Perennials at Digging Dog:
Acaena to Anthemis
Including Achillea, Aconitum, Alchemilla, Angelica, & Anemone
Perennials offer endlessly fascinating variety in terms of flower color, scent, foliage texture and hue, and overall form. In spring, the excitement begins as plants emerge, often rapidly attaining full size. This is a good time to fertilize. In summer, sit back and enjoy the bounty, remembering to deadhead and water.
We’ve tried to present a variety of perennials with fall blooming periods to extend summer’s pleasure. In autumn we reevaluate and perhaps relocate. Winter dormancy is the right time to take divisions (usually every second or third year), increasing your collection and possibly a friend’s.
One reason for noting a perennial’s place of origin is to remind us that perennials are really wild flowers, and our garden unites the finest from meadows, mountains and forests all around the globe. When planting, it’s wise to combine plants with similar cultural needs, and then work within these guidelines for aesthetically pleasing combinations.
We hope our individual recommendations will help. Many of our perennials are varieties that are hard to find, and we think all of them are in some way outstanding.
Further reading about perennials:An Encyclopedia of Shade Perennials by W. George Schmid Armitage’s Manual of Annuals, Biennials, and Half-Hardy Perennials by Allan M. Armitage Dream Plants for the Natural Garden by Henk Gerritsen and Piet Oudolf
Photo by Marion Brenner, courtesy of Martha Stewart Living
Goose Leaf
Our selections of this enchanting,
ground-hugging evergreen from New Zealand feature
diminutive leaves with a ferny delicacy. Lifting on short
stalks above the foliage, globe-shaped seed
heads—small thornless “burrs”—are colored a brownish red. Adapted to almost any well drained location, plant it as a cover for your bulb bed, situate it along pathways, perch it on a garden wall or let it creep around paving stones. Purple Goose LeafColored in a purple-gray shade reminiscent of
overripe plums, this Acaena’s delicate,
low-lying foliage warmly interweaves a planting of
Dianthus ‘Mendlesham Maid’,
Scutellaria ‘Texas Rose’ and
Carex glauca above our rock wall.
Blooms June–July. Size: 6" high & spreading; hardy to zone 6.
Acaena inermis Purpurea (P-1095)
Each $6.00
Add to Cart Blue Goose LeafPairs of tiny, silvery blue scalloped leaves and
bronze trailing stems stay close to the ground, casting
cool, fine textured accents on the sage green,
ruffle-edged foliage of Diascia ‘Blackthorn Apricot’ or
the glossy greenery of Dracocephalum ‘Fuji White’.
Blooms June–July. Size: 6" high & spreading; hardy to zone 6.
Acaena saccaticupula (P-1174)
Each $6.00
Add to Cart Acanthus
Bear’s BreechesHailing from the eastern Mediterranean, this bold perennial is as strong as a gladiator, and equally commanding. We suggest you honor its statuesque posture by giving it lots of room. Held on lengthy stalks, the deeply divided, 2 to 3 ft. long leaves are glossy and very dark green. Spiny-looking, though not too sharp, the leaves’ erect yet arching architecture were the inspiration for the decorative crown on Corinthian capitals.
Mysterious 2 ft. tall wands of Foxglove-like flowers rise above the imposing mound. Long lasting and excellent for arrangements, each white-lipped blossom is anchored by a green-gray bract and nearly hidden by a decorative, hood-like purple calyx.
Blooms June–July. Size: 3'–4' high x 2'–3' wide; hardy to zone 6.
Acanthus spinosus (p-1094)
SOLD OUT!
Email me when this plant is available
Yarrow
Legend has it that Achilles used this plant to heal
his soldiers’ wounds after battle. As a folk
remedy, its leaves are prescribed to soothe abrasions
and toothache. We find this sturdy, dependable plant
the perfect remedy for many design situations. The broad, flat flower heads enhance horizontal elements, their colors blending with other perennials. Spicy smelling, fernlike foliage and strong
straight stems add to overall attractiveness. Spreading
and drought tolerant, Yarrow seems to thrive on
neglect, can handle ocean spray and will bloom again in
the fall if cut back in midsummer. Named for the ivory-white color that the pale
yellow flowers turn with age, ‘Alabaster’ blooms late and, with dried seed heads, keeps our interest well into winter. Its form is stiff and upright and its foliage gray-green, making an excellent neighbor for Aster ‘Little Carlow’ or grasses such as Miscanthus sinensis ‘Nippon’.
