Astilbe Erika

Alchemilla mollis, known as lady's mantle, is an indispensable perennial for anyone who wants to bring harmony and softness to the garden. Its home is the moister environments of mountain meadows and light forests, making it a very adaptable plant that will survive even severe frosts without problems in our climate. The 'Irish Silk' cultivar is prized for its vitality and abundant blooming, where clouds of tiny, yellow-green flowers float above clumps of gray-green leaves. It is precisely this neutral color that can work wonders in a flower bed – it softens overly sharp contrasts between other flowers and beautifully unifies the entire composition. Besides its ornamental function, lady's mantle also has practical uses. Thanks to its clumping growth and ability to quickly fill in, it is ideal for edging pathways or as an underplanting beneath taller shrubs and roses. Water droplets catch on its leaves, creating a magical spectacle in the garden. If you enjoy making bouquets, you will love lady's mantle as versatile filler greenery that matches almost anything. It will last beautiful for about ten days in a vase, and its inflorescences can also be easily dried without losing too much of their color or shape. Moreover, it is a magnet for pollinators, and its young leaves are even edible, so it also finds use in a natural kitchen.

Hellebores are evergreen perennials that form slowly spreading clumps of leathery, dark green leaves. The stems usually bear four to five flowers. They bloom very early, as early as late winter and early spring. They are usable for vases only after conspicuous seed pods form in the center of the flower and the flower matures. Earlier, they tend to wilt and the stems cannot hold the flower in an upright position. All parts of the plant are poisonous. Double Ellen White is an almost pure white, double-flowered hellebore. The petals are slightly wavy and the bottom row of petals is lightly tinged with green.

Hellebores are evergreen perennials that form slowly spreading clumps of leathery, dark green leaves. The stems usually carry four to five flowers. They bloom very early, as early as late winter and early spring. They can be used in a vase only after conspicuous seed pods form in the center of the flower and the flower matures. Picked earlier, they tend to wilt and the stems cannot hold the flower upright. All parts of the plant are poisonous. The semi-double flowers of the Double Ellen Picotee hellebore take on white and light pink hues with a purplish-burgundy edging.

An original wild perennial with a large distribution area from Europe to Siberia. Suitable for natural and wild plantings. It grows in meadows and dry grassy places. A very adaptable and undemanding plant, it grows in clumps and spreads by runners. By cutting back after the first flowering, we encourage a set of new flowers. For bouquets, we harvest when the florets are fully open. It lasts 10 days in a vase. Summer Pastels is characterized by a changeable and soft range of colors from white and vanilla to salmon, brick red, and bronze.

The original home of bleeding hearts is Korea and China, where they grow in light deciduous forests. They are classic garden perennials. They will look perfect in nostalgically styled flower beds; the white variant fits well even into naturalistic woodland gardens. They are popular for their heart-shaped flowers hanging on horizontal or arching stems. These weaken and die back some time after flowering; all the plant's energy then concentrates in the roots, and at that moment, we can cut the above-ground part back completely. For the rest of the year, we won't even know the bleeding heart is in the garden. It will remind us of its charm again in the spring. Perfect vase life, at least 7 days. Harvest when the first 3–4 flowers open on the stem. The basic species has pink-white flowers. In spring, the sprouting shoots have a pink tinge.

A native wild perennial with a large distribution range from Europe to Siberia. Suitable for natural and wild plantings. It grows in meadows and dry grassy places. A very adaptable and undemanding plant, it grows in clumps and spreads via runners. Cutting back after the first bloom encourages a new set of flowers. Harvest for bouquets when the tiny flowers are fully open. It lasts 10 days in a vase. Terracotta features ochre, shades of orange and yellow, and gray-green foliage.

The original home of bleeding hearts is Korea and China, where they grow in light deciduous forests. They are classic garden perennials. They will look perfect in nostalgically styled flower beds; the white variant fits well even into naturalistic woodland gardens. They are popular for their heart-shaped flowers hanging on horizontal or arching stems. These weaken and die back some time after flowering; all the plant's energy then concentrates in the roots, and at that moment, we can cut the above-ground part back completely. For the rest of the year, we won't even know the bleeding heart is in the garden. It will remind us of its charm again in the spring. Perfect vase life, at least 7 days. Harvest when the first 3–4 flowers open on the stem. Alba has beautiful pure white flowers; the shoots sprouting in spring are light lime green.

