Plant Descriptions: Beginning with Letter A
BOTANICAL NAME
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HEIGHT
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SPACING
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COLOR
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SEASON
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LIGHT
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HABIT
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Acanthus BEAR'S BREECHES Statuesque plants with large handsome leaves, growing upright but arching with soft thorny points. The spiny erect flower spikes are impressive. They need good drainage and some protection to become established in zone 6. Colonizing roots.
Acanthus spinosus
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4 - 5 ft.
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2 - 3 ft.
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soft mauve
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l. spring
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Su-pSh
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spreader
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Acanthus spinosus 'Spinosissimus'
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3 - 4 ft.
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2 - 3 ft.
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mauve-pink
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l. spring
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Su-pSh
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spreader
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Achillea YARROW The flat flowerheads are borne on sturdy stems and are excellent for cutting and drying. Cut when pollen shows for fresh flowers. Achilleas last a long time in flower. They thrive in ordinary soil, and are best suited to soils that retain moisture but absolutely require good drainage. Leaves are gray green to dark green and present textures that include a feathery or finely toothed appearance.
Achillea millefolium 'Apple Blossom'
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2 - 3 ft.
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18 in.
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rose pink
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l.spr.- e.sum.
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Su
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spreader
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Achillea 'Anthea'
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2 - 3 ft.
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18 in.
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pastel yellow
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l.spr.- e.sum.
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Su
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clump
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Achillea 'Coronation Gold'
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3 ft.
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21 in.
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yellow
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l.spr.- e.sum.
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Su
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clump
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Achillea 'Moonshine'
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18 - 24 in.
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18 in.
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sulphur
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l.spr.- e.sum.
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Su
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clump
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Achillea millefolium 'Ortel's Rose'
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12 - 15 in.
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2 ft.
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pink & white
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l.spr. - fall
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Su
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spreader
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Aconitum carmichaelii 'Arendsii' MONKSHOOD Closely allied to Delphinium their rich green leaves are divided but their hooded flowers easily distinguish them. They respond to good treatment by flowering more freely where not starved in rich, moist soil. All aconitums have poisonous leaves, roots and stems. Important late bloomer with a generous bloom period. If you can not wait until the fall, the large, loose and widely branched flowers of A. h. 'Spark's Variety' will give your summer garden the tall blues. Leaves are more dissected than A. carmichaelii. May need staking if in too much shade.
Aconitum carmichaelii 'Arendsii'
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4 ft.
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12 in.
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amethyst blue
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e. autumn
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Su-pSh
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clump
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Aconitum henryi 'Spark's Variety'
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4 ft.
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12 in.
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dark violet blue
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summer
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Su-pSh
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clump
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Acorus gramineus 'Argenteostriatus' ('Variegatus') JAPANESE SWEET FLAG Thrives in moist to wet soil. Highly ornamental narrow, dark green, grassy leaves are brightly striped with cream. Useful waterside or border plant for contrasting foliage. Leaves fan out from the base in a circular fashion. A. calamus 'Variegatus' has erect iris-like foliage that has a tangerine scent when bruised. Other cultivars include gold foliage and dwarf kinds. All will grow in regular garden soil with adequate moisture.
Acorus calamus 'Variegatus'
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3 - 4 ft.
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18 - 24 in.
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fol. cream, green
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spring
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Su
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clump
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Acorus gramineus 'Argenteostriatus'
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8 - 12 in.
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12 in.
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fol. green.,cream
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summer
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Su-pSh
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clump
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Acorus gramineus 'Minimus Aureus'
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3 in.
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6 in.
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fol. gold
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spring
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Su-pSh
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clump
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Acorus gramineus 'Oborozuki'
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10 in.
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12 - 18 in.
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fol. gold
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spring
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Su-pSh
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clump
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Acorus gramineus 'Ogon'
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8 - 10 in.
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12 in.
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fol. chartreuse & cream
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spring
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Su-pSh
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clump
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Adenophora liliifolia LADY BELLS Leaves are serrated and lance shaped, growing directly outward from upright stems. Lower leaves are serrated and heart shaped with a short leaf stem. Blue cupflowers appear on tall branching spires in summer. Group several together for best show in moist, deep soil.
Adenophora liliifolia
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2 - 3 ft.
