European feather grass

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.

This species of sage originates from the steppe regions of Central and Eastern Europe. It forms profusely flowering small clumps with straight, upright stems. In flower beds, it looks best in groups. It is traditionally planted as a companion to roses due to the matching flowering time. However, it looks equally good in mixed drought-tolerant steppe plantings with grasses. It is an excellent food source for bees. Lasts 7 days in a vase. Amethyst is an elegant variety with long stems and a pink flower color that is unusual for sages.

Sea holly is an indispensable perennial for all lovers of naturally styled gardens. It earned its folk name - male fidelity - in times when it was used in herbal medicine as an aphrodisiac, and its roots were even candied as sweets in France and England. Today, however, you will appreciate it mainly for its low maintenance and unique appearance. Its home is on sunny hillsides and dry meadows, so even in our gardens, it will welcome well-drained, even poorer sandy soil and full sun. It produces upright, sturdy stems topped with blue-purple flowers with prickly bracts, which bring interesting structure and a silvery touch to the flowerbeds. It is literally a magnetic plant for bees, bumblebees, and butterflies, who find a rich food source on it. Floristically, it is extremely valuable, because its flowers are perfectly suited for cutting as well as drying for winter decorations. If you decide not to harvest it, feel free to leave it in the flowerbed all winter. Its silhouette covered in hoarfrost creates a wonderful winter effect. Although it is a short-lived perennial, in a suitable location it reliably self-seeds, so you will enjoy its beauty for many years.

A verbena species originally from South America. In our country, it is often used as an annual, but in mild winters it can overwinter and reproduce by self-seeding. The firm, airy stems beautifully soften perennial beds and make them special with their purple color. It beautifully complements steppe plantings with grasses and rose beds.

Feather grass flowers captivate 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 several pieces in loose groups together with other drought-loving perennials and bulbs. Only then will their stems and inflorescences, set in motion by the slightest breeze, stand out. *Stipa capillata* is a native steppe grass also widespread elsewhere in southern, central, and eastern Europe. It forms solid grey-green clumps with upright stems. The flowers, in the form of beige awns, stand almost horizontally away from the stem when ripening and twist interestingly.

A tufted, upright growing grass. It sprouts very early. It is decorative due to its overall vertical habit and fine flower panicles, which bloom silvery-grey, turn yellow in summer, and transition to sandy beige. It decorates the garden until winter. You can plant it in mixed beds or use it as an element to rhythmically divide the space. Usable for bouquets and drying.

Catananche caerulea, commonly known as Cupid's dart, is a charming plant that will win you over with its lightness and airiness. Its scientific name refers to ancient Greek legends, according to which it was used in love potions; today, however, you will appreciate it more for its undemanding nature and unique appearance. It is excellently suited for natural-style gardens, gravel beds, and drought-tolerant plantings, where it beautifully complements other perennials or ornamental grasses. It grows up to ninety centimeters tall and, despite its height, needs no support. The flowers have a lavender-blue color with a darker center and toothed petals at the ends. They bloom gradually from June to September. Cupid's dart loves drought and heat, but on the contrary, it cannot stand winter dampness, which harms it more than frost. If you provide it with a well-drained spot, it will survive temperatures down to -18 °C. It is a rewarding plant for beginner growers and experienced florists alike. Fresh flowers last a week in a vase, but they will bring you the most joy when dried. Harvest them fully open in dry weather and hang them upside down. They will keep their shape and remind you of summer all winter long.

Gaura Siskiyou Pink is a charming perennial that brings lightness and airiness to the garden. Its original native area is in the warm regions of Texas and Louisiana, which is why it thrives in full sun and well-drained sandy soil. It grows in clumps and from June until the autumn frosts produces tiny raspberry-pink flowers that resemble fluttering butterflies. An interesting detail of this variety is the green leaves with a bronze tint and red spots. It is an absolutely undemanding plant, does not suffer from diseases or pests, and even beginners can handle its care. You will receive a grown seedling in a pot from us, which you simply need to transplant directly into the flowerbed. Here it complements ornamental grasses perfectly and acts as an attraction for bees and bumblebees. Although it grows more as a short-lived perennial in our climate, in a suitable place it reliably self-seeds. Occasional pinching will encourage richer branching. Gaura is excellent for summer bouquets. We cut the stems for a vase as soon as the first two to three little flowers open.

