Antirrhinum majus
'Golden Gate'

Can you really grow and bloom snapdragons in the Winter here in coastal California? Why, yes! You can! Last Fall, in my backyard, I planted this terrific new variety said to be totally rust proof. Ho ho, I said, let’s see how it does planted in half day shade in our super rainy Winters. Despite a record year for rain and lack of sun, ‘Golden Gate’ remained true to its claim with NOT a speck of rust! It’s quite lovely, too, a nice Fally-Wintry shade of bronzy-golden-orange with a yellow lip.  To a nice, branching 30” tall, it’s perfect for cut flowers. Plant in rich soil and enjoy your beautiful Fall and Winter garden!

Full Sun, Avg. water
Annual everywhere

Arthropodium cirratum
'Renga Lily'

Revered as one of the five sacred talismans of Maori, this exceptionally rare member of the Lily family is widely used in New Zealand as a pleasing and very adaptable ground cover for dry shade. Forming a large bold 3x3’ clump of rich green arching leaves that look somewhere between a Flax and a Hosta. Lovely, graceful airy sprays of starry white flowers appear in Spring to mid-Summer. Arching out from the single 1” flowers are intriguing purple & yellow stamens. Tolerating both wet & dry soils, it remains evergreen in frost free environments climates, making it a good choice for a low maintenance shady area or under trees. Tolerates coastal winds & makes good cut flowers too. Bait for snails! Hardy to 15 degrees.

AM Sun/Shade, Moist/Low water, Perennial
USDA Zones 8b-11

Greenovia aurea
"Golden Mountain Rose"

I believe we are the first nursery in the U.S. to grow this extremely rare and exciting succulent from the Canary Islands. Forming a very pleasing spiraling rosette of smooth bluish leaves about 10” across,  it spreads by quickly forming little rosettes on the side. Blooming from May to July, it’s topped with a showy, rather large inflorescence of soft yellow flowers. Grow it in a pot or succulent garden or use it to edge a bed or pathway. Provide well draining soil of course, and a bit of afternoon shade in hottest climates.

Sun/Pt. Shade, Avg./Low water, Succulent
USDA zones 9b-10

Impatiens hians

Unbelievable flowers make this very rare Impatiens a must have for Impatiens collectors. The large green & red flowers look like bearded & mustachioed dwarves. The rear of the bloom displays a broad, green tail with funny little red tips. Rich soil. Frost tender. 2’ to 3’. USDA zones 10-11. No sun!

Full/Brt. Shade, Avg. water/Moist, Perennial

Lupinus regalis
'Julie Levy'

Woo-Hoo! This is the very first time we’re able to offer you this marvelous MILDEW RESISTANT primrose yellow perennial Lupine. And it may be our only offering this year until we are able to collect more seed. In this photo you can see it growing where I collected it – in Thomas Church’s own home garden – thanks to dear Julie Levy the current owner of his old home and gardens. Growing from 3’ tall to 3’ across with highly attractive and large palmate foliage, it blooms Spring thru Fall with its lovely upright scented bloom spikes, each 10” to 12” tall. Grow ‘Julie Levy’ in humus rich soil and dead head regularly for continuous bloom. If she ever looks forlorn, cut her back to the ground, side-dress with compost and she’ll bounce right back. It’s deciduous but will vigorously emerge from the ground in early Spring. Nice cut flowers and mucho attractive to butterflies and bees. And so pretty in the cottage garden with its soft yellow color partnering so well with all your blues and pinks!

Full Sun, Avg. water/Moist, Perennial
DEER RESISTANT
USDA zones 4-10