{"title":"Perennials For Shade","description":"\u003cdiv title=\"Shop Perennial Plants for Shade\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eA shady spot in your landscape offers the opportunity to grow some wonderful, unique plant selections that not only tolerate shade but actually prefer it.\r\n\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"perennial-trillium-painted","title":"Painted Trillium","description":"\u003cstrong\u003ePainted Trillium\u003c\/strong\u003e is the only bi-colored beauty in the group, with snow white petals and dramatic red markings radiating from its center.  This trillium is one that demands heavily acid soils, so it is a growing companion of pink lady's slippers, and is often found in every green woods, growing up through the carpet of fallen pine needles. \u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eThe Trillium Tribe, and why its so famous.\u003c\/strong\u003e The classic 4-inch thick botanical reference work, Hortus Third, tells us that there are about 30 species of Trillium worldwide, but the majority of the species are native to North America.  A very few originate in Japan and Korea, none in Europe.  This is one reason that our colonists were so taken with these woodland beauties when they arrived. They had simply never seen anything like them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTrilliums, as the name implies have everything in 3s--three leaves, three petals, etc.  And compared to the other spring flowers that bloom when winter is finally over in our cold climates, the Trilliums are the ones with large look-at-me flowers.  They were famous with the Indians before colonization, and instantly the stars of spring bloom with the colonists. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRemember, when the colonists arrived, they arrived on our east coast which was totally wooded--big, primeval old growth forest, right down to the beaches.  And under these cathedral-like trees were the woodland native flowers--almost all species the Europeans had never seen.  Also, this is why almost all the native flowers of our east coast are woodland plants, not meadow wildflowers.  Of this famous original group of woodland wildflowers, which includes the Lady Slippers, Mayflower, Hepatica and many more, the Trilliums reigned supreme.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor centuries the flowers were picked heavily, which is unfortunate since a picked trillium is a dead trillium.  But it was the clearing of the forests for farming, a necessity for the colonists, that really devastated the woodland wildflowers.  We like to wring our hands about paving for interstates and new condominium projects today, but we needn't.  The damage was done long ago when our ancestors cleared the eastern forests for farming.  Of course, there are relatively small habitats left, and in recent years, our forested area has been enlarging, and woodland wildflower habitat has been restored in many places.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn any case, this elegant class of flowers, the Trilliums, are now recognized as precious and special, although they are not officially endangered.  In many areas, Trilliums are still very common. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWildflower gardeners love them, and it is true that most of them are not difficult to grow or transplant, and if conditions are good, they thrive.  However, it does help to know the facts.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHeres how they are propagated. \u003c\/strong\u003e Trilliums such as The Great White spread very slowly by underground root stocks, and the seed produced creates new plants even more slowly.  From a planted seed, it takes approximately five to nine years for a Trillium grandiflorum plant (the Great White Trillium) to bloom.  So when you see a massive drift of these in spring, you know you're looking at a bunch of plants that are at least a decade old, probably much older.  These plants are not daisies!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd how do they propagate themselves?  Well, \u003cem\u003eT. grandiflorum\u003c\/em\u003e is one of the wildflowers whose seeds are distributed by ants.  Yes, ants--not birds or bees, or the wind, but ants.  This is why the species creates large close drifts over the years.  Plants are never very far apart, since ants don't travel far.  So each clump of \u003cem\u003eT. grandiflorum\u003c\/em\u003e you see was planted where you see it by an ant. (They carry the seeds away when they fall from the plant because the ants enjoy the sticky covering each seed case has when it falls to the ground.) \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat brings us to the basic rarity of the Trilliums.  A big factor is that each flower produces only one seed case when it fades. (Everybody knows that most flowers--a daisy, for example, produces hundreds of loose seeds from each flower.) So even if the ants find the sticky seed case, and take it underground where the several seeds inside can grow, there simply arent huge numbers of white trillium seeds being planted each year.  Other trillium species have various propagation strategies, but all take years and years. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNow you have some idea of the value of these beautiful plants.  They are an important part of American botanical history, and deserve a place of honor in every American wildflower garden.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e  \u003cstrong\u003eHere are the best known species,\u003c\/strong\u003e with a little info on each: \u003cbr\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eTrillium grandiflorum, \u003c\/em\u003eGreat White Trillium.\u003c\/strong\u003e  The provincial flower of Ontario, and quite common there and around the Great Lakes. Also the official wildflower of Ohio, T. grandiflorum is native over most of the east, from Canada to Georgia, especially in neutral or non-acid soils. Large white flowers fade to pink; plants form large drifts. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eTrillium erectum, \u003c\/em\u003eRed Trillium. \u003c\/strong\u003eAlso called Wake Robin and Stinking Benjamin, the second because of the flowers unpleasant odor, said to be similar to rotting meat.  Propagated by flies.  Red to purple flowers; plants solitary in acid or alkaline woods. Native to the eastern forests from Canada to Georgia. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eTrillium undulatum, \u003c\/em\u003ePainted Trillium. \u003c\/strong\u003eSmaller than the Great White or Red, but with one of the most beautiful flowers--white with purplish\/red centers. Must have highly acidic soil; common in pine woods.  Native to forests from Canada to Georgia.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eTrillium Catesbaei, \u003c\/em\u003e Rosy Trillium or Catesby Trillium.\u003c\/strong\u003e One of the first Trilliums discovered and named for Mark Catesby, the famous early British plant explorer and artist. The Rosy Trillium has somewhat smallish blooms which nod below the leaves.  It is native to the Southeast, where Catesby visited. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eTrillium viride var luteum, \u003c\/em\u003eYellow Trillium.\u003c\/strong\u003e This unusual trillium has mottled leaves and lemon yellow blooms that hold their petals high and never really open. It is often said to have a lemon scent, and is native from Kentucky south to Florida.  \u003cbr\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eTrillium ovatum, \u003c\/em\u003eCoast Trillium.\u003c\/strong\u003e This is a famous western trillium, much like T. grandiflorum in the east. Flowers are white, fading to pink. It is native from British Columbia through coastal forests all the way to central California.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AMI Production","offers":[{"title":"Bag of 1","offer_id":46472243871983,"sku":"AM014184","price":17.32,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0731\/9535\/6399\/files\/painted-trillium-trillium-undulatum-close-up-flower_1.jpg?v=1761078662"},{"product_id":"perennial-maidenhair-fern","title":"Northern Maidenhair Fern","description":"\u003cp\u003eMost gardeners would agree that if there were a beauty contest for ferns, then Northern Maidenhair Fern would be the clear winner. A beautiful, delicate but tough native of woods all the way from Canada to Georgia.  In early spring, burgundy fiddleheads reach high, and then suddenly unfurl into flat tray-like hands of delicate fronds, clear green with striking black stems, arrayed in a perfect circle.  All Maidenhair asks is a shady spot, some fertility in the soil, and to be kept moist throughout the growing season. It's magnificent with Trillium and other early spring flowers.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AMI Production","offers":[{"title":"Plant - 3\" Pot","offer_id":46472244166895,"sku":"AM014175","price":13.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0731\/9535\/6399\/files\/maidenhair-fern-1.jpg?v=1761078663"},{"product_id":"perennial-astilbe-montgomery","title":"Montgomery Astilbe","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout Astilbes:\u003c\/strong\u003e  Easy to grow, tough and hardy, Astilbes are now a mainstay in all good perennial gardens.  In fact, American gardeners are in the midst of a passionate love affair with Astilbes. Native to the far east, these beautiful plants and their hybrids have revolutionized the perennial possibilities of moist, shaded American gardens.  They are companions of ferns and our favorite annuals, impatiens--one of the few flowers that make big color in full or partial shade.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe vast majority of the scores of hybrids now available are the work of one man, master hybridizer Georg Arends (Yes, that's why you keep seeing arendsii tacked onto hybrid names.) Mr. Arends, working in Ronsdorf, Germany spent decades hybridizing Sedums, Phlox, Campanulas....and his first love, Astilbes. In 1933, Arends introduced 74 different Astilbe cultivars, and there have been hundreds since.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e These plume-flowered plants have ultra-handsome fern-like foliage, (usually dark glossy green) and stiff stems that always hold the elegant plumes aloft without any staking. Flower arrangers find the flower plumes are just as handsome in a vase as in a garden. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e From tiny dwarfs to big draping hybrids, Astilbes are all quite easy to grow, as long as their ground does not dry out for long.  They must have plenty of moisture, so choose your locations carefully.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AMI Production","offers":[{"title":"Bag of 3","offer_id":46472244822255,"sku":"AM014157","price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0731\/9535\/6399\/files\/astilbe-montgomery-red-blooms.jpg?v=1761078664"},{"product_id":"perennial-mayflower-trailing-arbutus","title":"Mayflower","description":"6\" tall x 3-6\" wide. This is the famous state flower of Massachusetts, but it is native to most of the East from Canada all the way to North Florida, and loved by all woodland wildgardeners. Also called Mayflower after the famous Pilgrim ship, this sweet-scented, pastel pink beauty blooms along running stems of shiny evergreen leaves, creating the ultimate groundcover for woodland gardens. Creeping stems grow to about 16, and the when content, the plant forms lush clumps, which are a spectacle on the forest floor in spring. This wildflower is not easy to grow or rapidly spreading, but when established, it is always the pride of any woodland garden. Needs acidic woodsy soil, so its best planted under pines or oaks.