JC Raulston Arboretum Plant Sale
Spring Plant Sale 2025
The JC Raulston Arboretum's first plant sale was in 2010. This plant availability list for 2025 remains on this site as an archive of what we offered that year.
Acer japonicum 'Ô Isami'
full moon maple
'Ô-Isami' has large leaves, even for this species. In summer, they are light green and with red petioles. In autumn, expect reds, yellows, and oranges. It is slightly taller than wide. Some protection from afternoon sun is best. Also sold as 'Taiyû'.Acer oliverianum 'Hot Blonde'
Oliver's maple
Yellow-leafed hybrid of A. oliverianum, with A. shirasawanum dad. Much better heat tolerance than most Japanese maples. Mr. Maple nursery discovered this as a chance seedling at their nursery. New foliage emerges yellow with an orange border, then turns yellow during summer and bright red in fall.Acer palmatum 'Chika'
Japanese maple
A weeping Japanese maple with small green leaves that turn to a spectacular yellow to orange in the fall. The bark on new growth is lime-green. Chika is the short name of the originator Chikako Kojima.
Acer palmatum 'Gold Digger'
coral-bark Japanese maple
Japanese maple with winter interest as bark is light yellow at branch bases, shifting to orange at the tips. New leaves are often peach with darker red tips. Leaves mature to solid green in summer. Fall color typically starts yellow and can mature to bold red.Acer palmatum 'Hessei'
Japanese maple
Deeply divided red and dark green leaves with long narrow lobes. Fall foliage has flashes of reds and oranges.Acer palmatum 'Jubilee'
Japanese maple
An upright deciduous tree with a broad canopy. Deeply divided leaves feature rose-green coloration, and then turn to scarlet in autumn. The light foliage needs some protection from afternoon sun.
Acer palmatum 'Koto-no-ito'
Japanese maple
A dwarf linearilobum cultivar. 'Koto-no-ito' means harp strings, referring to its very narrow leaves that dance in the wind. In spring, leaves emerge bright green changing to medium green for summer. Fall leaf color is golden yellow.Acer palmatum 'Nebula'
Japanese maple
A Japanese maple with a reticulated variegation pattern. New leaves are silvery pink with green veins that mature to bright green with dark green veins. Fall color is a bright red. An upright habit with a broad canopy.
Acer palmatum 'Peve Starfish'
Japanese maple
Amazing convexum group Japanese maple from the Netherlands. Small tree with curiously cupped leaves giving a 3-D effect. Foliage emerges brilliant scarlet before turning maroon. Subsequent summer flushes are bright cherry for a 2-toned effect. Fall color is fire-engine red.
Acer palmatum 'Ukigumo'
Japanese maple
Heavily variegated form of light green and cream with some pink. Fall colors are whites, pinks, purples, yellows and oranges. Best with some afternoon shade to keep the white from burning. 'Ukigumo' means 'Floating Clouds'.Acer palmatum 'Winter Red'
coral bark Japanese maple
Fiery red bark in winter. Leafs out in spring with chartreuse green leaves that compliment the bark. Fall colors are bright golden yellows and small splotches of red.Acer shirasawanum 'Purple Umbrella'
full moon Japanese maple
Large-purple-leaved selection. Deep leaf lobe 'fingers' arch downward in an umbrella-rib-like fashion. Leaves emerge as a dark purple maroon and develop an emerald cast as they mature. Fall color is typically bright red to deep maroon.Acer sieboldianum 'Shoryû-no-tsume'
full moon Japanese maple
'Shoryu-no-tsume' means 'claw of the dragon' which refers to the unusual leaf shape. Fall foliage is red.Achillea millefolium 'Balvinviolet'
New Vintage Violet yarrow
A compact variety with magenta-violet flowers that keeps its color longer into the summer. Re-flowers very well for a yarrow if spent flowers are removed.Achillea millefolium 'Balvinwhite'
New Vintage White yarrow
Compact, white-flowered perennial with soft, fern-like foliage. Drought tolerant once established. Deadheading promotes rebloom. Rejuvenate in late summer by cutting back hard. Butterflies attracted: American Copper, Banded Hairstreak, Lorquin's Admiral, West Coast Lady.
Achillea millefolium 'FLORACHYE2'
Milly Rock Yellow Terracotta Improved yarrow
Compact mounding form with bright flowers all summer (as long as spent blooms are pinched off). Performs best in well-drained soils.
Acorus calamus 'Variegatus'
sweet flag
A variegated form of sweet flag with white and green-striped iris-like foliage. Will grow in average to wet garden soils but in the wild it is native to boggy areas. Spreads slowly via rhizomes into a colony. The leaves and rhizomes are fragrant when bruised.
Acorus gramineus 'Ogon'
golden sweet flag
A small (to 15") grass-like plant with brilliant butter-yellow variegated foliage. Good for accent, mass plantings, water's edge, or shallow ponds. Excellent choice to brighten up a dark moist area of the garden.
Adiantum 'Golden Michael'
maidenhair fern
This excellent garden fern features yellow-tinged foliage contrasting against the dark black stipes. Spreads slowly into a 3' wide patch.
Adiantum pedatum
American maidenhair fern
Maidenhair fern is a native southeast U.S. fern. Like all ferns, this is quite deer resistant while looking delicate and elegant.
Aesculus parviflora
bottlebrush buckeye
Bottlebrush buckeye is a deciduous shrub with a spreading growth habit and upright panicles of white flowers in summer. Resistant to the leaf scorch that plagues most Aesculus, it rewards you in the autumn with a nice yellow fall color.
Aesculus pavia
red buckeye
The ruby-throated hummingbirds will flock to your garden for a sip from the tall, red panicles of tubular flowers of this southeastern US native. The large palmate leaves are some of the first to emerge in late winter and give the plant a bold look during the summer.Agastache 'Guava Lava'
anise hyssop
A brightly colored hybrid and a favorite of pollinators. 'Guava Lava' begins to bloom in the heat of the summer and continues for many weeks. Coral orange flowers are held on equally colorful mauve pink calyxes. Even after the flower has finished, the calyxes remain attractive.Agastache mexicana 'Balsumlilac'
Summerlong Lilac Mexican giant hyssop
A hummingbird attracting plant with rose colored summer flowers and aromatic foliage (lemon and anise) that repels deer. Love's heat and can take drought. Lean, well-drained soils are best.
Agastache 'Morello'
hummingbird mint
This selection features huge, dense inflorescences of deep burgundy rose. New foliage in spring is a dark color, fading to green when it gets hot.Agave isthmensis 'Kabuto Gani'
century plant
Agave lophantha 'Multigreen'
century plant
A lovely study in green. Three shades of green stripe the length of leaves. A Plant Delights Nursery introduction. Agave lophantha freely offsets and can be used as a ground cover in the dry garden.
Agave lophantha 'Quadricolor'
thorn-crested century plant
One of the very hottest variegated agaves around. Propagated only by offsets. Dramatic foliage starts pale green in the center surrounded by deep green with a broad creamy white margin and burgundy darkening to gray-black sharp teeth along the margins.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.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.Agave vilmoriniana 'Stained Glass'
century plant
Variegated agave with blue-green edged leaves with pale creamy yellow. Nearly spineless, so friendly to handle. Not cold hardy in Raleigh, so best in a container. Usually blooms at around 10 years old and then dies, but produces small plantlets along the flower stalk.Ajuga 'Flashy Flamingo'
Feathered Friends carpet bugle
Narrow-leaved creeping ground cover with chartreuse leaves. The pale pink flowers attract hummingbirds and are a stunning contrast with the bright foliage.Ajuga 'Pleasant Pheasant'
Feathered Friends carpet bugle
Narrow-leaved creeping ground cover with coppery leaves. The blue flowers attract hummingbirds.
