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Rush Creek Growers, Inc.

Wholesale Catalog 2016 Above: Ipomoea ‘Kniola ’ with caterpillar - Photo by Amy Kalmon

Front Cover photo: Caladium ‘Royal Flush’ Photo by Suzanne Baker

To Place an Order

To place an order, please use the separate Order Form and Price List. If you need a copy, we’d be happy to send you one. Just call us at 1-800-669-2971. You can also download this catalog (many pages) and a Microsoft Word version of the order form from our website at www. rushcreekgrowers.com. Our weekly availability will also be posted on our website for downloading. Rush Creek Growers, Inc W4727 770th Ave, Spring Valley, WI 54767 715-778-5577 • 800-669-2971 • Fax 715-778-5077 www.rushcreekgrowers.com • email: [email protected] Rush Creek Growers 2016

Catalog 2016 Welcome to our 20th year!...... 4 Our Growing Methods —Updates for 2016...... 7 Birds in the Greenhouse...... 8 Plant Descriptions Key ...... 8 Annuals & Baskets Specialty Annuals—4” pots...... 9 Specialty Foliage—4” pots...... 44 Annual Grasses—4” pots...... 58 Border Gems—jumbo 6-packs ...... 60 Early Spring Program—1204-packs...... 73 Large Annuals—8” x 6” gallons and 5¼” square...... 74 Baskets—10”, 12” & 16” fiber maché baskets...... 79 Annual Vines—5¼” square...... 83 Edibles Edibles Charts...... 87 Edibles—jumbo 6-packs and 3½” pots...... 92 Herbs Herbs Charts...... 116 Herbs—3½” compostable pots...... 120 Perennials Perennials—4½” deep, coded pots...... 138 Summer and Fall Programs ...... 170 Natives—4½ deep, color coded pots...... 170 Perennial Grasses—4½” deep, color coded pots...... 175 Ferns—4½” deep, color coded pots...... 177 Perennial Groundcovers—jumbo 6-packs...... 178 Tree Peonies—trade gallons...... 183 Life at the Greenhouse From the Staff--Our first memories of the garden...... 184 Cat Report from Suzanne...... 188 Index Plants to Category...... 189

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 3 Welcome to our 20th season

Wow! In November of 1995 with a cold wind blowing and snow flurries in the air, we (Suzanne and Vicky) and a pack of fabulous friends and family erected the first Rush Creek Growers greenhouse. It wasn’t quite how we expected to start but still stands today – our dear Motherhouse. The first winter was trying with water issues – Suzanne spent much time covered in frozen spray from the funky watering system and slept under the furnace heat duct with our new kitty August, who came with a broken leg and cast. Vicky brought a little pick-up camper to stay in as she commuted from Shell Lake. With the help of friends and parents, we made it through and started a journey full of adventures. This fall, we are building our 20th greenhouse. We have been blessed with a dedicated, smart, kind and funny staff many of whom have been with us for 15 years. We have survived the ups and downs of 2 decades and are proud of what we have built. We have stayed true to our vision while continuing to evolve and grow. We are grateful for the great customers and vendors we have met along the way and are hoping for many years of continuing partnerships. Now, on to 2016! Amy, Melanie, Suzanne and Vicky traveled to Columbus, OH in July to the Cultivate ’15 trade show and convention. Visiting the show and especially the trial gardens at OSU gives us

4 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com confidence in the new varieties that we added but haven’t had a chance to trial. They have extensive container trials and gardens. The classes and information available are invaluable. Our 2016 list includes over 300 new or renewed varieties along with our usual eclectic mix. We have continued to expand our edibles and herb sections to meet the increasing demand for these. Bless the urban farm movement. The Tom, Jon and Steve building Frances revived real estate market seems to be impacting renewed interest in perennials and landscaping. Bless Janet Yellen and the Federal Reserve for keeping those interest rates low. We have seen several years of growth in our perennial sales. Most indications are that growth in our industry is back on track. We feel it here. So let’s jump into spring planning together with optimism and passion for the peace, joy and exercise that we nurture in our part of the world. Let’s embrace social media but help folks look at the beautiful world that’s actually in front of them – not just on their Smartphone screen. We’ll text you with updates. LOL or whatever. Thanks for 20 years.

Fondly, Suzanne Baker, Vicky Weis and all the folks and critters that share our work days at Rush Creek Growers.

Baby June

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 5 Our Growing Methods I’m pleased to report that once again, in 2015, we employed only certified organic products in our pest control endeavors. I don’t anticipate any major changes in the coming year.

Soilless Mix: For the spring crop we’ll be using the same coir based soilless mix. For next summer’s crop however we’ll be switching over to a Minnesota peat product that will have Sustane composted turkey manure incorporated as a slow release fertilizer. We’ve been experimenting with this mix for the past two years.

Pest Control: Our banker plant systems of pest control were highly successful this past summer. Pots of ‘Purple Flash’ Pepper hosted Minute Pirate Bugs which feed on thrips. In the same pot an Asclepias c. ‘Silky ’ lured the thrips to the predators. These bankers were placed throughout the range. Another banker system we used were pots of grain aphids that were raised in a predator free cage. Then on a weekly basis the aphids were placed around the greenhouse to make sure that our predatory wasps and midges had a steady supply of food. Besides beneficial insect we used some fungi in our insect control efforts. Met 52, Preferal, and Mycotrol are all fungi that were sprayed onto pest outbreaks. Under warm moist conditions the spores hatch and attack the pests. Once again, Steinernema feltiae nematodes were applied through the

Mel’s Foliage

6 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Slumbering Caterpillar

irrigation water on a regular basis to consume fungus gnat and thrips larvae.

Root Zone Colonization: One of the keys to the health of our plants is the attention focused on colonizing the root zones of all our plants with a wide array of microbes. Some products used are Rootshield and Actinovate. This year I’ll be adding EM or Effective Micro-Organisms to the line-up.

Rainwater Harvesting: Finally found the right filter for the system of tanks that collect the rainwater and snow melt from some of our gutter connected greenhouses. It’s a maker’s fabric that is big enough to fit the tank opening but is simple to remove and clean. So often it’s the small things in life…

-Suzanne, Head Grower

Baby June in the grass

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 7 Birds in the Greenhouse

We had our usual menagerie of birds nesting in the greenhouse this past year. The barn swallows and English sparrows are finding the greenhouse a suitable substitute for the barn which is no longer there.

The barn swallows brought their friends to this sanctuary and tried many precarious sites for nests, not all of which were successful. Most of those who did succeed pulled off two broods and knew all the ins and outs. They were constantly on guard for cats and dogs and raised a ruckus if they perceived one. It was suddenly quiet in September when they all left.

The English sparrows are now year-round residents – not always to our liking but we can’t really keep them out. And with the declining number of farms in the area, they have to go somewhere. This year they seemed to have won the skirmish with the house finch, as few finches nested inside. Since both are equally non-native, we can’t really take sides.

Meanwhile the robins and song sparrows go about their business raising brood after brood. The robins among the rafters and the song sparrows in baskets and flats. Both provide us with song and diversion to enliven our work day.

Norma Rudesill, Resident Ornithologist

Plant Descriptions Key

Plant Name ‘Cultivar’ h 6-12” w 8” U 

Height Width Requirements Form/Habit U for upright; T for trailing; ST for semi-trailing

8 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Specialty Annuals

Annuals & Baskets

Specialty Annuals Baskets & Annuals Specialty Annuals—4” round pots, 10/flat After our July trip to Ohio for personal education and inspiration, we dived into the new catalogs and see what we could find to delight your customers. This year we found no shortage of cool new plants. As true for the past few years, new petunias are turning up all over. There is a color, size and style for every taste. We have found 40 varieties and that is enough for now! Begonias from the ‘Big’s to ‘Babywings’, from glossy to elegant black foliage and many of upright to trailing are found in our selection. Don’t miss the fun new ‘Beedance Bidens’, funky Nemesias, a shade blooming Geranium and the first Geranium – just to name a few.

We have eliminated our Fairy Garden Collections this year but have kept some of our favorite miniature plants and you’ll find them in with the rest of the 4” material either in the blooming or the foliage section.

We are disappointed that our favorite compostable wheat pots remain unavailable. We’ve been told that not enough growers are interested in using them. I guess we need to make some noise! We’re using plastic again.

Specialty Annuals

Abutilon ‘Flowering Maple’ h 12-18” With blooms resembling small hibiscus flowers and foliage like a Maple tree, these versatile plants can be used in mixed or single species containers, baskets or as blooming houseplants and are easily trained for topiaries. Abutilon ‘Fairy ’ RENEW! h 12-18” U C After requests from customers and staff, we have relisted this charming flowering maple featuring pendulant - flowers with a charming bell shape. A unique color and flower shape for mixed containers in part shade. Pleasing large maple-shaped leaves. Can be brought inside as a blooming houseplant, too.

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 9 SpecialtySpecialty Annuals Annuals Abutilon ‘Lucky Lantern® Red’ h 12” U,ST C Bright red hibiscus-like flowers on this dwarf flowering maple. The series Lucky Lantern has a compact, bushy habit. Blooms inside or out. Abutilon ‘Lucky Lantern® Yellow’ h 12” U,ST C Pure -yellow hibiscus-like flowers on this dwarf flowering maple. The series Lucky Lantern has a compact, bushy habit. Abutilon megapotamicum ‘Chinese Lantern’ h 8-12” T C Long used in Victorian England as a conservatory plant, ‘Chinese Lantern’ showcases both foliage and blooms. The blossoms look like small red lanterns with flared yellow tips spilling down from the pointed golden and green variegated leaves. Use in urns, baskets and mixed containers. Agastache ‘Arizona Sandstone’ h 8-10” U A Fresh colored flowers on dark spikes. Spectacular heat tolerance. Compact and floriferous. Agastache ‘Arizona ’ h 8-10” U A Sunny yellow flowers on dark green spikes. This series is spectacular for its heat tolerance. Compact, uniform and very floriferous.. Ageratum ‘Monarch Mediano™ ’ NEW! h 10-14” U A A wonderful rich rose hybrid that embraces the colors, habit and bloom time of the traditional bedding plant with the butterfly appeal of the wild species from Mexico. The flowers pop above glossy foliage and stems. Vicky W. had these in her annual border this year and the bees and butterflies went crazy. Developed by Professor David Zlesak from UW-River Falls. Lucky us! Ageratum ‘Monarch Mediano™ Wine’ NEW! h 10-14” U A Beautiful violet blooms grace this hybrid series that embraces the colors, habit and bloom time of the traditional bedding plant with the butterfly appeal of the wild species from Mexico. The flowers pop above glossy foliage and stems. Developed by Professor David Zlesak from UW-River Falls. Ageratum ‘Patina™ Purple’ h 10-12” U A Exceptional garden and container series with brilliant purple blossoms on a medium height plant. No dead heading needed. Compact and well-branched. Anagallis ‘Wildcat ’ h 6-12” T A True blue eye-popping color on nickel-sized blooms. Interesting needle-shaped foliage. Makes a fine groundcover or spills over annual containers. Loves heat and humidity. Anagallis ‘Wildcat Mandarin’ h 6-12” T A More compact version of ‘Wildcat Blue’ with a unique shade of burnt with a blue center. A combination to be sure. A vigorous trailing habit.

10 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Specialty Annuals

Angelonia ‘Actors® Pink Blue Splash’ h 14-16” U,ST A -like flowers are pink with splashes and purple freckles. This is a truly unique color combo. Vigorous plants are floriferous and love hot, Midwestern summers. Angelonia ‘Archangel™ Dark Rose’ h 12-14” U,ST A Attending University Trial Gardens is a great way to pick new plants for our list. The UW Extension Gardens at Madison trialed these. They looked great in late July when we visited. Hot-pink, rosy blooms with dark pink freckled centers. Flowers are larger than other varieties and divinely heat, drought and humidity tolerant. Annuals & Baskets & Annuals Angelonia ‘Archangel™ ’ h 12-14” U,ST A Archangel blooms are angelically large and strong! Deep purple flowers with purple freckled centers make a divine statement. Of course, these celestial beings are very heat, drought and humidity tolerant. A “Wow” variety is several trial gardens we visited. Angelonia ‘Archangel™ ’ h 12-14” U A Upright habit with rich, rosy raspberry flowers that its breeders boast are three times larger than other Angelonias. Well-branched for a full vibrant pot of color. Thrives in the heat and humidity. Highly rated in garden trials and a favorite for color and performance. Angelonia ‘Serenita™ Purple’ h 6-10” ST A The “-ita” means that it’s a smaller version of Serena. I like Burpee’s description, “A beauty for beastly conditions.” This is a tough plant for hot spots. Purple blossoms look like small snapdragons. Well-branched and low maintenance. Arctotis ‘Opera™ Fire’ NEW! h 6-8” U AC Sassy orange daisies with yellow central ring top gray foliage. Outstanding spring performance with good heat tolerance. Arctotis ‘Ravers® Bumble Bee™’ h 8-12” U AC Bright yellow daisy with a black eye. And that classy silver foliage. Blooms less heavily in mid-summer and makes a strong finish in the fall. Frost tolerant. Arctotis ‘Ravers® Cherry Frost™’ h 10-16” U AC Cool weather tolerant daisies with deep red petals and golden eyes rest on frosty lobed foliage. Blooms less heavily in mid-summer and makes a strong finish in the fall. Frost tolerant. Argyranthemum ‘Beauty Yellow’ NEW! h 12-30” U A Bright yellow daisies are irresistible in the spring and summer garden. This plant works well in mixed containers and as a cut flower, too. Easy to grow. Armeria juniperifolia NEW! h 2-4” U A A hardy perennial that we are selling in our annual program because of its charm and appeal for use in miniature or fairy gardens. This alpine Thrift forms a dense little mound and is graced with soft pink balls of flowers.

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 11 Specialty Annuals

Asclepias ‘Monarch Promise™’ NEW! h 24-30” U A New from Hort Couture this annual Asclepias resembles the Silky series that we sell in our Border Gem program but has attractive green and variegated foliage with hints of red, orange and pink. Flowers are orange with red sepals. A great plant for Monarchs and an attractive addition to containers as well. Bacopa ‘Bahia Purple Sand’ h 6-8” T AC Evenly shaded blue-violet flowers on dark green foliage. This is the nicest blue that we have ever grown. Bacopa ‘Scopia Double Snowball’ h 6-10” T AC Extra large double white blooms. This is the first double Bacopa to really impress us. Requires consistent moisture. Bacopa ‘Scopia Gulliver White’ h 6-10” ST AC A tried and true favorite. Larger white blossoms over rich green foliage. Trailing habit makes this a must-have for containers and baskets. Requires consistent moisture. Good self-cleaner. Bacopa ‘Snowstorm® Blue Bubbles’ h 6-14” U,ST AC Lavender-blue double blooms are great little bobbles for embellishing combination containers with their more upright than cascading blooms. Thick stems are well- branching and self-cleaning. Require consistent moisture. Begonia ‘Big Red with Leaf’ NEW! h 20” U ACD A cross between Angel Wing and Fibrous begonia, this bright red selection with large flower clusters will surpirse you with its vigor and size. Grows tall in the landscape or use in a large container. Sun tolerant as well. Begonia ‘Big Rose with Bronze Leaf’ h 20” U ACD Part Angel Wing, part Fibrous begonia, this new series is something else. It blooms quicker, larger and with more vigor than others. 2.5” rich rose singles in large clusters highlight the bronze foliage. Grows tall in the landscape or use in a large container. Sun tolerant as well. Begonia ‘Dragon Wing Red’ h 15” ST ACD One of the most popular and easy-to-grow begonias. Baskets and containers overflow with glossy foliage and bright red singles. Showy and vigorous in sun or shade! A great choice for the new gardener. Begonia ‘Gryphon’ h 14-16” U C An outstanding foliage begonia with huge serrated green leaves overlaid with white. A striking specimen or centerpiece for shade containers. Easy to grow with low water needs. Grows in the house, too. Begonia ‘Illumination Apricot’ h 12-14” T C One of our favorite double trailing varieties. Yellow and apricot tones highlight these large blooms on long delicate stems. A sure performer in baskets, window boxes or mixed containers.

12 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Specialty Annuals

Begonia ‘Unbelievable Series’ U C An interspecific series with serrated deep, almost black, green leaves that accent large semi-double blossoms. Tough and versatile series for containers or baskets in sun to shade. Begonia ‘Unbelievable First Kiss’ NEW! h 12-14” U C Bright blush pink blossoms atop dark serrated foliage shine in the shade. Nice large flower size with a pleasing upright habit. Extremely heat tolerant. Begonia ‘Unbelievable Lucky Strike’ h 10-14” U C

Large serrated green foliage cradles lovely single and semi-double apricot blossoms Baskets & Annuals that face upward. Early to bloom. Highly recommended. Begonia ‘Unbelievable Miss Montreal’ h 10-14” ST C Elegant cream colored blossoms are edged with a thin edge of coraly pink. These are not your average sized blossoms. They have been described as “massive”. An upright form with pleasing green foliage. Highly recommended. Begonia ‘Unstoppable Upright Fire’ h 12-24” U ACD Upright habit with brilliant red flowers but the foliage is the star on these varieties. Long dark nearly black leaves really set off these blooms. Thrives in moderate to full sun. Begonia ‘Unstoppable Upright White’ h 12-24” U ACD Long dark black foliage adds extra appeal to this upright plant. The white flowers really shine against the foliage. Thrives in moderate to full sun. Begonia boliviensis ‘Various’ ST Many breeders are hopping on the Begonia boliviensis bandwagon and for good reason. These easy to grow varieties will handle sun to shade, are drought tolerant, have low fertilization needs, ship well ... and they’re beautiful. With the concerns about downy mildew attacking some impatiens, here is a colorful alternative for shade. What’s not to love! Begonia boliviensis ‘Beauvilia™ Red’ NEW! h 10-12’ ST ACD Sun to shade tolerant plants with brilliant red pointed petaled blooms. Blossoms cover the plant and only improve throughout the summer. Trailing habit makes this a winner for baskets, window boxes and containers. Begonia boliviensis ‘Beauvilia™ White’ NEW! h 10-12” ST ACD Large white singles abound on this cascading form. Loves summer weather. Makes a durable and elegant addition to baskets and containers in sun to shade. Begonia boliviensis ‘Crackling® Fire Pink’ h 10-12” ST ACD Same great qualities as other boliviensis type begonias with loads of rich pink blossoms on a compact, semi-trailing form. Drought tolerant and easy to grow. Begonia boliviensis ‘Crackling® Fire Red’ NEW! h 4-10” ST ACD Bell-shaped blossoms with pointed red petals cover this semi-trailing, sun tolerant variety. Easy to grow in combinations or as a single species pot or basket. Self cleaning and drought resistant.