\u003cp\u003eTrailing Arbutus is credited with making a very dramatic impression on early settlers in North America, especially the famous Pilgrims who landed at Plymouth, MA in 1620.  Used to the exhausted fields and largely cut woodland areas of Europe, they were stunned by North Americas primeval forests, which created heavily wooded habitat, right down to the Atlantic beaches. In spring, these magnificent old growth forests burst into bloom with our now-famous host of Spring Woodland Wildflowers, unknown in Europe.  The queen of all the spring woodland flowers, at least to the Pilgrims, was this lovely ground-running vine with its delicate shell-pink flowers. For this reason, the common name of Mayflower was given the newly discovered plant, and it will always hold an important place in American history.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AMI Production","offers":[{"title":"Bag of 1","offer_id":46472245838063,"sku":"AM014146","price":21.32,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0731\/9535\/6399\/files\/epigaea-repens-mayflower-hero.jpg?v=1761078666"},{"product_id":"perennial-marginal-woodfern","title":"Marginal Woodfern","description":"\u003cp\u003eMarginal woodfern creates a particularly elegant effect in the landscape with fronds rising like a bouquet from a small exposed rootstock, forming a graceful and dramatic vase-shaped specimen. Evergreen fronds with a rich blue-green color have ample substance to help them last right through frosts. Marginal woodfern prefers shady spots with evenly moist, slightly acidic soils. The most drought-tolerant of all the wood ferns. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AMI Production","offers":[{"title":"Bag of 3","offer_id":46472246165743,"sku":"AM014141","price":23.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0731\/9535\/6399\/files\/dryopteris-marginalis-marginal-woodfern-visi.jpg?v=1761078667"},{"product_id":"perennial-jack-in-the-pulpit","title":"Jack in the Pulpit","description":"\u003cp\u003eOne of our best-known native plants, and always a favorite with children, Jack-In-The-Pulpit is quite common in rich woodland. The plants are often solitary, large, and quite striking in the spring woods. The elegant hood curves forward over the Jack, an upright spike inside, creating the preacher in the canopied pulpit design. These treasured plants grow from a bulb, and can do very well in partially shaded perennial borders, growing tall if fertilized, and adding an exotic touch amid otherwise more traditional flower displays. Both the unique bloom and then the bright red berries that follow add a bit of mystery and woodland lore to any garden, and if undisturbed, the plants return faithfully each spring.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AMI Production","offers":[{"title":"Bag of 1","offer_id":46472249147631,"sku":"AM014107","price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0731\/9535\/6399\/files\/jack-in-the-pulpit-woodland.jpg?v=1761078671"},{"product_id":"perennial-violet-etain","title":"Etain Violet","description":"\u003cp\u003eSome gardeners have a strong love-hate relationship with violets, due to their tendency to spread and naturalize, but it all depends on where they are planted! Of course, everybody loves the flowers. Use them anywhere that you want a drift of blooms, expanding year after year, to delight and surprise you! We particularly love them along a woodland edge, or tucked throughout our shadier areas of lawn. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AMI Production","offers":[{"title":"Plant - 3\" Pot","offer_id":46472252031215,"sku":"AM014052","price":8.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0731\/9535\/6399\/files\/violaetain1_2.jpg?v=1761078677"},{"product_id":"perennial-iris-dwarf-crested","title":"Dwarf Crested Iris","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis hardy little plant is often hard to find in garden centers, but it isn’t difficult to grow – making it a uniquely easy accent for a sunny or partly-shaded spot.  Strappy foliage rises to approximately six inches, then upward-facing blossoms open wide in shades of lilac-blue with a white and gold patch on the outer three petals. Like most iris, they should be planted with some of the rhizome visible above the soil in a well-draining spot.  Dwarf Crested Iris is an early spring bloomer, and thus makes a wonderful companion for primroses, or ephemeral beauties such as trout lilies and trillium. It’s a vigorous spreader, and can be used very successfully as a ground cover, particularly in woodland gardens where the dagger-like foliage will not be burned by the sun. This classic, often hard-to-find North American plant is great for wild gardens. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AMI Production","offers":[{"title":"Plant - 3\" Pot","offer_id":46472253571311,"sku":"AM014042","price":8.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0731\/9535\/6399\/files\/iris-cristata-dwarf-crested-iris_3.jpg?v=1763572618"},{"product_id":"perennial-bleeding-heart-dutchmans-breeches","title":"Dutchman's Breeches","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis is the wild version of Bleeding Heart with white to rosy flowers arrayed along a stem, each one looking like a pair of pants, hung out to dry.  Its a small plant, usually under one foot, much smaller than our garden variety Bleeding Hearts.  Always a favorite with children and naturalists.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AMI Production","offers":[{"title":"Bag of 1","offer_id":46472253931759,"sku":"AM014041","price":17.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0731\/9535\/6399\/files\/dutchmans-breeches-woodland-wildflower.jpg?v=1761078680"},{"product_id":"perennial-astilbe-deutschland","title":"Deutschland Astilbe","description":"\u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eAbout Astilbes:\u003c\/strong\u003e  Easy to grow, tough and hardy, Astilbes are now a mainstay in all good perennial gardens.  In fact, American gardeners are in the midst of a passionate love affair with Astilbes. Native to the far east, these beautiful plants and their hybrids have revolutionized the perennial possibilities of moist, shaded American gardens.  They are companions of ferns and our favorite annuals, impatiens--one of the few flowers that make big color in full or partial shade.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe vast majority of the scores of hybrids now available are the work of one man, master hybridizer Georg Arends (Yes, that's why you keep seeing arendsii tacked onto hybrid names.) Mr. Arends, working in Ronsdorf, Germany spent decades hybridizing Sedums, Phlox, Campanulas....and his first love, Astilbes. In 1933, Arends introduced 74 different Astilbe cultivars, and there have been hundreds since.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e These plume-flowered plants have ultra-handsome fern-like foliage, (usually dark glossy green) and stiff stems that always hold the elegant plumes aloft without any staking. Flower arrangers find the flower plumes are just as handsome in a vase as in a garden. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e From tiny dwarfs to big draping hybrids, Astilbes are all quite easy to grow, as long as their ground does not dry out for long.  They must have plenty of moisture, so choose your locations carefully. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AMI Production","offers":[{"title":"Bag of 3","offer_id":46472254292207,"sku":"AM014038","price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0731\/9535\/6399\/files\/astilbe-japonica-false-spirea-white-deutschland.jpg?v=1761078681"},{"product_id":"perennial-celandine-poppy","title":"Celandine Poppy","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Calendine Poppy brings cheer to the Woodland garden in the summertime, boasting full, sunny-yellow blooms and blue-green foliage. This plant is native to the United States and naturalizes easily, making it the perfect choice for most gardens.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AMI Production","offers":[{"title":"Plant - 3\" Pot","offer_id":49588511375599,"sku":"AM013992","price":14.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0731\/9535\/6399\/files\/stylophorum-diphyllum-celandine-poppy-woods.jpg?v=1761078683"},{"product_id":"perennial-black-cohosh","title":"Black Cohosh","description":"Also called American Bugbane, Fairy Candles, and sometimes Black Snakeroot, this wild perennial is more popular with gardeners all the time. Up to 8 ft tall, it's great in the woodland border garden, where it's towers of flowers will light up the woods.  \u003cp\u003eBlack Cohosh likes wet woods, thickets, and is native all the way from Eastern Canada into Georgia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy the way, this is one native that has recently been reclassified.  Most still call it Cimicifuga racemosa, but the official botanical name is now \u003cem\u003eActaea racemosa.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AMI Production","offers":[{"title":"Bag of 1","offer_id":46472258027759,"sku":"AM013969","price":17.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0731\/9535\/6399\/files\/black-cohosh-white-blooms.jpg?v=1761078689"},{"product_id":"perennial-astilbe-key-west","title":"Key West Astilbe","description":"Named after the famous Key West pink (bright, bright pink) that derives from the beautiful hue on the inside of the Queen Conch shell, this plant literally lights up any shady area. (The Queen Conch is the symbol of Floridas Southernmost island city.)  \u003cp\u003eEasy to grow, tough and hardy, astilbes are now a mainstay in all good perennial gardens.  In fact, American gardeners are in the midst of a passionate love affair with astilbes. Native to the far east, these beautiful plants and their hybrids have revolutionized the perennial possibilites of moist, shaded American gardens.  Astilbes are companions of ferns and impatiens--some of the few flowers that make big color in full or partial shade.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe vast majority of the scores of hybrids now available are the work of one man, master hybridizer Georg Arends (Yes, thats why you keep seeing arendsii tacked onto hybrid names.) Mr. Arends, working in Ronsdorf, Germany spent decades hybridizing sedums, phlox, campanulas....and his first love, astilbes. In 1933, Arends introduced 74 different astilbe cultivars, and there have been hundreds since.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese plume-flowered plants have ultra-handsome fern-like foliage, (usually dark glossy green) and stiff stems that always hold the elegant plumes aloft without any staking. Flower arrangers find the flower plumes are just as handsome in a vase as in a garden.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e From tiny dwarfs to big draping hybrids, astilbes are all quite easy to grow, as long as their ground does not dry out for long.  They must have plenty of moisture, so choose your locations carefully.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AMI Production","offers":[{"title":"Bag of 3","offer_id":46472259535087,"sku":"AM013960","price":16.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0731\/9535\/6399\/files\/astilbekeywest_4.jpg?v=1761078691"},{"product_id":"perennial-astilbe-peach-blossom","title":"Peach Blossom Astilbe","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis is really the Astilbe that started it all.  Introduced way back in 1903, Peach Blossom is still one of the top choices for American gardens. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eAbout Astilbes:\u003c\/strong\u003e  Easy to grow, tough and hardy, Astilbes are now a mainstay in all good perennial gardens.  