Ajuga reptans 'Catlin's Giant'
carpet bugle
'Catlin's Giant' features bronze-green foliage and whorls of blue flowers on spikes up to 8" tall. Flowers appear in April-May. Does very well in shady areas where grass will not grow. Spreads via stolons and can spread aggressively in ideal conditions.Allium 'Bubble Bath'
ornamental onion
3" pale lavender flowers in the summer on top of bluish-green foliage. The onion-y foliage is deer resistant.
Allium karataviense
Turkistan onion
Ornamental onion grown for its wide ornamental leaves and 3" to 6" spherical flower head in late spring. Native to Kazakhstan. Drought tolerant. Prefers rich, sandy to gritty, well-drained loamy soil and consistent water in blooming period. Slowly spreads.Alocasia 'Kuching Mask'
elephant ear
A large-leaved elephant ear with scalloped edges. Each leaf can be up to 3' wide by 4' long.
Aloe buhrii
Buhr's aloe
Lovely succulent, hardy to at least 25°F. Orange flowers typically appear in spring. Quite tolerant of winter moisture, but needs very good drainage in summer. In a container, soft foliage can burn if moved from a protected spot indoors to full sun.
Ampelaster carolinianus
climbing aster
Native, vining aster with lavender flowers in fall. Produces woody stems that do not die back.Amsonia 'Starstruck'
bluestar
A hybrid distinguished by its relatively late bloom time and compact size.
Arachniodes davalliaeformis
shiny bristle fern
This should maybe be known as the plastic fern since the 24" triangular fronds are glossy and tough like plastic. Will form a semi-evergreen clump in the shade garden.
Arthropodium cirrhatum
renga lily
Clumps of 2' long by 4" wide strap-shaped leaves arch from a central rosette. 3' tall stalks are topped in summer with small white flowers featuring tri-colored purple, white and yellow stamens. Great for massing in a bed. Tolerant of salt spray and drought but susceptible to snail and slug damage.Arundo formosana 'Variegata'
variegated Formosan reed grass
Similar look to Arundo donax 'Golden Chain' but even smaller growing - to only 3' tall and with a finer texture. Variegated green and gold leaves form a clump about as wide as tall. Shared by plantsman Hayes Jackson in AL.Asclepias incarnata 'Cinderella'
swamp milkweed
Vanilla-scented pink flowers in summer attract butterflies. Highly tolerant of poorly drained soils. Seed pods consist of spiny, translucent bladder-like fruits. Great food-source for monarch butterfly larvae. Hardy throughout eastern US.Asclepias incarnata 'Ice Ballet'
swamp milkweed
2'-4' perennial with clusters of white flowers in summer. Highly tolerant of poorly drained soils. Seed pods consist of spiny, translucent bladder-like fruits. Great food-source for monarch butterfly larvae. Hardy throughout eastern US.
Asclepias tuberosa
butterfly weed
Flowers provide nectar for butterflies, and foliage provides food for monarch, gray hairstreak and queen butterfly larvae.Asclepias tuberosa 'Hello Yellow'
butterfly weed
A yellow-flowered form of butterfly weed. A larval food for Monarch butterfly caterpillars.
Asimina triloba
pawpaw
Pawpaws are a native fruit tree with tropical-like fruits. The luscious taste is beloved by those in the know. You will need 2 or more plants to have the necessary cross pollination for good fruit set. A must for the 'edimental' gardener.Aspidistra omeiensis 'Jade Ribbons'
cast iron plant
This low maintenance, shade-loving, unusual, strap-leaf aspidistra forms a tight clump that looks lovely year-round in a woodland garden.Astilbe chinensis 'Lowlands Ruby Red'
Chinese false goat's beard
Heavy plumes of deep red flowers. Prefers cool sites and moist soil.
Athyrium 'Lady In Red'
lady fern
This striking selection from the New England Wildflower Society has unique, dark red stems. Each spring, there is a fresh flush of lacy new fronds. Lady ferns are slowing spreading (3' in about five years), dependable, and easy to grow garden plants. 
Athyrium niponicum var. pictum
painted fern
Best in some shade where it will make lovely deer resistant patches in the garden. One of the showiest ferns for shade gardens because of its colorful foliage.
Athyrium niponicum 'Regal Red'
painted fern
The stunning fronds are ruffled with frosty silver edges and burgundy-red stems. It makes a bright addition to shady areas in your garden. Baptisia 'American Goldfinch'
wild-indigo
One of the largest and most floriferous Baptisias on the market today. Loaded with spikes of yellow flowers each spring.Baptisia 'Burgundy Blast'
false indigo
A color breakthrough for our native false indigo. Dark wine purple flowers. Easy to grow and tough.Baptisia 'Grape Escape'
wild-indigo
An improvement over the popular 'Grape Taffy'. Baptisia 'Grape Escape' produces long dusky purple flower spikes with cream keels. It is taller, more floriferous, and has deeper red-purple than its predecessor. Native plant.Baptisia 'Plum Rosy'
wild-indigo
A bi-color selection with mauve pink flowers that transition to white. Baptisia 'Plum Rosy' is an excellent mid-sized perennial...tough, easy to grow and beautiful. Native plant.
Begonia 'Death March Dapple'
begonia
An extremely large Begonia species with stems to 3' and stunning 'angel wing like' foliage with some mottling, collected in Vietnam at 8300' by Dan Hinkley. The cultivar name was coined by Dan because he was lost, in complete darkness and exhausted when he discovered it.Bignonia callistegioides
lavender trumpet vine
South American woody vine collected by Mark Weathington in Uruguay. Glossy leaves emerge bronze and then turn green. 3-inch-wide trumpet-shaped flowers have intricate dark purple veins. Flowers are followed by spiny elongated fruit. Tolerant of heavy soils and drought. Hardiness uncertain.Blephilia ciliata
downy wood mint
An American native plant that grows wild in open woods and fields. Resembles a Monarda or Agastache and has fragrant foliage.
Brugmansia 'Inca Sun'
dwarf angel's trumpet
One of the most floriferous of all angel's trumpets, starting earlier than most and flowering continuously through summer. Performs best when given plenty of water and plenty of fertilizer. Grows as much as 8' in a single season before dying back to the ground during winter in zones 8 and lower.Brugmansia 'Snowbank'
angel trumpet
Variegated angel trumpet with green and cream leaves and fragrant, pure white flowers. Dies back in Raleigh, but grows rapidly in summer heat. Plenty of sun, water and rich well-drained soils for fast growth. Do not prune old dead stems until spring. Easy to propagate from cane cuttings. Buddleja 'Prince Charming'
butterfly bush
Bright cerise pink flower heads that are 10" long on a compact shrub. This cultivar is being marketed as a novel color breakthrough for the genus. Honey-scented flowers attract hummingbirds.Buddleja 'Tobud1202'
Buzz Hot Raspberry butterfly bush
Super for a smaller gardens, this shrub offers deep magenta flowers all summer and into fall.Buddleja 'Violet Cascade'
butterfly bush
A butterfly bush with arching branches and large purple flowers. Butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds flock to the honey-scented blossoms in summer. Does not produce seeds so weediness is not a problem.Buxus harlandii 'Richard'
Harland's boxwood
Mysterious cultivar of unknown origin. Has the notched tip leaf of B. harlandii, but the leaf is shorter, twice the width and considered more interesting than the wild type. Dark glossy black-green color. Growth habit of B. harlandii. Can reach 4-5' with time.
Buxus microphylla var. japonica 'Grejade'
Baby Jade Japanese boxwood
This compact boxwood holds a deep green color all winter long. It forms a lovely plant with no need for pruning to keep in scale with the landscape.