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 13 Specialty Annuals

Begonia boliviensis ‘Crackling® Fire Yellow’ h 4-10” ST ACD Sunny yellow bell-shaped blossoms on naturally compact and semi-trailing plants. Yellow shines in the shade and this one tolerates sun and cleans up after itself. Cool! Begonia boliviensis ‘Little Lava™’ NEW! h 4-6” U ACD An elatior-type with fire red flowers and a pleasing compact habit. Because of its habit, this makes a great plant for combinations or single species pots. A little sweetie! Begonia boliviensis ‘San Francisco’ NEW! T ACD Trailing bright salmon blossoms with pointed petals cover this tough and easy to grow cultivar. A great basket or container plant for new gardener success. A sure return sale. Begonia boliviensis ‘Santa Cruz ’ h 12” ST ACD Medal of Excellence Winner 2012. Floriferous trailing cultivar with fiery orange-red bell-shaped blooms. Similar look to ‘Bonfire’ with excellent vigor. Begonia boliviensis ‘Sparks Will Fly’ h 15-18” U ACD Besides sporting small gorgeous apricot orange flowers, this cultivar has distinctive rich bronze foliage for a compelling contrast. The flowers have an open style and single petals. Plant form is very compact and mounded. Tuck into containers for a lovely filler. Begonia fuchsiodes ‘Pink’ h 10-14” ST C This is a very unique begonia with charming dark rose colored buds opening to attractive trailing pink singles. The leaves & stems have a succulent appearance that gently arch over the sides of a container or basket. Fuchsia-like glossy green foliage. You haven’t see anything like it. Nicely vigorous. Begonia x hybrida ‘Baby Wing® series’ We observed the vigor and blossom power of these petite begonias in the trial gardens at OSU this July. They were covered with blossoms in the partial sun and beckoned to us from across the garden with their strong colors. Begonia x hybrida ‘BabyWing® Pink’ NEW! h 12-15” U C Pink blossoms with a wax begonia appearance but taller and with more vigor. Begonia x hybrida ‘BabyWing® Red’ NEW! h 12-15” U C Bright red blossoms show increased height and vigor over wax begonias. Bellium minutum NEW! h 2-4” U A One of the best plants for your miniature garden enthusiasts. Teeny weeny daisies appear all summer over a dense mound of spoon shaped petals. Easy to grow in any soil and displays a bee friendly attitude as well. Keep well watered. Zone 5 hardy. Bidens ‘Beedance™ Painted Red’ NEW! h 9-11” ST A New from Suntory breeders comes these novel bicolor bidens. Single petaled yellow blossoms sprout red tips. Easy to grow with a vigorous, mounding habit makes these ideal for a large container or the garden. Adds a touch of whimsy.

14 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Specialty Annuals

Bidens ‘Beedance™ Red Striped’ NEW! h 9-11” ST A New from Suntory breeders comes these novel bicolor bidens. Yellow petals feature a prominent red stripe down the center of each petal. Easy to grow with a pleasing mounding habit. Works well in combinations. Bidens ‘Bidy Gonzales Top’ h 12” ST A An upright mounding form covered in large yellow singles. Tuck this one into containers and baskets for all season color when a more mounded form is needed. Also makes a great addition to the garden.

Bidens ‘Campfire™ Fireburst’ NEW! h 8-12” ST A Baskets & Annuals Orange single petaled blossoms are streaked with hint of yellow on this vigorous variety. Plant it with others who can compete for a delightful mix or alone for a heat tolerant summer basket. Bougainvillea ‘Sunvillea™ Rose’ NEW! h 4-8” U A We love these tropical beauties. This series has a dwarf habit and blooms early with deep pink colorful bracts for a pop of color in containers, window boxes and baskets. Bracteantha ‘Dreamtime® Jumbo Red’ NEW! h 10-12” U AC Fiery red strawflowers on a well-branched plant. These are back in style with younger customers and why not? Fun and easy to grow. Bracteantha ‘Mohave Orange’ h 10-12” U A Hot, hot colored strawflower. Brilliant orange petals with a ring of sunny yellow around the center. Well-branched plant means lots of blossoms spring thru fall. Containers or in the garden. Bracteantha ‘Mohave™ White’ NEW! h 14-18” U A Novel white with yellowcenter giving it a “fried egg” appearance. This early flowering variety has great shelf life with a well-branched habit. Strawflowers have been gaining popularity as a new generation discovers them. Brachyscome ‘Radiant ’ h 5-7” U AC Small adorable magenta flowers and fine dark green foliage set this one apart. Perfect for a spring container or in a miniature garden. Browallia ‘Endless™ Flirtation’ RENEW! h 16-20” ST C Is flirtation as pure as the white blossoms on this shade loving variety? Hard to say - probably innocent fun but this one is heat tolerant - just in case. A replacement for spaces where Impatiens have not performed. Highly floriferous in containers or the garden. No deadheading needed. Browallia ‘Endless™ Illumination’ RENEW! h 12-16” ST C Truly blue single petaled blossoms with a hint of a white eye. Glossy emerald green foliage. A high performer for shade with heat tolerance and no deadheading needed. Easy to grow.

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 15 Specialty Annuals

Calibrachoa ‘Aloha Canary Yellow’ NEW! h 6-8” ST AC We have been looking for a nice rich yellow callie and this one spoke to us at trials this year. Rich yellow singles with a nice flower size and good performance. Calibrachoa ‘Aloha Cherry Cartwheel’ h 6-10” ST A Large vibrant red blossoms with rich gold striping shout “Summer”. Alohas have a bit more upright habit which makes them especially nice for window boxes. Calibrachoa ‘Aloha Grape Cartwheel’ NEW! h 8-12” ST AC One of the joys of walking through trial gardens, is discovering the new novel plants that the breeders are showing. An extra bonus is that we can assess their performance. This new Callie has wide cream stripes deeply veined with grape surrounded with pale yellow stripes. An interesting design component and a vigorous growth habit. Calibrachoa ‘Aloha Kona Series’ h 8” ST A We’re excited to be growing this series with its intense tropical colors, semi-upright habit, and ability to produce many flowers on each stem including the top of the plant. Spreads 10-14”. Calibrachoa ‘Aloha Kona Dark Red’ h 8” ST A Rich, velvety, dark red. Calibrachoa ‘Aloha Kona ’ h 8” ST A Saturated dark blue. Calibrachoa ‘CanCan® Dark Purple’ h 10-15” T A Medium sized flowers are the darkest shade of purple we have seen - almost black. Good form and vigor. Calibrachoa ‘Celebration Chameleon Sunshine Berry’ NEW! h 6-8” ST AC This series’ name comes from changing blossom color within the plant. This cutie is deep pink with yellow tones, some with more pink, some more yellow. Lots of blossoms top to tip. Calibrachoa ‘Crave Sunset’ h 10-14” T A A novelty seed grown cultivar with lovely apricot-terracotta blossoms and rich veins. We were pleased with both foliage and blossoms on this variety although it is a bit later to bloom. Calibrachoa ‘Hula Godiva’ h 6-10” T A Here is a Callie for the customer dying for the new and trendy. Dark chocolate centers are surrounding by rosy toasted apricot petals. The Hulas have large bicolor blossoms with hoops of color. Calibrachoa ‘Hula Hot Pink’ T A The Hula series is named for the “hoops” of color surrounding a contrasting center. Large flowers of pink with a burgundy center. Calibrachoa ‘Hula Lavender’ h 6-10” T A Grapey purple centers with softer purple edges. This cultivar has strong vigor. 16 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Specialty Annuals

Calibrachoa ‘Hula Orange’ T A The Hula series is named for the “hoops” of color surrounding a contrasting center. This one features orange with a red center. Calibrachoa ‘Kabloom™ Deep Blue’ h 8-12” T A One of the first seed grown Callies with performance to match the cutting propagated varieties. This one is a deep, deep blue. Thick, vigorous foliage accents the blooms. Calibrachoa ‘MiniFamous™ Double Series’ ST A

Early-to-flower, semi-trailing series has a newly expanded color range. These are Baskets & Annuals really nice doubles. They show medium vigor so “play” well with others in a mixed combo. Calibrachoa ‘Minifamous™ Double Amethyst’ h 6-10” T A Vicky saw this new double at the Ball Trial Gardens in West Chicago. What a show! Fully double soft purple blossoms are stunning up close or at a distance. Calibrachoa ‘Minifamous™ Double Apricot’ NEW! h 8-10” T A A new color in this high performing series from Ball. Pale apricot with deeper veining adds some pizzazz to these vintage tones. Calibrachoa ‘MiniFamous™ Double Deep Yellow’ h 10-15” ST A Beautiful deep yellow doubles on a pleasing form. Good vigor. Calibrachoa ‘MiniFamous™ Double Magenta’ h 10.15” ST A Delectable rich magenta doubles really show off. Calibrachoa ‘Superbells™ series’ T A Popular self cleaning series really struts its stuff with vivid color, large flower size and a vigorous growth habit. Calibrachoa ‘Superbells® Evening Star’ NEW! h 6-10” Lavender flowers with a yellow star in the deep purple throat. Calibrachoa ‘Superbells™ Frost Fire’ h 6-10” ST,T A Cover girl! This little lovely has her face all over the cover of the suppliers’ catalog. Off white flowers with yellow starred centers. Burgundy veining in the center fades to grey near the petal edges creating a beautifully detailed, almost quilted effect. Calibrachoa ‘Superbells® Garden Rose’ NEW! h 6-10” T A Deep rose with darker veining - a new color in this series. Calibrachoa ‘Superbells® ‘Holy Moly!’™’ NEW! h 6-10” T A The latest in the funky and fun callie world. Bicolor blossoms are splashed with deep rose pink and yellow with a deep yellow throat. No deadheading either! Calibrachoa ‘Superbells™ Lemon Slice’ h 6-10” ST A Bright yellow and white in a star shaped pattern. We were very pleased with the color and growth habit of this 2013 addition.

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 17 Specialty Annuals

Calibrachoa ‘Superbells™ Pomegranate Punch’ h 6-10” T A This Callie has a luscious rich red color with a darker throat, large blossoms and self cleaning. A great reviews at trial gardens. Also available in hanging baskets. Calibrachoa ‘Superbells® Spicy’ NEW! h 6-10” T A We liked this updated orange and yellow variety for the richness of the colors. Just a bit deeper and sassier than most orange varieties. Calibrachoa ‘Volcano Neon’ h 14” T A Large flows of flower color spill over baskets, containers or window boxes. Vibrant neon blooms are accented with soft pink stripes. Excellent growth rate. Canna ‘CannaSol™ Lily’ NEW! h 36” Y A Bright sunny yellow blossoms freckled with red top a dwarf variety that works for container or garden use. Canna x generalis ‘Cannova™ Bronze Leaf ’ h 36-48” U A An exceptional newer hybrid series. Bright scarlet cannas with dark bronzy black foliage. Nice height for the center of a large container or gorgeous in the garden. No virus issues. Hurray! Canna x generalis ‘Cannova™ Rose’ h 36-48” U A An exceptional newer hybrid seed grown series. Rich rose cannas with deep green foliage. Nice height for the center of a large container or gorgeous in the garden. No virus issues. Hurray! Catharanthus ‘Soiree Double Pink’ NEW! h 10-14” U A From the vinca family comes a breakthrough with the first frilly double petaled variety. Covered in flowers throughout the summer, these plants are well-branched with glossy green foliage. Check out our website for a great photo. Catharanthus ‘Soiree Ka-wa-i-i Coral’ NEW! h 6-10” U A Named after the Japanese word for “cute”, Ka-wa-i-i packs a punch with her masses of micro blossoms. The habit is compact but spreading nicely so fills a small container or adds a lively touch to any combo. Celosia ‘Dragon’s Breath’ NEW! h 24-28” U A One of the most stunning finds at our trip to the Cultivate 15 conference in Ohio this summer. Unique greenish red foliage and fire red plumes of long lasting summer color. With more summer stress, the foliage becomes even redder. Great for landscapes. Celosia ‘Intenz series’ h 18” For the last 2 years, we have grown the first introduction ‘Classic’ in this early and novel new celosia selection from Ball Ornamentals. We really liked the early growth, colorful blooms and durability of them and so have added 2 more hot colors for containers or garden. The blossoms have a central flower spike with more spikes radiating from the bottom of the blossom. These are ready to ship in May with summer bright colors.

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Celosia argentea ‘Intenz Deep Purple’ NEW! h 18” U A Rosy magenta blossoms cover the top of this nicely branched variety. The blossoms have a central flower spike with more spikes radiating from the bottom of the blossom. Rich green pointed leaves cradle the blooms. Celosia argentea ‘Intenz Lipstick’ NEW! h 18” U A A super show of rosy red spires cover this early blooming celosia. Green leaves have central red veining for additional appeal. This new series shows great potential for both containers and garden use.

Celosia ‘Twisted’ h 16-20” U A Baskets & Annuals Intensely red-purple unusually crested blooms with multiple twists and folds. Great for interest in dried flower arrangements or for turning heads in gardens and planters. Celosia spicata ‘Kosmo Cherry’ h 8” U A Dwarf variety with a deep cherry colored main stem with many side spikes for a striking presentation. Works great in containers or the garden. Centradenia grandiflora RENEW! h 6-10” T A If you haven’t sold this before you are in for a treat. Unique bronze colored leaves backed in fuchsia spill over and produce rosy singled petaled blossoms. We love this for the foliage with bloom time being rather short. This is a designers’ dream. Chenille ‘Fire Tails’ h 3-7” T A Dark green foliage with fuzzy kitten-tail red plumes. Great for spilling out of planters and hanging baskets.

Catharanthus ‘Soiree Double Pink’

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 19 Specialty Annuals

Cleome ‘Clio’ h 15-18” U A A plant marketing group that shall remain nameless declared that a certain Senorita could only be sold in their branded pots. We don’t like this practice being the independent growers that we are! This is her friendlier cousin. Similar variety in our pots. Coleus ‘Over 50 varieties’ See 4” Foliage section. Cuphea ‘Flamenco Samba’ h 10-12” U A A fantastic series that is upright in form and covered with large open papery blooms of burgundy with darker centers. Bright and sassy. Works equally well in the garden or in containers and looks really great when mass planted. Loves heat and humidity. Cuphea hybrid ‘Vermillionaire™’ h 18-28” U A Hummingbird favorite. Medium height orange and yellow “cigar” plant is covered with blooms all summer in full sun. Easy to grow once established. Appropriate size for garden or containers. Cuphea llavea ‘Sriracha™ Rose Pink’ h 16-20” U A Rich rosy pink papery petals adorn this hot weather lover. Easy to maintain in containers or the garden. Dahlia ‘Dahlinova Hypnotica™ series’ U A We’ve chosen this series for its extremely well-branched form, large flower size and greater height compared to other Dahlinovas. Showy in mass plantings in the landscape and compact enough for a punch of color in containers. Multiple flower flushes throughout the summer and fall. Dahlia ‘Dahlinova Hypnotica™ Dark Night’ h 12-14” U A Deep merlot decorative with a small yellow center. Dahlia ‘Dahlinova Hypnotica™ Sangria’ NEW! h 12-18” U A Orangey red petals are dipped in yellow. Great container series with excellent reblooming (with deadheading), vivid colors and a practical height. Dahlia ‘Dahlinova Hypnotica™ Tequila Sunrise’ h 12-14” U A Brilliant bicolor orange and yellow decorative on a compact dahlia with nice green foliage. Continuous blooms if deadheaded. Dahlia ‘Dreamy™ series’ U A Suzanne has chosen this dark foliage series of compact container dahlias for the beautiful colors and the high contrast appeal of the straight and bicolor semi double blooms. Dahlia Dreamy has her own Facebook page if you care to peek. Dahlia ‘Dreamy™ Fantasy’ h 12-16” U A Semi-double, yellow and lavender bicolor. Dahlia ‘Dreamy™ Inspire’ h 12-16” U A Semi-double, coral rose.

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Dahlia ‘Dreamy™ Nights’ NEW! h 16” U A Star shaped flowers with a stunning neon-magenta edging and a velvet purple center. Shiny bronze, almost black, foliage is a bonus and really sets off these colors. Dahlia ‘Dreamy™ Passion’ h 12-16” U A Semi-double, dark red. Datura m. ‘Ballerina Purple’ h 24-36” U AC Exotic 6-8” upward-facing blooms. Petals are a swirled mix of deep purple and lavender. Color from early summer until fall weather sets in. Works well in containers and the garden. May reseed. Baskets & Annuals Dianthus ‘Jolt™ Cherry’ NEW! h 16-20” U AC This dianthus will knock you out. It’s been getting praise from all over the place. The color is vivid. The height is perfect for containers or a grouping in the garden and the performance is terrific. Heat tolerant. A good plant to create more dianthus loving customers. Dianthus barbatus ‘Green Ball’ h 10-14” ST A One of our most unusual offerings. Unique green balls on sturdy stems cover the plant in summer. Attractive dark green foliage is a bonus. Novel container plant or for the cutting garden. Cold tolerant to 10 degrees. Dianthus caryophyllus ‘SuperTrouper™ Orange’ h 8-12” U AC Wonderfully fragrant pot carnation in a pleasing shade of apricot orange. Great little early spring table topper or mix with pansies for a cool-tolerant container. Dianthus caryophyllus ‘SuperTrouper™ Red + White’ NEW! h 10-14” U AC Cute compact variety for containers. Clean white blossoms with random spotches of deep red. Cool and heat tolerant. Diascia ‘My Darling Clementine’ NEW! h 8-12” ST C We continue our search for diascia with good heat tolerance. We know they look fabulous in spring and fall. This new orange from Dummen shows promise in trials with heavy summer flowering and good vigor gaining a 4.7 out of 5 rating at Penn State. Don’t be shy. Give it a try. Diascia ‘Romeo Red’ NEW! h 8-10” ST C Deep red springtime spurred blossoms. Good vigor. Diascia ‘SunDiascia Upright ’ NEW! h 12-15” U AC Vigorous variety with a unique upright habit and a soft peach colored spurred blossom. Eritrichium canum-hybrid ‘Baby ’ h 6-8” U A Large, baby blue blooms on dense flower spikes. Bred from alpine natives and prefers well drained or even gritty soil. A mildew-resistant substitute for Forget-Me- Nots (Mysotis). A tender perennial that blooms the first season and will charm. IT IS REALLY BLUE.

