The list below is taken from a permanent page on my blog. Today I am adding plants that I came across in my T&M Seed Catalogue. I am not sure if they are the best place to order from or how they got my name, but I am glad they did. They got me thinking about seeds whereas I have only used plants in the past.
I am not going to be afraid to try zone 4 plants (but will have to be sure to remember which they are so I do not plant all the risky ones in the same area) and I am going to keep a Buy list (B) and a consideration list (C) for next year and not buy everything I would like this year since I am just learning and it could all go awry.
So wherever I end up buying them from, these are the winners that have piqued my interest:
Watermelon, Yellow Baby - random I know, but I want to integrate some 'veg' in my perennial garden, have always wanted to try my hand at watermelon and I will have more room this year before the garden fills in too much. (B)
Aconitum (Monkshood) 'Carmichaelli' - Whenever I have seen this live it has been less impressive than in magazines, I will hold off for a year. (C-3)
Asclepias (Milkweed) - "Gay Butterflies Mixed". Orange with red and yellow accents, perfect colours for my new south-facing lasagna (SFL) garden; it seemed "appropriate". (B-4)
Aquilegia (Columbine) 'Firecracker' - more orange/red/yellow for the SFL and I grew to like Columbine at the Ontario cottage where they volunteered. (C-3)
'Caerulea' - a shorty for the front of the front border. (B-3)
'William Guinness Doubles' - Without spurs they look quite different. (B-3)
Catananche (Cupid's Dart) 'Caerulea' - Never heard of this plant before, but I have room to experiment with blue/purple flowers/ (B-3)
Coreopsis 'Presto' - I already have some Coreopsis from last fall's local plant sale. Let me see how they do before I invest in more. (C- 4)
Delphinium 'New Zealand Hybrids' - The one exception to the rule where I will accept a mix that has pink. I have loved this plant for a long time but it has been years since I had a sunny enough garden for it. (B-3)
Dianthus 'Crimsonia' - I am not usually a fan of Dianthus, I think they are too plain, much like I feel about carnations as cut flowers. But these red beauties have frilly edges. I would not have guessed what they were by the bloom. (B-3)
Echinacea 'White Swan' - I have some already from the fall plant sale, let us see how they do first. (C-3)
Echinops (Globe Thistle) - Sure their foliage makes it look like a roadside weed, but what is a weed after all? (B-3)
Foxglove 'Pam's Choice' - I am thinking that this could work well under the spruce near the house in the front yard, behind the alpine garden. (B-4)
Helenium 'Sunshine Hybrids' - Bright colours later in the season is something every garden can use. (B-4)
Heliopsis 'Golden Double Hybrids' - Something I have never grown before. (B-4)
'Sunburst' - This one has variegated foliage. (B-4)
Ipomea 'Hazlewood Blues' - About the only annual I am getting this year, though I know they self seed enthusiastically. (C)
'Heavenly Blue' - for Guerrilla gardening - I know just where to put them. (B)
Lobelia 'Queen Victoria' - These 3 foot plants will be very different from the trailing annual I think of when I think 'lobelia' now. (B-4)
Malva 'Snow White' - Never heard of Malva before but I will a lot of variety with my whites so I will happily try it out. (B-3/4)
Perennial Geranium 'Buxton Blue' - They served me well at the cottage I think they will like having a bit more sun here. (B-4)
Poppy ' Brilliant' - A classic red. (B-4)
'Camelot Cream' - Will look good in the moon garden.
Prunella ' Freelander Blue' - I had never heard of it before; though it is short it blooms from May to October so I am in. (B-4)
Physotegia (Obedient Plant) ' Summer Snow' - I already have this listed on the page, this particular one is supposed to be less invasive than some. (C-4)
Sedum 'Turkish Delight' - Another later summer bloomer. (B-3)
Veronica (Speedwell) - Blue on blue. Catalogue says zone 4, but web says some are zone 3. (B-4)
Okay, so the list may be a bit too long, but at least I have step 1 done. Step 2 will be to get feedback from locals on which of these zone 4 plants actually have a chance here. That could really narrow down the field.
Here is the list as it as before these latest additions:
- Thanks to "Gabbing in the Garden" for putting "Silver Mound" Artemisia on my radar
- Deer & rabbit resistant? Shade tolerant? Zone 3? I have to consider Tiarella (Foam Flower)
- I can buy Fireweed seeds with a white bloom rather than red as the name would imply, so it it s worth consideration
- Thanks Canadian Gardening for the advice on climbing roses good in zone 3
- Green Girly has got me thinking about Globe Thistle
- A Prairie Rose Garden has cautioned me about the spreading nature of Obedient plant, but I am willing to take the risk for such a lovely fall bloomer
- Lupine - how could I have forgotten them? Finally I should have enough sun to get a bunch of these delights blooming
- Gail at Clay and Limestone has got me thinking about Phlox, which would be great in both my white and purple gardens
- Likely one of many good suggestions from Northern Shade Gardening is Hepatica Nobilis for under a large evergreen tree
Old favourites I could not do without:
Summer
RudbeckiaEchinacea
Daisy
Hosta
Creeping Jenny
Ferns of all kinds
Asiatic / Oriental / Day Lilies
Spring
Forget-Me-NotsDaffodils
Crocus
Periwinkle
Muscarri
Iris
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