Cut Flowers

An RHS Award of Garden Merit winner! Medium to large, lightly fragrant, loose peony form to semi-double, medium silvery-pink flowers with a boss of yellow stamens are produced in early to midseason, November to February. The pollen laden and fragrant flowers are likely to attract bees and other pollinators on warmer days. Scentsation Camellia is a large type Japonica with a moderate to vigorous, densely branching, upright to rounded habit. One of the earlier Japonicas that were bred for fragrance, it was developed and introduced by Nuccio's Nurseries in the late 1960's. Provide Camellias with a fertile soil rich in organic matter, with average moisture, and an organic mulch. Images courtesy of Cam Too Camellia Nursery, all rights reserved. Item# 13242

Large balloon-like buds open to purplish-blue star-shaped cup-like flowers. A longtime favorite in the perennial garden, Sentimental Blue Balloon Flower is a selection that boasts a compact habit and plenty of flower power that starts in early summer and can last into fall. An easy to grow perennial that may reseed under good conditions. Provide a moist but well-drained soil with a half a day or more of sun. Balloon Flowers are easy and long flowering clump forming tuberous rooted perennials that seem to just get better with age and require little care. Item# 10549

Possibly the most exciting native grass introduction on the market to date! In spring the narrow blades emerge heavily variegated with green and cream and are accented by pink tones, especially when weather is cooler. By summer it has grown into a 12-18" by 12-18" mass of arching boldly variegated white and green foliage. In late summer the flowering stalks begin to elongate showing off their variegated form and as summer temperatures begin to cool the white portions of the foliage and flowering stems deepens into pink and rose tones and finally into burgundy. Shining Star™ Little Bluestem, a beautifully variegated selection of our native Schizachyrium scoparium, is a widely distributed, clump forming, herbaceous perennial grass that is native to all but 2 of the lower 48 US states and is a major component of the Tall Grass Prairies of the midwest. Provide this lovely little grass with a full to mostly sunny site in a well-drained soil for optimum vigor and growth. Images courtesy of Emerald Coast Growers, who discovered this new nativar, all rights reserved. Item# 13138

Large to very large pure white flowers are composed of a row of overlapping wide petals that look as though someone tucked an anemone form flower neatly in its center. The yellow stamens simply add to its beauty. The long lasting flowers of Shiro Chan would make the perfect corsage or float them in a bowl. An early season flowering Camellia with a loose open form and upright to spreading habit with large deep glossy green foliage. Item# 11101

Forget those brittle old fall mums that need pinching and special treatment! Deep indigo, dense, fully double flowers are produced over an extended period in late summer and fall atop neat compact naturally rounded plants with deep green foliage. Forget about the throw away garden mums for fall, find an aster instead! Showmakers® Blue Bayou Dwarf New York Aster or Michaelmas Daisy, a selection of Aster novi-belgii or now Symphyotrichum novi-belgii, is a dense dwarf, hardy, clump-forming, native herbaceous perennial that develops into a neat rounded mass of flowers and foliage to about 12" high and wide with no pinching required. These were developed with container culture in mind but are sure to make statement in the garden or landscape as well. Provide a full sun to partly shaded site in an average moist, average to well-drained, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Midday shade may be desirable in hot summer climates. Caterpillar host: Field Crescent, Pearl Crescent, Texan Crescent, Roadside Checkerspot, Hoffman's Checkerspot, and American Lady. Images courtesy of Syngenta Flowers, all rights reserved. Item# 13165

Medium to deep blue falls and standards with the falls being accented by contrasting gold crests at their base are produced in early to midseason, or March to April, atop 30-36" high stems. Sinfonietta Louisiana Iris has been highly popular since its introduction and was awarded an Honorable Mention in 1990 and the Award of Garden Merit in 1992 by the American Iris Society. Louisiana Irises are easy and adaptable, rhizomatous perennials with fans of deep green sword-like foliage and seem as at home in standing water as they do in average moist garden soils. Remember that these plants do most of their growing in fall and winter and so this is when they should be fed and fall is also a great time to divide plants if desired. Provide a full to mostly sunny site for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 13339

Narrow, upright to arching, 24-30" high spikes of rich purple flowers are produced in mid to late summer and into fall attracting a host of pollinators. Smallhead Blazing Star, Liatris microcephela, is a cormous, clump-forming, herbaceous perennial with narrow, dark green, fine-textured foliage and produce a multitude of flower spikes per plant at maturity. This tough little deer and drought resistant native is typically found in sandy to clayey, well-drained soils in the southeastern US. Like all of our Liatris species, it is a key pollinator plant attracting bees, butterflies, flower flies, and likely occasional low-flying hummingbirds. Smallhead Blazing Star makes for a long-lasting cut flower and, unlike most Liatris, the flowers begin opening from the top downward. Provide a full sun to partly shaded site in fertile, average moist to periodically dry soil. Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries, all rights reserved. Item# 13266