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 21 Specialty Annuals

Erodium x variabile ‘Bishop’s Form’ NEW! h 2-4” U A Adorable tender perennial for miniature or rock gardens forming a low clump of tiny scalloped leaves with little pink flowers throughout the summer. Try tucking it into a corner of a container, trough or rock garden. Erysimum ‘Artist Paintbox’ NEW! h 12” U AC Tender perennial wallflower with the delicious scent of the biennial varieties and the long blooming characteristics of the perennial. Many colors within the same flower with , lavender, pink appear very early in spring and continue blooming throughout the summer. One of the earliest flowers to bloom and very pollinator friendly. Euphorbia ‘Breathless Blush’ h 8-12” U AC This variety is special due to the lovely mound of reddish bronze foliage that serves as a background for the showy mass of self-cleaning white flowers. Excellent branching and denser flowering. Euphorbia ‘Glamour’ NEW! h 15-24” U A We added this Euphorbia to our list for use where a larger plant is required. Tiny white flowers cover this mounded form. Use in large containers or the landscape for a snowstorm of color and texture. Euphorbia ‘Star Dust Super Flash’ h 10-12” ST AC Another white Euphorbia with a pleasing mounded habit and airy light green foliage. BUT….. this one is earlier to bloom than some other varieties. Good vigor. Evolvulus ‘Blue My Mind™’ h 24” ST A The true blue of these dwarf morning glory blossoms is so vivid and clear that we had to include this variety in our list. A heat lover, this will enchant your customers throughout the summer. Use as a trailing container plant or stunning ground cover in the garden. Showing color for shipment in later May. Felicia amelloides ‘Felicity™ Blue’ h 12-18” U AC blue daisies with yellow centers wave above fine textured foliage. A nice upright form with an airy charm. Looks like spring in a pot. Fuchsia ‘Aretes Upright Boogie’ NEW! h 18-24” U AC An upright but somewhat compact fuchsia with blue sepals and white corollas. A unique color for mixed shade combinations or single species pots. Fuchsia ‘Autumnale’ h 6-18” T C Incredible golden leaves accented with orange and purple. Classified with uprights although it has quite a prostrate habit. Blooms later with bright red tubular shaped flowers. This is one of our most popular unusual varieties. It’s irresistible whether in bloom or not! Fuchsia ‘Billy Green’ h 24” U C Recommended by our friend Mary Maguire-Lerman, here is an upright with an open habit, deep olive green foliage and pendant coral pink blossoms with darker pink centers. It is the perfect height for the center of a container. Sun tolerant. Try this one for sure success.

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Fuchsia ‘Tassel™ Dark Salmon’ h 18” U C Long cylindrical clusters of pendent salmon and coral blossoms that open to pink. Attractive upright form for sun or shade. Fuchsia ‘Windchimes® Dark Eyes’ NEW! h 6-10” U ACD Beautiful dwarf upright with trailing blossoms of purple and red blossoms. Tuck this into a container or basket for heat tolerant color all season. Fuchsia ‘Windchimes® /Rose’ NEW! h 6-10” U ACD Early blooming and heat tolerant series is one of our favorites for tucking into baskets and containers. These will take some sun and the lilac and rose combo is Baskets & Annuals pleasing. Hummingbird and butterfly favorite. Fuchsia ‘Windchimes® Upright White & White’ h 6-10” U ACD Elegant clear white corollas with white sepals and stamens and pistils blushed pink. A newer series that has a mounding habit which makes it perfect for containers and baskets. Trails enough to cover the basket and filled with flowers tip to crown. Fuchsia magellanica ‘Aurea’ h 24” T C Lovely golden-hued foliage on this cascading semi-upright plant. The perfect filler in containers and baskets! Develops the tiniest of fuchsia blooms later in the season. Fuchsia thymifolia ‘Thyme Leafed Fuchsia’ NEW! h 24-48” U C From our miniature plant program, the tiny flowering fuchsia also has tiny, tiny leaves. For taller growth, don’t prune and it will grow. This is a classic for fairy gardens. Total cuteness. Gaura ‘Belleza™ Dark Pink’ h 26-28” U A Spikes of delicate star-shaped flowers on fine green foliage with an upright form. Customers love Gaura in any form. Check out our Border Gems selection for a taller white variety. May overwinter (Zone 5). Gaura ‘Little Janie’ h 16-18” U A A more compact pink and white bicolor cultivar. Holds its pleasing mounded shape in containers or in the garden. Can tolerate part shade but blooms best in full sun. Gazania ‘SunBathers® series’ U A A new generation of large-flowered daisies from Australia with silvery gray foliage. Crested semi-double blossoms will tolerate cool and hot temps. Double blossoms stay open better than single varieties. Colorful accent for the annual garden or containers. Gazania ‘SunBathers® Nahui’ h 12-14” U A Large, showy, rich orange flowers without the typical dark eye around the center. Semi-double blossoms don’t close at night.

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 23 Specialty Annuals

Gazania ‘SunBathers® Tikal’ h 6-10” U A Minnesota Gopher fans listen up! This large flower is singing your song! Golden- orange petals are center flushed with a stripe of that gopher and golden gopher centers. These are tough, tolerant plants that bloom throughout the season and stay open no matter how their team is doing. Um, meaning no matter the weather! Go, Gophers! SKI-U-MAH! Gazania ‘SunBathers® Totonaca’ h 10-12” U A Whoa! If you like bicolors, take a look at the photo of this sparkling beauty. Scarlet petal tips are dipped in gold with a huge gold double center that keeps the blossom open all day and night. Geranium ‘Brocade Cherry Night’ NEW! h 10-12” U A 70% Cacao chocolate leaves with a narrow green margin topped with truly cherry colored blossoms on sturdy stems. The foliage is as pretty as a heuchera. Geranium ‘Brocade Fire’ NEW! h 10-12” U A Love this foliage with a dark red zone. The fire red double blossoms complete the picture. Geranium ‘Caliente® series’ We have been so impressed with this interspecific series that blends Zonal & Ivy types to produce large, heat-tolerant, bountiful blooms. The plants stay semi- upright in pots with attractive, full clean foliage. Geranium ‘Caliente® Fire’ h 6-8” ST A Large red blooms with the darkest green leaves. One of our top staff picks!

Kittenwearing

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Geranium ‘Caliente® Hot Coral’ h 6-8” ST A “Hot” really describes this coral colored double. The blossoms pop with color. Geranium ‘Calliope® Burgundy’ h 12” U A A great dwarf geranium series adds another color to its lineup with these large, vibrant burgundy blossoms. This series crosses trailing ivy geraniums with large flowered zonals for performance that can’t be beat. Great in the heat and well- branched, too. Geranium ‘Crystal Palace Gem’ h 8-12” U A

Lime green foliage with a forest green center. Single coral blossoms. One of our best Baskets & Annuals sellers. The foliage is exquisite. Geranium ‘First Yellow Improved’ NEW! h 12-15” U A Yellow geranium?? Yes, indeed. Here is the first true butter yellow variety from the breeders at Burpee. Double blossoms on a pleasing upright form. Geranium ‘Glitterati Ice Queen’ NEW! h 10” U A Vibrant green leaves with a wide white margin and scarlet orange double blooms. The foliage alone makes a statement. New from Hort Couture. Geranium ‘Indian Dunes’ RENEW! h 8-10” U A One of our favorites has returned. Mounds of scalloped chartreuse leaves with bronze centers are complemented by an orange-red single petaled flower. Leaves are almost translucent. Striking in mixed pots. Geranium ‘Persian Queen’ h 15-20” U A An old friend returns to our list ‘cuz we missed her regal chrome yellow foliage and her hot pink single petaled blossoms. Used in combinations she makes other plants pop. How queenly of her! Geranium ‘Pinto Premium From White to Rose’ NEW! h 12-24” U A 2013 All America Winner. Large 5” flowers that open white, then mature to a deep rosy pink giving each blossom a bicolor appearance. Earlier to bloom than most. Attractive zonal foliage with a near-black center. Geranium ‘Two in One Shadow Violet’ NEW! h 18-30” U ACD Unbelievable highly floriferous, shade blooming, interspecific geranium. Large double violet flowers that are sterile and do not shatter. Developed in Europe about 10 years ago, these have been rigorously trialed and are ready for release in the U.S. Plants have very deep roots and may spread to 3 feet. Geranium ‘Sarita® series’ A This interspecific series has been growing in popularity for a number of good reasons. It has won awards for performance with good heat tolerance and a self-cleaning habit. The blossoms are large showy singles. Some of the colors are iridescent. The bicolors are subtle and sweet. The foliage is a rich dark green. Enough already!

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Geranium ‘Sarita® Lilac Splash’ h 12-15” ST A The Saritas are interspecific varieties with dark foliage and large single petaled blossoms in really fun colors. Here, rich shades of lilac with hot pink centers bloom over dark foliage for a pleasing contrast. An award winning series for its heat tolerance and self-cleaning habit. Geranium ‘Sarita® Neon Sizzle’ NEW! h 10-14” U A We do love our Saritas. Glamourous deep rose blooms sport a thin light pink margin. What a show-off! Deep green foliage sets the scene. Geranium ‘Sarita® Sun Star Red’ h 10-14” ST A One of our brokers brought in a sample of this new interspecific geranium from her garden (thanks, Carrie) and we were smitten. Hot red with random darker red markings. Large flowers, dark leaves and no shattering of the blossoms. Sure to be a winner! Geranium ‘Sarita Wild Salmon’ h 14-16” U A Impressive! Ginormous! King salmon sized single flower clusters are the perfect salmon color with darker centers. Foliage is dark green and because these are interspecific geraniums, they are heat tolerant and self-cleaning. Gerbera ‘Jaguar Formula Mix’ NEW! h 10-12” U A A mix of uniform red, white, pink yellow and red gerberas. Continuous blooming with up to 5 blooms per plant if kept dead headed. Great for cutting and very early to begin blooming. Gomphrena ‘Pinball™ Purple’ h 12-18” U A This series is the first vegetative Gomphrena on the market and shows an appealing semi-mounding habit loaded with vibrant purple flowers. Excellent heat and drought tolerance. Use in mixed containers with other dry loving plants for all summer color. Gypsophila ‘Gypsy Deep Rose’ h 10-14” ST AC Dainty, delicate and airy, this semi-trailing baby’s breath is adorable. Deep rosy pink blossoms and petite airy foliage. A classic. ‘Fragrant Delight’ h 18” U AC An old fashioned but classic plant. Purple umbels with a lovely anise-like fragrance. The best variety for deep, deep color and strong fragrance. Impatiens ‘Bounce Cherry’ NEW! U ACD An extremely tough interspecific series of impatiens that will bloom with large cherry single petaled blooms in sun to shade. Although these do use quite a bit of water while being established, they will “bounce” back. Impatiens ‘Bounce Pink Flame’ h 20-30” ST ACD Hot pink bicolor bloom with a flame of pink down each petal. Resistant to downy mildew and will bounce back like magic after a wilt without loosing any blooms or buds.

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Impatiens ‘Butterfly® Deep Pink’ h 6-12” U D Tiny rosy pink blossoms each with a darker pink butterfly marking in the center flutter above green foliage. Absolutely adorable. Impatiens ‘Fusion™ series’ C This series of exotic impatiens have been a big hit since 2005. The lovely mounded foliage is covered in nickel-sized flowers in shades from apricot to yellow to coral. These show vigorous growth and are extremely floriferous. Great unusual colors for shade and not susceptible to Impatiens Downy Mildew.

Impatiens ‘Fusion™ Glow’ h 6-8” U C Baskets & Annuals Lemon yellow with orange at the throat. Fusions are very vigorous in containers or the garden and are covered in attractive unusual shaped blossoms. Heat and cool tolerant. But best of all, resistant to downy mildew. Impatiens ‘Fusion™ Heat’ h 6-8” U C Deep coral with a yellow throat. Fusions are very vigorous in containers or the garden and are covered in attractive unusual shaped blossoms. Heat and cool tolerant. But best of all, resistant to downy mildew. Impatiens ‘Fusion™ Peach Frost ‘ h 10-16” U C Variegated foliage in a pale golden and light green highlight these cool peach blossoms with a darker eye. Fusions are very vigorous in containers or the garden and are covered in attractive unusual shaped blossoms. Heat and cool tolerant. But best of all, resistant to downy mildew . Impatiens ‘New Guinea Magnum Purple’ NEW! h 8-10” U AC How big can a blossom be! Well, the Magnums push the limits with these large dark rosy purple blossoms. A unique color. Best in part shade with lots of water. Impatiens ‘Sun Harmony series’ An interspecific series of impatiens bred for full sun to part shade. Downy mildew resistance. Full vigor plant with loads of blossoms to fill the impatiens market. Later to bloom than seed grown varieties. Impatiens ‘Sun Harmony Compact Lavender’ h 16-20” U ACD Large 2” iridescent lavender blossoms on a well-branched vigorous plant. Impatiens ‘Sun Harmony Magenta’ h 16-20” U ACD Deep 2” magenta blooms are held above well branched green foliage. Impatiens ‘Sun Harmony Orange’ h 16-20” U ACD Bright 2” orange blossoms pop in the part shade garden. Impatiens ‘Sun Harmony Pink’ h 18-24” U ACD Another option for sun loving impatiens with New Guinea breeding but the floriferous habit of seed impatiens. Not susceptible to downy mildew. Will grow in sun to shade.

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 27 Specialty Annuals

Impatiens ‘Sunpatiens® series’ U ACD A gigantic breeding breakthrough in the world of impatiens. This series performs vigorously in full sun to full shade. They have a similar appearance to a New Guinea, but these fabulous plants are tall and wide (up to 3 feet). Highly recommended plants for containers or the landscape. The spreading group, obviously, has a more trailing habit while the compact group is upright and works well in large containers or mid-border. These are not susceptible to Impatiens Downy Mildew. Impatiens ‘Sunpatiens® Compact Red’ h 18-24” U ACD High performing, versatile impatiens in true red. Impatiens ‘Sunpatiens® Tropical Orange’ NEW! h 20-36” U ACD When we first started the business, back in the mid-90’s (OMG), we loved to grow the Painted series of New Guineas. Now we have that same great gold and green glossy foliage with the interspecific Sunpatiens® series. Large orange blossoms provide color all season. Large plants thrive in the sun to shade. A great landscape variety or for larger containers. Impatiens ‘Sunpatiens® Variegated Spreading White’ h 24-30” U ACD White blossoms sit atop this lovely cream and green variegated foliage. A vigorous spreading plant. A lovely choice for containers or borders. Impatiens w. ‘Fiesta Ole Purple Stripe’ h 10-12” U D White and magenta-purple bicolor rose shaped blooms in abundance. Impatiens w. ‘Patchwork™ Cosmic Orange’ h 10-16” U C Amazing tri-color blooms. A white eye gives way to burgundy and then a blast of orange. Highly floriferous and fast growing. Iochroma ‘Purple Queen’ h 24-28” U AC Native to Central and South America. Large velvety leaves with spectacular tubular purple blossoms. Check out our website (www.rushcreekgrowers.com) for a photo of this unusual gem. Can become a small shrub-like size in one season. Reblooms in fall, too. Lantana ‘Bandana® Lemon Zest’ NEW! h 10-12” ST A Northern gardeners have embraced lantanas with their cheery flowers, vigor and heat tolerance. Our pollinators love them too. Lemon yellow and white are the dominant colors here. We find the Bandanas are a bit more compact in form which makes them a great choice for containers. Lantana ‘Landmark™ Citrus’ h 4-6” U A Vibrant orange and yellow flowers thrive in extreme heat, drought and humidity. Free flowering. A good container or landscape variety. Lantana ‘Landmark™ Rose Glow’ h 16-20” U A Delightfully sweet, rosy-lilac clusters are topped with cream colored flowers. Dark green foliage. Continuous flowering on a plant that can stand up to stressful conditions. Great for bees and butterflies.

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Lantana ‘Landmark™ Sunrise Rose’ NEW! h 15-20” ST A High contrast rose and yellow cover this mounded form. These have lower seed set so keep flowering heavily throughout the summer. Lantana ‘Landmark™ White’ NEW! h 15-20” ST A Vigorous variety with white umbels with a lemony yellow central zone. Loves the heat and humidity. Works well in containers or the landscape. Lantana ‘Luscious® Berry Blend™’ h 24-36” ST A Each flower cluster sports all the cheerful colors of a bowl of Fruit Loops--oranges, golds, and . Tall sturdy plants with dozens of bloom clusters. Attractive to the Baskets & Annuals birds and the bees and the butterflies. Lantana ‘Luscious® Grape™’ h 10-16” ST A Gorgeous ground cover or container plant has rich grape colored blossoms with a white eye. A unique and popular color. Keep deadheaded for best blooming. Lantana ‘Luscious® Marmalade’ NEW! h 24-36” ST A Classic orange tones with a delightful fragrance cover this heat loving and vigorous grower. Loves the summer landscape and good for baskets and containers, too. Lantana ‘Samantha™’ h 6-10” ST A Light up the garden with these bright yellow flower clusters over golden and green variegated foliage. This cultivar is sterile so it will keep blooming even if you forget to deadhead. Spreads to 30”. Lantana ‘Skittles’ h 6-8” ST A Presumably, this variety is named for the popular candy in similar colors of , , oranges and . Heat loving umbels on glossy foliage are easy to grow in our hot, humid summers. Makes a super groundcover or container plant. Laurentia ‘Beth’s Blue’ h 8-12” U AC Five-petaled steely blue stars cover a globe-shaped plant that will bloom all summer. Deeply cut foliage adds a delicate texture to a tough plant. A great blue for the border or to accent a container. Tender perennial. Laurentia ‘MegaStar Pink’ NEW! h 8-12” U AC The largest flowering pink Laurentia to date and a Fleuroselect Award Winner. Needle-like foliage is covered with single petaled pink blossoms with a small white eye. Blooms all summer in the garden or containers. Leonotis menthifolia ‘Savannah Sunset’ h 48-60” U A When a customer asks for something unique, look no further than this funky fellow. Brilliant orange, fuzzy tubular petals whorl around sturdy stems to make a show unlike any other. This variety is sturdy enough for containers and showy enough for the garden. Tell your customers that the common name is aptly “Lion’s Mane”. Easy to grow. Lobelia ‘Early Springs™ series’ ACD Formerly the Hot Spring series, this is an early blooming and consistent group of lobelias. Compact habit and good heat tolerance are a bonus.

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 29 Specialty Annuals

Lobelia ‘Early Springs™ Dark Blue’ h 8-10” U,ST ACD Dark blue with a clear white throat. Lobelia ‘Early Springs™ Magenta’ h 8-10” U,ST ACD Deep magenta with a touch of white at the throat. Lobelia ‘Early Springs™ Blue’ h 8-10” U,ST ACD Soft light blue with a larger white eye. Lobelia ‘Early Springs™ White’ h 8-10” U,ST ACD Clean white with a blue throat.