In fact, American gardeners are in the midst of a passionate love affair with Astilbes. Native to the far east, these beautiful plants and their hybrids have revolutionized the perennial possibilities of moist, shaded American gardens.  They are companions of ferns and our favorite annuals, impatiens--one of the few flowers that make big color in full or partial shade.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe vast majority of the scores of hybrids now available are the work of one man, master hybridizer Georg Arends (Yes, that's why you keep seeing arendsii tacked onto hybrid names.) Mr. Arends, working in Ronsdorf, Germany spent decades hybridizing Sedums, Phlox, Campanulas....and his first love, Astilbes. In 1933, Arends introduced 74 different Astilbe cultivars, and there have been hundreds since.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e These plume-flowered plants have ultra-handsome fern-like foliage, (usually dark glossy green) and stiff stems that always hold the elegant plumes aloft without any staking. Flower arrangers find the flower plumes are just as handsome in a vase as in a garden. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e From tiny dwarfs to big draping hybrids, Astilbes are all quite easy to grow, as long as their ground does not dry out for long.  They must have plenty of moisture, so choose your locations carefully.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AMI Production","offers":[{"title":"Bag of 3","offer_id":46472260059375,"sku":"AM013958","price":16.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0731\/9535\/6399\/files\/astilbepeachblossom_1.jpg?v=1761078692"},{"product_id":"perennial-hydrangea-annabelle","title":"Annabelle Snowball Hydrangea","description":"\u003cp\u003eA heavy bloomer with mass appeal, ‘Annabelle’ Hydrangea illuminates the shade garden. Plants bloom for up to two months in June and July, with flower heads remaining attractive all summer and into the fall. Some gardeners even enjoy a small repeat bloom in autumn. ‘Annabelle’ flowers are excellent for fresh-cut or dried arrangements. Large, dark green foliage accents the bright blooms in the garden. Plants flower on the current season’s growth, also called new wood. Pruning stems back to the ground in late winter encourages growth of strong new stems. ‘Annabelle’ grows in a rounded mound, making a shapely accent in the woodland garden. Also great for massing in mixed beds and perennial borders, or naturalizing in native plantings. ‘Annabelle’ Hydrangea has no serious insect or disease problems.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'Annabelle' was featured as an honorable mention in a \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/mtcubacenter.org\/research\/trial-garden\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eMt Cuba Center Trial Garden\u003c\/a\u003e Research Report. These reports evaluate native plants and related cultivars for horticultural and ecological value, highlighting the ecosystem services they provide. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AMI Production","offers":[{"title":"Plant - 3.5\" Pot","offer_id":49588503544047,"sku":"AM013942","price":13.49,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0731\/9535\/6399\/files\/hydrangea_annabelle__4__800x800_rgb.jpg?v=1761078693"},{"product_id":"perennial-astilbe-amethyst","title":"Amethyst Astilbe","description":"\u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eAbout Astilbes:\u003c\/strong\u003e  Easy to grow, tough and hardy, Astilbes are now a mainstay in all good perennial gardens.  In fact, American gardeners are in the midst of a passionate love affair with Astilbes. Native to the far east, these beautiful plants and their hybrids have revolutionized the perennial possibilities of moist, shaded American gardens.  They are companions of ferns and our favorite annuals, impatiens--one of the few flowers that make big color in full or partial shade.  \n\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe vast majority of the scores of hybrids now available are the work of one man, master hybridizer Georg Arends (Yes, that's why you keep seeing arendsii tacked onto hybrid names.) Mr. Arends, working in Ronsdorf, Germany spent decades hybridizing Sedums, Phlox, Campanulas....and his first love, Astilbes. In 1933, Arends introduced 74 different Astilbe cultivars, and there have been hundreds since.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e These plume-flowered plants have ultra-handsome fern-like foliage, (usually dark glossy green) and stiff stems that always hold the elegant plumes aloft without any staking. Flower arrangers find the flower plumes are just as handsome in a vase as in a garden. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e From tiny dwarfs to big draping hybrids, Astilbes are all quite easy to grow, as long as their ground does not dry out for long.  They must have plenty of moisture, so choose your locations carefully.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AMI Production","offers":[{"title":"Bag of 3","offer_id":46472260747503,"sku":"AM013938","price":17.32,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0731\/9535\/6399\/files\/astilbe-arendsii-false-spirea-purple-amethyst.jpg?v=1761078694"},{"product_id":"perennial-autumn-fern-brilliance","title":"Brilliance Autumn Fern","description":"\u003cp\u003eGardeners who plant ‘Brilliance’ Autumn Fern will find that the sturdy fronds stand up to all but the harshest ice storm, providing green when we need it most. Winner of the prestigious Royal Horticultural Society Award-winner, this evergreen fern unfurls bronze-colored fronds in spring and sports particularly bright orange-red ripe spores on the undersides of the leaves in autumn. In early spring, cut away the old foliage to reveal new fronds emerging in extraordinary shades of coppery pink. Though it can stand on its own with grace, it provides a fantastic backdrop to shade plants such as Variegated Solomon’s Seal and Blue Brunnera. Autumn Fern is easy to grow in rich, moist, cool soil in full shade to part shade locations. It can grow in full sun with plenty of moisture. It is tolerant of dry shade, and drought tolerant once established. It benefits from regular moisture in its first season, and from an annual dressing of compost or mulch.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AMI Production","offers":[{"title":"Plant - 3\" Pot","offer_id":46472264941807,"sku":"AM014956","price":12.49,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0731\/9535\/6399\/files\/dryopteris-erythrosora-brilliance-autumn-fern_walters-garden-inc-close-up.jpg?v=1761078700"},{"product_id":"perennial-shrubs-clethra-ruby-spice","title":"Ruby Spice Clethra","description":"\u003cp\u003eClethra alnifolia also commonly known as summersweet, is a unique flowering shrub. Clethra Ruby Spice prefers part shade and consistently moist, acidic soil and sandy soil (although should never fully dry out). A great choice for woodland gardens, wet marshes, stream banks, and seashores. This shrub grows well as a hedge, planted as groupings and or borders.  Clethra will naturalize over time, removing root suckers will limit growth unless that is the desired look. Native to swampy woodlands, wetlands and along river banks.  Rose pink blooms in late summer. Grows to be roughly 4 to 6 feet and blooms mid-summer to late summer. It produces a lovely fragrance that butterflies and bees love. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AMI Production","offers":[{"title":"Plant - 3.5\" Pot","offer_id":49588505084143,"sku":"AM014886","price":13.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0731\/9535\/6399\/files\/clethra_a-ruby_spice_1.jpg?v=1761078712"},{"product_id":"perennial-indian-pink","title":"Indian Pink","description":"\u003cp\u003eIndian Pink or also known as woodland pinkroot is a stunning perennial because of its vibrant red color. Its best to be planted in late summer or early fall to ensure summer blooms.  It’s a favorite among butterflies and hummingbirds. Indian Pink should be planted along the wood edge or in a shaded garden.  Its growing nature prefers neutral, well-drained soils.  Plant with Ferns, Columbine and Turk’s Cap Lily Bulbs.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AMI Production","offers":[{"title":"Bag of 1","offer_id":46472272871663,"sku":"AM014879","price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0731\/9535\/6399\/files\/hummingbird-enjoying-indianpinks.jpg?v=1761078714"},{"product_id":"perennial-trout-lily","title":"Trout Lily","description":"\u003cp\u003e3-6\" tall x 3-6\" wide. Erythronium americanum (Trout Lily) is a common sight in the woodlands of eastern North America, but it's a beautiful early spring garden plant, as well. In the wild, plants grow in colonies formed from underground runners. In the home garden, colonies and clumps will develop if plants are left undisturbed. Plant the corms three inches deep in areas with partial to full shade in moist soil rich in organic matter. (Try to recreate the conditions of the forest floor.) Like other spring ephemerals, Trout Lily plants go dormant during the summer. Plant in the fall. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AMI Production","offers":[{"title":"Bag of 3","offer_id":46472276639983,"sku":"AM014840","price":17.32,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0731\/9535\/6399\/files\/erythronium_americanum_-_erin_morrissette_6_800x800_rgb.jpg?v=1761078720"},{"product_id":"perennial-trillium-sweet-betsy","title":"Sweet Betsy Trillium","description":"\u003cp\u003e12-18\" tall x 9-12\" wide. Trillium cuneatum (Sweet Betsy Trillium, also known as Toadshade) is an easy-to-grow trillium that spreads via underground rhizomes. Plants do not take well to being moved once they’re established in the garden. They thrive in partial to full shade in rich, slightly moist, slightly acidic soils. When left alone they will form large colonies. Like many spring wildflowers, Toadshade Trillium will enter a dormant period during the mid to late summer during which the foliage will die back. If you must transplant or divide the colony, this is the time to do it. For best growth, mulch yearly with chopped leaves.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AMI Production","offers":[{"title":"Bag of 3","offer_id":46472277098735,"sku":"AM014839","price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0731\/9535\/6399\/files\/toadshade-tillium800x800_mt.-cuba-center.jpg?v=1761078721"},{"product_id":"perennial-green-dragon-arisaema","title":"Green Dragon","description":"\u003cp\u003e24-36” tall x 12-18” wide. Who doesn’t want unusual plants in their garden that are easy to grow? Green Dragon is a gorgeous North American native that is guaranteed to elicit cries of “What is that?” from visitors to your shady spaces.  Single leaves grow from a corm that is best planted in moist, rich soil. The compound leaf is arranged along a curved petiole, giving the plant a curious look that stands out from more common foliage types in the shade garden. The show gets even better when the spathe forms, highlighting a spadix which can stretch up to seven inches long.  In the summer, red berries form along the spathe and the plant goes dormant.  A terrific plant to pair with other, later plants such as hosta or ferns whose foliage will spread to cover an empty space. Like most arisaemas, Green Dragon is deer resistant and will slowly multiply by seed.  \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AMI Production","offers":[{"title":"Bag of 3","offer_id":46472282374383,"sku":"AM014814","price":23.