Catalog P

PACHYSANDRA. 12. Useful>terminalis. Green Sheen is a new, shiny cultivar of same. Consider procumbens (Alleghany Spurge), a distinctive American native. Zone 4

PAEONIA (Peony). Garden peonies are among the longest lived of perennials. In a good site they will continue to prosper for 50 years or more. Plant them like trees, i.e., dig a hole twice as big as the plant and include bonemeal and compost in the soil mix. The most common reason for failure to bloom is planting too deep. The top eye (growing point) should be 1 to 1-1/2 inches below surface--no more! Peonies also need sun to bloom. Finally, plant them at least 3 feet apart and in a well-drained (but not dry) soil, to avoid fungal damage. For the same reason, never compost peony leaves as they may carry disease (botrytis is the worst) to other plants. Don't overlook the importance of peony foliage in the border.

Bareroot peonies can only be moved in September, so we pot some at that time for the following Spring. Note that our plants are mature--most will bloom in the pots. Established plants can be seen in our garden. We have relied on the descriptions and evaluations in the very authoritative Peonies by Al Rogers for those that are new to us. Note that we have doubles (bombs), singles and Japanese (with stamenoid tufts in the centers), in the full color range. Not every variety is available every year.

Bowl of Beauty. Early pink Japanese with yellow center.

Charm. 34 Late Japanese, ruby red, yellow-tipped petaloids.

Cheddar Charm. 30-36 Midseason Japanese; white, gold

center.

Cherry Twist. 30 Midseason Single Novelty. Twisted

petals of cherry pink, overlaid cream and white.

Coral Charm. 36 Early semi-double coral-peach.

Coral Supreme. 36 Early. Salmon-coral double.

Early Scout. 21 Early Single Red, finely cut foliage. NEW.

Eliza Lundy. 24 Early Double Dark Red; nice in bud.

Fancy Nancy. 30 Midseason Japanese, cerise pink. NEW.

Felix Crousse. Ruby red double.

Festiva Maxima. 36 Early. The standard white double.

Fire Opal. Ruby red double, white edge on central petals.

Firebird Frances. (gn) Early fuschia single; true name unk.

Flame. 26 Early. Fiery rosy red single.

Illini Warrior. 32 Early single, dark red, vigorous.

Kansas. Very large watermelon red double. Gold Medal.

Karl Rosenfield. 32 Mid-season crimson red double.

Krinkled White. 34". Single white flowers, yellow centers.

Maestro. 36 Midseason Dark Red Double. NEW

Mrs. Wilder Bancroft. Midseason ruby red Japanese.

Norma Volz. 36 Midseason double white with yellow and

blush pink highlights. Gold Medal.

Pink Hawaian Coral. 36 Early. Coral double forms a rose

shape. Gold Medal in 2000.

Sarah Bernhardt. VL Dark rose pink double; fine cut flower.

Scarlett OHara.36 Early. Fiery red single, good plant habit

Sea Shell. Early light pink single. Gold Medal .

Silver Dawn Mix. Early singles; pinks and yellows. NEW.

Thumbellina.14VE Single rose flr, compact plant. NEW

Vivid Rose. 27 Late , shimmering deep pink double. NEW.

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HERBACEOUS PEONIES ON DISPLAY Bowl of Cream, Bunker Hill, Charlies White, Chinook, Coral Fay, Duchesse de Nemours, Early Windflower, Elsa Sass, Honey Gold, Jan van Leeuwen, Kelway's Glorious, Laura Dessert, Monsieur Jules Elie, Moon of Nippon, Mount Saint Helens, officinalis Rosa Plena, Paula Fay, peregrina Sunshine, Raspberry Sundae, Rose Tulip, Royal Rose, Shirley Temple, tenuifolia (Fern Leaf), Top Brass Please feel free to express your interest in any of these varieties. In some cases we may be able to get your choices for you this year. In any case, your desires will guide our digging and/or ordering for 2004 .

Tree Peonies: White, yellow, pink, red, purple. A limited supply of named, own root, tree peonies is available. These are in root control>

PANAX quinquifolia (ginseng). An attractive American native, quite aside from its position in folklore.

