Loki's Garden: 2012 Catalog by Billy Dohrmann

2012 Catalog

Po t t i n g S h e d S e r i e s Equip yourself with the tips and tricks necessary to have the best garden ever! Every Saturday morning at 10 a.m. from April 23 to June 18, we offer free classes to help inspire and excite you about gardening. Here’s our lineup for this year. If there’s a topic you’re particularly excited about and don’t see it on the list —or you’d love to hear it at a different time—get a group of six or more together, give us a call, and we’ll schedule it “ondemand” for you!

4.21.2012 Create Nonstop Color Enjoy beautiful blooms every single day starting when the snow melts in spring until it falls again in winter. We’ll help you identify top plants for your garden to give you low-care, nonstop color for eight to nine months of the year.

4.28.2012 Colorful Shade Gardening Have shade? No problem! Discover the secrets to having a gorgeous, big-impact, full-color shade garden. We’ll highlight our favorite plants that thrive even without full sun so you can enjoy a lush, gorgeous garden that looks great from last frost to first snow.

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

5.5.2012

Easy Container Gardening

Everyone has room for container gardens! They’re the perfect way for dressing up your entry, deck, patio, balcony, or even your landscape. We’ll walk you through strategies for putting together great looking containers, as well as offer tips for keeping them looking good all the way to fall.

5.12.2012

Heavenly Hydrangeas for Your Yard

We LOVE hydrangeas! If you do, too, you can’t miss this class! We’ll show you the hottest new varieties, the best tried-and-true favorites, and give you tips on how to get the most from your plants --- including how to coax more blooms from them.

5.19.2012

All classes will be held at our garden center. 29154 360th Street Van Meter, IA 50261 ph: 515.996.2466

Edible Landscaping

Grow your own food! It’s easy and doesn’t have to involve a rectangular patch of your backyard. We’ll discuss easy ways to incorporate food plants (both common and unusual) into your yard so that you can eat what you grow -- and have it look stylish.

5.26.2012

Creative Water Features

Fill your yard with the sound of moving water. It may be easier to add a water feature to your yard than you think! We’ll show you a variety of fun ideas that are lower maintenance (and much more interesting) than a typical pond.

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

Raised Beds & Living Walls

6.2.2012

Beat clay soil by gardening up. We’ll walk you through how much easier it is to garden in raised beds and go bold with living walls! From showing you the benefits to giving you ideas on how to make your own, this class offers something for everyone—even if your garden space is just a balcony.

6.9.2012

Forever Green: Adding Evergreens to Your Yard Fill your yard with color every day of the year. Evergreens go beyond big old pines and spruces. We’ll show you some of the coolest conifers around—from dwarf varieties that fit in any yard to selections with brilliantly variegated foliage.

Offbeat Gardening

6.16.2012

Want a garden that doesn’t look like everyone else’s? This class is for you! We’ll talk about the coolest, weirdest (in a good way!), most interesting plants and how to incorporate them in your yard.

Go Wild!

6.23.2012

Embrace Midwestern-native plants! We’ll talk about how the plusses and minuses of incorporating indigenous plants into your landscape—as well as give you a rundown of top varieties your garden shouldn’t be without.

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

Evergreens Weeping white fir

Abies concolor ‘Blue Cloak’

Light: Full Sun Height: to 15’ Width: to 4’ Zones: 3 - 7 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

An exceptionally beautiful small tree, this weeping white fir offers evergreen needles in a wonderful shade of powder blue. Like most traditional pines and spruces, it has an upright trunk, but what makes it special is that the branches all weep down, creating a stunning landscape specimen. It grows about 8 inches a year.

Weeping white fir

Abies concolor ‘Gable’s Weeping’ Light: Full Sun Height: to 6’ Width: to 4’ Zones: 3 - 7 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

We love this low, mounding shrub form of our native white (concolor fir)! It’s a slow grower that has soft needles, making it useful near walkways. It looks fantastic with upright perennials such as hibiscus and baptisia, as well!

Blue white fir

Abies concolor ‘Candicans’ Light: Full Sun Height: to 50’ Width: to 15’ Zones: 3 - 7 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

A stunning version of an easy-growing native tree, Candicans is a variety of white (concolor) fir that shows off silver-blue needles. Unlike blue spruce, it has needles that are long and soft, giving the tree a much more refined texture. It grows tall and narrow, creating an architectural shape in the landscape. It grows about 10 inches a year.

Golden Hinoki cypress Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Aurea’

Light: Full Sun Height: to 15’ Width: to 8’ Zones: 5 - 8 Special Features: Attractive foliage

This slow-growing false Hinoki cypress is a delight in the garden. The fan-shaped foliage is brushed with gold on the edges and fades to a rich green toward the center of the plant. It grows 4-6 inches a year, so it’s not likely to outgrow its space in the garden anytime soon. To keep it happiest, give golden Hinoki cypress a good watering in fall and some protection from winter winds.

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

Dwarf Golden Hinoki cypress

Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Nana Lutea’

Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 4’ Width: to 4’ Zones: 5 - 8 Special Features: Attractive foliage

Dwarf golden Hinoki cypress is the perfect solution if you want to add a splash of year-round color to the landscape. Bearing golden-yellow foliage (the more sun it gets, the more gold it appears; shade makes it more chartreuse) on a cone-shape plant, it’s an ideal accent for blue perennials such as Rozanne geranium. To keep it happiest, give dwarf golden Hinoki cypress a good watering in fall and some protection from winter winds.

Weeping Rocky Mountain juniper

Juniperus scopulorum ‘Tolleson’s Blue’

Light: Full Sun Height: to 20’ Width: to 8’ Zones: 3 - 7 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Exceptionally tough—tolerating drought, deer, and poor soil—this juniper is also lovely, bearing pendulous branches clothed in blue-green needles that dance in the breeze.

Columnar Norway spruce

Picea abies ‘Cupressina’

Light: Full Sun Height: to 30’ Width: to 5’ Zones: 2 - 7 Special Features: Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Don’t have room for a full-size evergreen but wanting privacy? This may be the plant for you! Growing 4-6 inches in height per year, it grows tall and narrow, making it easy to fit just about anywhere. The dark green color is a fantastic backdrop for colorful perennials and flowering shrubs.

Variegated Oriental spruce

Picea orientalis ‘Aureospicata’

Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 60’ Width: to 15’ Zones: 4 - 7 Special Features: Attractive foliage

This slow-growing evergreen puts on an amazing show in spring when the new growth emerges in a shade of bright gold. The effect lasts three to four weeks and gets better every year as the tree puts on size.

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

Inkberr y

Ilex glabra ‘ Shamrock’ Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 4’ Width: to 4’ Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Attractive foliage

This hardy holly relative bears wonderful evergreen leaves that look beautiful all year long. The plant forms a tidy mound that rarely needs pruning. It grows best in moist soil in Full sun or afternoon sun.

Variegated Norway spruce Picea abies ‘Argenteospicata’

Light: Afternoon shade Height: to 60’ Width: to 30’ Zones: 2 - 7 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

This wonderfully variegated version of easy-growing Norway spruce is a showstopper in spring when the new growth emerges creamy white. It lights up the landscape for several weeks until the growth fades to dark green. The bigger it gets, the showier the display! Grow this beauty with some afternoon shade to keep the variegation from burning.

Weeping Norway spruce Picea abies ‘Pendula’

Light: Full Sun Height: to 15’ Width: to 15’ Zones: 3 - 7 Special Features: Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

An exceptional evergreen for putting on a show, weeping Norway spruce has a unique shape thanks to its pendulous branches. The dark green needles make it an effective backdrop in the landscape all year long.

Gowdy Oriental spruce Picea orientalis ‘Gowdy’

Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 12’ Width: to 6’ Zones: 4 - 7

We love Oriental spruces for their relatively soft needles, dense habit, and rich green color. This version is a top pick for folks with smaller yards that has a pyramidal, Christmas tree shape, but only grows 10-12 feet wide at maturity.

Gracilis Oriental spruce

Weeping blue spruce

Picea orientalis ‘Gracilis’

Picea pungens ‘The Blues’

Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 20’ Width: to 20’ Zones: 4 - 7

Light: Full Sun Height: to 10’ Width: to 8’ Zones: 3 - 7 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

An outstanding evergreen for adding privacy, especially in partly shaded situations, this Oriental spruce offers dark green needles, a dense habit, and slow growth rate. It’s a fantastic medium-size evergreen for the landscape.

Bosnian pine

Showing off the same silvery-blue color we’ve come to love from traditional Colorado blue spruce, ‘The Blues’ is an attractive weeping version that forms an exceptionally graceful mound in the landscape. Pair it with baptisia and golden false cypress for a knock-your-socks-off combo!

Dragon’s eye Korean pine

Pinus leucodermis aka Pinus heldreichii

Pinus koraiensis ‘Oculus Draconis’

Light: Full Sun Height: to 40’ Width: to 25’ Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Drought tolerant

Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 30’ Width: to 15’ Zones: 4 - 7 Special Features: Attractive foliage

Native to dry soils from Bosnia to Italy and Greece, this pine bears stiff, stately, dark green needles and has an attractive cone shape as it matures. It’s been called snakeskin pine because of its attractive bark; as it ages, the gray bark exfoliates like a sycamore, leaving white blotches.

Honeycomb mugo pine

Pinus mugo ‘Honeycomb’

Light: Full Sun Height: to 5’ Width: to 5’ Zones: 3 - 8 Special Features: Drought tolerant, Attractive foliage

Put on a show every winter with this extra-cute conifer! ‘Honeycomb’ is a dwarf, slow-growing selection that offers emerald-green foliage in the spring and summer. Then in late winter the show starts when the needles transform to a warm, golden color. Mix this in the perennial border to add winter interest!

Golden Candles white pine

Pinus strobus ‘Golden Candles’

Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 12’ Width: to 8’ Zones: 3 - 8 Special Features: Attractive foliage

This medium-size evergreen lights up the late-spring/ early-summer landscpae when its long, soft needles emerge a bright shade of gold before fading to green. Through the summer, its needles may continue to bear attractive golden tints. It’s definitely a winner!

Dragon’s eye Korean pine is really something special: It has long, soft needles a bit like our native white pine. But on this version, the needles are banded with gold. Collect the cones from Korean pine and you can also harvest your own edible pine nuts! This species tolerates clay better than many other pines, but won’t tolerate soil that stays wet for extended periods. It also appreciates a bit of afternoon shade.

Blue Shag white pine Pinus strobus ‘Blue Shag’

Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 5’ Width: to 5’ Zones: 3 - 8 Special Features: Attractive foliage

We love this outstanding dwarf globe form of native white pine. Blue Shag is a slow grower (it’ll take about 10 years to get 4x4 feet) that has soft, blue-green needles. Plant this guy along walkways, in front of your foundation, or tucked in the perennial border

Hillside Winter Gold white pine Pinus strobus ‘Hillside Winter Gold’

Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 50’ Width: to 30’ Zones: 3 - 8 Special Features: Attractive foliage

Add drama to your yard every winter with this fantastic selection. As you might guess from its name, the soft needles turn golden-yellow in winter, then green up again in spring as temperatures rise. It’s definitely a tree that gets noticed, especially on those gray winter days when the golden color seems to glow!

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

Dragon’s eye Japanese black pine

Pinus thunbergii ‘Oculus Draconis’

Light: Full Sun Height: to 50’ Width: to 20’ Zones: 5 - 8 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Here’s another topnotch evergreen that stands out from the crowd. Dragon’s eye Japanese black pine bears stiff, dark green needles banded in gold. It’s an easy-growing, eye-catching plant that’s perfect if you want an extraordinary plant for the garden. It’s a slow grower (it’ll only reach about 8 feet tall in 10 years) that requires well-drained soil.

Columnar hemlock

Emerald Fountain Tsuga canadensis Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 10’ Width: to 4’ Zones: 4 - 7 Special Features: Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

This is your answer if you’re looking for a tall, narrow evergreen for shaded situations! Emerald Fountain hemlock bears dark green needles banded with silver on the bottom and tiny tines that dance in the breeze. Plant it for privacy or as a wonderful backdrop in the shade garden. Plus, it’s not bothered by black walnuts!

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

Variegated Himalayan pine Pinus wallichiana ‘Zebrina’

Light: Full Sun Height: to 50’ Width: to 35’ Zones: 5 - 7 Special Features: Attractive foliage

You may not think of evergreens as being colorful, but the Loki’s Garden collection certainly is! One of our favorites is variegated Himalayan pine, a beauty with very long, soft needles banded in golden-yellow. It positively shines in winter’s gray days. It does best in moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Don’t let this beauty dry out.

Weeping hemlock Tsuga canadensis ‘Pendula’

Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 5’ Width: to 10’ Zones: 3 - 7 Special Features: Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Add drama to shady spots in your yard with this evergreen. Weeping hemlock creates a mound of gracefully drooping branches sporting small, dark green needles and tiny cones. let it develop a natural form or train it to grow horizontally along a fence or deck rail.

Vines Chocolate Vine

Akebia quinata ‘Shirobana’

Light: Sun to shade Climbs: to 30’ Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Deer- and Rabbit-resistant, Fragrant

Dutchman’s pipe Aristolochia durior

Light: Sun to shade Climbs: to 30’ Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Attracts butterflies

It tolerates shade, it has pretty hand-shaped foliage, it has fragrant flowers: chocolate vine has a lot going for it! Plant this vigorous vine someplace you’ll be able to get up close and enjoy the springtime chocolate-scented white flowers.

A wonderfully versatile vine that grows well in sun or shade, Dutchman’s pipe features large, heart-shaped leaves that can reach more than a foot long. In early summer, it bears green, pipe-shaped flowers that are cool to look at (though often hidden by the foliage). It grows best in moist, welldrained soil - avoid planting Dutchman’s pipe in hot, dry spots.

Gravetye Beauty clematis

Texas clematis

Clematis ‘Gravetye Beauty’

Light: Full Sun Climbs: to 15’ Zones: 5 - 9 Special Features: Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

A winner for the late-summer garden, Gravetye Beauty clematis bursts into bloom in July showing off tulip-shape scarlet-red flowers. Its parent is native to areas of Texas, so it can take hot, dry spots better than most other clematis. If you wish to prune it, cut it back in late winter or early spring. Put on an outstanding summer show by growing Gravetye Beauty clematis in a large hydranges such as Limelight!

Clematis texensis

Light: Full Sun Climbs: to 10’ Zones: 5 - 9 Special Features: Deer- and Rabbit-resistant, Attracts hummingbirds

Native to areas of Texas (but hardy here!), this clematis is one of the easiest to grow. It’s a quick grower that has soft blue-green foliage and interesting red tulip-shape flowers in summer. Plus, hummingirds love it! If you wish to prune it, the best time to do so is late winter or early spring.

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

Walenburg clematis

Clematis viticella ‘Walenburg’

Light: Full or Afternoon Sun Climbs: to 10’ Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

We’re sure you’ll be charmed by this clematis’ rich pink flowers that gracefully fade to white at the center. The bicolor effect of the flowers really stands out. It blooms on new wood, so the flowers appear in summer and the best time to prune it is late winter or early spring.

Sweet autumn clematis

Clematis terniflora

Light: Sun or shade Climbs: to 30’ Zones: 5 - 9 Special Features: Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Wow! That’s the most common reaction to seeing this vine in full bloom in August and September, when it truly covers itself in tiny white crossshape flowers that bear a strong, sweet fragrance. On warm, still summer evenings, one mature vine can perfume an entire backyard! Though it thrives in full sun, it also tolerates shade-and isn’t bothered by black walnuts! One note, though: It is notorious for dropping seedlings and can be invasive in the garden.

Kintzley ’s Ghost honeysuckle

Lonicera reticulata ‘Kintzley’s Ghost’

Light: Full or Afternoon Sun Climbs: to 12’ Zones: 4 - 8

This is one of the most unusual hardy vines we’ve seen-and it has an Iowa tie! Found in the 1880s by an Iowa State University horticulturist, this honeysuckle produces clusters of little yellow flowers surrounded by silver-dollar size, silvery-blue bracts. The bracts emerge in June and stay attractive through September.

Aunt Dee wisteria

Wisteria ‘Aunt Dee’

Tips: Growing Vines We have a soft spot for climbers in the garden. They’re wonderfully versatile, helping to hide chainlink fences, soften privacy fences, and give walls extra dimension. Different vines have their own needs when it comes to climbing—and matching the way your vine wants to climb to the type of support you have will give you the most success. Twining vines, such as wisteria and morning glory, grow by wrapping their stems around a support. They’re excellent for scaling poles, chain-link or wire, and support beams. Note: These vines twine in either a clockwise or counterclockwise manner; it depends on the plant. Be sure to match the direction it wants to climb, otherwise it may unravel itself from its support! Grasping vines, such as clematis and passionflower, use their leaves or special tendrils to grab onto a support. They’re top picks for scaling chain-link, mesh, and latticework. Rooting vines, such as ivy and climbing hydrangea, secure themselves by sending roots right into their support structure. These vines are the best choices for covering privacy fences and flat walls. Note: Because they send roots directly into a structure, they can damage brick masonry.

Light: Full Sun Climbs: to 25’ Zones: 4 - 8

Finally-a winter-hardy wisteria! Aunt Dee is a selection of North American native vine. It’s a fast-grower that produes clusters of fragrant purple blooms in June, and often again in July and August! To get the most blooms from it, be sure it’s located in full sun and well-drained soil. Don’t fertilize it; if Aunt Dee is pampered too much, it’ll put more energy into making leaves than flowers.

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

And always remember to pay attention to your vine’s mature size: If you grow a large species on a small pergola or trellis, the vine could eventually collapse the structure.

Ye ll o w & G o ld Pe r e n n ials for Su n Moonshine yarrow

Achillea ‘Moonshine’

Light: Full Sun Height: to 2’ Width: to 1’ Zones: 3 - 8 Special Features: Deer- and Rabbit-resistant, Attracts butterflies, Good cut flower, Tolerates drought

An ideal plant for low-maintenance gardens, yarrow offers silvery-gray ferny-ooking foliage and flat-top clusters of golden-yarrow flowers on and off from early summer until autumn. It blooms most if faded flowers are removed. It grows best in full sun and well-drained soil. The flowers dry well, too!

Baptisia ‘Lemon Meringue’ Light: Full Sun Height: to 3’ Width: to 3’ Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Draught tolerant, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant, Attracts butterflies

New for 2012! We love pretty much everything about baptisia, a vative, heat- and drought-tolerany perennial that deer and rabbits avoid. Once it’s established, it falls into the category of plants that are practically “plan it and forget it.” A brand new variety for 2012, Lemon Meringue offers a more compact than other baptisias and delightful spikes of golden-yellow flowers over blue-green foliage.

