This hybrid bear's breech is a spectacular specimen plant with large, lobed leaves and tall flower spikes of white flowers clasped by dusty burgundy bracts in midsummer. Can be used as a bold cut flower or a standout in the garden.

• herbaceous perennial to 4'
• plant in sun to part shade
• hardy to zone 6
• white and purple flowers in spring

Adiantum capillus-veneris is a globe-spanning species of fern that spreads along the ground (or on a wall) to form a mat. This particular specimen was collected in Bermuda and yet is perfectly hardy here in Raleigh. Light green pinnules are anchored on attractive thin black stipes.

• deciduous fern to 10"
• plant in part sun
• hardy to zone 7b

From the Desert Botanical Garden in Arizona comes this more cold hardy form of Agave parryi var. truncata originally collected by Howard Gentry (DSBG 1966-05852). Bluish silver leaves. Sparsely offsetting. Survives well in Raleigh winters unlike most other selections of this species.

• succulent to 18"
• plant in sun
• hardy to zone 7b

A clump of silvery-blue grass-like foliage topped in early summer with stalks covered in white flowers. This Turkish species needs rocky, well-drained soil to avoid rotting and would prefer some lime amended into the soil.

• herbaceous perennial to 36"
• plant in sun
• hardy to zone 6
• white flowers in summer

A variegated form of Japanese aster featuring yellow-edged foliage topped with lavender flowers. The foliage is so nice, we've considered just removing the flowers.Plants will spread to 6' wide.

• herbaceous perennial to 18"
• plant in sun
• hardy to zone 5b
• light lavendar flowers in fall

From the high peaks of Taiwan at around 9000' comes this species whose flower clusters feature comparatively large florets but are not as feathery as the common garden astilbe. New growth emerges brownish-red before turning green. Like the garden astilbe, this species is a woodland plant for moist sites. In the wild it tends to grow in the cracks on rocky hillsides.

• hebaceous perennial to 12"
• plant in part sun
• white flowers in late spring

A Hans Hansen sporeling. The tightly congested foliage with a ruffled tip, emerges grey green before aging to grass green.

• deciduous fern to 20"
• plant in part sun
• hardy to zone 3

A selection made by JCRA director Mark Weathington in Taiwan (MWT14-999). This is a solid green-leaved male selection collected from Yangmingshan National Park. It grows worlds better thn any other Chinese aucuba we've tried.

• evergreen shrub to 8'
• plant in part sun
• hardy to zone 7

A male selection with squat, wide, toothed, solid green leaves and a slightly shorter habit. We find this to be a very distinct textural addition to the garden.

• evergreen shrub to 6'
• plant in part sun
• hardy to zone 7
• maroon flowers in summer

A much larger-statured Aucuba than the more common Aucuba japonica, in both leaf and height. This selection came to us from Ciener Botanic Garden in Kernersville and represents the Roy Lancaster form found growing just outside his garage in England.

• evergreen shrub to 18'
• plant in sun to shade
• hardy to zone 7b

Begonia U400 was introduced by Don Miller from the Penang Botanical Garden. A rhizomatous begonia and has large oval leaves. The leaves are silver with wide charcoal gray veins and leaf margin. It has been hardy for us in the protected environs of the Lath house.

• herbaceous perennial to unknown
• plant in shade
• unknown

A seed strain introduced by Linda Guy of the former Carolina Nursery that flowers more than the wild species. Moist rich soil and morning sun or high filtered light shade are best

• herbaceous perennial to 30"
• plant in part sun
• hardy to zone 7
• pale yellow flowers in late spring

An aloe-like succulent with rosettes of soft green leaves from which grow 2' tall flower stalks lined with small yellow flowers in early spring. We are not yet sure if this South African rock garden specimen is hardy for us but doubt it will be. It has been gorgeous and free flowering in the nursery and will make a great potted specimen for a sunny spot. Well drained soils required. Drought tolerant. The common name rooiwortel translates to 'red carrot' and refers to the distinct orange-red color of the lower stem.