Blooms August–October. Size: 2-1/2' high x 2' wide; hardy to zone 4.
Achillea Alabaster (p-0239)
Each $6.50
Add to Cart With imposing clusters of fire engine red
flowers heightened by prominent saffron yellow eyes and
a strong, self-supporting stance, this preeminent
German-bred Yarrow has a lot to offer.
Arising from airy and finely cut, grayish green foliage, its stiff, upright stems shoulder a fervid fiesta that continues
for months as the blooms age to soft apricot and
toasty orange shades, then finally to hushed golden
tones.
Blooms June–early August. Size: 2'–3' high x 2' wide; hardy to zone 4.
Achillea Fireland (p-0873)
Each $6.00
Add to Cart In clear creamy lemon hues, the large flattened
umbels are lifted on short and sturdy leafy stems above
a lacelike delicacy of green foliage. Later to bloom
and not as tall as most of our other Achillea
offerings, this softly colored AGM winner is an exemplary
choice for smaller gardens, given border frontage and
Aster ‘Lutetia’ as a companion.
Blooms September–early November. Size: 12" high x 15" wide; hardy to zone 4.
Achillea Hella Glashoff (P-1238)
Each $6.50
Add to Cart We are proud to offer this stalwart old favorite.
For years, ‘Hoffnung’ has proven itself
to be a strong performer, faithfully producing fine
textured, feathery green, millefolium foliage and
apricot-colored flowers that fade to a sandstone
buff. Pair it with Lavandula ‘Imperial
Gem’ for complementary bloom color.
Blooms July–September. Size: 2' high x 2' wide; hardy to zone 4.
Achillea Hoffnung (p-0629)
Each $6.00
Add to Cart
This truly architectural Yarrow blooms on three
different levels. Flowers, ranging in color from rust
to sandstone, blossom from terracotta buds at 16,
24 and 30 in. amidst a cool backdrop of green
fernlike leaves and upright stalks. ‘Inca
Gold’ combines well with the dark foliage of
Aster ‘Lady in Black’ or the
cream-colored flowers of Anthemis ‘Susanna Mitchell’.
Blooms early July–early October. Size: 3' high x 2' wide; hardy to zone 4.
Achillea Inca Gold (p-0501)
Each $6.50
Add to Cart Just hearing this new, warm-colored Achillea’s name conjures a sweet and satisfying image. Finely dissected, grayish green foliage offsets paprika-toned buds and thick slices of small, individual old-gold florets. Position
‘Marmalade’ next to Kniphofia ‘Patricia Marrow’ and Nepeta ‘Joanna Reed’ so you can indulge in its rich autumnal shades.
Blooms July–October. Size: 2-1/2'–3' high x 2' wide; hardy to zone 4.
AVAILABLE LATE APRIL 2008
Achillea Marmalade (P-1091)
Each $6.50
Add to Cart For its dense, sizeable heads of elegantly
layered, bright creamy white flowers, this sterling
Achillea earns the namesake ‘Moon
Pagoda’. Never fading to murky grays, the bold display
opens from soft yellow buds supported by strong,
branching stems and a green base.
Straight-up ‘Mondpagode’ is a highly
touted, AGM victor that always behaves, and dignifies
the border with Sedum ‘Matrona’ by
its side.
Blooms September–October. Size: 2' high x 2' wide; hardy to zone 4.
Achillea Mondpagode (P-1239)
Each $6.50
Add to Cart Just like the seasoning, this vigorous Galaxy hybrid flavors the garden with a distinctively rich, red snappiness. The large flattened heads showcase gilded eyes, their bright rubescent coloring eventually fading to a deep pink hue, while delicate-looking green-gray foliage provides a tidy, composed counterpoint, Persicaria ‘Golden Arrow’ heightens the recipe.
