Wall Germander

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 spot and in the company of drought-loving perennials. Growing in containers could also be an advantage, as we can better protect them from excessive moisture in winter. The large, striking flowers resemble cornflowers and are suitable for cutting. This blue-flowered cultivar is named after its discoverer.

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.

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. The cultivar Ostfriesland blooms with a strikingly dark violet-blue color.

Sea holly is an indispensable perennial for all lovers of naturally styled gardens. It earned its folk name - male fidelity - in times when it was used in herbal medicine as an aphrodisiac, and its roots were even candied as sweets in France and England. Today, however, you will appreciate it mainly for its low maintenance and unique appearance. Its home is on sunny hillsides and dry meadows, so even in our gardens, it will welcome well-drained, even poorer sandy soil and full sun. It produces upright, sturdy stems topped with blue-purple flowers with prickly bracts, which bring interesting structure and a silvery touch to the flowerbeds. It is literally a magnetic plant for bees, bumblebees, and butterflies, who find a rich food source on it. Floristically, it is extremely valuable, because its flowers are perfectly suited for cutting as well as drying for winter decorations. If you decide not to harvest it, feel free to leave it in the flowerbed all winter. Its silhouette covered in hoarfrost creates a wonderful winter effect. Although it is a short-lived perennial, in a suitable location it reliably self-seeds, so you will enjoy its beauty for many years.

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, 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. Before that, 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 Flash has semi-double, dark maroon flowers with white stamens. As they finish blooming, they fade and a more distinct color borders the edges of the petals.

Delicate decorative, long-lived shade-loving perennials with pinnate leaves and magnificent feathery inflorescences. They originate primarily from East Asia, but also from eastern North America. They look best in large-scale plantings. Due to relatively late sprouting, it is good to combine them with early-flowering bulbs. They last 4–10 days in a vase. Harvest as soon as half of the inflorescence is in bloom. They are very sensitive to ethylene released from ripening fruit. Fanal has strikingly garnet-red flowers, and the sprouting leaves are also colored red; for the rest of the season, they have a dark green color.

Tickseed 'Christchurch' is one of the longest-blooming perennials you can plant in a sunny spot. Its original home is the vast North American prairies and edges of bright forests. Here, it will appreciate similar conditions, meaning plenty of sunlight and ordinary, well-drained loamy soil. Soon after planting, the grown seedling will form a dense and neat clump, from which dozens of sturdy stems will begin to rise as early as the beginning of summer. Thanks to its immense vitality and frost resistance, it is a reliable plant that even less experienced growers will have success with. It is not troubled by pests and is generally very resilient. The bright yellow flowers of the 'Christchurch' variety light up every corner of the garden and gradually open from June to the end of September. This persistent blooming marathon is a huge attraction for pollinators, making the beds come alive with the presence of bees and butterflies. The strong stems and bold colors make this tickseed perfect material for creating summer bouquets. You can also use the faded flower heads in dry autumn arrangements.

Clematis 'Mrs R. Brydon' is an unusual and very resilient perennial that brings softness and color to the garden just as summer transitions into autumn. The original species comes from the shrubby and forest edges of East Asia, which is why a location in the sun or partial shade suits it well here too. It will thrive in loamy and humus-rich soil with regular watering. An interesting feature of this clematis is its variable growth. If you provide it with support in the form of a fence or trellis, it will willingly climb up to a height of two and a half meters. However, if you leave it to grow freely without support, it grows like a carpet and forms a dense shrub. You will receive a grown seedling in a pot from us, which you can simply transplant straight into the garden. Care is easy, it doesn't suffer from diseases or pests, and even beginners can easily manage it. During August and September, it gets covered in an abundance of flowers in a gorgeous lavender-blue shade, which react to the ambient temperature and can interestingly fade or darken. The flowers reliably attract bees and are suitable for cutting into bouquets. When handling, remember that the plant is poisonous.

Lobelia Queen Victoria is an unmissable perennial for lovers of vibrant colors and striking contrasts. Its original homeland is the moister regions of North and Central America, so in your garden as well, it will appreciate more abundant watering and humous, well-drained loamy soil. If you provide it with a sunny to semi-shady location, it will reward you with radiant carmine-red flowers from August to October. These create a perfect spectacle in combination with dark burgundy to bronze leaves and sturdy stems that reach a height of just under one meter. You will receive a beautifully grown seedling in a pot from us, which you just need to transplant directly into the flowerbed. Here it perfectly complements plants with similar moisture requirements. The flowers act as a reliable magnet for bees and other pollinators, and you can also cut them for a vase, where they will liven up your interior. Growing this short-lived perennial requires a little more attention, especially when it comes to protection from slugs, which like to feast on it. Before winter, it is also good to keep in mind that its frost resistance reaches minus fifteen degrees, and to provide it with suitable protection. Also remember that all parts of the lobelia are poisonous, so it is advisable to consider the planting location with regard to pets.

Delicate, decorative, long-lived shade-loving perennials with pinnate leaves and magnificent feathery inflorescences. They originate primarily from East Asia, but also from eastern North America. They look best in mass plantings. Due to relatively late sprouting, it is good to combine them with early-flowering bulbs. Lasts 4–10 days in a vase. Harvest as soon as half of the inflorescence is in bloom. They are very sensitive to ethylene released from ripening fruit. Peach Blossom has soft pink flowers.

