Little-known Garden Gems

It has always been a goal of Specialty Growers to carry plants that are unusual and not likely to be found in the local garden centers.  Here we are featuring a few of these garden “gems” - plants that are unknown, under-used and under-appreciated.  You’ll find some of my personal favorites in this category! 

Filipendula ulmaria ‘Aurea’ – Golden Meadowsweet

A subdued perennial that is useful for creating elegant foliage effects in the garden, this underused plant is a good candidate for the partial shade garden, playing backup to all manner of colorful Coralbells, Hostas, Primroses, Columbines and Lungworts.  The bright yellow to chartreuse foliage looks best when grown in cool moist conditions, and not subjected to hot afternoon sun. The plants are topped in mid-summer with clusters of white flowers resembling Queen Anne’s Lace, but Golden Meadowsweet is grown more for its cool, highly textured foliage than its flowers.  Plant will reach about 30”, including the flowers.  Cut flower stems out after bloom to keep the foliage looking fresh.

Fritillaria pallidiflora

This bulbous perennial, native to China, is one of our favorite spring blooming plants.  Like many plants that grow from bulbs, this Fritillaria goes dormant by mid-summer, but what joy it brings during its spring tenure!  It emerges in April, its gray-green strappy foliage unfolding to reveal glaucous stems and buds, opening to luminescent light yellow-green pendant bell-shaped flowers 1.5” long and wide.  We grow our plants in partial shade and fluffy humus-rich soil, but they will also perform well in full sun as long as the soil is on the moist side.  After blooming, watch the large decorative seed pods develop, enjoy them for several weeks, and then cut the spent foliage to the ground.

Geranium sanguineum ‘Elke’ - Elke Bloody Cranesbill

Although at first glance this may seem like any other variety of Bloody Cranesbill, there is a quality about ‘Elke’ that makes people stop and take notice.  The bright fluorescent pink petals, contrasted with white picotee edges and a white center, make this little geranium stand out from the rest.  We think ‘Elke’ is the prettiest sister in her family!  However, she’s a “sleeper”, looking rather plain and average until she grows up and starts to strut her stuff!  Growing only 8” tall, ‘Elke’ will attain a width of 12-18”, making her a perfect subject for the front of the perennial garden, in full sun or light shade.

Kalimeris incisa ‘Blue Star’ - Blue Star False Aster

This cute aster lookalike is not new, but it is not well known in the U.S.  Long popular in Europe, we are happy to extol the virtues of this little flower machine!  Beginning in June, one-inch wide light lavender blue daisies appear en masse over the tops of mounded, well-branched plants.  The best part is that the show continues, non-stop and without deadheading, for the rest of the summer!  Kalimeris ‘Blue Star’ grows a foot to 18” tall with equal spread, and performs best in full sun or light shade.  It is not fussy about soil as long as it is well-drained.