The large to very large, pure white anemone form flowers, sometimes with a few yellow stamens peaking out from between the central boss of petaloids and are produced in early to midseason or Nov-February. Snow Chan Camellia, a sport of Shiro Chan which is itself a sport of Elegans, and each of these varieties tend to have a slower rate of growth and a more open habit with large deep green foliage lacily edged with large prominent teeth. It tends to have a more evenly rounded form growing about as wide as high. Provide Camellias with a fertile soil rich in organic matter, with average moisture, and a deep organic mulch. Item# 13008

Large conical white flower clusters composed of numerous sterile florets are held atop strong sturdy stems with the flower show beginning in late spring to early summer. Flowers take on pink tones as they age. Snow Queen Oakleaf Hydrangea has sturdier stems than Alice with a more compact, denser, naturally rounded habit. This is a selection of our native Hydrangea quercifolia that offers the showy peeling cinnamon colored winter bark and purple, red and burgundy fall foliage typical of the species. Snow Queen has proven to be hardy into zone 5. Provide a well-drained, average moist, fertile, acidic soil and although they are tolerant of full sun they flower well even in fairly dense shade. The Oakleaf Hydrangea will have the most intense fall foliage coloration where the plants receive at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight. An organic mulch, especially important under full sun conditions in areas with hot summer climates, will to help alleviate moisture stress during dry periods among its numerous other benefits. Item# 12577

Huge 12-14" long panicles composed of numerous double sterile florets open bright white and slowly change as summer progesses adding red, pink, cream, and green tinges and are held on strong sturdy stems beginning in late spring or early summer with flower clusters lasting into winter. Snowcicle Oakleaf Hydrangea boasts some of the largest flower clusters among its peers, excellent vigor, and strong sturdy stems to support its massive flower clusters. In fall, the bluish-green, fuzzy, oak-like foliage changes into shades of red, purple, and orange. The Oakleaf Hydrangea is truly a plant for all seasons as winter shows off the bare stems with peeling bark. Provide a well-drained, average moist, fertile, acidic soil and although they are tolerant of full sun they flower well even in fairly dense shade. The Oakleaf Hydrangea will have the most intense fall foliage coloration where the plants receive at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight. An organic mulch, especially important under full sun conditions in areas with hot summer climates, will to help alleviate moisture stress during dry periods among its numerous other benefits. Images courtesy of Plants Nouveau, all rights reserved. Item# 12578

The bare winter stems are adorned with bright sunny yellow flowers in late winter and early spring attracting mainly bees as pollinators. Once the flowering season is finished this beautiful shrub is adorned with solid yellow foliage providing color until autumn when the foliage takes on purple tones until it falls away. The Solid Gold Dwarf Korean Forsythia, Forsythia viridissima var. koreana 'Solid Gold', is an Almost Eden introduction that we selected as a stable sport of the cultivar Ilwang. Ilwang was first shared with us by the late great nurseryman Sherwood Aikens of Minden, Louisiana. This is an easy to grow, low maintenance, compact growing deciduous shrub with an arching, fountaining habit growing wider than tall and maxing out at about 3-4'H x 4-5'W. Its golden foliage can tolerate full sun but may lighten some but this does not appear to affect the plant's vigor it. Provide a fertile soil with average or better drainage and average moisture. Item# 9742

A 2018 UGA Trial Gardens Classic City Award and a People's Choice Award winner! The large, lightly fragrant flowers open a coral pink, deepen through rose, and finally maturing to burgundy held on sturdy 18" high stems above the deep green foliage in summer. SOMBRERO® Tres Amigos Coneflower or Echinacea is a hardy clump forming perennial growing to about 18-20"H x 22-24"W making it compact enough for containers as well as being a colorful addition to the garden and landscape. Like all of the Echinaceas, the fragrant nectar rich flowers attract a variety of pollinators, especially butterflies and bees. Provide a fertile, average moist, well-drained soil in a full to mostly sunny site. Leave seedheads for fall and winter songbirds to enjoy. Photos courtesy of Darwin Perennials, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 13156

Consistently in the top 10 in Coneflower and perennial trials! Brilliant golden yellow ray petals surround the fragrant golden tipped cones creating the 3" wide long-lasting, non-fading flowers perched atop sturdy 18" stems. The Sombrero® Granada Gold Coneflower or Echinacea was selected as much for its bright, long-lasting, non-fading color as well as for its excellent summerlong flower power, clean foliage, reliability, and neat and tidy habit. Coneflowers are clump forming perennials whose often fragrant flowers are adored by butterflies, bees, and other pollinators that can be enjoyed as part of the sunny garden and landscape as well as for container specimens. Leave seedheads for fall and winter songbirds to enjoy. Removal of spent flowers may help to prolong the flowering season but is not required. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist, well-drained, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Photos courtesy of Darwin Perennials®, all rights reserved. Item# 13319

