Anthriscus sylvestris
'Raven's Wing'

Gorgeous, purple-black, extremely tough and long-lived, this stunning foliage plant seen growing in our demonstration gardens for the last three years has unfortunately tortured so many of our visitors, as it's rarely available for sale. Well, finally, the germination gods have decided we should have it this Spring. We've got a good-sized crop, hopefully enough to go around – for awhile! Forming a dense clump, to 20” tall and 24” around, its foliage looks just like fancy black fern fronds, providing unsurpassed texture and contrasting garden color from early Spring thru Fall. Grow it in full sun for richest black color, part sun if you don't mind it turning a bit greenish. Super hardy, easy to grow, well behaved and long-lived, ours gets prettier every year. Cut back to 4” tall in Winter for a picture perfect appearance. Combine it with Tanacetum parthenium ‘Aureum' “Golden Feverfew” for totally intense perennial foliar contrast and accessorize with the prolific purple flowering Geranium pyrenaicum ‘Bill Wallis.'

Sun/Pt. Sun. Avg. water. Perennial.
USDA zones 3-10.

Larkspur 'Chorus Violet'

Last year we were fortunate enough to get our paws on the seed of this totally fabulous “cut flower” Larkspur. Luckily, we collected the seed from it because it appears that it has, like so many wonderful plants, to have disappeared from the seed world. I never could get a good photo of it – it was always windy when I tried – so you'll have to trust me that this is one spectacular Larkspur. Growing to 5' tall, it creates a giant cloud of deep blue and deep purple single flowers held in hundreds of slender stems perfect for cutting. This is quite different from the usual cut flower type Larkspurs, which create vertical spikes. What you get is a ton of blooms to cut or cut the whole plant for a giant 4-5' spray for your next super fancy event! Grow it in the ground with full sun, rich composty soil and average water and prepare to swoon!

Lathyrus odorata 'Lisbeth'

Here's your one chance to nab this rare and highly fragrant Summer blooming sweet pea, as it's only available once this year. A big award winner in the world of sweet pea geeks, lovely ‘Lisbeth's' wavy petals look like they're brushed with watercolors of cream and salmony pink. How chi chi! And won't they be beautiful in a vase next to your bed? A nice and tall grower to 7'! Rich soil is best. Don't delay, they won't last long! Self-sows!

Full sun. Avg. water. Annual.

Lupinus polyphyllus
"Silver Bush Lupine"

Looking for a beautiful focal point for your native NO WATER garden? Fast growing to 3' tall, showy “Silver Bush Lupine” puts on a spectacular show in Spring and Summer with its scented purple-blue spikes held upright above the compact and highly attractive, shimmering silver foliage. Big with butterflies, including the endangered ‘Mission Blue,' now only seen in Marin, San Mateo and San Francisco counties. Picture perfect underplanted with our coastal California Poppy, Eschscholzia californica maritima. Thrives in rocky, as well as sandy soil, so do provide good drainage and little to no Summer water once established. Cut flowers, too!

Sun. Low/No Summer water. Perennial Native.
USDA zones 6-10