Lobularia ‘Stream™ series’ This series was bred for its heat tolerance and for performance in both containers and in garden beds. Fast floriferous growers with a tight habit and a fantastic fragrance. Lobularia ‘Purple Stream™ ‘ h 8-12” ST,T AC Fragrant purple blooms have light purple tips that darken as they mature and are sweet in both mixed containers or as a groundcover. Lobularia ‘Raspberry Stream™’ NEW! h 8-12” ST AC Honey scented vivid pink blossoms cover this new vegetative alyssum. Heat tolerant, fast growing and easy to grow in baskets, containers for the garden. Plant with other “assertive” varieties for best combos. Lobularia ‘Silver Stream™’ h 8-12” ST AC This vegetative alyssum is packed with blossoms and long lasting staying power through our hot summers. Vigorous grower works well in combos or baskets. Perfumed with a sweet honey fragrance. Pleasing mounded form. Lobularia ‘Summer Stream™’ h 14-18” ST AC Light creamy yellow for a new look in alyssum. Extremely tough and floriferous variety for the garden or containers. Lophospermum ‘Lophos™ Compact Rose’ h 12-24” T AC Lophospermum can be a bit of a monster so it figures that the plant breeders would be searching for a more compact variety to use in tighter situations and to aid in the shipping process. The ‘Compacts’ are 1-2 ft. from top to bottom with the same lovely foliage and rose trumpet shaped blossoms. Lophospermum ‘Lophos™ Compact White’ h 12-24” T AC Clear, creamy white blossoms cover this more compact variety of Lophospermum. Better for use in smaller pots or tighter situations than the full sized beauty. The ‘Compacts’ are 1-2 ft. from top to bottom with the same lovely foliage and white trumpet shaped blossoms. Lysimachia ‘Sundew Springs™’ h 12-14” ST AC Shiny pointed golden foliage accents containers or the garden. Blooms with yellow blossoms in early summer.

30 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Specialty Annuals

Lysimachia ‘Superstition™’ h 2-4” T AC Beautiful trailing foliage in shades of burgundy with veins of green. Dark is maintained through summer’s heat. Single petaled yellow blossoms. Trails straight down for an interesting form. Easy to grow. Use as a trailing accent for mixed containers. Lysimachia ‘Walkabout Sunset®’ h 6-10” T AC Beautiful gold and green rounded foliage with bright yellow blooms. Very easy to grow in the garden or as a beautiful addition to containers, baskets and window boxes. Just fabulous! Annuals & Baskets & Annuals Mecardonia ‘GoldDust™’ h 2-5” T A Small green leaves are covered with yellow flowers throughout the summer. Ground-hugging form works great in containers. Self cleaning. Top rated at the University of Wisconsin Extension trial gardens in Madison. This is a really great plant. Works well in miniature gardens, too. Nemesia ‘Nesia Lemon’ NEW! h 8-10” U AC We trialed these varieties in Spring 2015 and were impressed with their vigor and hardiness. Fragrant, yellow blossoms covered these nicely branched plants. Our staff had good luck with summer blooming in part shade. Nemesia ‘Nesia Magenta’ NEW! h 8-10” U AC After trialing several varieties last spring we have chosen the Nesias for vigor, heat tolerance and heavy blooming. This deep magenta was one of most favorites and bloomed throughout the summer. Nemesia ‘Opal Innocence’ h 8-10” U A Extremely fragrant blooms that change from iridescent pink to light purple. Truly lovely. This variety appears translucent. Nemesia ‘Parfum Blueberry Ala Mode™’ NEW! h 8-10” U AC New from Hort Couture is this early blooming soft blue nemesia with a charming cream colored bottom lip and a touch of gold at the throat. And it smells great too. New from Japan. Nemesia ‘Sunsatia™ Blood Orange’ NEW! h 8-10” U AC Delightful orange blossoms with speckles of red cover this well-named variety from German breeding. Smells great and brightens up any springtime mood. Origanum ‘Kent Beauty’ h 4-6” ST A Hops-like bracts turn rose, cream and chartreuse in late summer. These gorgeous plants spill over the edges of containers beautifully. You’ll have this year’s customer back for more next year. Hard to find. Osteospermum ‘4D™ series’ NEW! h 8-12” U AC An improvement on the 3D series while still maintaining the double centers that keep the flowers open all the time. Great colors for early sales.

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 31 Specialty Annuals

Osteospermum ‘4D™ Lemon Ice’ NEW! h 8-12” U AC Lovely pure white with bright lemon yellow double centers. Blossoms stay open all the time for increased appeal. Osteospermum ‘4D™ Purple’ NEW! h 8-12” U AC Rich purple with deeper purple double centers on a nicely branched variety. Blooms stay open even in low light. Osteospermum ‘4D™ Violet Ice’ NEW! h 8-12” U AC purple with a darker purple double center. Looks great with springtime yellows. Blossoms stay open day and night. Osteospermum ‘4D™ Yellow’ NEW! h 8-12” U AC Solid sunny yellow with a double yellow center. Great with pansies, nemesias and diascias. Osteospermum ‘Blue Eyed Beauty’ h 10-14” U AC One of the prettiest Osteos and tough, too. Blooming nicely in the end of July trial gardens, this new bicolor is a winner. Yellow petals surround a blue eye with a blue ring. Charming and irresistible after our long winters. Oxypetalum ‘Heavenborn’ h 12”-20” U A Also called Tweedia, this plant is a definite head turner. The pale, tie-dyed blue blossoms are like no other. Tall and erect form is multi-branched. Blooms all summer if kept deadheaded but the long pointed seed pods are a funky treat, too. Pentas ‘Butterfly series’ U A This hybrid series has 20% larger flowers than other seed grown varieties (up to 3”), shows improved garden vigor and withstands stressful conditions Pentas lanceolata ‘Butterfly Deep Rose’ h 12-22” U A Vibrant, rose, 3” flowers top attractive, glossy foliage for a container or garden plant that thrives in our summer weather. Pentas lanceolata ‘Butterfly Red’ h 12-22” U A 3” rich, red umbels call to the neighbors to join you in the garden. Easy to grow even in hot and humid conditions. Pentas lanceolata ‘Butterfly White’ h 12-22” U A No wonder the common name for Pentas is “Star Cluster,” because these blooms really are clusters of dozens of cute little white stars. Multiple flower heads above neatly mounded, shiny green foliage. Pentas ‘Northern ’ NEW! h 20-24” U A Star shaped lavender flowers in the palest shade. Pastel and absolutely lovely. Pollinators love pentas.

Petunias Oh my, the world of petunias has jumped off into the deep end without a life jacket and we have followed. So many beautiful choices and forms.

32 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Specialty Annuals

Petunia ‘African Sunset F1’ h 12” U A 2014 All America Selections Winner. In trials we visited, this was a true performer! In the garden these plants, covered in medium orange blossoms, will spread up to 32 inches. Petunia ‘Cascadias™ Autumn Mystery’ h 10-16” ST A Soft creamy yellow flowers accented with a mocha and purple eye. An unusual and appealing new color for 2015. Petunia ‘Cascadias™ Indian Summer’ h 10-18” ST A

Another very popular variety at trials and shows this year. Varied shades of yellow Baskets & Annuals to rose to pink lending a terra cotta look to this vigorous plant. Also available in hanging baskets. Petunia ‘Cascadias™ Pitaya’ NEW! h 10-12” T A Star shaped rosy flowers with tips of light green. Vigorous trailing series. Petunia ‘Cascadias™ Rim Magenta’ RENEW! h 10-16” T A Deep magenta stars are set off with a wide white margin. Heavy flower cover on a trailing form. Petunia ‘ColorWorks™ Homare’ NEW! ST A This is one of the most beautiful petunias we saw on our annual trip to Ohio for the Cultivate’15 trade show. White with and lavender irregular striping with a small yellow center. This semi-trailing gal is prettier than any petunia should be. I am guessing but this might be named after the stellar Japanese women’s soccer player Homare Sawa. Petunia ‘Crazytunia™ Limy’ NEW! h 8-16” T A A clear on a large flowered variety with the Crazytunia semi trailing habit. Medium vigor means it will “play well” with others in mixed combos. Petunia ‘Crazytunia™ Pulse’ h 10-12” U A The Crazytunias add another wild and crazy cousin. Yellow stripes are lined with rose and surrounded by bordeaux. Stable colors are a fun design element for gardeners with a wild side. Petunia ‘Easy Wave® Red Velour’ NEW! h 6-12” T A Named for their “veloury” finish, this is a hot colored landscape variety. A real head turner; it stopped Suzanne and Amy in their tracks several times. Rich red flowers are 2-3” and won’t disappoint in containers or the garden. Petunia ‘Fortunia Rose Gem’ NEW! h 6-12” T A This early to bloom series has added a deep rose. Simple and elegant. Petunia ‘Glamouflage Grape’ NEW! T A Stable variegated cream and green foliage sets off the soft purple blooms of this new variety from Hort Couture. “Glamouflage” - seriously?? Petunia ‘Glow Blue Stardust’ h 8-10” T A A stunning bicolor of deep true blue, striped with soft white. We can’t wait to put this one in combinations. Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 33 Specialty Annuals

Petunia ‘Glow Lavender Shades’ h 8-10” T A A variety of lavender shades on one plant. Trailing habit with large flowers that bloom early in the season. Petunia ‘Happy Magic Cremissimo’ NEW! h 8-12” T A One of our favorite new varieties in 2015 was the Happy Magic Dijon petunia which is a sister to this one. Temperature changes the color of these from the very pastel pink with a yellow throat to a rich rose with a vibrant rose and lime throat. Petunia ‘Happy Magic Giant Dijon’ h 8-16” ST A Multiple and yellow give this the spicy look your customers love. Very large blooms with pointed petals and a semi-trailing habit are fantastic in baskets, window boxes and containers Petunia ‘Hells® Bells’ h 8” ST A Large fiery orange-red. Said to be the hottest orange around. Just say that the Devil made you buy it. Spreads to 12”. Petunia ‘Hells® Fruit Punch’ NEW! h 10-16” ST A Described as fluorescent orange and with a strong horizontal branching style that make them idea for baskets and combos. Blooms hold up throughout the summer without fading. Medium vigor. Petunia ‘Moonlight Eclipse’ h 12-14” U A Rich blue with a green edge and an overall metallic sheen. It is upright and mounding in habit with 2” blossoms. More the blue moon than the blood moon. Self cleaning, too. Petunia ‘Night Sky’ NEW! ST A HOT PLANT ALERT!!! Deep blue petunia with starry splotches that give it that heavenly glow. Should be called ‘Starry, Starry Night’. Seriously if you haven’t seen it, check out the photo on rushcreekgrowers.com. It is amazing. Petunia ‘Peppy Red’ h 12-18” T A Can’t help but smile at these red and white striped petals. This series features variation in the markings which adds to the charm. Petunia ‘Peppy Sunset’ h 12-18” T A Creamy yellow accented with pale coral markings, this cultivar has an appealing vintage appearance on a trailing form. Random markings add to the appeal. Petunia ‘Perfectunia Mandarin’ NEW! ST A We chose this variety for a large flower size and the attractive reddish orange colored blooms. These are early blooming, well-controlled varieties that mix well with others and stay nice all season. Petunia ‘Perfectunia Nautica’ NEW! T A We’re putting on our deck shoes and hoisting the mast for this cool trailing petunia with large purple flowers with five bright white stripes on each blossom.

34 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Specialty Annuals

Petunia ‘Potunia® Blueberry Muffin’ NEW! h 6-10” U A Love the shape and flower power of the Potunias. Now we have a pretty pastel variety in , cream and yellow with each blossom showing its own style for a nice effect. Mounding and full of flowers. Petunia ‘Potunia® Plus Dark Purple’ h 6-10” U A Intense purple with a dark, almost black colored throat. Mounds of color on a pleasingly vigorous form. Petunia ‘Potunia® Plus Dark Red’ h 8-10” M A

Extra large, deep red blossoms with a center totally cover this upright and Baskets & Annuals mounding form. Don’t use this for a trailing application but rather in containers and window boxes or the garden border where a blast of color is needed. Love it! Petunia ‘Potunia® Plus Denim’ NEW! h 6-10” U A No need to stone wash these, they come that way! Deep blue centers with soft blue and white margins veined with more blue. Nice mounded form and covered with flowers. Petunia ‘Potunia® Plus Papaya’ h 8-10” M A We can’t beat this vibrant papaya color. It shines out from the bunch on the bench and is interesting in mixed combos. Large flowers and a tightly mounded form brought it back to our list for 2015. Petunia ‘Radiance Pink’ h 8-12” U,ST A This petunia is an early and floriferous bloomer that will be covered in radiant taffeta-pink blooms. Petunia ‘Sophistica Blackberry’ h 12-15” T A Shimmering blackberry black with some reddish-purple undertones. Sophisticas are a large, grandiflora type that will really trail. Petunia ‘Supercal® series’ U,ST A A series that combines the best of calibrachoas and petunias with vibrant colors, large blossoms and high PH tolerance for ease of care by the home gardener. Petunia ‘Supercal® Cherry Improved’ h 10-16” U,ST A A nice red petunia/callie cross with large flowers. Semi-trailing habit and bright red blooms. Petunia ‘Supercal® Light Yellow’ NEW! h 12” ST A We finally found a yellow we like. Sweet pastel yellow with a darker throat on a easy to grow Supercal. Mounding habit with excellent flower cover. Great basket, combo or window box variety. Petunia ‘Supercal® Neon Rose’ h 10-14” T A Rich rose with a small gold throat. Petunia ‘Supercal® Velvet’ h 10-14” T A The deepest red with a slight yellow throat.

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 35 Specialty Annuals

Petunia ‘Supertunia® Black Cherry’ h 8-12” ST,T A Mouthwatering medium-large blooms have slightly frilled edges and are a very dark iridescent red. Handsome! Petunia ‘Surfinia Sumo™ Pink’ h 18-20” ST,T A You will want to remember that this petunia has the word ‘Sumo’ in its name because it will be living up to it! Very large, very vigorous plants and flowers have hot, hot, hot pink blooms. Petunia ‘Sweetunia® Johnny Flame’ ST A A unique combo of deep rose with a vivid purple star. Medium sized blooms, medium vigor and loads of blooms make this a great choice for containers where you don’t want the petunia to eat her neighbors. Johnny’s hot! Petunia ‘Sweetunia® Hot Rod Red’ h 8-10” ST A Small, hot, hot red blossoms cover this dense mound that trails softly over the side of baskets or containers. We can’t seem to keep this one in stock. The red is unbeatable. Petunia ‘Sweetunia® Suzie Storm’ NEW! ST A Medium size magenta blooms with rosy margins in the same vein as ‘Johnny Flame’ but just a bit lighter to brighten up the mix. Petunia ‘Vista Bubblegum’ h 5-7” T A A favorite of staff member Cheryl who found it caused a gawker slowdown when planted in front of her favorite liquor store. She plans to rename the plant after that popular summer drink, the Margarita. Don’t tell Proven Winners, please! Strong pink. (Not strong drink.) Phlox drummondii ‘Intensia® Blueberry’ h 10-18” U AC Mid-height annual blue phlox for baskets, containers or the garden. This series is an award winner to be sure. Heat, drought, humidity tolerance and a sweet fragrance with charming colors. Who could resist? Phlox drummondii ‘Intensia® Cabernet’ h 10-18” U AC Adaptable to midwest growing conditions, these annual phlox have won awards galore. They smell great, can thrive in heat, humid and dry conditions and smell great! This one sports a splendid mound of dark magenta blossoms. Phlox drummondii ‘Intensia® White’ h 8-12” U AC We loved ‘Intensia Blueberry’ and ‘Cabernet’ so much last year we decided to add another color. Charming, pure, all-white flowers will bloom all season long on plants that are tolerant to the heat and cold. Phygelius ‘Candy Drops Deep Rose™’ h 20” U A Exotic cousin to the fuchsia, these cherry red tubular blossoms hang from tall stems on bushy foliage. Long-blooming and cold hardy. Zone 5 with mulch. Keep moist.

36 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Specialty Annuals

Portulaca ‘Cupcake Cherry Baby’ h 2-4” T A Beautiful, cherry red singles with yellow throats pop open with the morning sun. Very vigorous and early to bloom. Pleasing, glossy, needle-like foliage. Another colorful, drought resistant variety. Portulaca ‘Cupcake Grape Jelly’ NEW! h 2-4” ST A Deep grapey fuchsia colored purslane with large flowers and a tough attitude. Good for added color to succulent containers or a difficult spot in the garden. A great little plant!

Portulaca ‘Cupcake Yellow Chrome’ h 2-4” T A Baskets & Annuals Yellow moss roses dashed with orange. Earlier to bloom than most and well branched. Pratia pedunculata ‘County Park’ NEW! h 2-4” U A Long blooming miniature with lots of tiny blue star-shaped blossoms over a deep green carpet of foliage. A tender perennial up here in the northland. Works well in miniature gardens or as an annual groundcover. Primula ‘Blue Zebra’ h 6-8” U A Just imagine a white zebra with blue stripes instead of black. It’s also reminiscent of a yellow centered, blue and white tie-dyed t-shirt. It will be the talk of the party in that mini container garden or all on its own. You’ve just gotta see this one! Primula ‘Party Girl™ Mixer’ NEW! h 6-8” U AC Really? Who picked this name? Well it is quite the party with golden throats, and rose and white frilly edges. Truly a novelty item. Rudbeckia hirta ‘Tiger Eye’ h 16-24” S A A slightly more compact variety with extremely clean tight foliage and lovely golden double blossoms. This is one of our favorites. Plant near the front of the border. Easy to grow. A cheery addition to the summer garden or for a charming container. Salvia buchanii ‘Wendy’s Wish’ h 30-40” U A Phenomenal fuchsia colored flowers with fluted tips on sturdy stems are a gardener’s dream. Long white stamens add even more charm. This has been a staff favorite. From Australia. Salvia farinacea ‘Cathedral® Series’ This series is more compact and tolerates a wide variety of conditions. Large stocky spikes of blooms with large individual flowers truly are like mini cathedrals. Salvia farinacea ‘Cathedral® Purple’ h 12-18” U A Stunning! Dark purple spikes and flowers. Makes for an unusual tropical look when combined with hot colored zinnias. Salvia farinacea ‘Cathedral® Shining Seas’ h 12-18” U A Darling bicolor flower spikes. Large individual flowers have dark lilac crests and white falls. Easy to grow. Salvia farinacea ‘Cathedral® White’ h 12-18” U A Pure white flowers on light green spikes and glossy green foliage. Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 37 Specialty Annuals

Salvia farinacea ‘Sallyfun™ Blue’ h 12” U A Brilliant blue-violet spires on bright green foliage. High performance variety. More compact and floriferous than similar seed-grown varieties. Ideal for containers and landscapes. Salvia greggii ‘Desert Blaze’ NEW! h 24-36” U AC A tender perennial salvia with an upright form covered in unique variegated green and white foliage. Blossoms are a vivid red that attracts hummers, butterflies and bees. Blooms all summer and into the fall. Salvia greggii ‘Joy’ NEW! h 20” U AC Tender perennial with dark rose buds opening to soft pink singles. Long blooming and easy to grow. Drought tolerant. A nice size plant for containers or the garden. Pollinators love them. Salvia greggii ‘Maraschino’ h 24-36” U A An ever-blooming, scarlet beauty on tough, woody stems thrills the hummers and butterflies in the garden as well as the gardener. Quite drought tolerant to boot! A taller form more suited to the garden. Salvia greggii ‘Radio Red’ NEW! h 16-18” U A A tender perennial that blooms like an annual with true red non-fading blossoms. Great for bees and butterflies. Long blooming and easy to grow in a variety of conditions. Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Bloom’ NEW! h 36-60” U AC We are so pleased to see an earlier blooming version of Salvia ‘Black and Blue’ hitting the market this year. The deepest blue tubular blossoms grace this mid- height beauty. The leaves are a bit thicker and with a darker stem than the parents. Easy to grow for great rewards and deer resistant, too. Salvia hybrid ‘Ember’s Wish’ NEW! h 30-36” U AC Bright coral-colored, tubular blossoms contrast beautifully with deep maroon stems. A sport of ‘Wendy’s Wish’ from Australia. A portion of each sale of all the ‘Wishes” varieties goes to benefit Australia’s Make-a-Wish foundation. Hummers love it. Salvia hybrid ‘Love and Wishes’ NEW! h 30-36” U AC Another sport of the ever popular ‘Wendy’s Wish’ but with deep purple calyxes and magenta tubular blossoms. Dark stems and mid-green foliage add to the appeal. These new salvias are just the ticket for customers who want to support hummingbirds and pollinators. Then they will be hooked on this great genus of plants. Salvia hybrid ‘Suncrest Autumn Moon’ h 15” U A Rich coral pink with a cream colored protruding lip. The blossoms glimmer against the black stems and calyxes. You’ll salivate over these salvias. Salvia hybrid ‘Suncrest Lemon Light’ h 15” U A What a treat! A bright yellow salvia with strong green foliage. Attractive upright for a container or the garden.