Callirhoe bushii
Bush's poppy mallow
An slightly more upright form of Callirhoe which blooms for many months with magenta poppy-like flowers. Native.Callistemon 'Woodlander's Hardy'
bottlebrush
Calycanthus floridus 'Michael Lindsey'
sweetshrub
A heavy blooming shrub with fragrant maroon flowers in spring. This selection is considered to be the best of them all.
Canna 'Australia'
canna lily
Shiny dark purple leaves and rich red flowers in summer.
Canna 'Bengal Tiger'
variegated canna
Green and yellow striped leaves with orange flowers in summer.Canna
Cannova Casa Bronze Peach canna lily
This small-statured canna lily (only to 4') has bronze foliage and peachy pink summer flowers.Carex 'ET CRX 904'
Moon Falls sedge
Variegated clumping perennial with grass-like leaves that arch over to touch the ground. Variegation is a cream center with thin green edges. Similar to 'Evergold' sedge but larger. Prefers average to moist soils.
Carex 'ET CRX01'
Feather Falls variegated sedge
This hybrid between three species is a cascading mound of evergreen, white striped grassy foliage.Carex scaposa
cherry blossom sedge
Ceiba speciosa
silk-floss tree
Cereus peruvianus
Peruvian apple cactus
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Kosteri'
hinoki falsecypress
A dwarf selection with a squat pyramidal habit (like a short fat Christmas tree) that is slightly irregular which provides artistic texture to the garden.
Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Baby Blue Ice'
Sawara cypress
Thick, tight foliage that shines blue like ice combined with its small, pryamidal form make this dwarf a must-have accent plant in the garden. A sport of 'Baby Blue', this cultivar is even bluer than its parent.Chelonopsis 'Stonewall Pink'
Japanese turtlehead
Cross between Chelonopsis moschata and C. yagiharana. Black stems support a profusion of summer, lavender pink tubes, becoming paler toward the lip. Easy to grow. Brings cheery color to the bright shade garden, bridging the gap between spring perennials and fall perennials.
Chimonanthus praecox
wintersweet
A fragrant winter blooming native shrub with a loose form.
Chionanthus retusus
Chinese fringe tree
One of the best flowering trees for the landscape. Rough warty bark holds up the rounded glossy green foliage. White, strappy-petaled flowers completely cover the tree in spring. Golden fall color.
Chionanthus retusus 'China Doll'
Chinese fringe tree
A compact version of this incredible flowering tree. Covered in millions of small fragrant white flowers in spring. Chinese fringe trees alternate between heavily flowering years and light flowering years.Chrysanthemum 'Golden Snowflakes'
garden mum
Clara ophiopogonoides
A rosette-forming herb with wide manfreda-like foliage that prefers moist shady conditions and rich organic soil. From the basal rosette of narrow leaves arise long narrow stalks up to 3' tall with small yellow flowers at the nodes. This specimen was collected in Uruguay by Mark Weathington in 2024.Clematis 'Evipo016'
Rebecca clematis
Evison/Poulsen cultivar with very large bright red flowers. Exceptionally free-flowering. Bloom well with a simplified pruning technique...in late winter/early Spring simply reduce all stems to 6" above soil level.Clematis 'Evipo097'
Kitty clematis
A quite compact form at just 3' tall that produces many white flowers in summer. Pruning type 3...this group blooms later and from new growth. Prune in February or March as new leaf buds begin to show low on the plant. All dead material above these buds should be removed.
Clematis 'Kilian Donahue'
reblooming clematis
Expect bright pink, large flowers with a darker stripe down each petal's center. Starts flowering early. Good repeat bloomer. Prune dead wood in spring after buds swell. Clematis 'Rain Dance'
bush clematis
A bush clematis selection with improved 3" wide outward facing blue flowers instead of the normal downward facing bells. Although this is a non-vining Clematis, the plant will benefit from support, either from staking, a garden obelisk, or from neighboring plants.
Clematis 'Rooguchi'
clematis
The purple tones of this small flowered clematis are quite beautiful and continue throughout summer. It is a non-climbing species and can be allowed to scramble around or to climb up and through the branches of shrubs to about 6' high. Cut back hard in winter. The flowers attract hummingbirds.
Clethra barbinervis 'Takeda Nishiki'
First Snow Japanese clethra
Flowering shrub heavily speckled and spotted with white variegation. Spring and fall often brings tints of pink to foliage and stems. Fragrant spikes of small flowers similar to our native summersweet. Found on Shikoku Island by Mr. Takeda. With age, cinnamon peeling bark can be exceptional.Coreopsis 'Super Star'
tickseed
A carpet of fine grassy foliage topped in summer with tons of bright flowers...pale yellow with a rich purple-red rung in the middle. Lean soils are best. Drought tolerant. A mid-season shearing will lengthen the bloom period.Coreopsis verticillata 'Hot Paprika'
threadleaf coreopsis
Blood red flowers in summer atop thread-like leaves. Compact round habit too.Corylopsis willmottiae 'Spring Purple'
winter hazel
This selection comes from England's famous Hillier's gardens. New growth is matte purple in color. Fragrant flowers hanging in pendant chains bloom before the leaves open around the same time as the early daffodils (March).Cotinus coggygria 'Cotsidh5'
Velveteeny smoke bush
A dwarf selection of this popular shrub with deep burgundy foliage with large smoky/feathery blooms in dove gray to pink.Cyperus alternifolius
Umbrella Plant
Daphne odora 'DapJur02'
Perfume Princess White fragrant winter daphne
Pure white blooms on this selection. Same extraordinary winter fragrance.Daphne odora 'Sweet Amethyst'
fragrant winter daphne
Solid purple blooms on this selection. Same extraordinary winter fragrance.
Daphne odora 'Zuiko Nishiki'
winter daphne
Glossy evergreen foliage is covered by masses of pink-tinged flowers. This is by far the heaviest flowering daphne we've ever seen. The fragrance is as lemony sweet as other daphne. Daphne odora is best in a well-drained soil and once established will grow under large shade trees with no problem.Delosperma 'WOWDRY1'
Hot Pink Wonder ice plant
Large-flowered, drought-tolerant series is perfect for rock gardens where it can spread up to 20" wide. Well drained soils are required.Dianthus 'Cranberry Cocktail'
pinks
New in 2024 from Walter's Gardens comes this heat/humidity tolerant fragrant mini-carnation with large 2" wide fully double hot pink flowers and gray-green foliage.Dianthus 'Funky Fuchsia'
pinks
Fully double vibrant 2" fuchsia flowers. Semi-evergreen glaucous blue-green foliage. Good heat and humidity tolerance. Flowers appear in early summer, and a quick shearing after flowering will encourage early fall reblooming.
Dierama igneum
angel's fishing rod
A clump forming perennial with narrow, grass-like leaves over-topped in summer with long arching flower stalks that are lined with dangling flowers. Avoid heavy, poorly-drained claysDigitalis 'Balroxose'
Arctic Fox Rose foxglove
Unusual flower color on this selection. The outside of the flower tube is mauve pink and the inside is coral pink.Digitalis davisiana
Davis' foxglove
A wild species of foxglove from Turkey with small pale yellow to white flowers.Disporopsis pernyi 'Zebra Stripes'
evergreen Solomon's seal
A slowly spreading, tightly clumping shade perennial with small white flowers in spring and white-streaked variegated leaves.
Disporum uniflorum
fairy bells
This Korean perennial forms a slowly spreading mass of short upright stems that have dangling yellow flowers in the spring.
Dryopteris erythrosora
autumn fern
This hardy fern is a native to Japan and sports a beautiful coppery color on the new growth. As with all ferns, the deer and rabbits leave it alone.Dryopteris erythrosora 'Brilliance'
autumn fern
Autumn fern is a colorful fern with pink fiddleheads that turn coppery orange as they unfurl. Fronds age to a lustrous dark green and remain well into winter. New growth continues through the season, giving a colorful tapestry effect of copper and green into late fall.
