Clary sage

A perennial that finds its use in naturalistic steppe and gravel beds. It attracts bees, bumblebees, and butterflies. It's floristically valuable for its flowers with striking bracts, which are also perfect for drying. The roots of some species were once candied as sweets in England and France and added to pastries and jellies. In herbal medicine, it was used, among other things, as an aphrodisiac, hence its folk name 'male fidelity'.

A very hardy and long-lived perennial with an almost year-round effect. It forms upright clumps, and its flowers attract bees and butterflies. The 'Brilliant' cultivar is characterized by bushy growth and a striking pink color.

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. Terracotta features ochre, shades of orange and yellow, and grey-green leaves.

A valuable garden and medicinal perennial, native to North America. It blooms in summer with dark purplish-pink flowers. The 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 heads can be dried or used in fresh bouquets as an interesting element. Rubinstern is very similar to the Magnus cultivar; the petals are darker and firmer. As they fade, they gradually lighten and bend downwards.

A valuable garden and medicinal perennial, native to North America. 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. Flowers in shades of yellow.

A valuable garden and medicinal perennial, native to North America. It blooms in summer with dark purplish-pink flowers. 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. Magnus has striking deep pink flowers with an orange-brown center.

Garden cultivars of goldenrod are attractive and undemanding perennials bred from native North American wild species. Unlike their wild counterparts, they are not invasive and do not spread uncontrollably in garden beds. They are specially bred for cutting, which is why they are relatively tall, grow upright, and bloom profusely. We can harvest both freshly bloomed plants and stems with buds for bouquets. They last 10 days in a vase. In garden beds, they are an indispensable feast for bees. Moonlight Glory is our lightest milky white goldenrod. Its elegant shade combines well with other perennials.

Lady's mantle naturally grows in mountain pastures and meadows, and in mixed forests. It is ornamental both in 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 dew drops that appear in the leaf fans. Valuable for florists for its abundance of tiny greenish-yellow flowers. Important in beds for its ground-covering nature. It lasts 10 days in a vase.

A relatively short-lived, biennial to perennial plant with an enchanting fragrance and a long flowering period. A beautiful addition to rose beds, also suitable for country-style plantings. It can be used as undergrowth beneath taller shrubs and trees. It smells noticeably more fragrant in the evening and at night, attracting night moths. For cutting, harvest as soon as the first few flowers open. Stems can grow a little more even after cutting, so factor this in when creating arrangements. Lasts 5 to 7 days in a vase.

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.

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. The basic species has simple, purplish-pink flowers.

Phlomis is a valuable structural perennial originating from the Greek islands and Turkey. It's also known as Jerusalem sage. In plantings, it's used as a groundcover and can even be successfully grown under trees. Both the flowers and the stems with their impressive fruits are suitable for cutting. If left untrimmed in autumn, they will adorn beds throughout winter, as will the dense carpet of leaves. Phlomis is also attractive to pollinators.

This Phlomis grows wild in Central and Southeast Europe, and in our country, it is a critically endangered species. The stems are purple and bear rough, heart-shaped leaves. The flowers are pinkish-purple, and the dry seed capsules are also ornamental. It creates a striking decorative element even in winter. The combination with soft, loose plantings of grasses and perennials, into which Phlomis brings a strict graphic accent, is particularly impressive.

Black mullein (Verbascum nigrum) is a native perennial and herb with medicinal properties. The leaves are dark green, arranged in a basal rosette. Unlike the original yellow-flowering species, the flowers of this form are pure white with purple, hairy stamens.

Hyssop, similar to lavender, is classified as a low woody subshrub. It can be used in similar types of plantings, with roses or in gravel beds of a steppe character. It also has culinary and medicinal uses. A great attraction for bees, bumblebees, and butterflies. An elegant white cultivar.

This type of sage 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, for its coinciding blooming period, as an accompaniment to roses. However, it will look equally good in mixed drought-tolerant steppe plantings with grasses. It is an excellent food source for bees. It lasts 7 days in a vase. The cultivar Ostfriesland blooms in a strikingly dark violet-blue color.