• succulent to 2'
• plant in sun
• unknown
• yellow flowers in early spring

We've been watching this super dwarf boxwood for nearly 20 years and thinking, "Do we need another dwarf boxwood?" The answer is yes when it appears to be superior to much of what is available. These plants have shown great resistance to leaf miners and other insect and disease issues, grow squatly upright like a gumdrop. Our original plants are about 24" tall and nearly as wide.

• evergreen shrub to 24"
• plant in sun
• hardy to zone 5
• deer resistant
• glossy dark green foliage

A variegated tea camellia originally from Camellia Forest Nursery with irregular pale yellow splotches on the edge of the leaf. This cultivar name honors Otto Kuntze, the scientist who first published the name Camellia sinensis.

• evergreen shrub to 8'
• plant in sun to shade
• hardy to zone 7
• fragrant white flowers in fall to winter

A small clumping alpine plant from Iran and Transcaucasia with bluish-purple bell-shaped flowers. Best in a rock garden with excellent drainage. We have not yet tried this in the garden ourselves so we don't lnow whether it is one of the easy to grow bellflowers or one of the near impossible ones.

• herbaceous perennial to 6"
• plant in sun
• hardy to zone 7 at least

This species has an upright habit and features up-facing star-shaped flowers. Does well in hot, dry spots. May self-seed lightly.

• deciduous perennial to 2'
• plant in sun
• hardy to zone 4
• blue flowers in summer

A southern African native spider plant that produces a clump of thick grassy not-quite-fleshy leaves from which grow stalks covered in tiny white flowers. The common name for this plant in South Africa, 'groot boskuikens', translates as 'large bush chicks'.

• herbaceous perennial to 36"
• plant in sun
• hardy to zone 7b
• white flowers in summer

If you've ever grown garden mums, you will appreciate this cultivar which stays lower growing than most at just 10" tall. This gre many years ago outside the old Lath House and was returned to us in recent years by Ted Stephens of Nurseries Caroliniana.

• herbaceous perennial to 10"
• plant in sun
• hardy to zone 5
• pale apricot flowers in late summer to fall
• butterfly/pollinator friendly

Deciduous shrub to 15' tall with fragrant, white flowers and polished-looking, red brown bark. Native to the Southern Appalachian Mountains.

• deciduous shrub to 8'–15'
• plant in sun to shade
• hardy to zone 6
• white flowers in summer

A bulb that produces spikes of orange-red flowers in summer. The flowers are useful for yellow dye, and have been used as a substitute for saffron. The Afrikaans name for this plant 'vallende sterretjies' means 'falling stars' Crocosmia will form good sized masses and weave their way through other plants.

• herbaceous perennial bulb to 3'
• plant in sun
• hardy to zone 7b
• orange flowers in summer

A heavily variegated winter Daphne whose leaves have a green center section outlined with yellow to creamy-white, depending on stage of growth, and a green edge. Pink buds open up to very fragrant pinkish-white flowers in winter. Grow in sun to light shade in well-drained soil. 'Nakafu' is Japanaese for 'middle spot'. Daphne are tricky growing in pots so plan to put this in the ground as soon as normal winter temperatures are here. For best results plant in a well-drained spot such as a slope or the base of a tree.

• evergreen shrub to 3'
• plant in sun to part shade
• hardy to zone 7
• white flowers in winter
• deer resistant

Woody, densely branched, double-margined variegated shrub with lovely blooms. Requires well-drained soil.

• evergreen shrub to 4'x4'
• plant in part shade
• hardy to zone 7
• pink flowers in late winter-early spring

This is among the smallest of the dieramas, growing to only 2' from a grass-like clump. The wiry flower stems bear pendant flowers of bright pink which tremble in the breeze. Grow in a rich soil in full sun. Dierama are somewhat slow to establish but will be worth the wait once you have a mature clump.

• herbaceous perennial to 2'
• plant in sun
• semi-hardy hardy
• magenta flowers in spring

A collection from the mountains of northern Luzon in the Philippines by the folks at Crug Farm (BSWJ3891). A spreading rhizomatous species with arching stems, narrow elliptic leaves, white flowers and purplish fruit. Despite its provenance, this has been a great garden plant and has not suffered from the cold in nearly a decade in Raleigh.

• evergreen perennial groundcover to 16"
• plant in shade
• hardy to zone 7b at least
• white flowers in spring
• purple fruit in fall