Sunlight Gardens complete list of mail order wildflower plants

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Viola labradorica var. purpurea

Labrador Violet

Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Labrador Violet is a diminutive violet native from Greenland through New England. It has medium purple-blue, 3/4 inch flowers suffused with dark purple and a white eye. Flowering time is mostly in spring and then sporadically throughout the summer and fall. This particular variety has heart shaped leaves that have a wonderful soft dark purple cast in spring and fall. The leaf and flower colors contrast nicely. This little evergreen violet makes clumps 4 inches tall and 12 inches wide and spreads rapidly by slender rhizomes making it an excellent filler plant for the front of the border. Give it full sun up north and some shade down south and fairly moisture retentive soil. It would look great with the spring Phloxes, Jacobs Ladder, Bluestar, Bowmans Root, or Lyre-leaved Sage. Cat# 1230 -more info-

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$10.00 each in quart pots

Spiranthes cernua

Ladies Tresses

Zones: 6, 7, 8, 9

Spiranthes cernua , or Nodding Ladies Tresses, grows in wet places along the southeastern coastal plain and down into Texas. It is one the few native orchids that is easy to grow in cultivation. Each plant forms a clump of shiny, dark green, 8 inch pointed leaves from which a 11/2 to 2 foot tall, cylindrical spike of flowers persists from late summer into fall. The flowers are densely arranged and are yellowish white, tinged green, and slightly scented like vanilla. This orchid seems to defy all "rules" about native orchids. It likes wet to moist, good soil and grows in sun or shade. It not only self-sows prolifically, but it is also stoloniferous and will therefore spread quickly. It is easy and seems not to need any inoculants or special fungi. In fact, it is spreading itself around our shade houses very well. If you have the right spot, give it a try. Cat# 1209 -more info-

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$15.00 each in quart pots

Athyrium filix-femina

Lady Fern

Zones: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Lady Fern is a common fern in moist woods in North America, Europe, and Asia. Plus there are more than 300 named British forms. The wild type grows 2 to 3 feet tall from erect rhizomes. Its twice cut fronds are a soft green and are very fragile. Lady Fern is easy to grow in good moisture retentive soil in light shade. Use it with abundance with all the spring wildflowers, hostas, and Spicebush. Cat# 1031 -more info-

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$10.00 each in quart pots

Sedum ternatum 'Larinem Park'

Larinem Park Stonecrop

Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

This Stonecrop selection was found in Mineral County, West Virginia, and is a bit more compact and floriferous than its parent, Sedum ternatum. Let it form a solid ground cover in light shade over good, well-drained soil. Cat# 1316 -more info-

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$8.00 each

Clematis glaucophylla

Leather Flower

Zones: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Rare in moist woods of the southeast, Leather Flower weaves its way through the brush and trees and dangles its summer flowers throughout and up high. But in cultivation, and with proper pruning, WOW.;;This non-aggressive vine has smooth green leaves with 2 to 4 pairs of leaflets, and from the leaf axils of new growth, 1 inch bright pink flowers are formed nearly all summer long. The solitary, bell-shaped flowers are on 6 inch long stalks which reach out to the sun, and are deep pink with yellow on the insides of the flared openings. It is called Leather Flower because the flowers are thickened almost like a thin banana peel. While new flowers are forming, the old ones develop into very ornamental fluffy seed heads which start glistening gold, turning whitish, then maturing into a deep brown.;;This Clematis likes good soil with regular moisture and partial sun - could take full sun in the north and more shade in the south. It wants to grow around 12 to 15 feet per year but flowering occurs on new growth only. So for use on a fence, trellis, or post where you want to see the flowers up close and down low, pruning should be done any time after the plant has gone dormant in the late fall up to early spring. Cut back to two strong sets of buds or nodes on the stem as close to the ground as possible. Blooms should appear within 2 to 3 feet of where you pruned the stem. Or, if you wanted it to twine around a porch railing that was 10 feet above ground level, you could prune the old stems to about 6 or 7 feet above the ground. If you want to grow it up through a tree or shrub, don't prune at all. It may take some time to reach these heights.

Leather Flower is definitely a candidate for the front porch railing. Given good soil, some light, and moisture, it is a real show stopper.; Cat# 1334 -more info-

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$25.00 each in quart pots

Helleborus xhybridus 'Pine Knot Select'

Lenten Rose

Zones: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

The first perennial to flower in our winter garden, Lenten Rose shows its 3 inch white, mauve, or green (the colors intergrade) flowers from January through April. When winters are not harsh, its evergreen leaves retain their dark green perfection through out the year. A mature clump may be 18 inches tall and 2 feet wide. Lenten Rose needs partial to full shade and rich, moist, cool soil. It is wonderful to naturalize in woods.

