Centranthus ruber- (sen-tran'thus ru'ber) - Red Valerian

Informal cottage garden plant with rosy red flowers and blue-green foliage on 18-36" bushy stems in late spring. Centranthus thrives in full sun and well drained, alkaline soil. A sprinkling of lime around the base of the plant in early spring and again in the fall is beneficial. Flowering can occur at different times, depending on the heat. The cooler the temperatures, the longer the flowering may persist. Cut back after flowering to promote a second flush of bloom. Plants self-seed freely, and are excellent for naturalizing. Centranthus offers a bright accent when planted in or beside sunny stone walls. It is suitable for the rock garden, and may be planted over a rocky ledge in very thin soil. It is also a good accent for the front to mid-border of a perennial garden. It is attractive with silver foliage plants like Artemesia, Caryopteris, Perovskia and Stachys, and combines particularly well with white flowers.

Artemesia (ar-te-miz'i-a) - Wormwood

Valuable plant for its aromatic white or silvery foliage. Flowers are inconspicuous. Artemesia thrives in full sun and infertile soil. It tolerates drought and sea coast exposure. Rich soil causes plants to flop and open in the center. Soil must be well drained. Excess moisture promotes root rot. Suitable for mass plantings. Artemesia is effective when used as a foil to contrast blue, red and yellow flowers. It combines well with other silver-leaved foliage plants such as Caryopteris, Lavandula, Nepeta, Perovskia and Stachys

Lavandula (lah-van dew'-la) - Lavender

This ornamental herb is prized for its fragrant flowers which have been used for centuries in making sachets and potpourris. The oils from the plant are widely used in perfumes, soaps and lotions. Lavandula makes an excellent rock garden specimen, or it can be massed to form a low growing hedge to edge a path or border. It thrives in full sun and sandy, well drained soil. Poor drainage and wet crowns will kill plants in winter. Heavy, clay soil or overly fertile soil promotes soft growth which tends to be marginally hardy in cold temperatures. The shrubby, gray-green foliage helps blend other colors together in the garden, and remains attractive after the flowers have gone by. The foliage serves as a perfect background for the flowers which form on slender, arching spikes and persist for several weeks in summer. Plants should be pruned back to just above last year's point of growth every spring. This promotes compact, bushy growth. Lavandula is not as long-lived in this country as it is in England, but new plants are easily propagated by stem cuttings or layering of side shoots. Since plants do not die back completely to the ground in winter, a mulch of pine boughs or salt marsh hay is beneficial. It does best when grown in a sheltered location. For fresh or dry arrangements, flowers should be picked when they are showing color, but not yet fully opened

Nepeta (nep'e-ta) - Catmint

Good edging plant for the front of the perennial border or for use as a ground cover in a hot and sunny site. Nepeta grows well in full sun, with average, gritty, well drained soil. Light shade is tolerated. Pale, lavender-blue flower spikes in spring to early summer form compact mounds. The aromatic, gray-green foliage helps blend other plants together in the garden and remains attractive after flowers have gone by. It has a minty scent when bruised or handled. Nepeta is drought tolerant, but doesn't perform well in a combination of heat and humidity. It is nice in association with silver-leaved foliage plants such as Artemesia, Perovskia and Stachys, and makes a beautiful underplanting for roses. Nepeta is also an ideal plant to include in the herb garden with companions such as Lavender, Sage and Thyme, all of which enjoy similar growing conditions. Sheer back by half after flowering to promote a second flush of bloom and to keep compact form. Overly fertile soil promotes loose, floppy growth.

Perovskia (pe-rof'skee-a) - Russian Sage

Beautiful mid-border perennial valued for its cut-leaf silver foliage and its late summer lavender-blue flower spires which persist for many weeks. Plants thrive in full sun, average soil and good drainage. Given these conditions, stems are 3-4' tall and upright growing. In overly fertilized soil, floppy growth will occur. Foliage gives off a light sage-like scent when bruised or handled. Once established, the base of the plant becomes woody. To promote strength and vigor, stems should be cut to the ground in early spring. Planted in groups of three or more, Perovskia provides an airy haze in the garden and is an excellent plant for filler. It makes a nice association with pink shrub roses, Asters, Artemesia, Boltonia, Echinacea, Echinops, Liatris, Malva, Sedum and many Ornamental Grasses. The gray stems are attractive in the winter landscape

Stachys (stak'iss) - Lamb's Ears

Stachys is an old fashioned favorite and one of the finest foliage plants for the sunny perennial border or rock garden. The dense silvery mats of woolly foliage provide a nice contrast in combination with a wide range of flower colors and foliage textures. It is effective as a specimen or when mass planted as an edging or ground cover. Stachys thrives in full sun and average to poor soil that must be well drained. Heavy soil or excessive rain and humidity will cause leaves to rot. Overhead watering should be avoided, since the hairy foliage traps water, promoting further leaf rot and the spread of disease. Spires of wool violet-purple flowers rise 18" above the foliage in June. The flowers are an insignificant secondary feature to the handsome, long-lasting foliage. Stachys combines well with almost all flower colors, but it looks best with whites, pinks and blues. It is striking in association with purple-leaved shrubs, silver foliage plants, and is traditionally paired with Dianthus, Iris, Peonies and Roses. It is also an ideal plant to include in the herb garden with companions such as Lavender, Nepeta, Sage and Thyme, all of which enjoy similar growing conditions.

Fibrous (Begonia x semperflorens), F-1 Hybrids. This form of Begonia is available in green or bronze leaf, in a full compliment of reds, pinks and white. This compact mounded plant has medium size flowers that bloom continuously all summer and thrive in the worst of conditions. They perform best in full sun to partial shade in non-specific soil types.

Tuberous (Begonia x tuberhybrida), F-1 Hybrids. Best known for their masses of large double flowers-- 2 - 21/2"! They are a favorite for baskets and containers in shaded areas. Continue to water throughout the season with a blossom-booster fertilizer. Be careful not to over water these beauties, they don’t like wet feet!

Spectrum also known as hiemalis or Reiger Begonia. These flowers have vibrant colors and qualities of both fibrous and tuberous. They produce masses of 1 - 11/2" flowers that overflow in baskets and containers indoors and out. It prefers partial sun to light shade in well drained soil.

Stachys (stak'iss) - Lamb's Ears

Stachys is an old fashioned favorite and one of the finest foliage plants for the sunny perennial border or rock garden. The dense silvery mats of woolly foliage provide a nice contrast in combination with a wide range of flower colors and foliage textures. It is effective as a specimen or when mass planted as an edging or ground cover. Stachys thrives in full sun and average to poor soil that must be well drained. Heavy soil or excessive rain and humidity will cause leaves to rot. Overhead watering should be avoided, since the hairy foliage traps water, promoting further leaf rot and the spread of disease. Spires of wool violet-purple flowers rise 18" above the foliage in June. The flowers are an insignificant secondary feature to the handsome, long-lasting foliage. Stachys combines well with almost all flower colors, but it looks best with whites, pinks and blues. It is striking in association with purple-leaved shrubs, silver foliage plants, and is traditionally paired with Dianthus, Iris, Peonies and Roses. It is also an ideal plant to include in the herb garden with companions such as Lavender, Nepeta, Sage and Thyme, all of which enjoy similar growing conditions.