(Winter Aconite)

Dappling the ground with sunny blooms very early in the year, this little perennial from southern Europe and Asia Minor is a delightful garden presence in winter and early spring. Arising on short stems from a knobbly tuber, the yellow, saucer-shaped blooms perch atop a ruff-like whorl of three deeply dissected leaves. They bloom with the first hints of spring, opening their flowers wide in sunlight, and attracting bees with their honeyed scent. The tubers also give rise to palmately lobed basal...

(Winter Aconite)

Dappling the ground with sunny blooms very early in the year, this little perennial from Asia Minor is a delightful garden presence in winter and early spring. Arising on short stems from a knobbly tuber, the yellow, saucer-shaped blooms perch atop a ruff-like whorl of three deeply dissected, bronze-tinged leaves. They bloom with the first hints of spring, opening their flowers wide in sunlight, and attracting bees with their honeyed scent. The tubers also give rise to palmately lobed basal leaves....

(Narrow-leaved Foxtail Lily)

When in bloom, foxtail lily is a tall, regal perennial that produces feathery spikes of golden yellow flowers in summer. It is native to Central Asia, in countries such as Pakistan and Iran. In the wild, it inhabits dry, rocky slopes in open, sunny areas. Purchased plants are usually sold as dormant rhizomes with fleshy, slightly brittle, tuberous roots. These should be handled with care and planted upon arrival.

A modest fountain of narrow, gray-green leaves is produced in spring, and the...

(Foxtail Lily)

The tall, upright flower scapes of these exceptional ornamentals come in shades of apricot, yellow and bright orange. These foxtail lily hybrids were first bred in Great Shelford, Cambridge, England by Sir Michael Foster. They are crosses between Eremurus olgae and E. stenophyllus created in the late nineteenth century. Foster's are the most common of all Eremurus x isabellinus and commonly called the Shelford hybrids. Two other hybrid groups in the trade include...

(Foxtail Lily)

The tall, upright flower scapes of this exceptional ornamental are Spanish orange. 'Cleopatra' was bred by the Dutch Breeder N.C. Ruiter and first registered in 1956. It is a cross between Eremurus olgae and E. stenophyllus. The parent species are native to Central Asia where they inhabit dry, rocky or sandy slopes in open, sunny areas, and garden grown specimens grow best under similar conditions. Sharply drained soil is particularly key.

A modest fountain of narrow, green...

(Foxtail Lily, Shelford Mix Foxtail Lily)

The tall, upright flower scapes of these exceptional ornamentals come in shades of apricot, yellow and bright orange. The Shelford hybrids were first bred in Great Shelford, Cambridge, England by Sir Michael Foster. They are crosses between Eremurus olgae and E. stenophyllus created in the late nineteenth century. These are the most common of all Eremurus x isabellinus hybrids. The parent species are native to Central Asia where they inhabit dry, rocky or sandy...

(Foxtail Lily)

The tall, upright flower scapes of this exceptional ornamental are bright, glowing yellow. The Shelford hybrids were first bred in Great Shelford, Cambridge, England by Sir Michael Foster. They are crosses between Eremurus olgae and E. stenophyllus created in the late nineteenth century. These are the most common of all Eremurus x isabellinus hybrids. The parent species are native to Central Asia where they inhabit dry, rocky or sandy slopes in open, sunny areas,...

(Foxtail Lily, Shelford Foxtail Lily)

The tall, upright flower scapes of these exceptional ornamentals come in shades of apricot, yellow and bright orange. The Shelford hybrids were first bred in Great Shelford, Cambridge, England by Sir Michael Foster. They are crosses between Eremurus olgae and E. stenophyllus created in the late nineteenth century. These are the most common of all Eremurus x isabellinus hybrids. The parent species are native to Central Asia where they inhabit dry, rocky or sandy...

(Alpine Heath, Spring Heath)

Alpine heath is a small, low spreading evergreen shrub with pretty pink to purple flowers in late winter and early spring. Hailing from the European Alps eastward into eastern Europe, the pendulent urn-shaped flowers may also be bicolored. Leaves are usually medium to dark green and with cold weather will often redden.

Alpine heath should be planted in a full sun location in a moist, well-draining soil. This species is also tolerant of slightly alkaline soil and partial shade. If you must prune,...

(Alpine Heath, King George Heath, Winter Heath)

The alpine heath cultivar 'King George' is one of the first to start blooming in early winter. Hailing from the European Alps and Eastern Europe, it has pendulant urn-shaped flowers of deep pink. Its tiny, needle-like, evergreen leaves are usually medium to dark green in the warm season and turn red in the cold season.

Alpine heath should be planted in full sun and evenly moist, well-draining, acidic soil—though this species is tolerant of more alkaline soil than others. If you must prune, do...