Dense spikes of rosy pink tubular flowers are produced in late summer and fall atop sturdy stems attracting butterflies, larger bees, and hummingbirds. The Southern Fall Obedient Plant, Physostegia virginiana ssp. praemorsa, is a clump forming species of Physostegia, whereas most species spread via long rhizomes, this one is a much more mannerly native perennial better suited to garden culture. It will slowly multiply developing into a dense clump of foliage and flowering stems. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a wet to moist to average moist, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 12752

Masses of 2-¹/₂ to 3" wide semi-double rose pink flowers seemingly cover up the plants in February-March and are centered by a boss of yellow stamens atop white filaments. Spring Awakening Camellia, a hybrid developed and introduced by Dr. Clifford Parks of Camellia Forest Nursery in 1990, is a moderately vigorous, large growing evergreen shrub with an upright, somewhat loose and open habit initially that will likely become denser and rounded with age as is typical of most Camellias.  Provide Camellias with a fertile soil rich in organic matter, with average moisture, and a deep organic mulch. Images courtesy of CamToo Camellia Nursery, all rights reserved. Item# 13009

An eye-catching yet elegant combination of large lemony-yellow falls are accented by lime-green veining and signals and are topped by contrasting bright white standards that are tipped in yellow and are accented by complimentary green and yellow veining which are then topped by lime-green style arms that are broadly tipped and edged in yellow. Start of Something Big Louisiana Iris is a small to medium-sized plant growing to about 30" high and it flowers very late in the season, typically May. It received an Honorable Mention from the American Iris Society in 2015. Louisiana Irises are easy and adaptable, rhizomatous perennials with fans of deep green sword-like foliage and seem as at home in standing water as they do in average moist garden soils. Remember that these plants do most of their growing in fall and winter and so this is when they should be fed and fall is also a great time to divide plants if desired. Provide a full to mostly sunny site for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 13346

Clusters of 3-4" long, tubular, waxy buds open to display the long-lasting starry white wonderfully fragrant flowers that are held against a foil of shiny ovate foliage and may be produced throughout the growing season. Stephanotis or Madagascar Jasmine, Stephanotis floribunda, is an evergreen tropical twining vine that makes an easy container plant and is readily trained to small to medium sized trellises although it can climb to 12-15' high where it has a support. This is an old favorite and as Liberty Hyde Bailey states in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture "is one of the best greenhouse climbers" and "There are few plants that have all the good qualities of S. floribunda. It is a splendid grower, has good foliage, is very free flowering, and the flowers last well on the plant or when cut for decorative work." Provide a quality well-drained fertile soil in light shade to full sun. Stephanotis is an RHS Award of Garden Merit plant. Item# 665

New for 2023! In mid to late summer the plants cover up in up to 6" wide, rounded to flattened clusters of lime-green buds that open to display hundreds of up to 1/2" wide white daisies with a contrasting yellow eye held on sturdy 18-24"H stems. The flowers attract a variety of smaller pollinators. Sugar Kisses is a hybrid goldenrod, or Solidago, developed by Brent Horvath of Intrinsic Perennials and selected for its unusual bicolor flowers and its more mannerly clump-forming habit. This herbaceous sunloving perennial is adaptable to soil types and is not likely to be bothered by deer and rabbits. Provide a full sun to mostly sunny site in an average to well-drained, average moist, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Images courtesy of Brent Horvath, Intrinsic Perennials, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 13163

A flower power machine! SUNNY DAYS™ Lemon Coneflower produces wave after wave of large, dark lemon yellow, fragrant, upward facing flowers with frilly, nectar rich cones from summer into fall. This is a hardy clump forming perennial that will do best in fertile, well-drained, average moist soils in a full to mostly sunny site. The flower power and bright color lends this nativar to use as a container plant as well as in the garden and landscape. Leave seedheads for fall and winter songbirds to enjoy. Photos courtesy of TERRA NOVA® Nurseries, Inc. www.terranovanurseries.com, all rights reserved. Item# 13081

SUNNY DAYS™ Ruby Coneflower produces wave after wave of large, claret ruby red, fragrant, upward facing flowers with frilly, nectar rich cones from summer into fall. The double, anemone-like flowers hold their dark coloration with little fading and attract a variety of pollinators and garden beneficials. This is a hardy clump forming perennial that will do best in fertile, well-drained, average moist soils in a full to mostly sunny site. The flower power and bright color lends this nativar to use as a container plant as well as in the garden and landscape. Leave seedheads for fall and winter songbirds to enjoy. Photos courtesy of TERRA NOVA® Nurseries, Inc. www.terranovanurseries.com, all rights reserved. Item# 13082