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PHS Headquarters Plant List: Fall 2016

Ever wonder what is planted in front of PHS? This subject guide will provide information on the plants currently planted in and around PHS. PHS Project Manager Sam Keitch designs and plant these attractive displays.

Plants Grown at PHS Headquarters Fall 2016

Download this Plant List

Agastache ‘Cotton Candy’

Agastache, commonly called giant hyssop, is an herbacious perennial mainly native to North America.  'Cotton Candy' features airy, tubular spikes of fragrant pink flowers. Agastache hybrids like 'Cotton Candy' are planted for their attractive flowers and better winter hardiness.

Agastache is attractive to bees, hummingbirds and butterflies. Visit our pollinator Subject Guide to learn more about attracting pollinators.

Click here for more information about growing Agastache.

Andropogon gerardii 'Red October'

Andropogon gerardii 'Red October' is commonly called big bluestem grass. A warm weather perennial, this tall, ornamental grass features attractive red flower and seed heads.  'Red October' has dark green leaves that begin tipped in burgundy and turn entirely burgundy in early fall.  After a few frosts, the leaves turns a bright scarlet color.


Click here for more information on 'Red October.'

Anenome x hybrida 'September Charm'

Anenome x hybrida 'September Charm' is an herbaceaous perennial featuring pink flowers which bloom from late summer into early fall. The flowers are excellent for cutting.


Click here for more on growing 'September Charm.'

Asparagus 'Purple Passion'

In addition to being a tasty vegetable, asparagus makes a delightful ornamental plant. A hardy perennial, it can grow 6-8 feet high with lacy, fern-like foliage. It can add dimension to a garden or make an excellent screen when planted along a fence.  Asparagus foliage works well in floral arrangements.

In 'Puple Passion' the immature stems, or spears, are purple.


Click here for more on growing 'Purple Passion.'

Aster oblongifolia 'Raydon's Favorite'

Aster oblongifolia is also known as aromatic aster because of its fragrant leaves. It is an herbaceous perennial that is hardy in zones 5 - 9. 'Raydon's Favorite' features abundant daisy-like flowers that are lavender-blue with yellow centers.

Aster is attractive to pollinators and is deer resistant. Visit our pollinator Subject Guide to learn more about attracting pollinators.

Click here for more on aster.

Dryopteris erythrosora

Dryopteris erythrosora, or autumn fern, is a dwarf fern that can reach two feet tall and wide. New fronds are bronze, giving the fern it's name.  As the fronds mature they become a deep, evergreen color. 


Click here for more on autumn fern.

Echinacea purpurea 'Solar Flare'

Echinacea purpurea, commonly called purple coneflower, is a coarse, rough-hairy, herbaceous perennial. 'Solar Flare' is a hybrid coneflower that comes close to producing near-red flowers. The flowers are large, single and fragrant with petals a deep magenta-red surrounding a dark cone.  The flowers are great for cutting.

Echinacea purpurea is attractive to butterflies.  Leaving the seed heads in the garden over winter will provide food for birds.  Visit our pollinator Subject Guide to learn more about attracting pollinators.

Click here for more on Echinacea purpurea.

Heuchera 'Rose Quartz'


Heuchera is commonly referred to as coral bells or alumroot.  Semi-evergreen, coral bells are usually grown for their vibrant colored foliage. In addition to their beautiful foliage, Heuchera produce delicate, bell shaped flowers on stalks. 'Rose Quartet'  features dusty-rose to pewter leaves with charcoal veins. The medium-sized leaves form a dense but petite habit. In early to midsummer, rosy pink buds open to cream flowers on stalks.


Click here for more on 'Rose Quartz.'

Metasequoia glyptostroboides

Metasequoia glyptostroboides is also known as dawn redwood. It features linear, feathery, fern-like foliage that is soft to the touch. Foliage emerges light green in spring, matures to deep green in summer and turns red-bronze in fall. Dawn redwood is a fast-growing, deciduous, coniferous tree.