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12 - 18 in.
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bluish purple
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l. spring
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Su-pSh
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clump
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Adenophora 'Amethyst'
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30 - 36 in.
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20 in.
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amethyst blue
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l.spr-e.fall
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Su - pSh
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clump
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Aegopodium podagraria 'Variegatum' BISHOP'S WEED Extremely rapidly spreading ground cover, used to cover moderate to large areas, but must be restrained. Dead-head to stop spreading by seed. Adaptable plant used for infertile soils and/or soils on the dry side where its growth is slowed. Leaves are light green with silvery white margins.
Aegopodium podagraria 'Variegatum'
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12 in.
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12 - 18 in.
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white
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l. spring
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pSh
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spreader
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Agastache ANISE HYSSOP Bushy foliage is sturdy and has a minty-anise fragrance like licorice. Profuse flower spikes are durable and provide a steady attraction to butterflies and hummingbirds. Suited best for fertile soil with excellent drainage amidst average to dry conditions, which produces an impressive performance.
Agastache 'Apricot Sunrise'
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2 - 3 ft.
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2 ft.
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apricot
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sum. - e. fall
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Su
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clump
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Agastache 'Black Adder'
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2 - 3 ft
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2 ft.
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purple
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e. sum. - fall.
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Su-pSh
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clump
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Agastache 'Blue Fortune'
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2 - 3 ft.
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2 ft.
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deep blue
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sum. - fall.
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Su
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clump
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Agastache barberi 'Tuitti Fruitti'
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4 - 6 ft.
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2 ft
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pink lavander
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e. sum - fall
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Su-pSh
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clump
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Agastache rupestris
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2 - 3 ft.
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2 ft.
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rosy orange
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sum. - fall.
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Su
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clump
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Ajania pacifica (Chrysanthemum pacificum) GOLD AND SILVER MUM The distinctive leaves are green, edged in silvery white, and are durable and pest resistant. A handsome, vigorous grower forming a dense, weedproof colony of fine foliage. Blooms exceptionally late in the season. Flourishes in free draining soil.
Ajania pacifica 'Gold & Silver'
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12 in.
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2 - 3 ft.
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yellow
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autumn
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Su
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spreader
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Ajuga BUGLEWEED Ground cover for small to moderate size areas. Best in sandy loam, moist rather than dry. A. pyramidalis has slightly toothed leaves and does not spread as rapidly as the A. reptans cultivars, which produce rounded and smoother leaves. Both express a color range including burgundy, pink, cream and/or shades of green. Colors are more pronounced in brighter light.
Ajuga 'Chocolate Chip'
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2 - 4 in.
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6 - 10 in.
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violet blue
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l. spring
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Su-pSh
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carpet
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Ajuga pyramidalis 'Royalty'
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6 in.
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10 - 12 in.
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blue
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spring
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Su-pSh
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clump
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Ajuga reptans 'Bronze Beauty'
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6 in.
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12 in.
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blue
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l. spring
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Su-pSh
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carpet
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Ajuga reptans 'Burgundy Glow'
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6 in.
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12 in.
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purple
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l. spring
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Su-pSh
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carpet
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Ajuga reptans 'Catlin's Giant'
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8 in.
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12 in.
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purple
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l. spring
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Su-pSh
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carpet
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Ajuga reptans 'Jungle Beauty'
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8 in.
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12 in.
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purple
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l. spring
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Su-pSh
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carpet
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Akebia quinata CHOCOLATE VINE A vigorous twining climber with clusters of five rounded leaflets and fragrant flowers. Semi-evergreen foliage holds up for much of the winter. Cut back in late winter to retain control.
Akebia quinata
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30 ft.
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2 ft.
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purple
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e. summer
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Su-pSh
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vine
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Alcea rosea HOLLYHOCK Plant in an open position in reasonably fertile soil that is neither too dry nor too wet. Dead heading will prolong life and the flowering of this long blooming, biennial to perennial plant. Leaves are large, green, rounded and veined, forming a mounded rosette. A colorful show of 3 - 5 in. blooms stem from towering flower stalks.
Alcea rosea 'Indian Spring'
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6 ft.
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2 - 2.5 ft.