Blooms June–September. Size: 2' high x 2-1/2' wide; hardy to zone 4.
Achillea Paprika (P-1368)
Each $6.00
Add to Cart An attractive gray-green foundation of airy, fine
textured foliage furnishes russet-tinted buds, which
are held in dense, flat flower heads. Eventually paling
to soft yellow, the earthy orange hues turn on the
heat for Campanula ‘Prichard’s Variety’s cool violet-blues in our garden.
Blooms July–September. Size: 2-1/2' high x 2' wide; hardy to zone 4.
Achillea Sawa Sawa (p-0891)
Each $6.00
Add to Cart True to its German heritage, this cross between millefolium and ‘Taygetea’ is strong and sturdy. Its large brick-red flowers contrast beautifully with the gray-green foliage.
Blooms June–August. Size: 3' high x 2' wide; hardy to zone 4.
Achillea Walther Funcke (P-0502)
Each $6.00
Add to Cart 
Throughout the summer, gray-green filigree
textured foliage anticipates the autumn reveille. Planted
in drifts, the flower heads, composed of tight clusters
of tiny florets, form bold slabs of gold, a timely
reflection of the harvest moon. Contrast this tall
growing Yarrow with Eupatorium purpureum.
Blooms June–July. Size: 3' high x 2' wide; hardy to zone 4.
Achillea x Coronation Gold (P-0002)
Each $6.00
Add to Cart
Monkshood
First cultivated in the mid-1500s, Aconitum derivatives were used as both a medicine and a poison, and an unwanted husband might have easily met his end while drinking his dear wife’s tonic. Simply Medieval! Leaves, stems and roots are poisonous, but the stately Aconitum still deserves a place in our gardens because of the unusual late season blooms it hoists in masses on stalwart stems.
An excellent cut flower, unique for its large, draped sepal, Aconitum loves moist, but not wet soils, cool summer nights, and protection from the heat of the day. Perfect
in the border or at woodland’s edge, their bold presence makes an engaging companion to Anemone, Helenium and late blooming Persicaria. For this fine cut flower’s plentiful show
of large, vividly violet-hued flowers embellishing
tall spikes, and its vigorous stature, many gardeners
consider ‘Arendsii’ to be among the
best of the late flowering Aconitums. Broadly
segmented, deep green leaves have a lustrous, leathery
quality. Plant Kniphofia linearifolia nearby and enjoy a late summer splash of color.
Blooms July–early October. Size: 3-1/2' high x 18" wide; hardy to zone 4.
Aconitum carmichaelii Arendsii (p-0820)
Each $8.50
Add to Cart With straight-up sturdy stems and hooded, crystal clear violet-blue spires, this dignified Aconitum commands our attention. Polished, trilobed and dark forest green leaves attire the highly prized, low growing compact frame that never needs staking.
Come late summer, the front lines of a border are easily tempered by its composed floral hues.
Blooms August–September. Size: 2' high x 12" wide; hardy to zone 4.
Aconitum fischeri (P-1349)
Each $8.50
Add to Cart A stockier, dignified cultivar that doesn't need staking, this Aconitum's deep blue-violet spires are narrow and tapered. Helmetlike flowers line the straight, sturdy stems, each central shaft first showing color, than the side spikes following suit. Anchored by a compact, bushy mass of polished and narrowly fingered, dark forest greenery, ‘Bressingham Spire’s cool-colored floral display soothes Centaurea macrocephala’s sun-struck blooms.
Blooms June–August. Size: 2'–3' high x 18" wide; hardy to zone 4.
Aconitum x cammarum Bressingham Spire (P-1243)
Each $8.50
Add to Cart Lavish steel blue shafts are the great reward of
this easy-to-cultivate perennial. Cloaking strong
stems, the glossy grayish green foliage is deeply divided
into narrow fingers. Crocosmia
‘Eastern Promise’s orange flowers make a
satisfying complement to the smoky hue of
‘Stainless Steel’.
Blooms mid-June–August. Size: 3-1/2' high x 18" wide; hardy to zone 4.
