Catalog L

LAMIASTRUM (Archangel) 12". Arrow-shaped leaves are covered with a sharp white netted pattern. Quite long lasting yellow flowers in Spring; foliage clumps attractive all summer. Variety (selection?) is Herman's Pride. For shade.

LAMIUM (Dead Nettle). A group of ground covers for medium to deep shade characterized by white splashes of color on green leaves and small snapdragon-like flowers. The species is coarse and rampant but cultivars are neat and nice.

   Beacon Silver. Typical rosy pink flowers

   Beedham's White. Bright gold foliage, white flower.

   Shell Pink. Soft pink flowers.

Red Nancy. More dramatic rose-red flowers.

White Nancy. Flowers are white. Good variegation, best

groundcover, in our opinion. All hardy to Zone 3.

LAURENTIA fluviatilis Solenopsis. Mat forming habit with small leaves, 1-1/2 light blue flowers; useful>

LAVANDULA (Lavender). 18-24". Flowers and leaves used for sachets. We use it as an ornamental. To avoid woodiness, cut it back by 1/3 each Spring. We always have Munstead and Hidcote. Our newest favorite is Fred Boutin, with neatly compact and grayed foliage; it has made stunning clumps in the bed at our entrance. Fred is one of a crop of interspecies hybrids aiming to combine the hardy angustifolia with foliage variation and improved flowers of the French species. Others we are trying are Provence, Goldburg, Coconut Ice, and Walbertons Silver Edge. Zone 5, warmer.

LAVATERA (Tree Mallow). Makes a splendid 5 - 6 ft. semi-shrub for the mixed border. Flowers of the mallow type,

similar to hollyhock. Usually dies back to the ground each year, which is why we include it with perennials. To Zone 5.

LEPTINELLA squalida. Nicer than it sounds! 1-2 high mats of deeply cut fern-like foliage which loves sun. For the alpine garden or in sidewalk cracks. Platts Black was new in 2002foliage holds its deep purple-bronze color all summer; an excellent groundcover. Zones 5 9.

LEWISIA cotyledon. 8. Regenboggen Strain. This Western North American alpine rewards us with masses of 1 flowers for weeks, in sunset colors. Hybrid Little Plum is a cotyledon x longipetala cross, growing to 6 and providing masses of plum-pink flowers all summer. Perfect drainage required for lewisias. Zone 5 or warmer.

LIATRIS (Gayfeather, Blazing Star). 30-48". Fine lavender or white spikes above a basal rosette of lance-like leaves in early Summer. Individual florets look something like annual ageratum. Vigorous and quick to multiply but not invasive. Species are tallest. Purple cultivars Kobold and Floristan Violet are more compact. We also like prairie wildflower species aspera (pink) and ligulistylus (raspberry buds opening purple).

LIGULARIA (Senecio). Dentata group (30-40) has large heart-shaped leaves on a plant best suited to moist shade. We're still trying to sort out the varieties, but our advice to savvy buyers remains the same: Check them out after they have some growth, and buy the one that suits your taste, never mind the name. We look for the best purple leaf color on Desdemona and/or Othello. In 2003 we are offering our own selection, christened Shakespeare in Love. It has the best color and plant habit we have seen. Very limited! The flowers on the dentatas are raucous 2 3 gold daisiesquite a contrast. Zone 5.

 Stenocephala The Rocket (to 72") is the best known ligularia--columnar, with spikes of small yellow flowers. Hard to believe its the same family, but it is, and requires the same moist shade. Combine it with Cardinal Flower. Zone 5.

LILIUM (Lily). Bulb lilies are thought to be difficult, probably because the bulbs never really go dormant and suffer if kept out of the soil for long. We pot ours promptly on receipt from the grower, and are thus able to sell them to you in bloom. We always have some each of the early summer Asiatics, the midseason fragrant Aurelians (trumpets), and the late blooming Orientals, also fragrant. We always have Stargazer and the sensational white Casa Blanca. Otherwise, cultivars vary. The new, short Oriental hybrids (24-30" instead of 6' plus), of which Mona Lisa is one, are especially popular.

LINARIA alpina is for the rock garden6 mound, purple flowers over a long period. Zone 5.

LINUM perenne (Blue Flax). 30". Needle-like foliage bears many 3/4" light blue single flowers repeatedly all summer. A short-lived perennial for sun, it usually self-sows.

LIRIOPE. See Ornamental Grasses.

LOBELIA. 24-36". Family of native wildflowers. Cardinalis (Cardinal Flower) is a protected plant in the wild, but is easily grown and available in nurseries. 36 spikes of bright clear red rise above rosettes of lance-like shiny green leaves in summer. Likes moist part shade; short-lived but self-sows. Syphilitica (24") has blue flowers. Its a coarser plant but also more vigorous; tolerates some sun and drier soil. The white form is sometimes available. There is a raft of new hybrids around: Dark Crusader and Ruby Slippers (velvety ruby red), Gladys Lindley (white), Flamingo (soft pink), and Grape Knee-Hi (PPAF), 22 tall, with vibrant purple bloom mid-Summer to mid-Fall.  Species to Zone 3, cultivars at least to Zone 5.

LUPINUS (Lupine). 36-48". Member of the pea family. One to two foot columns of blossoms above the somewhat lacy foliage are very appealing. Plant where you want them; they don't transplant easily. They do self sow easily and you will have trouble keeping colors pure unless you deadhead promptly. Lupines don't look so hot after bloom, so plant something else in front of them. Perennis, the Northeastern wildflower, is blue. The Pages is carmine red; Noble Maiden a pure white; The Governor blue to purple. Sun.

LYCHNIS (Catchfly, Campion) May July. All Zone 4.

arkwrightii Vesuvius Brilliant red flowers like Maltese

Cross,  purple foliage; made for the hot border.

chalcedonica (Maltese Cross). Scarlet flowers in Summer

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 coronaria (Rose Campion). Felted gray leaves, bright   

   fuschia flowers. Self-sowing biennial.

 flos-cuculi Nana. 4 dwarf, red flowers May-June.

viscaria. 24". Shocking pink flowers, self sows like a weed.   

viscaria fl.pl. 12" stalks, shocking pink double flowers, May.

LYSICHITON americanus (Skunk Cabbage). 20". Much prettier than its name is this bog/streamside plant with yellow flowers like calla lilies. Camtschaticensis is white.

LYSIMACHIA. Family of vigorous tamed wildflowers tolerant of both shade and sun.

   ciliata Atropurpurea (Purple Circle Flower). 36".       Nodding yellow flowers over bronze-red leaves.

   clethroides (Gooseneck Loosestrife). 48" Curved white       flower heads in summer. Invasive.

   nummularia Aurea (Moneywort) Flat gold groundcover.

   punctata (Circle Flower). 36". Yellow 1" single flowers.

punctata Alexander. Green and white variegated foliage.

PURPLE LOOSESTRIFE (Lythrum virgatum)

The common name loosestrife is applied to both Lythrum and Lysimachia species. All of the plants we list are good garden plants. We do not list or distribute any lythrums, even the so-called sterile varieties. This alien plant has choked out thousands of acres of marsh-land natives. We now have the chance to control>