Nepal Cinquefoil Ron McBeath

Himalayan cinquefoil once gained great attention from gardeners and breeders, thanks to which there was a plethora of varieties. Today, most of them are unfortunately lost, but fortunately the 'Roxana' cultivar remains, bringing a piece of mountain wilderness to gardens. Its homeland is the western regions of the Himalayas, which gave it immense resilience. It enjoys loamy, well-drained soil and does not mind sun or partial shade. It is a long-lived perennial that is not bothered by severe frosts down to minus twenty-eight degrees. You will receive a rooted potted seedling from us, which just needs to be transplanted. During the summer, specifically from June to August, 'Roxana' will reward you with a profusion of flowers. These have a fascinating salmon color, blending warm pink with tones of yellow and orange. The green leafy clumps grow to a height of forty to sixty centimeters, hold their shape firmly, and do not need support. It is not troubled by pests or diseases in the flower bed and readily reseeds itself in the right place. If you are planting multiple pieces, the ideal distance is thirty-five centimeters apart. It easily attracts bees and other useful pollinators to your garden. With its natural look, it fits beautifully into mixed perennial plantings, where it complements other flowering species. The cinquefoil is not intended for drying because it cannot retain its color or shape, but it works absolutely perfectly as a fresh flower. You can cut it without worry and add it to summer bouquets; furthermore, its delicate, edible flowers will easily brighten up your plate. In short, it is an undemanding and rewarding plant that can be grown even by those who are just starting to create a garden.

Himalayan cinquefoil catches the eye at first glance with its vibrant flowers and is a great choice even for absolute beginners. The original wild species has its home in the mountain regions of the western Himalayas, which makes this perennial exceptionally hardy, easily handling even severe frosts down to minus twenty-eight degrees. The 'Miss Willmott' cultivar will delight you from June to August with a profusion of cherry-pink flowers adorned with a striking raspberry-red center. These blooms stand on sturdy stems, requiring no support, at a height of forty to sixty centimeters above clumps of green leaves. They are edible and are regularly visited by bees for food. We send customers a beautifully rooted potted seedling ready for transplanting into a flower bed, spaced about thirty-five centimeters apart. It is ideal for a sunny spot and ordinary loamy, well-drained soil. It is a long-lived perennial that is not bothered by any diseases or pests. It readily reseeds in the flower bed and fits beautifully into mixed plantings. You can boldly cut the pink flowers for a vase to brighten up summer bouquets, but they are not suitable for dried arrangements.

*Potentilla nepalensis* is a wild mountain plant native to the western regions of the Himalayas. It has also captured the attention of gardeners and breeders. There once existed a large number of garden varieties, which are unfortunately lost and unavailable today. Potentilla fits well into mixed perennial beds. Shogran is a low-growing cultivar with pink flowers and a contrasting raspberry-red eye.

*Potentilla nepalensis* is a wild mountain plant native to the western regions of the Himalayas. It has also captured the attention of gardeners and breeders. There once existed a large number of garden varieties, which are unfortunately lost and unavailable today. Potentilla fits well into mixed perennial beds. Helen Jane has bright pink flowers with a dark, cherry-red eye. Compared to Miss Willmott, it is more compact and the flower colors are softer.

The Roseus hyssop is an aromatic subshrub whose structure and requirements strongly resemble the popular lavender. It originally comes from the sunny and dry regions of the Mediterranean and Asia Minor, so it thrives best in direct sun here as well. It favors well-drained, sandy, and even nutrient-poor soil, where it easily copes with a lack of moisture. You will receive a grown seedling in a pot from us, which you simply transplant straight into the flower bed, where it will very soon form a neat, richly branched bush reaching a height of around fifty centimeters. It is an absolutely undemanding plant that is not bothered by diseases or pests, so its cultivation can be easily handled even by complete beginners. It comfortably withstands severe frosts down to minus twenty-three degrees Celsius. In the garden, hyssop finds wide application. It fits perfectly into steppe-character gravel beds and beautifully complements roses or lower ornamental grasses. During the summer until early autumn, the Roseus variety will delight you with a flood of tiny flowers in a delicate light pink shade. These flowers, as well as the narrow green leaves, emit a pleasant spicy fragrance and reliably act as a huge lure for bees, bumblebees, and butterflies. Since all parts of the plant are edible, you can also use hyssop in the kitchen as a herb to flavor dishes or prepare a medicinal tea from it. You can also cut the long flowering stems for a vase, where they will add a fine texture and lightness to summer bouquets. Although the flowers are not suitable for drying for floral purposes, the plant will please you in the flower bed even out of season. The inflorescences form an interesting structure which, after the leaves fall and are covered by morning frost, creates a beautiful winter effect. Furthermore, if you provide hyssop with ideal conditions, it will reliably self-seed in its location and remain a solid part of your garden for many years.