38 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Specialty Annuals

Salvia microphylla ‘Hot Lips’ NEW! h 36” U A White tubular blossoms with bright red lips call attention to this sage from Mexico. The blossom color changes with the summer and fall temps. Drought and deer tolerant. Makes a whimsical cut flower, too. Salvia splendens ‘Amistad ‘ h 36-48” U A Friendship Sage. Dark, purple flowers with nearly black calyx bloom constantly from early spring until frost. Suzanne discovered this last spring and it was sold before we could even list it. Gorgeous.

Salvia splendens ‘Saucy™ Red’ h 24-36” U A Baskets & Annuals Sassy red calyx and blooms with lush, bushy foliage structure. Heat tolerant and vigorous. Salvia splendens ‘Saucy™ Wine’ h 24-36” U A Burgundy-purple calyx and flowers sporting glossy dark green foliage. Vigorous and well branching, this salvia will have you wondering if it’s on steroids. Salvia x ‘Mystic Spires Blue’ h 24-36” U A Plant form is exceptional on this compact version of ‘ Spires’. True blue spires cover the sturdy dark green foliage. Blooms all season. Excellent as a container plant or for a blue “WOW!” in the garden. Sanvitalia ‘Sunvy Super Gold’ h 6-10” ST A Who doesn’t love sanvitalias! They shout “summer” with their cheery petite yellow daisies and green centers. These spread to offer a lively mound of color. The Sunvys are early bloomers with good heat tolerance. Scaevola ‘Scalora Amethyst’ NEW! h 8-12” ST A This is an underappreciated plant for difficult situations. It will survive in full sun, takes the wind without breaking as long as it is kept water. We saw this new variety at the OSU trials and were impressed with the flower cover on the crown of the plant and its somewhat tighter style. The blossoms are the traditional fan shape in a pretty shade of purple. Snapdragon ‘Peachy Dragon’ h 8-12” U A Open style peach blossoms with bright yellow centers. Compact, bushy habit and very heat tolerant. Words don’t do it justice. Snapdragon ‘Fruitsalad Cranberry’ NEW! h 8-10” ST A A compact beauty for those cool spring temps. Large regal red blossoms with a splash of yellow gold on the lower lip. The semi-trailing form is perfect for accenting Osteos, Pansies, Diascia and other spring bloomers. These take the summer heat, too. Solanum rantonelli var. NEW! h 12-24” ST ACD Glossy green and cream foliage forms a semi-trailing mound when up pops papery true blue blossoms on sturdy woody stems. Grow alone or trailing over the edge of a container or basket.

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 39 Specialty Annuals

Spilanthes oleracea ‘Peek a Boo’ h 12-15” U AC Adorable olive-shaped blossoms are golden yellow with deep burgundy-red eyes. (Sometimes called eyeball plant.) Can be grown as a novel indoor plant but foliage takes on an attractive bronze shade in full sun. Use in the annual border or add to a mixed container for a unique and colorful component. Can spread to 18”. Sunflower ‘Solita Yellow’ NEW! h 16” U A Nicely dwarf, well branched hybrid sunflower with 6” golden yellow rays with a green eye. The plant is pollen free. Works in containers or as single pot. Tecoma ‘Sun Trumpets™ Orange’ NEW! h 12-36” U A Just right for a large container or the garden! A shrubby form covered in brilliant orange trumpet shaped blossoms. Loves the heat and is self cleaning, too. Blooms continuously for quite a show. Torenia ‘Solarina™ White Veil’ h 6-10” T C White flowers work so well in a shady spot. Here is a trailing wishbone flower with a deep grape purple throat. Vigorous and easy to grow. Torenia ‘Summer Wave® Bouquet Gold’ NEW! h 6-8” ST C Large gold wishbone flowers sport a purple throat. Easy to grow trailing form has attractive glossy green foliage. Light up the shade with a mixed combo or single species plant.

Flowerwearing

40 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Specialty Annuals

Torenia ‘Summer Wave® Large Blue’ h 8-10” T C One of our favorite local designers has to have this elegant, easy to grow shade beauty in her clients’ gardens and containers. We’ve grown it especially for her and now we are adding it to our list. The large sized blue blossoms and glossy, clean green foliage get rave reviews. Torenia ‘Summer Wave® Large Silver’ h 8-10” T C Large blossoms are blushed with lavender with a darker purple throat. The same excellent garden and container performance as other Summer Waves. Glossy, clean foliage is a plus. Annuals & Baskets & Annuals Torenia ‘Summer Wave® Large Violet’ h 6-10” T C Luxurious deep violet flowers with larger, more deeply serrated foliage than the other Torenia out there. Torenia ‘Torelus™ Dark Yellow’ NEW! h 8-10” ST AC A new plant that is a cross between a torenia and a mimulus. The foliage and form mimics a torenia and the large colorful flowers are orchid-like from the mimulus. Large clear yellow blossoms cover the plant. The plant blooms vigorously all spring and summer, is drought tolerant and requires little maintenance. Torenia ‘Torelus™ Orange Red’ NEW! h 8-10” ST AC A new plant that is a cross between a torenia and a mimulus. The foliage and form mimics a torenia and the large colorful flowers are orchid-like from the a mimulus. Here is a brillant orange with a red speckled lip and a golden throat. The plant blooms vigorously all spring and summer, is drought tolerant and requires little maintenance. Tropaeolum ‘Duckalicious™’ h 6-12” ST A Cute ducksfoot foliage and highly serrated yellow nasturtium blossoms adorn this easy to grow vegetative variety. Semi-trailing habit is ideal for containers or the garden.

Verbenas There is a verbena for every situation. We love the Aztecs for their light texture, large flowers and semi-upright habit. The Endurascapes are a newer landscape series from Ball that has performance and cold tolerance galore. The Estrellas have large flower clusters with broad foliage and some of the most unique bicolor flowers. The Empress series also has large flowers on a semi-trailing form with good mildew resistance. We adore the Lanais for their trailing habit and great garden performance. They are vigorous spreaders with rich flower color. The Magelana series has blossoms throughout on a compact plant with fine textured foliage. Superbenas are the classic basket verbena and the Wickeds are just for fun (semi- upright). All of these are winners at Rush Creek Growers. Verbena ‘Aztec™ Blue Velvet’ h 6-8” ST AC Deep, luscious purple with a discreet, white eye. Elegant color. Semi-trailing form with light textured foliage.

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 41 Specialty Annuals

Verbena ‘Aztec® Magenta Magic’ NEW! h 6-8” ST AC Light textured foliage and a softly trailing habit are accented with this deep magenta colored blossom. A lovely new addition to one of our favorite series. Verbena ‘Aztec™ White’ h 6-10” ST AC Large, clear white flowers with attractive light textured foliage. Verbena ‘Empress Flair Charme’ h 4-6” U AC Extra large soft purple-blue petals surround a sparkling bright white eye. The Flair series sports a pleasing upright form that spreads to a 12” clump. Verbena ‘Empress Red’ h 6-12” ST AC Large, brilliant red blossoms. Verbena ‘Endurascape series’ h 8-12” ST AC Here is a big breakthrough in landscape verbena breeding. These cultivars will take cold temps into the low teens and high temps to 100 and keep blooming their heads off. We checked them out in Madison and Chicago and they showcased high bloom count and great vigor with a 18-24” spread. We didn’t see any mildew on them in spite of the cool, wet summer. Don’t miss trying these! Verbena ‘Endurascape Blue’ h 8-12” ST AC Large blue umbels on plants that will take cold and hot weather abuse and keep going. A great new landscape series. Verbena ‘Endurascape Purple’ h 8-12” ST AC Large purple umbels on plants that will take cold weather and hot weather abuse and keep going. A great new landscape series. The photos on the website show actual garden performance. Verbena ‘Estrella™ UP Pink Ballet’ h 8-12” U AC Elegant bicolor flower. Umbels are cloud-like and are cream and baby pink with irregular flashes of magenta pink. Verbena ‘Estrella™ Voodoo Red Star’ h 10” ST AC Large, red flowers with white star centers cover this early flowering verbena for a unique and appealing look. Vigorous. Verbena ‘Estrella™ Voodoo Salmon Star’ h 10” ST AC A striking salmon with creamy star centers. Vigorous, very early flowering variety has large flowers covering the entire plant. Verbena ‘Lanai Vintage Vodka’ NEW! ST AC Umbels of creamy white speckled with a soft pink. Nice vigorous series that works well in the landscape or garden. Verbena ‘Lanai® Candy Cane’ h 6-10” T AC White blossoms with a thin cherry stripe make this verbena both adorable and eye- catching.

42 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Specialty Annuals

Verbena ‘Lanai® Lime’ h 6-10” T AC This Lanai is the nicest lime we know about. This will be a fun addition to container design. Good vigor and mildew resistance. Verbena ‘Lanai® Peach’ h 6-10” T AC Clusters of pastel peach florets bloom early and into the fall. Works as a ground cover along borders and will fill in baskets and planters. Deadhead to keep those flowers coming. Don’t overwater. Verbena ‘Lanai® Vintage Rose’ h 6-10” T AC

A delicately colored variety with a Victorian flair - creamy white flecked with rose. Baskets & Annuals Lovely for the cottage garden style. Nice flower size and good mildew resistance. Verbena ‘Lascar Mango Orange’ NEW! h 12-14” T AC Large umbels of coral with a large orange eye present a new color choice for verbena lovers. Verbena ‘Magelana™ Frost’ h 4-6” T AC Pinky plum blossoms with a lighter pink center on compact, finely textured foliage. Verbena ‘Superbena™ Royale Chambray’ h 6-10” ST AC Every one of our staff has to have one of these beauties every season! Bluest blue trailer with heavily textured foliage. Nice large blossom size and a rich colored bloom. Keep deadheaded for best blooming. Verbena ‘Superbena™ Royale Iced Cherry’ h 8-10” T AC Large-leafed trailing variety with large, cherry red blossoms. Superbena performance and vigor with good disease resistance. Low water and fertilization needs. Verbena ‘Wicked Great Grape’ h 8-12” ST AC Wow! This lovely semi-upright verbena is so easy to combine with other colors. Creamy white umbels have soft green eyes with a purple ring in the center of the umbel. Perfect for combos featuring purple and yellow. Blossoms peek through to make solid colors pop. Verbena ‘Wicked Rad Red’ NEW! h 8-12” ST AC As with the other ‘Wicked’ varieties, this one also has a fun and novel color pattern on the blossoms. You’ll see true red, white and picoteed petals in each umbel. Bright and eye catching .

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 43 Specialty Foliage Specialty Foliage Specialty Foliage—4” compostable pots, 10/flat Does anyone plan a container without some interesting foliage in the mix? This has been a strong area for us with about 60 varieties of coleus, some fun new Ipomoeas and lots of other colorful and textural varieties.

Specialty Foliage

Alternanthera ‘Brazilian Red Hots’ h 12-18” ST AC Don’t miss this one! Flashy fuchsia and magenta colored, pointed leaves on an upright plant. This plant adds hot drama to any landscape or container. Loves the heat and humidity. Alternanthera ‘Burgundy Threadleaf’ h 6-10” U AC Narrow, slightly curled & pointed foliage in rich burgundy with olive green to purple reverse. Becomes a nice sized mound of red in the garden or a smaller red accent in containers. Easy to grow and unique. One of our favorite foliage plants. Alternanthera d. ‘Little ’ h 4-6” U AC Adorable small ruby red leaves on a ground hugging plant. Tuck this into any container for a delightful mound of glossy burgundy color. Easy to grow. Artemisia ‘Parfum d’ Ethiopia’ h 14-18” U AC A frilly leaved silver beauty that stands about 18” tall. Well-branched form produces a striking choice for the center of containers or placed in the garden as a silver foil for other annuals. A sweet fragrance adds to the allure. Artemisia ‘Silver Brocade’ NEW! h 8-10” ST A Silver-gray foliage is feathery with a soft texture. Mounding. Add it to an alpine garden or plant it up in a mixed container. May even bloom small yellow flowers. Perennial but can be used as a nice accent plant, too. Basella alba rubra See Annual Vines Caladium ‘Carolyn Wharton’ h 18-22” U ACD “Fancy Leaf” type featuring wider leaves and larger size. Fantastic well defined markings. Green margins with pink interiors and bright red veins. This variety tolerates lots of sun. Caladium ‘Garden White’ NEW! h 24-36” U AC Nearly white heart shaped foliage has very pale green margins. Large fancy type leaves have black stems.

44 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Specialty Foliage

Caladium ‘Miss Muffet’ h 15-17” U ACD Whenever I see this variety I say, “Wow. Which one is that?” It is a strap leaf type with more elongated heart shaped leaves. Eye-catching red spatter pattern over green leaves and lighter veins. Caladium ‘Red Flash’ h 18-22” U ACD Dark green leaves with dark red veinal areas and some pink flecking in the green areas. Gorgeous. A “Fancy Leaf” type that tolerates lots of sun. Caladium ‘Royal Flush’ NEW! h 24-36” U AC

Deep red fancy type leaves have bright green margins. Royal Flush won “Best of the Baskets & Annuals Best” and “Favorite Sun Caladium” at Ohio State Trials in 2013. Centaurea ‘Colchester White’ h 12-36” U A Wonderfully cut leaved foliage forms a silvery mound to complement your container annuals. A relative of the annual bachelor button it looks like a dusty miller gone wild. Stays nicely erect over the summer if flower buds are removed. Cissus rhombifolia ‘Grape Leaf Ivy’ NEW! h 36-48” T ACD Classic houseplant. Dark green leaves resemble grape leaves with slightly textured stems and tendrils. Coleus Sorry if our selection is overwhelming but we can’t stop! The colors, sizes and various textures of these great plants lead to addiction and we’ve got it. Most are sun lovers but a few selections are just for your shade loving customers.

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 45 Specialty Foliage

Coleus ‘Big Red Judy’ h 36” U ACD Bold dark reddish burgundy barely dappled with orange. This mama could stop traffic. One of best performers in the landscape. Big and bold! Coleus ‘Dark Heart’ h 3-5” T ACD Gorgeous dark, reddish-burgundy heart-shaped leaves have green margins. This is one of our favorite trailing varieties because it sets off other colors so well and is pleasantly vigorous. Coleus ‘Campfire’ NEW! h 14-16” U ACD Warm solid campfire colors of reds and orange with purple veining and stems. Large leaves are softly serrated. Coleus ‘Chocolate Drop’ h 6-10” T ACD Trailing coleus are in high demand for the color, charm and texture they add to baskets, window boxes and containers. This one features a bright green background veined with rich burgundy markings and center. Lovely as an annual groundcover…. replacement for impatiens? Coleus ‘Coliseum Plutus’ NEW! h 24” U ACD Long narrow leaves are richly colored plum with a money green margin. Upright. Coleus ‘Colorblaze® Dipt in Wine’ h 12-18” U ACD This variety has become a classic through the years. Dark burgundy leaves touched with gold at the base are a designer’s favorite. Rich and elegant colors.

Plantwearing

46 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Specialty Foliage

Coleus ‘Colorblaze® Sedona’ h 12-18” U ACD Beautiful southwestern red and orange tones without compare! Coleus ‘Colorblaze® Kingswood Torch’ h 36-42” U ACD Very large, brilliantly colored foliage is hot pink with raspberry overlay and very finely edged in lime green. Coleus ‘Colorblaze® Marooned™’ h 24-36” U ACD Velvet-burgundy foliage with beautifully scalloped leaf margins. An occasional touch of green. Annuals & Baskets & Annuals Coleus ‘Cranberry Bog’ h 18-24” U ACD Well-branched habit supports narrow, rich burgundy leaves with striking chartreuse edges. Coleus ‘Cuckoo’ NEW! h 16-24” U ACD A bit like the hairdo of a cuckoo bird, the leaves on this coleus have small, funky irregular leaves. Red with chartreuse edges. Coleus ‘Electric Lime’ NEW! h 14-20” U ACD Brightly charged! Large textured lime green leaves have yellow veins and serrated edges. Coleus ‘Flame Thrower Spiced Curry’ NEW! h 18-24” U ACD Energetic, narrow leaves have a maroon base with a broad overlay of warm curry. Edges are deeply serrated. Neatly uniform color pattern and shape. Coleus ‘Garnet Robe’ h 12-18” T ACD Deepest shade of ruby red delicately edged in bright green. Dense foliage with a trailing habit. We have been using this variety in our combination baskets for many years because of the richness of the color and its vigor. Coleus ‘Gnash Rambler’ h 18” U ACD The leaf shape is the charm here. Scalloped and slightly twisted leaves have purplish centers with rosy red tips. Compact form with a feeling of action and a name with a pun. How fun! Coleus ‘Golden Dreams™’ h 24-36” U ACD This golden variety is veined crimson and is a real beauty. Large sized leaves with a sturdy upright form. Coleus ‘Grape Expectations’ h 12-18” U ACD A large leafed burgundy variety with a large neon pink central zone. The contrast really draws the eye to this variety. Coleus ‘Happy Line’ h 18-24” U ACD Bright chartreuse foliage with vivid red central lines. Reminiscent of ‘The Line’, one of our old favorites. Coleus ‘Henna’ h 28” U CD Gorgeous color! Uniform serrated leaf of chartreuse- backlit with burgundy undersides. A shade variety with a lot of pizzazz.