Start your first plants at the top of a slope if you have one so the heavy seeds will tumble downhill, gradually spreading to colonize downwards. Cat# 1264 -more info-

Helleborus xhybridus 'Pine Knot Select', Lenten Rose

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$12.00 each in quart pots

Convallaria majalis

Lily of the Valley

Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Who does not know and love the sweet perfume of Lily of the Valley? Lily of the Valley was introduced from Europe some time ago, and has escaped from cultivation throughout the east. In the north, it grows vigorously and makes a very good ground cover in moist shady places. It is much slower growing in the south and can be helped by loosening the soil and adding organic matter. While it may be too aggressive to be planted in a perennial border, it does work very well with shrubs and trees. The fragrant white bell-shaped flowers appear in late spring and at least some should be cut and brought indoors. As a distraction away from its rather ratty late summer foliage, plant some ferns, Hardy Begonias, Wood Asters, and Hearts-a-Bustin with it. Cat# 1258 -more info-

Photo courtesy of Garys Perennials

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$10.00 each in quart pots

Talinum calcaricum

Limestone Fameflower

Zones: 6, 7

Fameflower is a beautiful little succulent that occurs only in the open, gravelly, limestone glades of Tennessee, Kentucky, and Alabama where is it rare throughout. It forms small clumps of plump, needle-like, succulent, 2 _", gray-green leaves. One-foot tall flower stalks support dozens of brilliant, 1", 5-petaled flowers from early summer to fall. Curiously, the flowers only open during the late afternoon and only on sunny days. We grow this perennial like a rock garden plant - with excellent drainage in sharp grit in full sun and also in planters with other drought loving succulents. Good companions would be any of the sun loving Sedums, birdsfoot violet, Tennessee Coneflower, and Dianthus Firewitch. This is really an unusual, neat, and pretty little plant. Who knows, it may be the next roof garden star! Cat# 1536 -more info-

Talinum calcaricum, Limestone Fameflower

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$8.00 each

Schizachyrium scoparium

Little Bluestem

Zones: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Growing only 2 to 3 feet tall, Little Bluestem works easily into your natural prairie planting or grouped with other perennials. It also has wonderful green, blue, and later red coloring. Fall seed stalks are fluffy white and delicate-perfect for backlighting. This one can take drier conditions. Cat# 1196 -more info-

Schizachyrium scoparium, Little Bluestem

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$10.00 each in quart pots

Hexastylis arifolia

Little Brown Jugs

Zones: 6, 7, 8, 9

Little Brown Jugs is a common wildflower in the woods of the southeast. It forms 9 inch clumps of evergreen, heart-shaped, olive green leaves that are sometimes mottled silver. Mid-spring flowers are shaped like small brown jugs and are hidden by the leaves among the leaf litter. They are curious looking, though, and never fail to delight children. Plant Little Brown Jugs in a shadey place with reasonably good soil in clusters of several in an up-front spot to best show it off. Cat# 1541 -more info-

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$10.00 each in quart pots

Schizachyrium scoparium 'The Blues'

Little bluestem, The Blues

Zones: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Little bluestem occurs in every state except Oregon and Nevada. It is a wonderful colorful grass that grows to about 3 feet tall. It works easily into your natural prairie planting or grouped with other perennials in full sun. It also has wonderful green, blue, and later red coloring in the leaves. Fall seed stalks are fluffy white and delicate-perfect for backlighting. This variety, The Blues, has bright, upright clumps of blue/green leaves and pink tinged stems. It's leaves turn burgundy in the fall. This is a lovely grass for a dry, sunny place. It does not like moist or fertile soil so pair it up with other tough, drought tolerant plants like coneflowers, asters, and black-eyed Susans. Cat# 1544 -more info-

Schizachyrium scoparium 'The Blues', Little bluestem, The Blues

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$10.00 each in quart pots

Dryopteris celsa

Log Fern

Zones: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

The Log Fern is a rare fern scattered from Georgia to Arkansas and in Michigan. It is a fertile tetraploid hybrid between the southern Dryopteris ludoviciana (Southern Shield Fern) and the northern D. goldiana (Goldies Wood Fern). It has firm-textured, oblong, almost twice cut fronds 3 to 4 feet tall and 8 inches wide. It makes beautiful stately clumps. It forms slowly expanding clumps that are evergreen in the south. It wants shade and good moist soil. Cat# 1081 -more info-

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$10.00 each in quart pots

Vaccinium angustifolium

Lowbush Blueberry

Zones: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Yummy, yummy 1/2 inch blueberries in mid-summer on low spreading shrubs, then excellent crimson leaves in fall. Seems to like dry, acidic soil in full sun. We've got ours planted along the front walkway with Alumroot and Birdsfoot Violet, but closer to the kitchen would be better. This plant's only fault other than being slow growing, is that deer like it. A bowl full of the berries definitely deserves any defense you can think of. Cat# 1290 -more info-

This item is not available.

$12.00 each in quart pots

Sisyrinchium angustifolium 'Lucerne'

Lucerne Blue-eyed Grass

Zones: 6, 7, 8, 9

Formerly known as Bermuda Blue-eyed Grass, Lucerne is a gorgeous variey of our local Blue-eyed Grass. This one forms rather stiff upright clumps to 12 inches and has quite large (1 1/2"), sky blue flowers with a deeper blue-purple throat and yellow eyes. It is a late spring and early summer bloomer for full sun or light shade and average soil. Clumps can eventually spread to a foot or so around. It might look great with any of the Wild Indigos, Stokesia, Sundrops, or 'Morris Berd' Phlox. Cat# 1426 -more info-

Sisyrinchium angustifolium 'Lucerne', Lucerne Blue-eyed Grass

Photo courtesy of Walters Gardens

This item is currently available.

$10.00 each in quart pots

Salvia lyrata

Lyre-Leaved Sage

Zones: 5, 6, 7, 8

Lyre-leaved Sage forms a nearly flat rosette of leaves that are dark green to maroon and irregularly lobed or lyre-shaped. From April to June, whorls of small, tubular, lilac flowers appear on stalks 1 foot tall. The real virtue of this species is in its use as a native ground cover for sunny or shady sites with lousy soil. Try the plant instead of Ajuga for a unique perennial ground cover. Withstands light foot traffic. Cat# 1192 -more info-

This item is currently available.

$10.00 each in quart pots