Dryopteris ludoviciana
southern shield fern
A clumping fern native to the southeast U.S. Tolerates a wide range of soils - acid to sweet, swampy to dryish.
Dyckia
Unknown species of spiny bromeliad collected in Uruguay by Mark Weathington. Needs excellent drainage to survive. In the wild, it grows directly on rocks but you can also grow it in a well-drained container or rock garden. During growing season, it's best with regular water. Drought tolerant.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.Echeandia texensis 'Loma del Potrero Cercado'
Texas shooting star
A southeast US native that forms a rosette of leaves above which rises spikes up to 5' tall in fall with small pale yellow flowers.
Edgeworthia chrysantha 'Snow Cream'
golden paperbush
No garden should be without a paperbush. Fragrant flowers in tight clusters at the end of every bare branch in late winter is a sight to behold. The perfectly shaped dome paperbush forms is ideal for the compulsive gardener. Fragrant.
Edgeworthia papyrifera
Japanese paperbush
Epimedium wushanense
fairy wings
A Chinese species of fairy wings with lance-shaped leaves and spiny margins. New foliage emerges maroon and turns green as it matures. Great plant for dry shade. Endemic to Sichuan's Three Gorges area in the Wushan Mountains.Eriobotrya japonica (ex. 'Wuling Hardy')
loquat
Eryngium yuccifolium
rattlesnake master
Native herbaceous perennial for dry conditions. The sprawling narrow yucca-like leaves give rise to branching flower stalks topped with white globular flowers that pollinators adore. Lean, dry soils give the best results.Eucomis (ex. 'Reuben')
pineapple lily
Euphorbia ×martinii 'Ascot Rainbow'
variegated wood spurge
Variegated leaves emerge with reddish tones and age to chartreuse and blue-green variegated. Very colorful. Cut the long-lasting flowering stems back once they begin to fade and grow in a sunny, well-drained spot to ensure longevity.
Eutrochium dubium 'Baby Joe'
dwarf Joe-pye weed
You may also know this plant by its old genus, Eupatorium. This compact Joe-pye weed grows to about 2' tall. In late summer, masses of mauve-purple flower heads top the stems attracting butterflies in the hundreds. Plant in full sun in average to moist soils.Farfugium japonicum 'Firefly'
leopard plant
A variegated selection with appropriately named yellow-spotted leaves. In the fall, stalks emerge topped with a cluster of yellow flowers. Evergreen in mild winters.
Farfugium japonicum var. giganteum
giant leopard plant
A variety of this popular evergreen perennial with unusually large 'tractor-seat' type leaves.
Farfugium japonicum 'Shishi Botan'
parsley leafed leopard plant
The common name says it all. Leaves of this easy, evergreen perennial are curled and crisped giving the appearance of clumps of curly-leaf parsley. Especially beautiful planted in masses. In late fall, yellow daisy-like flowers rise above the foliage.Ficus carica 'Desert King'
edible fig
Green-skinned, red-fleshed fig with 2 crops of fruit per year. The first crop (aka the breba crop) occurs on old wood, which ripens in mid summer. The 2nd crop ripens in fall on new wood.Ficus carica 'Olympian'
edible fig
Extra large sweet fruit are the size of tangerines and ripen in mid summer. First discovered in Olympia, Washington.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.
Fraxinus ornus
flowering ash
Resembles a tiny-flowered fringe tree with its small white flowers, but the sheer profusion of bloom is much more impressive each April. Ultimately reaches 40' tall, and has a trunk with smooth bark. An outstanding flowering tree.Gaillardia aristata 'Arizona Apricot'
blanket flower
A color wheel of yellow and apricot 3.5" flowers which appear in summer. Heat tolerant and prefers poorer, very well-drained soils. A U.S. native.Gaillardia aristata 'Arizona Sun'
blanket flower
A color wheel of yellow and apricot 3.5" flowers which appear in summer. Heat tolerant and prefers poorer, very well-drained soils. A U.S. native.
Gelsemium rankinii
swamp jessamine
Fragrant yellow blooms on a native evergreen vine.Gelsemium sempervirens 'Margarita'
Carolina jessamine
Very cold hardy form of native Carolina jessamine has large, golden flowers in spring, and one of the very best aromas in Southern gardens. Vigor and evergreen foliage make it ideal for covering fences and scrambling up arbors. Not a new selection, but it remains among the best.Geranium macrostylum 'Talish'
cranesbill
A deciduous perennial growing from a tuber with nicely lobed foliage and pinkish-purple flowers with darker purple veins. This cultivar is from a Janus Ruksans collection in the Talish mountains of Azerbaijan.
Ginkgo biloba 'JFS-UGA2'
Golden Colonnade maidenhair tree
From Dr. Michael Dirr comes this male (seedless) selection with an upright habit and a narrowly oval canopy. Excellent clear yellow fall foliage.Globularia bisnagarica
ball flower
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.Grindelia chiloensis
shrubby gumweed
Perennial with a woody base from which grows herbaceous stems with resinous leaves and yellow 3" flowers that look a bit like a mum or dandelion. Adapted to arid areas. Flowers reportedly don't smell very nice but the stems have a pleasant resinous scent.
Hamamelis ×intermedia 'Arnold Promise'
witch hazel
Sweetly fragrant yellow flowers in winter on this large deciduous shrub. Yellow-orange to yellow fall color can be quite attractive. An introduction of the Arnold Arboretum in Boston. A Royal Horticultural Society of Great Britain Award of Garden Merit plant (1993).
Hamamelis ×intermedia 'Aurora'
witch hazel
Some of the largest flowers of any witch hazel. Flowers appear in mid-season (late January) and are bright yellow with a burgundy blush at the base and a sweet fragrance.
Hamamelis ×intermedia 'Diane'
witch hazel
Witch hazels are one of the glories of winter, displaying flowers with crinkled petals that catch the sun and glow. 'Diane' is one of the best of the red-flowered cultivars, producing abundant coppery-red flowers with a faint sweet fragrance in February. Fall color can be a rich yellow to red.
Hamamelis ×intermedia 'Gingerbread'
witch hazel
Mildly fragrant, dark orange flowers in axillary clusters bloom along the bare stems in mid- to late winter. Good yellow fall foliage.Helenium 'Balsaluemb'
Autumnale Salud Embers sneezeweed
A compact, upright selection of sneezeweed that features orange and yellow bicolor flowers. The flowers are attractive to butterflies and other insect pollinators.Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra 'Bleeding Hearts'
false sunflower
1st Heliopsis strain without yellow on its flowers. Blooms July until frost. New flowers emerge on black flower stalks an intense orange red and mature to golden orange with red centers. Leaves are deep green with bronze highlights.Hemerocallis 'Heavenly Flight of Angels'
daylily
Large 7" spider-like blooms are pale yellow with a white edge. Fragrant.Hemerocallis 'Red Razzmatazz'
daylily
Fire engine red blooms have a ruffled edge later in the summer. Tetraploid.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.
Heteropterys angustifolia
narrowleaf redwing
Collected by JCRA director Mark Weathington in Uruguay. Related to H. glabra. Can be grown as a sprawling shrub or woody vine. Bright yellow flowers are followed by bright red tri-winged seed pods like maple-tree samaras. Narrower leaves than H. glabra.Heuchera 'Forever Purple'
coral bells
Glossy purple leaves that stay colorfast throughout the hot summer. Contrasting dark purple veins give it a reticulated look. Does not tolerate drought.
Heuchera 'Georgia Peach'
coral bells
Reddish-peach foliage seems to have a silvery overlay that changes to rose-purple as temperatures cool.
