Connoisseur Plants
Connoisseur Plants are rare, new plants, or hard-to-find old favorites. These wonderful plants are being offered to our upper level members, Collector (formerly Sponsor) level and higher.
Please note that several plants are available in very limited quantities. For some plants, we don't know the full range of hardiness, only how it has behaved at the JC Raulston Arboretum. Sometimes, we cannot find any information in our references on a particular taxon. This does not mean that the plant doesn't exist, perhaps just that we are staying one step ahead of published information. One of the purposes of the Arboretum is to test new plants for suitability to the southeastern United States. By growing some of these "new-to-us" plants in your own garden, you can be a part of this evaluation process. Feedback from you is invaluable!
Happy choosing, and thank you for your continued and invaluable support of the JC Raulston Arboretum.
To submit your selections, please use the form link in the e-mail you received on February 21, 2024 from Kathryn Wall. If you need assistance, please e-mail Kathryn at kbwall@ncsu.edu or call (919) 513-7004 Selections should be placed no later than end of day March 3, 2024.
Note: The distribution year listed below is the year the plants were awarded. Members request them early the following year. And they're picked up or delivered shortly thereafter.
2024 Plant Selection
This form of the excellent garden fern features yellow-tinged foliage contrasting against the dark black stipes. Spreads slowly into a 3' wide patch.
- semi-evergreen fern to 6"
- plant in part sun
- hardy to zone 5
Quite rare in the U.S., this small evergreen tree from China has laurel-like evergreen leaves and an adaptable nature. This specimen acquired from the Atlanta Botanic Garden has red new growth. Although it is related to Camellia, the flowers and fruit of Adinandra millettii are insignificant. In southern China, the leaves are used to dye rice green for holidays such as the Qingming festival and Haishi Day. A truly understated but elegant evergreen shrub/tree.
- evergreen tree to 30'
- plant in sun
- hardy to zone 7
- white flowers in late spring
- black fruit in late summer
Agave schidigera 'Bright Lights'
century plant
A variegated agave with wide cream-colored leaf margins. Slow growing. Not cold hardy in the Raleigh area...we have to be content with growing it as a container plant.
- evergreen succulent to 15"
- plant in sun
- hardy to zone 9
Agave titanota 'Genryu Kifukurin'
century plant
This selection is a variegated form of this small agave with a wide white edge to the each leaf. The leaf pattern is brightest when the new growth emerges and fades somewhat during the high heat of summer. Agave titanota is a ferociously-spined species handle with care! Not cold hardy in Raleigh, so it is best grown as a container plant.
- evergreen succulent to 12"
- plant in sun
- hardy to zone 9
Agave vilmoriniana 'Stained Glass'
century plant
A variegated agave with leaves that are blue-green edged with pale creamy yellow. Unlike most agaves, A. vilmoriniana leaves are nearly spineless and thus friendly to handle. Each leaf is long and arching in a lovely artistic form. Not cold hardy in Raleigh, so it is best grown as a container plant. This species usually blooms at around 10 years old and then dies but produces many small plantlets along the flower stalk.
- evergreen succulent to 3' tall x 5' wide
- plant in sun
- hardy to zone 9
This 8' woody shrub, which dies back to the ground in the Raleigh area, offers dark green sandpapery leaves on branches that end in terminal spikes of extraordinarily fragrant (vanilla almond) white flowers from July until frost. Pollinators love it.
- dieback shrub to 8'
- plant in sun
- hardy to zone 7b
- white flowers in mid summer to early fall
A compact 15" tall form of this species which typically reaches 4 feet. Dark purple stems are topped with pale blue flowers. A nice small bluestar for garden spaces that are too small for a full sized one. Yellow fall foliage and pollinator friendly.
- herbaceous perennial to 15"
- plant in sun
- hardy to zone 6
- pale blue flowers in early spring
- butterfly/pollinator friendly and deer resistant
Clumps of 2' long by 4" wide strap-shaped leaves arch out from a central rosette. 3' tall flower stalks are topped with small white flowers featuring tri-colored purple, white and yellow stamens in summer. A great plant for massing in a bed. Tolerant of salt spray and drought. But it is susceptible to snail and slug damage. Native to New Zealand. Renga is the Maori name for this plant and they used to cultivate it for its edible rhizomes.
