Special Collections

Prairie Dropseed

An elegant native; fine green leaves and its seed stems emerge directly from the base Pink flowers turn tan coloured in the fall Delicate seedheads stand 50 cm above the rest of the foliage Fall colour is orange, turning to tan for the winter Bloom Time: Late summer Flower height: 100 cm Foliage height: 60 cm Grass Type: Warm Season

Vanhouttei Spirea

White florets in clusters along the branches Leaves are blue-green and sometimes purplish in the fall Arching vase-shaped habit Bloom Time: Spring

Dwarf Garland Spirea

White florets in clusters along the branches before the leaves Leaves are sea-green in colour Arching vase-shaped habit Bloom Time: Spring

Gold Mound Spirea

Clusters of pink flowers Foliage emerges bronze, turns to yellow-gold in the summer Fall colours include red, orange, and pink Low mounded shrub Bloom Time: Late spring

Dwarf Vanhouttei Spirea

Profuse white florets in clusters on the ends of the branches Flowers well even in considerable shade Leaves bluish-green, then yellow in the fall Small, rounded shrub Bloom Time: Spring

Hardhack

Bottlebrush-like spikes of tiny pink flowers Brown seed heads persist into the winter Leaves bright green above, blue-green underneath Fall colour is golden-yellow Upright, vase-shaped habit Bloom Time: Summer

Mellow Yellow Spirea

Small white flowers line the branches in spring, upstaging the leaves Narrow leaves, almost 50cm long, emerge yellow in spring Leaves are light green by summer, going from gold to purple in autumn Medium tall, arching shrub Bloom Time: early spring

Bridalwreath Spirea

Double white flowers up and down the branches precede the leaves Glossy dark green leaves turn yellow-orange in the fall Upright vase-shaped form Bloom Time: Spring

Snowmound Spirea

White florets in clusters along the branches Leaves emerge blue-green, changing to green, then yellow to red and pink in the fall Arching vase-shaped habit Bloom Time: Spring

Halward's Silver Spirea

White florets in clusters on the ends of the branches Leaves emerge blue-green, changing to green, then yellow in the fall Compact, mounding habit Bloom Time: Spring

Steeplebush

Bottlebrush-like spikes of tiny white flowers Brown seed heads persist into the winter Leaves are bright green above, blue-green underneath Fall colour is golden-yellow Upright, vase-shaped habit Bloom Time: Summer

Magic Carpet® Spirea

Flat-topped clusters of deep pink flowers Leaves emerge red, maturing to red-tipped-bronze, then russet in the fall Mounded form Bloom Time: Late spring

Shirobana Spirea

Pink, white and red flowers in flattened clusters Flower colours can appear simultaneously, sometimes in the same cluster Foliage is blue-green, then dark burgundy in the fall Mounded form Bloom Time: Late spring

Poprocks® Petite Spirea

Tidy compact habit Eye-catching candy-pink flowers Low maintenance mound of green leaves Long blooming

Neon Flash Spirea

Flat-topped clusters of bright red flowers Foliage is green, then dark burgundy in the fall Upright, rounded form Bloom Time: Late spring

Alpine Spirea

Rose-pink flowers in flattened clusters Mint-green leaves turn dark red in the fall Spreading, mounded form Bloom Time: Late spring

Dakota Goldcharm® Spirea

Clusters of pink flowers Foliage emerges bronze, turns yellow-gold in the summer Fall colours include red, orange, and pink Low, mounded shrub Bloom Time: Late spring

Rainbow Fizz™ Spirea

Bright red flower buds open to flattened pink clusters Leaves emerge copper and change to yellow with red tips in late spring Leaves finish copper-red in autumn Compact rounded form Bloom Time: Late spring

Big Leaf Spirea

Clusters of small pink flowers Dark green leaves turn shades of yellow-orange to red in the fall Upright, mounded form Bloom Time: Mid to late summer

Little Princess Spirea

Flat-topped clusters of rose-pink flowers Mint-green leaves turn dark red in the fall Spreading, mounded form Bloom Time: Late spring

Goldflame Spirea

Light crimson flowers in flattened clusters Leaves emerge bronze-gold, turning soft yellow-green, then copper-orange in the fall Spreading, mounded form Bloom Time: Late spring

Pineapple Fizz™ Spirea

Tidy compact habit Eye-catching pink flowers Low maintenance pineapple-yellow foliage Foliage turns bright red in autumn

Froebelii Spirea

Flat-topped clusters of carmine-red flowers Leaves emerge brownish-red in the spring, turning blue-green and burgundy-red in the fall Upright, mounded form Bloom Time: Late spring

Firelight Spirea

Deep mauve-pink flowers in flattened clusters Leaves emerge bright-red/orange, turning soft yellow-green, then reddish purple in the fall Spreading, mounded form Bloom Time: Late spring

Crisp Leaf Spirea

Deep pink flowers in flattened clusters Deeply serrated dark green leaves are twisted and crinkled Foliage often emerges burgundy-red with some burgundy colouration at maturity Compact, rounded form Bloom Time: Late spring

Anthony Waterer Spirea

AKA Spiraea x bumalda 'Anthony Waterer' Carmine-red flowers in flattened clusters Leaves emerge reddish-purple, mature to blue-green, then reddish in the fall Upright, rounded form Bloom Time: Late spring

Glow Girl® Birchleaf Spirea

Compact mounding habit Red buds open to white spring flowers Golden-yellow foliage holds well throughout the season

