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Buddleja loricata - MOUNTAIN SAGEWOOD |
$12 |
Beautiful and hardy butterfly bush from South Africa! This species has cool crinkly green or grey-green leaves with white undersides and stems, and (like many Buddlejas) tends to be semi-deciduous. Cream flowers appearing in late summer may be followed by fluffy seed heads if warmth is sufficient - however we seriously doubt this will be invasive in our climate like the Asian B. davidii. In any case the flowers are not really the main feature; this plant has great foliage color all the time. Though it can get 12' tall in the wild, it is more like 4 - 6' tall and wide in gardens. It is well suited to a sunny position in the garden and grows easily on moderately dry to moist soil. Hardy to around 10°F.
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Buddleja salviifolia - SAGEWOOD |
$14 |
This large growing and beautiful butterfly bush often achieves tree-like stature, to 10 - 15' (20' in the wild!). Its fragrant flowers may be cream or pale purple, and are very showy, appearing in late summer. This makes it a great wildlife plant for pollinators; and, according to one source, it is possible to make an herbal tea from the (semi-deciduous) sage-like leaves. Unlike most Buddlejas, this one does not seem to appreciate being cut back hard to rejuvenate it. Give it room! Hardy to 5 - 10°F.
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Helichrysum splendidum
New Fall 2011! |
$10 |
This evergreen shrub native over a large area of eastern South Africa, including high and cold montane regions, is useful for its dazzling silver-white coloration. With softly downy leaves and vigorous growth, it fits right in either in a cactus and succulent bed, a sunny border, or in a container. Mature plants may produce yellow flowers. It is easily grown on any average to well-drained soil in the Pacific Northwest, preferring a sunny position, and can certainly handle at least 15°F and probably lower, though we don't know yet just how low.
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Kniphofia linearifolia |
$8 |
A nice addition to the palette of pokers, forming a clump with mid-green leaves about 1" wide. Showy orange flowers in round heads come up to about 3'. In my garden it flowers in late July or August. This species is moderately drought tolerant. You might lose the foliage below 20°F but it's root hardy to at least 0°F.
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Melianthus major - HONEYBUSH |
$9 |
This impressive South African shrub is best known for its large, soft, pinnately compound, serrated, blue or greenish leaves; which on the second year's growth produces long, terminal upright flower stalks. This plant has gained a considerable following in the past few years, but there is some confusion surrounding it. To start with, some people think it smells like peanut butter, but I think of the fragrance as distinct and difficult to categorize. There has also been debate about its true hardiness and how to grow it. It thrives in cool weather because in the wild it grows through the winter, going dormant in the summer. However, it has to reverse its growth pattern in our climate, meaning that it will grow best in a cool, moist, sunny or partly shaded position with lots of summer water and rich soil in the Northwest. It is best suited to sheltered gardens where it can reach a large size before severe cold comes along: unchecked by frost, it may grow to 20' or larger, with greater spread! Below about 25°F it may be heavily damaged, and though it always regrows the following season. It can reach an impressive size quickly and can be used as an annual border plant. It has multiple uses in cultivation: if you can grow Echium pininana, try it as a shrub; if not, consider it a large-growing perennial.
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