- herbaceous perennial to 1-3'
- plant in sun or shade
- hardy to zone 8
- whtie flowers
Aspidistra lutea 'Mai Chau'
cast iron plant
A rare species of cast iron plant originally collected in Mai Chau, Vietnam. Faint yellow spots on short but wide leaves that, unlike most Aspidistra, spread outward from the base instead of upward. Not cold hardy in Raleigh, but it would make an excellent container plant or houseplant. An Alan Galloway collection.
- evergreen perennial to 8"
- plant in shade
- hardy to zone 9
- pale yellow flowers in fall
A somewhat diminutive species growing only to about 18" tall. The narrow foliage is pleated like a Chinese fan just being opened. Grow it where a bit of texture is needed in a dry shade spot. Not cold hardy in Raleigh, but it would make an excellent container plant or houseplant.
- evergreen perennial to 18"
- plant in shade
- hardy to zone 9
- dark purple flowers
Aspidistra yingjiangensis 'Barry's Big Splash'
cast iron plant
A somewhat diminutive species growing only to about 18" tall. The narrow leaves have tons of bright yellow spots on them. Not cold hardy in Raleigh, but it would make an excellent container plant or houseplant. A Barry Yinger/Asiatica Nursery introduction from Thailand.
- evergreen perennial to 18"
- plant in shade
- hardy to zone 9
- dark purple flowers
Baccharis trimera
carqueja
From JC Raulston Arboretum director Mark Weathington's 2024 plant collection trip to Uruguay comes this odd dioecious shrub (MWU24-054). It features aphyllous (leafless), glossy, three-winged stems that are quite unusual and ornamental. The small white flowers look like tufts of hair growing on the stem. This plant is from arid regions and is quite adaptable to a variety of garden conditions. It is salt tolerant too. Great for a xeric garden or coastal planting. It is one of several species sold as the herbal supplement carqueja.
- leafless shrub to 3-6'
- plant in sun
- hardy to zone 8 we think
- white flowers in summer
- deer resistant
Bignonia callistegioides
lavender trumpet vine
A South American woody vine collected by JC Raulston Arboretum director Mark Weathington in Uruguay in 2024 (MWU24-115). The glossy leaves emerge bronze and then turn green. The 3-inch-wide trumpet-shaped flowers have intricate dark purple veins. Flowers are rarely followed by a spiny elongated fruit. Tolerant of heavy soils and once established it is quite drought tolerant.
- evergreen woody vine to 30'
- plant in sun to part shade
- hardy to zone 8
- pale lavender flowers in late spring
- butterfly pollinator friendly, attracts birds
An Australian shrub with needle-like leaves and a bottle-brush-like flower. Unlike many other Callistemon species, this one grows natively in boggy moist areas and can tolerate typical NC wet, humid, summer conditions better than its xeric brethren. But it is also drought tolerant. Prior to blooming, the developing buds are covered with attractive pink-bronze bracts.
- evergreen shrub to 8'
- plant in sun
- hardy to zone 7b
- pale yellow flowers in summer
- deer resistant
A unique dwarf spreading evergreen with icy blue needles. This lowest of the dwarf Deodar cedars rarely develops a leader. A wonderful specimen for smaller spaces, rock gardens and containers.
- conifer to 4-5' in 10 years
- plant in sun to light shade
- hardy to zone 6
A dwarf, brightly colored falsecypress growing as a tight mound of creamy colored foliage. Although it starts as a rounded plant, it will become wider than tall as it ages and can eventually grow to 6' or more tall and wide. It is probably best with some protection from afternoon sun.
- dwarf conifer to 4' in 10 years
- plant in sun to partial shade
- hardy to zone 5
A chartreuse-leaved elephant ear. Like most elephant ears, growth is best in full sun, with consistent moisture and good fertility.
