Catmint Bramdean

Catmints are ideal companions for roses, suitable for naturalistic gardens, and lower-growing species fit well in window boxes and pots. Some of them are an irresistible attraction for cats, caused by the hallucinogen nepetalactone. This should be contained in the highest degree in the species Nepeta cataria. Conversely, lemon-scented catmints reportedly do not attract cats. The botanical name Nepeta likely comes from the ancient Etruscan city of Nepet - Nepi in the territory of today's Italian province of Viterbo, where the plant was once cultivated. Nepeta racemosa naturally grows on dry meadows and rocky, stony slopes from the Caucasus to Central Asia. It has aromatic grey-green leaves and forms a tufted semi-circular small bush. Amelia blooms with pale pink florets with a darker purple-colored calyx.

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

Feather grass flowers capture attention in beds and bouquets with their lightness and delicacy. All feather grasses love full sun and dry, stony, well-drained soil. To look most natural in beds, it is good to plant them in loose groups of several pieces together with other drought-loving perennials and bulbs. Only then do their stems and inflorescences, set in motion by the slightest breath of wind, truly stand out. Stipa 'Ponny Tails' is a species native to the steppes of Mexico, Texas, and Patagonia. Airy, dense clumps of hair-like delicate leaves resemble horsehair. The leaves are green, turning up to straw-colored towards the flowers. In a suitable location, it also self-seeds.

Gaura 'Graceful White' resembles a flock of tiny white butterflies that have just settled on your flower bed. This charming clump-forming perennial has its origins in the hot prairies of Texas and Louisiana, thanks to which it loves full sun and well-drained, even poorer sandy soil. The 'Graceful White' cultivar is specific for its compact and lower growth of around 30 to 40 centimeters, making it an ideal plant for the edges of flower beds or for pots on terraces. Although it often behaves as a short-lived perennial in our climatic conditions, in a suitable location it gladly self-seeds and thus maintains itself in the garden for many years. Its delicate white flowers on thin stems bloom tirelessly from July to October and give the plantings an unrepeatable lightness. The plant is literally a magnet for bees and other pollinators. Gaura is also excellent for cutting into summer bouquets, to which it will add an airy and romantic element.

Perovskia are sparsely branched subshrubs, originating from areas ranging from Afghanistan to Tibet. They grow in open, sunny, rocky, and stony habitats. Their white-felted shoots and grayish aromatic leaves are striking. They fit well in sunny flower beds with other drought-loving perennials, where they create interesting structures even in the winter months. Little Spire is a smaller cultivar suitable even for pots with a soil volume of 7 liters or more.

Showy stonecrop is one of the longest-living and hardiest perennials you can treat your garden to. It originally comes from the Far East, where it colonizes sunny and dry slopes. For successful cultivation, you simply need to find it a spot in direct sun with well-drained sandy soil. The 'Matrona' cultivar catches the eye at first glance with its fleshy, grayish-green leaves with a burgundy tinge and sturdy stems that do not break and need no support. We will deliver a mature potted seedling that you can easily transplant straight into the flowerbed after unpacking. We recommend planting five to seven plants per square meter; they will soon join into a solid stand around seventy centimeters tall. From August to October, it will then delight you with rich, flat inflorescences in an old rose color. It is an ideal choice for those looking for beauty without unnecessary effort. This stonecrop easily survives harsh winters with frosts dropping to minus twenty-eight degrees, and pests and diseases avoid it. The 'Matrona' variety differs from others in that it will reliably grow even in more nutritious soil, provided it is not waterlogged. In perennial compositions, it creates a beautiful contrast next to delicate ornamental grasses and other autumn flowers. During sunny days, bees, butterflies, and other pollinators constantly take turns over its flowers. You can boldly use the sturdy stems with pink umbels for cutting. They stay fresh in a vase for quite a long time and will bring a touch of the slowly ending summer into your home. It might surprise you that the leaves of this stonecrop are edible and can be used to garnish dishes. If you decide not to cut the plant back in the autumn, you will get a perfect structure in the flowerbed that will last all winter. Especially when the old flowers are covered in frost, they provide a breathtaking spectacle right until the spring months.

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.

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.

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.