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 47 Specialty Foliage

Coleus ‘Lemon Twist ™’ h 24-36” U ACD Twisting ducksfoot foliage in bright lemon gold with the barest hint of deep red along the edges. This one shines with its own light. Upright. Coleus ‘Mainstreet series’ This new series of coleus from Dummen feature a range of distinct colors on upright plants that don’t bloom. Moderate growth rate lends itself to well to mixed containers. Sun or shade tolerant. In trials they have shown good heat tolerance. We loved these at the Ohio Short Course and the Ball Trial gardens. Coleus ‘Mainstreet Abbey Road’ h 16” U ACD Green leaves heavily netted with burgundy with a bright red central vein on new leaves. Moderate growth habit. Coleus ‘Mainstreet Granville Street’ NEW! h 16” U ACD The bright colors in this coleus caught our eyes - large leaves are fairly uniform in their color pattern of dark burgundy, maroon, yellow and green with soft serrated edges. Coleus ‘Mainstreet Gran Via’ h 16” U ACD Rich merlot pointed leaves, slightly serrated, with a narrow but bright green edge. Strong growth habit. Coleus ‘Mainstreet Oxford Street’ NEW! h 12-24” U ACD Highly rated plant in the trial gardens and even here in our greenhouse. Uniform heart shaped leaves have autumn colors of red, gold and chartreuse. Coleus ‘Mainstreet River Walk’ h 16” U ACD Shades of yellow and gold on a softly scalloped leaf brighten up any container - sun or shade. Coleus ‘Mainstreet Sunset Boulevard’ h 16” U ACD Shades of chocolate accented with rosy-coral striped centers. Coleus ‘Mainstreet Wall Street’ h 16” U ACD Solid copper colored leaves have a thin gold margin. Coleus ‘Marquee series’ A dense, branching compact series with a lovely mounding habit. This series has received lots of praise from trial garden reports. We like them, too. Coleus ‘Marquee Blonde Bombshell’ h 18-24” U ACD This beautiful movie star has blond highlights with lovely undertones. The highlights are a golden-lime, medium elliptical leaf with vintage waves. The undertones and veins are bronzed-purple. When grown alone in a container, will have the look of a full head of hair with layers! Coleus ‘Marquee Box Office Bronze’ h 18-24” U ACD Shining box office bronze with copper tones. Medium-wide elliptical leaves have gentle serrated edges. A warm welcome to enjoy the show!

48 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Specialty Foliage

Coleus ‘Mt. Washington’ NEW! h 30-36” U ACD Large heart shaped leaves are golden-green with an overspray effect of burgundy. Coleus ‘Orange King’ h 12-18” U ACD Large leafed and dramatic coleus with red-edged gold on top and burgundy-purple on the underside. Coleus ‘Pandora Trailing’ NEW! h 24” T ACD Burgundy-red colored leaves have narrow lime green edging and veins. Small, broad irregular leaves are slightly textured. Annuals & Baskets & Annuals Coleus ‘Redhead’ h 18-24” U ACD Bright red leaves that are more red than rust. A brightly colored accent. Coleus ‘Ruby Dreams™’ h 12-24” U ACD Light green laced with crimson red veins give this variety life and elegance. Coleus ‘Smallwood’s Driveway’ h 14” ST AC Small toothed leaves have peach colored margins with centers and hearts that are green and gold. Best colors in bright light. Trailing habit. Coleus ‘Stained Glassworks™ Big Blond’ h 12-24” U ACD Very bright golden chartreuse leaves with discreet bright red margins and center veins. Elegant but sassy. Coleus ‘Stained Glassworks™ Kiwi Fern’ h 10-18” U ACD A novel ducksfoot form with deeply scalloped edges on narrow purple leaves. Lime green and yellow thin edges. Very upright. Always gets a comment because it resembles a fern. Coleus ‘StainedGlassworks™ Oompah’ NEW! h 24-36” U ACD A sun tolerant thriller coleus! Tall, not short. Resembles the colors an oompa loompa wears, definitely splashy. Pink-orange centers, mid-margins and green outer margins. Coleus ‘Stained Glassworks™ Raspberry Tart’ h 12-18” U AC Bright golden yellow, wide borders surround ruby red centers on these gently scalloped leaves to create a dramatic focal point in container or garden. Coleus ‘Stained Glassworks™ Trailing Plum’ h 6-8” T ACD The opposite of its rose companion, this coleus features a big blast of rich purple burgundy in the center of each leaf, surrounded by intense rose with a delicate bright gold edge. Trailing habit for containers and baskets. Coleus ‘Strawberry Drop’ h 16” T ACD Green leaves painted with yellow and rose centers and dark red venation. Quite striking. Coleus ‘Swinging Linda’ h 6-8” T ACD Startling neon rose and purple with white edge. She’s a gal about town! Trailing form. A great companion for your other “wild” plants.

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 49 Specialty Foliage

Coleus ‘The Whirlpool®’ NEW! h 24-30” U ACD Chartreuse green leaves are whorled about their stems like twirling skirts. Coleus ‘Tidbits™ Tammy’ NEW! h 10-24” U,ST ACD Lil bitty foliage clusters are burgundy with generous chartreuse edges. We trialed this gal last year and really liked how well she performed. Well branched and tidy, so cute. Coleus ‘Tidbits™ Terry’ NEW! h 10-24” U,ST ACD We enjoyed Tammy so much last year we decided to add one of her friends, another coleus with itty bitty foliage. Terry is red with fine chartreuse green edging, leaves are finely lobed. Same nice branching and neat habit as Tammy. Coleus ‘Trailing Burgundy’ h 6-8” T ACD Deep burgundy scalloped leaves with a thin green margin. An interesting design element in sun or shade combinations. Coleus ‘Trailing Pink’ h 6-8” T ACD A bright slash of hot salmon pink accents the center of each burgundy and green mottled leaf. Coleus ‘Trailing Rose’ h 6-8” T ACD Deep rose leaves edged with deep purple and zapped by the faintest stripe of electric green. Trailing habit for baskets and containers. Coleus ‘Twist and Twirl’ h 24-30” U ACD Deeply lobed leaves are splashed with red, eggplant and gold as they curl their way around the stems. One of the most unique color combos in our list. Frilly look for sun or shade. Coleus ‘Under the Sea™ series’ This is a series of coleus from the Hort Couture company featuring unusual leaf shapes reminiscent of sea creatures. The colors and shapes are whimsical and attractive. Premium price for these. Coleus ‘Under the Sea™ Bone Fish’ h 18” U ACD Neon pink with a vivid green margin. Foliage is a ducksfoot type with lots of curls and furls. Coleus ‘Under the Sea™ Gold Anemone’ h 18” U ACD Light green center with deeply cut tendrils surrounding. Everything is outlined in deep burgundy red for even more impact. Coleus ‘Under the Sea™ Lionfish’ h 24” U ACD Fine elongated fin-like leaves in dark purple with splashes of and bright green. Similar in look to a real lionfish, but very much more touchable! Coleus ‘Under the Sea™ Red Coral’ h 24” U ACD Elongated leaves with fine fingers and small round lobes in and green that resemble cartoon-like sea coral. If you look closely enough you might find a friendly clown fish hiding out in the reef! 50 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Specialty Foliage

Coleus ‘Under the Sea™ Sea Weed’ h 24” U ACD Almost like you are looking at a coastal seaweed bed full of diving sea otters! Long, fine leaves have tear dropped tips. Burgundy-brown centers with lime green margins. Coleus ‘Vino’ h 18-30” U ACD Gorgeous, lush, dark purple foliage with a finely serrated lighter edge. Wow, this one is beautiful. Coleus ‘Wasabi’ h 18-28” U C

This shining chartreuse variety with serrated edges was a winner with us during our Baskets & Annuals visit to the Ohio State University trial gardens. Large with a nicely mounded shape, this variety held its bright color as advertised, no fading or spotting. Coleus ‘Zesty Zucchini’ h 18” U ACD Lance shaped leaves are washed in a soft melon with mint green centers and burgundy veins. Cordyline ‘Black Knight’ h 24-48” U A Substantial, stout spiky blades are dark chocolate with a hint of raspberry. Matte finish. Cordyline ‘Pink Passion’ h 24-48” U A Wide, tall foliage blades are striped with a center of chocolate cherry bordered by electric pink. This Cordyline has a lot of attitude and is not your everyday cemetery planter spike. Cotton ‘Black’ h 24-30” U A Stunning dark purple-black tri-lobed foliage with deep burgundy hibiscus-like flowers. Walnut-sized black seed pods split open late summer exposing bright white fluffy cotton. Cynara cardunculus ‘Cardoon’ h 36-48” U A Lovely large, sharp-toothed silver grey leaves are for larger containers or garden. Give this plenty of room and sunshine. Great choice for boulevard gardens. Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’ h 3” T ACD Silver foliage with a gorgeous cascading habit. Leaves are slightly cupped so the silver color is accented by the light, giving it a silken look. Heat & drought tolerant in sun & shade. Trailing to several feet. Dorotheanthus ‘Mezoo Trailing Red’ h 6-8” T A An adorable succulent-like plant with both fabulous variegation and really unusual flowers. Trailing variegated light green and cream foliage with a waxy sheen and deep red tassel-like flowers. Great fun! See the photo at www.rushcreekgrowers. com. Eucalyptus ‘Boxwood’ h 24”-36” U A Highlighted by striking dark red stems and small rich green, oval shaped leaves. Tough plant will take the heat of summer and several freezes in the fall. Can reach 3 ft. in a single season. Excellent cut flower filler plus it’s fragrant.

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 51 Specialty Foliage

Eucalyptus ‘Lemon Bush’ h 36” U A We’ve been charmed by this unusual variety since we started growing it in 2009. The leaves are long and tapered with reddish hairs. If this isn’t enough, the intense lemon fragrance is astounding. We’re talking “Pledge” here! Rumor has it that it is also an insect repellent. Keep a pot out on the porch, rub a leaf or two on your skin before heading out to the buggy garden. Plant has an upright form. Euphorbia ‘Flame Leaf’ h 8-12” U ACD Small delicate deep burgundy leaves with a green margin cascade and become dense as the plant becomes larger. A brilliant accent foliage plant that intermixes with other plants beside standing as a very unique specimen all on it’s own. As with all Euphorbia a bit of caution should be taken because of it’s toxicity. Ficus pumila ‘Creeping Fig’ h 6-8” T AC An evergreen vine with small leathery, bright green leaves that are heart shaped and slightly puckered. Nice accent plant for containers, also lovely as a topiary or indoor plant. Native to China, Vietnam and Japan. Gibasis geniculata ‘Bridal Veil’ h 24-48” T ACD Slender 1” long leaves are olive green on the top and burgundy underneath. Blooms tiny white flowers in bright light. The quintessential plant for cascading and trailing in hanging baskets and planters. Hebe ‘Variegated’ NEW! h 24-36” U ACD Oblong shiny leaves are variegated dark green and cream white. Full and bushing habit. Purple flowers. Great for fairy garden interest or keep it going inside for the winter.

52 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Specialty Foliage

Hedera ‘Marengo’ h 3” T ACD A variety from one of Denmark’s top Hedera growers. This charming plant has very large leaves with soft cream colored margins and two-toned green centers. If only it were hardy here, it would be perfect. Hedera ‘Needlepoint’ T CD Charming green ivy with pointed leaves. A delicate accent but a tough grower. Hedera ‘Golden Child’ h 6-8” T C Remember the golden age of those old dot matrix printers that would print out blocky photo images? Close up the creamy gold, light green and dark green Baskets & Annuals variegation will have you making out images of the past but if you’re of a more digital age…well then it’s the perfect houseplant. Helichrysum p. ‘Lemon Licorice’ h 8-12” ST A Bright yellow-green velvety leaves on thickly branched foliage, a classic for chartreuse in containers. Hibiscus ‘Little Zin’ NEW! h 18-24” U A Another plant we all flipped for in Ohio. Dark purple, almost black (um, well Zinfindel colored?) leaves are small and crinkled (yeah, like small grape leaves) and the habit is mounding so it could stand on its own anywhere or with friends (like Zinf and Del). So sweet. And robust. Hibiscus acetosella ‘Mahogany Splendor’ h 30-40” U AC Similar look to a Japanese Maple. Tall height and deep burgundy color add drama to the garden. Drought tolerant but can grow in water as a pond plant. Full sun gives the best burgundy color. By mid-July, these plants were large and lovely in OSU trial gardens. Ipomoea batatus ‘Illusion series’ T AC This newer series has deeply cut, lacy leaves in rich colors. Medium growth rate so complements other plants nicely. Ipomoea batatus ‘Illusion Emerald Lace’ h 8-14” T AC Chartreuse green lacy on a moderately vigorous variety. Heart shaped leaves. Ipomoea batatus ‘Illusion Midnight Lace’ h 6-10” T AC Lacy black-purple foliage with magenta veins complements other plants without overwhelming them. Ipomoea batatus ‘Jade Masquerade’ NEW! h 9-12” T A Bicolor sweet potato vine has heart shaped leaves with splashes of dark red and lime green. Variegation can be see through the top and bottom of the leaves. Ipomoea batatus ‘Marguerite’ h 24-36” T AC The classic chartreuse form of sweet potato. Vigorous, large leaves are the ideal landscape variety. Can take over in a mixed container if other plants are not well chosen.

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 53 Specialty Foliage

Ipomoea batatus ‘South of the Border™ Guacamole’ NEW! h 24-36” T AC Bright green foliage has a bronze hue. Fine cut leaves are lobed and irregular. Ipomoea batatus ‘Sweet Caroline series’ T AC This series is noted for a more mounded habit and somewhat slower growth than others. These characteristics make it ideal for baskets and containers where a bit smaller or less vigorous plant is desirable. Better used in containers than as a landscape variety. Ipomoea batatus ‘Sweet Caroline Bewitched’ h 8-14” T A A dark purple-black sweet potato vine with bewitching leaf shape, puckered texture and good vigor. You’ll be bothered and bewildered. Ipomoea batatus ‘Sweet Caroline Bronze’ h 8-14” T AC Unique, deeply lobed bronze foliage. Ipomoea batatus ‘Sweet Caroline Heart Purple’ h 8-14” T AC Heart shaped purple-maroon trailing foliage is the perfect foil to brighter colors. This is one really nice black. Carefree and eye-catching in mixed containers or baskets. Ipomoea batatus ‘Sweet Caroline Heart Red’ h 8-14” T AC Superb heart-shaped deep red leaves. Wonderful accents in containers or baskets. Ipomoea batatus ‘Sweet Caroline Light Green’ RENEW! h 6-8” T AC A light green cut leaf variety of sweet potato vine that has fine, blush red edges. Can trail up to 60”. Ipomoea batatus ‘Sweet Caroline Raven’ h 12-18” T A Purple-black cut leaf sweet potato vine with moderate vigor. High marks in university trial gardens. Landscape or container use. It’s so Raven. Ipomoea batatus ‘Sweet Caroline Sweetheart Lime’ NEW! h 10-14” T AC Lime chartreuse leaves are heart shaped and shiny. Appropriate for containers since it doesn’t overwhelm other varieties. Trails to 20”. Iresine ‘Blazin’ Lime’ h 12-16” U CD Lime and cream variegated foliage with vibrant rose stems will take some heat and still grow vigorously. The higher the light level the more chartreuse shows up on the leaf. The color combo shines in the shade whether used in a container or as a mid-border highlight in the part shade garden. A tropical plant, one shouldn’t plant these outside until night temps are securely above freezing. Iresine ‘Blazin’ Rose’ h 18-30” U CD Vigorous, colorful, red & rose leaves up to 7” long. Performs well in sun or shade. Rich and burgundy. Also known as Chicken Gizzard Plant - WHOA!

54 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Specialty Foliage

Lotus ‘Amazon Sunset’ h 6-8” T A Soft silver-green foliage has pine tree-like pin clusters and bears large curved flowers that resemble red-orange toucan bills. Muehlenbeckia a. Nana ‘Little Leaf’ h 2-4” U CD Dark green tiny oval leaves with wiry stems on a more compact wire vine. Lovely in shade combinations or as a ground cover. So darn cute. Muehlenbeckia complexa ‘Wire Vine’ h 3” T A Small round 1/2” green alternate leaves with stiff bronze stems that look like wire.

Excellent component plant. Don’t let it dry out. Nicely vigorous. Use in containers or Baskets & Annuals as an annual ground cover. Ornamental Pepper ‘Black Pearl’ h 18” U A Very upright rounded black foliage peppered with shiny round black fruits. Ornamental fruit is too hot for most. Excellent for containers. Shipped in bloom. Oxalis vulcanicola ‘Charmed Wine®’ h 12-16” M CD Elegant merlot shaded shamrock foliage topped with sweet white blossoms. This variety makes an attractive mound of rich color when added to a shade container, grown in a single pot or delightfully sprinkled in the shade garden. Oxalis vulcanicola ‘Molten Lava™’ h 6-10” U AC Foliage hue changes depending on the amount of light. Leaves range in color from chartreuse in lower light to orange and maroon in sunnier locations. Yellow flowers all thru the season. Oxalis vulcanicola ‘Plum Crazy’ h 6-10” U AC Dappled black, magenta and purple foliage. Yellow flowers. An exciting new look in Oxalis. Perilla ‘Purple Magilla’ h 24-36” U AC Now you can get your Magilla in darker . Check out the vermillion slash through the deep burgundy-purple heart of each leaf. Just a pinch of green and gold on newer foliage before they darken up. Loves heat and sun. Mounding habit. Perilla f. ‘Tricolor’ NEW! h 24” U ACD Lovely foliage in uniform tricolor pattern. Dark purple heart shaped leaves have splashes of dark green highlights with a raspberry pink center. Pilea microphylla ‘Artillery plant’ NEW! h 8-12” U CD Interestingly textured plant for fairy gardens. Small rounded or ovate green leaves are succulent-like grow from thick stems giving it a fern look. Pilea nummularifolia NEW! h 12-18” T AC Rounded green leaves are crinkled and textured with nice substance. A great trailing plant for baskets and containers. Wonderful houseplant. Plectranthus ‘Silver Shield’ h 24-30” U C Large billowed leaves are velvety silver but also textured. Long spikes produce small light blue flowers in late summer.

