(Chinese Forget-Me-Not, Summer Forget-Me-Not)

Prized for its summer-long display of azure flowers, 'Blue Shower' is a tall, floriferous, seed-grown selection of Chinese forget-me-not, a short-lived tender perennial from East Asia. It is typically grown as an annual or biennial.

Dense clumps of felted, gray-green, lance-shaped to oval leaves give rise to one-sided sprays of small, five-lobed, sky-blue flowers on knee-high stems. Flowering begins in early spring or 2 months after sowing, continuing as long as temperatures remain mild. Small,...

(Wild Comfrey)

Native to upland woods throughout eastern and central North America, this large, attractive, clump-forming perennial is now rare or extinct over much of the northern part of its range. It is also rare in gardens.

Basal rosettes of large, oval, fuzzy leaves give rise in late spring to clusters of small, pale blue, funnel-shaped flowers on stout, hairy, knee-high (or taller) stems. Small, bristly, bur-like fruits ripen in midsummer. Plants from northern populations (var. boreale) are...

(Papyrus, Wild Spike Cyperus)

A lovely dwarf version of papyrus, ‘Wild Spike’ offers unique tropical looks indoors or out. This hybrid papyrus straddles the line between a moisture-loving grass and a tropical foliage plant. It is composed of many dark green, leafless stems topped in a spoke-like whorl of long pendulous bracts similar to ribs of an umbrella. With ‘Wild Spike’ these are narrower giving it a fine-textured appearance. Small pale yellow to brown flowers are held just above the bracts in summer. These are not particularly...

(Flatsedge, Hardy Papyrus)

Though some argue flat sedge looks a bit like nut sedge on steroids, this fast-growing sedge can make a pleasing garden statement if planted in a moist container or enclosed garden space among colorful garden flowers. Native populations are found in southeastern Europe, along the Caucasus Mountains and down into Syria, Israel and Pakistan. Flat sedge grows best in moist soils but will tolerate those with average moisture.

The bright green, grassy foliage of hardy papyrus has a distinct triangular...

(Papyrus)

The showy papyrus King Tut® is compact, fast-growing and will add a tropical foliar element to any border or container with moist soil. Its papyrus plumes are very filamentous, feathery and sit on strong, stout stems.

Best known for its use in paper making by the ancient Egyptians, papyrus is typically a large aquatic sedge that originates from tropical Africa and the Nile River Basin. Its bright green color and striking bold looks have made it a popular plant for contemporary aquatic container...

(Miniature Papyrus)

African in origin, miniature papyrus is a super compact sedge adapted to moist ground and riversides. This evergreen tender perennial is best suited to containers and lowland gardens, and even though it's only hardy to zone 9 it can be grown as an annual in areas with cold winters.

This compact papyrus forms bunches of pinwheel-like floral heads and foliage. The arching stems are topped with fine green bracts. When weather is warm and accommodating, green and reddish brown spikelets of flowers...

(Lady's Slipper, Ladyslipper Orchid)

Intrigue, murder and thievery have followed the orchid; world explorations have been launched and fortunes won all in the pursuit of these exotic flowers. Since the 19th century, when tropical orchids were first introduced to Europe, orchids have inspired human desire and greed because of their rarity, collectability and indescribable beauty.

In geologic time Orchidaceae is a relatively new plant family. Yet, it is one of the largest families among flowering plants with more than ~880 genera,...

(Moccasin Flower, Pink Lady's Slipper, Pink Ladyslipper Orchid)

Mid- and late spring brings out moccasin flower's rosy pink flower with brown sepals. A ground-dwelling (terrestrial) orchid that is an herbaceous perennial, this beauty grows from a rhizome (underground stem). This is a highly variable species, depending on where in North America it originates; and it readily hybridizes with other lady's slipper species. The native range is large: from Alaska southward across the lower half of Canada as well as the Rocky Mountains of the United States and a large...

(California Lady's Slipper, Ladyslipper Orchid)

Mid- and late spring brings out ladyslipper orchid's palest pink flower with brown sepals. A ground-dwelling (terrestrial) orchid that is an herbaceous perennial, this beauty grows from a rhizome (underground stem). It is native to the moist acidic conifer woodlands and stream banks of extreme northern California and southwestern Oregon in the western United States.

The plant grows five to ten bright green leaves that are pointed ovals and clasp up the stem. In spring to early summer summer,...

(Lesser Yellow Lady's Slipper, Yellow Lady's Slipper, Yellow Ladyslipper Orchid)

Mid- and late spring brings out moccasin flower's rosy pink flower with brown sepals. A ground-dwelling (terrestrial) orchid that is an herbaceous perennial, this beauty grows from a rhizome (underground stem). It is native to the dry acidic woodlands and sphagnum bogs across much of southern Canada and the northeastern quarter of the United States.

The plant grows two to three bright green leaves that are oval and arise directly from the rhizome. In late spring to midsummer, depending on warmth...