- herbaceous perennial to 6'
- plant in sun
- hardy to zone 7b
Sweetly scented light pink flowers that eventually fade to white appear in mid to late summer on stalks that emerge from green, strap-like foliage.
- perennial bulb to 30"
- plant in sun to part shade
- hardy to zone 7b
- light pink flowers in July-August
Hailing from the Iberian peninsula, northwest Africa, and the Canary islands is this drought tolerant plant with lacy silver leaves and a large pale purple thistle-like flower.
- herbaceous perennial to 2'
- plant in sun
- hardy to zone 8
- purple flowers in summer
This curious iris relative fools most people into thinking it is a palm seedling due to its pleated blue-green leaves. However, despite this demure beginning, stand back because in summer, each 24" tall plant is crowned with a festival of 3-parted blue flowers.
- herbaceous perennial to 24"
- plant in sun
- hardy to zone 8
- blue flowers in summer
Dianthus carthusianorum
Carthusian pink
From southeastern Europe comes this beautiful Dianthus. From a low tuft of narrow green foliage emerges several 2' tall narrow flower stalks topped with a tight cluster of small, frilled, magenta flowers. Happiest in dry sunny sites. Drought tolerant. Rock garden friendly.
- herbaceous perennial to 2'
- plant in sun
- hardy to zone 5
- pink flowers in summer
- butterfly/pollinator friendly
Dorstenia
A succulent-stemmed plant collected by JCRA director Mark Weathington from Uruguay in 2024 (MWU24-020) near the Rincón del Cololó. Watch for its bizzare contorted flower called a pseudanthium that resembles an inside out fig (a relative whose 'fruit' is also a weird flower). Grow this in dryish conditions in part shade. Produces a white latex that some people are allergic too.
- to 20"
- plant in sun to part shade
- hardy to zone 8
Dystaenia takeshimana
Ulleung celery
A Korean umbelliferous perennial with white, Queen Anne's Lace-like flowers in summer. Stems and leaves are edible and taste somewhat like celery.
- herbaceous perennial to 4'
- plant in sun
- hardy to zone 4
- white flowers in early summer
One the dozens of Eryngium plants collected by JC Raulston Arboretum director Mark Weathington during his 2024 Plant collection trip to Uruguay (MWU24-084). A rosette of narrow leaves from which emerge narrow stalks of rounded blue flower clusters. We've never seen another sea holly with leaves as grassy as this wild collection.
- herbaceous perennial to 2'
- plant in sun
- hardy to zone 8 we think
- blue flowers in summer
- butterfly/pollinator friendly and deer resistant
Filipendula vulgaris
dropwort
A clump of finely divided fern-like leaves that are topped in summer with tiny round buds that open into fragrant, creamy white flowers. Spreads slowly on tuberous roots. Prefers dry, lean soil.
- herbaceous perennial to 1-3'
- plant in sun with afternoon shade
- hardy to zone 3
- white flowers in summer
- butterfly/pollinator friendly and deer resistant
A small clumping herb that produces a rosette of spoon-shaped leaves and stalks topped with pale blue spherical flower clusters. Tolerates some drought. Prefers gritty soils with sharp drainage. Native from Spain to Kazakstan. We acquired this from a botanic garden in Italy (Orto Botanico Universita di Pisa).
- herbaceous perennial to 12"
- plant in sun
- hardy to zone 5
- pale blue flowers in spring to summer
Globularia incanescens
globe daisy
A tiny mat forming rock garden plant with beautiful blue spherical flower heads. All of the globe daisies are woefully underrepresented in southern gardens but make excellent plants for us.
- herbaceous perennial to 3"
- plant in sun to part shade
- hardy to zone 4
- blue flowers in summer
Herbertia
Herbert's iris
Collected by JC Raulston Arboretum director Mark Weathington in Uruguay in 2024 (MWU24-078), we have not pinned down the species id just yet as we have not seen it flower. Herbertia is a bulb-forming Iris relative with pale blue three-petalled flowers.
