Monkshood

Jacob's Ladder is a native wild perennial grown in gardens as an ornamental plant since the 16th century. Its individual leaves are arranged remarkably regularly, hence its common name Jacob's Ladder. Harvest when one-third of the florets are open. It lasts 7 to 10 days in a vase. The cultivar Blue Pearl has sky-blue flowers, just like the basic species.

An original wild perennial, growing naturally in mountain and sub-mountain areas, on damp meadows, in sparse forests, or near stream banks. Monkshood is considered one of the most poisonous plants in Europe, so it is recommended to use gloves when working with it – from cleaning spent flowers and cutting for a vase to transplanting. Its toxicity has been known since antiquity, yet the history of its intentional cultivation is documented as early as medieval gardens and it should not be missing in today's ones either. It is a beautiful, robust, and long-lived perennial.

Phlox is originally a perennial native to North America. It soon achieved great popularity in European gardens and has been systematically bred since the 19th century. It is a classic perennial for cutting into bouquets, where, in addition to colorful flowers, it also delights with a gentle fragrance. We harvest as soon as roughly half the flowers in the inflorescence have bloomed; then they last up to 10 days in a vase. Despite efforts to breed the most resistant cultivars, it remains true that Phlox reacts extremely sensitively to climate and soil conditions, so we carefully pay attention to the correct choice of site. The Sweet Summer series includes cultivars bred for greater resistance to fungal diseases. Sweet Summer Ocean is a very special cultivar introduced to the market in 2012. It is characterized by the color variability of flowers during the day. In cool mornings, the flowers are blue; as temperatures rise, they fade, and by noon they transition to purple-pink.

Feather grass flowers capture attention in beds and bouquets with their lightness and delicacy. All feather grasses love full sun and dry, stony, well-drained soil. To look most natural in beds, it is good to plant them in loose groups of several pieces together with other drought-loving perennials and bulbs. Only then do their stems and inflorescences, set in motion by the slightest breath of wind, truly stand out. Stipa 'Ponny Tails' is a species native to the steppes of Mexico, Texas, and Patagonia. Airy, dense clumps of hair-like delicate leaves resemble horsehair. The leaves are green, turning up to straw-colored towards the flowers. In a suitable location, it also self-seeds.

Larkspurs are a classic and dominant feature among bedding perennials. We often see them accompanying roses and peonies. To stand out, they require plenty of space and regular fertilizing. You can enjoy their beauty in flower beds, bouquets, and even try drying them; the flowers retain their rich color well. They last 7 days in a vase but are sensitive to ethylene released from ripening fruit.

A perennial that finds its place in naturalistic steppe and gravel beds. It attracts bees, bumblebees, and butterflies. It is floristically valuable for its flowers with striking bracts, which are also perfect for drying. The roots of some species were formerly eaten candied as sweets in England and France and added to pastries and jellies. In herbal medicine, it was used as an aphrodisiac, among other things, hence its folk name "male fidelity".

Anemones come from the same family as buttercups. With their elegant flowers on long slender stems, they can enliven and brighten late summer and autumn beds. They stand out against the darker background of shrub groups and will be grateful for their partial shade. The Czech Perennial Association chose autumn Anemones as the perennial of the 2022 season. They last 7 days in a vase. 'Lorelei' has semi-double flowers in a tender light pink tone.

Like Lavender, Hyssop is classified as a low woody sub-shrub. It is suitable for similar types of plantings, with roses or even in gravel beds with a steppe character. It is also used in the kitchen and as a medicinal plant. A great attraction for bees, bumblebees, and butterflies. Beautiful blue flower color.

This meadow-rue originates from Western China, where it grows on mountain plains and in scrub alongside other tall perennials. It is a spectacular, delicate perennial, ornamental not only for its flowers but also for its tiny pinnate leaves. The flowers grow in loose panicles on thin, purple-coloured stems. The individual florets are very tiny, lilac in colour with prominent yellow stamens. In beds and bouquets, they create an airy, lacy effect. Lasts 7 days in a vase.

A valuable garden and medicinal perennial, native to North America. The spiky flower centers are an irresistible attraction for butterflies. They last 7–10 days in a vase. After removing the petals, the stems with the central disks can be dried or used in fresh bouquets as an interesting element. White Swan blooms with milky white flowers and brownish-orange centers. The petals are not spread entirely horizontally; they bend slightly downwards.

A short-lived perennial with silvery, softly felted stems and leaves. It blooms for a very long time; a new flower opens every day to replace the previous one. The standard species has single, purple-pink flowers.

It occurs in almost all mountain regions of Central and Southern Europe on high-altitude meadows and bright clearings. It fits into natural plantings and finds its place in rural foothill gardens with other robust species. It blooms blue and lasts about a week in a vase.

Larkspurs are a classic and dominant feature among bedding perennials. We often see them accompanying roses and peonies. To stand out, they require plenty of space and regular fertilizing. You can enjoy their beauty in flower beds, bouquets, and even try drying them; the flowers retain their rich color well. They last 7 days in a vase but are sensitive to ethylene released from ripening fruit.