Groundcover yarrow Achillea tomentosa ‘Goldie’

Light: Full Sun Height: to 4’ Width: to 18’ Zones: 3 - 7 Special Features: Groundcover, Drought tolerant, Attracts butterflies, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Looking for a groundcover for sunny, dry spots? Try this yarrow. it shows off fuzzy, silvery leaves that are topped by clusters of golden-yellow flowers in early summer. Like other yarrows, it’s unappealing to most pests. It does best in well-drained soil; too much moisture will cause it to rot.

Baptisia sphaerocarpa ‘Screaming Yellow’ Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 4’ Width: to 2’ Zones: 5 - 8 Special Features: Deer- and Rabbit-resistant, Drought tolerant, Native

You’ll love how the bright yellow blooms of Screaming Yellow light up the landscape in late spring and early summer and how easy the plant is to care for! Like other baptisia varieties, it’s ignored by pests and lowmaintenance once established. Grow this beauty with Misaka peony and purple Siberian iris for a truly stunning spring show.

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

Baptisia ‘Solar Flare’ Light: Full Sun Height: to 4’ Width: to 5’ Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Deer- and Rabbit-resistant, Drought tolerant, Native

A tremendous newer variety bred at the Chicago Botanic Garden, Solar Flare baptisia is a bushy plant with attractive blue-green foliage that looks great until freezing weather arrives in fall. Then in early summer, it’s topped by spikes of yellow flowers that take on purple-orange hues as they mature, giving them a two-tone look. Besides being beautiful, it’s practically maintenance-free to boot!

Gold-leaf strawberr y

Fragaria ‘Golden Alexandria’

Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 15’” Width: to 4” Zones: 5 - 9 Special Features: Attractive foliage

Here’s a strawberry that looks as good as it tastes. Gold-leaf strawberry shows off bright lime green foliage that contrast nicely with the white flowers that give way to delicious red fruits. It does best in moist, welldrained soil that’s rich in organic matter.

Erin Lea daylily

Hemerocallis ‘Erin Lea’

Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 2’ Width: to 2’ Zones: 3 - 9 Special Features: Drought tolerant, Rabbit-resistant, Fragrant

This daylily stands out from the crowd! If offers 5-6-inch-wide deep golden-yellow flowers that have heavily ruffled edges and a light fragrance. The plant is very easy to grow, requiring no special care. It tolerates a wide variety of soil types, too, including heavy clay. And, it often reblooms in late summer.

Inwood daylily

Hemerocallis ‘Inwood’

Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 2’ Width: to 2’ Zones: 3 - 9 Special Features: Drought tolerant, Rabbit-resistant, Fragrant

A stunner in the daylily world, Inwood offers creamy-yellow ruffled flowers ringed in purple-and having a matching purple center. The flowers can each reach 6.5 inches across, are fragrant, and rebloom in late summer. Plus, it’s as easy to care for as any other daylily.

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

Coreopsis ‘Cosmic Eye’ Light: Full Sun Height: to 15” Width: to 15” Zones: 5 - 9 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Make your summer garden shine with Cosmic Eye coreopsis. This stunning new selection bears bright yellow flowers with a large burgundy ring around the golden center. It has a long bloom season, too: starting in early summer and continuing through autumn. Give it good drainage; this variety doesn’t like to live in wet clay.

Blanketflower

Gaillardia aristata ‘Amber Wheels’ Light: Full Sun Height: to 2’ Width: to 2’ Zones: 3 - 9 Special Features: Good cut flower, Attracts butterflies, Drought tolerant, Native

Amber Wheels is a delightful newer variety of a great native plant. It has an astoundingly long bloom season-from June to September in situations where it’s happy (full sun and well-drained soil). It’s very drought-tolerant, making a great choice for hot, dry spots in the landscape.

Huckleberr y Candy daylily Hemerocallis ‘Huckleberry Candy’

Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 2’ Width: to 2’ Zones: 3 - 9 Special Features: Drought tolerant, Rabbit-resistant, Fragrant

There are a lot of reasons to love Huckleberry Candy daylily: It’s fragrant; it reblooms in late summer; it has big 5-inchwide flowers, and it’s a cinch to grow. It flowers a lot, too: There are often 15-20 buds on a single stalk. The blooms are a soft creamy color and have a purple ring in the middle.

Lady Betty Fritz daylily Hemerocallis ‘Lady Betty Fritz’

Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 20” Width: to 28” Zones: 3 - 9 Special Features: Drought tolerant, Rabbit-resistant, Fragrant

There are so many daylilies on the market that it takes something special to catch our attention. Lady Betty Fritz sure did! This beauty bears heavily ruffled golden-yellow flowers that are edged in red-and have a red center. It reblooms in late summer, is fragrant, and has 6-inch-wide blooms.

Majestic Move daylily

Hemerocallis ‘Majestic Move’

Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 28” Width: to 24” Zones: 3 - 9 Special Features: Draught tolerant, Rabbit-resistant

Large, 6-inch-wide flowers ensure big color from this glowing-yellow, ruffled daylily. This rebloomer puts on its show twice: in midsummer, than again in late summer. Majestic Move is definitely a step above other daylilies on the market.

Yellow pineleaf beardtongue Penstemon pinifolius ‘Magdalena Sunshine’

Using Yellow in the Garden • Yellow and gold are powerful colors in the landscape—these bold, bright shades catch the eye and add lots of excitement to the landscape. Yellow flowers and golden foliage are perfect for drawing the eye to back corners of the landscape, beckoning you back to explore more.

Light: Full Sun Height: to 10” Width: to 15” Zones: 5 - 9 Special Features: Drought tolerant, Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds

Penstemons are heat- and drought-tolerant perennials largely native to areas of North America. This fine selection boasts lemon-yellow flowers from late spring to early summer and needle-like foliage reminiscent of rosemary. It’s wonderfully easy to grow if you have a hot, dry spot or gravel garden. We don’t recommend it for clay soils, however.

Black-eyed Susan

Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Early Bird Gold’ Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 2’ Width: to 2’ Zones: 3 - 9 Special Features: Drought tolerant, Attracts butterflies, Deer-resistant, Good cut flower

Black-eyed Susan is a hero of the late-summer garden. We’re taken with this fine selection, though, because it begins blooming much earlier; it’s possible to see it begin flowering in June! Like other black-eyed Susan varieties, it is easycare. While you don’t have to deadhead it, cutting off faded flowers encourages more blooms.

Brown-eyed Susan

Rudbeckia triloba

Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 3’ Width: to 2’ Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Drought tolerant, Attracts butterflies, Deer-resistant, Good cut flower

Native to areas of the Midwest, brown-eyed Susan offers smaller flowers than its more common cousin (black-eyed Susan), bur more of them. Blooming from July to October, the sprays of golden-yellow flowers have rich chocolate-purple centers. It’s perfect for mixing with mums and asters, and looks amazing with purple beautyberry!

• Because they’re light in color, they typically have good visibility in the evening so they’re effective at highlighting pathways. • Yellow and blue (or purple) is a no-fail combination you can always count on to create a bold, beautiful impact. Try Dart’s Gold ninebark with Black Lace elderberry, for example! • If you want something more subtle and calming, dot green foliage with spots of sunny yellow flowers. Or combine yellow with soft shades of orange, such as apricot or terra cotta. Arizona Apricot blanketflower, for instance, blends beautifully with Moonshine yarrow (and both happen to be easy-to-grow varieties that attract butterflies).

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

Oran ge Pe r e n n ials for S u n Butterfly weed

Asclepias tuberosa

Light: Full Sun Height: to 3’ Width: to 30” Zones: 3 - 9 Special Features: Drought tolerant, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant, Attracts butterflies

Butterfly weed is a really special plant: It’s super easy to grow, shows off bold orange flowers over several weeks in midsummer, and attracts scores of butterflies. Plus, it holds up well to drought conditions, deer and rabbits usually leave it alone, and it’s hardy all the way up to Northern Minnesota.

Double orange coneflower

Echinacea ‘Marmalade’

Light: Full Sun Height: to 30” Width: to 30” Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Attracts butterflies, Good cut flower, Drought resistant, Fragrant

This new coneflower shows off stunning double flowers in warm shades of orange (factors such as temperature influence bloom color; it can range from soft golden orange to bright melon orange). It’s a long-lasting cut flower and is also fragrant! This coneflower does best in full sun with welldrained soil.

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

Double orange coneflower Double Scoop Orangeberry Echinacea

Light: Full Sun Height: to 30” Width: to 22” Zones: 5 - 9 Special Features: Attracts butterflies, Good cut flower, Drought resistant

New for 2012! This brand new coneflower shows off amazing double orange flowers with pink highlights. Unlike some double coneflowers (especially older varieties), this one is very vigorous, producing lots and lots of blooms all summer long if deadheaded. It does best in full sun with well-drained soil.

Orange coneflower Echinacea ‘Summer Sun’

Light: Full Sun Height: to 40” Width: to 15” Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Attracts butterflies, Good cut flower, Drought resistant

Plant ‘Summer Sun’ and your garden will be filled with color from mid- to late summer. The flowers on this unique selection open up golden orange and shift through a range of shades until becoming red-orange as they mature. Like other coneflowers, it’s a good cut flower and low-maintenance garden plant.

Arizona Apricot blanketflower

Helen’s flower

Gaillardia ‘Arizona Apricot’

Mardi Gras Helenium ‘Helbro’

Light: Full Sun Height: to 1’ Width: to 1’ Zones: 3 - 10 Special Features: Attracts butterflies, Drought resistant, Deer-resistant

Light: Full Sun Height: to 3’ Width: to 1’ Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Attracts butterflies, Deer-resistant

One of the longest-blooming perennials around, Arizona Apricot blanketflower shows off big orange daisy-shaped flowers with goldenyellow petal tips. It forms a low mound in the landscape and is perfect for adding color to the front of the border from early summer to early autumn. Give this perennial good drainage; it doesn’t like clay.

Helen’s flower is a top pick for adding late-summer color to the landscape. Starting in August, it starts offering orange flowers delightfully streaked with yellow and red. The show continues until early October if faded flowers are removed. Helen’s flower does best in moist soil; it’s perfect for a rain garden or planting at the end of a downspout.

Red hot poker

Kniphofia uvaria ‘Flamenco’

Light: Full Sun Height: to 3’ Width: to 3’ Zones: 5 - 9 Special Features: Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds, Deer-resistant

This award-winning perennial is sure to win your heart! In summer, it produces bold spikes of gold and orange flowers over strappy foliage. It’s a surefire bet for adding vertical interest to the garden. Red hot poker is also a top pick for attracting hummingbirds. Grow this plant in welldrained soil; it doesn’t like wet clay.

Cinquefoil

Potentilla tonguei

Light: Full Sun Height: to 6” Width: to 12” Zones: 5 - 8 Special Features: Groundcover

A charming, under-used groundcover, cinquefoil has delightful handshaped foliage topped by cherry orangey-peach flowers in early and midsummer. It adapts to a variety of soil, including clay, making a useful carpet of color in the sunny garden.

Brown-eyed Susan

Rudbeckia triloba ‘Prairie Glow’

Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 4’ Width: to 2’ Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Drought tolerant, Attracts butterflies, Deer-resistant, Good cut flower

A charming hybrid of traditional brown-eyed Susan, this variety has sprays of rusty-orange flowers with bright yellow tips on the petals. It’s long blooming, attractive to butterflies, and exceptionally easy to grow in sunny, well-drained soil. Plus, it self-seeds, so plant a few this year and you should have plenty to share for years to come.

Plants that Don’t Mind Wet Soil Planting some of your favorite varieties in wet soil can be one of the fastest ways to do them in. If you have water that collects for long periods in your yard, try these winners.

• Annabelle hydrangea • Buttonbush • Dawn redwood • Feather reedgrass • Inkberry • Ironwood • Pawpaw • Perennial hibiscus • Red maple • Redtwig dogwood • River birch • Siberian iris • Switchgrass • Turtlehead • Winterberry

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

White Pe r e n n ials for Su n Double white yarrow

Achillea ptarmica ‘Noblessa’

Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 14” Width: to 12” Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Drought tolerant, Attracts butterflies, Deer-resistant, Good cut flower

Here’s a yarrow unlike any you may have seen before: ‘Noblessa’ creates a compact mound of dark green flowers topped with sprays of double white flowers. The effect is a bit like baby’s breath in the garden. Like other yarrows, it’s very easy to grow and thrives in a hot, dry spot.

Coneflower

Echinacea ‘Green Jewel’ Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 24” Width: to 18” Zones: 3 - 8 Special Features: Attracts butterflies, Good cut flower, Drought-resistant

One of the more unique coneflowers around, Green Jewel bears traditional daisy-shape flowers but instead of being pink (or yellow or orange or red like some of the newer varieties), the petals are a soft lime green. It’s just as easy to grow as the traditional coneflower; just in a new color.

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

Heath aster

Aster ericoides ‘First Snow’ Light: Full Sun Height: to 2’ Width: to 4’ Zones: 3 - 9 Special Features: Drought tolerant, Native

Heath aster is one that might surprise you. In spring and summer, it looks a bit like an evergreen with small, needle-like foliage. Then in fall, its arching stems burst into bloom, producing a ton of tiny white flowers. It’s a Midwestern native plant that holds up well to hot, dry spots.

Flowering spurge Euphorbia corollata

Light: Full Sun Height: to 3’ Width: to 1’ Zones: 5 - 8 Special Features: Drought tolerant, Native, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Here’s a fun one! Flowering spurge is an easy-to-grow poinsettia relative that shows off sprays of white flowers in early to midsummer. The effect is a bit like baby’s breath, but on a much more refined plant.

Reblooming iris

Daisy

Leucanthemum ‘Crazy Daisy’

Iris ‘Immortality’

Light: Full Sun Height: to 30” Width: to 18” Zones: 3 - 9 Special Features: Drought tolerant, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant, Fragrant, Good cut flower

Light: Full Sun Height: to 30” Width: to 24” Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Drought tolerant, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant, Attracts butterflies, Good cut flower

Gardeners love iris because they’re easy to care for and offer exquisite fragrant flowers. ‘Immortality’ is a special variety because it blooms in spring along with the other iris, but in most years sends out more flowers in late summer or early autumn. It’s twice as nice!

Like a lot of Loki’s Garden plants, you’ll find this daisy goes beyond the ordinary. Its white flowers have a sunny-yellow center, but the petals are frilled and fringed, giving it a decidedly wild look. If you remove the faded flowers, it can bloom all summer long!

Daisy

Plants that Grow Around Black Walnuts Black walnuts secrete a natural substance into the soil that can inhibit the growth of other plants around the trees; they don’t like competition! If you or your neighbors have a black walnut, try these plants:

• Chives • Clematis ‘Gravetye Beauty’ • Daffodils • Eastern wahoo • Phlox

• Redbuds • Rose of Sharon • Sumac ‘Tiger Eyes’ • Switchgrasses • Viburnums

Phlox

Phlox paniculata ‘David’ Light: Full/AFternoon Sun Height: to 12” Width: to 15” Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Attracts butterflies, Good cut flower, Fragrant

‘David’ is an award-winning variety of phlox that boasts big clusters of pure white flowers from midsummer to early autumn. The blooms are wonderfully fragrant and the perfect addition to the summer border. Some phlox varieties are susceptible to powdery mildew, a disease that makes the leaves drop off by summer, but this selection is quite resistant. Plant it next to pathways where you can enjoy the fragrance up close—and see how the flowers shimmer at dusk.

Leucanthemum ‘Thomas Killen’

Light: Full Sun Height: to 30” Width: to 24” Zones: 5 - 9 Special Features: Drought tolerant, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant, Attracts butterflies, Good cut flower

Another extra-special daisy, ‘Thomas Killen’ has single flowers with a crested crown of small, fluffy white petals around the yellow center. Though the blooms more beautiful than the average daisy, this variety is just as easy to care for. Remove the faded flowers and it will bloom all summer long, attracting butterflies as it goes.

Perennial African daisy Osteospermum ‘Avalanche’

Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 12” Width: to 15” Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Attracts butterflies, Good cut flower, Drought tolerant

Most African daisies are brightly colored annuals sold in early spring. This is a wonder new-for-2012 perennial version that ears shimmering white flowers starting in early spring and continuing through the summer. It tolerates drought, making it a good choice for rock gardens.

Variegated catchfly Silene uniflora ‘Duett’s Variegated’

Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 4” Width: to 12” Zones: 3 - 7 Special Features: Groundcover, Drought tolerant

Use variegated catchfly to give your borders a carpet of color! This perennial bears gray-green leaves edged in creamy white. It’s topped with daisy-like white flowers on and off throughout the summer. It’s a slow grower and appreciates well-drained soil; avoid planting it in clay or in spots where the soil stays soggy.

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

Pi nk & Red Per en n ials for S u n Yarrow

Achillea millefolium ‘Saucy Seduction’ Light: Full Sun Height: to 2’ Width: to 2’ Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Deer- and Rabbit-resistant, Attracts butterflies, Good cut flower, Drought tolerant

A long summer bloomer, you’ll love how ‘Saucy Seduction’ yarrow adds a bold pop of color to your yard! This easyto-grow perennial begins blooming in June and continues through August if you cut the faded blooms off. The flowers are a bright rose-pink color that look beautiful with white flowers or deep, rich purples. They’re very attractive to butterflies and make excellent fresh or dried cut flowers.

Coreopsis

Coreopsis ‘Cosmic Evolution’ Light: Full Sun Height: to 24” Width: to 18” Zones: 5 - 9 Special Features: Drought tolerant, Attracts butterflies

New for 2012! We were amazed at this lovely coreopsis when we first saw it. It bears big creamy-white flowers that look like cosmos. The blooms start in early summer and continue through early autumn. As temperatures cool, the blooms bear bright pink tones, creating an extra season of interest.

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

Pink pussytoes Antennaria dioica ‘Rubra’

Light: Full Sun Height: to 6” Width: to 12” Zones: 4 - 7 Special Features: Drought tolerant, Groundcover

An ideal plant pick for those hot, dry spots in the landscape, pink pussytoes is easy to grow, creating a mass of silvery-green foliage over the ground. In late spring, it erupts into bloom with stems of fuzzy-looking pink flowers. Be sure to give it good drainage; pink pussytoes doesn’t care for wet clay.

Dianthus

Dianthus ‘First Love’ Light: Full Sun Height: to 18” Width: to 18” Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Fragrant, Attracts Butterflies

Easy to grow and wonderfully beautiful, ‘First Love’ dianthus is a sight to behold in late spring when it begins its blooms season. Stems pop up over the low foliage bearing fragrant white flowers that mature to pink and lavender rose, giving the plant a decidedly two-tone effect with several colors of blooms appearing at once. If you remove the faded flowers, it remains in bloom until late summer.

