Spring 2009

Alpines grow naturally in mountainous areas that encompass a variety of growing conditions and terrains: sun, shade, craggy cliffs, bogs, rocky pastures and meadows. They do not like to have wet "feet" and do best in rocky, very well-drained soil that is high in organic matter. In the garden, they like gravelly, fertile, well-drained soil that mimics their natural habitat.

AQUATIC PLANTS top

Water gardening has become very popular. Plants are a necessary part of a well-balanced water feature. Plants will tie your water garden to the rest of your landscape, soften the edges of pre-formed pools and provide food and shade for your fish. They add oxygen to the water, help stabilize the pool’s environment and attract hummingbirds and butterflies to your garden. 

Marginals or Shallow-Water plants:  Thrive in shallow water or very moist soil. Most marginal plants are grown at the edge (margins) of a pond or in water one to six inches deep. Can be either annual or perennial. This area is considered Zone 5. Anything labeled as Zone 5 or lower should survive the winter.

Acorus calamus Variegatus - Full to Part Sun - Level 1-3 - white striped sword-like foliage - Zone 4-10 - Height 24-30”
Acorus gramineus Ogon - Sun to Part Shade - Level 1-2 - yellow and green striped upright foliage - Zone 5-9 - Height 6-12”
Caltha palustris (Marsh Marigold) – Part Sun to Shade - Level 1 - lovely single yellow blooms - serrated foliage - Zone 3-10 - Height 12-24”
Canna Pretoria – Sun to Part Shade - Level 1-2 - big melon-orange flowers - zebra striped, yellow and green foliage – Zone 7-10 – Height 3-5’
Colocasia Black Magic (Taro or Elephant Ear) - downward-facing, heart-shaped, purple black foliage – 1-6’ 
Colocasia Illustris (Imperial Taro) - large almost black leaves, green veins – needs constant moisture to look its best - 12-48”
Cyperus alternifolius Gracillis - Sun to Shade - Level 1-2 - umbrella-like whorls of graceful green foliage - Zone 9-11 – Height 24”
Equisetum japonica – Sun to Part Shade - Level 1-2 - bright green, fleshy stems - very striking - Zone 2-10 - Height 24-40”
Juncus Spiralis (Corkscrew Rush) – Sun to Part Shade - Level 1-2 - unusual, thin, spiraling leaves – Zone 3-9 - Height 16-24”
Lysimachia Aurea – Sun - Level 1 - trailing stems with round chartreuse leaves with yellow flowers all summer - Zone 3-8 - Height 6”
Musa Basjoo – Sun - Level 1-2 - hardy banana - rapid grower in warm weather - Zone 3-7 – Height 2-15’
Pontederia cordata - Sun to Part Shade - Level 1-2 - purple-blue blooms - shiny, deep green, lance-shaped leaves - Zone 4-11 - Height 24”
Pontederia cordata Pink Pons - Sun-Part Shade - Level 1-2 - pink flower clusters on tall stems - shiny lance shaped - Zone 5-11 - Height 24”
Scirpus zebrinus - Sun to Part Sun - Level 1-3 - tall stems with cream and green horizontal stripes - neat clumps - Zone 3-10 - Height 3-4’
Typha angustifolia – Sun to Part Shade – Level 2-4 - long, narrow chocolate brown cattails - slender green foliage – Zone 3-10 - Hgt. 5-6’
Typha minima - Sun to Part Shade - Level 1-2 - unique, small variety - 1-inch rounded cattails - blue-green foliage - Zone 3-10 - Height 18”
Typha Variegatus - Sun to Part Shade - Level 2-3 - cinnamon brown cattails - green and white striped leaves - Zone 4-10 - Height 5-6’

Floaters top

Float freely on the surface, shading the water, aiding in algae control and cooling the water for fish.  All Level 5.

Eichornia crassipes (Water Hyacinth) – Sun – 2 to 3-inch tall, lilac-blue flowers - upright foliage - Zone 9-11
Nymphaea (Waterlily) – Purple, Red, Yellow or Pink - Sun - flowers last 2-5 days - if well fed, will bloom all summer - reproduces by budding; roots detach and grow new plants - Zone 3-11
Pistia stratoides (Water Lettuce) – Sun or Shade – unique lettuce-like foliage that floats on the water’s surface - grows best in moving water - Zone 9-11

Oxygenators top

Act as natural filters, inhibit algae growth, provide an environment for fish to flourish.

Ludwigia sediodes – Sun to Part Shade – Level 4 - red and green diamond-shaped leaves in rounded clusters float on water surface - Zone 10-11
Myriophyllum brasilliensis – Sun to Part Shade – Level 4 - unusual red stems with lacy lime green foliage - Zone 5-9 - Height 16-24”

JEEPERS CREEPERStop

JEEPERS CREEPERS is a brand names for tough, easy to grow plants that endure light to moderate foot traffic and are sold in specially sized smaller pots so you can tuck them all over your landscape. Ideal for filling nooks, crannies, pathways and borders, these vigorous perennials spread rapidly and are excellent lawn substitutes and weed inhibitors.

Ajuga Chocolate Chip Atennaria Dioica Rubra Azorella Trifurcata Nana Campanula Poscharskyana Cerastium Tomentosum Chamaemelum Nobile Chrysogonum Virginianum Delosperma Nubigena Herniaria Glabra Green Carpet Houstonia Caerula Laurentia Fluviatilis Leptinella Platts Black Leptinella Squallida Lotus Corniculatus Pleniflorus Mazus Repens Mazus Repens Alba Mentha Requienii Origanum Vulgare Aureum Potentilla Alba Potentilla Verna Nana

Pratia Celestial Spice Pratia County Park Sagina Subulata - Irish Moss Sagina Subulata Aurea - Scotch Moss Saxifraga Aureapunctata Sedum Acre Aurea Sedum Sexangular Sedum Spurium John Creech Sedum Spurium Voodoo Stachys Byzantina Silver Carpet Thymus Praecox Coccineus Thymus Praecox Nutmeg Thymus Purple Carpet Veronica Prostrata Veronica Reavis Veronica Repens Veronica Whitleyi Viola Labradorica Waldsteinia Ternata