Baptisia Alba

Baptisia comes from North America, belongs to the legume family, and resembles lupine in appearance. Unlike lupine, however, it does not suffer from fungal diseases and does not taste as good to slugs. Besides the blue flowers, the large pods that adorn the plant long after flowering are interesting. North American Indians used Baptisia roots to disinfect wounds and lower fever, and leaves to dye fabrics. With Baptisia, patience is most important; it takes some time to fully establish and create a massive root system adapted to survive long periods of drought and fire. Then it is very long-lived. It was chosen as the Perennial of the Year for the 2019 season.

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.

Garden cultivars of goldenrod are attractive and low-maintenance perennials bred from native North American wild species. Unlike them, however, they are not invasive and do not spread uncontrollably in flower beds. They are specially bred for cutting, which is why they are relatively tall, grow upright, and bloom profusely. For bouquets, we can harvest both freshly bloomed plants and stems with buds. They last 10 days in a vase. In flower beds, they are an essential food source for bees. Moonlight Glory is our lightest milky-white goldenrod. Its elegant shade combines well with other perennials.

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. The semi-double flowers of the hellebore Double Ellen Picotee color into white and light pink with purple-burgundy edging.

Lady's mantle naturally grows on mountain pastures and meadows and in mixed forests. It is ornamental in both leaf and flower. The leaves have fine hairs giving the plant a velvety character. It is a perennial sought after by ancient alchemists for the drops of dew that appear in the pleated leaves. Valuable for florists for its multitude of tiny greenish-yellow flowers. Important in flower beds for its ground-covering character. Lasts 10 days in a vase.

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.

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.

Like Lavender, Hyssop is considered a low woody subshrub. It works well in similar planting schemes, with roses or even in steppe-style gravel beds. It can be used in the kitchen and as a medicinal plant. A huge attraction for bees, bumblebees, and butterflies. Sweet pink flowers.

Knautia macedonica is a profusely and long-blooming undemanding perennial. Its wild form originates from the Balkans, where it grows on meadows and in scrublands. Red Knight charms in flower beds with slender high stems that carry dark wine-colored flowers. It is suitable for naturally designed sunny to semi-shady beds and meadow bouquets.

Broad-leaved statice, also known as sea lavender, is a plant originally from the steppe regions of southern Europe. Leathery leaves form a basal rosette. From these, veil-like panicles formed by tiny light lavender flowers grow. Perfect for bouquets; for drying, harvest when the flowers are fully colored.

A beautiful delicate perennial originating from North America. The striking, relatively large but delicate flowers harmonize beautifully with a rich fluffy cloud of tiny leaves. They form compact bushes and are ideal for the foreground of beds. We classify Coreopsis among naturally short-lived perennials. We can partially influence their lifespan by choosing a suitable site and care during the season. Cultivar 'Moonbeam' blooms with a large number of light yellow flowers with darker centers. It lasts about a week in a vase.

A valuable garden and medicinal perennial, native to North America. It blooms in late summer and captivates with long drooping petals. The spiky flower centers are an irresistible attraction for butterflies. It lasts 7–10 days in a vase. After removing the petals, the stems with the central discs can be dried or used in fresh bouquets as an interesting element.

Cimicifuga is a beautiful, hardy, and long-lived perennial. Decorative not only in flower but also in leaf. In spring, it needs enough time to sprout into full beauty. Ideally, we therefore combine it with bulbs – snowdrops and daffodils. The green-leaved cultivar Silver Dance is more compact and blooms long and tirelessly.

This Phlomis grows wild in Central and Southeastern Europe; here it is among the critically endangered species. The stems are purple and bear rough, heart-shaped leaves. The flowers are pink-purple; the dry capsules with seeds are also decorative. It creates a distinct decorative element even in winter. Particularly impressive is the combination with soft, loose plantings of grasses and perennials, into which Phlomis introduces a strict graphic accent.

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".

Cupid's dart is a medium-tall short-lived perennial. It originates from the Mediterranean and is therefore suitable for regions with milder winters. Its flowers are white and shaped like chicory. The undeveloped flower buds are also attractive, as are the silvery spent flower heads. It is also suitable for drying. Fresh stems last 7 days in a vase. Alba has white flowers.

A valuable garden and medicinal perennial, native to North America. It blooms in late summer and captivates with long drooping petals. The spiky flower centers are an irresistible attraction for butterflies. It lasts 7–10 days in a vase. After removing the petals, the stems with the central discs can be dried or used in fresh bouquets as an interesting element. Hulla Dancer has white petals with 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.

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 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.

Perovskia are sparsely branched subshrubs, native to regions from Afghanistan to Tibet. They grow in open, sunny, rocky, and stony habitats. Their white felted shoots and grayish aromatic leaves are striking. They are suitable for sunny flower beds alongside other drought-loving perennials, where they create interesting structures even in the winter months.

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 White Pearl has pure white flowers with yellow stamens.

Sidalcea is a beautiful long-flowering perennial. Its inflorescence resembles miniature hollyhocks or mallow. It fits well into classic combinations with roses as well as into wilder beds with grasses.

They grow naturally in the area from southern Europe to Turkey and Central Asia. These are decorative and undemanding plants suitable for natural perennial gardens. The spherical flowers attract bees and butterflies. They last a very long time in a vase and look wonderful in summer bouquets; they are also suitable for drying. Star Frost is a pure white form of the banat globe thistle; it grows relatively compactly, with flowers about the size of a golf ball. The leaves are deep green on top and grey-green on the underside.

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 emit a minty-spicy fragrance. The thyme-like flowers attract bees, bumblebees, and butterflies. It will look good among roses as well as in natural-style steppe beds, perhaps with lower grasses.

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.

A very hardy and long-lived perennial with an almost year-round effect. It forms upright clumps, and the flowers attract bees and butterflies. Herbstrfreude is one of the hardiest and most robust varieties, perfectly usable for cutting. Growing in a pot is also easy.

A grass native to North American prairie regions. It grows in dense clumps, which are strikingly surmounted in summer by stems with delicate, fragrant flowers. It looks best planted in groups of several pieces accompanied by perennials.

The Oriental poppy originates from the Caucasus, Turkey, and Iran, where it grows on rocky slopes and dry meadows. It blooms with large bowl-shaped flowers on tall stems. Like all poppies, for use in bouquets, we harvest them as soon as the buds color up and "crack". Additionally, we briefly (for about 20 seconds) sear the ends of the stems with a flame and immediately place them in cold water. Then they last in a vase for 4 days. The strikingly hairy and large leaves die back shortly after flowering, and the plant must rest until spring to gather strength. A portion of the leaves sprouts again in late summer. Therefore, it is advisable to plant other perennials in close proximity that sprout later and can draw attention to themselves during the poppy's pause. Royal Wedding flowers have white petals with a dark burgundy spot in the center of the flower.