Dianthus

Dianthus ‘Pomegranate Kiss’ Light: Full Sun Height: to 6” Width: to 8”’ Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Fragrant, Attracts butterflies, Groundcover

We fell in love with ‘Pomegranate Kiss’ dianthus the first time we saw it! Bred by Iowa native Kevin Hurd, it shows off deep, velvety-red blooms streaked with rose pink. It’s wonderfully fragrant when it blooms in early summer and again in early autumn. But even when not graced with flowers, we bet you’ll love the fine-textured silvery-green foliage.

Sweet William

Dianthus barbatus ‘Heart Attack’ Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 12” Width: to 9” Zones: 3 - 8 Special Features: Fragrant, Good cut flower

We bet you’ll love the deep, dark burgundy-red flowers on this exceptional sweet William as much as we do! This easygrowing variety starts blooming in late spring and continues through early summer. It’s a perfect partner for silvery foliage or white flowers! Note: By nature, this plant can be short-lived. Cutting off dead flowers extends its life; if you don’t deadhead, it will self-seed a bit in the garden.

Dianthus

Dianthus ‘Very Cherry’

Light: Full Sun Height: to 8” Width: to 18” Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Fragrant, Groundcover

An exciting new variety for 2011, we loved it so much we’re bringing it back. This brilliant dianthus bears tons of deep red flowers with lighter red streaks in early summer. Like most dianthus varieties, this one is delightfully fragrant. It also offers lovely silver-blue foliage.

Double pink coneflower Double Scoop Raspberry Echinacea

Light: Full Sun Height: to 30” Width: to 22” Zones: 5 - 9 Special Features: Attracts butterflies, Good cut flower, Drought resistant

New and cool for 2012! This brand new coneflower shows off amazing double raspberry-red flowers on strong stems. Unlike some double coneflowers (especially older varieties), this one is very vigorous, producing lots and lots of blooms all summer long if deadheaded. It does best in full sun with well-drained soil.

Double pink coneflower

Pink coneflower

Light: Full Sun Height: to 32” Width: to 24” Zones: 5 - 9 Special Features: Attracts butterflies, Good cut flower, Drought resistant, Fragrant

Light: Full Sun Height: to 36” Width: to 24” Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Attracts butterflies, Good cut flower, Drought resistant, Fragrant

Echinacea ‘Raspberry Truffle’

There are all sorts of colorful coneflowers available today. If the pink varieties feel too traditional and the orange types too wild, then check out Raspberry Truffle. Bearing deep salmonpink flowers with a chocolate-brown center, they’re held up on strong stems perfect for using as cut flowers.

Blanketflower

Gaillardia ‘Arizona Red’

Light: Full Sun Height: to 1’ Width: to 1’ Zones: 3 - 10 Special Features: Attracts butterflies, Drought resistant, Deer-resistant

One of the longest-blooming perennials around, Arizona Red blanketflower is sure to knock your socks off. It bears cheery crimson-red flowers starting in early summer and continuing all the way through early autumn. Butterflies love it, too! Arizona Red forms a low mound in the landscape and is perfect for adding color to the front of the border from early summer to early autumn. Give this perennial good drainage; it doesn’t like clay.

Solar Flare Echinacea

When we first read about this new-for-2012 coneflower, we thought it sounded interesting, but it wasn’t until saw it that we were truly excited about Solar Flare. It has a lot going for it: Big, fragrant blooms in a really interesting shade of magenta red, accented by dark purple-black stems. Like other coneflowers, it has a long bloom season and just about takes care of itself once planted.

Perennial geranium

Geranium x cantabrigiense ‘ Crystal Rose’ Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 1’ Width: to 18” Zones: 5 - 9 Special Features: Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

When we saw it at a horticultural trade show a few years ago, this plant stopped us in our tracks. Its flower power is amazing! The dark green foliage is practically smothered with hot pink flowers throughout the summer. Crystal Rose geranium is a top-notch variety for the front of a border or rock garden.

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

Bloody geranium

Geranium sanguineum var. striatum Light: Full/AFternoon Sun Height: to 9” Width: to 18” Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

This is one exceptional geranium! In early summer, it shows off gorgeous shimmery, shell-pink blooms that dance over the low mound of dark green, finely divided foliage. It continues to throw out a few sporadic flowers throughout the summer. Then in autumn those green leaves put on stunning red fall color. It grows best in full sun and moist, well-drained soil that’s rich in compost.

Pink daylily

Hemerocallis ‘Pewter Pink’ Light: Full/AFternoon Sun Height: to 2’ Width: to 2’ Zones: 3 - 8 Special Features:s: Deer- and Rabbit-resistant, Drought tolerant, Fragrant

Plant snobs may look down on daylilies, but even the most cynical gardener has to appreciate just how easy to grow these plants are. And even the cynics should enjoy this beauty, with big 7-inch-wide, fragrant, creamy-pink blooms that appear in midsummer and rebloom later in the season. Why wouldn’t you want this in your garden?!

Red daylily

Hemerocallis ‘Raspberry Suede’ Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 28” Width: to 24” Zones: 3 - 9 Special Features: Drought tolerant, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Yummy! The 5-inch-wide, deep red-purple flowers on this daylily look good enough to eat (and they are!). A midsummer bloomer that can form as many as 20 flowers per stem, it offers beautiful ruffled blooms and a no-fuss demeanor in the garden.

Perennial hibiscus

Hibiscus ‘Berrylicious’

Light: Full Sun Height: to 5’ Width: to 5’ Zones: 4 - 9

A hero of the late-summer garden, few perennials put on the kind of show perennial hibiscus does. Bearing big, tropical-looking 9-inch-wide flowers in a stunning shade of lavender-mauve, it starts blooming in July and continues all the way until early autumn. Note: Perennial hibiscus typically emerges from the soil late in the season; sometimes into June. Plant it with spring bulbs or early perennials so you don’t have a bare hole in the garden until it gets growing.

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

Mix & Match When you’re designing a garden, it’s easy to get caught up with just using perennials. But look to annuals, bulbs, and shrubs to create extra dimension, color, and texture. Perennials are easy to start with because they come back every year, getting bigger and better with time. But enjoy a colorful earlier in the spring than most perennials start by incorporating spring-blooming bulbs, such as snowdrop, crocus, and glory-of-the-snow. Likewise, bulbs make for fantastic partners for perennials that take a while to grow. Planting daffodils with hostas, for example, gives you extra color in spring and fills visual space in the garden. As the hostas reach full size in early summer, the daffodils go dormant. Incorporating small shrubs, such as Bombshell hydrangea, Red Sprite winterberry, or Candy snowberry extends the interest into winter as these shrubs lend structure to the garden once the snow flies and the perennials have died back. Additionally, varieties such as the winterberry and snowberry offer colorful fruits in autumn and winter, creating color when everything else in the landscape is gray or white. Annuals have a place in the perennial garden, too, especially the first couple of years while your perennials are maturing. Because many annuals bloom nonstop all summer long, they’re perfect for bridging the gaps between perennials going in and out of flower. Planting just a few pockets of annuals among perennials and shrubs can make a big difference.

Perennial hibiscus

Hibiscus ‘Cranberry Crush’

Light: Full Sun Height: to 4’ Width: to 5’ Zones: 4 - 9

One of our favorite perennial hibiscus varieties, Cranberry Crush shows off rich, dark red flowers and a more compact habit than some of the older varieties on the market. It bursts into bloom in midsummer and continues showing off those 8-inch-wide nonstop until early autumn. This variety, like all perennial hibiscus, doesn’t mind wet soil. It’s a surefire selection for rain gardens or planting at the end of a gutter.

Perennial hibiscus

Hibiscus ‘Plum Crazy’

Light: Full Sun Height: to 4’ Width: to 4’ Zones: 4 - 9

A breakthrough in the perennial hibiscus world, Plum Crazy has distinctive 8-inch-wide lavender-purple blooms and rich purple-infused foliage. It’s also more compact than a lot of the older varieties, so it’s easy to tuck in the back of the border.

Perennial hibiscus

Hibiscus ‘Tie Dye’

Light: Full Sun Height: to 15’ Width: to 4’ Zones: 3 - 7 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Reblooming iris

Iris ‘Mother Earth’

Light: Full Sun Height: to 3’ Width: to 2’ Zones: 3 - 10 Special Features: Fragrant, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Use iris to decorate your late-summer garden, as well as in spring! Reblooming varieties, such as Mother Earth do just that. This stunning selection shows off uniquely bicolored blooms; the top petals are a soft pink and the bottom petals are lovely lavender-purple. Encourage the best rebloom by keeping the plant watered during hot, summer dry stretches and ensuring the soil is rich in organic matter.

Perennial hibiscus Hibiscus ‘Peppermint Schnapps’

Light: Full Sun Height: to 6’ Width: to 6’ Zones: 5 - 9

Here’s a perennial hibiscus that stands out from the crowd! Peppermint Schnapps bears big, 10-inch-wide flowers in a lovely shade of soft pink. They’re stunningly spattered with streaks of deeper pink, adding dimension to the blooms. It begins blooming in midsummer and continues through late summer.

Perennial hibiscus Hibiscus ‘Summer Storm’

Light: Full Sun Height: to 5’ Width: to 6’ Zones: 4 - 9

New for 2012! Though the big, 10-inch-wide blooms are beautiful on this selection, it’s the dark purple foliage that really caught our attention here. Offering a dramatic focal point in the summer garden, the light pink flowers on summer storm appear for weeks from midsummer to autumn. You won’t want to miss out on this amazing variety!

Reblooming iris Iris ‘‘Jennifer Rebecca’

Light: Full Sun Height: to 3’ Width: to 2’ Zones: 3 - 10 Special Features: Fragrant, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Hardy as can be, Jennifer Rebecca is a reblooming iris that shows off stuffing rose-pink flowers in late spring and again in late summer and autumn! The gray-green sword-shaped foliage is attractive, too, and can be used as a fun contrast against mounded perennials. Encourage the best rebloom by keeping the plant watered during hot, summer dry stretches and ensuring the soil is rich in organic matter.

Knautia macedonica ‘Thunder and Lightning’ Light: Full Sun Height: to 18” Width: to 2’ Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Attracts butterflies

We saw this plant at a trade show, and immediately knew had to have it. It’s a glorious selection of knautia, a long-blooming, drought-tolerant perennial that produces button-like flowers on long stems over months in summer and early fall. But even better, the fine-textured leaves are each boldly edged in white, creating a stunning contrast to the burgundy-red flowers.

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

Cardinal flower

Lobelia ‘Fried Green Tomatoes’

Bee balm

Monarda ‘Fire Marshall’

Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 3’ Width: to 3’ Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Attracts hummingbirds, Attractive foliage

Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 3’ Width: to 3’ Zones: 5 - 8 Special Features: Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Here’s a fantastic upgrade to an old-fashioned favorite! Fried Green Tomatoes is a step up from your average cardinal flower because it bears brilliant burgundy-purple foliage on many stalks of bold red flowers, is long-lived, and tolerates average soil (most cardinal flowers need moist soil to thrive). And it gets an A+ for its ability to attract hummingbirds!

New for 2012! Developed at the Chicago Botanic Garden, Fire Marshall is a stunning new bee balm that offers extra-large red flowers and fantastic resistance against powdery mildew, a common disease that knocks most of the leaves off older bee balm by late summer. You’ll love it, and the hummingbirds will, too!

Chameleon peony

Paeonia ‘Chameleon’

Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 15” Width: to 15” Zones: 5 - 8 Special Features: Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

This peony may be for you if you’re looking for something a little outside the ordinary. Chameleon is a hybrid between two wild types, so it has an unusual look. The single blooms appear in pink over finely cut gray-green foliage and the plant has a decidedly compact habit.

Early Scout peony

Paenoia ‘Early Scout’

Light: Full Sun Height: to 34” Width: to 36” Zones: 3 - 8 Special Features: Fragrant, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Showing off exceptional rich red flowers with bright golden-yellow centers, this early-blooming peony is attractive even after it finishes in spring because it has finely divided, almost ferny foliage. It’s a proven garden performer, that once established, requires virtually no care to keep it happy.

Red penstemon

Penstemon cardinalis

Light: Full Sun Height: to 30” Width: to 18” Zones: 5 - 9 Special Features: Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds, Drought tolerant Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Bring on the butterflies and hummingbirds by planting this great perennial. It bears gray-green foliage and summertime spikes of bright red flowers. Being native to areas of the Southwest, it thrives in hot, sunny spots.

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

Clown peony Paeonia ‘Clown’

Light: Full Sun Height: to 34” Width: to 36” Zones: 3 - 8 Special Features: Fragrant, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Wow! One look at this peony and you’re sure to fall in love with it. Clown shows off big single rose-pink flowers with a sunny yellow center and an unusual creamy-pink edging around each petal. Though it looks special, it’s just as easy as any other peony to grow. Just be sure it gets full sun and well-drained soil and you’ll get blooms for life.

Burgundy Bunny fountaingrass Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Burgundy Bunny’

Light: Full Sun Height: to 18” Width: to 18” Zones: 5 - 9 Special Features: Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

This grass should make lots of gardeners happy! While the traditional purple fountaingrass isn’t hardy in our area, this variety is! It forms a polite mound of red-tinged foliage in spring and summer. Then it’s topped by tan, caterpillar-like seed heads in fall when the foliage turns a rich shade of burgundy. Its small size makes this grass a perfect pick for containers.

Red penstemon Penstemon rostiflorus

Light: Full Sun Height: to 36” Width: to 18” Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Drought tolerant, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant, Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds

In midsummer, this red penstemon bursts into bloom, when spikes rise above the foliage and reveal bold scarlet-orange blooms that hummingbirds can’t resist. The show continues through late summer. Like other penstemon varieties, this plant does best in well-drained soil --- so avoid heavy clay.

Phlomis tuberosa ‘Bronze Flamingo’ Light: Full Sun Height: to 4’ Width: to 4’ Zones: 5/6 - 9 Special Features: Drought tolerant, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

This unusual perennial boasts lovely spikes of pink flowers in late spring and early summer. It’s quite a showstopper when planted with peonies and iris. It has grown for years in the Better Homes and Gardens Test Garden, but in more exposed areas, you’ll want to give it a sheltered spot.

Plants You Can Eat Edible landscaping, the practice of incorporating food plants into your yard’s design, is an age-old concept that’s perfect for gardeners who want to grow fruits and vegetables in small spaces. A classic example is using blueberries (which can grow about 6 feet tall) as hedges or foundation plants. You can also incorporate bush cherry and Nanking cherry the same way. Looking to block the view of your bedroom window from the street? Look to fruit trees, such as apple, pear, cherry, or plum. You can also use traditional vegetables: Lettuce makes for a stunning edge planting along a garden border; carrots add frilly texture to coarser perennials; and Swiss chard’s colorful stems look beautiful all on their own. Eggplants, too, are elegant enough to grow in a container garden as a focal point; accent them with purple angelonia, yellow zinnias, or low-care euphorbia. Or, attach lattice to a section of privacy fence and use it to grow cucumbers, squash, or even pumpkins.

Phlox ‘Peppermint Twist’ Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 16” Width: to 36” Zones: 4-8 Special Features: Attracts butterflies, Good cut flowers, Fragrant

Holy cow…this is one fun phlox! In mid- to late summer, the plant is crowned by big heads of hot pink flowers boldly striped with white. It’s beautiful, and also strongly fragrant, too, attracting hummingbirds, butterflies, and enchanted gardeners. Plus, it has great powdery mildew resistance!

Phlox paniculata ‘Picasso’ Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 24” Width: to 18” Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Attracts butterflies, Good cut flower, Fragrant

Some phlox (such as Peppermint Twist) are bold and wild. Others, such as Picasso, are delightfully subtle. From a distance it appears to have lovely creamy-pink flowers. Look up close, however, and you’ll find that each pink flower is playfully streaked with white—so be sure to plant it someplace you can enjoy it up close. Like other phlox, it’s wonderfully fragrant and long-lasting if cut for bouquets.

Phlox paniculata ‘Starfire’ Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 36” Width: to 24” Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Attracts butterflies, Good cut flower, Fragrant

This has been our favorite “red” phlox for a while now. While not truly a red, the dark pink blooms are as close as it comes to red in the phlox world. The sturdy plants do a good job avoiding powdery mildew, attract loads of butterflies and hummingbirds, and add a sweet scent to the garden from midsummer to early autumn. For truly winning combination, plant this with Cranberry Crush perennial hibiscus.

Phlox paniculata’Thai Pink jade’ Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 30” Width: to 30” Zones: 3 - 8 Special Features: Attracts butterflies, Good cut flowers, Fragrant

Bearing soft pink flowers, this newer phlox variety is strongly fragrant and resistant to powdery mildew. In mid- to late summer, the plants are topped by clusters of soft pink blooms with a darker rose-pink center.

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

Phlox paniculata ‘ Valentina’ Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 32” Width: to 18” Zones: 3 - 8 Special Features: Attracts butterflies, Good cut flowers, Fragrant

Bearing soft pink flowers, a delightful fragrance, and good mildew resistance, this phlox adds fun foliage to the list of reasons to love it! The new growth is tinged with burgundy purple, standing out against other perennials in your garden and making a delightful contrast to the pale blooms.

Salvia ‘Eveline’ Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 24” Width: to 18” Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Attracts butterflies, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant, Drought tolerant

From late spring to midsummer, Eveline salvia is crowned with charming spikes of pink and purple flowers. Like other salvias, it’s exceptionally easy to grow, just requiring sun and well-drained soil. Remove the faded blooms and it will continue to bloom into July!

Soapwort

Saponaria ocymoides Light: Full Sun Height: to 8” Width: to 18” Zones: 3 - 7 Special Features: Groundcover, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant, Drought tolerant

A great little groundcover for hot, sunny spots, soapwort shows off pinkish-purple flowers in early summer. It has dark green foliage that is evergreen in mild winters. It’s beautiful in rock gardens, as a covering over beds of spring-blooming bulbs, or along pathways.

Pink betony Stachys officinalis ‘Pink Cotton Candy’ Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 2’ Width: to 2’ Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Bearing some of the softest pink flowers around, Pink Cotton Candy offers a big dose of color in late spring and early summer. The blooms appear over medium-green quilted foliage that looks great even after the plant finishes blooming. It’s a wonderful easy-care variety that’s great for beginners.

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

Cinquefoil

Potentilla thurberi ‘Monarch’s Velvet’ Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 30” Width: to 24” Zones: 5 - 9 Special Features: Deer- and Rabbit-resistant, Drought tolerant

Native to areas of the Desert Southwest, this tough perennial can take our summer heat with ease! From early to late summer, it shows off dark burgundy-red flowers that almost glow like rubies. For best performance, plant this variety in well-drained soil, or amend clay with organic matter such as compost.

Burnet

Sanguisorba tenuifolia Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 4’ Width: to 2’ Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Attractive foliage

New for 2012! Though the big, 10-inch-wide blooms are beautiful on thisBurnet is great for adding texture to the garden. It creates a mound of toothed, blue-green leaves that don’t look quite like anything else around. In summer, it’s topped by spikes of flowers that look kind of like big burgundy caterpillars.