Russian sage reliably brings a touch of sunny steppes into the garden and places almost no demands on care. These sparsely branched subshrubs originally come from harsh, rocky areas from Afghanistan to Tibet, where they grow on open sun-drenched plains. Thanks to its origin, it delights in full sun and poor, well-drained sandy soil with minimal moisture. You will receive from us a well-rooted seedling in a pot, which just needs to be transplanted straight to the chosen spot in the flower bed. It does not need support, is avoided by common pests and diseases, and will survive frosts down to minus twenty-eight degrees. It grows up to one hundred and twenty centimeters and forms striking white felted shoots with silvery grey aromatic leaves. From July to October, it blooms with tiny blue-purple flowers that act as a lure for bees and butterflies and are even edible. Russian sage stands out next to drought-tolerant perennials. The flowers are suitable for cutting and drying for winter arrangements. Moreover, the silvery stems will ensure a beautiful winter effect in the flower bed.

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.

The pale coneflower is one of the exceptionally interesting prairie perennials of the North American continent. In its natural environment, it grows on open, sunny plains, which is why it thrives best in our gardens in full sun in drier, well-drained soil. You just need to transplant this grown seedling straight into the flower bed, where it will reliably take root. It does not need support, easily withstands severe frosts, and is avoided by common diseases and pests, making it ideal for beginner growers. During June and July, it will reward you with aromatic flowers with unusually narrow and drooping petals in light purple and pink tones. The prominent prickly centers are literally a magnet for bees and bumblebees, and the flowers themselves are surprisingly edible. The plant stands out especially in rustic plantings together with ornamental grasses. Gardeners and florists love it for its versatility. The fresh stems bring joy in a vase for about a week. Moreover, the distinctive central cones hold their shape perfectly, can be perfectly dried for winter decorations, or left in the flower bed, where they will create an eye-catching winter structure under a layer of snow.

A beautiful fine grass originating from the southern parts of North America. It has narrow gray-green leaves. The flowers bloom in fluffy clouds of deep pink color, creating the impression of a light haze over the flower bed. Beautiful for bouquets too.

The charming gaura comes from the sun-drenched plains of Texas and Louisiana and represents exactly the plant that can liven up any drought-tolerant planting. It is a naturally profusely blooming perennial that delights in full sun and well-drained, sandy, and nutrient-poor soil. You will receive from us an already grown seedling in a pot, which will quickly form a vigorous clump after being transplanted into the garden. From early summer until late autumn, it will delight you with a flood of tiny flowers in pure white and delicate pink tones. The flowers gently sway in the breeze and with their appearance resemble a flock of tiny butterflies, which also really like to land on the plant, as do bees and bumblebees. Although gaura is known as a short-lived perennial, thanks to its willing self-seeding, it will last for many years in your garden. Caring for it is completely undemanding, it is avoided by most diseases and pests, and it can handle frosts down to eighteen degrees below zero without any problems. It is often used in mixed borders, where it beautifully softens the overall impression, and perfectly matches various types of ornamental grasses. The Summer Breeze variety is popular for its strong and healthy growth as well as its exceptionally generous set of flowers, which grow to about one meter. If you like to create your own bouquets, do not hesitate to cut gaura for a vase. Harvesting is best done the moment the first small flowers on the stem begin to open. These delicate flowers are not suitable for drying into dried arrangements, but they will beautifully lighten up fresh bouquets.

A valuable garden and medicinal perennial, originally from North America. It blooms in summer with dark purple-pink flowers. The spiky flower discs are an irresistible lure for butterflies. Lasts 7–10 days in a vase. After plucking the petals, the stems with the central discs can be dried or used in fresh bouquets as an interesting element. Rubinstern is very similar to the Magnus cultivar; the petals are darker and firmer. As they fade, they gradually pale and droop downwards.

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.

The Canon Went toadflax is a delicate-looking perennial with upright, thin stems, originally hailing from the Mediterranean. Even though it looks fragile at first glance, it is a resilient plant that creates wonderful vertical accents in the garden. It loves sunny locations and well-drained, even sandy soil, where it thrives best. It blooms repeatedly throughout the summer until autumn, so it will bring you joy for a really long time. The Canon Went cultivar boasts tiny flowers in a light salmon-pink shade, resembling miniature snapdragons. The leaves are also delicate, linear, and have a grayish-green color. In flower beds, it perfectly complements ornamental grasses or other drought-tolerant perennials, adding lightness and airiness to them. It is also a great magnet for pollinators, especially bees. Although it is a short-lived perennial, it reliably self-seeds in a suitable location, allowing you to enjoy it for many years. If you like to decorate your home, you will be pleased to know it is suitable for cutting and lasts up to 14 days in a vase.

