Perennials -A-

Acanthus spinosus

Zone 7. Acanthaceae. Mediterranean. Height (in bloom) 90cm (3’). Spread l M (3’). A much more refined form of Acanthus. Foliage is a glossy deep forest green and is deeply cut (resembling power hedge shears) and is a bit more ground hugging. Full sun in well drained to average garden soil. Flowers are a bit more violet pink than A. mollis otherwise the same unusual spiny shape. Flowers last long as a cut flower.

Aconitum carmichaelii ‘Kelmscoff’

Zone 4. Ranunculaceae. Monkshood. Height 1 M (3’). Spread 45cm (18"). A fall flowering beauty with deep blue round, hooded flowers. Good for semi-shade or the woodland border.

All parts of the plant are POISONOUS if eaten.

Alyssoides utriculata

Cruciferae. Europe, Asia Minor. Height 45cm (18"). Spread 45cm (18"). A rockery plant with wallflower-like bright yellow fragrant flowers in spring. The best part of the plant is when it is in seed as the pods are pale-green round balls at the ends of the stems that become papery dry in winter with a clear membrane inside, rather like many looking glasses up the stems.

It prefers full sun and well drained soil, but tolerates part shade.

Anemone hupehensis 'Alba'

Ranunculaceae. W. China. Height 60cm (2'). Spread 45cm (18"). These pure white flowers have 5-6 rounded petals with yellow stamens atop strong stems in late summer. The leaves are divided into three deeply toothed leaflets.

This Anemone can be somewhat invasive especially in rich or light soil and will grow in sun or shade.

Anemone 'Pamina'

Zone 5. Ranunculaceae. Windflower. Height (in bloom) 1.2M (4’). Spread 60cm (2’). A fairly new hybrid Japanese Anemone with a compact growth habit compared to the others. Plus the flowers are a deep candy pink. These flowers are more intensely double than any other Anemone with many overlapping quilled petals and a bright golden yellow centre. A showstopper that blends well with fall Asters and Ornamental grasses.

Anemone 'September Charm'

Zone 5-9. Height 60-90cm (2-3’). Large silvery-pink flowers from August until October. For rich, moist to damp soil.

Arum italicum 'Pictum'

Zone 6. Araceae. Southwestern Europe. Italian Arum. Height 25cm (10"). Spread 30cm (1'). Marbled, large, leathery, shiny forest-green spear-shaped leaves for the woodlands. The flowers are produced in late spring and are spathe-shaped of pale greenish-white. In the fall, orange-red berries are produced and last right through winter if the squirrels don't get to them. The foliage goes dormant in summer and reappears for the winter. The frost hardly bothers these leaves at all. It prefers shade though it can be grown in rich, damp soil in sun. A first class plant.

Asclepias incarnata

Asclepiadaceae. North America. Silk Weed. Height 60-90cm (2-3'). Spread 60cm (2'). Drooping clusters of starry soft pink flowers top the strong stems in summer. They have good strong green leaves.

Their roots spread in light soils in full sun.

Asphedoline lutea

Liliaceae. Sicily. King's Spear. Height 90cm (3'). Spread 30cm (1'). The 9" high blue-grey grassy leaves cluster at the base of the stems and carry on up the stiff flower spikes. Bright straw-yellow fragrant flowers with buff coloured bracts hold tightly to the stems and become wonderful round seed pods attached to the spike.

Prefers well drained soil in full sun.

Aster frikarti 'Monch'

Zone 6. Asteraceae (A. amellus x A. thomsoni). Height 60cm (2'). Spread 60cm (2'). This Aster has charming silvery-blue flowers with large yellow eyes. It is a really superb fall blooming Aster because it blooms longer and later than the rest and does not need staking. Do not cut this plant back in the fall as new buds are developed on old wood.

Astilbe

Follow the hyperlink for a full list of Astilbe species!!

Astilbe, commonly called False Spirea are great in the part shade to full shade. Their fern like foliage and plume flowers make them a wonderful summer perennial.

Astrantia major 'Rubra'

Zone 4. Apiaceae. Masterwort. Height (in bloom) 60cm (2'). Spread 45cm (1 1/2'). The flowers are wonderful stars with the bracts that are a dark maroon red with a delicate bunch of pink stamens in the centre. It is recommended for its dark colouring. The flowers hold there colouring after they are dried too.

Full sun if moist, but part shade is best.

Astrantia maxima

Zone 4. Apiaceae. Asia Minor. Masterwort. Height 70cm (28"). Spread 45cm (18"). Not much larger flowered than A. major just more rounded petals making the flower have more substance. Pinkish colouring, flowering all summer long. Foliage is also more rounded than A. major.