This species of sage originally comes 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, due to the identical flowering time, it is planted as a companion to roses. However, it will look just as good in mixed drought-loving steppe plantings with grasses. It lasts 7 days in a vase. The cultivar Caradonna stands out with a long flowering period and dark, almost black-purple stems with tiny purple flowers and dark purple bracts. If we cut it back after flowering, it will bloom again in late August and September.

A very hardy and long-lived perennial with an almost year-round effect. It forms upright clumps, and the flowers attract bees and butterflies. The white-flowered cultivar Iceberg grows into dense lower clumps.

Gaura is a charming clumping perennial whose original homeland is the sunny plains of Texas and Louisiana. In the garden, it will appreciate exactly the conditions it is used to from nature, i.e., full sun and well-draining, even poorer and sandy soil. From the seedling you receive, a sturdy clump will grow, reaching a height of around eighty centimeters. It is one of the very low-maintenance plants for beginners, completely avoiding diseases and pests. Although it behaves more like a short-lived perennial here, it readily self-seeds in a suitable location. The tiny flowers, colored in pure white and light pink shades, resemble little butterflies and bloom tirelessly from June until October. It gives flowerbeds an extraordinary lightness and airiness, making it beautiful to combine with ornamental grasses. During the long months of flowering, gaura is constantly surrounded by bees, for which it represents a rich source of food. The flowers are excellent for cutting into summer bouquets. We harvest the stems for vases as soon as the first two to three flowers on the stem open. Conversely, the plant is not suitable for drying. The Rosy Jane variety catches the eye with pure white petals with a distinct raspberry border.

A valuable garden and medicinal perennial, originally from North America. It blooms in summer with dark purple-pink flowers. The spiky flower discs are an irresistible lure for butterflies. Lasts 7–10 days in a vase. After plucking the petals, the stems with the central discs 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 pale and droop downwards.

Phlomis tuberosa, known in Czech as tuberous Jerusalem sage, brings an unmistakable silhouette to perennial plantings. This robust plant, originally from the European steppes, is perfectly suited for lovers of natural gardens looking for something novel. Its dark purple stems form an interesting contrast to the light pinkish-lilac flowers, which are arranged in regular whorls one above the other. This tiered structure appears very decorative and looks interesting in the bed, especially in combination with finer plants. For florists, Phlomis is a literal treasure. You can cut it for fresh summer bouquets, but its true moment comes when dried. The faded seed pods hold their shape perfectly and will continue to look spectacular in a vase all winter. If you leave it in the bed, it will provide a beautiful spectacle even in the months when the garden is sleeping. It is a completely undemanding and frost-resistant perennial that loves the sun and well-drained soil. In nature here, it belongs to the critically endangered species, so growing it in the garden is also a small contribution to the protection of biodiversity.

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.

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. It is traditionally planted as a companion to roses due to the matching flowering time. However, it looks equally good in mixed drought-tolerant steppe plantings with grasses. It is an excellent food source for bees. Lasts 7 days in a vase. Amethyst is an elegant variety with long stems and a pink flower color that is unusual for sages.

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.

Calamint 'Menthe' is an undemanding perennial that reliably perfumes any sunny garden. Its original homeland is bright deciduous forests and bushy hillsides, which is why it thrives best here in direct sun in well-drained or poorer loamy soil. It handles winter without problems and tolerates severe frosts. You will receive a grown seedling in a pot from us, which you just need to transplant into a bed, where it will soon form a compact bush up to forty centimeters. It does not suffer from diseases or pests, so even beginners can easily manage its care. Until autumn, it blooms with a multitude of tiny white flowers with a pleasant minty-spicy scent that attract bees and butterflies. It looks good among roses as well as in natural-style steppe beds with lower grasses. It is also fully edible; the flowers and green leaves will beautifully decorate summer dishes. It is perfectly suited for cutting into smaller fresh bouquets, to which it adds a delicate structure in the vase.

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.

A unique cultivar of hardy geranium. An exceptionally long flowering period from May to November. The flowers are violet-blue. Suitable for beds and containers. If growth becomes too vigorous, it can be cut back; it will soon regrow and bloom profusely again. It is frost-hardy, yet it is good to protect it in winter with a light covering of brushwood.