Heuchera 'Midnight Rose'
coral bells
This low, mounding perennial has deep burgundy leaves speckled and flecked with hot pink.Heuchera 'Smoke and Mirrors'
coral bells
Foliage appears pewter gray with a rosy blush and matures to gray with dark gray veins. Light pink flowers bloom tall, upright dark stems in summer.×Heucherella 'Heupire030'
Pink Revolution foamy bells
Selected for its flower power. Bubblegum pink flowers top the green foliage accented with purple veins..Hibiscus 'Marshmallow Moon'
rose mallow
6" wide pure white flowers on a compact shrub. North American native.Hibiscus 'Watermelon Ruffles'
rose mallow
Seven inch wide magenta pink flowers that are heavily ruffled. Flowers are indeterminate and appear along the length of the stem, meaning that blooms start earlier in the season. Dark green leaves with a bronze cast. A hybrid of several North American native species.
Hosta 'Blue Mouse Ears'
miniature hosta
Silver-blue leaved dwarf hosta.Hosta 'Cracker Crumbs'
hosta
A dwarf hosta with small, shiny yellow leaves with a dark green margin.Hosta 'El Niño'
hosta
A Tardiana-type hosta (medium size with blue leaves) with blue-green leaves edged in cream. A variegated sport 'Halcyon'.
Hosta 'Golden Tiara'
hosta
A "classic" hosta, the first small-sized cultivar with gold-margined leaves. This hosta first appeared in the 1970s and is still one of the best for the landscape. Summer spikes of lavender flowers add to the charm.
Hosta 'Great Expectations'
hosta
A large-leaved variegated hosta...chartruese centers and green edges. Leaves are heavily textured too. Slug resistant.
Hosta 'Hush Puppy'
hosta
A Hosta venusta hybrid just 6" tall by 16" wide with small green leaves edged with a wide, creamy yellow border. Very vigorous.
Hosta 'Island Breeze'
hosta
'Island Breeze' is truly one of the most impressively variegated hostas with a green leaf margin around a gold center. The thick leaf texture helps deter slugs. Dark lavender flowers in summer are held on tall scapes. Makes a stunning specimen.Hosta 'Lemon Snap'
hosta
Yellow leaves and red petioles make this hosta a real head-turner.Hosta 'Loyalist'
hosta
A variegated medium-sized hosta whose leaves have a white center and green edges.Hosta 'Prairie Sky'
hosta
A medium sized hosta with blue leaves that have a thick texture and are slightly cupped.Hosta 'Silver Bullet'
hosta
A densely packed clump of very thick, rounded blue leaves. The thick foliage provides great slug resistance. Near white flowers are held just above the foliage.
Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight'
panicle hydrangea
We love this panicled hydrangea for its strong stems, heavy bloom, and progression of flower color from lime-green to creamy white, to rose-pink. Easy to grow and exceptionally long lived.Hydrangea paniculata 'Pan1782hydr'
Sweet Starlight panicle hydrangea
Huge flower panicles on a compact plant. Flowers age from white to antique pink. Strong stems do not flop.Hydrangea paniculata 'SMNHPPH'
Limelight Prime panicle hydrangea
An improvement over the popular cultivar Limelight. More compact size. Blooms earlier and longer. Flowers show brighter pinks as they age, and stronger stems prevent flopping over.
Hydrangea quercifolia 'Brido'
Snowflake oakleaf hydrangea
This double flowered oakleaf hydrangea is among the best of the best. The dried flowers are almost as good as the early summer fresh white blossoms. Great fall color, orange, peeling bark, and easy to grow make this a must for any garden.
Hydrangea quercifolia 'Flemygea'
Snow Queen oakleaf hydrangea
This form of our native oakleaf hydrangea is somewhat difficult to propagate so it can be hard to find on occasion. At any rate, it makes a lovely show with large "oakleaf" foliage, huge flower heads held on sturdy stems that age from white to rose, and burgundy fall color.
Hydrangea seemannii
Seemann's hydrangea
A rare evergreen climbing form of Mexican Hydrangea with leathery, shiny, laurel-like dense leaves. Pale green bracts enclose the flower bud, opening to reveal domed heads circled by a ring of white florets. It’s slightly tender, so let it climb over a sheltered wall. Blooms July to mid August.Hydrangea serrata 'JPD01'
Pink Dynamo mountain hydrangea
A dwarf shrub with hot-pink lacecap flowers atop purple foliage. Reblooms in summer.Hydrangea serrata 'SMNHSDD'
Tuff Stuff Ah-Ha mountain hydrangea
Florets are doubled. Flower color depends on soil pH (blue/acid to pink/basic). Use Aluminum sulfate to bring out the blue.Hydrangea 'SMNHSC'
Let's Dance ¡Arriba! reblooming hydranga
A small-statured reblooming hydrangea. Flower color depends on soil pH (blue/acid to pink/basic). Use Aluminum sulfate to bring out the blue.Hydrangea 'SMNHSME'
Let's Dance Sky View reblooming hydranga
A small-statured reblooming hydrangea. Add aluminum sulfate to the soil to encourage blue flower color. It has the unique ability to set flower buds on the entire length of its stem instead of just at the tips.
Hylotelephium 'Firecracker'
SunSparkler stonecrop
'Firecracker' has fingernail-sized leaves that are burgundy red. A hybrid between an unnamed tall sedum (Hylotelephium) and a low growing Sedum. This red-leaved selection has an intermediate habit with cascading branches.Hypericum lobocarpum
five-lobe St. John's-wort
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.
Ilex 'Miss Patricia'
Dodd hybrid evergreen holly
A dwarf form of 'Mary Nell', this plant produces dense, small foliage. This variety grows upright and pyramidal maturing at 10' tall and 5' wide. Heat and drought tolerant. Easily sheared for hedges or topiaries.
Illicium parviflorum 'Florida Sunshine'
yellow anise
Brilliant yellow foliage brightens up gardens year round. Fragrant foliage smells like licorice.
Illicium 'Woodland Ruby'
anise
A stunning hybrid of the red-flowered Illicium mexicanum and white-flowered Illicium floridanum f. album with ruby pink starfish-like flowers. Extended blooming period from the Mexican parent. This is the showiest of all our anise shrubs.Iris 'Bayou Short Stuff'
Louisiana iris
This petite iris packs a punch with mid-season blooms that are a gorgeous purplish blue with golden yellow crests.
Iris 'Cajun Sunrise'
Louisiana iris
The early to mid-season blooms of this iris offer gorgeous color. Burnt sienna standards include a narrow yellow edge with the yellow reappearing in the center of the large, saucer-shaped blooms. Foliage provides lovely structure.Iris cristata 'Tennessee White'
crested iris
Our native dwarf crested iris is one of the cheeriest of early spring flowers growing in sunny to shaded locations. This form has large white flowers, is a vigorous bloomer and will quickly form a sizable clump. It is from renowned plantsman Don Shadow so the proper pronunciation is Tennessee Wăt.Iris ensata 'Carrot Cake'
Japanese iris
6" wide, semi-double white blooms with lavender-blue margins and yellow centers. They prefer full to part sun and moist to wet soil. It is a member of a series of Irises from Holland called the "Dinner Plate" series many of which are named after desserts.Iris ×pseudata 'Shiryukyo'
eyelash iris
This mid to late season bloomer produces reddish purple standards with a deep purple marking that outlines the bright yellow signal above dark green foliage. We've observed this iris to be very vigorous. Plants are sterile and do not seed around.Iris virginica 'Wetpearl'
southern blue flag
This southern blue flag iris is perfect for the boggy areas of your garden. The 6" wide pastel lavender blooms have large yellow signals and have relatively wide falls and standards as compared to normal wild I. virginica types. It is very floriferous.Itea virginica 'SMNIVDFC'
Scentlandia sweetspire
The sweetest scent of any of our native Itea selections. Outstanding red fall foliage too.Juncus effusus f. spiralis 'Big Twister'
corkscrew rush
A rush with stiff narrow dark green foliage that curls around in a corkscrew pattern. Perfect for a boggy site but will tolerate normal garden soils too if they so not get too dry.