Moon carrot Seseli gummiferum

Light: Full Sun Height: to 36” Width: to 18” Zones: 3 - 7 Special Features: Deer- and Rabbit-resistant, Attractive foliage, Drought tolerant

We love this little guy for his fun foliage—moon carrot has finely divided silvery leaves that look fantastic with anything you pair it with. The blooms are an added bonus; in mid- to late summer, the plant is topped by clusters of pale pink flowers. It’s a showstopper! Note: Removing most of the flowers as they fade encourages the plant to live longer. If not deadheaded, it will self-seed in the garden.

Creeping thyme

Thymus serpyllum ‘Magic Carpet’ Light: Full Sun Height: to 2” Width: to 14” Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Deer- and Rabbit-resistant, Groundcover

Create a carpet of color in sunny areas of your landscape! Creeping thyme is a low-care groundcover that offers delightful pink blooms in early summer and citrus-scented green foliage that’s attractive spring to fall. It does best in well-drained soil and doesn’t mind a hot spot. It’s fantastic for planting in between pavers.

Blue & Purp le Pe r e n n ials for S u n Aster laevis ‘Bluebird’ Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 3’ Width: to 3’ Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Attracts butterflies, Drought tolerant, Good cut flower, Native

Bluebird is one great aster: It tolerates drought, blooms profusely even in afternoon shade, and attracts scores of butterflies to the garden. Plus, the plant features sturdy stems that don’t require staking to stand upright. Its masses of lavender-blue flowers appear in September and October.

Baptisia ‘Midnight ’ Light: Full Sun Height: to 5’ Width: to 4’ Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Drought tolerant, Native, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Developed at the Chicago Botanic Garden, this amazing variety is more upright and a little less bushy than other baptisias. It shows off spikes of gorgeous violet-blue flowers on extremely long spikes in early June. It’s capable of reblooming, shooting out smaller spikes a little later the same month. Because it’s less bushy, we recommend planting smaller perennials around its base to help cover up its bare legs.

Baptisia ‘Dutch Chocolate’ Light: Full Sun Height: to 3’ Width: to 2’ Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Drought tolerant, Attraccts butterflies, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

New for 2012! Look through our list and you can probably tell we’re big fans of baptisia because it’s so easy to grow and puts on such a great show. Dutch Chocolate is a brand new one that offers interesting chocolate-purple flowers and soft blue-green foliage.

Baptisia ‘Twilite’ Light: Full Sun Height: to 5’ Width: to 5’ Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Deer- and Rabbit-resistant, Drought tolerant, Native

You can’t go wrong with baptisia! We’ve selected this excellent variety for its rich purple flowers that bear a yellow marking down the middle. The blooms look beautiful against the gray-green foliage. Like other baptisias, Twilite is practically maintenance-free—just plant it and enjoy!

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

Bellflower

Campanula ‘Takion Blue’ Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 20” Width: to 18” Zones: 3 - 8 Special Features: Good cut flower, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

A compact variety of peachleaf bellflower, Takion Blue offers fine dark green, almost grassy foliage, topped by lovely lilac-blue flowers throughout the summer. Like most bellflowers, deer and rabbits typically leave it alone. And, it makes a good cut flower.

Perennial bachelor ’s button

Centaurea ‘Amethyst in Snow’

Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 24” Width: to 20” Zones: 3 - 7 Special Features: Drought tolerant, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

This variety of perennial bachelor’s button has a more refined look in the landscape. Its white flowers appear in May and June and have a lovely blue-purple center. This plant is quite vigorous; give it a bit of room to spread and divide it every few years to keep it thriving.

Leadplant

Ceratostigma plumbaginoides Light: Sun to Shade Height: to 1’ Width: to 2’ Zones: 5 - 9 Special Features: Groundcover

Leadplant is a quick-spreading groundcover that we love because it bears wonderful sky-blue flowers in late summer and fall. In autumn it gets even better when the green foliage turns burgundy red. This is a great groundcover to grow under early-blooming shrubs and trees as leadplant is a bit late to emerge in spring. It can be a bit of a fast spreader in full sun; in shade it grows more slowly but blooms less.

Clematis

Clematis fremontii Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 18” Width: to 12” Zones: 4 - 7 Special Features: Deer-resistant

Native to areas of Kansas, Nebraska, and Missouri, you know this nonclimbing clematis is tough! It’s also interesting, bearing leathery green leaves and charming purple, lavender, or white bell-shape flowers in April and May. Like most clematis, it doesn’t mind being around black walnut trees and appreciates layer of mulch over the root zone.

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

Perennial bachelor ’s button Centaurea ‘Amethyst Dream’

Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 20” Width: to 18” Zones: 3 - 7 Special Features: Drought tolerant, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

An easy-growing perennial that adapts to a wide range of conditions (including hot, dry spots), perennial bachelor’s button sports silvery foliage and dark violet-purple flowers throughout the summer. It’s a vigorous plant; you’ll need to divide it every few years to keep it healthy.

Perennial bachelor ’s button Centaurea ‘Gold Bullion’

Light: Full Sun Height: to 24” Width: to 16” Zones: 3 - 7 Special Features: Drought tolerant, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

You can’t go wrong combining blue and gold in the garden. This plant does it for you! In May and June, it offers distinctive spidery blue flowers. From spring to autumn, you’ll be able to enjoy the rich golden-chartreuse foliage. This variety does best in well-drained soil.

Clematis

Clematis heracleifolia Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 3’ Width: to 4’ Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Fragrant flowers, Deer-resistant

Not all clematis climb toward the sky. This delightful beauty is a sprawling perennial (it needs support to grow upright) that bears gorgeous, hyacinth-scented blue flowers in late summer and early fall. It doesn’t really look like a clematis thanks to its big foliage and clusters of bellshape flowers. Regardless, it’s perfect for adding drama to the late season!

Dragonhead

Dracocephalum argunense ‘Fuji Blue’ Light: Full /Afternoon Sun Height: to 12” Width: to 12” Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Deer-resistant

Long-blooming and easy-to-grow are two of our favorite ways to describe this topnotch perennial. From early to midsummer, it bears clusters of blue flowers over dark green, needle-like foliage that looks similar to rosemary. Once established, it does a great job of tolerating drought so you can enjoy its summer show.

Dragonhead

Dracocephalum ‘Blue Ice’ Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 12” Width: to 12” Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Deer-resistant

Similar to Fuji Blue dragonhead, Blue Ice has the same long-blooming, easy-to-grow characteristics. But the flowers are a little lighter; ice blue is a good description. Plant it in the front of the border, in a rock garden, or even in a container.

Perennial geranium

Geranium ‘Dragon Heart’

Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 2’ Width: to 2’ Zones: 5 - 8 Special Features: Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Bred in Scotland, Dragon Heart geranium is an exceptionally longblooming selection with rich purple flowers that have delightfully contrasting black centers. Like Rozanne geranium, Dragon Heart has something of a sprawling habit, making it great for weaving through taller perennials or shrubs, as well as letting it scramble as a groundcover.

Perennial geranium

Geranium magnificum ‘Rosemoor’

Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 16” Width: to 20” Zones: 4 - 7 Special Features: Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

This unique hybrid geranium offers slightly fuzzy mapleshaped green leaves that are topped blue blue-violet flowers in early summer. The flowers are unique because the veins are darker violet in color, adding depth and dimension to the plant. Though it doesn’t bloom as long as some of the newer hybrids, it’s still a winner!

Candytuft

Absolutely Amethyst Iberis ‘IB2401’ Light: Full Sun Height: to 12” Width: to 10” Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Drought tolerant

Candytuft is an old-fashioned perennial that offers attractive blooms over shiny dark green foliage. Traditionally they’re white, but Absolutely Amethyst brings a delightful shade of lavender-purple to the garden. This perennial does best in well-drained soil and thrives in rock gardens. If you have clay, it’ll be happiest if you amend with compost before planting.

Bonfire spurge Euphorbia ‘Bonfire’

Light: Full Sun Height: to 18” Width: to 3’ Zones: 5 - 9 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Drought tolerant, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant, Staff favorite

Truly a three-season plant, Bonfire spurge emerges in spring with dark purple foliage. In late spring, it flickers to life with the appearance of bright yellow blooms that look great for several weeks. Then in summer, the foliage develops purple, red, and orange tones. By fall, the leaves turn to a rich red.

Perennial geranium Rozanne Geranium ‘Gerwat’

Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 18” Width: to 3’ Zones: 5 - 8 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant, Staff favorite

Rozanne is one of the longest-flowering perennials we’ve ever seen. The show starts in mid-June when this deer- and rabbit-resistant perennial starts producing its lavender-tinted blue flower. And it continues bearing those beautiful blooms all the way through first frost! It’s a favorite of both our garden center and landscaping staff—and is sure to become one of your favorites, too.

Perennial geranium Geranium pratense ‘Dark Reiter’

Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 10” Width: to 12” Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

What do you like better: Dark Reiter’s summertime lavender-blue flowers or its dark purple-black foliage? Either way, the plant is a winner. It’s also long blooming, deer and rabbit resistant, and exceptionally easy to care for once established.

Reblooming iris Iris ‘Best Bet’

Light: Full Sun Height: to 36” Width: to 18” Zones: 3 - 9 Special Features: Drought tolerant, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant, Fragrant

This charmer offers the early-summer garden delightful depth and dimension. The flowers are a lovely ice-blue at the top and rich, dark blue at the bottom. Best of all, though, it often reblooms in autumn---giving you two seasons of color.

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

Reblooming iris

Iris ‘Pagan Dance’

Light: Full Sun Height: to 36” Width: to 24” Zones: 3 - 9 Special Features: Drought tolerant, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant, Fragrant

Showing off rich, royal purple flowers that fade to purple black near the petal edges, Pagan Dance is deep, dark, and mysterious. It looks glorious with cheery yellows, blues, and burgundy. Try it with Bonfire spurge for a splendid show in late spring and again when the plant reblooms in early autumn.

Japanese iris

Iris ensata ‘Lion King’

Light: Full Sun Height: to 36” Width: to 24” Zones: 3 - 9 Special Features: Drought tolerant, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant, Fragrant

Showing off some of the largest flowers of any iris available, Lion King is also a double, meaning it has twice as many petals. The blooms appear in early summer and are grape-purple with white feathering at the centers. Japanese iris do best in moist, well-drained soil. They don’t take hot, dry spots like their more traditional cousins, so be sure to site this guy correctly to get the most from him.

Hidcote lavender

Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’

Light: Full Sun Height: to 18” Width: to 18” Zones: 5 - 8 Special Features: Attracts butterflies, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant, Drought tolerant

Lovely lavender is a garden favorite for its summertime spikes of wonderfully fragrant flowers. The silver-gray leaves are also scented and pair beautifully with dark-leafed plants. Use lavender to make sachets—or in cooking (lemon-lavender cookies are a favorite around here). Note: The key to growing lavender is full sun and well-drained soil. Don’t plant lavender in heavy clay soil.

Bee balm

Monarda ‘Purple Rooster Light: Full Sun Height: to 36” Width: to 26” Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds, Good cut flower

Bee balm doesn’t have to be red! Purple Rooster is a newer selection which, as its name suggests, bears royal purple blooms. The show starts in midsummer, and if faded flowers are removed, can last through late summer. Happily, this selection also offers fantastic resistance to powdery mildew!

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

Reblooming iris Iris ‘Presby’s Crown Jewel’

Light: Full Sun Height: to 36” Width: to 24” Zones: 3 - 9 Special Features: Drought tolerant, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant, Fragrant

We love multi-color iris, and adore iris that rebloom—and this one offers the best of both worlds. In late spring (and again in early autumn), it shows off large, 6-inch white flowers delicately edged with royal blue. The effect is magnificent! Encourage the best rebloom by keeping the plant watered during hot, summer dry stretches and ensuring the soil is rich in organic matter.

Lavender

Lavandula angustifolia ‘Ellegance Purple’ Light: Full Sun Height: to 1’ Width: to 1’ Zones: 5 - 9 Special Features: Attracts butterflies, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant, Drought tolerant

Gardeners love lavender for its beautiful purple flowers and soft, soothing fragrance. Ellegance Purple is an award-winning European variety you’re sure to adore. It’s more compact than most, bears an extra large number of flowers, and continues producing blooms all the way to early fall. Note: Like other lavenders, Ellegance Purple needs well-drained soil to thrive. If you have clay, try growing it in raised beds or up against your house where it will stay dry in winter.

Blazing star Liatris squarrosa

Light: Full Sun Height: to 24” Width: to 18” Zones: 3 - 8 Special Features: Attracts butterflies, Drought tolerant, Good cut flower, Native

One of the first liatris to bloom, this native species is easy to grow, thriving in hot, dry spots. It’s such a winner that it even tolerates clay soil! The purple flower spikes appear in early summer and are awesome as cut flowers. Like other types of liatris, it’s a perfect pick for butterfly gardens.

Ornamental oregano Origanum ‘Amethyst Falls’

Light: Full Sun Height: to 15” Width: to 18” Zones: 5 - 9 Special Features: Drought tolerant, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant, Fragrant

Hold on to your hats when you see this ornamental oregano! It shows off outstanding gray-green leaves that bear a lovely scent. In midsummer it starts blooming, showing off clusters of lovely lavender-purple flowers that continue to appear until summer’s end. This variety grows best in full sun and dry or well-drained soil. It’s awesome in containers!

Penstemon

Penstemon hirsutus ‘Pygmaeus’ Light: Full Sun Height: to 6” Width: to 12” Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Drought tolerant, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant, Attracts butterflies

Penstemons are a group of charming perennials that largely hail from the Desert Southwest, making them surefire bets for surviving hot, dry summers. This charmer is one of the smallest around. It blooms in early to midsummer, showing off lavender-purple flowers that butterflies love. It likes well-drained soil; if you have clay, amend it with compost before planting this one.

Blue phlox

Phlox paniculata ‘Blue Paradise’ Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 4’ Width: to 3’ Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Fragrant, Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds, Native, Staff favorite

Phlox is a favorite of our very own Loki—and what’s not to love? It blooms for weeks in mid- to late summer, has fragrant flowers, attracts butterflies and hummingbirds, and comes in a multitude of colors. Blue Paradise is one of the finest, showing off blue blossoms that shift through shades of blue, lavender, and purple during the course of the day. It’s nicely disease-resistant, too!

Balloon flower

Platycodon ‘Astra Double Blue’ Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 10” Width: to 10” Zones: 3 - 8 Special Features: Deer-resistant, Drought tolerant

Called balloon flower because the buds of this easy-care perennial swell up like balloons before opening, Astra Double Blue is a charmer that has a more compact habit than older varieties and twice as many petals (so it puts on twice the show!). Grow it in the front or middle of the border.

Blue salvia

Salvia azurea ‘Grandiflora’ Light: Full Sun Height: to 5’ Width: to 4’ Zones: 5 - 9 Special Features: Deer- and Rabbit-resistant, Drought tolerant, Native, Attracts butterflies

Blue salvia is one of Justin, our horticulturist’s, favorite fall plants ever. Take a look at the plant, and you’ll see why it deserves such high praise. At the end of the season it presents many spikes of true-blue flowers that wave around on tall, wispy stems. Like other salvia species, it’s deer- and rabbitresistant and exceptionally easy to grow in full sun and well-drained soil.

Variegated phlox Phlox glaberrima ‘Triple Play’

Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 2’ Width: to 3’ Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Naive, Attractive foliage, Good cut flower, New for 2011

We saw this phlox last summer at a trade show as just a starter plant and knew we had to have it. A fresh new variety of a native wildflower, it shows off purple flowers in late spring. But the real draw is the bright white-edged leaves that look good from spring to fall.

Purple phlox

Phlox paniculata ‘Nicky’ Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 4’ Width: to 3’ Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Fragrant, Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds, Native

The darkest-flowering phlox we’ve seen, Nicky bears dark pinkish-purple blooms from mid- to late summer. The flowers are wonderfully fragrant and the green foliage is delightfully disease-resistant.

Salvia ‘Madeline’ Light: Full Sun Height: to 32” Width: to 20” Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Deer-resistant, Drought tolerant, Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds

This bold salvia stands apart visually: In early summer, it’s topped by tall stems of cobalt-blue flowers that have a white lip. But its nature is like other salvias: It’s easy to grow, ignored by pests, and a top plant for beginners. And, if you cut off the flowers as they fade and you may be rewarded with another set of blooms.

Balkan sage Salvia forskaohlei

Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 2’ Width: to 2’ Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Drought tolerant, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant, Attracts butterflies

Bold and dramatic, this salvia shows off clusters of blue-and-white flowers on and off from spring to fall. It’s very different and very showy— plus it thrives in partial shade.

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

Salvia

Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’ Light: Full Sun Height: to 2’ Width: to 2’ Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Drought tolerant, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant, Attracts butterflies

A surefire bet for the early-summer garden, Caradonna salvia shows off delightful violet-blue flower spikes that butterflies love. It grows bet in full sun and well-drained soil, so amend heavy clays with compost to get the most from it. Also, if you remove the flowers as they fade, you can get Caradonna to rebloom.

Stokes’ aster

Stokesia laevis ‘Colorwheel’ Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 24” Width: to 18” Zones: 5 - 9 Special Features: Rabbit-resistant, Drought tolerant, Attracts butterflies

Tough and beautiful: That’s a great way to describe this perennial. In June, it begins to bloom, showing off white flowers that look like a bachelor’s button. As the blooms age, they mature to lavender and then dark purple. An established plant can have multiple colors of bloom on it at the same time. It puts on quite a show!

Veronica ‘Lavender Plume’ Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 20” Width: to 18” Zones: 4 - 8

Lavender Plume veronica caught our attention in a big way the first time we saw it! The variety bears many wonderful spikes of lavender-blue flowers. What makes it unique is that the blooms are branched, giving it a much fuller appearance than other varieties on the market. It thrives in well-drained soil; give it a little compost if you have a lot of heavy clay.

Veronica prostrata ‘Trehane’ Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 9” Width: to 18” Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Groundcover, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Here’s another example of a blue-and-gold combination that works beautifully! This groundcover shows off deep blue flowers from late spring to early summer. These blooms rise over a mat of brilliant golden foliage. We have it planted under Rising Sun redbud and the effect is particularly enchanting!

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

Skullcap

Scutellaria scoridifolia ‘Mongolian Skies’ Light: Full Sun Height: to 8” Width: to 24” Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Deer- and Rabbit-resistant, Drought tolerant, Attracts butterflies

Introduced at the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum (so you know it’s well adapted to our climate), Mongolian Skies skullcap is a shrubby perennial that forms a mat of deep green foliage topped by spikes of lavender-blue flowers from June to August. It loves a hot, dry spot—so don’t overwater it by giving this plant too much love!