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 55 Specialty Foliage

Plectranthus ciliatus ‘Lemon Twist’ h 12-14” U ACD Wonderful contrasting green and pale yellow foliage. Upright habit. Rumex sanguineus ssp. sanguineus ‘Bloody Sorrel’ h 12-18” U AC Eye-catching ornamental sorrel with large pointed foliage and striking purple-red venation. Stays in a neat clump. Use as a foliage accent in mixed containers, too. Formerly in our perennial section but unreliably hardy. Salvia argentea ‘Silver Sage’ h 6” U A Beautiful biennial specimen or accent plant with 6-8” large, silver leaves covered with a multitude of small hairs that add a wonderful sheen. Reminiscent of a puppy or bunny’s ears - so soft! Must be touched so be sure to put it in reach of your customers and their kids. Santolina ‘Lemon Fizz’ RENEW! h 18” U ACD Electric yellow foliage looks like a dense mass of sea coral. Perfectly imaginative for fairy gardens. Fragrant. Sedum ‘Fine Gold Leaf’ h 2-3” T AC Electric green or gold, fine leafed succulent foliage is great for alpine or miniature gardens. This is a favorite from our fairy gardens. Slightly mounding and trailing/ spreading habit is so great for filling in and between rocks. Sedum makinoi ‘Ogon’ h 2-5” ST AC Miniature succulent leaves of shiny golden-chartreuse will gently trail over the edge of a pot or trough. This is one of our most charming plants. Sedum reflexum ‘Lemon Coral’ h 4” ST A Vigorous chartreuse gold succulent creeps through your beds and containers with a fine textured carpet of chubby needle like foliage. A sport of Sedum ‘Angelina’ but not quite hardy here. Senecio mikanoides variegata ‘German Ivy’ h 12-18” T ACD Charming waxy cream and green leaves with five sides. Vigorous, versatile trailing form is excellent for mixed containers and baskets. Setcreasea ‘Purple Heart’ h 4-12” T AC Perfect foliage in most any combination. Purple-maroon trailing rubber-like leaves with an occasional pink bloom. Bold color and sharp texture draw attention. Carefree and eye-catching in mixed containers or baskets. Setcreasea ‘Variegated’ h 8” U AC Trailing leaves of electric pink with purple stripes add color and contrast to containers, baskets or gardens. Prefers well drained soil. Easy to grow. Can be grown indoors. Solanum jasminoides variegata RENEW! h 15-20’ T AC Beautiful variegated trailing foliage. Leaves are golden yellow and lime green with hints of pink. Small white flower clusters. Great for training on a wire form, hanging baskets or as a spiller for containers.

56 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Specialty Foliage Annuals & Baskets & Annuals

Gracie in the grass

Soleirolea solerolii ‘Baby Tears’ NEW! h 2-5” ST CD Green creeping mat of very tiny leaves, moss-like and quick spreading. A fairy garden favorite. Strobilanthes dyerianus ‘Persian Shield’ h 30” U A Large fish-ribbed leaves are flushed with silvery-purple iridescence above and dark purple undersides. A perfect pairing for blooming plants in mixed containers. Loves the heat. Native to Burma. Tolmiea ‘Piggyback plant’ NEW! h 12-18” U CD A fast growing and lovely houseplant/foliage accent for the shade. Rough textured light green leaves resemble grape leaves. New leaves sprout up from the stem center of the “parent” leaf, giving it a “piggyback” effect. Tradescantia fluminensis ‘Lilac’ NEW! h 10-24” T ACD Ornamental foliage is highly decorative, pink leaves are variegated and striped with dark and light green. Like all spiderwort plants the backside of the leaves are darker, these have flashy magenta undersides. Raspberry colored buds and baby pink flowers bloom on happy plants. Trifolium ‘Limerick Isabella’ NEW! h 4” ST A Plum-purple leaves have small bright green centers. Perfect for containers, will fill in and spill over the edges and stays beautiful all season long. Blooms pink clover flowers. Tender perennial.

Collections Some of our favorite plants, so many that we had to create these collections. 10 pots per flat. Variety in texture, color and form.

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 57 Annual Grasses

Echeveria Collection U AC Echeveria is a large genus of succulents in the Crassulaceae family. Native to Mexico and northwestern South America. They are drought resistant but respond well to a deep watering and a bit of fertilizer. Ever interesting texture, shape, and color make lovely low bowl, dish gardens and rockery additions. The blossoms are held on long arching stems and are extremely long lasting. Fern Collection U CD A collection of luscious tropical ferns perfect for fairy gardens, terrariums, baskets or houseplants. Succulent Collection U AC Are you jealous of those relatives who live in a hot southern state and can grow giant succulents all year in their front yard? Well, here is your fix. A whole lot of color, texture and cuteness. Annual Grasses Annual Grasses—4” compostable pots, 10/flat Annual grasses have an established place in the market now, for containers and borders. This year we have added some moist loving Acorus and Juncus to the list.

Annual Grasses

Acrous g. ‘Pusillus Minimus Aureus’ NEW! h 4-6” AC It’s not a grass but bear with us please. An adorable petite sweet flag with golden yellow fans that are just right for tucking into a container, a miniature garden or pond. The foliage has a sweet fragrance. With some protection this might be hardy for you. Tender perennial.

Jack Frost

58 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Annual Grasses

Carex ‘Spark Plug’ h 9” AC White and green striped foliage with a clumping form. We enjoy the crisp texture as a foil to soften container or shade garden plants. A petite form that tucks into a container nicely. Carex ‘Rekohu Sunrise’ NEW! h 24-30” AC Pleasing broad green blades are accented by a gold margin. The “fountain” shape makes this a unique addition to our selection. Loves a moist site. Carex buchanii ‘Red Rooster’ h 12-24” ACD

Stately red-bronze grass with curled tips. The soft brown tones make interesting Baskets & Annuals companions to many colors. Erect form in dense clumps. Native to New Zealand. Carex dolichostachya ‘Gold Fountains’ h 10-12” CD Arching mounds of narrow ¼” foliage in dark green with striking gold edges. Adds both a textural and color element to mixed containers. Carex oshimensis ‘EverColor® Everillo’ h 20” ACD Shade loving! Nice mounding and cascading habit on this beautiful golden-lime accenting plant that, yes, will actually keep its golden shade in the shade! Prefers moist environments. Carex oshimensis ‘EverColor® Eversheen’ h 20” ACD Outstanding bicolor! Showy, glossy blades have yellow centers with dark green margins. Long blades are great for cascading over containers or hanging baskets. Made for the shade! Carex testacea ‘Prairie Fire’ h 12-16” ACD Mounding evergreen grass with glossy, olive green foliage and russet orange tips. Prefers moist well-drained soil. Our favorite orange-toned grass. Cyperus ‘King Tut’ h 48-72” ACD Vigorous Egyptian papyrus grows 4-6 ft. tall with green flower spikelets to 1 ft. across. Will grow in or out of water, but does best with plenty of moisture. Very showy as a backdrop or center of a large container. Juncus effusus ‘Big Twister’ NEW! h 18-24” AC The tallest upright curly spiral rush around. Loves wet or moist soils and will grow in up to 4” of water. Don’t forget to use it in containers, too, where it will please old and young plant lovers alike. Lagurus ovatus ‘Bunny Tails’ h 18” A Bunny soft, fuzzy seed heads on a compact grass. Creates visual and tactile fun for children and adults. Drought tolerant. Prefers a cool location. Melinus nerviglumis ‘Savannah’ h 8-12” AC Blue-green foliage turns purple-red in cooler weather. 3-4” ruby-pink blooms sit a foot above the foliage and are real showstoppers in late summer.

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 59 Annual Grasses

Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Black Beard’ NEW! h 12” AC A faster growing, tighter form of this elegant black grass has appeared on the market from England. Use it in containers or as a unique border. May form lavender flowers on a 14” stalk if the season is right. Ornamental Millet ‘Jade Princess’ h 36-48” A Neat and tidy Millet with wide lime green leaves and very erect, deep burgundy pollenless seed heads. The seed heads sit closer to the foliage than other varieties which makes this an ideal container plant. It is a very eye-catching plant that is easier to maintain over time than other Millets. Ornamental Millet ‘Purple Baron’ h 36”-48” A Broad dark burgundy leaves on a sturdy, erect variety. Seed heads are also a rich burgundy aging to creamy white when filled with millet. Charming in the late summer and fall garden or in a large container. Shows off the bright colors of mums, asters, Rudbeckias and more. Pennisetum setaceum ‘Cherry Sparkler’ h 24-30” A Graceful flowing grass with green and white variegation with a pink blush. Beautiful burgundy-red plumes in late summer. Pennisetum setaceum ‘Fireworks’ h 24” A OHHH! A variegated purple fountain grass sporting dark burgundy centers edged in hot pink. A great name for a lovely new cultivar. Pennisetum setaceum ‘Princess Molly’ h 36” A Very deep burgundy foliage from Day 1 highlights this newer cultivar. Sturdy and very upright. Use instead of slower growing Phormiums or Cordylines in medium to large containers. No seed heads. Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’ h 24-36” A Classic purple fountain grass. Lovely arching blades with long feathery red seed heads. Scirpus cernuus ‘Fiber Optic Grass’ h 12” AC Compact thread-like rich green leaves end in tiny round seed heads that look like fiber optic lights. Very charming and unusual appearance. Mounding. Keep moist. Stipa arundinacea ‘Pheasant Tails’ h 24-36” AC Upright arching narrow blades of green-bronze grass feature a delicate orange mid- rib stripe and turn shades of burnt orange and red late summer. Stipa tenuissima ‘Pony Tails’ h 20-24” AC Pony Tails’ is well named as this attractive green grass produces tips that point downward and have the appearance of a horse’s tail. Pleasing movement in the wind. Grow in well drained soil. Zea mays japonica ‘Field of Dreams’ h 60-72” A Tall decorative corn similar to our old friend Zea mays japonica, but with more white and somewhat less pink on the leaves. Striking centerpiece in a large container or as a backdrop in the garden.

60 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Border Gems Border Gems Border Gems—Jumbo 6-packs, 6 packs/flat This is our premium pack program. These plants provide all season color, attract passersby, bees and butterflies, are lovely for cutting and add spark to the border. For 2016, we’ve added a colorful Ammi, a new Calendula, more Cosmos and Zinnias to name a few. Encourage those new young gardeners to try some of Baskets & Annuals these terrific varieties in their veggie gardens to attract pollinators. These are usually taller varieties that are not sold in color but we provide colorful bench cards so your customers know what to expect at bloom time.

Border Gems

Acidanthera murielae (Abyssinian Gladiolus) h 18-36” A We’re giving you a little head start on another great annual bulb. Scented white blooms with deep maroon central stars wave on tall stems atop sword-like foliage. Blooms in late summer. The effect is delicate although the flowers are good sized. Bulbs can be dug in the fall and stored like glads. Agastache foeniculum ‘Golden Jubilee’ RENEW! h 18-24” AC Yet another way to bring in the bees! Brilliant chartreuse foliage, lovely lavender blooms. Pinch out tips once or twice during the summer to keep it bushy and cut back before seeds ripen if you don’t want a lot of baby Agastache running around. ‘Golden Jubilee’ is generally a perennial around here, so choose a planting location carefully. Agastache hybrida ‘Arcado Pink’ (Hummingbird Mint) h 24” A Soft rosy flower spikes with medium green fragrant foliage. Good long-blooming mid border companion for Astello Indigo. Attracts bees, birds and butterflies! Easy to grow. Great for the novice gardener. Agastache hybrida ‘Astello Indigo’ (Hummingbird Mint) h 20” A A beautiful deep blue hummingbird mint which blooms from mid-summer through fall. Bees and butterflies love it. Deer and rabbits do not! The root beer scented, disease resistant foliage forms an attractive mound in the garden. Adds a mass of long-lasting flower spikes for a must-have in the sunny border. Compact enough for a container, too. Fleuroselect Gold Medal winner. Ageratum houstonianum ‘Blue Horizon’ (Floss Flower) h 30” A Tall, vigorous long lasting cut flower with attractive rich blue 3” umbels in clusters. Blooms steadily until frost. One of our favorite blue cuts. Native to Mexico. Ageratum houstonianum ‘Red Sea’ (Floss Flower) h 30” A Tall cutting variety has clusters of deep magenta flowers with a fuzzy appearance. A butterfly magnet which blooms until frost.

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 61 Border Gems

Ageratum houstonianum ‘White Bouquet’ (Floss Flower) h 24” A Clusters of small fuzzy white blooms for filler interest with strong stems for cutting. A white ageratum that won’t fade or look grungy after a rain. Amaranthus ‘Copperhead’ h 48-60” A We at Rush Creek Growers love giant amaranths. These tall beauties have bright copper-colored seed head plumes as opposed to the usual red. Goldfinches love the seeds as much as we love this backdrop for our gardens. Drought tolerant. Amaranthus caudatus ‘Red Tails’ (Love Lies Bleeding) h 48” A Stunning accent plants with long drooping red blooms. Fabulous for drying or cutting. A favorite in Victorian era gardens, it’s also known as “Love Lies Bleeding.” Amaranthus cruentus ‘Hopi Red ’ h 48-60” A We can’t get enough of the heat-loving Amaranthus. We first noticed this one in Fine Gardening and were hooked. Large dark maroon leaves with equally dark arching flower plumes on a tall show stopper. Used as a red dye by the Hopi Indians. Birds love it. A fabulous everlasting, too. Ammi majus ‘Dara’ NEW! h 36-48” A Think delicate Queen Anne’s Lace in shades of lavender and purple. Perfect cut flower filler, looks great with anything chartreuse or gold. Works well in the middle of the border as well. Ammi majus ‘Graceland ‘ (Laceflower) h 42-54” AC Elegant, lacy, pure-white flowers give that Queen Anne’s Lace look without cross pollinating all the carrots in the county. Strong long stems and large flower head size are perfect for cutting. Asclepias curassavica ‘Silky Deep Red’ (Blood Flower) h 28-36” A Incredible butterfly attractor. Umbels of scarlet red-orange on tall bronzy green, pointed foliage. Late summer blooming. Raise your own Monarchs. From South America. If only it was hardy in our northern climes. Asclepias curassavica ‘Silky Gold’ h 28-36” A A tall, stately, butterfly magnet with bicolor yellows on charming umbels. Mid summer blooming. Can be cut but you’ll be thrilled if you leave it for the butterflies and their cocoons, not to mention the long narrow seed pods are fun. Asclepias physocarpus ‘Oscar’ (Balloon Plant) h 24-48” A Elongated 2½” balloon-like pale green pods covered with spiky hairs distinguish this milkweed with narrow, pointed foliage and creamy white blooms in late summer. Fabulous cut for interest and texture, fresh or dried. Also known as Gomphocarpus physocarpus. From South Africa. Browallia americana ‘Sky Blue’ h 24” AC Small blue flowers with a white eye top this attractive annual for sun or part shade. An open and airy texture. Blooms mid-summer to frost. Don’t confuse this with the common shade annual; this one is taller, more delicate and much harder to find.

62 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Border Gems

Calendula ‘Sunset Buff’ (Pot ) NEW! h 18” A Mid-height calendula at 24” with mostly double blooms in peach hues. Petals are darker on the reverse side adding additional texture. Bees and butterflies will be happy to see that you planted more calendula. Edible petals for salads, cocktails and other delights. Calendula officinalis ‘Maya Orange’ h 18-20” A Deep orange petals are heavily layered like shingles around a dark brown center. A lively and bright colored cut flower. Loves the cool temps of spring and fall.

Celosia spicata ‘Celway Purple’ h 48” A Baskets & Annuals The celosias come into their true glory in late summer as the spring bloomers give up in the heat. This is the spiky type of celosia and covers itself with purple- magenta flowers. It is unique with a showy single plume surrounded by smaller plumes for a very full appearance. A good cut and dries well. Centaurea ‘Boy Black’ (Bachelor’s Buttons) NEW! h 24-36” A Tall bachelor’s button in maroon shades so deep it’s fair to call it black. Tough in spring and autumn cool spells, the color will just keep coming. Great cut flower or mid border as it is. Pinch out side buds for larger central bloom if you really want to go for it. Deer do not like them but the butterflies do. Cleome ‘Queen Cherry’ (Spider Flower) h 36-48” A Large explosive flower heads of cherry-rose blooms. Classic grandma’s garden size cleome at about 4 ft. Cleome ‘Queen Violet’ (Spider Flower) h 36”-48” A A classic garden favorite with 4-6” spider-like violet blossoms on strong, upright stems. Flowers make a long lasting cut flower and hold well on the plant. Extremely heat tolerant. Blooms summer through frost. Attracts beneficial insects, butterflies and hummingbirds. Coreopsis tinctoria ‘Roulette’ h 12-24” A Masses of double and semi-double blooms in a rich mahogany shade show off a second row of eye-catching yellow petals. Awarded the Fleuroselect Novelty designation for its distinction in the garden. Easy to grow and drought tolerant. Cosmos bipinatus ‘Cosimo Dancing Dolls’ h 18-24” A Varying intensities of sun-ripened raspberry with white streaks and splashes give the petals of this mid-height cosmos that sense of movement in the border even on a calm day. Cosmos bipinatus ‘Double Click Cranberries’ h 36-42” A Double Clicks also require a double look. So impressively doubled, are these really cosmos? A frilly mix of single, semi-double and crazy intense double blooms. Deep cranberry-pink flowers. Ferny foliage on sturdy plants. Cosmos bipinatus ‘Double Click Mix’ h 48” A Lovely double petaled variety with a great name and a frilly appearance in , pink and rosy red. Loads of extra large blooms for cutting.