Kirengeshoma palmata
yellow wax bells
Coarsely toothed, deeply lobed, woodland perennial with large leaves. Narrow, drooping, waxy, bell-shaped yellow flowers (1.5" long) in late summer. 3-horned, brownish-green seed capsules are curiously interesting. Prefers moist soil with lots of leaf compost and mulch.
Kniphofia uvaria 'KLEKN22193'
Glowstick red hot poker
A solid yellow color form of this popular South African perennial. Repeat blooming.
Lamprocapnos spectabilis
bleeding heart
Bleeding heart is an old garden favorite that is very easy to grow in a shaded border or a woodland garden. Formerly known as Dicentra spectabilis, its common name comes from the protruding white inner petal on each heart-shaped flower giving the flower the appearance of a "bleeding heart".Lamprocapnos spectabilis 'White Gold'
bleeding heart
Usually sold under the name Dicentra spectabilis. White heart-shaped flowers and chartreuse foliage. Bleeding heart doesn't like to get too dry. Goes dormant by mid-summer unless drought conditions cause it to go dormant earlier.Lavandula angustifolia 'SuperBlue'
English lavender
A compact lavender just 12" tall with short spikes of rich blue flowers. Selected for its improved garden performance.
Lavandula ×intermedia 'Niko'
Phenomenal lavender
An exceptionally uniform mound of silver foliage topped with lavender flowers found as a sport on the classic cultivar 'Grosso'. This is certainly one of the toughest and most heat tolerant lavenders available.Lavandula stoechas 'Anouk Purple Medley'
Spanish lavender
Darker flowers and more floriferous than typical Spanish lavender. Spanish lavender does better in the hot humid southeast than English lavender. Not quite as fragrant as its English cousin, but the flowers are larger.
Lavandula stoechas 'Silver Anouk'
Spanish lavender
This lavender is a standout in the garden with its stunning, bright white-grey foliage. Abundant purple flowers contrast beautifully with the leaves. A great evergreen plant for year-round interest. Quite tolerant of Southern summers.Lavatera olbia
Leucanthemum ×superbum 'LEUZ0007'
Sunshine Freak! Shasta daisy
These daisies emerge creamy yellow and mature to white giving you a multi-color effect. Shasta daisies are easy to grow and flower over a long period providing you with plenty of flowers to cut or to leave alone and share with pollinators.
Liatris spicata
blazing star
A native summer flowering bulb with grassy foliage and tall spikes of purple flowers in summer.
Libertia chilensis
New Zealand satin flower
A New Zealand native iris relative with small white flowers that bloom over a long period starting in late spring. The foliage is upright and iris-like and grows in a tight clump but. We haven't grown this species in the garden yet but we have high hopes.
Lonicera 'Mandarin'
orange honeysuckle
Outstanding flowering vine for arbor or fence. In May and early June, masses of long tubular flowers: deep orange-red exterior, paler orange interior. A prolific bloomer, vigorous grower, heat and cold tolerant. 
Lychnis flos-cuculi 'IFLYPH'
Petit Henri ragged robin
Masses of small double white flowers bloom in late spring. Prefers soil on the moist side of average and benefits from afternoon shade.Lycoris ×rosea 'Mini Me'
surprise lily
Lysimachia minoricensis
Loosestrife of Minorca
Endemic to the island of Minorca, but extinct in the wild. A biennial or short-lived perennial. Oval green leaves are covered by whitish nerves and are purple beneath. The flowers are yellowish-green with a red-violet throat. Great rock garden plant.Magnolia figo 'Stellar Ruby'
banana shrub
Selected and released by Wake County's own Pat McCracken, a good friend of the JC Raulston Arboretum. Narrow and dense pyramidal growth habit and a floriferous blooming habit. The purple flowers smell like bananas.
Magnolia 'Serendipity'
evergreen magnolia
(Tree formed specimen) - An evergreen shrub with a long bloom period in spring. The 2" white flowers have a light scent of lemon or banana depending on the person smelling them.
Mahonia eurybracteata subsp. ganpinensis 'Soft Caress'
grape holly
The soft texture, small stature, and spine-free foliage actually do make you want to give it a gentle caress. We've found it fares best with a bit of shade during the winter. Yellow fall flowers over the evergreen foliage are especially nice as other plants are beginning to go dormant.
Mahonia 'NCMH1'
Good Vibes / Funky Flow mahonia
Cross of Mahonia 'Winter Sun' x 'Soft Caress'. Compact habit, dense branching form, soft, dark, evergreen, relatively spineless foliage and 8" long racemes of showy yellow flowers sporadically in fall, winter and spring. Softer texture than typical ×media.
×Mangave 'Aztec King'
Monarda bradburyana
Bardbury's bee balm
A shorter species of the U.S. native bee balm with fragrant pink flowers in summer and foliage that smells like oregano and can be brewed into tea. Pollinators love bee balm.
Monarda 'Jacob Cline'
bee balm
A tall, bright red selection of this American native plant. The leaves are fragrant (and thus deer resistant) and can be used in tea or in cooking (it is aka bergamot). This selection is resistant to powdery mildew too. Spreads via runners.Myrtus communis 'Andy's Hardy'
sweet myrtle
While it appears dainty, this evergreen shrub is drought and heat tolerant. Plus, it handles full sun and poor, but well-drained soil. Expect white blooms with wispy, showy stamens, which are followed by black fruit.
Nassella tenuissima
Mexican feather grass
Compact clumps of hair-fine emerald green blades. Equally fine, goldish early spring flower age to buff. Self-sowing can occur, so it’s best used in managed landscapes where spreading can be controlled. Drought tolerant, although it tends to turn tan.
Neolepisorus fortunei
Fortune's ribbon fern
Fortune's ribbon fern is a striking, non-frilly fern with long, narrow fronds 18" long but only 1.5" across. It is hardy for us in Raleigh and is best sited where it receives some winter protection. It makes a slowly, slowly creeping clump to a few feet wide after many years.
Nepeta ×faassenii 'Novanepjun'
Junior Walker catmint
This compact catmint makes a 15" tall by 4' wide clump topped with sprays of small pale lavender flowers held just above the foliage. Like catnip, catmint attracts and relaxes felines.
Notocactus laetivirens
ball cactus
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.Ocimum 'African Blue'
hybrid basil
This basil has mild edible leaves and sweet edible flowers. The leaves are dark green to purple in color. Pinch back frequently to produce a bushy plant. Not cold hardy. To 2' tall. Butterfly magnet. Full sun.Ocimum 'UF16-23-2'
Amazel Basil sweet Italian basil
The first basil resistant to downy mildew. Sterile and continues to produce leaves all season. For best flavor and leaf production, harvest and or pinch regularly to promote fresh tender growth. Flavor is best early in the season before flowering.
Onoclea sensibilis
sensitive fern
A great eastern U.S. native fern with unique broad fronds. In the wild, it grows in swampy locales. It tolerates regular garden soil too but looks ratty in soils that dry out too frequently. Can grow in heavy clay too. Spreads via a rhizome into a patch.Onosma stellulata
Orostachys spinosa
spiny pennywort
This rosette of fleshy grey-green leaves grows low and slow. Needs excellent drainage...a rock garden or trough with 50% of coarse sand, pumice, or perlite. Monocarpic, so the it dies once it flowers, but new offsets are plentiful. Native to the arid areas in Mongolia, Russia, China, and Kazakhstan.