Spiderwort

Tradescantia ‘Sweet Kate’ Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 12” Width: to 12” Zones: 4 - 9

Spiderwort is a fantastic plant with a terrible name! This vigorous perennial (give it room to spread) thrives in a sunny spot and moist to wet soil. It’s perfect for rain gardens! Sweet Kate features cobalt-blue blooms from spring to early summer that contrast wonderfully against the grassy, golden-yellow foliage. Note: If it dries out in summer, the foliage may start to turn brown. Cut it back to the ground and it will shoot up new foliage and more blooms!

Veronica ‘Tidal Pool’ Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 3” Width: to 30” Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Groundcover, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

New for 2012! Looking for a dramatic, weed-smothering groundcover that will put on a huge show in the spring? Look no further. Developed at the Chicago Botanic Garden, this brand-new variety is well-suited to our climate and covers itself in cobalt-blue blooms in early spring. It’s a perfect companion for spring-blooming bulbs and areas you want to carpet with color as the snow melts.

Violet

Vila pedata Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 6” Width: to 6” Zones: 4 - 8

This native violet is unique because instead of offering heart-shaped leaves, it has finely divided, almost ferny foliage. It’s one of the first perennials to bloom in spring, offering lavender-lilac flowers in April and May. Unlike other violets, this one likes well-drained soil and prefers to grow on the dry side: Avoid planting it in wet clay.

Blue & Purple Perennials for Shade Dwarf monkshood

Aconitum ‘Blue Lagoon’

Monkshood

Aconitum carmichaelii ‘Arendsii’

Light: Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 1’ Width: to 1’ Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Good cut flower, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Light: Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 4’ Width: to 2’ Zones: 3 - 7 Special Features: Good cut flower, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Monkshood lights up the late summer garden with its spikes of delphiniumblue flowers. Blue Lagoon is a fun selection that’s extra short—only a foot tall. We love this plant for adding a dash of drama to the shade garden as the season draws to a close. For big impact, pair it with golden hostas; the color contrast is amazing!

In August and September, monkshood becomes the star of the late summer garden when it produces its spire-like spikes of rich blue flowers over dark green foliage. It grows best in afternoon shade and moist, well-drained soil that’s rich in organic matter (such as compost). Don’t let it dry out in summer.

Note: All parts of monkshood are very poisonous.

Baneberr y

Actaea pachypoda ‘Misty Blue’ Light: Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 3’ Width: to 3’ Zones: 3 - 8 Special Features: Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Misty Blue is a delightful new variety of a woodland wildflower. Unlike the wild form of baneberry, Misty Blue shows off silvery-blue foliage that’s delightful from spring to autumn. In late spring, it has clusters of fluffy white flowers that mature into showy white fruits on red stems. It’s dramatic and easy to grow in the shade!

Note: All parts of monkshood are very poisonous.

Ajuga Black Scallop Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 6” Width: to 24” Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Groundcover, Attractive foliage

Create intrigue in your garden with Black Scallop ajuga, a low-growing groundcover with quarter-sized dark purple leaves. They’re very shiny, as if they’ve been coated in lacquer. In early spring it bursts forth with spikes of rich blue flowers. We especially love pairing this ajuga with silvery shade plants, such as lungwort or Japanese painted fern.

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

Ajuga ‘Burgundy Glow ’ Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 6” Width: to 12” Zones: 3 - 9 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Groundcover

A plant with a multitude of uses, Burgundy Glow is a natural choice for adding a carpet of color to the shade garden. It bears lovely light green foliage variegated with shades of white and green. In spring, it sends up little spikes of blue flowers. We love this plant mixed with lungwort and Japanese painted fern; the play of textures is amazing!

Rocky Mountain columbine

Aquilegia caerulea

Light: Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 2’ Width: to 2’ Zones: 3 - 10 Special Features: Attracts hummingbirds, Good cut flower

Native to the Western states, from Montana to New Mexico, Rocky Mountain columbine is a tough, adaptable plant. It bears lovely, finetextured blue-green foliage and charming blue-and-white flowers in spring. Rocky Mountain columbine tolerates full sun, but does best in part shade with moist, well-drained soil. Avoid planting it in heavy clay.

Brunnera macrophylla ‘J ack Frost ’ Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 18” Width: to 18” Zones: 3 - 8 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Perennial Plant of the Year! One of the most popular plants in our display garden last spring, Jack Frost brunnera shows off heart-shaped foliage liberally marked with silver. In spring, it’s crowned with sprays of sky-blue flowers. Justin, our horticulturist, adores brunnera and Thalia daffodil together. It’s a perfect spring combo (and both are deer- and rabbit-resistant).

Berr y Smoothie coralbells

Heuchera ‘Berry Smoothie’

Light: Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 24” Width: to 18” Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

When you think of leaves, we bet you don’t usually think in pink. But Berry Smoothie coralbells shows off soft, rose-pink foliage in spring. As summer heat develops, the leaves deepen to a rich purple-pink color and continue looking good into the fall. Berry Smoothie offers spikes of pinkish flowers in early summer, as well. Pair it with dark purple coralbells (such as Beaujolais or Mocha) for an amazing show!

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

Ajuga ‘Golden Glow ’ Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 6” Width: to 18” Zones: 3 - 9 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Groundcover

Another gorgeous variegated ajuga that’s perfect for brightening up shady corners, Golden Glow offers green foliage edged in gold with pink highlights. In spring it’s topped by the same glorious blue flowers the others are.

Leprechaun Gold columbine Aquilegia vulgaris ‘Leprechaun Gold’

Light: Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 2’ Width: to 18” Zones: 3 - 8 Special Features: Attracts hummingbirds, Good cut flowers

Most columbines are grown for their pretty flowers, and Leprechaun Gold has good-looking blue blooms. But its foliage adds a little something special to the mix; the green leaves are playfully splashed with gold, creating a brilliant color contrast.

Brunnera ‘King’s Ransom’ Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 12” Width: to 15” Zones: 3 - 8 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Here’s a unique form of a Loki’s Garden favorite! This sport of Jack Frost has green leaves that have a decidedly silver overlay. They’re edged in cream, giving a silver-and-gold effect—which is magnificent against the lovely springtime sky-blue flowers. Definitely a winner!

Dark Myster y coralbells Heuchera ‘Dark Mystery’

Light: Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 10” Width: to 18” Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

A good performer for us here in Iowa, this coralbells offers ruffled, darkpurple foliage that looks amazing when paired with silvery Jack Frost brunnera, blue-gray hostas, or lacy red astilbes.

Encore coralbells

Heuchera ‘Encore’

Light: Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 18” Width: to 15” Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Attractive foilage, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

A vigorous coralbells with outstanding foliage for a spring-to-fall show, Encore offers leaves that emerge rosy-purple in the spring and fade to pinky-purple with a silvery sheen as they mature. It’s stunning all on its own and even better when paired with pink astilbes or purple coralbells.

Frosted Violet coralbells Heuchera ‘Frosted Violet’

Light: Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 12” Width: to 18” Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Attractive foilage, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

In spring this fantastic coralbells emerges with delightful pinkish-purple leaves. As summer progresses, they deepen in color to a rich purple but have a silver overlay, giving them a frosted look. Spikes of little pink flowers appear in early summer, but they take a backseat to the plant’s awesome foliage.

Marvelous Marble coralbells

Pinot Noir coralbells

Light: Sun to shade Height: to 12” Width: to 16” Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Light: Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 12” Width: to 18” Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

A wonder with multi-colored leaves, Marvelous Marble is sure to delight you. The chocolate-purple leaves are heavily overlaid in silver and feature green edges. The variation of leaf colors make it easy to design with; you can pair this perennial with just about anything and it’ll look great!

A dramatic, distinct coralbells, Pinot Noir is an outstanding selection that emerges in spring to show off dark purple leaves. As they mature, the leaves develop a silvery frosting that makes them look as if they’ve been sprinkled with silver paint. In early summer Pinot Noir blooms, producing stalks of white flowers.

Heuchera ‘Marvelous Marble’

Mocha coralbells

Heuchera ‘Mocha’

Heuchera ‘Pinot Noir’

Midnight Rose coralbells Heuchera ‘Midnight Rose’

Light: Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 12” Width: to 18” Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Light: Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 10” Width: to 15” Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Beautiful and dramatic—that’s one great way to describe this amazing coralbells. It features rich, dark purple (nearly black) softly fuzzy foliage. The extra-large leaves can grow to 4 inches across. Bred in France, this variety produces stalks of white flowers in early summer.

We’ve never seen a coralbells like this before, and bet you haven’t either! It sports lovely dark red-purple leaves that are accented with bright pink spots or streaks! The effect is best-viewed close up, so plant it in the front of the border. Accent the color of the variegation with pink astilbe or columbine.

Hosta

Hosta ‘El Nino’ Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 18” Width: to 30” Zones: 3 - 9 Special Features: Attractive foliage

El Nino adds a cool, crisp look to the shade garden. Bearing silvery-blue leaves crisply edged in creamy white, it’s a great contrast to other hostas. We particularly love it with Blue Shadows fothergilla. In midsummer, El Nino bears spikes of lavender-blue flowers.

Hosta

Hosta ‘Fragrant Bouquet’

Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 20” Width: to 36” Zones: 3 - 9 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Fragrant

As you might guess from its name, Fragrant Bouquet hosta has two things going for it: It has pretty green leaves edged in creamy yellow and very fragrant white flowers in the summer. Plant this beauty near a path where you’ll be able to enjoy those sweetly scented blooms! Bonus: The leaves are pretty thick and resist slugs better than typical hostas.

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

Hosta

Hosta ‘Guardian Angel’ Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 24” Width: to 36” Zones: 3 - 9 Special Features: Attractive foliage

Offering good slug resistance, this hosta has big, thick, blue-green leaves that start out with a clean white center. As the season progresses, the center slowly fades to green, giving the hosta a very unique effect. The older it gets, the more dramatic it becomes!

Dwarf crested iris

Iris cristata

Hosta

Hosta ‘Silver Bay’ Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 15” Width: to 36” Zones: 3 - 9 Special Features: Attractive foliage

A newer variety, Silver Bay is a gorgeous hosta that offers big, thick, silvery-blue leaves that resist slugs better than standard hosta out there. It’s an excellent performer that practically takes care of itself once it’s been in the ground a season or two.

Woodland phlox

Phlox divaricata ‘Louisiana Blue’

Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 9” Width: to 12” Zones: 3 - 9 Special Features: Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 12” Width: to 16” Zones: 3 - 9 Special Features: Fragrant

Dwarf crested iris is a bit unusual in that it’s a native species and it likes shade. It’s also quite small, making it a perfect pick for the front of the border. It blooms in early spring, showing off purple-blue flowers and thrives in moist, well-drained soil that has a lot of organic matter content.

Like dwarf crested iris, woodland phlox is a charming native, spring-blooming, shade-loving plant. Louisiana Blue has a compact habit, fragrant blue flowers, and can form a beautiful colony in time. It thrives in soil that’s rich in organic matter; add lots of compost when planting it so it can put on the best possible show.

Jacob’s ladder

Polemonium reptans ‘Touch of Class’ Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 14” Width: to 18” Zones: 3 - 7 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Deer-resistant

Bearing ferny green leaves broadly edged in creamy white, Touch of Class Jacob’s ladder is a stunner from spring to fall. It looks amazing when paired with just about anything; we’re particularly fond of it with purple coralbells or blue hostas.

Toad lily

Tricyrtis ‘Blue Wonder’ Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 24” Width: to 24” Zones: 5 - 8

One reason we love toad lily so much is that it blooms in late summer and autumn—a time when most other shade-loving plants have long since finished. We think it’s a must if you want spring-to-fall color in the shade! Blue Wonder is a selection that has lavender-blue flowers heavily spotted in purple. It does best in moist, well-drained soil that’s rich in organic matter. Toad lilies don’t like drought, so for best garden performance, give it a little water during times of drought.

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

Lungwort

Pulmonaria ‘Blue Ensign’ Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 50’ Width: to 15’ Zones: 3 - 7 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

A true hero of the shade garden, lungwort bears pretty blue flowers that are often flushed with pink and tolerates a wide range of soil conditions. It’s exceptionally easy to grow and very reliable; this is a fantastic shade plant for beginning gardeners.

Tojen toad lily Tricyrtis hirta ‘Tojen’

Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 3’ Width: to 2’ Zones: 4 - 9

Tojen is one of our favorite toad lilies because its soft lavender-pink flowers aren’t heavily spotted like most of its cousins. But like other toad lilies, it’s still a late-blooming shade plant perfect for beginning gardeners.

Yellow & Gold Perennials for Shade Lady ’s mantle

Alchemilla sericata ‘Gold Strike’ Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 14” Width: to 16” Zones: 3 - 8 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Good cut flower

Lady’s mantle is an old-fashioned favorite for moist, partly shaded gardens. Gold Strike is a newer selection that bears golden-chartreuse flowers over distinctive scalloped foliage. The leaves have tiny hairs on them that catch dewdrops, making them look bejeweled. The effect is magical!

Green-and-Gold

Chysogonum virginianum

Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 1’ Width: to 18” Zones: 5 - 9 Special Features: Groundcover

A native groundcover with a long bloom season, green-and-gold slowly spreads to form a carpet of slightly fuzzy green leaves topped by daisy-like golden-yellow flowers on and off from spring to fall. Best bloom occurs in the cool months. It’s tolerant of dense shade and moist soil.

Aralia cordata ‘Sun King’ Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 6’ Width: to 3’ Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Attractive foliage

You can’t get much bolder than this! Sun King aralia is a big, dramatic, 6-foot-tall perennial that shows off bright golden leaves that stay attractive from spring to autumn. (Give the leaves a couple of hours of direct sun in the morning and you’ll get a brighter gold color). In summer, it bears fluffy white flowers that give way to black fruits that attract birds.

Cor ydalis lutea Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 1’ Width: to 18” Zones: 5 - 7 Special Features: Groundcover, Drought tolerant, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Yellow corydalis is a real winner: It’s a practically carefree shade plant and is also one of the longest-blooming perennials we’ve seen. It starts blooming in May with the tulips and continues all the way until autumn. The goldenyellow blooms are a brilliant contrast to the ferny bluegreen foliage. We think yellow corydalis looks absolutely enchanting when paired with blue hostas!

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

Epimedium pinnatum colchicum Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shde Height: to 1’ Width: to 24” Zones: 5 - 8 Special Features: Groundcover, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant, Drought tolerant

The perfect plant for growing beneath established oaks or maples, yellow epimedium puts on a spring show with its fairy-like clusters of yellow flowers over heart-shaped foliage that often turns shades of purple or bronze in autumn. This slow grower is the perfect pick for beginning shade gardeners.

Woodland sunflower

Helianthus divaricatus

Light: Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 6’ Width: to 3’ Zones: 3 - 8 Special Features: Attracts butterflies, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant, Drought tolerant, Good cut flower

A perennial sunflower for shade? You betcha! This easy-growing native plant shoots up tall stems of golden-yellow flowers from midsummer to fall. Like other sunflower varieties, butterflies love them. If you have dry shade and want a burst of summer color, this may be the perennial for you!

Coralbells

Heuchera ‘Caramel’

Light: Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 24” Width: to 18” Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

We bet you’ve never seen a coralbells like this one. The fuzzy foliage emerges a dull red in spring and, as it matures, becomes a golden-apricot color, like warm fresh caramel. In early summer, it sends up stalks of light pink flowers. The unique color looks great with everything, especially blues and purples.

Coralbells

Heuchera ‘Pistache’

Light: Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 18” Width: to 16” Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Bearing chartreuse-lime leaves that practically glow in the shade, this big, bold coralbells deserves a spot in every shady garden. It’s vigorous, lowmaintenance, and deer- and rabbit-resistant. What more could you ask for?

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

Meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria ‘Aurea’

Light: Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 3’ Width: to 3’ Zones: 3 - 8 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

A cheery plant for moist soil (meadowsweet doesn’t take drought at all), this selection offers attractive chartreuse foliage that’s topped by cottoncandy-like clusters of creamy-white flowers in midsummer. If it does dry out, the foliage may turn brown; if this happens cut it back, water it well, and it should send up fresh new golden leaves.

Coralbells

Heuchera villosa ‘Big Top Gold’ Light: Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 20” Width: to 28” Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Two characteristics set lovely Big Top Gold coralbells apart: the huge size of the leaves and their unique coloration. This big, bold plant shows off leaves orangey foliage with a purple tint and is a striking red-purple on the bottom. Big Top Gold definitely puts on a show!

Coralbells

Heuchera ‘Pinot Bianco’ Light: Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 18” Width: to 18” Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Some coralbells are bold and make excellent focal points. Others, such as Pinot Bianco, are more subtle and can be used to blend plants and create excellent combinations. This guy bears delightful green leaves that have a strong silver overlay. It’s brilliant when grown with Japanese painted fern, Misty Blue baneberry, or lungwort!

Coralbells

Heuchera ‘Southern Comfort’ Light: Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 16” Width: to 24” Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Southern Comfort starts its show in early spring, when the new foliage emerges a warm, amber-peach color. As the season progresses, they develop more orange tones. Then in autumn, those big leaves take on more pinky-coral hues. It’s definitely a winner –and a vigorous performer, too!

Foamy bells

x Heucherella ‘Golden Zebra’ Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 1’ Width: to 18” Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

A hybrid between coralbells (Heuchera) and foam flower (Tiarella), foamy bells is a useful group of plants for shady gardens. Golden Zebra is perhaps the most eye-catching of the clan. It bears deeply cut, golden-yellow leaves with dark red centers. It also bears clusters of small white flowers in early spring, but you’ll love it all the way through fall.

Hosta ‘Maui Buttercups’

Hosta ‘Key West ’ Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 28” Width: to 48” Zones: 3 - 9 Special Features: Attractive foliage

Plant Key West hosta in your garden and put on an instant show. This big, bold hosta features large, heart-shape golden-yellow leaves topped by pale lavender flowers in early summer. It looks terrific with Sun King aralia!

Japanese wax bells Kirengeshoma palmata

Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 1’ Width: to 18” Zones: 3 - 9 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Attracts butterflies

Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 4’ Width: to 3’ Zones: 5 - 8

One of the finest golden-yellow hostas around, Maui Buttercups offers thick leaves that are among the most slugresistant of any hosta. The foliage also offers great texture as the leaves have a corrugated look. Pair this beauty with Japanese forestgrass for a fun complement, or mix it with purple-leaf coralbells for an amazing color contrast.

Create drama in your shade garden with Japanese wax bells, a highly ornamental (but sadly underused) perennial in the hydrangea family. It features maple-like leaves that add great texture to shady gardens. Then in August and September it blooms, producing yellow bell-shaped flowers above the foliage. Once established, it forms a bold, eye-catching clump in the garden. It looks great with a skirt of yellow corydalis!