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0731\/9535\/6399\/files\/arisaema-dracontium-green-dragon.jpg?v=1761078728"},{"product_id":"perennial-bleeding-heart-valentine","title":"Valentine® Bleeding Heart","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGreat color in the shade, The Bleeding Hearts. \u003c\/strong\u003e The genus \u003cem\u003eDicentra,\u003c\/em\u003e commonly called Bleeding Heart, gives us some of the most treasured plants in America, providing dependable color in moist shade as companions with Hostas and Ferns. There are basically two major types:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1. Most popular and world-famous, is \u003cem\u003eD. spectabilis\u003c\/em\u003e,\u003c\/strong\u003e a species native to Japan. It is the larger of the two (to about 3 feet,) and has the famous little heart-shaped flowers arrayed along arching stems, a lot like a string of pearls. The large bleeding hearts bloom only in spring, and in some areas, disappear altogether by midsummer, much like Trilliums and Daffodils.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2. The second type, the Fernleaf Bleeding Hearts,\u003c\/strong\u003e are hybrids of North American native wildflowers.  They are smaller with finely cut blue-green foliage and similar flowers.  However, with the fernleafs, the flowers are more bunched at the top of the stems, more like a dangling bouquet. And best of all, these plants continue to bloom not only in spring, but all summer into fall. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur native Dicentras are all wonderful wildflowers of  woodland shade, from the eastern Dutchmans Breeches and Fringed Bleeding Heart to the Northwests Pacific Bleeding Heart. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese magnificent plants have long been a herald of spring in Zones 2 to 9, a huge area of the US. They are quite easy to grow, as long as woodland conditions are provided. That means some shade, plenty of moisture with good drainage, and rich soil.  Once your clumps have become large, you can easily divide the rhizomes after flowering.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AMI Production","offers":[{"title":"Bag of 1","offer_id":46472289485039,"sku":"AM014723","price":13.32,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0731\/9535\/6399\/files\/dicentra-valentine-bleeding-heart_visi126587_800x800_ca8f9a32-209a-441c-a953-adabb894cbfb.jpg?v=1761078742"},{"product_id":"perennial-foxglove-pams-choice","title":"Foxglove Pam's Choice","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Foxglove Story\u003c\/strong\u003e The very important Wild Foxglove, \u003cem\u003eDigitalis purpurea\u003c\/em\u003e is a native of the UK, naturalized in the US, and famous for being used for Digitalis, the life-saving heart medicine.  However, Wild Foxglove is a biennial which often makes it undependable in perennial plantings.  But since the twenties, there have been beautiful perennial foxgloves too, a little shorter, but just as beautiful as the towering purpureas. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe great breakthrough came when a cross was accomplished in Merton, England in 1928 between the famous biennial wildflower and the perennial species, Digitalis grandiflora.  The perennial foxglove has ever since been called \u003cem\u003eDigitalis mertonensis\u003c\/em\u003e, named after the town. However, Mertonensis gives us only one color.  Pams Choice is a white selection of this famous perennial, and makes a great contrast grown along with the red or apricot selections.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AMI Production","offers":[{"title":"Plant - 3\" Pot","offer_id":46472301674735,"sku":"AM014611","price":9.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0731\/9535\/6399\/files\/digitalispamschoice.jpg?v=1761078751"},{"product_id":"perennial-foxglove-apricot-beauty","title":"Apricot Beauty Foxglove","description":"\u003cp\u003eApricot Beauty makes a wonderfully elegant statement and only grow to a maximum of 4 ft.  This foxglove is biennial, it grows foliage the first year and blooms the second year.  By letting seeds form, new Apricot Beauty Foxgloves will self-sow and produce future generations.  These new plants can be moved in their first year when they are still small. Please note that Apricot Beauty will be shipped to you in its second year of growth, so you will have blooms.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AMI Production","offers":[{"title":"Plant - 3\" Pot","offer_id":46472302002415,"sku":"AM014609","price":7.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0731\/9535\/6399\/files\/digitalis-apricot-beauty-foxglove.jpg?v=1761078752"},{"product_id":"perennial-foxglove-mertonensis","title":"Merton Foxglove","description":"\u003cp\u003eMerton, also known as Strawberry Foxglove, grows to a maximum of 3-4 ft.  This foxglove is a short-lived perennial which can be treated in the garden as a biennial. It grows foliage in the first year, and blooms in the second year. Please note that our Merton will be shipped to you in its second year of growth, so you will have blooms! \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy letting seeds form, new Merton Foxgloves will self-sow and produce future generations. These new plants can be moved in their first year when they are still small.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMerton Foxglove is the result of a breakthrough in 1928, when a cross between wild biennial foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) and perennial foxglove (Digitalis grandiflora) was accomplished in Merton, England.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePerennial expert, Alan Armitage says, \"This is one of my favorite plants, and that's quite an endorsement.\"  Merton foxgloves have rosy-colored flowers, rather than the purple of the wild biennial. Many people call them strawberry red.  Mr. Armitage calls the color coppery-rose, and says passers-by never fail to notice the beautiful spires of bloom.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AMI Production","offers":[{"title":"Plant - 3\" Pot","offer_id":46472302428399,"sku":"AM014607","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0731\/9535\/6399\/files\/digitalis-mertonensis-foxglove.jpg?v=1761078752"},{"product_id":"perennial-lungwort-raspberry-splash","title":"Raspberry Splash Lungwort","description":"\u003cp\u003eDue to their attractive mounding foliage, Lungworts, or Pulmonaria, make gorgeous groundcovers and pathway plants, and are often grown particularly for this reason. The early to mid-spring flowers present arching sprays of delicate flowers, welcomed by gardeners and delighted bees. Grow them in moisture-retentive soil that is well-draining to prevent rot at the crown. Remove spent leaves early in the spring to allow a new flush of foliage to carry you through the summer. In very warm climates, the plant may experience dormancy in the late summer, but will emerge very early in the next spring season. Notable resistance to powdery mildew. Pulmonaria is rarely damaged by deer, and parts of it are toxic to dogs and cats if ingested.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AMI Production","offers":[{"title":"Plant - 3\" Pot","offer_id":46472307867887,"sku":"AM014527","price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0731\/9535\/6399\/files\/pumonaria-reaspberry-splash-lungwort-plant-alamy-5yr-lic-flowers.jpg?v=1761078765"},{"product_id":"perennial-may-apple","title":"Mayapple","description":"\u003cp\u003ePlant May Apple in your shade garden for unique, bright green foliage growing in the early spring. This woodland beauty grows to only about 18” and is deer-resistant, making this the perfect choice for most shade gardens.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AMI Production","offers":[{"title":"Plant - 3\" Pot","offer_id":46472313962735,"sku":"AM014433","price":15.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0731\/9535\/6399\/files\/may-apple-with-lily-of-the-valley.jpg?v=1761078778"},{"product_id":"perennial-ligularia-the-rocket","title":"The Rocket Golden Ray","description":"\u003cp\u003e(60-72\" tall (5-6 feet) x 24-36\" wide) Ligularia \"The Rocket\" is a great plant for moist, shady gardens. In the middle of summer it sends up huge bright yellow flower spikes that are fragrant.  It is best grown in loamy or clay soil that is constantly moist or wet. A hummingbird favorite.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AMI Production","offers":[{"title":"Bag of 1","offer_id":46472315142383,"sku":"AM014428","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0731\/9535\/6399\/files\/ligularia_the_rocket__1__1.jpg?v=1761078781"},{"product_id":"perennial-lily-of-the-valley","title":"Lily of the Valley","description":"\u003cp\u003e Lily of the Valley is the super-hardy, highly scented early spring plant that makes a lovely green mat in any moist shady spot, spreading every year. The foliage is sort of like a solid green miniature Hosta, and you know the flowers. One of the great things about Lily of the Valley is the way the foliage stays rich and green all summer long. If you've never seen them before, don't be shocked by the tiny roots called pips.  They're supposed to be that small, and are a snap to grow.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AMI Production","offers":[{"title":"Bag of 15","offer_id":46472316420335,"sku":"AM014421","price":34.65,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0731\/9535\/6399\/files\/lily-of-the-valley-white-flowers.jpg?v=1761078784"},{"product_id":"perennial-bugbane-black","title":"Black Bugbane","description":"\u003cp\u003eWhether you have a woodland area or a garden bed in partial shade, Bugbane's (Actea simplex atropurpurea) gorgeous, unique blooms are wonderfully-fragrant and will add interest to your late summer space.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AMI Production","offers":[{"title":"Bag of 1","offer_id":46472317337839,"sku":"AM014415","price":18.65,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0731\/9535\/6399\/files\/black-bugbane-butterfly-flowers.jpg?v=1761078786"},{"product_id":"perennial-solomons-seal","title":"Solomon's Seal","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Solomon Seals make up an important group of North American woodland plants, and there are several types.  This is the main species, with elegantly arching single stems which bloom in pairs of yellowish\/white\/greenish bell-like flowers all along the leafy stems.  The common name comes from the fact that the root of this species bears a mark which some think resembles the Star of David, or the \"Seal of King Solomon.\"  False Solomon's seal, a similar-leaved species has completely different flowers.  Both are great additions to any wild garden, providing lush greenery, lovely bloom, and then striking berries to the spring flower show.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AMI Production","offers":[{"title":"Bag of 1","offer_id":46472321106159,"sku":"AM014358","price":21.32,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0731\/9535\/6399\/files\/polygonatum-multiflorum-solomons-seal.jpg?v=1761078794"},{"product_id":"perennial-trillium-yellow","title":"Yellow Trillium","description":"The yellow trillium has a beautiful set of leaves that are mottled with rich green and a sort of silver.  The flower appears in the center of the leaves, and the petals rise higher.  The flowers don't usually open fully like the other Trilliums, but the bloom is lovely just the same. \u003cp\u003eThis is one of the group called sessile Trilliums which have flowers directly atop the famous triple leaf arrangement.  Others, like the Red Trillium and Great White, are called pediceled Trilliums, which means they bear their flowers on a pedicel or stem. All our trillium plants are nursery propagated from seed. