The brilliant blue blooms of campanula are a must for every perennial border. This variety is especially nice because it's a prolific bloomer. The flowers are quite beautiful: they're 1-inch wide and upward-facing, making them a showy edging plant. Once in bloom, remove faded bellflowers to promote additional flowering. You should divide this perennial every other year.
This is truly a 'Garden Worthy' species. It will grow 5-6 feet tall, but is a slow grower, so is an excellent choice for height in most gardens as it will not overtake the bed. The dark purple Ferny Foliage is so attractive you could grow this plant even if it didn't flower! A huge bonus of the flowers are their sweet but not overpowering fragrance. They bloom late in the summer and into the fall when there are not as many flowers. Germination can be difficult, so best to use fresh seed, and perhaps try chemical aids such as Gibberellic Acid-3 (GA-3).
Package of 25+ seeds $3.00US
Climbing vine that grows well on a trellis or fence. Blossoms are very fragrant and flowers come in a wide range of colors. Prune lightly in spring by cutting out weak growth, but save as much old growth as possible. For a spectacular summer display, cut the entire plant back to 2-4 feet in the spring. You will sacrifice your spring blooms by using this method.
Clematis Henryii package of 15+ seeds $3.00US
Clematis Nelly Moser package of 15+ seeds $3.00US
Clematis Tanguitica 'Radar Love' package of 15+ seeds $2.50US
Small-flowered. Probably one of the the heaviest-flowering varieties . Even a young plant will produce thousands of flowers in autumn, at a time of year when new flowers are most welcome. The flowers are moderately fragrant. The plant grows vigorously and will cover a small tree or fence in a very short time. Prune to about 36 inches in spring. Sometimes known as C. maximowicziana or C. terniflora. From Asia.
A really great plant, this is one of the longest flowering of the shorter plants. The bright yellow flowers never seem to end. In my garden it begins flowering in April and is still going strong into November! The foliage is similar to the smaller dicentras, to which it is related. Thrives in a moist soil in semi-shade but will grow in any site with average or even dry soil. Works well with alchemilla and yellow-edged hostas such as 'Wide Brim.' Also known as Yellow Fumitory. Self-seeds but is easy to pull up from unwanted areas.
Package of 25+ seeds $3.50US
Nursery/plant sales and mail order (Canada only):3 1/2 " $2.50C
South African native that is fairly hardy- though rated to USDA zone 6, it is worth a try in cooler zones, especially if planted in a warm, protected area and mulched through the winter. It is easy to start from seed, so at fairly low cost, you can try these. I have several varieties, Lucifer is the most spectacular (It's pictured here), can reach 5 feet or higher, and is almost red in colour. Citronella and George Davidson are also favorites, being shades of yellow, they really stand out in planters. I now have seeds of a new English variety Bressingham Blaze with large orange flowers. For nursery sales within Canada, I have plants of Emily MacKenzie- a unique bi-colored variety! Flowers are borne on arching stems, and seedheads that form are so attractive, I leave them on through the winter.
Crocosmia Lucifer package of 25+ seeds $2.00US
Nursery/plant sales and mail order (Canada only):3 1/2" $2.50C 1 gallon $6.00C
Crocosmia Bressingham Blaze package of 25+ seeds $3.00US
Crocosmia Emily Mackenzie Nursery/plant sales and mail order (Canada only):4 1/2" $4.00C