Ligularia ‘Bottle Rocket ’ Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 36” Width: to 28” Zones: 4 - 9

New-for-2012! We love ligularias for their bold texture. Bottle Rocket is a brandnew selection that offers large, toothed leaves topped by spikes of golden-yellow flowers. This represents a more compact form of ‘The Rocket’. It also holds up to heat better and is less likely to wilt in the afternoon. Like other varieties, it needs moist soil to thrive.

Ligularia ‘Osiris Cafè Noir ’ Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 2’ Width: to 2’ Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant, Attracts butterflies

The perfect companion for astilbes, variegated meadowsweet, and blue cardinal flower, this moisture- and shade-loving perennial bears intriguing purple batwing-shaped foliage that fades to bronze as it matures. In mid- to late summer, it shows off spikes of golden-yellow daisy-shaped flowers.

Ligularia dentata ‘Midnight Lady’ Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 4’ Width: to 3’ Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant, Attracts butterflies

We had lots of comments about the purple-leaf ligularia growing in our display gardens last year—so here it is! Looking something like a rhubarb plant, but with extra-shiny purple-black foliage, it’s accented by spikes of daisy-like yellow flowers in summer. This plant is definitely a stunner, especially when paired with silvery-leafed plants such as lungwort and coralbells.

Yellow Salvia Salvia koyamae

Light: Shade, Mornins sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 2’ Width: to 2’ Zones: 5 - 9 Special Features: Attracts butterflies, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

A yellow salvia? For shade? Yes sir! This is among the most interesting salvias because it offers yellow flowers in August and September, and it loves shade. When happy, it acts like a tall groundcover, creating a weed-smothering carpet of color. It grows best in part shade and moist, well-drained soil.

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

White Pe r en n ia ls for Sha de Snowdrop windflower

Anemone sylvestris

Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 18” Width: to 12” Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Fragrant, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

This easy-to-grow woodland wildflower is one of our favorites. It offers cheery daisy-like flowers early spring. It’s a refreshing way to usher in the new gardening season, especially if you pair it with Siberian squill, hellebores, and other spring bloomers!

White turtlehead

Chelone glabra ‘Black Ace’

Light: Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 4’ Width: to 3’ Zones: 5 - 8 Special Features: Attracts butterflies

A fun wildflower for the late-summer garden, Black Ace turtlehead offers clusters of white flowers that look like snapdragons. Like other turtleheads, it does best in moist soil, making it a top pick for rain gardens. It’s one of the few shade plants that bloom at the end of the season.

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

Astilbe Younique White ‘

Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 2’ Width: to 2’ Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

We’re impressed with how many flower spikes this astilbe produces—and we’re sure you will be, too! Younique White is a vigorous variety that gets better every year, producing feathery plumes of silver-pink flowers in early summer. Keep it consistently moist for best performance; this variety doesn’t like to dry out.

Cor ydalis ochroleuca Light: Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 12” Width: to 12” Zones: 5 - 8

One of the longest-blooming perennials for shade, this charmer forms a delightful mound of frothy, fern-like foliage. Then in midspring the bloom parade starts when the plant produces clusters of little creamy-white flowers. The show continues all summer long! Though each plant is not long lived, it will reseed so you’ll always have a supply.

White bleeding heart

Our Favorite Plants One of the best things about having our own garden center is that we get to pick the plants we love to grow. That’s why you won’t find spiraeas, barberries, or arborvitaes (we leave them for the big box stores of the world). Here are some of our staff’s favorites of the more than 700 different varieties available here at Loki’s.

• Anemone sylvestris (Kim’s pick) • Autumn Magic chokeberry/aronia (Hayley’s pick) • Flamenco red-hot poker (Cindy’s pick) • Golden Hinoki cypress (Hayley’s pick) • Horstman Silberlocke Korean fir (Cindy’s pick) • Jade Butterflies gingko (Cindy’s pick) • Little Devil ninebark (Loki’s pick) • Northwind switchgrass (Kim’s pick) • Red Racer hellebore (Hayley’s pick) • Rozanne geranium (Justin’s pick) • Solar Eclipse redbud (Kim’s pick) • Starlight Prairieblues baptisia (Justin’s pick) • The Rising Sun redbud (Loki’s pick) • Tojen toad lily (Justin’s pick)

Woodland phlox

Phlox divaricata ‘Manita’

Dicentra spectabilis ‘Alba’

Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 3’ Width: to 3’ Zones: 3 - 9 Special Features: Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Perennials don’t get much more elegant than this! The purewhite version of old-fashioned bleeding heart forms a big mound of soft blue-green foliage. Then in April and May, it erupts into bloom, bearing chains of dangling, heart-shape flowers. Note: In June, this plant often starts to go dormant, especially if there’s hot, dry weather. Plant it with hostas or astilbes so you don’t have a bare spot in your summer shade garden.

White epimedium

Edpimedium x youngianum ‘Niveum’ Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 18” Width: to 18” Zones: 5 - 8 Special Features: Groundcover, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant, Drought tolerant

White works with everything in the garden, so this delightful woodland gem is sure to work for you. It creates a mound of shield-shaped foliage that looks good from spring to autumn (often picking up reddish tones at season’s end), and airy clusters of white flowers in spring. It’s a must-have for fairy gardens!

Bowman’s root

Gillenia trifoliata or Porteranthus trifoliatus Light: Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 3’ Width: to 2’ Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Native, Staff favorite

Bowman’s root is an awesome native plant that’s sadly overlooked in a lot of gardens. We love it, though, and are proud to offer it. Blooming in early summer (we have it planted with dogwood and a white peony), it has airy white flowers over attractive textured foliage. In fall, the leaves turn a lovely shade of gold, giving it a second season of interest. Give this one a try!

Foamflower

Tiarella cordifolia ‘Susquehanna’

Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 12” Width: to 16” Zones: 3 - 9 Special Features: Fragrant

Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 4” Width: to 36” Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Groundcover, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Offering gorgeous, fragrant, silvery-lilac-white flowers, Manita woodland phlox is a charming native, spring-blooming, long-lived shade-loving perennial. It thrives in soil that’s rich in organic matter; add lots of compost when planting it so it can put on the best possible show.

Give your shade garden a uniquely beautiful carpet of color with Susquehanna foamflower. This beauty maple-like offers green leaves strongly marked with purple and stems of fluffy white flowers in spring and early summer. Grow it under shrubs such as fothergilla or oakleaf hydrangea to add more interest to your garden.

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

Pink & Red Per en n ials for Shad e Grapeleaf anemone

Anemone tomentosa ‘Robustissima’

Light: Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 3’ Width: to 3’ Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Good cut flower, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

The perfect plant for inducing a little extra color into the fall garden, grapeleaf anemone is a vigorous grower that produces tall stems of pink flowers in late summer and early autumn. It’s easy to grow and excellent for cutting. Note: This plant will grow in full sun if you keep it moist; if your soil is likely to dry out, we recommend it in partial shade.

Columbine

Aquilegia ‘Winky Double Rose-White’ Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 14” Width: to 14” Zones: 3 - 8 Special Features: Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

An incredibly elegant columbine, Winky Double Rose-White bears fully double flowers that have pink spurs and white centers flushed with pink. It’s easy to grow and pairs beautifully with astilbes and lungwort.

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

Columbine

Aquilegia canadensis ‘Pink Lanterns’ Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 12” Width: to 12” Zones: 3 - 8 Special Features: Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

New for 2012! We love how well the red-and-yellow native columbine performs here in Iowa, but sometimes we’re looking for a softer color. Pink Lanterns is the answer: This new variety shows off delightful pink-andwhite blooms in late spring and early summer. It’s the perfect partner for woodland phlox!

Astilbe ‘August Light ’ Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 36” Width: to 24” Zones: 3 - 8 Special Features: Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Extend your shade garden’s season with August Light astilbe. This winner shows off plumes of dark red flowers later than most other astilbes—mid- to late June and July here in Iowa. It does best in moist soil—keep it happy by never allowing it to dry out.

Astilbe Younique Carmine ‘Verscarmine’

Astilbe Color Flash

Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 2’ Width: to 2’ Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 2’ Width: to 2’ Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

An incredible bloomer, you’ll see more flowers from the Younique series than any other astilbe out there! This particular variety shows off bright fuchsiared flowers in early and midsummer. Don’t let it dry out and it’ll get bigger and better every year!

What sets this stunning variety apart is its bright green spring foliage that turns to rich burgundy-purple in late summer and autumn. In early summer, it shows off feather-like plumes of soft pink flowers that add an airy feeling to the garden. The foliage shows off best coloration when it gets filtered sun. Color Flash astilbe hates dry conditions, so be sure to give it consistent moisture.

Astilbe Younique Silver y Pink

Astilbe Younique Cerise

Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 2’ Width: to 2’ Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 16” Width: to 18” Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

We’re impressed with how many flower spikes this astilbe produces—and we’re sure you will be, too! Younique Silvery Pink is a vigorous variety that gets better every year, producing feathery plumes of silver-pink flowers in early summer.

Give this astilbe a moist spot in shade or part shade and it’ll amaze you with its floral display in late spring and early summer. Like other astilbes, its stems are topped by feathery plumes. In this variety, they’re a bold hot-pink color that looks particularly fantastic with blue hostas.

Masterwort

Astrantia major ‘Ruby Wedding’ Light: Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 20” Width: to 18” Zones: 4 - 7 Special Features: Good cut flower, Attracts butterflies

Masterwort is an under-used perennial that offers unique flowers off and on from late spring to midsummer. Ruby Wedding offers rich red-purple flowers that hold up well in bouquets and attract butterflies. It grows best in moist, well-drained soil—don’t let this one dry out too much.

Fernleaf bleeding heart

Dicentra ‘Burning Hearts’

Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 12” Width: to 12” Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Deer-resistant, Attracts hummingbirds

A newer variety of bleeding heart, Burning Hearts is one of the most exceptional! It bears silvery-blue, fern-like foliage and is topped by clusters of deep, pinkish-red flowers on and off from spring to early autumn. It blooms best during cool, moist weather, so it often takes a break in summer’s heat— but the foliage is outstanding even without the flowers.

Turtlehead

Chelone lyonii ‘Hot Lips’ Light: Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 3’ Width: to 4’ Zones: 4 - 7 Special Features: Deer--resistant

An easy-growing perennial great for part shade or full sun (if the soil stays consistently moist), this plant blooms in August and September with clusters of flowers that look like turtles’ heads. It loves moist soil and is an ideal plant for growing in rain gardens. Try it with meadowsweet for a wet-loving combo that looks good all summer.

Bleeding heart

Dicentra spectabilis ‘Gold Heart’ Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 3’ Width: to 3’ Zones: 3 - 9 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

This stunner is an upgrade of old-fashioned bleeding heart. Its new feature is the glowing, golden foliage that really makes it stand out from other perennials in the shade. Gold Heart has the same beloved pink flowers, hanging as if from a chain in April and May.

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

Bleeding heart

Dicentra spectabilis ‘Valentine’ Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 3’ Width: to 3’ Zones: 3 - 9 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

New for 2012! Valentine represents a new twist on a traditional favorite. Old-fashioned bleeding heart bears pink flowers; Valentine’s blooms are a distinctive reddish-pink color. This perennial typically begins to go dormant in June, when hot, dry weather arrives—be sure to plant it with astilbe or hosta so you don’t end up with an empty spot in your garden.

Hellebore

Helleborus ‘Red Racer’ Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 22” Width: to 24” Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Developed by our friend, plant breeder Chris Hansen, this stunner offers big 3-inch-wide flowers in a wonderful shade of rich burgundy red. One of the first perennials to bloom, it starts its show before the tulips and daffodils and can stay in color for six weeks or so. It’s definitely a springtime thriller!

Lungwort

Pulmonaria ‘David Ward’ Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 15” Width: to 18” Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Love the look of hosta but have troubles growing them because of deer and rabbits? Try David Ward lungwort! This easy-to-grow perennial shows off mounds of gray-green leaves edged in white. In early spring, it shows off clusters of bright coral-pink blooms.

Toad lily

Tricyrtis ‘Sinonome’ Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 15’ Width: to 4’ Zones: 3 - 7

Dress up your fall garden with toad lily (an amazingly beautiful perennial with an unfortunate common name). It bears orchid-like flowers in creamy white; each bloom is heavily spotted in rich burgundy purple. It blooms in late summer and autumn, and grows best in moist, well-drained soil that’s rich in organic matter (such as compost).

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

Epimedium Epimedium x rubrum

Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 12” Width: to 18” Zones: 5 - 9 Special Features: Drought tolerant, Groundcover, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Grow epimedium if you have a dry, shady spot in your landscape! This selection offers reddish-pink flowers in early spring. They rise above shield-shaped foliage that remains attractive all season, often turning reddish in the fall.

Coralbells Heuchera ‘Paris’

Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 14” Width: to 14” Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Attracts hummingbirds, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Many of our coralbells were bred for their striking foliage; Paris was developed for its blooms! A very free-flowering selection, it starts blooming in early summer with deep rose-pink blossoms and can rebloom through late summer if it’s in moist, well-drained soil that’s rich in organic matter.

Rogersia pinnata ‘Chocolate Wings’ Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 10” Width: to 36” Zones: 5 - 9

A fantastic foliage perennial for the shade, Chocolate Wings rogersia shows off umbrella-shaped leaves that start out chocolate-brown in spring, go bronzy-green in summer, and pick up red tones in autumn. The leaves have a great texture, too. It’s an ideal plant partner for ligularias and astilbes as all three like soil that stays consistently moist.

Plants with Fu n Foli a ge Aralia racemosa Light: Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 5’ Width: to 5’ Zones: 3 - 8

Big and bold starts to describe aralia, an easy-to-grow native perennial that thrives in part shade. It has finely divided leaves that lend the plant a tropical look. In summer, it’s topped by clusters of tiny white flowers that develop into dark purple berries that attract birds. Very fun!

Ghost fern

Athyrium ‘Ghost’

Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 2’ Width: to 2’ Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Ghost is among the most attractive ferns. It bears upright fronds that are light green in color and heavily frosted in silver. It’s ideal for pairing with other silver-leaf varieties, such as lungwort. And best of all, it’s not invasive, so you don’t need to worry about it taking over your garden.

Japanese painted fern Athyrium ‘Branford Rambler’

Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 24” Width: to 24” Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Traditional Japanese painted fern is a stunning, but slow-growing plant. This hybrid grows a little faster, acting almost like a groundcover (though it’s not a quick spreader; you don’t have to worry about it taking over). The fronds are a rich green with dark red stems and a light silver overlay.

Japanese painted fern Athyrium niponicum var. pictum

Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 18” Width: to 24” Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

One of our favorite plants for adding texture to shady spaces, Japanese painted fern is a slow-growing species that has green leaves heavily overlaid with silver and bearing burgundy accents. It does best in moist, well-drained soil; don’t let it dry out. It’s amazing with Burgundy Glow ajuga and lungwort.

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

Coralbells

Heuchera ‘Stainless Steel’ Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 12” Width: to 24” Zones: 5 - 8 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

New for 2012! We’re excited about this cool new coralbells. Bred for fun foliage, the leaves emerge metallic silver in the spring. As they grow, the leaves bear darker veins, adding depth and dimension. The backsides of the leaves are a rich purple color, adding even more interest! Grow this with Japanese painted fern for an amazing, almost shimmy look in the shade.

Sedum hispanicum minus ‘Purple Form’ Light: Full Sun Height: to 15’ Width: to 4’ Zones: 3 - 7 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant, Drought tolerant

A no-fuss groundcover perfect for sunny spots, this sedum offers soft, tiny foliage that is blue-green in spring and summer, but turns varying shades of purple come fall and winter. In late summer it bursts into bloom with pink star-shaped flowers.

Variegated sedum

Sedum spurium ‘Tricolor’

Light: Full Sun Height: to 4” Width: to 8” Zones: 3 - 8 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant, Drought tolerant

This beauty looks delicate, but actually is remarkably tough. A low groundcover, it has dark green leaves edged in white and pink, making it almost seem to glow at dusk. In summer, it shows off its pink flowers, but we really love it more for its foliage.

Variegated clover

Trifolium repens ‘Dragon’s Blood’

Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 4” Width: to 9” Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Groundcover

One of the boldest, most eye-catching groundcovers around, this variegated clover forms to create weed-smothering mat of green foliage decorated with touches of silver and red. Definitely a winner

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

Ornamental rhubarb

Rheum palmatum var. tanguticum

Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 6’ Width: to 4’ Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

One of the biggest, boldest plants around, add ornamental rhubarb to your garden if you want to catch attention. The plant forms a mound of finely cut foliage (a bit like giant maple leaves) topped by 6-foot-tall stalks of fluffy reddish-pink flowers in midsummer. This plant does best in moist, welldrained soil; for best performance, don’t let it dry out in summer.

Employ Variegated Foliage Color in the garden can come from leaves as well as flowers. Plants that offer variegated foliage—that is, marked with other colors—add color and interest all season long. Here at Loki’s Garden, we’re big fans of variegated foliage, as you can probably tell! Variegation comes in all kinds of plants. In the world of annuals, coleus perhaps best known for its foliage. Colorful coleus leaves may be marked with yellow, gold, chartreuse, red, brown, purple, or black. Hostas are some of the best-known variegated perennials. These shade lovers often bear leaves that have white, cream, yellow, chartreuse, or blue centers. Another of our other favorite variegated plants this year is Thunder and Lightning knautia, a very long-blooming variety that has white-edged leaves and ruby-red flowers. In the world of trees and shrubs, it may be hard to find plants more beautiful than Golden Shadows pagoda dogwood, which features gold-edged leaves or Carnival hedge maple, which offers leaves delightfully splashed with white. Evergreens, too, offer variegation. Argenteospicata Norway spruce, for example, lights up the spring landscape with its new growth that emerges silvery white. And dragon’s eye pine bears needles banded in brilliant golden-yellow.

O r n a m en tal Gr a s se s Big bluestem

Andropogon gerardii

Light: Full Sun Height: to 6’ Width: to 3’ Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Drought tolerant, Native

The king of the tall grass prairie, big bluestem is a majestic native grass that bears beautiful blue-green foliage in spring. In summer, the grass blades go green, and then in autumn they develop burgundy-purple tones. This grass adapts to a wide range of soils, from moist to dry, and has an extensive root system that makes it good for controlling erosion on banks and hillsides.

Korean feather reedgrass

Calamagrostis brachytricha

Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 4’ Width: to 3’ Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

One of the best plants around for heavy clay soil, Korean feather reedgrass likes moist soil. It features big, silver-pink plumes in late summer that turn tan as they mature. Note: Unlike many grasses, Korean feather reedgrass doesn’t tolerate drought very well. It’s a fun pick for rain gardens!

Variegated feather reedgrass Calamagrostis ‘Avalanche’

Light: Full Sun Height: to 5’ Width: to 2’ Zones: 5 - 9 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Variegated feather reedgrass is a favorite. It’s an awardwinning variety loved by landscapers (as evidenced by its use in the plantings along Fleur Drive in Des Moines and Jordan Creek Parkway in West Des Moines) and gardeners alike. Avalanche is an awesome upgrade with white stripes down the center of the leaf. Definitely an attention grabber!

