(Cobra Lily)

Arisaema ringens, the Japanese cobra lily, is a tuberous herbaceous perennial native to East Asia. In early spring two large glossy trifoliate leaves emerge, overtopping a cobra-like "flower" that comprises a pale green, purple- or white-striped, hood-like spathe and a club-shaped spadix. A purple-mottled sheath surrounds each leaf stem. Bright orange berries ornament the spadix in late summer and fall.

Japanese Cobra Lily grows best in partial shade and moist, humus-rich soil. Its emerging leaves...

(Thunberg's Jack-in-the-pulpit, Urashima-so )

Arisaema thunbergii is a tuberous herbaceous perennial native to Korea and Japan. In spring it bears a purple, white-striped spathe, from which protrudes a long, tail-like, S-shaped spadix. A large, compound, horseshoe-shaped leaf overtops the spathe and spadix. Bright orange berries ornament the spadix in fall.

Plant in moist, well drained soil and shade. It makes an excellent addition to the shade garden.

(Jack-in-the-pulpit)

A familiar wildflower within its native range, Jack-in-the-pulpit is a tuberous herbaceous perennial found throughout eastern North America. In spring, it bears a pale green, white- or purple-striped spathe, over-arched by two large, glossy, three-lobed leaves. The spathe encloses a pale green or purple spadix, which in late summer produces bright orange-red berries.

This plant prefers a shady area with moist, humus-rich, well drained soil. It makes an ideal candidate for the woodland garden.

(Birthwort)

Pretty heart-shaped leaves and small yellow flowers on birthwort brings an aire of oddity and beauty to the perennial border. An upright and then arching herbaceous perennial native to southern Europe, it will creep its rhizomes (underground stems) to form a clump.

The light to medium green leaves are spade- or heart-shaped and are pretty as they line the stems that are first upright and then begin to weep. In late spring and early summer, small light yellow flowers occur in small clusters in...

(Dutchman's Pipe)

Foremost grown for its lush green, large heart-shaped leaves, Dutchman's pipe also bears small, pipe-like flowers in late spring. A heavy, deciduous vine native to the woodlands of the Appalachians in the eastern United States, the flowers are normally well-hidden by the foliage and do not smell of rotting flesh like other members of Aristolochia. The bright green leaves can become as large as a dinner plate. Heart-shaped, thye can become slightly purpled in late summer; their undersides...

(Fringed Dutchman's Pipe, Pipevine, White Veined Dutchman's Pipe)

A small vine that packs a visual punch with small pipe-like flowers and leaves of green with lighter yellow-green veins, the fringed dutchman's pipe is a well-behaved plant. A semi-hardy and semi-deciduous perennial vine from southern Brazil, Paraguay and northern Argentina, it is popular as a hanging basket specimen. With age, it forms a caudex, or swollen stem base that looks like a potato.

The leaves are heart-shaped, but the two lobes resemble kidneys. Each blade is medium to dark green and...

(Pink Lusitanica Sea Thrift, Sea Pink, Sea Thrift)

Tiny and exquisitely beautiful, ‘Pink Lusitanica’ is a perfect problem solver for small spaces and perennial container compositions. It is a hybrid of the species, Armeria maritima, native to the shores of the Mediterranean extending eastward into Turkey. Its species name refers to a preference for coastal or maritime climates. It grows as mounded tuft in the rapid drainage and full sun at the edge of a bluff. The leaves are stiff, narrow and dark, rising into a delightful, tidy dome.

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(Jersey Thrift)

Jersey thrift is a compact perennial native to the mountains of western Europe. In spring to early summer it produces globes of small pink flowers that rise on tall wiry stems above short tufts of thin, stiff, lance shaped leaves.

It prefers a full sun location and average to infertile, well drained soil. Jersey thrift makes a wonderful whimsical edging plant or an easy to care for, reliable addition to a rock garden. The cultivar 'Leucantha' is equally attractive and prodces white flowers....

(Sea Pink, Sea Thrift)

Sea thrift is a short, evergreen perennial that originates from mountain and coastal regions across the northern hemisphere. In the United States it grows in the western coastal states. In late spring through summer, small pink,,white or blood-red globe-like flowers appear atop grass-like foliage. Grow this tidy perennial in sites with full sun and perfectly drained average soil. It makes a fine addition to rock gardens, border edges, or trough and container gardens. These are very prone to root...

(Sea Pink, Sea Thrift, White Sea Thrift)

White sea thrift is a short, evergreen perennial that originates from mountain and coastal regions across the Northern Hemisphere. In the United States it grows in the western coastal states where it may be in flower year 'round. In late spring through summer, small white globe-like flowers appear atop grass-like foliage.

Grow this tidy perennial in sites with full sun and perfectly drained average soil. It makes a fine addition to rock gardens, along the edge of a border, or in a trough or...