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wht., pk., rose
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summer
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Su
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clump
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Alcea rosea 'Nigra'
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5 - 6 ft.
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2 - 2.5 ft.
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dark maroon
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summer
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Su
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clump
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Alchemilla mollis LADY'S MANTLE Thrive on any evenly moist, humus rich loam soil yet grows well in any soil except bog. Good alone or used as a ground cover. Under favorable conditions these plants will seed themselves. An added attraction is the sparkling water droplets from dew or rain captured by the green, velvety, rounded leaves. Flowers last long or can be cut for fresh or dry arrangements.
Alchemilla mollis
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18 in.
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2 ft.
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greenish yellow
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e. summer
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Su-Sh
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clump
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Allium gigateum GIANT ONION Largest of the Alliums and a stately garden plant for its habit, foliage, and flower. Grayish green foliage makes an appearance very early, presenting 6 to 9 lance like or strappy leaves which become 2 in. in width, narrowing to a pointed tip, totaling 18 in. long. Stems rise with strength, and bear neat fist-sized spheres (diam. 4in.) containing a dense amount of tiny flowers (over 100) with little protruding stamens. Needs light loam soil. Planting in groups of at least three will produce a great performance, but place in the back of the border, for the leaves are gone soon after the flowers. An important plant for its unique beauty. Allium christophii Spectacular 8 in. spheres are composed of pale bluish violet star shaped florets with a metallic sheen. Prized fresh cut flower or for drying lasting for 2 - 3 years. A. senescens 'Glaucum' has handsome blue green twisted foliage and mid summer bloom. Allium thunbergii 'Ozawa' extends the allium season with autumn bloom and foliage that turns a brilliant pumpkin orange with the onset of cold weather.
Allium christophii (albopilosum)
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6 - 16 in.
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1 - 2 ft.
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bluish violet
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spring
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Su
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clump
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Allium giganteum
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3 - 5 ft.
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12 - 18 in.
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lilac pink
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l. spr. - e. sum.
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Su
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clump
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Allium senescens 'Glaucum'
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6 - 12 in.
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6 in.
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rose pink
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summer
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Su
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clump
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Allium thunbergii 'Ozawa'
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6 - 8 in.
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12 in.
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purple
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autumn
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Su
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clump
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Alstroemeria PERUVIAN LILY Developed through the breeding program at Uconn. Long blooming and an excellent cut flower. Seems to perform well in a pot or container. Hardiness Zone: 5b - 8.
Alstroemeria 'Freedom'
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24 - 30 in.
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12 in.
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pink
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summer
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Su-pSh
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clump
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Alstroemeria 'Sweet Laura'
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30 in.
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12 in.
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yellow
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summer
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Su-pSh
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clump
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Alyssum montanum 'Mountain Gold' MADWORT A more compact form than the straight spceies. This semi-shrubby plant requires a lean and extremely well drained site. Forming loose rosettes, the grey green leaves are pseudo evergreen and should not be cut back for the winter. Shearing the plants back by one third to one half after flowering will encourage a new flush of leaves, prevent self-sowing and to maitain good health and shape. The flowers occur in fragrant masses. Perfect in walls and rock gardens, also useful for edges of the border. Similar in effect, garden culture and function to the more widely known and grown Aurinia saxatilis (Alyssum saxatile) BASKET OF GOLD.
Alyssum montanum 'Mountain Gold'
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6 - 8 in.
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12 in.
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golden yellow
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e.spring
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Su
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carpet
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Amsonia tabernaemontana BLUE STAR, BLUE DOGBANE Needs moist soil. Cut back flower stems after bloom to induce thicker plant growth. Spear-shaped leaves grow alternately and directly from each stem. Foliage has shrublike durability and turns bright yellow in autumn. The feathery needle-like foliage of A. hubrichtii remains ornamental throughout the season, turning a striking golden yellow in the fall.
Amsonia 'Blue Ice'
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12 - 15 in.
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21 in.
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dark blue
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l. spring
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Su-pSh
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clump
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Amsonia hubrichtii
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2 - 3 ft.
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18 - 24 in.
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pale blue
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l. spring
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Su-pSh
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clump
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Amsonia tabernaemontana
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2 - 3 ft.
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2 - 3 ft.
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steel blue
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e. summer
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Su-pSh
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clump
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