Karl Foerster feather reedgrass Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’

Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 5’ Width: to 2’ Zones: 5 - 9 Special Features: Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Award-winning Karl Foerster feather reedgrass is one of the most popular grasses around. It shows off dark green leaves that stay upright through fall and well into winter. In late summer, it bears wheat-like stalks that turn shades of tan and buff in autumn. Note: Despite its popularity, Karl Foerster feather reedgrass isn’t a native prairie grass. It does best in consistently moist soil.

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

Bristle-leaf sedge

Carex eburnea

Blue sedge

Carex flacca ‘Blue Zinger’

Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 1’ Width: to 1’ Zones: 2 - 8 Special Features: Groundcover, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 18” Width: to 18” Zones: 3 - 7 Special Features: Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Ultra-hardy, this native sedge is a good pick for adding texture to moist, shaded gardens. It has soft, thread-like foliage that forms a porcupine-like mound that keeps its interest all the way through autumn.

Looking for an ornamental grass for the shade? Here’s one! Blue sedge offers silvery blue foliage that looks great from spring to fall (and may be evergreen in years with mild winters). It loves moist soil, though it grows well in average moisture conditions. Once established, it even takes a bit of drought. Try pairing it with variegated Japanese forestgrass for an amazing combination!

Sedge

Carex morrowii var. temnolepsis ‘Silk Tassel’ Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 12” Width: to 18” Zones: 5 - 9 Special Features: Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

A delightful sedge for moist, shady spaces, this plant offers green leaves that have a silvery-white stripe down the center. It’s easy to grow in moist soils, making it a terrific partner for ligularia and astilbe in a rain garden.

Purple moorgrass

Molinia caerulea ‘Skyracer’

Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 6’ Width: to 4’ Zones: 5 - 8 Special Features: Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

A beautiful ornamental grass for moist soil or rain gardens, Skyracer shows off blue-green foliage topped by purplish heads in midsummer. In autumn, it develops fine yellow color before turning tan. Unlike many grasses, this one doesn’t mind growing around black walnuts.

Northwind switchgrass

Panicum virgatum ‘Northwind’

Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 6’ Width: to 3’ Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Native, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Northwind is a wonderful variety of switchgrass, a native prairie plant. It’s known for its upright habit and cloud-like seed heads in late summer and fall. Switchgrass is great for winter interest, too, and grows best in full sun and moist soil. It will tolerate some drought, but won’t thrive in consistently dry conditions.

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

Blue fescue

Festuca glauca ‘Elijah Blue’ Light: Full Sun Height: to 1’ Width: to 18” Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant, Groundcover, Drought tolerant

Blue fescue is one of the most versatile perennials around. Its silver-blue foliage looks great when used as an edging along garden beds or borders, or along walkways. It’s also striking when planted in large groupings, creating the look of an undulating cloud along the ground.

Dust Devil switchgrass Panicum virgatum ‘Dust Devil’

Light: Full Sun Height: to 5’ Width: to 3’ Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Native, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Switchgrass is one of our favorite ornamental grasses because of its colorful fall foliage and airy plumes. Dust Devil is a newer variety known for its ability to stand upright rather than flop. It has beautiful green leaf blades in summer that turn tones of burgundy-red in autumn.

Thundercloud switchgrass Panium virgatum ‘Thundercloud’

Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 8’ Width: to 5’ Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Native, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

A good ornamental grass for adding privacy, Thundercloud switchgrass is a newer selection of a native plant. It’s hardy, offers attractive blue-green foliage that stays standing up, and turns golden-yellow in autumn. It’s good for attracting birds and very dramatic in the fall and winter landscape.

Little bluestem

Indiangrass

Blue Heaven Schizachyrium scoparium ‘MinnblueA’

Sorghastrum nutans ‘Sioux Blue’

Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 4’ Width: to 3’ Zones: 3 - 9 Special Features: Drought tolerant, Native, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Light: Full Sun Height: to 5’ Width: to 3’ Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Drought tolerant, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Offering a little something for everyone, this beautiful, easy-to-grow, native, clump-forming ornamental grass bears delightful blue-green blades that turn a striking shade of purple-red in autumn. It does fine in clay and will grow around black walnuts.

Perfect Partners for Ornamental Grasses Ornamental grasses are some of the most versatile plants in the landscape. Here are some of our favorite plant combos with grasses. Avalanche feather reedgrass with Little Lime hydrangea: Lush hydrangea has a soft, romantic look that pairs perfectly with the upright form of the feather reedgrass. Plus the white stripe on Avalanche plays off the white hydrangea blooms. Both thrive in full sun and moist, well-drained soil. Blue Zinger sedge with Japanese painted fern: Another fun combo for shade, Blue Zinger offers silvery-blue foliage and a mounding form. It’s hard to find a better partner for Japanese painted fern, which has silver-flushed fronds (and contrasting burgundy accents). Dust Devil switchgrass with Blue Shag white pine: Switchgrass offers lovely, fluffy-looking seedheads in late summer and autumn; these play off the dwarf pine’s mounded shape. Dust Devil’s upright form contrasts the pine’s habit, as well. Both plants prefer a sunny spot and well-drained soil. Japanese forestgrass with astilbe: A fun pairing for shade, the forestgrass offers arching chartreuse leaves that are the perfect foil for finely divided, red-flushed astilbe foliage. Both varieties like moist soil that’s rich in organic matter. Little bluestem with Little Devil ninebark: In spring and summer, the ninebark’s bold burgundy foliage plays perfectly against the blue-green grass. In autumn, both bear similar wine-red hues. Little blustem and ninebark are both extra-tough prairie plants that can take hot, dry spots.

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

Trees & Shr u b s for Shad e Variegated hedge maple

Acer campestre ‘Carnival’

Light: Afternoon shade Height: to 10’ Width: to 10’ Zones: 5 - 8 Special Features: Attractive foliage

One of the most exceptional shade plants around, variegated hedge maple is a large shrub or small tree (depending how you prune it) that offers 4-inch leaves liberally splashed with white. It tolerates clay with ease, too.

Pawpaw

Asimina triloba

Light: Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 30’ Width: to 30’ Zones: 5 - 7

This North American native understory tree is interesting for its large (12-inch-long) tropical-looking leaves and delicious fruit, which is said to taste a bit like banana custard. In spring, it bears pretty purple flowers, as well. It grows best in moist, well-drained soil that has an acidic pH (so it will grow well with blueberries). Note: Pawpaw will thrive in full sun if the soil stays consistently moist.

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

Moosewood maple Acer pensylvanicum

Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 25’ Width: to 20’ Zones: 3 - 7

A North American native understory tree, moosewood maple can be treated like a large shrub or small tree. It bears greenish bark with bold white stripes when its young; the stripes fade a bit as the bark matures. In autumn, it bears impressive yellow fall color. It’s also called snakebark maple.

Variegated pagoda dogwood Golden Shadows Cornus alternifolia ‘W. Stackman’

Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon sun Height: to 15’ Width: to 15’ Zones: 4 - 8

An outstanding selection of a wonderful North American native plant, variegated pagoda dogwood is a large shrub or small tree that bears green leaves broadly edged in bright gold. It’s the perfect focal point for a shade garden and is useful in creating privacy. Like regular pagoda dogwood, it has wonderful horizontal branching and fantastic fall color.

Fothergilla ‘Blue Shadow ’ Light: Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 6’ Width: to 6’ Zones: 5 - 8 Special Features: Fragrant

Fothergilla puts on a show all season long! It starts in spring, when the beauty produces fluffy, honey-scented white flowers before it leafs out. Then the powder-blue foliage steals the show until autumn when the leaves turn outstanding shades of red and orange. It does best in well-drained soil that’s rich in organic matter and can take full sun if it doesn’t dry out.

Incrediball hydrangea

Incrediball Hydrangea arborescens ‘Abetwo’ Light: Sun to shade Height: to 5’ Width: to 5’ Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Good cut flower

A fun upgrade of good old-fashioned Annabelle, this hydrangea offers bigger flowers (to 8 inches across) and stronger stems. The flowers dry right on the plant if you leave them and are useful for crafting projects. It will grow in full sun, but the soil needs to be kept moist for best performance.

Endless Summer hydrangea

Hydrangea macrophylla Endless Summer ‘Bailmer

Light: Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 4’ Width: to 4’ Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Good cut flower

A delightful plant for partly shaded gardens, Endless Summer offers big clusters of blue or pink flowers, depending on your soil pH (acidic soils produce blue flowers; alkaline soils produce pink). It blooms on both new and old stems, so you’re sure to get a lovely showing of flowers even after the harshest winters. Endless Summer does best in moist soil with morning sun and afternoon shade.

Bella Anna hydrangea

Bella Anna Hydrangea arborescens ‘PIIHA-1’

Light: Sun to shade Height: to 5’ Width: to 5’ Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Good cut flower

It used to be that in our area, the blue- and pink-flowering hydrangeas were tough to grow. But Bella Anna helps that. It’s an easy-growing Annabelletype hydrangea that blooms on new wood every year, but offers pink flowers instead of white. Grow it in full sun for best flower color and don’t be afraid to prune it back hard in spring to encourage strong stems. Like most other hydrangeas, it’s a great cut flower. It will grow in full sun, but the soil needs to be kept moist for best performance.

Samantha hydrangea Hydrangea radiata ‘Samantha’

Light: Sun to shade Height: to 4’ Width: to 5’ Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Good cut flower

Similar to Annabelle, but a little smaller, Samantha also stands out because the new leaves emerge silvery white, then mature to rich green with bright silver-white undersides. Samantha will grow in full sun, but the soil needs to be kept moist.

Endless Summer Blushing Bride hydrangea Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Blushing Bride’

Light: Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 5’ Width: to 5’ Zones: 5 - 9 Special Features: Good cut flower

More vigorous, and a little more elegant than the original Endless Summer, Blushing Bride offers big rounded clusters of white flowers softly blushed with pink or blue (depending on your soil pH). It’s a natural partner for astilbe, coralbells, or Japanese painted fern.

Light-O-Day hydrangea

Light-O-Day Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Bailday’ Light: Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 5’ Width: to 5’ Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Good cut flower

Who cares about flowers when you can enjoy leaves like this! Light-O-Day is a gorgeous selection that shows off big, dark green leaves broadly edged in silvery white. It’s not a good bloomer for us, but if you do see the flowers, they’ll be lacecaps in shades of blue or pink, depending on the pH of your soil.

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

Tre e s & Shr u b s for S u n Shantung maple

Acer truncatum ‘Fire Dragon’

Light: Full Sun Height: to 30’ Width: to 35’ Zones: 5 - 8

New for 2012! A bold choice for adding a splash of fall color to your yard, this maple offers foliage that’s bronzy when young, green through the summer, and then eye-popping scarlet-red in fall. This maple is one of the best for those hot, dry spots.

Evil Ways butterfly bush

Buddleja davidii ‘Evil Ways’

Dwarf river birch

Fox Valley Betula nigra ‘Little King’ Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 10’ Width: to 12’ Zones: 4 - 9

The answer to folks wanting a beautiful birch that won’t get bigger than their house, Fox Valley is a charming dwarf form that only grows about 10 feet tall. It has the same peeling cinnamon bark and golden fall color that other birches do—it just stays shorter. It thrives in moist, well-drained soil. Keep it happy by giving it good drinks during dry weather.

Blue butterfly bush

Flutterby Grande Blueberry Cobbler Buddleja ‘Podaras #4’

Light: Full Sun Height: to 4’ Width: to 4’ Zones: 5 - 9 Special Features: Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds, Fragrant

Light: Full Sun Height: to 6’ Width: to 4’ Zones: 5 - 9 Special Features: Attractts butterflies and hummingbirds, Fragrant, Drought tolerant

This striking newer variety shows off silvery foliage and intriguing clusters of blue-gray flowers and matures to a rich yellow-orange color. It blooms all summer and fall, attracting scores of butterflies. This variety produces very few seeds, unlike older butterfly bush varieties, so it blooms a lot more in the garden. This is definitely a variety to try if you want something different!

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

Peach butterfly bush

Flutterby Grande Peach Cobbler Buddleja ‘Podras #4’ Light: Full Sun Height: to 6’ Width: to 4’ Zones: 5 - 9 Special Features: Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds, Fragrant, Drought tolerant

A sister to Blueberry Cobbler, this outstanding selection offers interesting peachy-pink flowers from midsummer until frost. It doesn’t set seed, so it has more energy to keep producing bloom after bloom after bloom! The attractive flowers are set off nicely by the silvery foliage.

Dwarf pink butterfly bush

Golden butterfly bush

Buddleja Flutterby Grande Sweet Marmalade ‘Podaras #2’

Light: Full Sun Height: to 6’ Width: to 4’ Zones: 5 - 9 Special Features: Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds, Fragrant

We’re excited about all our new varieties this year, but Flutterby Grande Sweet Marmalade butterfly bush is extra special. We got a sneak peek at it last year and fell in love with the fuzzy, silvery foliage. It looks a bit like a giant lamb’s ears! At the risk of sounding like an infomercial, wait—that’s not all! This variety also shows off small clusters of orange flowers. It’s a must if you have a hot, dry spot and want something unique in your landscape.

Dwarf blue butterfly bush

Buddleja Flutterby Petite Tutti Fruitti ‘Podaras #13’

Buddleja Flutterby Petite Blue Heaven ‘Podaras #8’

Light: Full Sun Height: to 2’ Width: to 4’ Zones: 5 - 9 Special Features: Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds, Fragrant

Another new variety in the Flutterby series, Tutti Fruitti is a groundcover butterfly bush with an extraordinarily long bloom season. It shows off fragrant clusters of fuchsia-pink flowers from summer to fall. It’s a great grower no matter where you plant it.

Beautyberr y

Callicarpa dichotoma ‘Issai’ Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 4’ Width: to 4’ Zones: 5 - 8 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Weeping Siberian pea

Caragana arborescens ‘Walker’

This butterfly bush represents a plant-breeding breakthrough! It’s a dwarf variety, growing only 2 feet tall, that flowers all summer and fall, producing lavender-blue clusters of fragrant flowers. Use it as a groundcover, in the front of a border, in containers, or even in hanging baskets!

Carolina allspice Calycanthus floridus

Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 10’ Width: to 12’ Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Drought tolerant, Fragrant

Carolina allspice adds an enchanting fragrance to the landscape in late May or June when its double dark burgundy-red flowers open up. The shiny dark green foliage turns gold in fall, offering another season of appeal in the landscape.

New Jersey tea Ceanothus americanus

Light: Full Sun Height: to 6’ Width: to 4’ Zones: 2 - 7 Special Features: Drought tolerant

Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 4’ Width: to 5’ Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds, Drought tolerant, Fragrant, Native

This small tree may be the toughest plant we carry! Native to Siberia, it’s extremely tolerant of cold temperatures, drought, and heat. It’s pretty, too, offering feathery foliage that looks good from spring to autumn. In spring, it also shows off pea-flower-shaped golden-yellow blooms.

Give your garden a splash of something special with New Jersey tea. This easygrowing shrub shows off clusters of fragrant white flowers in late spring and early summer. It tolerates heat and drought like a champ, making it a great choice for gardeners who are looking for a low-maintenance plant.

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

Buttonbush

Cephalanthus occidentalis Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 6’ Width: to 8’ Zones: 5 - 9 Special Features: Attracts butterflies, Fragrant, Native

A top pick for rain gardens, buttonbush is a native shrub that loves moist soil. It shows off bright green foliage and can be a little late to emerge in spring. In summer, it shows off round clusters of tiny white flowers that look like little globes.

Purple-leaf redbud

Burgundy Hearts Cercis canadensis ‘Greswan’ Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 25’ Width: to 35’ Zones: 5 - 8 Special Features: Attractive foliage

An upgrade of older Forest Pansy (a gorgeous redbud that’s not reliable here in Iowa), Burgundy Hearts appears to be a little more hardy, offer deeper purple leaves, and hold its purple color better in the heat. (The leaves do fade to a purple-flushed green in summer.) It has pink flowers on the branches before it leafs out and yellowish fall color.

Purple-leaf weeping redbud

Cercis canadensis ‘Ruby Falls’

Light: Sun to shade Height: to 6’ Width: to 4’ Zones: 5 - 8 Special Features: Attractive foliage

Just like Lavender Twist, this smaller redbud features branches that all arch down from the trunk, creating a waterfall effect. Where this variety is different is the stunning dark purple-red leaves. It’s very dramatic in the landscape, especially when used near a water feature and set off by lighter plants such as Vanilla Strawberry hydrangea! Give it good moisture if you grow this guy in full sun.

Variegated weeping redbud

Cercis canadensis ‘Whitewater’

Light: Shade, Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 6’ Width: to 4’ Zones: 5 - 8 Special Features: Attractive foliage

Perhaps the most elegant small tree for shade, this redbud features a weeping habit and green leaves dramatically variegated with bright white. It positively shines, as if spotlighted!

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

Katsura

Cercidiphyllum japonicum Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 60’ Width: to 60’ Zones: 5 - 8

This cheery tree shows off blue-green heart-shaped leaves that remind us of redbuds; they’re just a little smaller. In autumn, they turn a splendid shade of apricot and, oddly enough, release the scent of caramel into the air as they drop. It thrives in moist, well-drained soil and part shade. If you grow it in full sun, be sure to keep it well watered during times of drought.

Weeping redbud

Lavender Twist Cercis canadensis ‘Covey’ Light: Sun to shade Height: to 8’ Width: to 8’ Zones: 5 - 8 Special Features: Attractive foliage

The perfect redbud for smaller spots, Lavender Twist offers arching branches that twist out from the trunk, creating a bold effect in winter and early spring when the stems are bedecked in lavender-pink flowers like Christmas lights. It tolerates clay soil and black walnuts, making it useful for just about any landscape, though if you grow it in full sun, water it well during dry spells.

Redbud

Cercis canadensis ‘Pauline Lily’ Light: Sun to shade Height: to 20’ Width: to 18’ Zones: 5 - 8

We’re crazy for all the new redbuds with fancy foliage, but Pauline Lily caught our eye for its flowers. Instead of being bold, bright lavender pink, these blooms are more subtle; they’re almost white flushed with soft pink. The effect is charming and magical!

Harr y Lauder ’s walking stick Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’

Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 12’ Width: to 12’ Zones: 4 - 8

Perhaps the most distinctive plant in our collection, this shrub bears curving, twisting branches that create an interesting shape in summer and a fantastic silhouette in winter. The dark green leaves take on some fall color, but it’s really the twisting branches that stand out.