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eThe Trillium Tribe, and why its so famous.\u003c\/strong\u003e The classic 4-inch thick botanical reference work, Hortus Third, tells us that there are about 30 species of Trillium worldwide, but the majority of the species are native to North America.  A very few originate in Japan and Korea, none in Europe.  This is one reason that our colonists were so taken with these woodland beauties when they arrived. They had simply never seen anything like them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTrilliums, as the name implies have everything in 3s--three leaves, three petals, etc.  And compared to the other spring flowers that bloom when winter is finally over in our cold climates, the Trilliums are the ones with large look-at-me flowers.  They were famous with the Indians before colonization, and instantly the stars of spring bloom with the colonists. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRemember, when the colonists arrived, they arrived on our east coast which was totally wooded--big, primeval old growth forest, right down to the beaches.  And under these cathedral-like trees were the woodland native flowers--almost all species the Europeans had never seen.  Also, this is why almost all the native flowers of our east coast are woodland plants, not meadow wildflowers.  Of this famous original group of woodland wildflowers, which includes the Lady Slippers, Mayflower, Hepatica and many more, the Trilliums reigned supreme.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor centuries the flowers were picked heavily, which is unfortunate since a picked trillium is a dead trillium.  But it was the clearing of the forests for farming, a necessity for the colonists, that really devastated the woodland wildflowers.  We like to wring our hands about paving for interstates and new condominium projects today, but we needn't.  The damage was done long ago when our ancestors cleared the eastern forests for farming.  Of course, there are relatively small habitats left, and in recent years, our forested area has been enlarging, and woodland wildflower habitat has been restored in many places.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn any case, this elegant class of flowers, the Trilliums, are now recognized as precious and special, although they are not officially endangered.  In many areas, Trilliums are still very common. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWildflower gardeners love them, and it is true that most of them are not difficult to grow or transplant, and if conditions are good, they thrive.  However, it does help to know the facts.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHeres how they are propagated. \u003c\/strong\u003e Trilliums such as The Great White spread very slowly by underground root stocks, and the seed produced creates new plants even more slowly.  From a planted seed, it takes approximately five to nine years for a Trillium grandiflorum plant (the Great White Trillium) to bloom.  So when you see a massive drift of these in spring, you know you're looking at a bunch of plants that are at least a decade old, probably much older.  These plants are not daisies!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd how do they propagate themselves?  Well, \u003cem\u003eT. grandiflorum\u003c\/em\u003e is one of the wildflowers whose seeds are distributed by ants.  Yes, ants--not birds or bees, or the wind, but ants.  This is why the species creates large close drifts over the years.  Plants are never very far apart, since ants don't travel far.  So each clump of \u003cem\u003eT. grandiflorum\u003c\/em\u003e you see was planted where you see it by an ant. (They carry the seeds away when they fall from the plant because the ants enjoy the sticky covering each seed case has when it falls to the ground.) \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat brings us to the basic rarity of the Trilliums.  A big factor is that each flower produces only one seed case when it fades. (Everybody knows that most flowers--a daisy, for example, produces hundreds of loose seeds from each flower.) So even if the ants find the sticky seed case, and take it underground where the several seeds inside can grow, there simply aren't huge numbers of white trillium seeds being planted each year.  Other trillium species have various propagation strategies, but all take years and years. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNow you have some idea of the value of these beautiful plants.  They are an important part of American botanical history, and deserve a place of honor in every American wildflower garden.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e  \u003cstrong\u003eHere are the best known species,\u003c\/strong\u003e with a little info on each: \u003cbr\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eTrillium grandiflorum, \u003c\/em\u003eGreat White Trillium.\u003c\/strong\u003e  The provincial flower of Ontario, and quite common there and around the Great Lakes. Also the official wildflower of Ohio, T. grandiflorum is native over most of the east, from Canada to Georgia, especially in neutral or non-acid soils. Large white flowers fade to pink; plants form large drifts. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eTrillium erectum, \u003c\/em\u003eRed Trillium. \u003c\/strong\u003eAlso called Wake Robin and Stinking Benjamin, the second because of the flowers unpleasant odor, said to be similar to rotting meat.  Propagated by flies.  Red to purple flowers; plants solitary in acid or alkaline woods. Native to the eastern forests from Canada to Georgia. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eTrillium undulatum, \u003c\/em\u003ePainted Trillium. \u003c\/strong\u003eSmaller than the Great White or Red, but with one of the most beautiful flowers--white with purplish\/red centers. Must have highly acidic soil; common in pine woods.  Native to forests from Canada to Georgia.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eTrillium Catesbaei, \u003c\/em\u003e Rosy Trillium or Catesby Trillium.\u003c\/strong\u003e One of the first Trilliums discovered and named for Mark Catesby, the famous early British plant explorer and artist. The Rosy Trillium has somewhat smallish blooms which nod below the leaves.  It is native to the Southeast, where Catesby visited. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eTrillium viride var luteum, \u003c\/em\u003eYellow Trillium.\u003c\/strong\u003e This unusual trillium has mottled leaves and lemon yellow blooms that hold their petals high and never really open. It is often said to have a lemon scent, and is native from Kentucky south to Florida.  \u003cbr\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eTrillium ovatum, \u003c\/em\u003eCoast Trillium.\u003c\/strong\u003e This is a famous western trillium, much like T. grandiflorum in the east. Flowers are white, fading to pink. It is native from British Columbia through coastal forests all the way to central California. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AMI Production","offers":[{"title":"Bag of 1","offer_id":46472322547951,"sku":"AM014340","price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0731\/9535\/6399\/files\/yellow-trillium-luteum_1.jpg?v=1761078797"},{"product_id":"perennial-wild-spiderwort","title":"Wild Spiderwort","description":"The first name of this beautiful wildflower tells its story. It was discovered by John Tradescant, the British plant explorer who came to America early and and became very famous for the exotic plants of the New World that he took back home.\u003cp\u003eSpiderworts are moisture-lovers, with foliage a lot like that of an iris or Daylily, and the purple flowers are famous for having just three petals each.   Today, they've been hybridized into all shades of purple, blue, pink and white, and are prized garden perennials.  But many people think the original is still the most beautiful. A great plant for color in moist shade.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AMI Production","offers":[{"title":"Plant - 3\" Pot","offer_id":46472323236079,"sku":"AM014336","price":13.32,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0731\/9535\/6399\/files\/ohio-spiderwort-wild-flower-close-up.jpg?v=1761078799"},{"product_id":"perennial-hosta-wide-brim","title":"Wide Brim Hosta","description":"\u003cp\u003eHostas are shade lovers grown mostly for their beautiful foliage, and they're probably the very best plants for groundcover under trees in most parts of the U.S. Its simple: they're delighted to grow in shady spots where your grass will not. (They are super hardy in cold areas, but are somewhat difficult as far south as the Gulf Coast.)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAny gardener who lives in the huge area where Hostas are popular knows them. Now with over 1000 named cultivars, there are Hosta collectors everywhere. Just choose your favorites from the small, medium, and large sizes, and an endless choice of leaf designs. The plants, members of the lily family, are native to Korea, China and Japan, and gardeners there have used them for centuries for landscaping. The craze for Hostas is more recent in the U.S. And why not? They offer an endless variety of their wonderful fountain mound shape of handsome foliage--in lush shades of green, bluish-green, yellowish green, and all sorts of variegated types. Nothing is easier to grow; in fact, most gardeners simply ignore them, and they form their beautiful round shapes all by themselves, year after year.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AMI Production","offers":[{"title":"Bag of 1","offer_id":46827483824367,"sku":"AM014333","price":13.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0731\/9535\/6399\/files\/hostawidebrim.jpg?v=1761078799"},{"product_id":"perennial-bleeding-heart-white","title":"White Bleeding Heart","description":"This is the white version of the Old-Fashioned Bleeding Heart, Dicentra spectabilis. Many gardeners enjoy planting both the pink and white together for a startling bi-colored effect with spring bloom.  The white flowers are particularly striking in shade against the dark background of trees and shrubs. \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGreat color in the shade, The Bleeding Hearts. \u003c\/strong\u003e The genus \u003cem\u003eDicentra,\u003c\/em\u003e commonly called Bleeding Heart, gives us some of the most treasured plants in America, providing dependable color in moist shade as companions with Hostas and Ferns.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMost popular and world-famous, is \u003cem\u003eD. spectabilis\u003c\/em\u003e,\u003c\/strong\u003e a species native to Japan. It is the larger of the dicentras (to about 3 feet,) and has the famous little heart-shaped flowers arrayed along arching stems, a lot like a string of pearls. The large bleeding hearts bloom only in spring, and in some areas, disappear altogether by midsummer, much like Trilliums and Daffodils.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e They are quite easy to grow, as long as woodland conditions are provided. That means some shade, plenty of moisture with good drainage, and rich soil.  Once your clumps have become large, you can easily divide the rhizomes after flowering.