragon-like, tubular, two-lipped flowers in blue-purple with whitish lower lips bloom in branched terminal spikes from late spring through summer. Plants typically grow forty to sixty centimetres tall.

Native to eastern North America from Maryland to Kansas south to Tennessee, Texas and Mexico. Thrives in dry to medium, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Tolerates drought once established and spreads by rhizomes. May go dormant after bloom in hot, dry summer weather. Easily grown from seed and will self-seed. Attractive to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

A clump-forming perennial forming sturdy upright clumps with grayish-green, fleshy, succulent-like leaves. Large flattened flower heads emerge pink in late summer, gradually changing to deep rose-red and then coppery-rust in autumn as they die. The progression provides extended interest over many weeks.

Grows in upright to slightly spreading clumps typically to sixty centimetres tall. Thrives in full sun with well-drained soil of average to low fertility. The dried flower heads and seed heads provide attractive winter interest. Excellent for rock gardens, borders, and containers. Attracts butterflies and bees in great numbers. May be susceptible to flopping in overly moist or rich soils.