The largeleaf brunnera comes from the moist mountain forests of the Caucasus, where it forms dense undergrowth. It is an ideal perennial for shady and semi-shady corners of your garden, where it will thrive in humus-rich, moist soil. It resembles classic forget-me-nots in appearance, but don't be fooled, its leaves are much larger, heart-shaped, and rough to the touch. Thanks to them, it acts as a great groundcover plant that sprouts early in the spring and reliably covers bare soil with its leaves until late autumn. It thus forms a natural contrasting background for the delicate, tiny flowers. Tiny sky-blue flowers appear in April, May, and June, creating a beautiful delicate veil over the green carpet of leaves. The flower clusters are also suitable for cutting into spring hand-tied bouquets, where they look very tender. Just watch out for snails and slugs, who like to feast on the juicy leaves of the brunnera, so it's a good idea to check the plants regularly. It is a long-lived and hardy perennial that handles severe frosts without problems and will bring you joy in one place for many years.

Lesser calamint Blue Cloud is an undemanding and modest perennial that reliably perfumes any sunny garden. Its original homeland is the sunny and dry slopes of Southern Europe, which is why it thrives best here in direct sun in well-drained, sandy, or poorer loamy soil. It handles winter without problems, tolerating frosts down to minus twenty-three degrees. You will receive a grown seedling in a pot from us, which you just need to transplant straight into the flowerbed, where it will very soon form a compact, airy small shrub reaching a height of up to forty centimeters. It does not suffer from any diseases or pests, so even complete beginners can easily handle caring for it. Throughout late summer and into autumn, it blooms with a record number of tiny blue flowers that are so typical of the Blue Cloud variety. The whole plant emits a pleasant minty-spicy scent, and its flowers, which resemble thyme, act as a literal magnet for bees, bumblebees, and butterflies. It will look great among roses or in naturally designed steppe flowerbeds, where it naturally complements lower ornamental grasses. Additionally, both the blue flowers and green leaves are edible, so you can use them to garnish summer dishes. Lesser calamint is also excellently suited for cutting into smaller fresh bouquets, adding a fine structure to them in a vase.

Big betony, or also large-flowered betony, belongs to the perennials that will catch your eye at first sight with their robustness and elegance. It is native to the mountain meadows of the Caucasus and northern Iran, where it decorates sunny grassy slopes. In the garden, it creates dense ground-level clumps of deep green, heart-shaped leaves with distinct crinkling, which look very decorative throughout the season and reliably suppress weeds. From June to August, sturdy upright stems rise above this green carpet, topped with spike-like inflorescences in a rich purplish-violet shade. The flowers are literally a magnet for bees, bumblebees, and other pollinators, so you will bring a lot of buzzing life to the garden with it. This long-lived and reliable perennial is an ideal choice even for beginning growers because it does not suffer from diseases or pests and handles winter frosts excellently. It thrives best in full sun or partial shade in well-drained, loamy soil that retains some moisture. Thanks to its height of about 40 to 60 cm, it is perfectly suited for the edges of flower beds or as an undergrowth beneath taller shrubs and roses. Betony is also a rewarding plant for cutting into summer bouquets, where its striking color and sturdy stem will continue to bring joy for several days.

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.