- herbaceous perennial to 12"
- plant in sun
- hardy to zone 8
- blue flowers
Collected by JC Raulston Arboretum director Mark Weathington in Uruguay in 2024 (MWU24-021) this species is closely related to H. glabra which is a JC Raulston Arboretum Choice Plant. Like its cousin, H. angustifolia can be grown as a sprawling shrub or trained as a woody vine. Bright yellow flowers are followed by bright red tri-winged seed pods that look like maple-tree samaras. This species has narrower leaves than H. glabra.
- deciduous shrub to 10'
- plant in sun
- hardy to zone 8
- yellow flowers in summer
- red fruit in late summer
A rare tri-generic hybrid bulb made from a cross between rain lily (Zephyranthes), Aztec lily (Sprekelia) and amaryllis (Hippeastrum). Virtually sterile. Offsets slowly.
- herbaceous perennial to 8"
- plant in sun
- hardy to zone 7
- red flowers in summer
A lacecap cultivar with pink flowers (alkaline) or blue (acid) flowers depending on soil pH. Bigleaf hydrangeas need shade and well draining but consistently moist soil as they wilt quickly when dry. Pruning (type 4) is done on old wood after bloom. This is one of the 'Teller Series' hydrangeas bred by in Switzerland and named after European birds). A Möwe is a type of seagull.
- deciduous shrub to 4'–5'
- plant in shade
- hardy to zone 5
- pink flowers in summer
A small shrub collected by JC Raulston Arboretum director Mark Weathington in 2009 in Taiwan (MWT09-389). Small leaved thin stemmed, with small lacecap flowers.
- deciduous shrub to 3'–6'
- plant in shade
- hardy to zone 8
- white flowers in summer
Hydrangea serrata 'Rivendell'
Japanese mountain hydrangea
- deciduous shrub to 5'
- plant in part sun
- hardy to zone 5
- blue flowers in summer
White flowers adorn this Hymenocallis in summer. Average to moist soils. This Guatemala native is new to us, so we don't know if it's hardy.
- herbaceous perennial to 20"
- plant in sun
- ?
- white flowers in summer
A native species that grows along stream banks and swamp margins in the south. A sub-shrub covered with small bright yellow flowers in the summer.
- herbaceous perennial to 4'
- plant in sun to part shade
- hardy to zone 7
- yellow flowers in summer
Native to the temperate zone of the Himalayas (n Pakistan, Nepal, nw India), this St. John's wort is a significant medicinal plant to the people living there. This species has arching branches that start off red before turning brown. Although many St. John's worts are known for sun and drought tolerance, this species lives in the wild in somewhat shady and moist locations.
- deciduous subshrub to 3'
- plant in sun to part shade
- hardy to zone 7
- yellow flowers in early summer
- butterfly/pollinator friendly
The most heat-tolerant of all firs with ability to grow into Florida. Native to Japan, it can reach 80' with great age. Slow growing when young, Abies firma will grow 2'-3' per year when established. Best in sun.
- hardy
Iris aff. foetidissima
stinking iris
A specimen acquired by the JC Raulston Arboretum from the garden of the late, great Don Jacobs of Eco Gardens in Georgia.
- herbaceous perennial to 2'
- plant in sun
- hardy to zone 6
- lavender flowers in summer
- orange fruit in winter
Larger and more fragrant flowers than the species. Grow this twining vine near a window or door to appreciate the scent over a long period in the summer.
- deciduous vine to 15'
- plant in sun to part shade
- hardy to zone 7b
- soft yellow flowers in summer
- deer resistant
This very exciting, gold-leaf flowering vine has attracted attention from us ever since we acquired it. Besides the attractive foliage, mature plants bear clusters of white, sweetly-scented flowers in summer.
- deciduous shrub to 10'
- plant in sun or shade
- hardy to zone 7
A slowly spreading perennial with stiff, upright iris-like leaves that are bright coppery orange. The small white flowers are not showy. New Zealand native plant.
