This one might be a little tender but it’s worth a try and I’m willing to do a little extra mulching to increase its chances. It’s one of Dan’s (Terra Nova) concoctions. My other varieties of cimicifuga do just fine so when they told me this one had even more vigor, I said YES. Lacy black foliage that zooms up to 48 inches provides a fantastic back-drop for the often 2 foot white candle-like flowers. As if you didn’t need more, the blooms have a nice exotic perfume fragrance of grape and jasmine. Plenty of water and sun will result in the darkest foliage. Don’t worry about moose on this one.

Zone: 4-5
Location:
Height: 60 inches
Price: $12.00

Can you imagine this one with a chartreuse fern or with the grass-like foliage of armeria? Great for borders with its neon blue spikes of blooms and the scalloped, crinkled, almost black leaves. In fact, this plant is so unusual I think we’ll put it right out there in the front of our gardens as a specimen and listen to the comments I know will come.

Zone: 3-4
Location:
Height: 6-9 inches
Price: $5.00

Always on the best seller list, we have quite a few new varieties this year. The spurless cultivars seem to be gaining popularity. Take a peek and see if you can’t find a spot for these beauties.

Zone: 3
Location:
Height: 14 inches
Price: $7.50

‘Black Barlow’ is totally spurless, short at only 14 inches and has a purplish, almost black; fully double bloom resembling a dahlia. From Europe.

Zone: 3
Location:
Height: 14 inches
Price: $7.50

‘Clementine Red’ and Clementine Rose’ are also spurless. A totally new series that offers double, luxurious, upward facing flowers. The short, bushy, compact plants require no staking. Nestle a couple of these beauties among your hosta. Aquilegia attract butterflies and hummingbirds but not the moose.

Zone: 3
Location:
Height: 14 inches
Price: $7.50

It took me a while to become friends with astilbe. They do not like to be moved but take some time become established and despite the growing instructions in the books, they need sun. Once I accepted these rules, I became very happy with the results. From the music series, this gorgeous specimen has floriferous pink flowers shown off by dark green foliage. A mid-season bloomer.

Zone: 3
Location:
Height: 18 inches
Price: $8.50

Another mid-season bloomer with compact dark green foliage and reddish stems. The dense plumes of pink and white flowers show off especially nice among the broad leaves of hosta, brunnera or Pulmonaria.

Zone: 3
Location:
Height: 15 inches
Price: $8.50

I like the moundy appearance of this variegated, light green leaved with irregular creamy-white foliage. The flowers look just like our forget-me-nots and are quite nice but it’s the foliage for me.

Zone: 3
Location:
Height: 12-18 inches
Price: $8.50

With over 250 varieties, we have trouble selecting only a few. We think our choices for new bells are pretty great!

‘Cherry Bells’ (punctata) is exactly what the name says. Cherry colored bell-shaped flowers hang from dainty, arching stems. Can spread if in ideal conditions. One of my favorites.

Zone: 3
Location:
Price: $8.50

‘Pearl White’ is a ground hugger. The large white single flowers form low, tight mounds. I’ve lot this one in part shade so recommend full sun and maybe mulch the first year.

Zone: 3-4
Location:
Price: $8.50

‘Pink Octopus’ (punctata) is another Terra Nova and claims to have up to 50+ blooms per stem. Try as I might, I think the picture beats anything else I could say.

Zone: 4
Location:
Price: $8.50