Hellebores are evergreen perennials that form slowly expanding clumps of leathery, dark green leaves. The stems usually bear four to five flowers. They bloom very early, already at the end of winter and the beginning of spring. They are usable for a vase 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 upright. All parts of the plant are poisonous. The 'Double Ellen Yellow Spotted' hellebore has light yellow-green semi-double flowers with striking, dark burgundy spotting.

Hellebores are evergreen perennials that form slowly spreading clumps of leathery, dark green leaves. The stems usually carry four to five flowers. They bloom very early, as early as late winter and early spring. They can be used in a vase only after conspicuous seed pods form in the center of the flower and the flower matures. Picked earlier, they tend to wilt and the stems cannot hold the flower upright. All parts of the plant are poisonous. The semi-double flowers of the Double Ellen Picotee hellebore take on white and light pink hues with a purplish-burgundy edging.

Lavenders are a must for every sunny herb garden. We classify them as sub-shrubs, and they are valuable for gardens due to their winter habit. They add not only color and structure to flower beds but also an unmistakable fragrance. They will look good with lower-growing drought-loving grasses and perennials. Rosea blooms a sweet pink.

Macedonian scabious is an abundantly and long-blooming, undemanding perennial that will bring the untamed charm of summer meadows to the garden. Its wild form originates from the sun-drenched Balkans, where it naturally grows on sunny hillsides and in warm thickets. You will receive from us a mature seedling in a pot, which just needs to be transplanted into well-drained loamy or sandy soil in the sun or partial shade. Here it will quickly take root and form a vigorous clump. The Red Knight cultivar enchants with slender stems up to ninety centimeters tall, which all summer from June to September carry a flood of dark burgundy to deep wine-red flowers. These edible flowers act as a huge attraction for bees, bumblebees, and other insects. The plant is an ideal choice for beginners because it reliably resists frosts down to minus twenty-eight degrees and does not suffer from any pests or diseases. Although it belongs to short-lived perennials, in a suitable place it gladly self-seeds. It will fit perfectly into naturalistically designed plantings with ornamental grasses and is popularly used in sweeping meadow bouquets. We recommend cutting the flowers fully open; they will then stay beautifully fresh in a vase for several days.

Oriental poppy Royal Wedding is an unmissable perennial that brings true elegance to the spring garden. It originally comes from the harsher conditions of the Caucasus, Turkey, and Iran, where it grows on sunny rocky slopes and dry meadows. Because of this, it is exceptionally resilient, easily handling frosts down to minus forty degrees, and can do without complex care. You will receive a grown seedling in a pot from us, which you just need to transplant to a sunny location with well-drained loamy soil. The cultivar Royal Wedding will reward you in May and June with huge bowl-shaped flowers with pure white petals, which hide a distinct dark burgundy spot in their center. Moreover, these enchanting flowers reliably attract pollinators from far and wide. It is typical for Oriental poppies that their strikingly fuzzy green leaves die back soon after flowering. The plant takes a break over the warmest summer to gather strength, and a smaller portion of the leaves often sprouts again only at the end of summer. Therefore, it is ideal to plant the poppy in the flower bed in close proximity to other perennials that sprout slightly later and naturally fill the empty space left by the resting poppy. It avoids diseases and needs no support, reaching a height of around sixty to eighty centimeters. Just watch out for field voles, which might develop a taste for its fleshy roots. Otherwise, it is a long-lived plant that even a complete beginner can handle without worries. Given that the plant is poisonous, it is naturally not intended for consumption. The giant white flowers are also a great attraction for lovers of cut flowers, although they require a little trick. Similar to other poppies, the stems need to be harvested exactly at the moment when the buds begin to color and slightly crack. Right after cutting, we sear the ends of the stems with a flame for about twenty seconds to prevent sap leakage, and then we put them into cold water. Thanks to this procedure, they will stay beautiful for about four days in a vase and add amazing lightness to bouquets. Although these delicate flowers are not suitable for drying, they simply have no competition in fresh spring bouquets.