Osmanthus fragrans 'Qiannan Guifei'
sweet olive
A large, evergreen shrub with white flowers produced sporadically from fall through winter. 'Qiannan Guifei' has new growth is bright pink, turning white, then green.Osmanthus heterophyllus 'Porcupine'
holly olive
Pachysandra procumbens
Allegheny spurge
Shade-loving evergreen groundcover for rich soils. 12" tall plant spreads slowly to form a colony. Southeastern native from KY and NC south to FL and TX. Tiny, fragrant, greenish-white flowers appear on spikes in early spring before new leaves appear.
Packera aurea
groundsel
US native meadow flower with attractive heart-shaped foliage and tall stalks topped with little yellow aster-like flowers. Spreads via rhizomes into a patch in favorable conditions. Prefers moist soils. Will even grow at edges of bodies of water.
Paeonia 'Angel Cheeks'
garden peony
A mid-season bloomer developed in the mid 1970s by Roy Klehm. It has double (bomb-type) flowers that are pastel pink with a small band of white. Fragrant. Winner of several peony awards (APS, RHS).Paeonia 'Dancing Butterfly'
garden peony
Unregistered cultivar developed by Gintas Mališauskas of Lithuania. Red, single, midseason bloom. Due to unusually strong side buds, this selection provides a long blooming time. No staking required. Long vase life. Very fertile with large seed pods.
Paeonia 'Flame'
garden peony
This peony bears coral-red, single flowers. Plants can grow to 30" tall and are deer resistant. Best flowering is in full sun but some afternoon shade is often welcome to keep the foliage looking good all season. Great as a cut flower.Paeonia 'Pink Parfait'
garden peony
A disease resistant selection from Klehm in the 1970s. Large double flowers are a vibrant pink. Mildly fragrant.
Paeonia 'Smithopus14'
Hot Tamale Itoh peony
A pale-red semi-double Itoh peony.
Passiflora 'Lady Margaret'
passion flower
A hybrid passion vine with red flowers and a bright white spot in the center. Evergreen in warmer climates, this is a die-back vine here in North Carolina that grows to 10' tall each season. Peak bloom is in late summer. Prefers lean soil that stays on the dry side.Passiflora 'Scarlet Flame'
passion vines
A vigorous vine with 4" wide vivid red flowers in summer. It is not hardy in Raleigh, but we've known other 'non-hardy' passion vines to be root hardy here at the arboretum. If it survives, expect it to re-emerge the following summer.
Penstemon hirsutus var. pygmaeus
beardtongue
An northeast US native beardtongue that produces stalks lined with light purple & white tubular flowers in summer. Lightly self-seeds. Prefers lean soil.
Penstemon 'P008S'
Red Rocks Mexicali beardtongue
Mexicali penstemons are a multi-species hybrid complex that combine US and Mexican native species with large flowers, long bloom period, cold tolerance and wild colors. Drought tolerant. Prefers dryer, leaner well-drained sandy soil types.
Phlox divaricata 'Blue Moon'
woodland phlox
An essential native flower for the spring shade garden and much visited by early butterflies. Fragrant blue blooms attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Finely textured leaves and a compact habit.Phlox glaberrima 'Morris Berd'
woodland phlox
'Morris Berd' is a compact disease resistant selection of this eastern U.S. native plant and features rose-pink flowers. After blooming, the stems can be cut back and a new flush of leaves will develop to create an attractive and tidy appearance for the rest of the growing season.Phlox paniculata 'Bartwelve'
Flame Pink garden phlox
A dwarf selection of summer phlox, indispensable for months of showy flowers and pollinator support.
Phlox paniculata 'Glamour Girl'
garden phlox
Large panicles of hot coral pink flowers bloom on strong dark purple stems. Sure to be one of your favorites since butterflies and hummingbirds can’t seem to resist this glamorous beauty either.Phlox paniculata 'Ultraviolet'
garden phlox
Magenta violet flowers for a long period of time in the summer. This cultivar belongs to the newer generation of mildew resistant tall Phlox.Pieris japonica 'Purity'
Japanese andromeda
Showy red buds form in winter on this compact evergreen shrub and open into pure white flowers after all other Pieris are finished in spring.Pieris japonica 'Temple Bells'
Japanese andromeda
'Temple Bells' is a compact 3' tall form of Japanese andromeda with hanging racemes of white bells in spring over the evergreen foliage. New growth emerges almost orange, much different than other selections.
Plumbago auriculata
Cape leadwort
Not cold hardy enough to survive Raleigh winters, you can grow it as a container plant and bring it inside for the winter or cut it back and put it in a cool garage. Although technically a shrub, it can be trained to like a vine. Its arching branches will need tying.
Podocarpus macrophyllus 'Pringle's Dwarf'
Buddhist pine
An evergreen shrub that tolerates both sun and shade. Perfect for hedges.
Polygonatum latifolium
Solomon's seal
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.
Polystichum acrostichoides
Christmas fern
A native evergreen fern that should be grown in any well-appointed shade garden. Deep green fronds stand upright through summer, eventually mostly lying flat in winter. Silvery, unfurling fiddle-heads are especially attractive in spring.
Polystichum polyblepharum
tassel fern
Beautiful deep green, shiny foliage helps brighten up a shady garden spot. Easy to grow in rich, moist, well-drained soil. This fern is semi-evergreen in Raleigh and hails from Japan and South Korea.
Polystichum tsus-simense
Korean rock fern
A great smaller scale structural fern for the shade garden. Tight clumps of semi-evergreen foliage emerge purplish darkening to lustrous green. Great garden and container plant.Primula burmanica
Burmese primrose
Prefers moist to wet soil for good growth. Candelabra type flowers. These are seed grown from a botanic garden in Germany so we have not seen it flower yet. Flower color ranges over a spectrum of purple-pink from light to dark.Prunella vulgaris subsp. vulgaris
common selfheal
A native wildflower topped with charming clusters of small purple flower spikes in spring. Very adaptable. Edible leaves. Dislikes drought. Has a reputation as a fast spreading weed in well irrigated turf and moist shady spots. But one person's weed is another person's charming meadow plant.Pseuderanthemum
Pulicaria dysenterica
meadow false fleabane
Pulmonaria 'Pink-a-Blue'
lungwort
Flowers open pink and transition to blue in late spring. Silver speckling frosts the deep green leaves.
Pulmonaria 'Twinkle Toes'
lungwort
This beautiful shade perennial will delight you with its impressive spring flowers. After the flowers fade, you can enjoy its dark green leaves that are lightly sprinkled with silver. This plant will thrive in part shade to full shade as long as you provide moisture.Pycnanthemum flexuosum
Appalachian mountain mint
Pyrrosia lingua 'Hiryu'
tongue fern
Rhododendron canescens 'Varnadoe's Phlox Pink'
Piedmont azalea
A pink flowered deciduous native azalea. Pinxter azaleas must have moist, well-drained, acidic soil that is high in organic matter. It will not tolerate dense clay or poorly drained soil.Rhododendron 'Garden Rainbow'
deciduous azalea
This deciduous azalea features bright yellow flowers appearing in June, and as they mature, they individually turn orange and pink to create a tricolor display. Mildew resistant foliage on a wide upright plant.
Rhododendron 'Lemon Lights'
deciduous azalea
Up to 10 ruffled brilliant-yellow flowers per truss appear late in the azalea season. Light, flowery fragrance. Part of the Northern Lights Azalea series developed by the University of Minnesota for hardiness.
Rhododendron 'NCRX2'
Black Hat rhododendron
This Rhododendron features very dark purple-green leaves (almost black) and is topped in early spring with ruffled lavender flowers. Leaf color gets darker in cooler weather. Bred by NC State University's Mountain Horticultural Crops Research Station.Rhododendron 'Red Demon'
deciduous azalea
This selection was bred to have a longer lasting flower display than other deciduous azaleas.Rhododendron 'White Lights'
azalea
Pale pink, slightly fragrant flowers that age to white. Light, flowery fragrance. Part of the Northern Lights Azalea series developed by the University of Minnesota for hardiness.
