Spring 2008

Excellent landscape and woodland plants, giving an airy look or graceful accent to a garden. Ferns do well in shady, moist areas and require little maintenance. Distinguished by the variation in foliage. Generally avoided by deer and rabbits.

Athyrium (Lady Fern)
   Branford Beauty – upright silver gray fronds on reddish stems – 24”
   felix forma Lady in Red - crested - burgundy infused, deep green frilly frond - 30-36”
   felix-femina Victoriae – foliage criss-crosses to form x’s – felted leaflet  tips –18-24”
   Ghost – frosted apple-green fronds on dark purple stems – 24-36”
   niponicum pictum Applecourt – heavy crested fronds – very full delicate appearance – 1-2’
   niponicum pictum (Japanese Painted Fern) - hardy variegated fern - silver, green and red fronds - 12-18” (2004 Perennial of the Year)
   niponicum pictum Pewter Lace – rich gray pewter fronds -  15”
   niponicum Silver Falls – majestic shimmery silver fronds with bright  red veins – color intensifies over the
season – 12-15”
Blechnum (Deer Fern)
   spicant – neat, compact – evergreen – long, glossy, arching, leathery blades – 6-10”
Deparia
   pycnosora – yellow-green fronds – good for woodlands – 18-42”
Dryopteris (Wood Fern)
   Autumn Fern – new foliage is copper-orange – 18-24”h x 18-24”w
   Brilliance – bright orange, young fronds – evergreen – glossy – 18-24”
   cathusiana – strong and clumping – 12-18”
   Champion Wood Fern – neat, dark green fronds all year – 12-36”
   filix-mas Crispa Cristata (Crested Male Fern) – frilly evergreen  fronds –12-24”
   Goldiana – beautiful, arching fronds – largest native in northeast – 3-4’
   Wallichiana – gracefull. Frilly, glossy fronds – 2-3’
Gymnocarpium (Oak Fern)
   Plumosum – chartreuse fronds – needs limy, moist soil – 8-10”
Matteuccia (Ostrich Fern)
   struthiopteris – large green fronds resembling ostrich plumes – needs moist soil – tall vase-shaped form – spreads rapidly - 36-60”
Onoclea (Sensitive Fern)
   sensibilis (Bead Fern) – upright growth – broad, finely textured fronds – loves moist, boggy areas - 2-3’
Osmunda
   cinnamomea (Cinnamon Fern) – large upright fronds emerge in   spring and mature to a cinnamon brown - golden yellow fall color -thrives in moist, even boggy soil - tolerates sun or shade with constant moisture –36-60”
   regalis – (Royal Fern) – Native – widely separated leaflets – big, wide  fronds  rising 2-6’h, turning golden brown in fall – 2-3’h x 2-3’w
   regalis purpurascens (Royal Fern) – purple-red new growth –keeps a stripe all year – 3-6’
   regalis spectabillis – thinner, more widely spaced  segments – acid loving – 3-6’
Polypodium
   vulgare – erect, lance-shaped, evergreen fronds – 3-10”
Polystichum (Tassel Fern)
   acrostichoides (Christmas Fern) – silvery fiddleheads in spring, dark green leathery fronds year round - adaptable to moist or dry conditions - 12-30”
   aculeatum – rigid, leathery, glossy fronds – new leaves are lime-  green – 23-30”
   polyblopharum – very showy – glossy, dark green fronds – 1-2’
   setiferum Congestum – erect, dusky grey-green fronds – crested,  overlapping pinnae – 6-12”
Phyllitus (Heart’s Tongue Fern)
   scolopendrium Cristatum – attractive bright green, leathery,  evergreen fronds – 1’
Thelypteris (Marsh Fern)
   decursive-pinnata  (Japanese Beech Fern) – clumping, tidy habit – mature fronds become brilliant, yellow-green – 1-2’
   palustris – bluish-green fronds – wide creeping habit – enjoys moist  soil – 24-36"

GRASSES (ORNAMENTAL)

Extremely useful landscape plants that are noted for their form, foliage and flowers. Ornamental grasses create pivotal points and movement in any garden, provide winter interest, are generally easy to grow and avoided by deer.