Japanese White Spirea

Numerous white flowers in flat-topped clusters Oval sharply-toothed pale green leaves turn red in the fall Compact, rounded habit Bloom Time: Early summer

Meadowsweet

Cone-shaped clusters of tiny white flowers Fruit dries and splits to release seed Narrow toothed green leaves Upright habit Bloom Time: Summer

Prairie Cord Grass

AKA Sporobolus michauxianus Main stems (culms) are round, up to 225 cm long Green leaves, alternate, up to 60 cm long, emerge from the lower half of the stems Arching thick blades with prominent midribs have sharp edges Ends of stems feature racemes of 10-30 alternate floral spikes Fall colour is clear yellow, turning to tan for the winter Bloom Time: July to August Flower Height: 225 cm Foliage Height: 150 cm Grass Type: Warm Season

Giant Bur-Reed

AKA Sparganium californicum An emergent aquatic Unique flowers and seedheads Lime-green burr-like or mace-like balls become white flowers Spiked green seed heads become brown with age Bloom Time: June to August

American Bur-Reed

An emergent aquatic Long lance-shaped green leaves Unique flowers and seedheads Lime-green burr-like or mace-like balls become white flowers Spiked green seed heads become brown with age Bloom Time: June to August

Sioux Blue Indian Grass

AKA Sorghastrum avenaceum 'Sioux Blue' Flower stalks from a tight upright clump rise above the foliage Leaves are silvery-blue turning golden-tan with hints of orange in the fall Reddish-bronze downy flower spikes appear in July Bloom Time: July Flower Height: 200 cm Foliage Height: 175 cm Grass Type: Warm Season

Indian Steel Grass

AKA Sorghastrum avenaceum 'Indian Steel' Flower stalks rise above the foliage forming a tight upright clump Medium-width grass blades are blue-green, turning bronze in the fall Reddish-bronze downy flower spikes appear in August Bloom Time: August Flower Height: 150 cm Foliage Height: 120 cm Grass Type: Warm Season

Indian Grass

AKA Sorghastrum avenaceum, Chrysopogon nutans Reddish-bronze downy flower spikes rising well above the foliage appear in July The grass blades are green turning bronze to burnt orange in the fall Bloom Time: July Flower Height: 220 cm Foliage Height: 120 cm Grass Type: Warm Season

Showy Mountainash

Upright, oval to rounded crown with ascending branches Blue-green compound leaves in the summer turn reddish-purple in the fall Flat-topped clusters of small white flowers Flowers give way to drooping clusters of shiny red berries late in the summer Bloom Time: Late spring

Dwarf Goldenrod

One of the most compact forms of solidago Masses of tiny lemon-yellow flowers form branched spikes Flowers cover a finely-textured foliage Leaves are lance-shaped and mid-green Bloom Time: August to early fall

Goldenrod

Clump-forming well-branched habit Arching panicles of golden-yellow flowers Flowers cover a finely-textured foliage Leaves are oval to heart-shaped and mid-green in colour Excellent as a massing perennial Bloom Time: August to September

Fireworks Goldenrod

A selection of the native goldenrod Clump forming vase-shaped to upright habit Yellow plume-like panicles cascade (like fireworks) Finely-textured lance-shaped mid-green leaves Bloom Time: Early September to mid-fall

Old Field Goldenrod

Erect upright perennial in the sunflower family Narrow downward-arching bright yellow plumes Grey-green leaves and stems Typically grows 60cm but if planted in rich soils, they can exceed 80cm

Zigzag Goldenrod

Small flowers cluster near the top of the plant Star-like yellow blooms Erect stems hold softly hairy coarsely-toothed oval leaves Bloom Time: Late summer to early fall

Canadian Goldenrod

Rhizomatous upright habit Numerous small yellow blooms Lance-shaped sharply-toothed green leaves Bloom Time: August to September

Bluestem Goldenrod

Arching wands of golden flower clusters Blue-green stems and long thin green leaves Forms attractive open clumps Bloom Time: August to fall

False Solomon's Seal

AKA Maianthemum racemosum Clump forming rhizomatous perennial Unbranched stems have alternate mid-green leaves Leaves are broadly ovate, pointed with prominent veining Terminal panicles of creamy-white flowers Flowers are followed by green berries maturing to red Bloom Time: Mid to late spring

Blue-Eyed Grass

AKA Sisyrinchium graminoides Forms a dense mounding clump of green blades Clusters of showy blue flowers are even with the top of the foliage Bloom Time: Late spring Flower Height: 50 cm Foliage Height: 50 cm

Compass Plant

Clusters of nodding eastern-facing sunflower-like yellow flowers Sturdy green stems are covered in white hairs Basal narrow leaves are very deeply lobed and up to 50 cm long Upright clumping habit Drought-tolerant Bloom Time: August to September Flower Size: 13 cm

Campion

AKA Lychnis robotii 'Rolly's Favorite' Rich pink star-shaped flowers with white eyes Oval dark green hairy leaves Bloom Time: May to July Flower Size: 2.5 cm

Sea Campion

AKA Silene maritima 'Compacta' Cushion-forming trailing semi-evergreen foliage Fleshy gray-green lance-shaped leaves, 2 cm long Leaves are fringed with fine hairs White to pale pink flowers with deeply cut petals Suitable for along walkways or between flagstones Can handle light foot traffic Bloom Time: Early to late summer