Hyssop, similar to lavender, is classified as a low woody subshrub. It can be used in similar types of plantings, with roses or in gravel beds of a steppe character. It also has culinary and medicinal uses. A great attraction for bees, bumblebees, and butterflies. Sweet pink flower color.

This yarrow primarily grows in moist or wet habitats – wet meadows, springs, riverbanks, and pond edges. The flowers are semi-double with a grayish-yellow center. It lasts 10 days in a vase.

A relatively short-lived, biennial to perennial plant with an enchanting fragrance and a long flowering period. A beautiful addition to rose beds, also suitable for country-style plantings. It can be used as undergrowth beneath taller shrubs and trees. It smells noticeably more fragrant in the evening and at night, attracting night moths. For cutting, harvest as soon as the first few flowers open. Stems can grow a little more even after cutting, so factor this in when creating arrangements. Lasts 5 to 7 days in a vase. A beautiful, elegant white variety of the original species.

Catmints are ideal companions for roses, suitable for natural-style gardens and, the smaller varieties, for window boxes and pots. Some of them are an irresistible attraction for cats, due to the hallucinogen nepetalactone. This should be present in the highest degree in the species Nepeta cataria. Conversely, lemon-scented catmints reportedly do not attract cats. The botanical name Nepeta probably comes from the ancient Etruscan city of Nepet - Nepi in today's Italian province of Viterbo, where the plant was once cultivated. The faassenii group is characterized by vigorous upright growth, delicate foliage, and long stems suitable for cutting. 'Walker's Low' got its name from the Irish estate where it was bred in 1970. It has the most intense blue-purple flower coloration.

A perennial grass native to the North American prairies. Switchgrass is very adaptable and long-lived. It provides clear structure to beds while also acting as a softening element, especially after its veil-like flowers appear above the clumps of leaves. The Squaw cultivar immediately captivates with its wine-red colored leaves and brownish-pink flowers.

Nenáročná a skromná trvalka, která vykvétá velkým množstvím drobných kvítků. Kvete rekordně dlouhou dobu po celé pozdní léto a podzim. Tvoří menší kompaktní vzdušné keříky, které vydávají mátově kořenitou vůní. Květy podobné tymiánu lákají včely, čmeláky a motýly. Dobře bude vypadat mezi růžemi i v přírodně pojatých stepních záhonech třeba s nižšími trávami. 

A versatile perennial suitable for both rustic and modern beds. It also thrives in wild, naturalistic plantings. While its main charm lies in the adorable flowers that appear in late spring, it's also valuable in beds for its early-emerging leaves. Columbines add an airy, light feel to perennial beds and bouquets. They last 7 days in a vase. This variety was discovered in Cambridge in the 1980s by Nora Barlow, Charles Darwin's granddaughter. The flower color transitions from pink and white to green.

It originates from the northeastern USA and southern Canada, where it grows in moist areas, thickets, and along coastlines. It readily hybridizes with other aster species, resulting in countless varieties. Unlike New England asters, their flowers do not close at night or in unfavorable weather, making them perfect for cutting and placing in a vase. We must consider their susceptibility to powdery mildew, which can be prevented by choosing a suitable location. They last 7 to 10 days in a vase. The white variety White Ladies is large-flowered, profusely blooming, and of taller growth.

This tirelessly flowering variety, related to the well-known medicinal Verbena, is ideal for perennial plantings as a refining accent. It forms airy, transparent clumps with intensely purple-colored stems and tiny leaves. Delicate pink flowers bloom throughout the summer until autumn. They look stunning in flower beds and containers. In England, where this variety was discovered near the town of Bampton, it overwinters well. Here, it is necessary to find the best possible habitat conditions for it. Also popular with bees and butterflies.

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.

This species originates from Central and Eastern Europe and the Balkans. They are decorative and low-maintenance plants suitable for natural perennial gardens. The spherical flowers attract bees and butterflies. They last a very long time in a vase and look gorgeous in summer bouquets, also suitable for drying. The steel-blue flower heads reach a diameter of 2 to 4 cm.