Attract Pollinators

Zone: 5 - 9
Natural Range: Japan
Soil:  Moist, humus rich
Light: Part shade, sun
Height: 2'
Attributes:  Deciduous, Spikes of multi - tiered whorled crimson blooms mid spring.  Lance shaped leaves formed in a rosette.
Notes:  A long lived perennial that looks great when planted in masses with Iris.
Companion plants:  Rheum, Aconitum, Iris, Gunnera, ferns

Great Plant Picks

Family:  Rutaceae
Zone:  4 - 9
Natural Range:  Eastern and Central United States
Soil:  Average,  drought tolerant
Light:  Sun, , part sun, shade
Height:  15’
Bloom Time:  June
Attracts:  Butterflies
Pest Resistance:  NA
Attributes:  Deciduous, trifoliate, shiny green leaves to 5" long.  Cymes of small white flowers.  Pendulous seed clusters.
Notes:   Native to open woods, glades and ravines.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot 3' - 4'

Family:  Ericaceae
Zone:  3 - 9
Natural Range:  North America
Soil:  Average, moist humus rich
Light:  Sun, part sun
Height:  2' - 5'
Bloom Time:  May to June
Attracts:  Bees
Pest Resistance:  NA
Attributes:  Evergreen.  Aromatic, small, fuzzy leaves.  Numerous small white flowers
Notes: Once known as Ledum groenlandicum.  A lovely small shrub for the bog garden, moist bed, or pond margin.  Plant near large rocks and logs.  
 
Pot size:  Deep 2" Pot

Family:  Ericaceae
Zone:  7 - 9
Natural Range:  PNW
Soil:  Average, humus rich well drained
Light:  Sun, part sun
Height:  5' - 25'
Bloom Time:  May to June
Attracts:  Bees
Pest Resistance:  NA
Attributes:  Evergreen.  Dark pink to pale pink flowers. 
Notes:  Rhododendron macrophyllum is wonderful to see in the wild when in bloom.  Can be found growing in full sun or in the shade of tall conifers.
 
Pot size:  4" Band Pot

Family: Grossulariaceae
Zone: 6 - 9
Natural Range: PNW
Soil:  Average, humus rich
Light: Part shade, sun
Height: 6'
Attracts:  Hummingbirds
Attributes:  Deciduous.  White flowers in late winter-early spring before the foliage emerges.
Notes:  Versatile and adaptable shrub.

Great Plant Picks

Pot Size:  Large Band Pot

Family: Grossulariaceae
Zone: 3 - 8
Natural Range: Europe
Soil:  Average, humus rich
Light: Part shade, sun
Height: 36"
Attracts:  Hummingbirds, Bees, Butterflies
Attributes:  Deciduous.  Small yellow-green flowers in spring followed by many large red fruit in mid summer. 
Notes:  A more compact and busy form.

Pot Size:  Quart Pot

Family: Grossulariaceae
Zone: 7 - 10
Natural Range: Santa Catalina Island, Baja California
Soil:  Average, drought tolerant
Light: Part shade, sun
Height: 1' - 3'
Attracts:  Birds
Attributes:  Evergreen, ground-cover-like shrub.  Red stems with reddish flowers, reddish fruit.  Thick, waxy leaves. 
Notes:  Fragrant, spicy foliage.

Pot Size:  Medium Band Pot

Family:  Saxifragaceae
Zone: 5 - 9
Natural Range: China
Soil: Moist, humus rich
Light: Part sun
Height: 32 - 48 inches
Attributes: Deciduous.  Narrow pinnate, chocolate new growth with thick veining.  Showy rose-pink buds and lighter pink open flowers early summer.
Notes:  Originally I started growing this form for its noted foliage but discovered that the flowers are the best attribute.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Zone: 5-8
Natural Range: China, Japan, Korea
Soil: moist, humus rich
Light: part sun
Height: 32 - 48 inches
Attributes: Deciduous.  Billows of small white flowers.  Red new growth slowly turning bronze and chocolate then to greenish.
Notes:  This form has luxurious red new growth in the spring.  Plant among other larger foliage plants.  According to two of my fellow growers and plant enthusiasts this is the best foliage form of Rodgersia that they grow.  Keep growing it they say.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Rosa 'Imperial Cross' (Hybrid Chinese Rose)

Family:  Roseaceae
Zone: 7 - 9
Natural Range: Hybrid; Rosa wardii x moyesii
Soil:  Average, humus rich
Light: Sun, part sun
Height:  6' - 8'
Bloom Time: June to July
Attracts: Bees
Pest Resistance:  NA
Attributes: Deciduous.  Pink flowers with yellow center.  Attractive large red fruit fall and winter
Notes: Easy growing and attractive cross that works well in the naturalistic landscape.

