Lungwort Azurea

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.

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.

Siberian bugloss, like its better-known relative large-leaf brunnera, is suitable for beds in light shade. The blue color of the flowers is common to them, and the course of vegetation is identical. After flowering, all energy is transferred to the leaves, which grow remarkably quickly to their final size and form rich carpets. This bugloss forms more shoots and is suitable for ground cover. It also copes better with unfavorable soil conditions and moisture deficits.

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. Alba has beautiful pure white flowers; the shoots sprouting in spring are light lime green.

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.

Native wild perennial with a large distribution area from Europe to Siberia. Suitable for natural and wild plantings. Grows in meadows and dry grassy places. A very adaptable and undemanding plant, grows in clumps and spreads by runners. Cutting back after the first flowering encourages a new batch of flowers. Harvest for bouquets when the florets are fully open. Lasts 10 days in a vase. The Lachsschönheit cultivar is valued for its perfect transition of tones from salmon-pink to cream.

This meadow-rue originates from Western China, where it grows on mountain plains and in scrub alongside other tall perennials. It is a spectacular, delicate perennial, ornamental not only for its flowers but also for its tiny pinnate leaves. The flowers grow in loose panicles on thin, purple-coloured stems. The individual florets are very tiny, lilac in colour with prominent yellow stamens. In beds and bouquets, they create an airy, lacy effect. Lasts 7 days in a vase.

This species of knotweed originates from the Himalayas and China, where it grows in scrub and on mountain meadows along streams at high altitudes. It forms sturdy clumps of fresh green, pointed leaves. Above them, upright, narrow, candle-like inflorescences composed of individual tiny flowers appear from summer onwards. It is a very popular perennial, recently bred into many cultivars and used in Western Europe in larger park and garden landscaping. It excels with a long flowering period in late summer and good durability in a vase. It was voted Perennial of the Season 2023 by the Czech Perennials Association. The white variety Alba stands out particularly well against a darker background and has long-lasting flowers.

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.

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'.

A species native to Central Europe found in clearings, damp meadows, and bright forest edges. Usually a biennial or short-lived perennial. In the autumn of the first year, the plant forms a basal rosette of leaves; in the spring, flowering stems grow from them. Further development depends on the site we choose for it. In some places, it survives another season; elsewhere, we must rely on self-seeding or plant new plants. All parts of the foxglove are poisonous. It lasts 6 to 8 days in a vase.

Tufted hairgrass is an undemanding native grass that remains green even in winter. In nature, it grows in meadows and forest clearings. It forms a compact tuft of leaves, from which grow fine, thin stems with transparent clouds of flowers. It adapts even to more difficult conditions, such as dry shade or compacted soil, and can handle waterlogging. Goldschleier has very tiny spikelets in light yellow panicles. The inflorescence forms a fluffy light yellow cloud above the tuft of leaves.

Gaura is a clump-forming perennial originally from Texas and Louisiana. Here it behaves more like a short-lived perennial. It combines beautifully with grasses and adds lightness and airiness to flowerbeds. It is excellent pasture for insects. Tiny flowers similar to small butterflies bloom tirelessly from June until the first frosts. Harvest for bouquets immediately 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 tinge. Buds are also usually pinkish. Characterized by compact growth and blooms profusely.

Burnet is an original meadow plant that naturally grows on damp meadows. In the middle of summer, branched stems with dark red, tiny flower heads grow from a stand of pinnate leaves. In flowerbeds and bouquets, they create unusual shape and color accents. Great burnet is a vital plant for the Scarce Large Blue butterfly. In the garden, it fits into naturalistic plantings with grasses and other perennials. It adds lightness and airiness to bouquets. It lasts 7 to 10 days in a vase. Arnhem is a particularly tall cultivar, impressive in flowerbeds with tall grasses and perennials.

A short-lived perennial with silvery, softly felted stems and leaves. It blooms for a very long time; a new flower opens every day to replace the previous one. An elegant white variant of the standard species.

