Spring Plants (A-C)

Yarrow 

Achillea millefolium

Fragrant, ferny foliage complements attractive flowers in a mix of rich colors.  Ideal for butterfly gardens and beautiful in both formal and informal settings.  Tolerant of dry, poor soil.

plant in full sun / blooms in early to late summer

Hyssops

Agastache

Dense, vibrant spikes of tubular flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies to the garden.  Delightful plant is ideal near walkways or windows or as an addition to containers. 

plant in full sun / blooms in summer

Floss Flower

Ageratum houstonianum

This ever-popular annual bears vibrant flower clusters that attract butterflies.  A colorful addition to flower gardens, deck or patio containers, or window boxes and baskets.

plant in full sun / blooms in late spring to late fall

Bugleweed

Ajuga reptans

Beautiful flower spikes attract hummingbirds to the garden.  Vigorous, spreading plants make a superb ground cover for difficult situations, such as rock gardens, dry shade or on slopes.

plant in sun or shade / blooms in spring

Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera

Known for its healing properties, the gel-like substance from these leaves is used for everything from skin conditioners to hair rinses.  Individual leaves may be used as needed.

plant in full to partial sun

Joseph's Coat

Alternanthera

Colorful foliage in various patterns creates a striking contrast when combined with blooming plants.  Lovely in bog gardens, at water's edge or in shallow water.  Prefers moist soil, but is adaptable.

plant in full to partial sun / blooms in early to late summer

Alyssum

Lobularia maritima

Low-growing carpet teems with the tiniest of flowers!  A versatile annual equally effective spilling over the rims of containers, filling in cracks between flagstones or blanketing garden's edge.

plant in full to partial sun / blooms in spring to midfall.

Angelmist

Angelonia angustifolia

Proven for spectacular flower performance in containers or in the landscape. Tolerates heat, dry and wet conditions. Sweetly fragrant flowers attract butterflies and are beautiful in bouquets.

plant in full sun / blooms in early to late summer

Archangel

Angelonia angustifolia

 Flowers are three times bigger than other varieties with vibrant colors  and lush, dark green foliage. Makes a wonderful cut flower or use in  combinations or containers. 

plant in full sun / blooms in early to late summer

Columbine

Aquilegia vulgaris

Columbine plants have an airy appearance, with small, rounded leaves and tall flower  stalks that hold the blooms above the foliage. The mid-spring blooms  fill the void between spring bulbs and peak garden season. Aquilegia's bell-shaped flowers are popular with hummingbirds, bees, and gardeners. 

plant in part shade to part sun / blooms in spring

Silver Brocade

Artemisia stelleriana

Outstanding plant for the rock garden or at garden's edge.  Use for striking contrast with vibrant colors or as a cool complement to blues and pinks.  Tolerant of poor, dry soil.

plant in full sun / blooms in early summer

Astilbe arendsii                      

 Stands out in the garden compared to compact industry standards. Zones  4-9. Long slender plumes are perfect for landscape plantings. Shade loving with vibrant flowers, Astilbe makes a great  addition to a woodland garden. A mix of red, pink, and cream flowers  create interest from spring to early summer. 

plant in full to part shade / blooms in spring to early summer

Waterhyssop

Sutera

Cascading sprays of tiny flowers cover mounded plants.  An airy filler in combination plantings or mixed containers, hanging baskets or as a small-scale ground cover.

plant sun or partial shade / blooms in early summer to early fall

Banana Plant

Musa

Add tropical flair to the perennial garden!  With plenty of space, ample sunshine and rich, well-drained soil, you can enjoy the beauty of exotic banana trees in your yard season year after year.

plant in partial sun to shade / blooms in summer

Bronze-Leaf Wax

Begonia semperflorens

Vibrant blooms cover the bronze foliage of this tender perennial.  Superb heat tolerance!  Perfect for combo pots and containers, also makes a bold display when planted in large groups.

plant in sun or partial sun / blooms in early to late summer

Dragon Wing

Begonia hybrid

Easy to grow!  Versatile!  Loves hot and cool!  Beautiful foliage full of rich red or pink blooms that flower all summer long. Plant in baskets, containers and beds for long-lasting color.

plant in sun or shade / blooms in spring to fall

Green-Leaf Wax

Begonia semperflorens

Vibrant blooms cover the bright foliage of this tender perennial.  Perfect for combo pots and containers, also makes a bold display when planted in large groups.

