2007-2008 Natureworks Catalog

those tricky shady spots). Creamy white, slightly drooping
plumes 4’ tall in early July.
Asarum GINGER
If you are looking for an elegant ground cover for your shade garden,
look no further. Most are evergreen; we now offer some rare varieties.
Slow growing but worth the wait.
europeaum European Ginger Very shiny rounded evergreen
leaves grow 3-4", an excellent ground cover for shade. Slow
growing but worth it; one of the premier foliage structure plants
for a shady garden. Mix with dwarf ferns; use to underplant
Hellebores or miniature Astilbes.
shuttleworthii ‘McCues Strain’ Very rare foliage plant; 2-1/2"diameter
glossy evergreen leaves are marked with creamy veins.
Connecticut grown, a selection from the species.
splendens ‘Quicksilver’ This is a rare and valuable foliage
accent plant for the shade garden. The foliage is broadly arrowshaped
and heavily marked with silver. Leaves can grow up to
7" long. I imagine this paired with ‘Ghost’ painted ferns to add a
silvery glow to any shade garden. Evergreen leaves take on
gorgeous burgundy markings in cold weather.
Design tip: Since Asclepias sprout very late, they
leave a visual gap in the early spring garden. This
provides a perfect place to plant spring blooming
bulbs. Surround Asclepias and other late sprouters
such as Platycodon, Hibiscus, and Eupatorium with
clusters of tulips, daffodils, or minor bulbs. As the
foliage of the bulbs starts to look unsightly, the
perennials will be up and growing, hiding the
ripening bulb leaves.
Asclepias BUTTERFLY WEED
Attract butterflies to your garden! Two distinct species with different
cultural requirements means that there is a Butterfly Weed for every
garden. Great mid- to late-summer bloomers. Late-sprouting, plants
arrive in late May or early June.
incarnata Pink flowers, 4-5’ in July/early August, tolerates
moist soil, tolerates sun or part shade.
‘Ice Ballet’ Same as above in white.
tuberosa Orange flowers, needs good drainage and full sun,
attracts butterflies, late June/July/early Aug., 2’, great accent
color. I combine this with drumstick allium bulbs dug in around
around the plants in the fall. They end up blooming at the same
time. WOW!
‘Clay’ Strange name, but for a reason. 3' tall orange flowers
tolerate clay soil much more so than the species. Don't plant in
wet sites.
‘Gay Butterflies’ Excellent seed mix of yellow, orange or red
flowers. (I’m always on the lookout for the reds...)
‘Hello Yellow’ This name was bound to turn up in the trade
eventually! A pure golden yellow form of Asclepias.
Asphodeline KING’S SPEAR
A dramatic plant, much admired in our demonstration gardens.
Flowers soar above the leaves, very delicate spikes, one of our most
asked-about plants, unusual. Foliage goes dormant in August,
reappears in fall. Nearly impossible to find in the trade lately, but I
continue to list it and keep looking.
liburnica Very architechtural, 4’ tall spikes of soft yellow
tubular flowers over blue green tufts of thin willowy foliage;
July-blooming, rare.
lutea Broad blue-green leaves and amazing yellow spikes 4’ tall;
try Asphodoline interplanted with Asiatic lilies . . . striking!
Aster
We carry both late spring blooming and fall
blooming asters. The spring bloomers sell in
flower during the busy season. The fall asters
demand faith from the spring gardener. You
plant a nearly invisible tuft of foliage. But the
rewards are GREAT! If you want a fabulous,
colorful fall garden, filled with butterflies the
first year, and you want to establish it
inexpensively, plant asters in the spring. They
grow FAST. You will thank me in September.
alpinus
Great plant for the front of the border in June. When they bloom on our
benches, they fly out the door. I am starting to use these as well as
Aster amellus much more often in my designs as I begin to appreciate
their value. Sun/part shade.
‘Dark Beauty’ 15" tall dark bluish purple daisies, rich color
amellus ‘Violet Queen’ A July bloomer with masses of deep
violet flowers with yellow centers on 2’ tall plants. This will
come in very handy in the front of the border to add rich color,
blends well with bright yellows such as ‘Happy Returns’
daylilies.
divaricatus ‘Eastern Star’ A superior hybrid of our native white
wood aster. September blooming, 12" compact shrublets with
mahogany stems are covered with hundreds of tiny white
flowers. Great for naturalizing at wood’s edge.
dumosus ‘Alert’ 12-15" tall mounds of deep "red" (really
dayglow cerise pink) flowers in September.
‘Woods Light Blue’ Superior variety that blooms in
September. Forms an 18" tall mounded plant, gorgeous color
blue color.
‘Woods Purple’ 18" tall purple flowers cover this mounded
plant. Completely different look than ‘Purple Dome’.
Aster dumosus Woods Series
The “Woods” series is new. They are dwarf plants
that are very mildew-resistant with exceptionally large
and abundant flowers. All are September bloomers.
laevis ‘Bluebird’ Wonderful. 3-4’ spikes of soft blue flowers add
a cottage look to the garden in September. Easy to grow, clean
Page 8 “It's all about the plants...”
Natureworks 2007-2008 Catalog