Catmint Washfield

Autumn moor grass is an exceptionally hardy ornamental grass that introduces fresh greenery to the garden right from early spring. Native to the rocky slopes of the Balkans, it is well-adapted to free-draining soils, making it an ideal choice for novice gardeners. It forms neat clumps growing thirty to fifty centimeters tall. Its greatest asset is its bright green foliage, which emerges early and remains in pristine condition in the borders well into winter. The plant is untouched by diseases or pests and handles severe frosts superbly. In August and September, delicate creamy-beige flowers appear above the foliage. These rather subtle spikelets give the plant an elegant, refined look. In the garden, it acts as a perfect filler perennial for sunny or partially shaded spots. It looks absolutely stunning paired with calamint, airy gaura, or flowering oregano. Its delicate flowers and leaves are easily used as foliage filler in fresh bouquets, or they can be dried for small-scale floristry projects.

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.

The largeleaf brunnera comes from the moist mountain forests of the Caucasus, where it forms dense undergrowth. It is an ideal perennial for shady and semi-shady corners of your garden, where it will thrive in humus-rich, moist soil. It resembles classic forget-me-nots in appearance, but don't be fooled, its leaves are much larger, heart-shaped, and rough to the touch. Thanks to them, it acts as a great groundcover plant that sprouts early in the spring and reliably covers bare soil with its leaves until late autumn. It thus forms a natural contrasting background for the delicate, tiny flowers. Tiny sky-blue flowers appear in April, May, and June, creating a beautiful delicate veil over the green carpet of leaves. The flower clusters are also suitable for cutting into spring hand-tied bouquets, where they look very tender. Just watch out for snails and slugs, who like to feast on the juicy leaves of the brunnera, so it's a good idea to check the plants regularly. It is a long-lived and hardy perennial that handles severe frosts without problems and will bring you joy in one place for many years.

A lesser-known, taller species of Catmint. In our country, it occurs naturally only rarely in northwest and central Bohemia and southern and central Moravia, where it grows on shrubby slopes and pastures. It is considered a critically endangered species.

Blazing star, also known by the fitting folk name 'top-down flower', is a fascinating perennial that brings an unusual vertical structure to the garden. Originally from the North American prairies, it will appreciate a sunny spot and well-draining, humus-rich soil here as well. It handles winter without any problems, withstanding frosts down to minus thirty-four degrees. You will receive a grown seedling in a pot from us, which you can simply transplant straight into the flowerbed. It is exceptional in the way it blooms. Unlike most plants, its striking purple flower spikes open from the top down. From July to September, these tall spikes become a magnet for bees, bumblebees, and butterflies. In flowerbeds, it works excellently in mixed plantings with ornamental grasses. It does not need support and does not suffer from diseases, just watch out for voles. Blazing star flowers are great for cutting into summer bouquets, adding an original shape and a lilac to purple color. Moreover, the left-over stems will create a beautiful winter effect.

Catmint 'Alba' is an aromatic perennial whose botanical name probably refers to the ancient Etruscan city of Nepet, where it was once widely grown. Today, it is an indispensable part of sunny flower beds, where it thrives best in well-drained, sandy soil. It stands out for its extraordinary hardiness, easily handling harsh frosts down to minus thirty-four degrees, and does not suffer from diseases or pests. Even beginners can easily handle growing it. You will receive an already mature seedling in a pot from us, which you just need to transplant straight into the garden, where it will form a vigorous clump of grayish-green leaves. In the garden, it functions as an ideal companion for roses as well as for natural-style plantings. During May, June, and again in September, it becomes covered in pure white flowers that attract bees and butterflies. This variety from the faassenii group grows to a height of fifty centimeters and has long, straight stems suitable for cutting.

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. The faassenii group is characterized by vigorous upright growth, fine foliage, and long stems suitable for cutting. Six Hills Giant has a slightly lighter flower color than Walker's Low. It grows in airy clumps and blooms very profusely. Long stems suitable for cutting.

A perennial species of Verbena native to North America. In natural habitats, it grows in wet meadows, pastures, and along water bodies. It is a great attractant for bees and butterflies. Although not very long-lived, it can maintain itself by self-seeding in good conditions. It blooms gradually over a long period with many tiny flowers. The spent flower heads are also effective, both in beds and bouquets. The cultivar Pink Spires stands out with a sturdy upright habit and flowers in a soft pink color.

Avens Mai Tai is a charming spring perennial that brings a romantic touch to the garden with its adorable cup-shaped flowers. The original species often grows near streams and in moister meadows, so it will easily settle in our gardens in sun or partial shade, where well-drained, loamy, and slightly humous soil will suit it best. You will receive a rooted seedling in a pot from us, which you just need to transplant into the flowerbed. Avens forms nice basal clumps of green leaves, which over time function as an excellent ground cover. Its growth is reliable and its care is downright undemanding, because the plant is not bothered by pests or diseases and withstands frosts down to minus twenty-eight degrees. It stands out best when you plant it in smaller groups about thirty centimeters apart. From May to July, richly branched stems bearing semi-double flowers with gently ruffled petals appear above the foliage. The Mai Tai cultivar, which was bred in the USA in 2005, is characterized by its amazing color variability. It blooms in peach tones with a pink tint and gradually transitions into more muted pastel, salmon, and apricot shades. Blooming avens is a huge attraction for insects, especially for butterflies. We cut the stems for a vase when roughly a quarter to half of the flowers on the stem are open. They will stay beautiful in water for approximately seven days and add lightness and movement to an arrangement. However, its flowers are not suitable for drying. Although it is more of a short-lived perennial, it will bring you a lot of joy in the flowerbed with its rich flowers and undemanding nature.