PAPAVER orientale (Oriental Poppy). 36". Poppies are notorious for being not true-to-name, so we recommend you select from our larger plants in bloom, if you want to be certain of color. Plant poppies where they can fade into the background after flowering; foliage becomes ratty. Zone 3.

   Beauty of Livermore. Definitely red.

   Brilliant. Scarlet, tending toward orange.

Lilac Girl. Raspberry-lilac.

  Picotee. White with orange edge.

   Princess Victoria Louise. Salmon pink.

  Royal Wedding. 32 Pure white flowers with black center.

Turkenlouis. 30-36". Orange-red, fringed edge.

PATRINIA. We really like this. Panicles of bright yellow flowers make it look like a yellow Baby's Breath, and it blooms in late summer. Great with grasses, asters, and mums.

PENSTEMON (Beard Tongue). Typically several spikes covered with small tubular flowers arise from basal rosette of lanceolate leaves. Summer blooming, sun or part shade, well-drained soil. Good cut flower. Our stock is rated to Zone 4.

digitalis (Foxglove Penstemon). Glossy green basal leaves,       white flowers.

d. Husker Red. 30". Superior cultivar of P. digitalis. Broad       maroon leaves, white flowers. 1996 Perennial Plant of

the Year. Try it with pink irises!

Elfin Pink. 12" spikes, bright pink.

fruticosa Purple Haze. 8". Cascading evergreen sub-      shrub, lilac-purple flowers in late Spring. Z4.

hirsutus Pygmaeus. 8". Purple, blooms June-Aug.

pinifolius. 8-10". Coral flowers, needle-like leaves.

pinifolius Mercer Yellow.

Prairie Dusk. Rose-purple.

Prairie Splendor. 26". Wht, pink, rose, lavender Mix.

PEROVSKIA atriplicifolia (Russian Sage) 36-48". Perennial Plant of the Year for 1995. Gray foliaged, semi-woody and open plant with masses of lavender blue flowers in spikes. Midsummer bloom. Happy plants give a see-through lavender haze very attractive in a large mixed border. Full sun, well-drained soil. In addition to the species, we have Filigran, with lacier foliage than others, and Longin, a more upright form than the species. Little Spires (PPAF) grows just 25. New in 2002.

PERSICARIA (was Polygonum).

amplexicaulis Speciosa (Fire Tails). To 4 ft. Bright       scarlet flower spikes on large, dark green plants.

bistorta Superba (Bistort). 2-3'. Showy rose-pink spires       early Summer. Large glossy leaves turn red in fall. Good       large scale groundcover in sun or part shade.

capitata Magic Carpet. Bronze leafed ground cover with

rose-pink flowers all summer. Full sun to full shade. New.

filiformis Painter's Palette. 24". Green leaves, central       red-brown zones, ivory-yellow and pink splashes, stripes:       Marvelous foliage plant. Z4.

Red Dragon. Bold red and green foliage with silver

chevrons, creamy white flowers on 24 plant. PP#12062.

PETRORHAGIA (was Tunica) saxifraga Lady Mary. (Coat Flower). Resembles a small Baby's Breath. Quarter-inch double rose-pink flowers on 6-inch ferny foliage all summer. Last year we found it makes a gorgeous pot plant, blooming from June until hard frost. Found in sunny, dry, limey places.

PHLOX. Large family of Spring and Summer bloomers. Z3.

divaricata (Canadian Phlox). 12". Spring flowering; best in

moist light shade. Choose from canadensis (blue    native),

Clouds of Perfume (fragrant),  Fuller's White, and

Chattahoochee, a cross between P. divaricata and P. pilosa

(blue with a maroon eye). Try Blue Elf, new in 2003.

glaberrima trifloras. 18-24" native. Lilac pink blooms, basal    leaf rosette in Spring. Moist soil, sun or part shade.

maculata (Carolina). 24". Summer phlox that is less subject    to mildew than paniculata. Miss Lingard is white;    Rosalinde is deep rose pink. Newer listings are Alpha    (bright rose pink), Magnificent (blue pink), and Omega    (white with pink eye).

paniculata (Tall Summer Phlox). Hybridizers have been working on mildew resistance; good air circulation is still the best protection!

Becky Towe. Pink flower, gold and green variegated leaf.  

Blue Paradise. 40. Fresh flowers seem really blue to us.

Bright Eyes . 36" soft pink, strong red eye.

