This superb form of the Chinese scrambler, Jasminum officinale, comes from Fromefield Nursery in the UK. Unlike the species that has green leaves, this seedling boasts brilliant gold foliage that holds beautifully even in our hot, humid summers. The stems are home to deliciously fragrant, pure white flowers throughout the summer. As a gesture of forced integration, we encourage Jasminum 'Frojas' to scramble through other colored foliage plants such as purple loropetalum and smoke tree. Each…

Juncus 'Carman's Grey', a selection of the California native Juncus patens, is one of our favorite rushes (no relation to R. Limbaugh). Introduced and named by grass guru, John Greenlee, Juncus 'Carman's Grey' was named for former California Nurseryman, Ed Carman. No leaves, just evergreen slender, upright steel blue stems to 22"...not leaning either to the right or left. The winter interest and color combinations possibilities of this architectural 2' wide specimen are endless! We grow this…

We were blown away with Juniperus 'All Gold' when we first saw this in Pat McCracken's North Carolina nursery in 2009. We collect conifers, but we'd never seen anything quite like this brilliant selection of the common shore juniper, Juniperus conferta. As it turned out, Juniperus 'All Gold' is a sport from Juniperus 'Blue Pacific' discovered by Pat's friend, Leo Koelewyn, a conifer nurseryman in Monbulk, Australia. The mat of soft golden foliage will eventually reach 15'+ wide...our…

This amazing Brookside Gardens release is still quite rare in the trade...except in variegated plant circles. This groundcover shore juniper has the typical green shore juniper foliage, except that it is heavily splotched bright gold. We have not found the gold pattern to fade, burn out, or revert, as is the case with many streaked plants. A large patch of Juniperus 'Sunsplash' is a very cool feature in the garden...expect a 5' wide patch in 3 years. As with all shore junipers, good drainage…

Juniperus 'Copper Harbor' is an amazing gold-foliaged sport of the popular Juniperus horizontalis 'Bar Harbor', discovered in 2002 at Michigan's Blue Horizon Nursery. This dazzling North American native (Alaska to New England) evergreen groundcover forms a 1' tall x 6' wide brilliant yellow specimen, whose foliage morphs to copper during the winter months.

(PP 5948 expired) We really love this 1985 introduction from Oregon's Iseli nursery that was reportedly discovered in 1980 after lightning hit a patch of Juniperus horizontalis 'Wiltonii'. The result was a beautiful golden-foliage US native (Canada south to Illinois) groundcover juniper that we have enjoyed for over two decades in our rock garden. For us, Juniperus 'Mother Lode' makes a 4' wide, slowly growing patch that looks great in both summer and winter...superb!

Thanks to NC plantsman Jim Massey for sharing this killer poker that he got from "Lola." Kniphofia 'Lola' is, as we say in the South, a big honker. In other words, it's big, it's bodacious, it's the Bo Derek of the red hot pokers. Our amazing clumps are 5' tall x 5' wide with 6-7' spikes of orange flowers in midsummer...a hub for hummingbirds. Kniphofia 'Lola' is not for the small garden, small people who are easily intimidated, or those who have been diagnosed with a heart condition. If you…

Kniphofia rooperi is a late-flowering South African red hot poker, native to coastal marshes with a couple of traits that set it apart from more commonly grown red hot pokers. Instead of a typical poker-like flower head, Kniphofia rooperi boasts a broad, squatty head, each exquisitely patterned yellow at the bottom and bright orange all the way to the top...a hummingbird delight. Secondly, the 3' flower spikes of Kniphofia rooperi emerge in August and continue through October....long after…

(aka: Lavandula 'Niko') Lavandula 'Phenomenal' is a 2012 introduction from our friends at Peace Tree Farms that began its life as an exceptional sport (originally reported to us as a seedling) from Lavandula 'Grosso'. Reviews from around the country have called Lavandula 'Phenomenal' the best lavender ever produced. In our trials, 'Phenomenal' lavender has withstood heat and humidity better than any other Lavandula x intermedia we've trialed. That said, wet soils in the heat of summer are…

Lavandula 'Anouk' is a Dutch selection of the Spanish lavender, Lavandula stoechas, from Lammert Koning of Holland, who claims it is winter hardy to Zone 5b...which would be great, if true. 'Anouk' lavender was selected for its excellent outward branching but compact habit...2' tall x 8' wide in 5 years. The woody stems are adorned with pencil lead-thin, fragrant grey leaves. Each branch is topped, starting in late April and continuing for months, with short spikes ending in dark purple…

How can you resist a plant with such a wonderful name? Thanks to our friend Dr. Kevin Vaughn, of Oregon, for breeding this aptly named selection. Kevin's 1997 introduction was awarded the DeBallion Award in 2005, the highest honor for a Louisiana iris. Starting in early May, Iris 'Red Velvet Elvis', a hummingbird favorite, produces 3' tall spikes of large flowers made up of ruby falls and mauve standards (they aren't red unless you're color blind). As with all Louisiana iris, they can be…

Iris x louisiana 'Melon Cocktail' is another of our favorite Louisiana iris hybrids. This vigorous 2002 introduction from hybridizer T.J. Betts produces masses of 3' tall stalks in early May, topped with luscious orangey-bronze flowers that often show a narrow yellow border and a small yellow throat. Iris 'Melon Cocktail' will grow in average garden soils but, like most Louisiana iris, will really go nuts when grown as a marginal aquatic in shallow water.

Iris x louisiana 'Lucy's Legacy' is a stunning 1997 introduction from Australia's iris breeder Heather Pryor. Iris 'Lucy's Legacy' is topped, starting for us in early May with 31" tall spikes, ending with flower stalks bearing large bright russet-red flowers, highlighted by a butterscotch backside, and a bright central yellow throat. Like all Louisiana iris, Iris 'Lucy's Legacy' will grow in shallow water as well as in moist garden soils. We're unsure which Lucy's legacy is the…

Iris 'Love me Do' is a 1998 introduction from Australian Iris breeder, Bernard Pryor of our Southeast US native Louisiana Iris. The 32" tall stalks arise for us in late April/early May, topped with clusters of large cerise pink flower, each highlighted by dramatic yellow throat markings. The petal edges upturn slightly showing the light pink underneath, causing the flowers to appear edged with a white ring...quite dramatic. As with all Louisiana iris, they are equally happy growing in a few…

(Pryor 97) Iris 'Joie de Vivre' is a Louisiana iris introduction from Heather and Bernard Pryor of Australia, who obviously have a great appreciation for our US native iris. For inquiring minds, 'Joie de Vivre' translates into "enjoyment of life." The flowers that top the clumps in late April through early May are a ruffled, reddish lavender/brown highlighted by a yellow central blotch. I'll bet that's not a color you've seen very often...unless you frequent some seedy downtown street…

(Chowning 78) iris 'Black Gamecock' is an award-winning, deer-resistant Louisiana iris hybrid that makes a huge, 5' tall clump of wide, iris-like foliage, topped in early May with stunning, Elvis-like, dark blue, velvet-colored flowers...a hummingbird haven. Louisiana iris go semi-dormant in the heat of summer, and reflush in fall, remaining evergreen all winter. Iris x louisiana 'Black Gamecock' grows equally as well in moist soils as in 4" of standing water.