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.

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.

This species of Salvia originally comes from the steppe regions of Central and Eastern Europe. It forms richly 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 same flowering time. However, it will look equally good in mixed drought-loving steppe plantings with grasses. It lasts 7 days in a vase. 'Blauhügel' blooms blue.

This Yarrow grows primarily in damp or wet habitats – wet meadows, springs, banks of watercourses and ponds. The flowers are semi-double with a gray-yellow center. They last 10 days in a vase.

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.

Fountain grasses originate from East Asia, where they grow in meadows and light forests. They form semi-spherical clumps of narrow leaves which, like the flowers, color up in autumn. They are suitable for vases and for drying. The cultivar Hameln Gold turns golden yellow in autumn.

A Mediterranean herb and ornamental subshrub in one, that is the hyssop variety 'Caeruleus'. It originally comes from the warm regions of southern Europe, where it colonizes sun-drenched rocky slopes. Thanks to this, it is exceptionally drought-resistant and thrives in direct sun in well-drained, sandy soil poor in nutrients. Although it loves heat, it is fully frost-hardy. In the winter months, it also maintains an interesting shape in the flowerbed, creating a nice winter effect. We will deliver a mature potted seedling that you can easily transplant directly into your garden. It will soon become a richly branched small shrub. Caring for it is undemanding, and it does not suffer from pests or diseases. From summer to autumn, the 'Caeruleus' variety will delight you with a flood of tiny flowers in an amazing blue-violet shade. Both the flowers and the green leaves emit a strong spicy fragrance that reliably attracts bees and butterflies. Hyssop is an excellent edible herb with culinary uses. In ornamental beds, it works as a perfect alternative to lavender. It beautifully complements plantings with roses as well as modern gravel beds. You can also cut the flowers on their sturdy stems for fresh bouquets, where they will bring an interesting vertical element.

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.

The 'Wine Red' prairie mallow is a beautiful and long-flowering perennial whose appearance resembles miniature hollyhocks or a classic country mallow. Its homeland is the sunny meadows of North America, so it thrives in full sun and well-drained loamy soil with plenty of humus. From July to September, it produces tall spikes full of striking wine-red flowers, which grow to a height of around one meter. It has sturdy stems and does not need support. It is an undemanding plant that even beginners can manage. You will receive a mature potted seedling from us, which you just need to transplant into the flowerbed. The prairie mallow is perfectly suited for a classic combination with roses as well as for wilder flowerbeds with grasses. During the summer, it acts as a reliable magnet for bees and butterflies. Although it is a short-lived perennial, it easily survives harsh winters down to minus twenty-eight degrees. If you like to cut flowers for a vase, the prairie mallow will bring you joy; it is made for summer bouquets. Just watch out for waterlogging, which can cause rust.

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.

Phlomis tuberosa, known in Czech as tuberous Jerusalem sage, brings an unmistakable silhouette to perennial plantings. This robust plant, originally from the European steppes, is perfectly suited for lovers of natural gardens looking for something novel. Its dark purple stems form an interesting contrast to the light pinkish-lilac flowers, which are arranged in regular whorls one above the other. This tiered structure appears very decorative and looks interesting in the bed, especially in combination with finer plants. For florists, Phlomis is a literal treasure. You can cut it for fresh summer bouquets, but its true moment comes when dried. The faded seed pods hold their shape perfectly and will continue to look spectacular in a vase all winter. If you leave it in the bed, it will provide a beautiful spectacle even in the months when the garden is sleeping. It is a completely undemanding and frost-resistant perennial that loves the sun and well-drained soil. In nature here, it belongs to the critically endangered species, so growing it in the garden is also a small contribution to the protection of biodiversity.

Lupines are striking for their unmistakable flowers and decorative compound leaves. Naturally, they are rather short-lived perennials. Their lifespan is usually around five years. They are valued for their use as cut flowers and as bee pasture. Beautiful lupine with bicolored flowers. Pink with creamy white.

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.

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.

Meadow Sage occurs in our country primarily in warmer regions, especially in southern Moravia and northern and central Bohemia. It grows on sunny meadows, slopes, and along roadsides. The fragrant leaves form a basal rosette, from which several sparsely leafy, branched stems grow. The inflorescences consist of striking lipped flowers, which are a huge attraction for bees and bumblebees. Twilight Serenade blooms violet-blue.

A perennial species of Verbena native to North America. In natural habitats, it grows in wet meadows, pastures, and along water bodies. It is a great attraction for bees and butterflies. Although not very long-lived, it can maintain itself in good conditions by self-seeding. It blooms gradually over a long period with many tiny flowers. The spent inflorescences are also effective, both in beds and in bouquets. White Spires is an elegant cultivar with pure white flowers.

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.

The original species of this Veronica can be found in nature on damp meadows and on the banks of watercourses. It is perfect for cutting and, depending on conditions, works well in flower beds in combination with roses or, conversely, in naturalistic plantings. It belongs to hardy and long-lived perennials. It lasts about 7 days in a vase. Its slender spikes look particularly beautiful in combination with Daisy or Yarrow flowers. Excellent forage for bees and butterflies. The blue variant of the Skyler series bred for cutting, with long flower spikes. It blooms in the very first year and repeats flowering well in subsequent seasons.

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. 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 excellent pasture for bees. It lasts 7 days in a vase. 'Schwellenburg' is a very special variety with a richly branched inflorescence. The little flowers have purple bracts and a wine-colored calyx.