Hellebores are evergreen perennials that form slowly expanding clumps of leathery, dark green leaves. The stems usually bear four to five flowers. They bloom very early, already at the end of winter and the beginning of spring. They are usable for a vase only after conspicuous seed pods form in the center of the flower and the flower matures. Earlier, they tend to wilt, and the stems cannot hold the flower upright. All parts of the plant are poisonous. The 'Double Ellen Yellow Spotted' hellebore has light yellow-green semi-double flowers with striking, dark burgundy spotting.

Fluffy deep pink clouds of flowers are the main distinguishing feature of this meadowsweet. The 'Kahome' cultivar is a compact perennial reaching a height of around 40 to 50 centimeters, making it a great addition to the foreground of damper flowerbeds. The entire plant, including the dark green leaves, smells pleasant, and the flowers also spread an irresistible honey aroma around them. It is a rewarding and low-maintenance plant suitable even for beginners, you just need to keep in mind that it requires plenty of moisture for its happy growth. It is perfectly suited for waterlogged parts of gardens and the edges of ponds, where it naturally thrives. You can also use the inflorescences in summer bouquets; they will stay fresh in a vase for about seven days.

Quaking grass 'Tinkerbell' is an undemanding native grass whose delicate appearance will enchant in any natural garden. It naturally grows in drier meadows across Europe, where it seeks poorer and well-drained soils. It easily handles less nutritious substrates, does not suffer from diseases, and effortlessly survives severe frosts. It forms dense green clumps from which thin stalks carrying unmistakable inflorescences sprout from May to July. The tiny spikelets in the shape of small plump hearts play with yellow and brown tones. They are famous for their trembling at the slightest breeze, which adds dynamics and lightness to flower beds. The compact 'Tinkerbell' variety grows to a height of fifty centimeters and behaves as a short-lived perennial. It perfectly complements drought-tolerant perennials in full sun. It remains very attractive until August, when it is good to trim it after blooming. For florists, it is an absolute treasure. The stalks are beautiful in fresh summer bouquets and are perfectly suited for drying, retaining their shape long-term in floristry arrangements.

Macedonian scabious is an abundantly and long-blooming, undemanding perennial that will bring the untamed charm of summer meadows to the garden. Its wild form originates from the sun-drenched Balkans, where it naturally grows on sunny hillsides and in warm thickets. You will receive from us a mature seedling in a pot, which just needs to be transplanted into well-drained loamy or sandy soil in the sun or partial shade. Here it will quickly take root and form a vigorous clump. The Red Knight cultivar enchants with slender stems up to ninety centimeters tall, which all summer from June to September carry a flood of dark burgundy to deep wine-red flowers. These edible flowers act as a huge attraction for bees, bumblebees, and other insects. The plant is an ideal choice for beginners because it reliably resists frosts down to minus twenty-eight degrees and does not suffer from any pests or diseases. Although it belongs to short-lived perennials, in a suitable place it gladly self-seeds. It will fit perfectly into naturalistically designed plantings with ornamental grasses and is popularly used in sweeping meadow bouquets. We recommend cutting the flowers fully open; they will then stay beautifully fresh in a vase for several days.

Paniculate baby's breath is originally a plant from the sandy steppes and slopes of southern Europe and central Asia, which has been grown in botanical gardens since the 18th century. Since the mid-19th century, it has also become naturalized in private gardens and became a classic cut perennial. In the garden, it applies excellently in modern-style steppe beds with grasses and drought-tolerant perennials, to which it adds airiness and lightness. The 'Flamingo' cultivar boasts a flood of tiny double flowers in a tender pink color, which last on the plant from July to September. The plant requires full sun and very well-drained, ideally sandy soil, because its deep taproots cannot stand winter dampness. Thanks to them, however, it resists drought excellently and is fully frost-resistant. For florists, baby's breath is indispensable, whether for fresh summer bouquets or for drying, as it retains its shape and color even after drying.

This species of sage originates from the steppe regions of Central and Eastern Europe. It forms abundantly flowering small clumps with straight upright stems. In beds, it looks best in groups. Traditionally, it is planted as a companion to roses due to the matching flowering time. However, it will look equally good in mixed drought-loving steppe plantings with grasses. It is an excellent food source for bees. It lasts 7 days in a vase. Schneehügel blooms white.

Fountain grasses originate from East Asia, where they grow in meadows and light forests. They form hemispherical clumps of narrow leaves which, like the flowers, color up in the autumn. They are suitable for the vase and for drying. The 'Hameln' cultivar is one of the most reliable bloomers in cooler regions. The inflorescences initially have a soft pink tinge, then change color to yellow-brown or reddish-brown.