Golden smokebush

Golden Spirit Cotinus coggygria ‘Ancot’ Light: Full Sun Height: to 15’ Width: to 15’ Zones: 5 - 8 Special Features: Attractive foliage

Most smokebush varieties are rich purple, but Golden Spirit (as you might guess from the name) bears leaves on the opposite side of the spectrum. Gorgeous golden-chartreuse foliage adds more interest when it turns orange, burgundy, or red in autumn.

Variegated bush honeysuckle

Cool Splash Diervilla ‘LPDC Podaras’

Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 3’ Width: to 3’ Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Attractive foliage

Make a statement in your shade garden with variegated bush honeysuckle. This small shrub looks great from spring to fall because its rich green leaves are broadly edged in white. In early summer, it shows off small clusters of yellow flowers that are kind of cute, but the real appeal comes from the great foliage effect.

Variegated rose of Sharon

Sugar Tip Hibiscus syriacus ‘American Irene Scott’ Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 12’ Width: to 6’ Zones: 5 - 8 Special Features: Drought tolerant

Uncommonly beautiful, Sugar Tip rose of Sharon boasts double cotton-candy-pink flowers and maple-shaped leaves decorated with creamy-white edges. It’s easy to grow and long blooming, starting in July and continuing through September or October. It’s incredibly easy to grow, too, tolerating black walnuts, drought, and clay!

White rose of Sharon

White Chiffon Hibiscus syriacus ‘Notwoodtwo’ Light: Full Sun Height: to 8’ Width: to 6’ Zones: 5 - 8 Special Features: Attracts hummingbirds

Few shrubs are prettier than this summer beauty. White Chiffon rose of Sharon offers large, semidouble, pure white flowers. It’s especially breathtaking when paired with summer-blooming hydrangeas such as Vanilla Strawberry or White Diamonds!

Deutzia

Chardonnay Pearls Deutzia gracilis ‘Duncan’ Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 3’ Width: to 3’ Zones: 5 - 8 Special Features: Attractive foliage

This perennial-sized shrub is perfect for adding a dash of gold to your beds and borders! Chardonnay Pearls offers chartreuse foliage that looks good from spring to fall and forms a mounded, attractive plant. In early spring, it shows off a fantastic display of pure white flowers.

Persimmon

Diospyros virginiana

Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 60’ Width: to 30’ Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Drought tolerant

An unusual native tree, persimmon is easy to grow and thrives in moist, well-drained soils. Once established, it tolerates dry conditions well. It offers interesting ridged bark, fragrant small flowers in spring, and female trees bear edible orange fruits in autumn. If you want to grow it for the sweet fruits, you’ll need a male and female tree.

Blue rose of Sharon

Blue Chiffon Hibiscus syriacus ‘Notwoodthree’ Light: Full Sun Height: to 10’ Width: to 6’ Zones: 5 - 8 Special Features: Attracts hummingbirds

Rose of Sharon is one of the longest-blooming shrubs around. The color parade starts in July and continues through fall. Blue Chiffon is an outstanding selection that offers tropical-looking semidouble flowers in a lovely shade of lavender blue. It’s one of our favorites!

Bombshell hydrangea Hydrangea paniculata ‘Bombshell’

Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 3’ Width: to 4’ Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Good cut flower

Among the easiest of all hydrangeas to grow, this stunning selection is known for its dwarf habit and intense flower power. It grows only 3 feet tall and is said to produce more blooms than any other hydrangea variety! Bombshell is perfect for mixing in a border with annuals or perennials, lining walkways, or dressing up the base of a deck. It blooms in mid- to late summer, producing clusters of pure white flowers.

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

Great Star hydrangea

Great Star Hydrangea paniculata ‘Le Vasterival’ Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 7’ Width: to 8’ Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Good cut flower

Discovered in France, Great Star is a summer-blooming, sun-loving hydrangea that has magnificent clusters of blooms; each floret can be 4 inches across, creating quite a stir in the garden! It begins producing those amazing flowers in late July and continues through the fall. Like other types of Hydrangea paniculata, Great Star will bloom reliably here in Iowa every summer.

Limelight hydrangea

Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’

Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 8’ Width: to 8’ Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Good cut flower

Perhaps the most popular hydrangea around, Limelight is a sun lover that offers big clusters of chartreuse-tinged white flowers that fade to pink. It starts blooming in midsummer and continues to repeat until fall, giving you a good few months of color. In autumn, the foliage may turn gold. The flowers dry beautifully and are often used in wedding bouquets.

Vanilla Strawberr y hydrangea

Vanilla Strawberry Hydrangea paniculata ‘Renhy’

Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 7’ Width: to 5’ Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Good cut flower, Staff favorite

One of the hottest newer varieties, Vanilla Strawberry is a big shrub offers huge clusters of white flowers that fade to strawberry pink as they mature. The color effect lasts almost a month—and the plants continue to rebloom from July to fall.

St. John’s wort

Blue Velvet Hypericum ‘CCF - LPC1’ Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 3’ Width: to 3’ Zones: 4 - 7

A compact shrub that’s great for growing along walkways or to mix in with perennials for winter structure, this St. John’s wort offers really pretty bluegreen leaves and is topped with bright golden-yellow flowers in midsummer.

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

Little Lime hydrangea Little Lime Hydrangea paniculata ‘‘Jane’

Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 4’ Width: to 6’ Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Good cut flower

A fun new twist on Limelight, an old favorite, Little Lime has a compact habit, making it easier to use in the garden. Otherwise the features are the same: Big white flowers that fade to chartreuse, then pink; sturdy stems, and an easy-growing nature.

Phantom hydrangea Hydrangea paniculata ‘Phantom’

Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 10’ Width: to 8’ Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Good cut flower

We suspect this plant will knock your socks off: Phantom offers the largest flowers we’ve ever seen on a hydrangea. They’re much larger than Limelight, for example! The blooms emerge cream and mature to a bright white. They’re held on sturdy stems that don’t flop. Because this hydrangea blooms on new wood, you can cut it back hard in spring to keep its size under control.

White Diamonds hydrangea

White Diamonds Hydrangea paniculata ‘HYPMAD 1’ Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 4’ Width: to 5’ Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Good cut flower

White Diamonds is a favorite of our very own Loki. Why does he love it? That’s easy—it’s a no-fuss variety that shows off big clusters of white flowers from mid- to late summer. The florets are large and a beautiful, clean white. The shrub doesn’t require any pruning and blooms reliably every summer. Grow it and we think it’ll become one of your favorites, too.

St. John’s wort

Hypericum calycinum ‘Brigadoon’ Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 18” Width: to 24” Zones: 5 - 7 Special Features: Attractive foliage

Wow! This variety offers beautiful golden-yellow foliage from spring to fall. It’s easy to grow, tolerating a range of conditions—including dry soil and deer—once established. In time it will spread a bit, making a fun groundcover for slopes.

Winterberr y

Ilex verticillata ‘‘Jim Dandy’ Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 6’ Width: to 6’ Zones: 3 - 9 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

If you’d like to punctuate your fall and winter garden with gorgeous red winterberries, you’ll want a few Jim Dandy around. While this variety doesn’t produce colorful fruits, it is necessary for its sister variety, Red Sprite, to do so. Winterberry is an adaptable North American native shrub that thrives in moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. It’s a good plant for rain gardens.

Beautybush

Dream Catcher Kolkwitzia ‘Maradco’ Light: Morning sun/Afternoon shade Height: to 9’ Width: to 9’ Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Attractive foliage

Showing off cheery chartreuse foliage that looks brilliant in spring and summer, it’s also decorated with soft pink flowers in May. In autumn, the leaves shift to warm shades of orange and gold, making a picturesque point in the fall landscape.

Ninebark

Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Dart’s Gold’ Light: Full Sun Height: to 5’ Width: to 5’ Zones: 3 - 7 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

One of the toughest plants around, ninebark is a native shrub that tolerates heat, drought, clay, and deer. It’s easy to grow, making ninebark one of the best choices for beginning gardeners. Dart’s Gold is an exciting dwarf selection that offers brilliant golden-lime foliage and white flowers in summer.

Ninebark

Little Devil Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Donna May’ Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 4’ Width: to 4’ Zones: 3 - 7 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

This charmer bears all the benefits of Diabolo ninebark—great foliage, easy to grow, etc.—but is a smaller size, making it easier to fit in the landscape. In fact, it’s a great addition to the perennial garden, pairing beautifully with coneflowers and black-eyed Susan. And it’s the perfect substitution to purple barberry if you’re looking for something a little different (and less spiny).

Winterberr y

Red Sprite Ilex verticillata ‘Nana’ Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 3’ Width: to 3’ Zones: 3 - 9

Winterberry is a great plant for attracting birds or adding color to your garden in the winter season because of its bright red fruits. This selection is easy to tuck into the garden because of its small size; mix it in with perennials or add it to your foundation planting. Note: Winterberry plants come in male and female varieties; only female varieties (such as Red Sprite) are capable of producing fruits. But they do need a male variety (such as Jim Dandy) nearby to pollinate them.

Weeping crabapple Ruby Tears Malus ‘Bailears’

Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 10’ Width: to 15’ Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Attractive foliage

The perfect crabapple for small-space yards, Ruby Tears is a stunner with rich purple-green foliage in spring and summer, lovely yellow-orange autumn color, and bright pink flowers in spring. Unlike older crabapples, it holds onto its fruit until birds eat it, so it doesn’t leave a mess. It has a weeping habit, with branches that gracefully arch out and down from the stems.

Ninebark

Diabolo Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Monlo’ Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 10’ Width: to 10’ Zones: 3 - 7 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Big and bold only begins to describe this ninebark, which along with its easy-to-grow nature, sports dark purple leaves that turn rich burgundy in autumn. In summer, it’s decorated with little white flowers. It’s a vigorous shrub, making a distinct large hedge or privacy fence.

Dwarf mock orange Philadelphus ‘Miniature Snowflake’

Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 3’ Width: to 3’ Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Fragrant

It’s easy to mix this compact mock orange into the garden because of its dwarf habit. It grows about the same size as a peony and offers a spring show of very fragrant pure white flowers. The dark green foliage may take on yellow tones in fall, as well!

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

Ninebark

Summer Wine Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Seward’ Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 4’ Width: to 4’ Zones: 3 - 7 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

An intermediate form between big Diabolo and Little Devil, Summer Wine also features gorgeous purple-red foliage. It’s helpful to plant this variety where it gets good airflow; in wet summers, it can suffer from powdery mildew, a common disease that makes it drop its leaves early.

Purple-leaf rose

Rosa glauca

Light: Full Sun Height: to 8’ Width: to 7’ Zones: 3 - 8 Special Features: Attractive foliage

Extra hardy and quite easy to grow, this wild rose offers unique foliage—the blue green leaves are heavily flushed with purple, especially as they emerge. In May and June, the plant is decorated with pretty single pink flowers. In late summer and autumn, it extends the show with attractive orange hips that may stay on the plant through early winter.

Red Shrub Rose

Kashmir Rosa ‘Baimir’

Light: Full Sun Height: to 4’ Width: to 3’ Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Good cut flower

One of the most elegant shrub roses we’ve seen, Kashmir bears big, velvetyred flowers that look like florists’ roses. It’s gorgeous when mixed with Little Devil ninebark and little bluestem!

Pink Shrub Rose

Pinktopia Rosa ‘Balmas’

Light: Full Sun Height: to 4’ Width: to 3’ Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Good cut flower

This shrub begins blooming in June, bearing beautiful clusters of cotton-candy-pink flowers all the way through frost. They seem to shine over the dark green leaves (which are tinged with red as they develop). It’s an amazing plant to mix in the perennial border; we love it with Rozanne geranium and Blue Paradise phlox.

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

Tiger Eyes sumac

Tiger Eyes Rhus typhina ‘Bailtiger’

Light: Full Sun Height: to 8’ Width: to 6’ Zones: 4 - 8 Special Features: Attractive foliage

Tiger Eyes sumac is a perfect plant for those gardeners who want to make a statement in the garden. It’s big, bold, and beautiful with fine-textured chartreuse foliage that turns construction-zone orange in the fall. As it matures, it produces clusters of rust-red fruits that attract birds in the winter. Like other sumacs, it does have a tendency to create a colony, but this one is easy to keep under control.

White Shrub Rose

Champagne Wishes Rosa ‘Baicham’ Light: Full Sun Height: to 4’ Width: to 3’ Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Good cut flower

New for 2012! If you don’t grow roses because they require a lot of care, check out the Easy Elegance series we carry at Loki’s Garden! Diseaseresistant Champagne Wishes is a compact variety that bears fully double blooms that open a warm creamy white and mature to pure white. It blooms from June to frost without spraying, feeding or other special care!

Pink Shrub Rose Little Mischief Rosa ‘Baiief’

Light: Full Sun Height: to 3’ Width: to 4’ Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Good cut flower

An especially floriferous variety of practically no-care shrub rose, Little Mischief bears a profusion of rich fuchsia-pink flowers from June to frost. It’s perfect for adding a little curb appeal to the front yard—especially if you plant some peonies, baptisia, and daffodils with it to start the show in spring.

Elderberr y

Black Beauty Sambucus bigra ‘Eva’ Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 10’ Width: to 10’ Zones: 4 - 7 Special Features: Attractive foliage, Attracts butterflies, Fragrant

Often mistaken for a Japanese maple, Black Lace is a big shrub with dark purple foliage that’s finely cut, creating a lacy appearance. In early summer, it shows off big clusters of pink flowers that attract butterflies. These flowers, when pollinated, become glossy black fruits that attract birds.

Coralberr y

Sweet Symphoricarpos ‘Kolmagics’ Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 3’ Width: to 3’ Zones: 4 - 9 Special Features: Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Fill your fall garden with fresh pink color! Sweet coralberry bears little pink flowers in summer that turn into big, pearl-shaped pink berries in the fall. They hold onto the branches well, even into early winter, creating weeks of color. It’s easy to grow and a small plant with big impact.

Japanese tree lilac

Snowdance Syringa reticulata ‘Bailnce’ Light: Full Sun Height: to 20’ Width: to 20’ Zones: 3 - 7 Special Features: Fragrant, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

A stunning small tree that will fill your yard with a soft, sweet fragrance in June, Snowdance is a newer variety that features a compact habit, no unsightly seedpods, and a reliable show of blooms every year.

Reblooming lilac Bloomerang Syringa ‘Penda’

Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 5’ Width: to 6’ Zones: 3 - 7 Special Features: Drought tolerant, Fragrant, Deer- and Rabbit-resistant

Here you have it: The world’s first reblooming lilac! We were able to get some in last fall and are happy to offer it all season this year. Bloomerang is a dwarf selection that blooms in early summer like most of its cousins, but then in July it starts reblooming. If you cut the dead flowers off, you’ll get a good show all the way through fall!

Doublefire viburnum

Viburnum plicatum ‘Summer Snowflake’ Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 5’ Width: to 5’ Zones: 5 - 8

A compact, long-blooming shrub that’s very beautiful, Summer Snowflake puts on a big spring show when it bursts into bloom, bearing flat-top clusters of pure white flowers. It blooms on and off throughout the rest of the summer and autumn when the dark green leaves turn delightful reddish-purple. It also has berries that attract birds.

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

Edib le P l an t s Blushing Delight columnar apple Light: Full Sun Height: to 10’ Width: to 2’ Zones: 4 - 9

New for 2012! The ideal solution if you want to grow apples but have limited space, Blushing Delight was developed for its narrow, compact habit. Grow it in the ground or in large, 48-inch-wide containers! Note: It needs another variety of apple nearby to help with pollination so you get good fruit set.

Golden Treat columnar apple Light: Full Sun Height: to 10’ Width: to 2’ Zones: 4 - 9

New for 2012! Golden Treat is a part of the Urban Columnar apple series, which were developed for a narrow habit that makes them easy harvest and landscape with. Perfect for growing it in the ground or big containers, you can enjoy fresh apples just about anywhere you live. Note: It needs another variety of apple nearby to help with pollination so you get good fruit set.

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG

Frostbite apple Light: Full Sun Height: to 15’ Width: to 15’ Zones: 3 - 9

Developed at the University of Minnesota (so you know it’s hardy!), Frostbite is actually an older variety from the 1920s (in fact, it’s a grandparent of popular Honeycrisp) that bears tangy, sweet, juicy fruits. Though they’re small (around 2½ inches across), they’re positively packed with flavor. Note: It needs another variety of apple nearby to help with pollination so you get good fruit set.

Honeycrisp apple Light: Full Sun Height: to 15’ Width: to 15’ Zones: 3 - 9

Another fine apple developed at the University of Minnesota (so you know it’s hardy!), Honeycrisp is known for its crisp, juicy fruits that store well. It’s one of the most popular apples on the market and one you can easily grow at home. Note: It needs another variety of apple nearby to help with pollination so you get good fruit set.

BlackIce plum Light: Full Sun Height: to 10’ Width: to 18’ Zones: 3 - 9

Developed by Dr. Brian Smith at the University of Wisconsin—River Falls (one of our horticulturists college professors), this variety offers big, supermarket-quality fruits on a hardy plant. They’re absolutely delicious! Note: It needs another variety of plum nearby to help with pollination so you get good fruit set.

Pioneer apricot Light: Full Sun Height: to 15’ Width: to 20’ Zones: 4 - 8

Grow your own apricots! It’s easy with Pioneer, a self-pollinating variety that bears sweetly delicious golden-yellow fruits. Note: Like other fruit trees, it thrives in full sun; moist, well-drained soil; and benefits from good air flow.

Nanking cherr y

Prunus tomentosa

Light: Full/Afternoon Sun Height: to 10’ Width: to 10’ Zones: 3 - 7 Special Features: Drought tolerant

An easy-to grow, drought-tolerant relative of cherry, peach, and plum, Nanking cherry offers pretty pink blooms in spring and tart red cherries in summer. If you don’t grow it for its fruit, it makes a fantastic living privacy fence. It’s great for attracting birds, as well!

North Star sour cherr y Light: Full Sun Height: to 10’ Width: to 10’ Zones: 4 - 8

This cherry’s small size makes it easy to tuck in the garden! Bearing bright red cherries in June, North Star is very hardy, has above-average disease resistance, and is self-pollinating so you don’t need another variety around. Be prepared to protect it from birds, though—they like the fruits as much as we do.

Waneta plum Light: Full Sun Height: to 15’ Width: to 12’ Zones: 3 - 8

An heirloom variety (1913) from South Dakota, this plum is known for producing a large number of big, sweet fruits. It’s also a great pollinator for BlackIce. Note: If you don’t have room for two trees in your yard, try to convince a nearby neighbor to plant a different variety—that way y ou can both enjoy delicious, fresh fruits.

Everbearing Caroline raspberry Light: Full Sun Height: to 4’ Width: to 4’ Zones: 4 - 7

One of the most productive varieties around, you’ll get two harvests from Caroline. This variety offers big fruits that have a rich, fantastic flavor. Note: Raspberries have a reputation for being aggressive spreaders; be sure to plant it where you’ll have room for a patch. Or in raised beds so it won’t get out of control in your yard.

LOKI’S GARDEN 2012 CATALOG