The round-headed garlic draws attention with its striking flowers, which form unmistakable dark purple and burgundy dots. It is a summer-blooming variety that reaches a height of about seventy to one hundred centimeters. Its egg-shaped inflorescences, three to five centimeters in size, are densely packed and appear from June to August. Its leaves resemble chives in shape, but it is typical for summer garlic that they begin to naturally yellow and wither during the blooming period. The deep color of the flowers stands out perfectly in mixed prairie plantings alongside delicate ornamental grasses. Furthermore, the dense inflorescences act as a magnet for bees, bumblebees, and butterflies. Anyone who creates home arrangements will love this plant. The firm, long stems are excellent for cutting into fresh bouquets, and the heads retain their shape and color after drying for use in dried arrangements. The entire plant is fully edible and completely resistant to common diseases.

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.

Eryngium yuccifolium catches the eye at first glance with its exotic appearance, which resembles a desert yucca more than a classic perennial. It originates from the steppe regions and light forests of the eastern USA, where it has learned to manage water excellently. Thanks to this, it is an ideal choice for sunny and dry locations with well-drained, even poorer sandy soil. It forms a basal rosette of stiff, blue-green to gray-green leaves, from which tall stems topped with spherical inflorescences grow in summer. The flowers are up to 2.5 cm in diameter and their color transitions from silvery white to greenish. The plant is very hardy and does not suffer from pests or diseases. Its flowers are literally a magnet for pollinators, especially bees and butterflies, who find plenty of food on them. In the garden, it acts as a striking structural element that, thanks to its evergreen leaves and sturdy stems, decorates the bed even in the winter months. For florists, this eryngium is a valuable material. The sturdy stems are easy to arrange, and the spherical flowers look great in fresh summer bouquets as well as in dried decorations, where they hold their shape for a long time.

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.

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.

Sea holly Silver Salentino stands out with the silvery metallic color of its flowers and bracts, which looks very modern and novel in flower beds. This perennial will find its use mainly in naturally styled steppe and gravel beds, where it will appreciate full sun and well-drained, even poorer sandy soil. It is an undemanding plant that even beginners can handle; it does not need support and tolerates drought excellently. The flowers are literally a magnet for bees, bumblebees, and butterflies, so you will bring a lot of life to the garden with it. Floristically, sea holly is very valuable because its sturdy stems with striking bracts last a long time in a vase and are also perfectly suited for drying into winter decorations. An interesting historical fact is that the roots of some species used to be eaten candied as sweets in England and France. In folk medicine, it was used as an aphrodisiac, which is where its popular name "male fidelity" comes from.

Paniculate baby's breath is originally a plant from the sandy steppes and slopes of southern Europe and central Asia, which has been grown in botanical gardens since the 18th century. Since the mid-19th century, it has also become naturalized in private gardens and became a classic cut perennial. In the garden, it applies excellently in modern-style steppe beds with grasses and drought-tolerant perennials, to which it adds airiness and lightness. The 'Flamingo' cultivar boasts a flood of tiny double flowers in a tender pink color, which last on the plant from July to September. The plant requires full sun and very well-drained, ideally sandy soil, because its deep taproots cannot stand winter dampness. Thanks to them, however, it resists drought excellently and is fully frost-resistant. For florists, baby's breath is indispensable, whether for fresh summer bouquets or for drying, as it retains its shape and color even after drying.

Most hybrids available here come from plants originating in North America and Mexico. It is characterized by a delicate overall appearance. An elegant plant with small fragrant leaves, it blooms continuously during the summer with plenty of tiny florets and attracts butterflies and bees.

Lavender is a necessity for every sunny herb garden. We classify them as subshrubs, 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 scent. They will look good with lower drought-loving grasses and perennials. A compact cultivar with a dark flower.

Panicle hydrangeas are beautiful shrubs native to China and Japan, where their bark was used, among other things, to make paper. We grow them for their impressive conical inflorescences. They are undemanding and abundantly blooming plants suitable for planting in flower beds and larger containers. Limelight has inflorescences up to 30 cm large. The color changes from greenish-white through white to bright pink.