Right now, we have our biggest selection of highly desirable plants for the season. Some of them are unusual and available in limited quantities. This includes a number of very choice native perennials that are very hard to find and will sell out fast, like:
Scrophularia macrantha (Red Birds In A Tree) – This rare New Mexico wildflower was first brought into cultivation, and given its delightful common name, by the late, great plantsman David Salman, only a couple of decades ago. Subsequently promoted by the Plant Select program, it won the hearts of native plant gardeners and pollinator gardeners, and is a great favorite of hummingbirds. Dark green leafy stems are topped by large clusters of oddly-shaped pinkish-red tubular flowers through much of the summer. The tall plants, often 3′ – 4’ tall, appreciate sturdy neighboring plants to lean on. An excellent choice for a north or east-facing garden, watered deeply once a week. It is hardy to Zone 4 and drought tolerant once established.
Geum triflorum, Prairie Smoke
Geum triflorum (Prairie Smoke) – Surprisingly, Prairie Smoke can be found growing in meadows at high altitude in the CO Rockies as well as in prairie ecosystems on the Eastern CO plains and is hardy to Zone 3. The attractive basal rosettes of rich green ferny foliage brings forth flowering stalks up to 14” tall, topped with a long succession of lovely nodding pink blooms that develop showy feathery pink seeds, giving the smoke-like effect. Where happy, Prairie Smoke will form charming colonies. We recommend a site that receives morning sun/afternoon shade, or dappled shade and once a week watering.
Geranium viscosissimum
Geranium viscosissimum (Sticky Geranium) – This resilient perennial grows in foothill and mountain meadows and often on slopes at the forest’s edge. The pretty, purple-veined 5-petalled flowers in shades of purplish-pink to near white are typically 1.5” across and bloom though most of the summer. Bees, moths, hoverflies and butterflies of many species visit them for nectar. Attractive palmate leaves display splashes of red and orange fall color later in the season. It will grow to 12 to 30” tall in full sun or partial shade and tolerates poor soils and dry conditions once established. Fun Fact: Like many other plants with sticky leaf surfaces, sticky geranium is protocarnivorous; it is able to dissolve insects that become trapped on its leaf surface and absorb the nitrogen derived from this protein. This characteristic helps G. viscosissimum survive and thrive in nutrient-poor environments.
Also:
Sphaeralcea coccinea (Cowboy’s Delight)
Zinnia grandiflora (Prairie Zinnia)
Mentzelia nuda (Bractless Evening Star) and Mentzelia decapetala (Ten-Petalled Evening Star)
Castilleja integra (Indian Paintbrush)
and more!!