Baptisia Chocolate Chip

Baptisia originates from North America, belongs to the pea family (Fabaceae), and visually resembles lupine – the bigleaf lupine. However, unlike lupine, it doesn't suffer from fungal diseases and isn't as appealing to slugs. In addition to its blue flowers, the large pods that adorn the plant long after flowering are also interesting. North American Indians used baptisia roots to disinfect wounds and reduce fever, and the leaves for dyeing fabrics. Patience is key with baptisia; it takes some time to fully establish and develop a robust root system adapted to survive long periods of drought and fires. Then it is very long-lived. It was chosen as the Perennial of the Year for the 2019 season.

Gaura is a clump-forming perennial native to Texas and Louisiana. In our climate, it behaves more like a short-lived perennial. It combines beautifully with grasses and adds lightness and airiness to flowerbeds. It is an excellent food source for insects. Tiny, butterfly-like flowers bloom tirelessly from June until the first frosts. For bouquets, we harvest as soon as the first two to three flowers open on the stem. Siskiyou Pink is a beautiful variety with rose-red flowers on slightly arched stems. Less hardy than white-flowering varieties. The red-spotted leaves are also interesting.

A short-lived perennial with silver, softly felted stems and leaves. It blooms for a very long time, with a new flower opening each day, replacing the previous one. An elegant white variant of the basic species.

In nature, it is found in steppes on dry pastures and rocky slopes of Central and Southern Europe. It is a well-known floristically utilized plant. Excellent for use fresh or dried. For drying, select only stems with fully bloomed flowers. Hang flowers upside down in a dry, airy, and dark place.

This meadow rue originates from western China, where it grows on mountain plains and in scrub with other tall perennials. It is an effective, delicate perennial ornamental not only for its flowers but also for its small, feathery leaves. The flowers grow in loose panicles on thin, purplish-colored stems. Individual florets are very tiny, lilac in color with protruding yellow stamens. In beds and bouquets, they create an airy, lacy effect. Lasts 7 days in a vase.

Gaura is a clump-forming perennial native to Texas and Louisiana. Here, it behaves more like a short-lived perennial. It combines beautifully with grasses, adding lightness and airiness to flowerbeds. It is an excellent food source for insects. Tiny flowers, resembling small butterflies, bloom tirelessly from June until the first frosts. For bouquets, harvest as soon as the first two to three flowers open on the stem. Whirling Butterflies blooms with pure white flowers that gradually acquire a pink tint. The buds also tend to be pinkish. It is characterized by compact growth and abundant flowering.

Cosmos Cherry Chocolate is a garden cultivar of the original wild species originating from Mexico. Due to its striking scent, it is also called chocolate cosmos. Besides its fragrance and unusual coloration, its great advantage is its long flowering period. In our conditions, it will thrive best in a pot on the terrace; we can also embed it with its pot into perennial beds and remove it for winter. Cherry Chocolate has the largest flowers of all chocolate cosmos – they are up to 7 cm in diameter.

It is found in almost all mountainous areas of Central and Southern Europe, in high-altitude meadows and bright clearings. It is suitable for natural plantings and can be used in rural submontane gardens with other robust species. It blooms blue and lasts about a week in a vase.

This is a typical Mediterranean species that tolerates drought and heat well here, but not winter waterlogging. The wulfenii cultivar should be less sensitive to cold, but intolerance to winter waterlogging remains. Plant in protected areas, e.g., in front of a warm house wall in Mediterranean-style beds. Floristically, it is valuable for its greenery and early flowering. Lasts 7–10 days in a vase. Beware of the milky sap in the stems, which can irritate the skin.

Avens are charming spring perennials with adorable cup-shaped flowers in warm color tones. The flowers grow on long, branched stems. The petals are often ruffled, and the flowers are semi-double. Their clump-forming foliage is also interesting, eventually creating good ground cover. Flowering avens are a great attraction for insects, especially butterflies. For bouquets, harvest when a quarter or half of the flowers on the stem have opened. They last 7 days in a vase. Geum rivale is a native perennial. It naturally grows on stream banks and in moist meadows. Its flowers are yellowish with a pink hue, and the calyx is purplish.

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 areas. A very adaptable and undemanding plant, it grows in clumps and spreads by runners. Cutting back after the first bloom will encourage new flowers. For bouquets, harvest when the flowers are fully open. Lasts 10 days in a vase. Summer Pastels features a varied and delicate range of colors from white and vanilla to salmon, brick, and bronze.

Anemones belong to the same family as buttercups. With their elegant flowers on long, slender stems, they can brighten and enliven 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 Society chose autumn anemones as the perennial of the 2022 season. They last 7 days in a vase. Andrea Atkinson is a delicate autumn anemone cultivar with white petals.

A tall medicinal perennial with decorative, finely divided leaves and a sweet taste and aroma similar to anise. It does not form tubers. The delicate, aromatic leaves add an attractive veil-like and bronze smoky effect to the perennial bed. Its flowers are a magnet for beneficial insects. It lasts 7-10 days in a vase. Mature umbels with seeds can be dried.

Northern sea oats (Chasmanthium latifolium) originates from the eastern part of North America, where it grows in bright, moist forests. The flat spikelets hang from arching, pendulous stems and change colour from beige to pink, eventually taking on a warm copper tone. The leaves are fresh green and turn golden yellow in autumn. Besides being used fresh, it is also well-suited for drying.

Anemones come from the same family as buttercups. With their elegant flowers on long slender stems, they can brighten and enliven late summer and autumn beds. They stand out against a darker background of shrub groups and will also be grateful for their partial shade. The Czech Perennial Society chose autumn anemones as the perennial of the 2022 season. They last 7 days in a vase. Anemone 'Robustissima' is a proven, vigorous, tall, and profusely flowering species bred in 1900. It forms strong clumps and blooms with large, light pink flowers from late summer to early autumn. As its name suggests, 'Robustissima' is one of the hardiest autumn anemones and spreads very well and vigorously.