The charming Gaura 'Whirling Butterflies' is exactly the perennial that will give any flower bed a relaxed, natural look. It originally comes from the dry and hot plains of southern North America, which clearly suggests that it loves sunshine and well-drained sandy soil. You will receive from us a beautifully grown seedling in a pot, which you can simply transplant straight into the garden. Here, it will soon form a dense clump of green leaves, from which long, thin stems dotted with flowers emerge all summer until October. These flowers open in a pure white color and gradually take on a slight pinkish tone. Furthermore, the abundant blooming reliably attracts pollinators, for whom the plant is a great source of food. It can handle even stronger frosts down to minus eighteen degrees. It looks excellent in mixed plantings next to drought-tolerant grasses or other undemanding species. Although it is a short-lived perennial, it willingly self-seeds, meaning it will stay with you in its location for a very long time. If you like creating fresh summer bouquets, Gaura will definitely not disappoint you. You just need to cut the stems the moment the first small flowers open. It is a completely undemanding species without serious diseases, which needs no support and will forgive even beginner mistakes.

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.

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.

The 'Blue Glow' globe thistle is an impressive perennial that naturally grows in the region from southern Europe to Turkey and Central Asia. Thanks to its origin, it loves the sun and well-drained, even poorer sandy soils, where it thrives best. In the garden, it captivates with its architectural structure and silvery gray-green leaves, which form an interesting contrast to other plants. The spherical flowers in a royal blue shade are literally a magnet for bees, bumblebees, and butterflies, so with this plant, you will bring a lot of life into the garden. It is a long-lived and undemanding plant that does not need support and easily handles even harsher frosts. It is also very valuable for florists. It lasts very long in a vase, and its blue spherical flowers look wonderful in summer bouquets. If you don't harvest them fresh, they are perfect for drying for winter decorations, or left in the flowerbed, they form a beautiful winter effect, especially when covered in hoarfrost. The 'Blue Glow' cultivar stands out precisely for its intense flower color.

Korean feather reed grass originates from East Asia. It is grown for its beautiful fluffy panicles on strong upright stems. Arching leaves sprout early in spring and take on a bronze tint in autumn. Spectacular on misty autumn mornings when dew drops get caught in the panicles and sparkle in the sun. Hence its name – diamond grass. Lasts up to 10 days in a vase.

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.

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.

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.

Knautia Melton Pastels is an abundantly and long-blooming, undemanding perennial with which you can easily conjure up a piece of wild nature right behind your house. The original species has its roots in the Balkans, where it grows wildly in sun-drenched thickets and on dry meadows. In flowerbeds, it immediately draws attention with its slender, tall stems. In the Melton Pastels cultivar, from early summer until autumn, they carry a flood of small flowers in pastel pink and burgundy tones. A healthy seedling in a pot will arrive at your home. Once you transplant it in the sun or partial shade with well-drained soil, it will quickly reward you with vigorous growth. It stands out best when you plant about five plants per square meter, with a spacing of half a meter from each other. Care for knautia is completely undemanding; it playfully survives even severe frosts and does not require complex fertilizing. Because it grows up to a meter in height, we recommend providing it with unobtrusive support. Although it belongs among short-lived perennials, nature designed it so that it readily self-seeds without any problems. For lovers of floral decorations, this plant is a literal treasure. The stems are long and sturdy, so they look completely natural in vases and give bouquets a meadow touch. They also apply excellently in the creation of dried arrangements, bringing interesting structure to them. Although it is a strong plant suitable for beginners, a minor ailment can be powdery mildew or aphids, which you just need to catch in time.

Perovskia are sparsely branched subshrubs, originating from areas ranging from Afghanistan to Tibet. They grow in open, sunny, rocky, and stony habitats. Their white-felted shoots and grayish aromatic leaves are striking. They fit well in sunny flower beds with other drought-loving perennials, where they create interesting structures even in the winter months. Little Spire is a smaller cultivar suitable even for pots with a soil volume of 7 liters or more.

An undemanding and modest perennial that blooms with a large number of tiny flowers. It blooms for a record-breaking length of time throughout late summer and autumn. It forms smaller, compact, airy bushes that release a minty-spicy scent. The thyme-like flowers attract bees, bumblebees, and butterflies. It will look good among roses as well as in naturalistic steppe beds, perhaps with lower grasses. This calamint is generally more vigorous. It differs from other calamints with felted leaves by its record flowering length, stiff and shiny leaves, and also a larger number of flowers that do not form seeds and are therefore maximally durable. Sometimes sold under the cultivar name 'Triumphator'.

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. Anemone 'Robustissima' is a proven, vital, vigorous, and richly flowering species bred in 1900. It forms strong clumps and blooms with light pink, large flowers in late summer to early autumn. 'Robustissima' is, as the name suggests, one of the most resilient autumn Anemones and spreads very well and vigorously.

A delicate, drought-resistant steppe grass grown for its unusual inflorescences. The horizontally positioned spikelets look like small flags and resemble a buzzing swarm of mosquitoes. Mosquito grass fits well in natural gardens with other drought-loving plants. It will grow very well even in a larger pot. It lasts up to 14 days in a vase.