This hellebore originates from Sardinia and Corsica. Its leaves are evergreen, toothed and prickly at the edges. It is one of the largest hellebores. Its flowers are pale green. Covering with leaves or brushwood helps in winter. This protects the evergreen leathery leaves from the harsh winter sun.

A short-lived perennial with silvery, softly felted stems and leaves. It blooms for a very long time; a new flower opens every day to replace the previous one. The standard species has single, purple-pink flowers.

A versatile perennial usable in rural and modern beds. It also works well in wild natural plantings. Its main charm lies in the cute flowers that appear in late spring, but it is 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. Black Barlow has double, almost black flowers.

It comes from the Caucasus and Western Asia, where it grows on mountain meadows and on the edges of sparse forests and shrub growths. It will grow well in the company of plants that will not compete too much with a vigorous root system. It will be a perfect companion for roses and hydrangeas. The flowers are pure white. The long stems of this bellflower are directly predestined for cutting. It lasts up to 14 days in a vase.

Forms a delicate, airy bush. Compared to Aster ericoides, the flowers are less numerous, placed singly at the ends of branch tips, which gives the plant an airy effect. The plant has a very delicate appearance. It is beautiful in combination with other late asters and ornamental grasses. Healthy and long-blooming, the pink flower is slightly larger than that of Aster ericoides. Lasts 7 to 10 days in a vase.

In its original form, the spotted geranium originates from the northeastern regions of America. It grows there in sparse, light forests. In the garden, therefore, it will suit beds in the undergrowth of taller shrubs accompanied by native woodland perennials and grasses. Strikingly colored cultivars, such as the Geranium Espresso, are also suitable for growing in containers. In addition to the bronze-brown color of the leaves, autumn coloring in fiery red tones is added.

Lythrum virgatum is more elegant and slender than the better-known purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria). It also has much airier inflorescences. The leaves are smooth and narrower, turning up to a dark red in autumn. Dropmore Purple blooms with purple to reddish-violet flowers arranged in slender spikes.

A beautiful lower grass valuable for its early sprouting and the long endurance of leaves well into winter. The flowers are rather inconspicuous, beige, and appear in the green clumps only later in summer and autumn. The leaf color is bright green. A great combination with species such as calamint, gaura, or oregano.

Phlox is originally a perennial native to North America. It soon achieved great popularity in European gardens and has been systematically bred since the 19th century. It is a classic perennial for cutting into bouquets, where, in addition to colorful flowers, it also delights with a gentle fragrance. We harvest as soon as roughly half the flowers in the inflorescence have bloomed; then they last up to 10 days in a vase. Despite efforts to breed the most resistant cultivars, it remains true that Phlox reacts extremely sensitively to climate and soil conditions, so we carefully pay attention to the correct choice of site. The Sweet Summer series includes cultivars bred for greater resistance to fungal diseases. Sweet Summer Ocean is a very special cultivar introduced to the market in 2012. It is characterized by the color variability of flowers during the day. In cool mornings, the flowers are blue; as temperatures rise, they fade, and by noon they transition to purple-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.

The meadow sage occurs here primarily in warmer regions, especially in southern Moravia and northern and central Bohemia. It grows on sunny meadows and slopes and along paths. Fragrant leaves form a ground rosette, from which several less leafy branched stems grow. The inflorescences are composed of striking bilabiate flowers, which are a great attraction for bees and bumblebees.

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

Perovskia are sparsely branched subshrubs, originating from areas ranging from Afghanistan to Tibet. They grow on open, sunny, rocky, and stony sites. Their white-felted shoots and grayish aromatic leaves are striking. They are suitable for sunny flowerbeds alongside other drought-loving perennials, where they create interesting structures even in the winter months. Blue Spire is an aromatic variety with fine gray-green foliage and striking airy medium-blue flowers.

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.

The Italian Strawflower is a popular aromatic plant. In addition to its scent, it impresses with its silver foliage. Perfect for combination with drought-tolerant perennials and herbs.