plant in sun or partial sun / blooms in early to late summer

Groovy

Begonia boliviensis

A highly versatile plant, Groovy performs extremely well in pots, window boxes or hanging baskets, as well as in urban gardens, and 

perfectly satisfies flower and garden lovers. 

plant in sun or shade / blooms in spring to fall

Viking Explorer

Begonia x hybrida

 This trailing begonia “explores” the garden by spreading and spilling its  branches over the edges of hanging baskets and containers. Prolific  rose-colored flowers stand out against the glossy green foliage and do  so all season long. It has a strong tolerance to heat & many  diseases, as well as both wet & dry conditions.  

plant in sun or partial sun / blooms in spring to fall

Hawaiian Blue Eyes

Evolvulus glomeratus

Grows quickly and provides new flowers on a daily basis. Lovely blue blooms with white centers cover the thick foliage all summer. Wonderful for combination plantings.

plant in sun or partial shade / blooms in late spring to early fall

Caladium bicolor

 This is an “old-fashioned” plant, having been in cultivation in Europe  since the late 1700’s, used for its dramatic foliage. The leaves  generally have prominently colored midribs, contrasting margins, and  patterns including mottled, veined and striped, in various combinations  and shades of green, white, pink, rose and/or red. There are no stems;  the leaves are borne on long petioles which arise directly from the  underground tuber. 

plant in shade or partial sun 

Million Bells

Calibrachoa

Famous for its tiny, petunia-like flowers and mounded, trailing habit.  Ideal in baskets or mixed containers where it can be allowed to spill over the container edge.

plant in partial to full sun / blooms in early to late summer

Cannova 30-48" Tall

Canna x generalis

Compact, vigorous, bushy plants have large, attractive banana-like leaves that make them highly ornamental, even when not in

bloom. Bright, lily-like flowers are produced in abundance on these versatile plants. Gives a tropical feel to borders and beds, or containers on patios, decks and porches. Hardy zone 8-11.

plant in full sun / blooms in early to late summer

Catmint

Nepeta faassenii

Beautiful flowers complement fragrant silver leaves and attract butterflies.  Lovely in the herb garden or flower garden, or as a small-scale ground cover.

plant in partial sun / blooms in summer to fall

Kelos Fire/ Kelos Lunar/ Kimono Varieties

Celosia cristata / Celosia plumosa

Colorful cockscomb-type flowers or feathery plumes rise above dwarf plants.  Wonderful contrast of color and texture between bold foliage and bright flowers.

plant in full or partial sun / blooms in early to late sum

Firetail

Acalypha hispida 

Long pendulous tassels of fuzzy blooms on arching branches, perfect in hanging baskets or containers.  A novel plant that is sure to attract attention. 

plant in partial to full sun / blooms continually inside

Mosquito Plant

Citronella

A scented leaf geranium with foliage that exudes a fresh lemony fragrance that repels mosquitoes.  Lovely in decorative containers or planted in the garden.

plant in partial sun to shade / blooms in midspring to fall

Shade Coleus

Solenostemon scutellarioides

Foliage so colorful and interesting there's no need for flowers!  Plant alone in the garden or in decorative containers for spectacular color contrast.

plant in partial sun to shade

Sun Coleus

Solenostemon scutellarioides

Beautiful, vibrantly colored foliage plants with leaves that may be solid-colored, bicolored or patterned.  Plants grow to be shrublike if given proper care and are great for mass planting and containers.

plant in full sun

Trailing Coleus

Solenostemon scutellarioides

A beautiful foliage plant that produces richly colored leaves perfect when used in contrast or in harmony with other plants.  Outstanding in hanging baskets or containers.

plant in partial sun

Purple Wintercreeper

Euonymus fortunei

Deep green summer foliage becomes an attractive purple shade in winter.  Excellent for making a graceful transition between gardens and natural areas of the landscape.

plant in partial sun or shade

Tickseed

Coreopsis hybrid

These abundantly blooming plants produce daisy-like flowers that attract butterflies and songbirds.  Native prairie-types may be tall; cultivated varieties may be more compact. 

plant in full sun / blooms in late spring to early fall

Coppertips

Crocosmia aurea 

Despite its tropical origin, this vigorous perennial is hardy down to  zone 5 and can stay in the ground year-round, blooming season after season. The lily-like flowers  light up summer garden beds and borders and are especially irresistible  to hummingbirds. Even when not in bloom, their fountain-shaped clumps of spiky foliage offer contrasting form and vertical interest.  

plant in full sun to part sun / blooms in summer