Catananche caerulea, commonly known as Cupid's dart, is a charming plant that will win you over with its lightness and airiness. Its scientific name refers to ancient Greek legends, according to which it was used in love potions; today, however, you will appreciate it more for its undemanding nature and unique appearance. It is excellently suited for natural-style gardens, gravel beds, and drought-tolerant plantings, where it beautifully complements other perennials or ornamental grasses. It grows up to ninety centimeters tall and, despite its height, needs no support. The flowers have a lavender-blue color with a darker center and toothed petals at the ends. They bloom gradually from June to September. Cupid's dart loves drought and heat, but on the contrary, it cannot stand winter dampness, which harms it more than frost. If you provide it with a well-drained spot, it will survive temperatures down to -18 °C. It is a rewarding plant for beginner growers and experienced florists alike. Fresh flowers last a week in a vase, but they will bring you the most joy when dried. Harvest them fully open in dry weather and hang them upside down. They will keep their shape and remind you of summer all winter long.

A perennial species of Verbena native to North America. In natural habitats, it grows in wet meadows, pastures, and along water bodies. It is a great attractant for bees and butterflies. Although not very long-lived, it can maintain itself by self-seeding in good conditions. It blooms gradually over a long period with many tiny flowers. The spent flower heads are also effective, both in beds and bouquets. The cultivar Pink Spires stands out with a sturdy upright habit and flowers in a soft pink color.

Anemones come from the same family as buttercups. With their elegant flowers on long, slender stems, they can brighten up and illuminate late summer and autumn flower beds. They stand out against a darker background of shrub groups and will also be grateful for their partial shade. The Czech Perennials Association chose autumn anemones as the perennial of the 2022 season. They last 7 days in a vase. Anemone Praecox is a compactly growing cultivar with a rich set of flowers. Due to its lower stature, it is perfectly suitable even for smaller gardens and for growing in containers. A big plus is the early flowering time, and the slightly darker coloring of the underside of the petals adds an interesting touch.

Rudbeckia Goldsturm is a reliable and long-lived perennial that will bring the warm tones of late summer and autumn into your garden. It originally comes from the open plains and prairies of North America, so it delights most in sunny locations with common garden soil, whether it is loamy, humus-rich, or clayey. You will receive from us an already grown seedling in a pot, which you just need to transplant to the chosen spot in the flower bed. It is a completely undemanding plant, does not suffer from diseases or pests, and easily survives severe frosts. The Goldsturm cultivar grows to a height of about seventy centimeters and does not need support. From August to October, it produces a flood of golden-yellow flowers with distinctly dark centers. These edible flowers attract pollinators and fit perfectly into both prairie and rustic plantings. Rudbeckia is also great for cutting, lasting around ten days in a vase. In addition, the distinctive dark centers can be easily dried. If you leave them in the flower bed over the winter, they will provide a wonderful spectacle.

Devil's-bit scabious is a beautiful and delicate perennial, whose name is accompanied by a very strange legend. According to it, the devil, in anger over the protective power of this herb, bit off its rhizome. In the wild, it grows most often in damp meadows and pastures, but in the garden, it will thrive perfectly in a sunny spot with well-draining soil. You will receive a grown seedling in a pot from us, which you can simply transplant straight into the chosen flowerbed. It is an ideal plant for beginners, reliably withstanding frosts and not suffering from any pests or diseases. It grows to a height of thirty to eighty centimeters and from July to September forms magical spherical flowers of a blue-purple color. These act as a literal magnet for bees, hoverflies, and rare butterfly species, providing them with a rich pasture. In the garden, the devil's-bit scabious stands out perfectly in naturalistic plantings, where you will appreciate it alongside loose ornamental grasses. The sturdy stems with flowers can also be successfully used for cutting into summer bouquets, where they create a soft and playful structure, or you can dry them for winter decorations.

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. Double Ellen White is an almost pure white, double-flowered hellebore. The petals are slightly wavy and the bottom row of petals is lightly tinged with green.

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. The Cassis cultivar has flowers colored in shades from cherry-red to burgundy.