Russian sage reliably brings a touch of sunny steppes into the garden and places almost no demands on care. These sparsely branched subshrubs originally come from harsh, rocky areas from Afghanistan to Tibet, where they grow on open sun-drenched plains. Thanks to its origin, it delights in full sun and poor, well-drained sandy soil with minimal moisture. You will receive from us a well-rooted seedling in a pot, which just needs to be transplanted straight to the chosen spot in the flower bed. It does not need support, is avoided by common pests and diseases, and will survive frosts down to minus twenty-eight degrees. It grows up to one hundred and twenty centimeters and forms striking white felted shoots with silvery grey aromatic leaves. From July to October, it blooms with tiny blue-purple flowers that act as a lure for bees and butterflies and are even edible. Russian sage stands out next to drought-tolerant perennials. The flowers are suitable for cutting and drying for winter arrangements. Moreover, the silvery stems will ensure a beautiful winter effect in the flower bed.

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.

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. Andrea Atkinson is a tender cultivar of autumn anemone with white petals.

Pincushion flower 'Pink Mist' brings lightness and delicate beauty to the garden. The original species grows on dry and sunny meadows or rocky slopes, so it will also appreciate full sun and well-drained loamy soil at your place. Compared to the Caucasian pincushion flowers, it is smaller, growing only to thirty to forty centimeters. However, it stands out with its endurance, as it blooms almost continuously from June to October, especially when you continuously remove the faded inflorescences. The light pink to lilac flowers are eagerly visited by bees and butterflies. In a flower bed, it looks great alongside shorter grasses and other sun-loving perennials. It is a short-lived plant, which, however, readily self-seeds in the right place. The flowers on sturdy stems are excellent for cutting into fresh summer bouquets, but they are not very suitable for drying. The petals are also edible, and you can use them to decorate desserts, for example. You will receive a strong seedling in a pot from us, which you simply need to transplant to a permanent location, where it will easily handle even stronger frosts.

Bugbane 'Pink Spike' is a long-lived perennial that will bring elegance and a delicate fragrance to the shady corners of the garden. It originally comes from the moist forests of East Asia, so it thrives best in partial shade or shade here. For its satisfaction, it needs humous and well-drained soil that retains enough moisture. Especially in summer, it will appreciate regular watering. You will receive a grown seedling in a pot from us, which just needs to be transplanted straight into the flower bed. There it will soon form a massive clump reaching a height of up to one hundred and eighty centimeters. Despite this height, it has sturdy stems and does not need any support. The 'Pink Spike' cultivar stands out primarily for its deeply lobed leaves, which play with dark shades of burgundy, purple, and bronze. While most of the garden slowly loses its breath at the end of summer, bugbane is just showing its best from August to October. Towering above the dark leaves are long inflorescences composed of tiny white and light pink flowers. These brush-like inflorescences also smell pleasant and act as a reliable magnet for bees and other pollinators. It is a completely undemanding plant that easily handles even bitter frosts dropping to minus thirty-four degrees. Common diseases naturally avoid it and it does not suffer from pests. However, the entire plant is poisonous, which must be kept in mind when choosing a location. After blooming, bugbane does not wilt out of sight but retains its interesting structure. If you leave the dried stems on the flower bed, they will provide a beautiful spectacle even during the winter months under a layer of snow. In garden composition, bugbane acts as a dominant feature of shady parts. It is mostly planted at one to three plants per square meter, roughly sixty to eighty centimeters apart. The long and straight inflorescences can be very well used for cutting into fresh bouquets. Conversely, it is not suitable for drying into permanent decorations because the flowers lose their shape. As a long-lived perennial, 'Pink Spike' will settle permanently in the right place and bring you joy for many years without spreading by self-seeding to the surroundings.

Veronicastrum is a native perennial of the eastern part of North America, where it grows in damp meadows and in bright forests. Its flowers, arranged in upright branched spikes, are impressive. They are a great attraction for insects and butterflies. After flowering, the plants are decorated long into winter by durable seed heads. These impressive perennials last about 7 days in a vase. Album is more compact than the original wild species. It blooms with elegant pure white flowers with apricot-colored stamens. The buds are white-green.

Woodland sage 'Mainacht' is an aromatic perennial originating from the sunny steppes and dry meadows of Central and Eastern Europe. It is a very resilient and undemanding plant that thrives best here in full sun in well-drained and poorer soil. From the supplied grown seedling, a sturdy clump reaching a height of about half a meter will quickly grow. In flower beds, it stands out best when planted in larger groups, for example as a traditional companion to roses or in mixed drought-tolerant plantings with ornamental grasses. The 'Mainacht' cultivar is popular for its striking dark violet-blue flowers, which appear as early as May and June. If you cut it back after the first bloom, it will willingly bloom again at the end of August. During flowering, the sage is literally a magnet for bees and butterflies. It is an ideal choice for beginners, needs no support, and does not suffer from diseases. It is perfectly suited for cutting into fresh bouquets, where its stems stay fresh for approximately seven days. A surprising bonus is that the fragrant flowers are edible.