Pot Size:  Medium Band Pot

Family:  Roseaceae
Zone: 7 - 10
Natural Range: China
Soil:  Average, humus rich
Light: Sun, part sun
Height:  2'
Bloom Time: June to July
Attracts: Bees
Pest Resistance:  NA
Attributes: Semi-evergreen.  Large solitary pink flowers with yellow center.  Low growing foliage that spreads with time.
Notes: Native to mountain forests, thickets, slopes and stream sides.

Pot Size:  4" Band Pot

Family:Lamiaceae
Zone: 5 - 9
Natural Range: Himalayas
Soil:Average, humus rich
Light: Sun, part shade
Height: 4'
Attracts:  Hummingbirds, Bees
Pest Resistance: Deer, Rabbit
Bloom Time: July to September
Attributes:Deciduous, scented foliage.  Tall stems with many yellow flowers.
Notes:Even in our mostly shady and wet garden Salvia campanulata has proven very adaptable and versatile. 

Pot Size:  Small Band Pot

Family:  Adoxaceae
Zone: 4 - 9
Natural Range: Hybrid;
Soil:  Average to moist, humus rich
Light: Part shade, sun
Height: 8'
Attributes: Deciduous.  Green and white variegated foliage.  Large, lacy flowers clusters in early summer.  Purple-black fruit in autumn.  Needs a pollinator variety such as Black Beauty, Black Lace, Lemony Lace.
Notes:  A major improvement over older variegated varieties.

Pot size:  4" Band

Family:  Malvaceae
Zone:  6 - 9
Natural Range:  PNW
Soil:  Average, humus rich, drought tolerant
Light:  Sun, part shade
Height:  36"
Bloom Time:  May to July
Attracts:  Butterflies, Bees
Pest Resistance:  NA
Attributes:  Deciduous.  Rosettes of small glossy palmate leaves.  Vibrant pink flowers on tall spikes.
Notes:  Great for pollinators.
 
Pot size:  4" Pot

Family:  Ranunculaceae
Zone:  5 - 9
Natural Range:  Hybrid
Soil:  Average, moist humus rich
Light:  Sun, part sun
Height:  48"
Bloom Time:  July to August
Attracts:  Bees
Pest Resistance:  Deer, Rabbit
Attributes:  Deciduous.  Striking black stems when grown in sun.  Lacy foliage with purple flowers.
Notes:  Very showy for the back of the border.
 
Pot size:  1 Gallon Pot

Zone: 4 - 9
Natural Range:  Hybrid
Soil:  Average, humus rich
Light: Part shade
Height: 12" - 24"
Bloom Time: Late summer into Fall
Attracts:  Bees
Pest Resistance:  NA
Attributes:  Deciduous.  Tall stems with white flowers with reddish-purple spotting.
Notes: A Japanese cultivar.

Pot Size:  4" Band Pot

Zone: 4 - 9
Natural Range:  Hybrid
Soil:  Average, humus rich
Light: Part shade
Height: 12" - 24"
Bloom Time: Late summer into Fall
Attracts:  Bees
Pest Resistance:  NA
Attributes:Deciduous.  Tall stems with white flowers with purple spotting.
Notes: A Japanese cultivar.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Family:  Ericaceae
Zone:  8 - 10
Natural Range:  Himalayas
Soil:  Average, moist well drained, humus rich
Light:part sun, shade
Height:  8"
Bloom Time:  March to April
Attracts:  Bees
Pest Resistance:  NA
Attributes:  Evergreen, small rounded leaves.  Pinkish white flowers with black fruit.
Notes:  Introduced by Steve Hootman of the Rhododendron Species Botanic Garden.  In the wild this species grows as an epiphyte in mossy, rotting logs.
 
Pot size:  1 Gallon Pot

Family:  Berberidaceae
Zone: 6 - 9
Natural Range:  PNW
Soil:  Average to must humus rich, drought tolerant
Light:  Shade, part shade
Height:  12" - 18"
Attributes:  Deciduous, three lobed leaves with up to thirty white flowers with petals that stick back.
Notes:  This is an Epimedium relative that looks very similar.  In a moist garden they will form large colonies over time.  Best given room from smaller perennials or divided regularly.

Pot Size:  4" Pot