Boltonia Snowbank

A North American perennial similar to asters. The narrow leaves, in turn, resemble willows. These are hardy and tall perennials with loose, branched inflorescences that look like fluffy clouds of white stars. Resistant to diseases, perfect for cutting. Lasts 7–10 days in a vase. The flowers have pale lilac-purple petals with yellow centers.

Heliopsis is a hardy, profusely flowering perennial that brightens up the garden with yellow flowers throughout the summer until the beginning of autumn. Originally from North America. Its cultivation has a long tradition in Europe, and it often appears in rural "cottage" gardens. It will look just as good in modern arrangements with tall grasses. The Asahi cultivar belongs to the shorter Heliopsis varieties. It has smaller golden-yellow, double flowers. It is suitable for cutting into bouquets, although single flowers last longer. We can extend the vase life by removing side buds that have not colored up.

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.

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. Königin Charlotte is a massive taller variety bred as early as 1898. It has strong, firm stems and semi-double large violet-pink flowers. The outer sides of the silky smooth petals are colored violet.

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.

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.

Brunnera is a long-lived perennial originally from the mountain meadows and forests of the Caucasus. It is interesting not only when in bloom. The leaves are large, heart-shaped, and light green. They form a contrasting background for the delicate and tiny flowers that appear above the carpet of leaves from April to May. It sprouts early and dies back late, making it a valuable groundcover perennial.

An undemanding native grass that creates a dense green growth. As early as May, long stems sprout with delicate, heart-shaped spikelets in the shape of small hearts. Their movement in the slightest breath of wind is very effective. It tends to be beautiful until August or September. It is good to trim it after flowering. It is perfectly usable for drying.

Originally a plant from the sandy steppes and slopes of southern Europe and central Asia. Cultivated in botanical gardens since the 18th century. Common in private gardens since the mid-19th century. A classic perennial for cutting. In the garden, it can also be used in modern steppe beds with grasses and drought-loving perennials. Flamingo has a pink double flower.

An impressive solitary perennial with a massive, sparsely branched growth type. It produces light yellow-green flowers on long stems resembling Scabious flowers. The contrast between the relatively massive mass of leaves and the airy wire-like stems with small flower heads is very effective. It lasts about 5 days in a vase. Spent inflorescences are also interesting in beds and bouquets.

A long-lived and medicinal perennial originally from the Himalayas and Nepal. An exceptionally decorative plant with fresh green, finely pinnate leaves resembling ferns. The reddish stems contrast gently with fluffy, up to 20 cm wide, white umbels. An elegant and effective element of perennial beds from spring to autumn. An attraction for insects. It adds a meadow character to bouquets and lasts 7–10 days in a vase.

Rudbeckias originate from North America; they are robust and abundantly flowering perennials of late summer and autumn. They are suitable for prairie plantings with tall grasses as well as for cottage gardens. The central discs look very effective after the seeds ripen and adorn perennial beds even through winter. For vases, we harvest as soon as they bloom. Vase life is 7 to 10 days. We can also use dry central discs. Little Henry is a smaller variant of the rudbeckia named after its finder. However, it is about a third shorter and blooms somewhat earlier than the original natural species. Everything else matches. Interestingly shaped flowers with striking brown centers. Yellow ray florets grow from them, rolled into narrow quills.

Hellebores are evergreen perennials that form slowly spreading clumps of leathery, dark green leaves. Stems usually bear four to five flowers. They bloom very early, already in 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 do not hold the flower in an upright position. All parts of the plant are poisonous. Double Ellen Pink Spotted has double, soft pink flowers with dark burgundy spots.

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. Cerise Queen has deep pink to purple-pink flowers that gradually fade to light pink.

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.

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. Totally Tangerine begins to bloom later than other Geums, but unlike them, it blooms throughout the entire summer. The flowers are the color of tangerines and gradually transition to deep salmon to dark peach.

It is a robust, long-lived, and drought-tolerant herb, native to North American prairies. The white flowers combine well with other perennials and last well in the flower bed and in a vase. The leaves with serrated edges emit a menthol scent.

Dropwort is a drought-loving native perennial that naturally handles very dry sites thanks to its tuberous thickened roots. It forms rosettes of finely cut leaves. Its fragrant milky-white inflorescences are floristically valuable. The buds, which look like tiny pearls, are interesting, as is the stage after flowering in the form of small stars. They last a week in a vase. This Dropwort has richer and fuller flowers than the basic species.

Aster Twilight. A tender beauty for partial shade. It willingly forms dense covers, and even conditions unfavorable for many other species do not discourage it. It does not mind competition from tree roots, or even drought. It is a hybrid of original North American species and is newly classified by botanists in the genus Eurybia. However, it is often offered in nurseries under the name Aster macrophyllus. Either way, in this seemingly delicate plant, gardeners gain a tough ally in the fight against weeds in difficult places.

Unlike drought-loving Artemisias, which boast exclusive silvery foliage, this species is attractive for its delicate white flowers. These appear among dark green feathery foliage in whole delicate clusters. The contrast between the robust green mass and the delicacy of the flowers is stunning. Beautiful in bouquets, for example with Dahlias. 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 and adds lightness and airiness to flower beds. It is excellent pasture for insects. Tiny flowers resembling small butterflies bloom tirelessly from June until the first frosts. For bouquets, harvest as soon as the first two or three flowers on the stem open. Summer Breeze has a rich abundance of flowers in white and pink. It is robust and hardy.

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 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.

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".

Thermopsis resembles the better-known lupine in both its name and the structure of its flowers and leaves. It is a decorative and hardy, resilient perennial. It blooms as early as the end of May with bright yellow flowers. Its resilience is due to the strong root system the plant creates, which is why it is even used in anti-erosion plantings.

The Obedient plant is native to the eastern regions of North America, where it grows on riverbanks and in wet meadows. It forms upright, bushy clumps that spread to the surrounding area via root runners. The flowers are shaped like slender spikes with four rows of tubular blooms and resemble Snapdragon flowers. Harvest as soon as the first flowers in the inflorescence open; they will continue to bloom in the vase. In bouquets, they are a suitable companion for Dahlias, and they last 10–14 days in a vase. The faded spikes with seeds are interesting and can also be used for drying. Alba has pure white flowers and spreads vigorously.

This species of sage originates from the steppe regions of Central and Eastern Europe. It forms abundantly 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 matching flowering time. However, it will look equally good in mixed drought-loving steppe plantings with grasses. It is an excellent food source for bees. It lasts 7 days in a vase. Schneehügel blooms white.

The flowers resemble wild roses but are slightly smaller. The spherical tiny rose hips are fresh red, in rich clusters on long and upright shoots. They have perfect durability. The Magical Sunset cultivar ranks among the very late ones, with harvest up to the end of the season. It is therefore perfectly suitable for Christmas decorations. The leaves are matte green.