This species of sage originates from the steppe regions of Central and Eastern Europe. It forms profusely flowering small clumps with straight, upright stems. In flower 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 excellent pasture for bees. It lasts 7 days in a vase. 'Schwellenburg' is a very special variety with a richly branched inflorescence. The little flowers have purple bracts and a wine-colored calyx.

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.

The inconspicuous yet charming rose campion 'Alba' will bring softness and lightness to your plantings. In the wild, it grows on sunny and rocky hillsides, which is why it will appreciate full sun and well-drained, rather poorer soil in your garden. It doesn't mind drought, withstands severe frosts, and is avoided by diseases and pests, making it an ideal choice for beginners. This short-lived perennial grows to a height of around seventy centimeters and has silver, softly felted stems and leaves. The 'Alba' variety is an elegant pure white variant that blooms for a very long time throughout the whole summer. A new flower opens every day to replace yesterday's, so the plant always looks full of life. Moreover, the flowers reliably attract pollinators. It applies excellently in natural and gravel beds, where it needs no support, and thanks to self-seeding, it will last in its spot for many years. The delicate stems with flowers are suitable for cutting and beautifully complement fresh bouquets in a vase, but they are not used for drying in dried arrangements.

Fountain grasses originate from East Asia, where they grow in meadows and light forests. They form semi-spherical clumps of narrow leaves which, like the flowers, color up in autumn. They are suitable for vases and for drying. The cultivar Hameln Gold turns golden yellow in autumn.

Heidezwerg purple moor grass is a highly adaptable grass that naturally grows in wet pastures, fens, and moorlands. Thanks to its origins, it loves slightly acidic and moister soils, but it can also handle a sunny spot provided it has enough moisture. It is planted in gardens primarily for its exceptional autumn display, when the clumps of leaves turn into vibrant golden to orange tones that literally shine on dull days. The Heidezwerg cultivar grows to a compact height and is cultivated for its dark purple to purplish inflorescences on upright stalks. These appear from August to October, bringing an interesting vertical structure to the flower beds. The plant looks beautiful in winter too, when adorned with frost, which is why it should not be cut back until spring. The inflorescences are excellent for cutting for a vase or drying for arrangements, where they last a very long time.

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.

Santolina chamaecyparissus is a grey-leaved cushion-forming subshrub originating from rocky and stony areas of the Mediterranean. This predetermines its use in the garden. The whole plant is aromatic and very attractive in appearance. It will look good in gravel beds with aromatic herbs and drought-loving species of perennials and grasses.

Lemon Queen is a perennial and fully frost-hardy Sunflower cultivar. It grows vigorously but not invasively. It creates firm dense clumps. It blooms from July with pastel sulphur-yellow flowers, which usually have a diameter of 5-8 cm. It looks good in cottage gardens as well as in prairie beds with grasses. Due to its long flowering time, it is very significant for pollinators. It lasts up to 10 days in a vase.

Solidaster 'Lemore' is a unique perennial that originated from an interesting cross between goldenrods and asters. Its parent species come from sunny meadows, which is why it will do best in your garden in full sun in well-drained, sandy, or loamy soil. You will receive a grown seedling in a pot from us, which you just need to transplant straight into the flower bed. Here, it will soon form clumps about seventy centimeters high, which do not need support and easily survive severe frosts. Solidaster does not suffer from diseases or pests, making cultivation easy even for beginners. From July to September, flowers appear that make the 'Lemore' variety very attractive. They bloom in a bright yellow color and gradually change through cream to milky white. The florets are slightly larger than those of goldenrod, attract bees and butterflies, and are even surprisingly edible. The plant is perfectly suited for cutting into summer arrangements; it will last beautifully in a vase for a full ten days.

Large double flowers are missing at the turn of spring and summer. The last Ranunculus finish blooming and there is plenty of time before the first Dahlias arrive. On our farm, it was always a struggle to find beautiful, full, and large flowers for bouquets at that time. But we succeeded! We filled the void with China asters and peony-flowered Poppies. These Poppies reliably replace peonies, Ranunculus, and Dahlias. Just keep in mind that they don't last long and need a little care to last in a bouquet. We harvest when the bud cracks, sear the ends of the stems in water for a few seconds, and let them finish opening in the vase. Peony Poppy Salmon is a warm pink color.

Large, double blooms are scarce at the turn of spring and summer. The last ranunculus have finished blooming, and there is still a long wait before the first Dahlias arrive. On our farm, it was always a struggle to find beautiful, large, double flowers for bouquets during this time. But we succeeded! We filled the gap with China asters and peony poppies. These poppies reliably replace peonies, ranunculus, and Dahlias. Just keep in mind that they don't flower for long and need a little care to last in a bouquet. Harvest when the bud has cracked, scald the stem ends in water for a few seconds, and let them finish blooming in the vase. The peony Poppy Salmon comes in a warm pink color.

For drying, we harvest matured poppy heads, roughly from mid-July. Just hang them upside down in a dry and ventilated place, out of direct sunlight.