Acorus (Sweet Flag)
Grass-like evergreen perennial. Sweet scented leaves grow in a fan shape along a short rhizome. Easy to grow in  moist soil or in shallow water. Adds a vertical accent. Frost hardy. Propagate by division.
   calamus Variegatus – long, narrow leaves with green and creamy white bands – non-invasive – 36”
Calamagrostis (Feather Reed Grass)
Showiest of ornamental grasses. Prefers rich, moist soil but can tolerate heavy clay. Regular division of clumps keeps size in check.
   acutiflora Avalanche – wide band of white with green margins – shimmering effect from plumes in summer - upright  habit – 48-60”
   acutiflora Karl Forester – tall green flower spikes and deep-green
     foliage in early summer - wheat-like seed heads dry to golden tan -  attractive into winter - excellent vertical element – 60-72”
   acutiflora Overdam – creamy margins  with a pink blush – feathery plumes with purple seed heads fade to beige - clumping habit – 60”
   arundinacea brachytricha – smoky lavender plumes - bright golden foliage in fall - more tolerant of shade than most grasses – 48-60”
Carex (Sedge)
A genus of sedges known for its diversity in form. They all tolerate shade, thus very useful. No significant plumes or flowers.
   elata Bowles Golden – bright gold with thin green   margins – constant moisture – 2-3’
   flacca – used for erosion control – blue-grey – 9-11”
   hachijoensis Evergold (Variegated Japanese Sedge) – part to dull   shade - creamy yellow center with green margins – weeping habit –dry to average soil - groundcover - 12”
   morrowii  Ice Ballet (NEW) – broad variegation – arching – very  hardy sedge – 1-2’
   morrowii Ice Dance (Variegated Sedge) – Part Sun to Shade - wide dark leaves with prominent white borders – non-invasive, evergreen  groundcover – average to moist soil - 12”
   Treasure Island (NEW) – slow spreading groundcover – white   striping and edges – 9-12”
 Festuca (Blue Fescue)
   Amethystina Superba – fine, blue foliage – red-stemmed tassels – 18”
   cinerea Blue Fox – silver-blue foliage – dense clumps – 12”
   cinerea Blue Glow – icy-blue, narrow blades – flowers in June – 8-10”
   cinerea Blue Sea – blue-gray tufts – 6”
   glauca Elijah Blue - tufts of very fine blue foliage with taller flower  spikes – year round color – loose, well-drained soil - 8-10”
Hakonechloa (Japanese Forest Grass)
   macra Aureola – cascading yellow foliage, narrow green margins, turns reddish-pink in fall – spreads slowly – non-invasive – 12-24”
Imperata (Japanese Blood Grass)
   cylindrical Red Barron - 1-2’ blood red blades with green base -attractive, very striking - 12-24”
Juncus (Soft Rush)
   effusus Quartz Creek (Soft Rush) – narrow soft round green foliage – early summer flowers borne on stem tips - moist humus-rich soil
Leymus (Dune Grass)
   arenarius Blue Dune – metallic blue foliage forms arching clump - tolerates sun, sand and drought – 3-4’
Miscanthus (Maiden Grass)
Neat clumps with upright stems and arching leaves. Graceful plumes form in late summer. Fertile, moist, well-drained soil.
   Dixieland – green and white variegated foliage –  silky pink plumes – compact habit – 4-5’
   Floridulis – lovely, huge silver plumes – winter interest – screening – 8-12’
   Gracillimus – feathery, fine-textured creamy plumes – fine, silver-veined green leaves – graceful, rounded form - 60-72”
   Graziella – fine, slender leaves turn copper-red in fall – graceful silvery-white plumes in August - 60-72”
Little Kitten – dwarf form – blonde flower spikes rise just above foliage and can remain all winter
   Little Zebra – strong gold banded narrow leaves – reddish-purple plumes in August turn tan in winter – 36-48”
   Morning Light – fine textured leaves with white margins –  bronzy-red plumes appear late – beautiful, refined look - 48-60”
   Nippon – dark green with silver midribs – wine colored   Puenktchen – gold, horizontal bands – fine arching branches – 5-7
   Purpurascens (Flame Grass) – deep green foliage turns shades of red in fall - magenta plumes – upright, compact – 48-72”
   Rigaletto  - creamy white and green vertical variegation – will tolerate partial shade – 2-3’h x 2-3’w
   Variegatus – green-white variegated – arching habit – 48-72”
   Zebrinus (Zebra Grass) - yellow bands across dark green   foliage - coppery pink blooms in Sept – arching – 48-60”
Molinia (Purple Moor Grass) 
Full sun in cool climates. Moist, fertile acid soil; needs ample water and shade in hot dry locations
   caerulea variegata – tufts of cream and green foliage – clump forming - 12-24” – nice tassels on 24-36” stems
Panicum (Switch Grass)
American prairie grass with nice ornamental qualities. Best in moist, fertile soils. Tolerates less than ideal conditions.
   virgatum Dallas Blues – wide blue leaves – soft pink seed heads – 6-8’
   virgatum Heavy Metal - blue foliage, yellow fall color - upright grower - blooms July-Sept – 48”
   Prairie Fire – blue-green foliage turning wine-red in early summer –  rosy flower panicles – 48-60”
Pennisetum (Fountain Grass)
Flat green leaf blades. Dense clusters of enormous flower tassels summer and fall. Provides texture to any garden. Fertile, well-drained soil.
   alopecuroides Desert Plains – narrow green leaves – vase-shaped –  beautiful fall color – tan bottlebrush flowers – 4’
   alopecuroides Hameln – fine textured leaves – green-white seed heads in July turning tan - dwarf – 24”
   alopecuroides Little Bunny - 2” foxtail flowers – tidy little mounds – good for the small garden, rock gardens or pond side planting – 10”
   setaceum Rubrum – deep red foliage – purple red plumes – 3-4’
Phalaris (Ribbon Grass)
Outstanding accent plant. Prefers moist areas such as stream or pond side. Good erosion control or groundcover. Vigorous spreader.
   arundinacea Feesey - green and white variegated leaves tinted pink in spring and fall – soft white flower panicles – 24”
   arundinacea Strawberries and Cream – white-striped variegated leaves blush with pink in cool seasons – 24-36”
Schizachyrium
   scoparium Prairie Blues (NEW) – bluest foliage yet – fluffy, silver seed  heads – turns gold and red in fall – 24-36”
Sorghastrum (Indian Grass)
   Indian Steel – grows in upright clumps – bluish-green blades – yellow in fall – 3’