Rudbeckia Henry Eilers is an extraordinary perennial that will bring the magic of late summer and the wild North American prairies into the garden. As a native species, it grows wild on sunny plains, so even here it thrives best in full sun in loamy, clayey, and well-drained soil. You will receive a grown seedling in a pot from us, which you simply transplant straight into the flower bed. It is a very reliable and long-lived plant that does not suffer from diseases or pests and easily handles harsh frosts down to minus twenty-eight degrees. Even complete beginners can playfully manage caring for it. The Henry Eilers cultivar, named after its discoverer, catches the eye at first glance. Bright yellow petals, which are unconventionally rolled into narrow tubes, grow out of prominent brown centers. The flowers on sturdy stems grow over one meter tall and do not need any support. In the garden, this rudbeckia is perfectly suited for prairie plantings alongside ornamental grasses or in country gardens, where its flowers attract bees and butterflies. Florists love using it for cutting. We cut the stems for a vase as soon as the flowers open, and they will bring you joy for seven to ten days. The faded dark cones look great in dry arrangements, and if you leave them in the flower bed, they will create a beautiful spectacle during the winter, especially when covered in frost.

Betony Superba, also known as Stachys, is a perennial you will fall in love with for its low maintenance and striking inflorescences. It originally comes from the mountain meadows of the Caucasus, where it grows on sunny slopes, and thanks to this, it is completely frost-resistant and hardy here. It forms dense carpets of deep green, wrinkled leaves, above which sturdy stems with large, purplish-pink flowers stand tall in June and July. These are literally a magnet for bees, bumblebees, and butterflies, providing them with a rich source of nectar. In the garden, it is perfectly suited for mixed perennial beds or as an underplanting beneath taller shrubs, where it reliably suppresses weeds in both sun and partial shade. If you like creating bouquets, betony will also please you as a cut flower; it will last to make a show in a vase for quite a long time. It is a long-lived plant that will last in one place for many years without the need for frequent transplanting or complex care.

A perennial originally from South America, growing in mountain meadows at altitudes up to 2500 meters. It is evergreen, with leaves similar to those of an iris, and forms rhizomes. The flowers are about 1 cm wide, pale yellow with a golden center.

Stokesia originates from the southeastern part of North America, where it naturally grows in light pine forests on well-drained soils. In our conditions, it will thrive in a sunny, warm place in the company of drought-loving perennials. Growing in containers, which we can better protect from excessive moisture in winter, could also be an advantage. The large striking flowers resemble cornflowers and are suitable for cutting. 'Omega Skyrocket' comes from the botanical garden in Atlanta; it has light blue flowers and is slightly taller.

Stokesia originates from the southeastern part of North America, where it naturally grows in light pine forests on well-drained soils. In our conditions, it will thrive in a sunny, warm place in the company of drought-loving perennials. Growing in containers, which we can better protect from excessive moisture in winter, could also be an advantage. The large striking flowers resemble cornflowers and are suitable for cutting. 'Träumerei' has creamy white flowers with a soft pink tinge.

A clump-forming species of hardy geranium. The original species is a native perennial with striking blue flowers. The garden cultivar Midnight Reiter also meets this description, but the leaves have an unusual dark wine-purple color.

The long-lived perennial skullcap represents a great choice for greening up sunny and drier parts of the garden. Representatives of the Scutellaria genus naturally grow on sun-drenched plains with poorer, well-drained soil, from where they acquired their absolute undemanding nature and frost resistance. The 'Bumblebee Blues' variety is characterized by extremely dense growth. Already at the beginning of summer, it starts forming an unmissable flood of blue-purple flowers that bring joy until September. Skullcap does not require tying up, knows no diseases, and will reliably cozy up the edges of drought-tolerant flower beds or path borders. Try planting seven to nine plants per square meter, and in no time they will beautifully connect. For the entire season, the plant will act as a huge attraction for pollinators, so it will be beautifully alive in your flower bed. Moreover, you can taste the pure blue-purple flowers without any worries.

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.

Oxford Geranium is a vigorously growing perennial suitable for creating dense covers. It is an ideal plant for naturalistic gardens. It tolerates partial shade between trees and shrubs well. The cultivar Claridge Druce is suitable for use in larger areas due to its energetic growth. The flowers are pink with delicate purple veins.