Developed by Oregonian plantsman, Dan Heims, who has become a hybridizer's legend in his own time, this "hot" new Pulmonaria has distinct and uniform silver spots on its gracefully arching, oval leaves, forming an appealingly compact mound all season. In April and May it sends up 8-10" stems bearing purple buds that open to pink flowers with red calyces. Unlike many Pulmonarias, the blooms do no change to purple-blue in subsequent days of flowering. The unique foliage and texture of this sought after new introduction will greatly brighten up your shade garden and looks great in combination with Hostas, Epimediums and ferns.

Sun Exposure: Full Sun
Cold Hardiness: Zones 4-9
Spacing: 12-18"
Growth Rate: Moderate
Water Needs: Prefers well drained soil

'David Ward' represents a notable breeder's breakthrough in the world of Pulmonaria hybridization. It is the very first lungwort having all white margins and gray-green interior. There is none of the normal spotting. Instead, the long, lance-shaped leaves are intriguingly cupped. Rather than arching over, they tend to curve upwards like so many ladles waiting to funnel water down into the central crown. No other Pulmonaria that we have seen has such a unique form and such distinctly different variegation. Your garden needs this "cutting edge" English introduction!.

Sun Exposure: Full to Partial Sun
Cold Hardiness: Zone4-8
Spacing: 12-18"
Growth Rate: Moderate
Water Needs: Prefers moist, well drained soil

This is a very different sage! First of all, it's yellow. Almost all sages are white, blue or lavender. Secondly, its seedlings are variegated. Most variegated plants lose their variegation by seed and need to be propagated vegetatively in order to maintain their variegation. Finally, the plant appears to be bone hardy to zone 5 conditions if well-drained and properly limed. Many Japanese plants are not hardy here and even fewer Salvias are. The plant makes an absolutely fantastic show all summer! It forms a 20-24" bush with white tipped, halberd-shaped leaves below six inch yellow flower spikes. The overall visual impact of this plant might remind you of a small, snow-covered volcano erupting white hot streamers of pale yellow lava.

Sun Exposure: Full to Partial Sun
Cold Hardiness: Zone 5-8
Spacing: 12-18"
Growth Rate: Moderate
Water Needs: Prefers moist, well drained soil

This grass-like treasure is actually an Iris cousin. What sets it apart from all other plants is its strange, Ovaltine colored flowers, like a sea of miniature chocolate Irises bobbing in the breeze. It's a very easy plant to grow and totally hardy in most garden conditions. Since it has a much longer blooming season than typical Irises, it is useful as a petite cut flower. Although it is perfect in your rockery setting, its linear foliage can be useful as a contrast to less formal and rigid plants such as catmint, basket of gold and the various rockcresses. Also, consider using it a lawn substitute. After all, it looks like grass and doesn't grow very tall but it blooms. When the flowers are finished, you can mow it with no harmful side effects

Sun Exposure: Full to Partial Sun
Cold Hardiness: Zones 5-9
Spacing: 6-12"
Growth Rate: Moderate
Water Needs: Prefers moist, well drained soil

This coral bells relative from the Pacific northwest is one of the toughest plants we know, yet, it is never invasive. Its gaily silver-splashed foliage brightens up any shady nook and requires very little maintenance. In winter the leaves turn deep, bronze red and stay on until spring. At that time new chartreuse and silver leaves emerge creating a stunning contrast with the older red foliage. The 10" flower spikes also bear chartreuse bells at their outset but later in the spring become a lovely pastel pink. Try using this plant to disguise the bare soil under that tree of yours where you can't seem to grow anything. We know about that tree.

Sun Exposure: Full to Partial Sun
Cold Hardiness: Zones 5-9
Spacing: 12-18"
Growth Rate: Moderate
Water Needs: Prefers moist, well drained soil.