An original wild perennial with a large distribution area from Europe to Siberia. Suitable for natural and wild plantings. It grows in meadows and dry grassy places. A very adaptable and undemanding plant, it grows in clumps and spreads via runners. Cutting back after the first flowering encourages a new set of flowers. We harvest for bouquets when the florets are fully open. They last 10 days in a vase.

Larkspur Benary’s Pacific Galahad is an unmissable classic and a true dominant feature among border perennials. Its wild ancestors originate from the mountain meadows and light forests of the Northern Hemisphere, so even in the garden, it will appreciate a sunny location and well-drained, yet nutrient-rich loamy and humous soil with plenty of moisture. You will receive a mature seedling in a pot from us, which just needs to be transplanted directly into the flowerbed, ideally at a spacing of sixty centimeters, so that it has enough clear space around it for growth. It belongs among plants for intermediate growers, because for its majestic growth to a height of one hundred to one hundred and fifty centimeters, it needs regular fertilizing and copious watering. It is also good to watch out for snails and slugs, which like to feast on its young leaves, and throughout the season to protect the plant from powdery mildew. Larkspur is fully frost-resistant and can handle temperatures dropping to minus thirty-four degrees without difficulty. The entire plant is poisonous, which is good to keep in mind when choosing its spot. You will often see it in the company of roses and peonies, where its pure white flowers form a perfect color contrast. It blooms first in June and, after being cut back in time, usually repeats blooming during August and September. The snow-white flowers reliably attract bees as well as other beneficial pollinators and are an excellent choice for cutting into vases. They will last about seven days in clean water, one just needs to pay attention to the proximity of ripening fruit, because the plant is very sensitive to the released ethylene and would fade faster. If you dry the flowers, they serve excellently for floristic purposes and will retain their shape and fresh color for a long time.

Anemones come from the same family as buttercups. With their elegant flowers on long slender stems, they can liven up and brighten late summer and autumn beds. They stand out against the darker background of shrub groups and will also be grateful for their partial shade. The Czech Perennial Association chose autumn Anemones as the perennial of the season for 2022. They last 7 days in a vase. Whirlwind is a historical variety bred in 1887 in the USA. It has a semi-double pure white flower, often with inner twisted petals, and compact, strictly upright growth. The flowers are very durable.

Avens Totally Tangerine will brighten any garden with its cup-shaped flowers in warm shades that resemble the color of ripe tangerines. The original botanical species of this cute avens originate from the mountainous regions of Chile, which is why it thrives best even in our conditions in well-drained, humus-rich, and loamy soil. It handles frosts down to minus twenty-eight degrees without problems, and even complete beginners can easily handle caring for it, as it does not suffer from diseases or pests. You will get an already grown seedling in a pot from us, which you simply transplant straight into the flowerbed in sun or partial shade. It is ideal to plant the plants about half a meter apart. Here it will soon form a dense clump of green leaves, from which sturdy stems up to ninety centimeters tall emerge, and they do not need any support. Although it is a short-lived perennial, it will make up for everything with its incredible persistence in blooming. Unlike other avens, the Totally Tangerine variety starts its blooming season a little later, but in return, it will delight you without a break from May to September. The semi-double flowers also gradually transition into a deep salmon to dark peach color and are a literal magnet for bees, bumblebees, and butterflies. In a flowerbed, it functions excellently as a filler plant, nicely connecting other perennials with its neutral structure. You will also enjoy the blooming avens at home. It is excellently suited for cutting into summer bouquets. We recommend cutting the stems when a quarter to half of the flowers on the branch are already open. They will then last about a week in a vase and gently liven up any arrangement. Although it is not suitable for drying, it will do a lot of work in the flowerbed even through winter, when its foliage and remains of stems create an interesting winter effect under frost or snow.

