Easily grown in humusy, organically rich, medium moisture, well-drained soil in part shade to full shade. Best sited in sheltered locations. Best frond color in light shade. Soil must not be allowed to dry out. Divide clumps in early spring. Naturalizes well by short, branching rhizomes and can form dense colonies in optimum growing conditions.
Athyrium niponicum var. pictum, commonly known as Japanese painted fern, is a rhizomatous, deciduous fern with an arching habit that typically grows to 18” tall. It features a slowly spreading clump of triangular, variegated fronds to 20” long. Fronds are a soft grayish-green with an overlay of silvery hues accented by contrasting dark maroon midribs. Silvering is best for several weeks in the spring, with fronds becoming greener as hot temperatures arrive.
Genus name comes from Greek athyros meaning doorless in reference to the slowly opening hinged indusia (spore covers).
Serbian bellflowers have an easy, undemanding habit. Creating a stream of lavender blue, the 1-inch-diameter star-shaped blossoms bloom reliably from late spring to early fall. The foliage remains evergreen in mild winters and needs to be sheared only once in a while to keep its appearance tidy. ‘Blue Waterfall’ flows beautifully along bed edges and through rock gardens in full sun to partial shade.
Anemone ‘Wild Swan’ unlike the Japanese hybrids that bloom in fall only, this little beauty blooms from spring until frost. Dainty white flowers, with a blush of lavender/purple on the reverse side, dance above the lovely green foliage.
This introduction is a very long-blooming perennial, forming a spreading mound of bright-green ferny leaves. Small butter-yellow daisies appear in succession from early summer to late fall, each petal delicately serrated at the tips. Shear plants lightly in August to encourage renewed blooming. Great for the front of a sunny border, or planting in mixed containers. Tolerates heat and humidity. Plants will flower best in a sunny location. Blooms are larger, and flower colour is darker than the older selection ‘Moonbeam’. From Blooms of Bressingham®. USPP#16096: unlicensed propagation prohibited.
This introduction is long-blooming and compact in habit. It forms a low mound of green willow-like leaves, bearing clusters of dark-blue buds that open into starry soft-blue flowers in early summer and last for several weeks. Plants are long-lived, idea for massing or growing near the front of the sunny border. Leaves turn buttery gold in the autumn. Easy and carefree. Flower colour is the deepest shade of blue yet found in any Amsonia species or selection. Discovered in a seedling block of Amsonia tabernaemontana at White Flower Farms, but suspected to be a hybrid.
