We may be far from the prairie, but this spectacular specimen is right at home here in any New England landscape. It’s got what it takes to stop you in your tracks with dense, rounded, carefree form, excellent disease resistance, and amazing bright fuchsia buds that will become clear deep red/pink fragrant flowers before your very eyes in early May complementing the unusual purple new growth that is just emerging. Mature leaves are eye catching, too with red tinged veins and petioles against a deep reddish-green leaf body that turns an attractive orange in autumn. Small, persistent red berries complete the picture on this stunning plant that will thrive in full sun

Who’s ever heard of fireworks in late April? Your landscape will experience those fireworks and sparks will fly as the masses of star-like flowers featured by this selection explode in a burst of vivid fuchsia buds, opening to radiant purple. ‘Leonard Messel’ is so anxious to put on a show for us that its blooms arrive before the foliage in a staggering display of springtime coloration against a rounded array of gray barked branches. This explosive show takes place each year on a low branched specimen that is upright when young, but rounds in form as it ages. Plant in sun for full effect and give it some space to spread and dazzle you through the years.

First introduced as one of the famous ‘Eight Little Girls Hybrids’, ‘Jane’ has made her way into our hearts, and we can’t stop loving her charismatic, playful ways. Fast growing branching that is upright when young but spreads as the plant ages features unequalled tulip like, deliciously fragrant flowers in late April before leaves appear. Rich purple exteriors frame bright white centers on this bloom not only in spring, but all summer long and even into the fall as ‘Jane’ will surprise you with her charming ways and spontaneous small bursts of blooms even in the off season! Plant ‘Jane’ in a sunny location with some afternoon shade for the best results and you will revel in what an incredible specimen this low branched, spreading tree can be.

A multiple cross of Magnolia cultivars by August Kehr, March Till Frost flowers just as its name implies. With at rich bouquet of purple blooms in late March and early April, Magnolia ‘March Till Frost’ continues to bloom intermittently until late Fall.

Huge, heavy textured, tulip shaped blossoms open in early May revealing incredible deep burgundy color that is striking and unique.  Large, deep green foliage follows heavy bloom in May. nique flower color as compared to other Magnolia.  Easy to grow and dependable. Perfect as a specimen tree in full sun. Massive spring bloom is riveting.

Brilliant orange to scarlet flowers measuring 1.5″ bloom abundantly from early summer to fall. Dark, purple to bronze coloring on the leaves creates an attractive contrast between blooms and foliage. Great for borders, edges, and containers.

There is no substitute for the color and presence of Lupine in a garden and ‘The Govenor’ might be in the running for your favorite once you see its spectacular color. Like all Lupine, ‘The Govenor’ emerges from the ground in the spring exposing its unique signature palmate foliage that forms a dense rounded clump which sizes up to be a few inches larger than the corresponding clump formed by the Popsicle Lupine series plants. Long stalks emerge above the foliage in May and spring into bloom late in the month exposing tightly packed, hooded blooms of marine blue and cream along a 10 to 12″ stem. What a show as ‘The Governor’ and its one of a kind, one of a color bloom will rule benignly over your garden through late June. Plant ‘The Governor’ in a group in the front or center of any sunny, rich, well-drained soil location for an even more devastating garden result!

‘Camelot Rose’ will add elegant, old fashioned, jaw dropping charm to your perennial garden in the late spring and early summer with a show of otherworldly bloom that will become one of your favorite things about late spring. Like all Lupine, ‘Camelot Rose’ will form a basal mound of deep green, palmate foliage that is neat and good looking even without the flowers that rise above on 18″ high spikes in early June. Hundreds of fat, rosy-red with white colored florets surround the thick flower stem giving each spike of multiple blooms a fat, fantastic look that will give you the chills it’s so electrifying. Blooms last until early July but the short show is good to the last drop! ‘Camelot Rose’ is perfect for rich, well-drained soil and full sun…plant it in a group for a look that will get your heart pumping.

This grass-like perennial  forms a clump of narrow, arching, glossy, dark green leaves then erect flower spikes with pale lavender to white flowers arise, somewhat hidden, among the leaves in late summer. Best as a dense ground cover. Effective planted under shallow-rooted trees and along streams or ponds.

Dark green foliage with racemes of lavender flowers followed by blue-black berry-like fruit. August.