Showy stonecrop is one of the longest-living and hardiest perennials you can treat your garden to. It originally comes from the Far East, where it colonizes sunny and dry slopes. For successful cultivation, you simply need to find it a spot in direct sun with well-drained sandy soil. The 'Matrona' cultivar catches the eye at first glance with its fleshy, grayish-green leaves with a burgundy tinge and sturdy stems that do not break and need no support. We will deliver a mature potted seedling that you can easily transplant straight into the flowerbed after unpacking. We recommend planting five to seven plants per square meter; they will soon join into a solid stand around seventy centimeters tall. From August to October, it will then delight you with rich, flat inflorescences in an old rose color. It is an ideal choice for those looking for beauty without unnecessary effort. This stonecrop easily survives harsh winters with frosts dropping to minus twenty-eight degrees, and pests and diseases avoid it. The 'Matrona' variety differs from others in that it will reliably grow even in more nutritious soil, provided it is not waterlogged. In perennial compositions, it creates a beautiful contrast next to delicate ornamental grasses and other autumn flowers. During sunny days, bees, butterflies, and other pollinators constantly take turns over its flowers. You can boldly use the sturdy stems with pink umbels for cutting. They stay fresh in a vase for quite a long time and will bring a touch of the slowly ending summer into your home. It might surprise you that the leaves of this stonecrop are edible and can be used to garnish dishes. If you decide not to cut the plant back in the autumn, you will get a perfect structure in the flowerbed that will last all winter. Especially when the old flowers are covered in frost, they provide a breathtaking spectacle right until the spring months.

The Heidi columbine brings unprecedented lightness and romance to any garden. In the wild, it grows across Europe, where it most often colonizes the edges of groves and moister mountain meadows. Its growing requirements in our country correspond to these conditions. From our seedling, a strong perennial will quickly grow in a partially shaded or sunny spot with humus-rich soil. It is completely undemanding, easily surviving severe frosts, does not suffer from pests, and even beginners can handle its care without worries. During drier summers, powdery mildew may occasionally appear on the leaves, which you can easily solve by promptly removing the affected parts. The Heidi variety boasts delicate flowers in soft pink tones, which constantly attract bees at the turn of spring and summer. Columbines add a natural flair to perennial beds and even reliably self-seed in their favorite spots. Furthermore, they are highly valued for their green leaves, which form a beautiful undergrowth. In bouquets, they create an incredibly fresh, airy impression and will hold their shape in a vase for a full seven days.

Water avens is a charming native perennial that inherently belongs to moist meadows and stream banks. In the garden, it thrives best in loamy or clay soil that retains plenty of moisture. It grows excellently in both full sun and partial shade. You will receive a well-rooted seedling in a pot from us, which you simply transplant into the flower bed, where it will soon form a nice ground cover. From May to July, it blooms with semi-double flowers on stems thirty to sixty centimeters tall. They have a cup-like shape and play with pastel yellow, dusty pink, and cream shades with a purplish calyx. Unlike cultivated garden avens, it differs in the structure of its flowers, which droop on the stems like delicate little bells. The edible flowers reliably attract pollinators. Although it is a short-lived perennial, it willingly self-seeds, requires no support, and playfully handles severe frosts. Moreover, it does not suffer from diseases or pests. The faded seed heads decorate the garden even through the winter. Water avens is great for spring bouquets; we cut the stems when a quarter to a half of the flowers are open. They last a week in a vase, but they are not suitable for drying.

Meadow sage occurs here primarily in warmer regions, especially in southern Moravia and northern and central Bohemia. It grows on sunny meadows and hillsides and along paths. Fragrant leaves form a basal rosette, from which several less leafy branched stems grow. The inflorescences are composed of striking bilabiate flowers, which are a great attraction for bees and bumblebees. Rose Rhapsody has light pink flowers.

Anemones come from the same family as buttercups. With their elegant flowers on long slender stems, they can enliven and brighten up late summer and autumn flowerbeds. They stand out against the darker background of shrub groups and will also appreciate their partial shade. The Czech Perennial Association chose autumn anemones as the perennial of the season for 2022. They last 7 days in a vase. Serenade is a tender and vigorously growing cultivar. The flowers are semi-double, light pink with a center formed by distinct yellow stamens. The stems are firm and upright; it does not tend to lodge.

The 'Nora Barlow' columbine variety is a historical gem, discovered in Cambridge in the 1980s by the granddaughter of the famous Charles Darwin. This unique plant is characterized by non-traditional flowers, whose coloration smoothly transitions from dusty pink through white to delicate greenish tones. Naturally, columbines occur in light forests, so they are best suited to a partially shaded location with well-draining loamy soil full of humus. They are versatile flowers suitable for rustic cottage gardens as well as natural compositions. Their charm lies not only in the flowers attracting bees but also in the early-sprouting green leaves. Beginners can handle their cultivation, the plants survive even extreme frosts, and they willingly self-seed in the garden. Just remember that columbine is poisonous, and it is good to occasionally check it for aphids, slugs, or powdery mildew. The stems blooming during May and June will add lightness to the flowerbeds. They are ideal for cutting, bring joy in a vase for about seven days, and serve beautifully for drying as well.