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AMI Production","offers":[{"title":"Bag of 1","offer_id":46472323989743,"sku":"AM014329","price":13.32,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0731\/9535\/6399\/files\/dicentra-spectabilis-white-bleeding-heart.jpg?v=1761078799"},{"product_id":"perennial-hosta-variegated-mix","title":"Variegated Hosta Mix","description":"\u003cp\u003eHostas are shade lovers grown mostly for their beautiful foliage, and they're probably the very best plants for groundcover under trees in most parts of the U.S. Its simple: they're delighted to grow in shady spots where your grass will not. (They are super hardy in cold areas, but are somewhat difficult as far south as the Gulf Coast.) \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAny gardener who lives in the huge area where Hostas are popular knows them. Now with over 1000 named cultivars, there are Hosta collectors everywhere. Just choose your favorites from the small, medium, and large sizes, and an endless choice of leaf designs. The plants, members of the lily family, are native to Korea, China and Japan, and gardeners there have used them for centuries for landscaping. The craze for Hostas is more recent in the U.S.  And why not? They offer an endless variety of their wonderful fountain mound shape of handsome foliage--in lush shades of green, bluish-green, yellowish green, and all sorts of variegated types.  Nothing is easier to grow; in fact, most gardeners simply ignore them, and they form their beautiful round shapes all by themselves, year after year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePropagation is simple, too: \u003c\/strong\u003e If you've never divided a Hosta, let me tell you how simple and successful it can be.  I once volunteered to help a friend divide three or four large, old Hosta clumps into smaller plants to line a shady walk.  We began by digging them up, and then split the big fleshy root masses with a hatchet. Underground, Hostas are much like Daylilies, with fleshy, heavy masses of thick rootstocks. Once, we had the old clumps chopped into 8 or 10 equal-size pieces each, we simply dug a trench on both sides of the shady walk, and buried the pieces spaced evenly apart.  They looked fine on through that summer, and the very next spring, each one was up, healthy, and already formed into a perfect circle!  So don't think if you divide yours, you'll disturb that wonderful round fountain shape.  They just recover and create a new whorled circle wherever you put the divided pieces.  Today, that walk is edged with large, lush circles of Hosta foliage all season long.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Flowers\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes, Hostas do flower, and some cultivars have quite beautiful blooms, mostly purplish, blue or white, on tall lily-like stems above the foliage. Hosta purists often nip off the flower stalks before they can bloom, preferring to throw all the growth into the all-important foliage of the plants. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AMI Production","offers":[{"title":"Bag of 3","offer_id":46472324284655,"sku":"AM014315","price":15.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0731\/9535\/6399\/files\/hosta-variegated-mix_1.jpg?v=1761078801"},{"product_id":"perennial-astilbe-sister-theresa","title":"Sister Theresa Astilbe","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout Astilbes:\u003c\/strong\u003e  Easy to grow, tough and hardy, Astilbes are now a mainstay in all good perennial gardens.  In fact, American gardeners are in the midst of a passionate love affair with Astilbes. Native to the far east, these beautiful plants and their hybrids have revolutionized the perennial possibilities of moist, shaded American gardens.  They are companions of ferns and our favorite annuals, impatiens--one of the few flowers that make big color in full or partial shade.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe vast majority of the scores of hybrids now available are the work of one man, master hybridizer Georg Arends (Yes, that's why you keep seeing arendsii tacked onto hybrid names.) Mr. Arends, working in Ronsdorf, Germany spent decades hybridizing Sedums, Phlox, Campanulas....and his first love, Astilbes. In 1933, Arends introduced 74 different Astilbe cultivars, and there have been hundreds since.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e These plume-flowered plants have ultra-handsome fern-like foliage, (usually dark glossy green) and stiff stems that always hold the elegant plumes aloft without any staking. Flower arrangers find the flower plumes are just as handsome in a vase as in a garden. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e From tiny dwarfs to big draping hybrids, Astilbes are all quite easy to grow, as long as their ground does not dry out for long.  They must have plenty of moisture, so choose your locations carefully.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AMI Production","offers":[{"title":"Bag of 3","offer_id":46472326480111,"sku":"AM014283","price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0731\/9535\/6399\/files\/astilbe-arendsii-false-spirea-sister-theresa-pink.jpg?v=1775670204"},{"product_id":"perennial-violet-silver-gem","title":"Silver Gem Viola","description":"Viola Silver Gem’s sweet, light purple flowers will last from late spring into the fall months, creating an elegant statement in the shade garden. This tough groundcover is deep resistant and drought-tolerant, making it a versatile choice for many gardens.\u003cp\u003eExperienced gardeners have a strong love-hate relationship with violets, and it all depends on where they are planted.  Of course, everybody loves the flowers. Just keep them out of your regular flower garden, and use them under trees, in front of shrubs, and other places for patches of color and borders of groundcover-like violets alone.   Because they seed and spread rapidly, and if they spread throughout your other perennials, and in a year or two, you'll have a big job pulling them all out and cleaning everything up. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut just look at those flowers!  Who can resist?  Plant yours where you want them to spread, and you'll love them forever.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AMI Production","offers":[{"title":"Plant - 3\" Pot","offer_id":46827487625455,"sku":"AM014282","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0731\/9535\/6399\/files\/viola-silver-gem_1.jpg?v=1761078807"},{"product_id":"perennial-shooting-star","title":"Shooting Star","description":"It's easy to see how this wildflower got its common name. The flowers are arrayed on a tall stem, they are star shaped, and they're pointed straight down. The whole plant is handsome, with flowers ranging from white to pink to even a dark purple, and its dependably perennial, even in the coldest climates. \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrowing Shooting Stars:\u003c\/strong\u003e This plant is so popular, and has been gathered so widely, it is now on the protected list in several states. Its happy in deciduous shade, but not too close to trees. Give it plenty of moisture, and if your soil is very acid, this species will appreciate a little dolomitic lime in the fall.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AMI Production","offers":[{"title":"Plant - 3\" Pot","offer_id":46791002947823,"sku":"AM014279","price":13.32,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0731\/9535\/6399\/files\/shooting-star-white-dodecatheon_1.jpg?v=1761078808"},{"product_id":"perennial-oakleaf-hydrangea-ruby-slippers","title":"Ruby Slippers Oakleaf Hydrangea","description":"\u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eAbout Hydrangeas:\u003c\/strong\u003e These popular shrubs, also called Hortensia, all have rounded flower clusters that persist through summer and fall.  There are several types, since there are several species of the plant the hybridizers work with:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eH. macrophylla\u003c\/em\u003e or French Hydrangeas. \u003c\/strong\u003e These, the most popular, form non-rangy, attractive shrubs about 4 to 6 ft. tall, and are famed for their big, colorful ball-like flowers, usually blue or pink.  The popular group here is called Mophead hydrangeas.  Artificially shortened versions are sold in pots on Easter and Mothers Day, and the blooms are florists favorites, always popular for wedding decorations. In addition to the mopheads (solid ball of flowers), there are also lacecap versions of these hydrangeas. (H. macrophylla is native to the Far East.)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eH. arborescens,\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e a US native, includes the widely-planted, Annabelle.  Much like the Mopheads, Annabelle is a shorter hydrangea with huge rounded flower clusters in pure white. This is the one famous for flowers so large they often weigh down the branches, needing special support.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eH. paniculata,\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e is a larger species, much taller than the Mopheads.  The flower clusters are more cone-shaped, rather than round. The plant in this group is more rangy than the shorter types, but can be controlled by pruning. The famous Pee Gee hydrangea, often grown as a small tree is in this group, and was imported from Japan in the late 19th century. There are also newer H. paniculata hybrids, including the beautiful greenish-flowered one called Limelight. \u003cbr\u003e \n\n\u003cstrong\u003e Other Types:\u003c\/strong\u003e There are several other important hydrangeas.  The tall native Oakleaf hydrangea (sometimes considered a small tree) is also a variety of the species, \u003cem\u003eH. paniculata.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AMI Production","offers":[{"title":"Plant - 3.5\" Pot","offer_id":49588503511279,"sku":"AM014255","price":14.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0731\/9535\/6399\/files\/hydrangea-ruby-slippers-pink-white-blooms-dave-whitinger-national-gardening-association.jpg?v=1761078811"},{"product_id":"perennial-trillium-rose","title":"Rose Trillium","description":"Also sometimes called the Nodding Trillium for obvious reasons, this one is particularly beautiful, but shy.  The flowers nod beneath the petals, with a hue of pastel pink or rose. The species name, catesbaei, is for the world-renowned plant explorer and botanical artist Mark Catesby, who visited the Carolinas, Florida and the Bahamas early in our history.  Today, his prints, like Audubons, are quite valuable.  \u003cp\u003eThe Rose Trillium (or Rosy Trillium or Catesbys Trillium) is one of the easiest to grow.   It is native to our southeastern highlands, but does well in most of the country with the right conditions--which means rich woodland soil in shade. Our trillium plants are nursery propagated from seed, and are 4 to 5 years old. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Trillium Tribe, and why its so famous.\u003c\/strong\u003e The classic 4-inch thick botanical reference work, Hortus Third, tells us that there are about 30 species of Trillium worldwide, but the majority of the species are native to North America.  A very few originate in Japan and Korea, none in Europe.  This is one reason that our colonists were so taken with these woodland beauties when they arrived. They had simply never seen anything like them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTrilliums, as the name implies have everything in 3s--three leaves, three petals, etc.  And compared to the other spring flowers that bloom when winter is finally over in our cold climates, the Trilliums are the ones with large look-at-me flowers.  They were famous with the Indians before colonization, and instantly the stars of spring bloom with the colonists. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRemember, when the colonists arrived, they arrived on our east coast which was totally wooded--big, primeval old growth forest, right down to the beaches.  