Aconitum x cammarum Stainless Steel (p-0870)
Each $8.50
Add to Cart
Black Snakeroot
A botanical ‘Renaissance
Man’, Actaea is at home in an informal garden, a refined border or in an arrangement for opening night at the Met. Their sweet fragrance floats through
the air as they illuminate their surroundings. Actaea is happiest in moist, humus-enriched soil and bright shade; otherwise it’s carefree and low maintenance.
This genus was formerly known as “Cimicifuga”
Long wandlike, creamy white flower racemes seem to dangle and dance on invisible stems above clumps of Astilbe-like foliage. Try this Actaea (Cimicifuga) in a naturalized setting, under a tall canopy at the back of the border, next to leafy Ligularia.
Blooms July–August. Size: 5'–6' high x 2'–3' wide; hardy to zone 4.
Actaea racemosa (p-0048)
Each $7.00
Add to Cart Grown from seedlings carefully selected for dark, coppery purple foliage, the regal profile of ‘Atropurpurea’ shows its good breeding. A garden dweller with a staid bearing, its stately reddish purple stems soar above your head,
displaying dense spires covered with round mahogany-hued buds and sweet starbursts of white.
Echo this Actaea’s somber tones by bringing it
together with Angelica gigas, and let the lime green
foliage of Physocarpus ‘Dart’s Gold’ brighten the mood.
Blooms August–September. Size: 6' high x 2'–3' wide; hardy to zone 4.
Actaea simplex Atropurpurea (P-0049)
Each $9.00
Add to Cart Noted around town for her purple-black leaves and stems, this ‘Brunette’ is sure to turn some heads with the gentle way of her graceful, ferny foliage. At the back of the border, amidst the chaos of more summery greens, this dark lady’s shadow lingers long before offering up arching racemes of fragrant, slightly blushed white flowers. One of the most sought-after cultivars, ‘Brunette’ is another incredibly lovely dark foliage selection of Actaea (Cimicifuga) simplex.
Blooms August–September. Size: 5'–6' high x 2'–3' wide; hardy to zone 4.
Actaea simplex Brunette (P-0811)
Each $12.00
Add to Cart Midnight dark, lean lofty stems culminate in honey-scented, long pale pink spires stretching skyward above a refined, Ariel-like mass of sumptuous, chocolaty purple serrated foliage. This splendid garden aristocrat casts a decidedly feminine aspect on Geranium maculatum ‘Espresso’s coffee-colored leaves.
Zone 3/4.
Blooms August–October. Size: 5' high x 2'–2-1/2' wide; hardy to zone 4.
AVAILABLE LATE MARCH 2008
Actaea simplex Pink Spike (P-1427)
Each $11.50
Add to Cart Surprisingly underused, ‘White Pearl’s bright white, bottlebrushlike blossoms and large pearly buds will light up a somber setting just like the animated glow of a 4th of July sparkler. The good-sized ambrosial flowers unfurl later than most other Actaeas, while their densely set stalks are more arching than racemosa’s.
Tolerating drier, less rich soils, deceptively tough wiry stems and finely cut, toothed foliage compose the medium green nimble-looking stand which slowly spreads.
Blooms September–October. Size: 4' high x 2-1/2' wide; hardy to zone 4.
Actaea simplex var. matsumurae White Pearl (p-1371)
Each $7.50
Add to Cart
Lovers of heat, these tough and drought resistant Mint family relatives guarantee terminal spikes adorned with brightly colored, tubular flowers just about all summer long. Agastaches are easily grown in well drained soils, and will bloom more profusely, over an even longer period of time, if the flowering stems are cut back in midseason. Vividly magenta, ‘Pink Panther’s flower-bedecked spires are slightly hushed by darker, earthy pink calyxes. Stems arise clad near the base in dark green, toothed, lanceolate foliage that’s washed with purple. Plant a drift of this warmly colored Agastache among Phlomis samia’s whorled mauve blooms and the coppery spikes of Kniphofia ‘Shining Sceptre’.
Blooms June–October. Size: 2-1/2'–3' high x 2' wide; hardy to zone 6.
Agastache Pink Panther (p-0669)
Each $6.00
Add to Cart
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