Click here for more information on dawn redwood.

Monarda 'Rockin' Raspberry'

Monarda is a member of the mint family also know as bee balm. 'Rockin' Raspberry' has vibrant fuscia flowers and aromatic foliage. The tubular, lipped flowers bloom in late summer through early fall.

Monarda is attractive to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Visit our pollinator Subject Guide to learn more about attracting pollinators.

Click here for more on 'Rockin' Raspberry.'

Muhlenbergia capillaris 'Fast Forward'

Muhlenbergia capillaris 'Fast Forward' is a showy ornamental grass commonly called pink muhlygrass or pink hair grass. It is a clump-forming, warm season, perennial grass that is noted for its attractive summer foliage and spectacular clouds of fall flowers. 'Fast Forward' blooms earlier than other varieties of Muhlenbergia capillaris and features airy, vibrant pink flowers. 

Click here for more on Muhlenbergia capillaris.

Nassella Tenuissima

Nassella Tenuissima is commonly known as Mexican feather grass. It is an ornamental grass with fine, silky leaves. It blooms in late spring with greenish flower clusters that persist well into fall and ripen to golden brown.

Click here for more on Nassella Tenuissima.

Perovskia atriplicifolia 'Superba'

Commonly called Russian sage, Perovskia atriplicifolia is a woody perennial which is drought tolerant and preferes full sun. 'Superba' provides a long summer bloom period and is aromatic when the leaves are crushed.

Click here for more on Perovskia atriplicifolia.

Polystichum polyblepharum

Polystichum polyblepharum is an evergreen fern. As new ferns emerge they resemble a tassel, giving it its common name, tassel fern.  The foliage forms a central crown and reaches 2' tall by 2' wide. 


Click here for more on tassel fern.

Salix chaenomeloides

Salix chaenomeloides is also known as Japanese pussy willow or giant pussy willow. It is the most showy pussy willow with large, rounded red flower buds and 1 to 3 inch male catkins that are silky silver with pink to rose tinges. It is fast growing and good for cuttings.


Click here for more on Salix chaenomeloides.

Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna'

Like Perovskia atriplicifolia, Salvia nemorosa is a perennial sage. 'Caradonna' is medium to tall, with flowers of deep violet-blue held on unusually dark stems. It is excellent for cutting.

'Caradonna' is attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds. Visit our pollinator Subject Guide to learn more about attracting pollinators.

Click here for more on 'Caradonna.'

Schizachyrium scoparium 'Standing Ovation'

Schizachyrium scoparium, also known as little bluestem, is a drought tolerant ornamental grass. 'Standing Ovation'  forms sturdy, tight, upright blue leaf blades with red tips. It produces purple-bronze flowers in 3” long racemes and silver-white seed heads in late summer. In the fall, the foliage turns an attractive red and maroon.

Click here for more on 'Standing Ovation.'

Sedum 'Autumn Joy'

Sedum is a herbaceous perennial which blooms from September to October. Commonly called stonecrop, its flowers begin pink and turn to a deep, then rusty, red as the season progresses.

Click here for more on 'Autumn Joy.'

Taxodium distichum

Taxodium distichum is also known as bald cypress.  It is a large, deciduous conifer that reaches heights of 50' - 70'. Soft, feathery, yellowish-green foliage turns an attractive orange or cinnamon-brown in fall. Rounded, wrinkled, 1 inch diameter, purplish-green cones mature to brown.


Click here for more on Taxodium distichum.

Vaccinium corymbosum 'Jersey' Blueberry

Usually planted for its fruit crop, Vaccinium corymbosum 'Jersey' makes an excellent ornamental plant. This blueberry cultivar is an upright, deciduous shrub which grows up to 8' tall. Ovate, dark green leaves turn attractive shades of red in the fall. Reddish stems add attraction in winter.

Click here for more on growing 'Jersey' blueberry.