And under these cathedral-like trees were the woodland native flowers--almost all species the Europeans had never seen.  Also, this is why almost all the native flowers of our east coast are woodland plants, not meadow wildflowers.  Of this famous original group of woodland wildflowers, which includes the Lady Slippers, Mayflower, Hepatica and many more, the Trilliums reigned supreme.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor centuries the flowers were picked heavily, which is unfortunate since a picked trillium is a dead trillium.  But it was the clearing of the forests for farming, a necessity for the colonists, that really devastated the woodland wildflowers.  We like to wring our hands about paving for interstates and new condominium projects today, but we needn't.  The damage was done long ago when our ancestors cleared the eastern forests for farming.  Of course, there are relatively small habitats left, and in recent years, our forested area has been enlarging, and woodland wildflower habitat has been restored in many places.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn any case, this elegant class of flowers, the Trilliums, are now recognized as precious and special, although they are not officially endangered.  In many areas, Trilliums are still very common. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWildflower gardeners love them, and it is true that most of them are not difficult to grow or transplant, and if conditions are good, they thrive.  However, it does help to know the facts.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHere's how they are propagated. \u003c\/strong\u003e Trilliums such as The Great White spread very slowly by underground root stocks, and the seed produced creates new plants even more slowly.  From a planted seed, it takes approximately five to nine years for a Trillium grandiflorum plant (the Great White Trillium) to bloom.  So when you see a massive drift of these in spring, you know you're looking at a bunch of plants that are at least a decade old, probably much older.  These plants are not daisies!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd how do they propagate themselves?  Well, \u003cem\u003eT. grandiflorum\u003c\/em\u003e is one of the wildflowers whose seeds are distributed by ants.  Yes, ants--not birds or bees, or the wind, but ants.  This is why the species creates large close drifts over the years.  Plants are never very far apart, since ants don't travel far.  So each clump of \u003cem\u003eT. grandiflorum\u003c\/em\u003e you see was planted where you see it by an ant. (They carry the seeds away when they fall from the plant because the ants enjoy the sticky covering each seed case has when it falls to the ground.) \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat brings us to the basic rarity of the Trilliums.  A big factor is that each flower produces only one seed case when it fades. (Everybody knows that most flowers--a daisy, for example, produces hundreds of loose seeds from each flower.) So even if the ants find the sticky seed case, and take it underground where the several seeds inside can grow, there simply aren't huge numbers of white trillium seeds being planted each year.  Other trillium species have various propagation strategies, but all take years and years. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNow you have some idea of the value of these beautiful plants.  They are an important part of American botanical history, and deserve a place of honor in every American wildflower garden.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e  \u003cstrong\u003eHere are the best known species,\u003c\/strong\u003e with a little info on each: \u003cbr\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eTrillium grandiflorum, \u003c\/em\u003eGreat White Trillium.\u003c\/strong\u003e  The provincial flower of Ontario, and quite common there and around the Great Lakes. Also the official wildflower of Ohio, T. grandiflorum is native over most of the east, from Canada to Georgia, especially in neutral or non-acid soils. Large white flowers fade to pink; plants form large drifts. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eTrillium erectum, \u003c\/em\u003eRed Trillium. \u003c\/strong\u003eAlso called Wake Robin and Stinking Benjamin, the second because of the flowers unpleasant odor, said to be similar to rotting meat.  Propagated by flies.  Red to purple flowers; plants solitary in acid or alkaline woods. Native to the eastern forests from Canada to Georgia. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eTrillium undulatum, \u003c\/em\u003ePainted Trillium. \u003c\/strong\u003eSmaller than the Great White or Red, but with one of the most beautiful flowers--white with purplish\/red centers. Must have highly acidic soil; common in pine woods.  Native to forests from Canada to Georgia.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eTrillium Catesbaei, \u003c\/em\u003e Rosy Trillium or Catesby Trillium.\u003c\/strong\u003e One of the first Trilliums discovered and named for Mark Catesby, the famous early British plant explorer and artist. The Rosy Trillium has somewhat smallish blooms which nod below the leaves.  It is native to the Southeast, where Catesby visited. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eTrillium viride var luteum, \u003c\/em\u003eYellow Trillium.\u003c\/strong\u003e This unusual Trillium has mottled leaves and lemon yellow blooms that hold their petals high and never really open. It is often said to have a lemon scent, and is native from Kentucky south to Florida.  \u003cbr\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eTrillium ovatum, \u003c\/em\u003eCoast Trillium.\u003c\/strong\u003e This is a famous western trillium, much like T. grandiflorum in the east. Flowers are white, fading to pink. It is native from British Columbia through coastal forests all the way to central California.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AMI Production","offers":[{"title":"Bag of 1","offer_id":46472328446191,"sku":"AM014252","price":17.32,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0731\/9535\/6399\/files\/rose-trillium-pink-curled.jpg?v=1761078812"},{"product_id":"perennial-creeping-wintergreen","title":"Redwood® Creeping Wintergreen","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRedwood® Creeping Wintergreen\u003c\/strong\u003e is a charming, evergreen perennial groundcover that brings year-round beauty to shady spaces. This low-growing woodland native forms glossy, deep green mats that hug the soil, making it ideal for under trees, along shaded pathways, or in naturalized beds. In late spring to early summer, delicate bell-shaped flowers appear, followed by bright red berries that persist into fall and winter, adding cheerful color when the garden grows quiet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePerfectly suited for partial to full shade, Redwood® Creeping Wintergreen thrives in cool, moist, acidic, well-draining soil. It spreads gradually by creeping stems, forming a dense carpet over time that helps suppress weeds and fill in bare areas—steady and dependable rather than aggressive. For the best berry production, plant more than one to encourage pollination and ensure a generous display.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe berries are ornamental and enjoyed by wildlife,. They are generally considered non-toxic, however they are not intended as an edible food source for people or pets.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith its evergreen foliage, charming blooms, and winter-bright berries, Redwood® Creeping Wintergreen is a graceful, low-maintenance solution for creating lush, shade-loving groundcover with four-season appeal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AMI Production","offers":[{"title":"Plant - 3\" Pot","offer_id":46472328675567,"sku":"AM014246","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0731\/9535\/6399\/files\/gaultheria-procumbens-redwood-creeping-wintergreen.jpg?v=1761078812"},{"product_id":"perennial-trillium-red","title":"Red Trillium","description":"One of the most famous members of the famous Trillium family, the Red (or Purple) Trillium is known by several names, including Wake Robin. This beautiful wildflower is one of the easiest Trilliums to grow, since it is tolerant of acid or alkaline soils. Native all over the northern states from Maine to Michigan, and south to the Carolinas, mostly in mountains, the Red Trillium requires moist shade and rich woodland soil. The spring blooms are up to 4 in. across, and held high above the leaves on upright plants to 16 tall.  Like all Trilliums, everything appears in threes--three leaves, three petals. A real beauty for any shade garden. Our trillium plants are nursery propagated from seed. \u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eThe Trillium Tribe, and why its so famous.\u003c\/strong\u003e The classic 4-inch thick botanical reference work, Hortus Third, tells us that there are about 30 species of Trillium worldwide, but the majority of the species are native to North America.  A very few originate in Japan and Korea, none in Europe.  This is one reason that our colonists were so taken with these woodland beauties when they arrived. They had simply never seen anything like them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTrilliums, as the name implies have everything in 3s--three leaves, three petals, etc.  And compared to the other spring flowers that bloom when winter is finally over in our cold climates, the Trilliums are the ones with large look-at-me flowers.  They were famous with the Indians before colonization, and instantly the stars of spring bloom with the colonists. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRemember, when the colonists arrived, they arrived on our east coast which was totally wooded--big, primeval old growth forest, right down to the beaches.  And under these cathedral-like trees were the woodland native flowers--almost all species the Europeans had never seen.  Also, this is why almost all the native flowers of our east coast are woodland plants, not meadow wildflowers.  Of this famous original group of woodland wildflowers, which includes the Lady Slippers, Mayflower, Hepatica and many more, the Trilliums reigned supreme.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor centuries the flowers were picked heavily, which is unfortunate since a picked trillium is a dead trillium.  But it was the clearing of the forests for farming, a necessity for the colonists, that really devastated the woodland wildflowers.  We like to wring our hands about paving for interstates and new condominium projects today, but we needn't.  The damage was done long ago when our ancestors cleared the eastern forests for farming.  Of course, there are relatively small habitats left, and in recent years, our forested area has been enlarging, and woodland wildflower habitat has been restored in many places.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn any case, this elegant class of flowers, the Trilliums, are now recognized as precious and special, although they are not officially endangered.  In many areas, Trilliums are still very common. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWildflower gardeners love them, and it is true that most of them are not difficult to grow or transplant, and if conditions are good, they thrive.  However, it does help to know the facts.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHere's how they are propagated. \u003c\/strong\u003e Trilliums such as The Great White spread very slowly by underground root stocks, and the seed produced creates new plants even more slowly.  From a planted seed, it takes approximately five to nine years for a Trillium grandiflorum plant (the Great White Trillium) to bloom.  