Anemones come from the same family as buttercups. With their elegant flowers on long slender stems, they can enliven and brighten up late summer and autumn flowerbeds. They stand out against the darker background of shrub groups and will also appreciate their partial shade. The Czech Perennial Association chose autumn anemones as the perennial of the season for 2022. They last 7 days in a vase. Andrea Atkinson is a tender cultivar of autumn anemone with white petals.

Hesperis matronalis, commonly known as sweet rocket, is popular for its rich inflorescences in purple and lilac shades, which appear from May to July. This robust plant grows up to one meter tall and functions in gardens as a short-lived perennial or biennial. Its flowers are a magnet for pollinators, especially nocturnal ones, which are attracted by its specific fragrance that intensifies after dark. It looks very natural in flowerbeds and perfectly complements perennial compositions, where it often self-seeds in suitable spots. If you love creating floral arrangements, sweet rocket will not disappoint you. We cut the stems the moment the first blooms open, and they will bring us joy in a vase for up to a week. A specific feature of this plant is that even after cutting, the stems can still grow slightly in water, which adds an interesting dynamic to bouquets.

Mountain cornflower brings to our gardens the charm of wild meadows and bright clearings of central and southern Europe, where it has its natural home. Thanks to its mountain origin, it is an exceptionally resilient and undemanding plant that can easily handle harsher conditions and severe frosts. Its unmistakable blue-purple flowers appear from May to July and reliably attract bees and other pollinators, for whom they are a valuable food source. In the garden, it is best utilized in natural plantings or rural submontane gardens, where it looks great in the company of other robust species. If you like to decorate your home with fresh flowers, you will be pleased to know that it is suitable for cutting and lasts about a week in a vase. It is a rewarding plant that easily self-seeds in a suitable location, creating natural, wild-looking nooks.

Sedum Herbstfreude is a very hardy and long-lived perennial that offers an almost year-round effect. The original sedum species grow in dry, rocky, and sunny habitats, so even in our gardens, it will welcome full sun and well-drained, sandy, or loamy soil. We will deliver a mature seedling in a pot, which you just need to transplant directly into the flowerbed. Thanks to its undemanding nature, it is absolutely ideal for beginners. It perfectly handles drought, does without support, and does not suffer from any diseases or pests. It can withstand even severe frosts dropping to minus twenty-eight degrees. It forms upright clumps with fleshy gray-green leaves, which are decorated with rich inflorescences from August to October. The Herbstfreude variety is one of the hardiest and most robust, blooming in captivating shades of old rose, terracotta, to deep burgundy. These flowers act as a literal magnet for bees, bumblebees, and butterflies, providing them with important food at the end of summer. It fits perfectly into drought-tolerant flowerbeds, country gardens, as well as modern plantings, where it beautifully complements shorter ornamental grasses. Growing it in larger pots on the terrace is also easy. The sturdy stems growing to a height of fifty to seventy centimeters are perfectly usable for cutting into late summer bouquets. They stay fresh for a long time in a vase and add an interesting color to arrangements. In the autumn, after blooming, you don't need to cut it at all. The remaining inflorescences will create a wonderful winter effect, especially when covered with frost in the cold months.

Catmints are ideal companions for roses, suitable for naturalistic gardens, and lower species also for boxes and pots. Some of them are an irresistible attraction for cats, caused by the hallucinogen nepetalactone. This should be present in the highest amount in the species Nepeta cataria. Conversely, lemon-scented catmints reportedly do not attract cats. The botanical name Nepeta likely comes from the name of the ancient Etruscan city Nepet - Nepi in the territory of today's Italian province of Viterbo, where the plant was once cultivated. Nepeta racemosa naturally grows on dry meadows and rocky, stony slopes from the Caucasus to Central Asia. It has aromatic grey-green leaves and forms a tufted semi-spherical bush. Walker’s Low got its name after an Irish estate where it was bred in 1970. It has the most intense blue-violet flower coloration.

A classic perennial for early summer bouquets and cottage gardens. For bouquets, we harvest flowers with firm, smooth central disks. Then they last 7–10 days in a vase. Maikönigin is an exceptionally abundantly flowering garden form.