My North Creek Nurseries Wish List

A fantastic native with large, fine-textured feathery blooms in late Spring. Though closely related to Spiraea, goat's beard more closely resembles a giant Astilbe. When happy, Aruncus can be a formidable garden plant, reaching a spread of 6 feet or more. It is lovely when used at woods edge and it can provide a dense screen beneath a high canopy.

A naturally compact form with deep purple flowers in August and September. Eye-popping with Solidago 'Golden Fleece'. One of the most garden-worthy native selections out there. A fine introduction from the Mt. Cuba Center.

Local Mid-Atlantic native of moist to wet meadows. Flowers may vary in shades of pink, purple and white and bloom in early fall, which is late August and early September here in PA.

A fine-textured sedge that resembles palm fronds? How strange! Naturally occuring in moist habitats such as low, swampy woods and wet meadows, this native cool-season sedge adds textural interest to any planting. 

With its tough disposition and spreading habit, this native sedge makes an excellent shade groundcover. Fine texture and fountaining habit give this sedge a soft appearance that is lovely as an underplanting for bolder shade perennials or on its own as a shade lawn. Great in containers too! Easy to grow. Happiest in the company of oaks, but who isn't?

A versatile native grass with bamboo-like foliage and delightful nodding seed heads that rustle in the breeze from late summer to winter. It grows in most sites and is a quite vigorous groundcover when given consistent moisture and sun. It is better behaved in average garden conditions and in shade. A unique cut flower in fresh or dry arrangements.

A more vigorous version of 'Moonbeam' that fills in faster in the spring and has larger flowers that occur all along the stems rather than just above the foliage, giving a fuller overall appearence. Overwinters well.

Dryopteris x australis is a natural hybrid (D. celsa x ludoviciana) found in wild populations from Louisiana to Virginia, but is a superb garden plant as far north as Zone 5. It is taller than either parent and a formidable addition to the garden.

A 2013 All-America Selection Award Winner, and for good reason - they’re durable, easy to grow and gorgeous! A delightful mix of colors from rich purples, pinks, reds and oranges to lighter yellows, creams and whites makes a bold statement in a perennial border, butterfly garden or patio container. Drought tolerant and low maintenance, these coneflowers do not require deadheading to maintain their flower power! The spent blooms turn to seeds, providing winter food for songbirds and architectural interest.

Lend a classic look to your garden with Pow Wow® White’s graceful, downward arching and bright white ray petals surrounded by bright yellow cones. This spectacular variety is extremely well-branched for profuse blooms and summer to frost flower power! Amazing in a sunny perennial border or wildlife garden. Easy to grow and very adaptable to heat, humidity, drought and poor soils.

Introduced by Jelitto, who gave us 'Magnus', Echinacea 'Ruby Star' is a slightly shorter plant with large flat topped flowers that are a deeper purple pink, almost ruby red, than most others. Plants are easy to grow, tough, and heat and drought tolerant once established. Their roots have famous medicinal qualities, they make great, long lasting, cut flowers and attract numerous butterflies and small birds.

Another great selection for the East Coast bred by Charles Oliver of the Primrose Path. With its H. villosa heritage, it is vigorous and long-lived. Stunningly beautiful velvety purple leaves with darker veins are topped with pale pink pearl-like flowers in late spring. Definitely one of our favorites!

A long-hoped-for color break in garden Salvia. Ernst Pagels selected it for bluer flowers and compact habit. Insect and disease resistant, long flowered and tough as its brethren to follow. Attracts birds, butterflies and bees.

This diminutive beauty is exceptionally compact with bright, light yellow flowers beginning in late summer and lasting well into fall. Great shelf life! It is versatile, easy to grow and combines well with purple and pink asters both in the garden and in a container. Great as a cut flower, it is also very attractive to butterflies.