So when you see a massive drift of these in spring, you kinow youre looking at a bunch of plants that are at least a decade old, probably much older.  These plants are not daisies!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd how do they propagate themselves?  Well, \u003cem\u003eT. grandiflorum\u003c\/em\u003e is one of the wildflowers whose seeds are distributed by ants.  Yes, ants--not birds or bees, or the wind, but ants.  This is why the species creates large close drifts over the years.  Plants are never very far apart, since ants don't travel far.  So each clump of \u003cem\u003eT. grandiflorum\u003c\/em\u003e you see was planted where you see it by an ant. (They carry the seeds away when they fall from the plant because the ants enjoy the sticky covering each seed case has when it falls to the ground.) \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat brings us to the basic rarity of the Trilliums.  A big factor is that each flower produces only one seed case when it fades. (Everybody knows that most flowers--a daisy, for example, produces hundreds of loose seeds from each flower.) So even if the ants find the sticky seed case, and take it underground where the several seeds inside can grow, there simply aren't huge numbers of white trillium seeds being planted each year.  Other trillium species have various propagation strategies, but all take years and years. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNow you have some idea of the value of these beautiful plants.  They are an important part of American botanical history, and deserve a place of honor in every American wildflower garden.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e  \u003cstrong\u003eHere are the best known species,\u003c\/strong\u003e with a little info on each: \u003cbr\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eTrillium grandiflorum, \u003c\/em\u003eGreat White Trillium.\u003c\/strong\u003e  The provincial flower of Ontario, and quite common there and around the Great Lakes. Also the official wildflower of Ohio, T. grandiflorum is native over most of the east, from Canada to Georgia, especially in neutral or non-acid soils. Large white flowers fade to pink; plants form large drifts. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eTrillium erectum, \u003c\/em\u003eRed Trillium. \u003c\/strong\u003eAlso called Wake Robin and Stinking Benjamin, the second because of the flowers unpleasant odor, said to be similar to rotting meat.  Propagated by flies.  Red to purple flowers; plants solitary in acid or alkaline woods. Native to the eastern forests from Canada to Georgia. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eTrillium undulatum, \u003c\/em\u003ePainted Trillium. \u003c\/strong\u003eSmaller than the Great White or Red, but with one of the most beautiful flowers--white with purplish\/red centers. Must have highly acidic soil; common in pine woods.  Native to forests from Canada to Georgia.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eTrillium Catesbaei, \u003c\/em\u003e Rosy Trillium or Catesby Trillium.\u003c\/strong\u003e One of the first Trilliums discovered and named for Mark Catesby, the famous early British plant explorer and artist. The Rosy Trillium has somewhat smallish blooms which nod below the leaves.  It is native to the Southeast, where Catesby visited. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eTrillium viride var luteum, \u003c\/em\u003eYellow Trillium.\u003c\/strong\u003e This unusual trillium has mottled leaves and lemon yellow blooms that hold their petals high and never really open. It is often said to have a lemon scent, and is native from Kentucky south to Florida.  \u003cbr\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eTrillium ovatum, \u003c\/em\u003eCoast Trillium.\u003c\/strong\u003e This is a famous western trillium, much like T. grandiflorum in the east. Flowers are white, fading to pink. It is native from British Columbia through coastal forests all the way to central California. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AMI Production","offers":[{"title":"Bag of 1","offer_id":46472329036015,"sku":"AM014245","price":14.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0731\/9535\/6399\/files\/red-trillium_1.jpg?v=1773868855"},{"product_id":"perennial-japanese-painted-fern-red-beauty","title":"Red Beauty Japanese Painted Fern","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis is one of the highly decorative Japanese Painted Ferns.  With burgundy highlights, it creates a dramatic background or accent in gardens.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AMI Production","offers":[{"title":"Plant - 3\" Pot","offer_id":46472329593071,"sku":"AM014240","price":13.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0731\/9535\/6399\/files\/RedBeautyPaintedFern.jpg?v=1779466903"},{"product_id":"perennial-hosta-patriot","title":"Patriot Hosta","description":"\u003cp\u003eHostas are shade lovers grown mostly for their beautiful foliage, and they're probably the very best plants for groundcover under trees in most parts of the U.S. Its simple: they're delighted to grow in shady spots where your grass will not. (They are super hardy in cold areas, but are somewhat difficult as far south as the Gulf Coast.) \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAny gardener who lives in the huge area where Hostas are popular knows them. Now with over 1000 named cultivars, there are Hosta collectors everywhere. Just choose your favorites from the small, medium, and large sizes, and an endless choice of leaf designs. The plants, members of the lily family, are native to Korea, China and Japan, and gardeners there have used them for centuries for landscaping. The craze for Hostas is more recent in the U.S.  And why not? They offer an endless variety of their wonderful fountain mound shape of handsome foliage--in lush shades of green, bluish-green, yellowish green, and all sorts of variegated types.  Nothing is easier to grow; in fact, most gardeners simply ignore them, and they form their beautiful round shapes all by themselves, year after year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePropagation is simple, too: \u003c\/strong\u003e If you've never divided a Hosta, let me tell you how simple and successful it can be.  I once volunteered to help a friend divide three or four large, old Hosta clumps into smaller plants to line a shady walk.  We began by digging them up, and then split the big fleshy root masses with a hatchet. Underground, Hostas are much like Daylilies, with fleshy, heavy masses of thick rootstocks. Once, we had the old clumps chopped into 8 or 10 equal-size pieces each, we simply dug a trench on both sides of the shady walk, and buried the pieces spaced evenly apart.  They looked fine on through that summer, and the very next spring, each one was up, healthy, and already formed into a perfect circle!  So don't think if you divide yours, you'll disturb that wonderful round fountain shape.  They just recover and create a new whorled circle wherever you put the divided pieces.  Today, that walk is edged with large, lush circles of Hosta foliage all season long.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Flowers\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes, Hostas do flower, and some cultivars have quite beautiful blooms, mostly purplish, blue or white, on tall lily-like stems above the foliage. Hosta purists often nip off the flower stalks before they can bloom, preferring to throw all the growth into the all-important foliage of the plants. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AMI Production","offers":[{"title":"Bag of 1","offer_id":46472330772719,"sku":"AM014194","price":15.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0731\/9535\/6399\/files\/hosta-plantain-lily-patriot-garden.jpg?v=1761078817"},{"product_id":"perennial-primrose-blue-zebra","title":"Blue Zebra® Primrose","description":"\u003cp\u003ePrimrose is one of the earliest spring flowers in Europe.   In Old French or medieval Latin \"primrose\" means \"first rose\".  Easy to grow in humus-rich soil in partial shade to full sun primrose can be used to cover the ground in open woods.   Perfect for the edge of the woodland garden.  Be careful not to plant too deeply as it will result in crown rot.  Attracts Birds and\/or Butterflies and is bee friendly.  (Primula  acaulis)\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AMI Production","offers":[{"title":"Plant - 3\" Pot","offer_id":46472335130863,"sku":"AM015173","price":7.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0731\/9535\/6399\/files\/primrose-primula-acaulis-blue-zebra_2.jpg?v=1761078820"},{"product_id":"perennial-coral-bells-heucherella-gold-zebra","title":"Gold Zebra Heucherella","description":"\u003cp\u003eA hybrid between Heuchera (coral bells) and Tiarella (foamflowers).   Foamy Bells combines the exceptional foliage colors from Heuchera and the patterns and shapes from Tiarella.  They take full sun or partial shade.  And while most of these are grown for their handsome foliage, many also have lovely flowers, some spectacular.  Best of all, the plants bloom for weeks and weeks. The flowers rise from a clump of leaves on elegant, thin stems which are lined with the small foam-like blooms. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AMI Production","offers":[{"title":"Plant - 3\" Pot","offer_id":46472336802031,"sku":"AM015153","price":14.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0731\/9535\/6399\/files\/gold-zebra-heucherella.jpg?v=1761078823"},{"product_id":"perennial-harts-tongue-fern","title":"Hart's Tongue Fern","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn unusual fern with \"tongue\" shaped undivided fronds.  The word scolopendrium is Latin for \"centipede\" and is used for this fern due to the patterns on the fronds resemble centipede legs.  Do not let Harts Tongue dry out between waterings as it requires moist soil.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AMI Production","offers":[{"title":"Plant - 3\" Pot","offer_id":46472337096943,"sku":"AM015150","price":13.32,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0731\/9535\/6399\/files\/harts-tongue-fern-garden-flowers-shade.jpg?v=1761078824"},{"product_id":"perennial-ginger-arrow-leaf","title":"Arrow Leaf Ginger","description":"\u003cp\u003e Arrow-Leaf Ginger, also known as \u003cem\u003eAsarum arifolium\u003c\/em\u003e, is native. This plant should not be confused with 'wild ginger' - the deciduous \u003cem\u003eAsarum canadense\u003c\/em\u003e.   \u003cem\u003eAsarum arifolium\u003c\/em\u003e has pointy shaped leaves and is slightly taller. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e Ginger is a beautiful green low growing ground cover, perfect for shaded woodland areas. Good for edging and naturalizing. All ginger can be slow growing, so have patience as it can take some time for it to become established and spread.  It’s definitely worth the wait once it starts to grow!  In the early spring months be careful when walking or raking out woodland gardens.  Ginger produces unique purple flowers or jug like blossoms that are truly different than other perennials. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AMI Production","offers":[{"title":"Bag of 1","offer_id":46472341749999,"sku":"AM015110","price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0731\/9535\/6399\/files\/ginger_arrow_leaf.jpg?v=1761078836"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0731\/9535\/6399\/collections\/shade-perennials-hydrangea.jpg?v=1774898883","url":"https:\/\/www.americanmeadows.com\/collections\/shade-perennial-plants.oembed?page=13","provider":"American Meadows","version":"1.0","type":"link"}