   David. 4-5'. Fragrant, strong grower, very mildew resist-

ant; best white. 2002 Perennial Plant of the Year.

   Eva Cullum. Rich pink, red eye, mildew resistant

   Franz Schubert. 36" lilac blue; compact,vigorous.

   Nora Leigh. Green and white variegated foliage makes it       special, but also a sometimes finicky grower. Pink       flowers on 30-36" stems.

   Orange Perfection. 24". Salmon orange, tough.

    Robert Poore. 4-5 ft. Deep pink flowers; clean foliage

all summer is claimed. Robust.

Starfire. 36". Brightest, truest red, some say.

   Tenor. 24". Rosy red, early & rebloom. Reddish foliage.

stolonifera (Creeping Phlox) 6-8" flower spikes rise from the evergreen leaf mat in Spring. A woods phlox, or use as groundcover around deciduous shrubs, large hostas.

   Blue Ridge. Lavender-blue, closest to native. Limited.

   Bruce's White. Pristine white flowers April-May.

   Home Fires is a deep pink, very successful>

   Osbornes White. New in 2002. 

Pink Ridge has showy pink flowers, to 10".

   Sherwood Purple. Pale purple flowers in May.

   Variegata. White edged leaf, pink flower. Limited

subulata. The familiar Spring rock garden phlox. Foliage is needle like and semi-evergreen. Spring sun and good drainage preferred, but a little shade in summer will improve

foliage quality. Avail. in White, Blue and Red, or by variety:

   Arctic Dark Pink. Rosy "red'.

   Candy Stripe. Medium pink and white stripes.

   Coral Eye. Pink with red eye.

    Red Wing.

Subsp. silenifolia. Very compact.

PHUOPSIS stylosa (Crosswort) is a charming 8 rockery creeper, with purply-pink flowers May July. Rumor says it is part of the bedstraw family, so watch it!

PHYSOSTEGIA (Obedient Plant). 24-30". Tubular flowers on graceful>Miss Manners is a big improvement on the species whitemore compact, better mannered. Vivid has green leaves, bright orchid pink flowers, a long bloom period. Vivid Variegated has green and white foliage. Especially handsome in Fall, when foliage purples.To Zone 3.

PHYTEUMA scheuchzeri. 6. Easy rock garden plant with showy heads of blue flowers (like a mutant bellflower?). NEW

PINELLIA looks like an exotic Jack-in-the-Pulpit, to which it is loosely related. Definitely a conversation piece for shady spots. Tripartita and tripartita Var. atropurpurea are the ones weve been growing. Pedatisecta reseeds and makes an exotic groundcover. Stock limited on all Pinellia.

PLATYCODON (Balloon Flower). Balloon-like buds open to 2" tailored stars in late summer. These plants are very late to break ground in the Spring--keep the faith! Plant in sun or light shade, well-drained soil. Large flowers cover a 6-8" clump on variety Sentimental Blue. That's flower power! Deadhead for good rebloom.

SYMBOL>2003 Phoenix Flower Farm Page 27

PODOPHYLLUM peltatum (Mayapple). 18. One great lobed leaf , creamy, nodding flowers, and red fruit mark this familiar native woods plant. Goes dormant early. Zone 4.

POLEMONIUM (Jacob's Ladder). Clusters of medium blue bells on fern-like foliage. Striking foliage variegation of Brise d Anjou, of the variegated foliage, has performed very well for us since 1998, in a rich, moist spot which receives morning sun. We have had reports of sudden death, so it may be picky. Blue Pearl forms neat 12" mounds; very serviceable. Apricot Delight is a tall form with apricot flowers, a bit floppy. P. boreale Heavenly Habit is a 20 selection with larger blue flowers than the species, very fragrant; nice! This family needs good drainage. To Zone 3.

POLYGONATUM (Solomon's Seal). To 4 ft. Domesticated woods wildflower has an arching stem with paired leaves. 1" white bells hang from the underside of the stem. Most graceful>Variegatum has a narrow white leaf edge. 20". The dwarf species humile grows upright to about 8, and quickly forms a dark green, nicely textured groundcover.

POLYGONUM. See Persicaria, or Fallopia.

PRATIA pedunculata Country Park. Low growing ground- cover with fragrant, deep blue flowers in Summer. Full sun.