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 areas. A very adaptable and undemanding plant, it grows in clumps and spreads by runners. Pruning after the first bloom will encourage new flowers. For bouquets, harvest when the florets are fully open. It lasts 10 days in a vase. The Lachsschönheit cultivar is prized for its perfect transition of tones from salmon pink to creamy.

A valuable garden and medicinal perennial, native to North America. It blooms in late summer and captivates with long, hanging petals. Its spiky flower heads are an irresistible magnet for butterflies. Lasts 7–10 days in a vase. After the petals are picked, the stems with the central cones can be dried or used as an interesting element in fresh bouquets.

A very hardy and long-lived perennial with an almost year-round effect. It forms upright clumps, and its flowers attract bees and butterflies. 'Matrona' tolerates nutritious soil well, provided it is well-drained. It has firm and stable stems.

As a basic species, the Guelder-rose is a native woody plant. The cultivar Compactum grows into a spherical or hemispherical shrub, reaching a height of around 120 centimeters. It flowers and bears fruit abundantly. The inflorescences are up to 10 cm wide, white, and the fruits are red. Its burgundy autumn leaf color is also interesting. It is also suitable for free-growing hedges, and the fruits attract birds.

Delphiniums are a classic and a dominant feature among perennial flower beds. They are often seen alongside roses and peonies. To truly stand out, they need ample space and regular fertilization. Their beauty can be enjoyed in beds, bouquets, and even dried, as the flowers retain their rich color well. They last 7 days in a vase and are sensitive to ethylene released from ripening fruit.

Oriental poppy originates from the Caucasus, Turkey, and Iran, where it grows on rocky slopes and dry meadows. It blooms with large, cup-shaped flowers on tall stems. Like all poppies, for use in bouquets, we harvest them as soon as the buds color and "burst open." Additionally, we briefly (for about 20 seconds) sear the ends of the stems with a flame and immediately place them in cold water. They then last 4 days in a vase. The noticeably fuzzy and large leaves die back shortly after flowering, and the plant must rest until spring to regain strength. Some leaves sprout again in late summer. Therefore, it is advisable to plant other perennials nearby that, on the contrary, sprout later and can draw attention during the poppy's dormant period. Royal Wedding flowers have white petals with a dark burgundy spot in the center of the flower.

A beautiful lower grass, valued for its early sprouting and long-lasting foliage well into winter. The flowers are rather inconspicuous, beige, and appear in green clumps later in summer and autumn. The leaf color is bright green. A great combination with species such as savory, gaura, or oregano.

Lemon Queen is a perennial and fully frost-hardy sunflower cultivar. It grows vigorously but not invasively, forming strong, dense clumps. It blooms from July with pastel sulfur-yellow flowers, typically 5-8 cm in diameter. It looks good in country gardens and in prairie beds with grasses. Its long flowering period is very important for pollinators. In a vase, it lasts up to 10 days.

An interesting perennial originating from the Himalayas, where it grows on dry grassy and stony slopes. Its white button-like flowers resemble small strawflowers. It is also effective with its grey-silver foliage.

An impressive solitary perennial with a robust, sparsely branched growth habit. It produces light yellowish-green, scabious-like flowers on long stems. The contrast between the relatively massive foliage and the airy, wiry stems with small flower heads is very striking. It lasts about 5 days in a vase. The spent inflorescences are also interesting in beds and bouquets.

Oriental poppy originates from the Caucasus, Turkey, and Iran, where it grows on rocky slopes and dry meadows. It blooms with large, cup-shaped flowers on tall stems. Like all poppies, for use in bouquets, we harvest them as soon as the buds color and "burst open." Additionally, we briefly (for about 20 seconds) sear the ends of the stems with a flame and immediately place them in cold water. They then last 4 days in a vase. The noticeably fuzzy and large leaves die back shortly after flowering, and the plant must rest until spring to regain strength. Some leaves sprout again in late summer. Therefore, it is advisable to plant other perennials nearby that, on the contrary, sprout later and can draw attention during the poppy's dormant period. Coral Reef is a variety with salmon-pink flowers and black spots at the base of the petals.

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

Baptisia originates from North America, belongs to the legume family, and resembles lupine – the many-leaved wolf bean. Unlike lupine, however, it does not suffer from fungal diseases and is less appealing to slugs. In addition to its blue flowers, the large pods that adorn the plant long after blooming are also interesting. Native American Indians used baptisia roots to disinfect wounds and reduce fever, and the leaves for dyeing fabrics. Patience is key with baptisia; it takes some time to fully establish itself and develop a strong root system adapted to survive long periods of drought and fires. Once established, it is very long-lived. It was chosen as the perennial of the year for the 2019 season. Sky blue flowers, richer buds.

A tall medicinal perennial with decorative, finely divided leaves and a sweet taste and scent similar to anise. It does not form tubers. Its delicate, aromatic leaves give perennial beds an attractive veiled and smoky effect. Its flowers are a magnet for beneficial insects. It lasts 7–10 days in a vase. Mature umbels with seeds can be dried.

A versatile perennial suitable for both rural and modern garden beds. It also works well in wild, naturalistic plantings. Its main charm lies in its cute flowers, which appear in late spring, but it's also valuable in beds for its early-sprouting leaves. Columbines add airiness and lightness to perennial beds and bouquets. It lasts 7 days in a vase. Kristall is a large-flowered variety with white blooms and striking spurs.