A versatile perennial suitable for cottage and modern flower beds. It also works well in wild natural plantings. Although its main charm lies in the cute flowers that appear in late spring, it is also valuable in beds for its early sprouting leaves. Columbines add airiness and lightness to perennial beds and bouquets. Lasts 7 days in a vase. Heidi has pink romantic flowers.

Helenium originates from North America, where it occurs on damp meadows. It grows upright and in clumps. The inflorescences form small "suns" with a diameter of 5 cm. Hence their scientific name Helenium. A great perennial for cutting with a long durability of up to 14 days. Helena Red Shades blooms in shades from red to copper.

Larkspurs are a classic and dominant feature among bedding perennials. We often see them accompanying roses and peonies. To stand out, they require plenty of space and regular fertilizing. You can enjoy their beauty in flower beds, bouquets, and even try drying them; the flowers retain their rich color well. They last 7 days in a vase but are sensitive to ethylene released from ripening fruit.

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.

Similar to Lavender, Hyssop is classified as a low, woody subshrub. It is useful in similar types of plantings, with roses or even in gravel beds of a steppe character. It also has uses in the kitchen and as a medicinal plant. A great attraction for bees, bumblebees, and butterflies. Beautiful blue flower color.

An interesting tuberous perennial with flowers blooming from the top down. This peculiarity gave it its second Czech name – 'top-flower'. Most plants bloom the other way around, from bottom to top. The white flowers of a peculiar shape attract bees, bumblebees, and butterflies. Interesting for bouquets too.

Geums are cute spring perennials with adorable cup-shaped flowers in warm color shades. Flowers grow on long branched stems. Petals are usually ruffled, flowers semi-double. Their clump-forming foliage is also interesting, eventually creating good ground cover. Flowering Geums are a great attraction for insects, especially butterflies. For bouquets, we harvest as soon as a quarter or half of the flowers on the stem are open. They last 7 days in a vase. Mai Tai begins to bloom in peach tones with a pink tinge and later transitions to more muted pastel tones. It blooms very vigorously with a large set of flowers. Mai Tai was bred in the USA in 2005.

Cupid's dart is a medium-tall short-lived perennial. It originates from the Mediterranean and is therefore suitable for areas with milder winters. Attractive with blue flowers that resemble chicory. The unopened flower buds and silvery spent inflorescences are also nice. It is also suitable for drying. Fresh, it lasts 7 days in a vase.

A lesser-known species of Yarrow has dark green glossy serrated leaves that remain attractive throughout the growing season, and a sweet pink color of flowers that are larger than the flowers of common Yarrow. It lasts 10 days in a vase.

Delicate, decorative, long-lived shade-loving perennials with pinnate leaves and magnificent feathery inflorescences. They originate primarily from East Asia, but also from eastern North America. They look best in mass plantings. Due to relatively late sprouting, it is good to combine them with early-flowering bulbs. Lasts 4–10 days in a vase. Harvest as soon as half of the inflorescence is in bloom. They are very sensitive to ethylene released from ripening fruit. Peach Blossom has soft pink flowers.

The Obedient plant is a native plant of the eastern regions of North America, where it grows on riverbanks and on moist meadows. It forms upright, bushy clumps that spread to the surroundings via root runners. The flowers have the shape of a slender spike with four rows of tubular flowers and resemble Snapdragon flowers. Harvest as soon as the first flowers in the inflorescence open; they continue to bloom in the vase. In a bouquet, they are a suitable companion for Dahlias and last 10–14 days in a vase. The spent spikes with seeds are interesting and usable for drying. 'Vivid' is lower and more compact, blooms early and profusely. The flower color is a distinct purple-pink.

In nature, we find it in steppes on dry pastures and stony slopes of Central and Southern Europe. It is a well-known plant used in floristry. Excellently usable in both fresh and dried states. For drying, we select only stems with fully opened flowers. We hang them flowers-down in a dry, airy, and dark place.

Phlox is a perennial originally native to North America. It soon achieved great popularity in European gardens and has been systematically bred since the 19th century. It is a classic perennial for cut bouquets, where it delights with a delicate fragrance in addition to colorful flowers. We harvest as soon as roughly half of the flowers in the inflorescence are open; then it lasts up to 10 days in a vase. Despite efforts to breed the most resistant cultivars possible, it remains true that Phlox reacts extremely sensitively to climate and soil conditions, so we pay careful attention to the correct choice of location. Sternhimmel is a beautiful variety with a delicate fragrance and elegant florets in color transitions of light purple and white.

Round-headed leek belongs to the summer alliums; the leaves resemble chives and turn yellow and wither during flowering. The egg-shaped inflorescences are 3 to 5 centimeters large and densely packed. The flower color is distinct, dark purple-wine. It blooms in summer and fits well in steppe plantings with fine grasses. It is perfect for cutting and can also be dried.

A valuable garden and medicinal perennial, native to North America. It blooms in summer with dark purple-pink flowers. The spiky flower centers are an irresistible attraction for butterflies. They last 7–10 days in a vase. After removing the petals, the stems with the central disks can be dried or used in fresh bouquets as an interesting element. Magnus features distinctive deep pink flowers with an orange-brown center.