- herbaceous perennial to 1'
- plant in sun
- hardy to zone 8
- white flowers in spring
Ligularia japonica 'Frosted Flecks'
Japanese ligularia
A variegated form of this species with flecks of creamy white on the foliage. Ligularia japonica is a clumping shade perennial that produces attractive lobed leaves that arise directly from the ground on long petioles. In summer the plants are topped with tall spikes holding a cluster of orange-yellow daisy-like flowers.
- herbaceous perennial to 20"
- plant in part sun
- hardy to zone 4
- yellow flowers in summer
- deer resistant
This female form of southern waxmyrtle from local nurseryman Phil Dark. Forms an evergreen to semi-evergreen specimen with loads of fragrant silvery blue bayberries which can be incorporated into potpourri. An easy native shrub in any soil conditions.
- evergreen shrub to 5'
- plant in sun to shade
- hardy to zone 7
- deer resistant
While it appears dainty, this lovely evergreen shrub is drought and heat tolerant. Plus, it handles full sun and poor, but well-drained soil. Mid-summer to fall, expect white blooms with wispy, showy stamens, which are followed by black fruit. This cultivar came to Greg Shepherd at Xera Plants from Andy Van Hevelingen.
- evergreen shrub to 3'x3'
- plant in sun
- hardy to zone 7b
- white flowers in summer – fall
- black fruit in winter
A short, wide barrel cactus from South America that produces extraordinarily large yellow flowers in May. This speceis tolerates our humidity and rain better than most other cactus. Makes an excellent rock garden plant or container plant.
- evergreen succulent to 4" tall x 8" wide
- plant in sun
- hardy to zone 7b
- yellow flowers in late spring
A short, wide barrel cactus from South America that produces large fluorescent yellow flowers in May. This species tolerates our humidity and rain better than most other cactus. Makes an excellent rock garden plant or container plant.
- evergreen succulent to 3" tall x 8" wide
- plant in sun
- hardy to zone 7b
- yellow flowers in late spring
Podocarpus chingianus is a smaller-needled species of Psodocarpus, an evergreen coniferous shrub. This upright form came to us from Cox Arboretum in Georgia and they acquired it from a source in Alabama. Intolerant of wet soils. The seeds emerge blue and turn red as they ripen and attract birds.
- evergreen coniferous shrub to 7'
- plant in sun to part shade
- hardy to zone 8
- attracts birds
This is an Aaron Floden collection from Turkey that has been an excellent garden plant making a dense patch of 12" stems with small white bell flowers.
- herbaceous perennial to 12"
- plant in shade
- hardy to zone 7 at least hardy
- white flowers in spring
Punica granatum 'Ambrosia'
pomegranate
Grown for its extremely large fruit which has a pale pink skin and a sweet-tart flavor. This cultivar is a self-fruitful, late harvest period, low-chill variety.
- deciduous shrub to 8'
- plant in sun
- hardy to zone 8b
- orange flowers in spring
- large red fruit
This native perennial spreads more slowly than other mountain mints. Similar fragrant foliage to other species making it deer resistant but irresistible to pollinators.
- herbaceous perennial to 3'
- plant in sun
- zone 6
- white flowers in summer–fall
- butterfly/pollinator friendly and deer resistant
- attracts polliantors
A tongue fern with an unusual crested tip. Grows well in typical garden soil and also as an epiphyte.
- evergreen fern to 12"
- plant in shade
- hardy to zone 7
Saccharum angustifolium
wild sugarcane
A tall grass collected in Uruguay in 2024 by JCRA director Mark Weathington. In Uruguay, folks will chew on the rhizomes and canes as they are a sweet. But we are growing it for its attractive white plumes. Widely adaptable although in the wild it tends to grow near swamps and river flats and will even survive being inundated.
- tall grass
- plant in sun
- hardy to zone 8
- white flowers
This is a seedling from a popular purple flowered salvia. The parent is a 'guaranitica' type salvia hybrid that does not run and produces a clump of tall stalks lined with fragrant leaves and topped with purple flowers over a long period in the summer. We expect this offspring will bear some or all of these traits too.