PRIMULA (Primrose). Large family of brightly colored flowers (and homely foliage) that are the Spring stars of the shade garden, as long as they get enough moisture. Zone 5.

bulleyana. Tall candelabra type, orange flowers.   

x chungensis. Species 24, w/pale orange, fragrant flowers.

No information on this new-to-us cross.

Cowichan strain. Fine rich colors. Limited.

denticulata (Drumstick). These look like 6" white or       purple lollipops. Very early. To Zone 3.

florindae. 4 ft. mophead primula from Tibet. May be tender

 japonica (Candelabra). To 24". Happy plants produce 2 or       3 tiers of blossoms encircling the stalk, late Spring into       Summer. Will naturalize in moist to wet conditions. Our       mix comes from our friend Lil Gristwood and includes       white, pink, and red shades. Probably Zone 4.

   polyantha. These are the big, showy primroses most often       found in garden centers. We don't know what strain our       supplier uses, but they seem to rebloom much more       consistently than others we have grown. We have blue       shades, pink, rose, yellow, and white.

   pruhonicensis Wanda. More compact than polyantha.

   sinopurpurea. Late Spring bloomer: Clusters of magenta,

purple or violet funnel-shaped flowers on 12 stems. New.

 veris (Cowslip Primrose). 8". Umbels of nodding pale       yellow blossoms, April-May. Moist soil.

v. Sunset Shades. Selected strain in yellow, orange, red.

April Rose, Dawn Ansell, Granny Graham, Paragon

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and Roy Cope are hybrid double flowered varietes in red,

white, violet-blue,bright pink, and crimson-purple respec-

tively. The last is only 4-6, others 6-8. New in 2002.

PULMONARIA (Lungwort). 8-12". Hairy, oval leaves typically have white splotches. Clusters of bell-like flowers appear in early Spring. This is a satisfactory deep shade plant. There has been a flurry of hybridizing in this family in recent years. Newer varieties are more mildew resistant and more richly patterned than old Mrs. Moon.

longifolia ssp Cevennensis. Very long leaves, vigorous;

steel blue flowers. Excellent ground cover. 

l. Bertram Anderson. 8". Leaves are narrower, more       pointed and with better contrast than most. The brilliant       blue flowers are a big plus. Very good longifolia hybrid.

l. Coral Springs 12 Coral pink flowers May-June

l. Roy Davidson. Similar to B. Anderson, but sky-blue       flowers. Some say the best plant habit of any.

officinalis Sissinghurst White. Leaf pattern similar to Mrs.

Moon,   but plant is more robust and somewhat larger for

us. Pure white flowers last for several weeks. White

Wings is an even better compact version (to 8).

rubra Redstart. Coral or brick red flowers very early; leaf

      variegation quickly fades. David Ward is a

rubra variant with precise white edge on each leaf.

Cotton Cool, better, can be seen in our Crabapple Bed.

saccharata Mrs. Moon. Flowers open pink, turn blue. Good

leaf  variegation. Naturalizes readily by seed. This is the        selection seen in old gardens. Pierres Pure Pink is a

nice variation; apparently somewhat mildew resistant.

x Excalibur. Mostly-silvered leaf. Wine-to-pink flowers.

x Majeste. Silver gray foliage , narrow green edge. Very

heat tolerant, appears to be better than Excalibur.

x Raspberry Splash (longifolia x rubra cross from Dan

Heims, who has revolutionized pulmonaria) Heavily

silver spotted leaves, raspberry pink flowers.

x Spilled Milk. Heavily silvered cultivar.

x Victorian Brooch. Distinct compact plant, well-spotted,

with magenta-coral flowers. Patented.

PULSATILLA vulgaris (Pasque Flower). 8". Hairy, deeply cut foliage and cupped anemone-like blossom explain its previous classification in that family. Color ranges from near white to purple. Rubra is a red selection and Papageno (12) is a seed strain, with fringed double flowers in various colors. Early Spring bloom in sun or part shade; rich, well-drained soil recommended. Zones 4 7.

PYCNANTHEMUM virginiana (Mountain Mint). 2-3 ft native aromatic foliage plant; showy bracts hold clusters of lavender flowers July September. Zones 3 7.

PYRETHRUM (Painted Daisy). See TANACETUM.