Rosa sericea subsp. omeiensis f. pteracantha
winged rose
A rose valued for its incredible prickles which are broadly winged and bright red along the stem. Single white 2" flowers. Makes red hips. Prickles are brighter, bigger, and more thorny if the plant is pruned but that disrupts its natural vase shape. Site it where you can view it backlit by the sun.
Rosmarinus officinalis 'Barbeque'
upright rosemary
This rosemary has strong vertical stems perfect for creating savory kabob skewers and aromatic foliage for all of your savory stews. Blue flowers add to the appeal of this evergreen shrub for sunny, well-drained spots.
Rudbeckia subtomentosa
sweet coneflower
Sunny yellow flowers all summer long provide a beautiful accent in any landscape. A native plant.Salvia 'Evening Attire'
garden sage
Vibrant dark blue flowers packed onto a dense S. pratensis hybrid. Easy to grow, drought tolerant and attracts pollinators.Salvia glabrescens 'Autumn Equinox'
woodland sage
A Japanese species of Salvia for shade gardens. This woodland sage produces bicolor lavender and purple flowers in early fall. The clump spreads slowly to 6' wide or more. Requires good drainage.Salvia 'Moulin Rouge'
garden sage
The rosy pink flowers are quite large for a S. pratensis hybrid. Easy to grow, drought tolerant and attracts pollinators.Salvia officinalis 'Aurea'
culinary sage
A variegated culinary sage. Drought tolerant too. Grow in average, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soil. does not tolerate wet feet.Sambucus canadensis 'Blonde Envy'
American elder
A bright yellow-leaved cultivar. A suckering deciduous shrub. Fragrant white lacy blooms in summer similar to Queen Anne's lace. In late summer, edible black elderberry fruits appear.Sambucus canadensis 'Laciniata'
American elder
Deeply cut (laciniate) leaflets on this selection of our native elderberry. Will spread into a thicket by root suckers unless pruned. The tiny white flowers are lemon-scented.Sarracenia (complex and colorful)
pitcher plant
Hybrid seedlings from a mix of pitcher plants. Pick your favorite color pattern. Pitcher plants require moist but well drained peaty soils and full sun. Parents of these plants include: S. 'Lunchbox', S. purpurea subsp. venosa, S. ×readii, S. leucophylla 'Hurricane Creek White' clone F, S. 'Waccamaw', S. flava var, rubricorpora, and S. 'Biggie Shorty'.
Sarracenia flava
yellow pitcher plant
Seedlings - coloration varies but is yellowish. A carnivorous plant that needs acidic, humusy soil that is constantly damp but not watery. Plants produce new pitchers through summer that die back in winter. Linear, sword-shaped leaves may remain evergreen in winter and should not be cut back.
Sarracenia purpurea
purple pitcher plant
Seedlings - coloration varies but is reddish. A carnivorous plant that needs acidic, humusy soil that is constantly damp but not watery. Plants produce new pitchers through summer that die back in winter. Linear, sword-shaped leaves may remain evergreen in winter and should not be cut back.Sedum album 'Coral Carpet'
stonecrop
Prefers well-drained sandy to gravelly soils of moderate to low fertility. Drought and heat tolerant, particularly once established. Ultimate 12" spread. New growth emerges salmon-orange (coral), matures to bright green and eventually turns reddish-bronze in winter.Sedum 'Angelinas Teacup'
Sunsparkler stonecrop
A flowerless selection that stays neater looking during the growing season without hundreds of old dead flower stalks on it. Yellow foliage.
Sedum 'Boogie Woogie'
stonecrop
Creamy yellow margins along the edges of the green leaves define this popular succulent. Sprinkled with yellow flowers during early to midsummer. Perfect for rock gardens or containers. Drought tolerant.
Silene caroliniana subsp. wherryi 'Short and Sweet'
Wherry's catchfly
A great selection of our native catchfly growing only to about 6"–8" tall. Bright pink flowers top the low plants for more than six weeks in the spring. Easy to grow in almost any soil or situation. Does well in sun or shade.Silphium perfoliatum 'The Holy Grail'
cup plant
A bright yellow-leaved form. The perfoliate leaves collect water that birds like to drink from. Great perennial for the back of the border. The wetter the soil, the taller the plant. Butterflies and hummingbirds drink nectar from the flowers in summer and birds eat the seeds in fall.Sinningia allagophylla
variable leaf sinningia
A South American species whose usual flower color is red but yellows are known too. We are growing this from seed so are not sure of the flower color yet. The plant generally forms a single stem.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.Solidago 'Dansolitlem'
Little Lemon goldenrod
This compact selection blooms over a longer period than other varieties...well into fall. Deadheading extends the bloom even longer. Great for smaller gardens. The flowers attract hummingbirds too.
Spiraea japonica 'NCSX1'
Double Play Candy Corn Japanese spiraea
The foliage emerges brilliant red before becoming pumpkin orange and then bright gold. Red flowers start in early summer and are great for pollinators Deer will leave this candy corn alone as well.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.Stokesia laevis 'Divinity'
Stokes' aster
Stokes' aster is a prized garden perennial for its extra long lasting summer flowers. This form of one of our favorite native plants has pure white flowers over the deep green foliage. Stokes' aster will tolerate, even thrive with wet soil.Symphyotrichum dumosum 'Wood's Pink'
aster
A compact, clump-forming aster with pink fall flowers. Easy to grow. You may be used to pinching your asters to make them grow bushier and then staking them but this compact form does not need either treatment.Symphyotrichum dumosum 'Wood's Purple'
aster
A compact, clump-forming aster with purple fall flowers. Easy to grow. You may be used to pinching your asters to make them grow bushier and then staking them but this compact form does not need either treatment.Symphyotrichum novi-belgii 'Professor Anton Kippenburg'
New York aster
A fall blooming plant (late August to mid October). This selection stays shorter than most other New York asters and has excellent powdery mildew resistance. Moist rich soils are preferred. A great plant for the butterfly garden.Symphyotrichum novi-belgii 'Royal Opal'
New York aster
A fall blooming plant (late August to mid October) with icy blue flowers. This selection stays shorter than most other New York asters and has excellent powdery mildew resistance. Moist rich soils are preferred. A great plant for the butterfly garden.
Taxodium distichum 'Jim's Little Guy'
bald cypress
A dwarf selection of bald cypress to 5' tall in 10- years. Foliage color is quite good all summer.Thuja occidentalis 'Bobozam'
Mr. Bowling Ball American arborvitae
A slow growing dwarf conifer taking 10 years or more to reach just 30". Great as a container plant, low hedge or foundation planting.
Thymus praecox subsp. articus 'Elfin'
white creeping thyme
Fragrant foliage plant can tolerate some foot traffic.Thymus pulegioides 'Archer's Gold'
creeping thyme
Bright gold creeping foliage in winter follows attractive dark green foliage in summer. Tolerates moderate foot traffic...and smells good too.
Thymus serpyllum 'Pink Chintz'
wild thyme
A low growing creeper with woolly green foliage. Blooms in mid-spring with salmon-pink flowers.Vernonia 'Summer's Swan Song'
ironweed
Native plant with a bushy mounding habit and clusters of purple flowers in late summer that attract a wide variety of pollinators. Adaptable to both dry as well as moist soil types, and is deer resistant.Veronica 'Reavis'
Crystal River veronica
This hybrid veronica is covered in pale blue flowers in spring and sporadically thereafter. A great ground hugging spreading groundcover. Does not tolerate wet conditions.Veronicastrum virginicum 'Albo-Rosea'
Culver's root
A native perennial easily grown in average, medium to wet, well-drained soil in full sun. Appreciates some afternoon shade in the deep south. Tends to flop and require support if grown in too much shade. Soils should not be allowed to dry out. Deadhead spent flowers to extend bloom period.