- herbaceous perennial to 5'
- plant in sun
- hardy to zone 8
- purple flowers in summer
- deer resistant
Salvia glabrescens 'Autumn Equinox'
woodland sage
A Japanese species of Salvia. This woodland sage produces bicolor lavender flowers in early fall. The clump spreads slowly to 6' wide or more. Requires good drainage.
- herbaceous perennial to 2'
- plant in part sun
- hardy to zone 5b
- bicolor lavender flowers in fall
Schizachyrium scoparium 'Liberty Blue'
little bluestem
A clump forming ornamental grass with silver-blue leaves from Liberty county, Florida. In late summer the clumps produce wispy flower stalks up to 42" tall. A great heat/humidity tolerant blue ornamental grass. Grows well in wet or dry soil.
- ornamental grass to 18"
- plant in sun
- hardy to zone 7b
Silene vulgaris subsp. vulgaris
bladder campion
A Eurasian/African species that has naturalized widely in the U.S. in disturbed open areas. The flower petals are fused into an attractive bladder shape at the base. Easy to grow in lean, rocky, dryish soil. It will seed around in your garden which is nice if you want it to. In Europe, the young leaves and shoots are used in salads.
- herbaceous perennial to 18"
- plant in sun to part shade
- hardy to zone 4
- white flowers in summer
Sinningia 'Apricot Bouquet'
hardy gloxinia
Growing from a large tuber, this selection produces masses of leafy stems topped over a long period in summer with scented tubular flowers. Hummingbirds love it. Drought tolerant.
- herbaceous perennial to 4'
- plant in sun
- hardy to zone 8
- apricot flowers in summer
- attracts birds
Sisyrinchium californicum
yellow eyed grass
A west coast version of our native blue-eyed grass but with yellow flowers. Grows native in low elevation wetland areas and thus would not like dry soil in the garden. Reseeds around the garden if happy.
- herbaceous perennial to 12"
- plant in sun
- hardy to zone 7
- yellow flowers in spring
Sisyrinchium chilense
white eyed grass
From South America comes this white-flowered relative of our native blue eyed grass. Plants form tufts of grassy foliage and tons of small star-shaped white flowers that have a purple and yellow eye and faint purple stripes.
- herbaceous perennial to 10"
- plant in sun
- hardy to zone 7
- white flowers in summer
Spiranthes odorata
nodding lady tesses
This hardy native orchid features a spiraling tower of 10 to 50 small flowers blooms gradually from bottom to top in autumn. Traditionally a bog plant, it is adaptable to drier conditions.
- perennial to 6"
- plant in sun to part shade
- hardy to zone 5
- white flowers in summer
A delightfully loose and graceful conifer with sprays of pendulous foliage. Spring growth is a bright green before darkening a bit. A true specimen plant.
- evergreen conifer to 15' in 10 years
- plant in sun to part shade
- hardy to zone 3
Hardy bulb blooming May to October after it rains. This specimen was collected in Uruguay in 2024 by JC Raulston Arboretum director Mark Weathington (MWU24-010). Stay tuned for a proper identification once it flowers. Likely pink, possibly white or yellow.
- Herbaceous perennial to 10"
- plant in sun
- hardy to zone 8 at least
Hardy bulb blooming in summer after it rains. This is a diminutive species with narrow foliage. Small white flowers with a variable purple line. This specimen was collected in Uruguay in 2024 by JC Raulston Arboretum director Mark Weathington (MWU24-117). Likely best in average soils although this was collected in a low-lying seasonally wet area.
- Herbaceous perennial to 5"
- plant in sun
- hardy to zone 8
- pinkish white flowers in summer
Zephyranthes (pink)
rain lily
An unknown species of pink flowered rain lily collected in Uruguay in 2024 by JC Raulston Arboretum director Mark Weathington (MWU24-123).
- Herbaceous perennial to 10"
- plant in sun
- hardy to zone 8
- pink flowers in summer