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 63 Border Gems

Cosmos bipinatus ‘Rubenza’ h 24-36” A A lovely variety from the Netherlands with deep true red flowers and a traditional yellow center. A vibrant color of this easily grown favorite. Appreciates well-drained soil. Cosmos bipinatus ‘Xanthos’ NEW! h 24” A A medium sized (24”) bipinnatus cosmos in soft lemon yellow shades with a darker gold center. Well branched and floriferous, Fleuroselect Gold Medal winner. Keep deadheaded for continuous bloom. Dahlia variabilis ‘Fireworks’ h 16” A Not your grandma’s dahlia! Petals are striped with fuchsia, tangerine, crimson, ivory, and cherry for a show stopping display. Check out the photo on our website. Really! Plants are compact and well-branched. Dianthus barbatus ‘Dash Crimson’ (Sweet William) h 15-20” A Where are all the dianthus lovers? We are crazy for this large family of annuals and perennials. They offer easy to grow plants with cheerful, vivid colors, attractive foliage, This one has lightly serrated, divine deep crimson outer petals changing to bright red, highlighting petite white centers. Extra-early flowering well-branched plants, fragrant long-lasting blooms. Gaura lindheimeri ‘The Bride’ h 24-48” A Slender rosy pink buds open to airy white blooms on slender reddish arching stems. Gives the impression of clouds of butterflies fluttering above your garden. Easy to grow, drought tolerant and absolutely lovely, blooming from mid-summer until late fall. May self-seed or overwinter. Gomphrena ‘Fireworks’ h 48” A A terrific variety with many hot purplish pink blooms per plant and a tough, drought-resistant character. Bred with a “scaffolding” form with blossoms appearing at different heights for quite a show. Long lasting cut flower is a superb plant for mass planting. See our website for a photo. Gomphrena ‘QIS Orange’ h 24-26” A Whoa, orange Gomphrena? Yes! Large 1½” to 2½” blood orange colored globes of goodness on a tall, cut flower-length stem. Good as an everlasting for fall bouquets. Gomphrena ‘Strawberry Fields’ h 24-36” A A classic for hot weather. Strawberry red globes on 2-3 ft stems. Drought tolerant plant that love our hot northern summers and bloom midsummer to frost. Driesd beautifully. Hypoestes phyllostachya ‘Splash Select Red’ (Polka Dot Plant) h 10-16” CD Dark black-green leaves are splashed with red splotches. Whimsical foliage. This can be a colorful substitute for Impatiens where downy mildew is an issue. For containers, front of the border or even as a house plant. Pinch to keep bushy.

64 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Border Gems

Larkspur consolida ‘Blue Cloud’ h 40” A A cousin of upright larkspur, this plant literally looks like a wide cloud of whirling deep blue flowers. Airy open habit with sprays of ½” single blooms. One of our favorite cuts. Blooms ALL summer and self sows.

Lisianthus ‘ABC series’ h 36-45” A Lovely tall doubles with high petal counts in a range of colors, formerly Avila. Colors: Blue Rim/Rose

Lisianthus ‘Arena™ series’ h 31-39” A Baskets & Annuals Fully double flowers on sturdy stems with unique colors. Thick petals make for long lasting vase life. Mid-season bloom. Colors: Champagne/Red 3 Lisianthus ‘Doublini Blue’ NEW! h 26-34” A A new concept in tall lisianthus, this variety is covered with 1 1/2” - 2”smaller double deep blue blossoms. The idea is well branched plants produce multiple stems of petite rose shaped beauties making them a perfect choice for bouquets as well as the garden.

Lisianthus ‘Echo® series’ h 28” A More compact series of beautiful, multi-branching doubles. Colors: Blue/Lavender

Lisianthus ‘Flare White’ series This series produces a spray of flowers at the end of each branch

LLisianthus ‘Mariachi® colors’ series h 30-38” A Quadruple blossoms are large and spectacular. Staking required but worth the trouble. Blue/Lilac Picotee/Lime Green/Pink Picotee/Yellow Lisianthus ‘Minuet Dark Purple’ h 24-28” A Fully double rich purple blossoms. Mid season bloomer

Lisianthus ‘Rosita® colors’ h 14-18” A Fully double, multi-branching series. A standard for cutting due to thick petals and strong stems. Mid-season. Color: Apricot 2 Marigold ‘Alumia Red’ (French Marigold) h 10-12” A Large double red blossoms on strong branching stems. A shorter plant for the Border Gem program but a super performer for the front of the border. Marigold ‘Garland Orange’ (African Marigold) h 24-30” A Huge, classic, marigold-orange blooms are heavily ruffled doubles. Picture the massive flower ropes and garlands at a Hindu temple celebration or Mexican Dia de Los Muertos parade. Strong, flexible stems for braiding and tying. Tall and wind tolerant, although up north here we will be at the shorter end of their height range.

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 65 Border Gems

Marigold ‘Harlequin’ h 24-36” A This light-hearted heirloom “devil” takes center stage in his chequered costume. Gold and maroon circus tent patterned single blooms are 2 inches in diameter. Guaranteed to make you laugh, or at least crack a smile! Tall enough for a cut with a multi-branching habit. Marigold ‘Jedi Orange’ h 24-45” A This tall marigold of the African type features bright orange pom-pom type flowers. It will bloom continuously all summer for a big splash of color. Adapts to a wide range of conditions. Marigold ‘Narai Yellow’ h 24-40” A This new marigold is being promoted as a strong stiff-stemmed plant that will stay tall and upright. It will produce a bush of large yellow pom-pom flowers. Award winner at Ohio State trials. Perfect for cutting. Heat tolerant. Marigold ‘Sweet Cream’ h 15-18” A Creamy vanilla white, 3” odorless blossoms are fully double. Stems are strong and upright. Considered the best white marigold. A classic. Marigold ‘Zenith Lemon Yellow’ h 12-14” A Cheery crested double flower heads in a soft lemony color. Medium height with upright, sturdy stems. A staff favorite for both color and form! Mirabilis ‘Harlequin’ (4 O’clock) h 24-30” AC Our grandmas loved Four O’clocks and so do we. Very eye-catching with bicolors, striations & streaks in shades of rose, pink, yellow & white sporting dozens of showy flowers. Forms a sturdy bush by late summer. Roots can be dug and overwintered like dahlias. Mirabilis ‘Limelight’ (4 O’clock) h 24-36” AC Vivid fuchsia blooms top clean, bright chartreuse foliage speckled with deep green flecks. Stunning color combination. These are not your grandma’s Four O’clock, but she’ll probably want seeds from yours! Roots can be dug and overwintered like dahlias. Mirabilis ‘Salmon Sunset’ (4 O’clock) h 24-36” AC Here is a delightful salmon Four O’clock! Rich salmon petals with a dark throat and elegant magenta striations. A charming choice for evening relaxation in the garden. Monarda ‘Bergamo ‘ h 16-28” A Returned to our list at the request of our cut flower-loving employees. Multi-tiered rose-violet blooms are stunning against their sharp green foliage. Impressive, multi branching, super-easy, super mildew resistant. Nicely scented, attracts pollinators. Think of it as a tidied up, richly colored Monarda citriodora, not the bee balm type. Nicotiana ‘Whisper Deep Pink’ (Flowering Tobacco) h 36” A Spectacular tall beauty with hundreds of rich pink flowers cascading from sturdy stems. Significant improvement in disease resistance. Reseeds nicely. A new classic for our Border Gem series.

66 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Border Gems Annuals & Baskets & Annuals

Nicotiana alata Nicotiana alata ‘Fragrant Delight Mix’ (Flowering Tobacco) h 24-36” AC Sweetly scented star-shaped flowers in red, white, green and pink float above large green oval foliage. An easy to grow garden classic. Nicotiana alata ‘Lime Green’ (Flowering Tobacco) h 24-36” AC Profusion of clear lime green blooms throughout the summer. Long lasting cut flowers. Shines in the part shade garden or in mixed containers. Nicotiana alata ‘Perfume Deep Purple’ (Flowering Tobacco) h 20” AC Rich deep purple like a queen’s velvet robe…and a scent like her best perfume! Upward facing blooms are held high above the foliage. An All America Selections Winner. Nicotiana alata grandiflora ‘Grand Old White’ (Flowering Tobacco) h 30-36” ACD When the petite blooms of N. sylvestris aren’t showy enough, call on these beauties! Large pure white flowers are very fragrant in the evenings. Large light green leaves. May reseed, but the pollinators will be glad they did. Nicotiana sylvestris (Flowering Tobacco) h 48-60” AC Elongated tubular white, deliciously scented blooms with star-shaped faces top tall stems and huge leaves. Very showy specimen. May self sow around the border a bit. From Argentina. Nicotiana x sanderae ‘Crimson Bedder’ (Flowering Tobacco) h 36”-48” AC This tall Nicotiana will definitely make a statement in your border. Bright cherry red 2” star-shaped blooms will catch everyone’s eye and also lure in the hummingbirds. Nigella ‘Moody Blues’ (Love in a Mist) h 20-24” A Delightful double mix of blue shades from periwinkle to deepest midnight. Intriguing seed pods follow blossoms. Both blooms and pods make adorable additions to cut flower bouquets. Easy to grow in well-drained soil and sun.

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 67 Border Gems

Nigella ‘Mulberry Rose’ (Love in a Mist) h 18”-24” A Not all Nigella are blue! This mix features an eye-catching dainty blend of rose, pink and white bicolor shades. Blooms in early summer, then followed by interesting seed pods that look like little fairy lanterns. The essence of a classic cottage garden, this easy-to-grow annual will form an eye-catching drift in your border. Nigella papillosa ‘Midnight’ (Love in the Mist) h 18” A A deep purple variety with nearly black stamens. Dark horned seed pods extend the pleasure of this beauty. Lovely and unusual cut flower. Orlaya grandiflora (Minoan Lace) h 24-30” A If Queen Anne’s Lace and a Lace Hydrangea were able to cross, these 2XLT pure white lace flowers would be their get. Lots of positive comments on this beauty following its debut year season. Deadhead spent blooms for season long blooming. Papaver commutatum ‘Ladybird’ h 12-18” A A bushy annual poppy absolutely covered with brilliant red blooms that continue for 6 weeks. The black spots in the center of each petal give it the name. May reseed. Loves cool temps. Quinoa ‘Brightest Brilliant ’ h 48-60” A A spectacular ornamental and grain crop to add striking green, rose, yellow, orange and red tall plumes to the late summer and fall garden. The young leaves can be eaten raw or cooked and the seed heads yield a delicious nutty grain. Used in the floral industry as a lively cut flower. 90-120 days for grain. Deer resistant. Quinoa ‘Red Head’ h 48-60” A A visually beautiful grain crop used for thousands of years in the Andes. It produces long plumes of red blossoms that are used in floral trade as a cut flower. This cultivar has been selected to withstand cool and wet fall harvest conditions which are not common in that climate. Initially the plant is nondescript, resembling lamb’s quarters so don’t pull it up! The late summer show will amaze you and the neighbors. Rudbeckia hirta ‘Cherry Brandy’ h 20” A The first ever bing cherry red rudbeckia. Multiple stems with a mass of attractive 3” blossoms in shades of brick red and mahogany with a darker red center. Fleuroselect Winner. Rudbeckia hirta ‘Denver Daisy’ h 22-26” A Bold large 6” blooms of brown and gold adorn a well branched plant. The petals on some blossoms are slightly upturned like a smiling customer. Blooms profusely and is very well-branched. Very early to bloom and quite disease resistant. No wonder this is our most popular Rudbeckia. Rudbeckia hirta ‘Sahara’ NEW! h 20” A Great mix of carmel orange shades with burgundies and softer pinkish hues on double and semi-double blooms with dark centers. Mid border loveliness at 14-22”. Keep deadheaded to maximize blooms.

68 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Border Gems

Salvia farinacea ‘Seascape Mix’ h 16-20” A A tranquil mix of three salvias in winter ocean colors; silver spikes with silver blooms, silver spikes with lilac blooms and lavender spikes with lavender blooms. Resembles ocean waves in a mass planting. Salvia patens ‘Blue Angel’ h 18-30” A Graceful 2” ultramarine flowers with open mouths on upright stems over fuzzy triangular foliage. A true blue is such a treat in the garden. Looks like so many tiny bluebirds. Blooms early July to frost. From Mexico.

Salvia splendens ‘Lighthouse Purple’ h 24-30” A Baskets & Annuals These noble lighthouse beacons are heat resistant and long lasting. Dark purple, near black stems and calyxes with royal purple flowers. Note the height -these are twice the size of your usual Salvia splendens. Snapdragon ‘Chantilly Deep Orange’ h 36-48” A Durable open-faced rich orange snaps with long vase life. Staking appreciated. Our former office staffer Victoria would grow an entire field of these lovely snaps. Snapdragon ‘Chantilly Light Salmon’ h 36-40” A One of our favorite tall snaps with large butterfly-type salmon blossoms that remain open. So showy in the garden or in a bouquet. This is a “stop in your tracks” variety. Requires staking but worth the work. Snapdragon ‘Potomac Lavender’ h 39-60” A Tall and strong are these romantic, soft lavender spikes of beauty. These cut flower must-haves will be there for you during the dog days of summer when you are making an arrangement for that backyard BBQ.

Becca and baby GeorgeAnna

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 69 Border Gems

Snapdragon ‘Purple Twist’ h 39-60” A What an intriguing cut flower type snap! White with purple striations that change depending on the temperature. Check out the photo on our website at www. rushcreekgrowers.com and be sure to order a free photo bench card for this variety. Snapdragon ‘Red Delilah’ h 30”-60” A This tall snapdragon will command your attention in the garden. The blossoms are a bright red and white with a white tube and a red face. We are sure that the hummingbirds will be checking them out, too. May need staking but known for sturdy stems. Solanum integrifolium ‘Pumpkin on a Stick’ h 24-60” A A delightful heirloom novelty plant that forms adorable small “pumpkins” on black stems in the late summer garden. Part of the eggplant family, it is strictly ornamental (ie not edible) grown mainly for floral arrangements or just for fun. Requires staking, but worth the extra effort. Sunflower ‘Firecracker’ h 23”-36” A This semi-dwarf sunflower will be easier to transplant than the taller varieties, but it offers just as much color in the garden with its cheery sunflower face. This variety has red and gold bi-colored flowers with a velvet brown central disc. Pollenless. Talinum paniculatum ‘Kingswood Gold’ (Jewels of Opar) h 24-30” A Fascinating long stemmed airy panicles of tiny blooms above rounded glossy green gold foliage. Round seed heads are a bright orangish fuchsia, further extending the season of interest. Interesting cut flower filler. Beautiful border to a sunny garden path. Native from Mexico to Central America. Tithonia rotundifolia ‘Torch’ (Mexican Sunflower) h 60-72” A Lots of sassy orange fun in a jumbo-sized package! Vivid scarlet-orange daisy- like blooms on a tall bushy plant with velvety pointed foliage. These fast growing wonders make a shrub-like hedge that makes a great backdrop for summer plantings. A must for garden center display beds. Blooms July – frost. From Mexico and Central America. Trachelium caeruleum ‘Lake Louise Purple’ NEW! h 28-50” C Colorful dense umbrellas of tiny, deep purple flowers held atop branching stems. Dark green arrow shaped foliage. Drought tolerant. Perfect filler for floral arrangements. Be patient, for the gorgeous blossoms don’t appear until midsummer but bloom through until frost. Verbena bonariensis h 36-48” A Our most popular Border Gem. Stately, rosy violet clusters on well-branched thin square stems. Unique appearance, good cut flower. “See through” habit allows it to mix in anywhere in the border, although it’s stunning in a mass planting. The classic Border Gem! Reseeds readily. Zinnia ‘Profusion Double Hot Cherry’ h 12”-18” A Another newer Profusion that also scored big points with us. The color is a vibrant cherry red, more red than cherry, which does not fade as do some other reds. Two- inch double blossoms produce a long season of color for your garden. 70 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Border Gems

Zinnia elegans ‘Benary’s Giant Lime’ h 36-48” A Large unusual double chartreuse blossoms top tall sturdy thick stems. Zinnia elegans ‘Benary’s Giant Mix’ h 36-48” A Giant formal fully-double blooms held upright on sturdy stems in shades from pinks and reds, through salmons and oranges to , lime, gold and white. A truly beautiful cutting variety. Zinnia elegans ‘Benary’s Giant Wine’ h 36-48” A Large unusual double wine red blossoms atop sturdy thick stems. Prolific long- lasting blooms. Baskets & Annuals Zinnia elegans ‘Inca’ h 36” A Orange, star-shaped, 5” cactus-type flowers add a splash to any garden or container. Great for cutting and butterflies. Zinnia elegans ‘Mazurkia’ h 25-30” A Fabulous double bicolor zinnia. Cherry-rose petals with cream colored blunt tips. Excellent branching allows for multiple cuts on this marvelous border gem. Jumbo 3-4” blooms. Fleuroselect selection. Zinnia elegans ‘Pinca’ h 36” A We have a serious addiction to zinnias and couldn’t resist this bright pink 5” cactus flower suspended on 36” stems. A prolific bloomer. Free flowering and heat tolerant. Think of it as the pink version of Zinnia ‘Inca.’ Zinnia elegans ‘Queen Red Lime’ h 30-36” A A unique double zinnia in a soft shades of rosy red to pink with striking lime green center. Shorter than Benary’s but still a perfect size for cutting. The unusual color combo is the focus here. Zinnia elegans ‘Senora™’ h 36” A This lady commands your attention with ruffled, ribbon-like petals in salmon pink with dark pink centers. And no shrinking violets here, these doubles are large and in charge at 4” in diameter. Heat tolerant. Zinnia elegans ‘Zinderella Lilac’ h 31” A Rindercella slipped her dripper?! Maybe in some confusing bass-ackward story book but these fairytale-like zinnias are fer reals. The double flowers are poodle clipped and dyed lilac-pink with maroon centers. Over the top crazy cool. Fleuroselect winner. Zinnia elegans ‘Zinderella Peach’ h 31” A These fairytale-like characters are terracotta-peachy pink confectionary delights for your eyes, topped with a cherry red center. Scabiosa shaped double flowers make for some outstanding Border Gems as well as stellar cut flowers.

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 71 Border Gems

Zinnia hybrida ‘Crouching Tiger’ NEW! h 24” A Hiding in the back of the border ready to leap, these bicolored double beauties in red shades tipped with gold will bring a savage wildness to your garden. The 3” blooms grow more double as they age and add layers of petals, so a variety of textures will be present at once. Fleuroselect Award winner. Zinnia marylandica ‘Uptown Grape’ h 18-24” A Hot purple-pink and ready for a night on the town with a stop at that trendy new wine bar! Floriferous, yellow centered single flowers are disease resistant and drought tolerant. Think of this as Zahara’s big sister. Great performance at trial gardens. Zinnia marylandica ‘Zahara® Double Duo Mix’ h 16-20” A A Fleuroselect mix of fully double deep magenta and scarlet-orange. A sophisticated new color mix of this proven series. Zinnia marylandica ‘Zahara® Double Fire’ h 12-18” A Vivid orange-red doubles on a lovely compact plant. Constantly blooming throughout the season. Easy to grow. All America Selections Winner for excellent performance. Zinnia marylandica ‘Zahara® Double Red’ NEW! h 16-20” A Improved single color is a cherry red, attractive to butterflies and many of your neighbors. Blooms are 20% larger than previously, and stand solid though heat and drought. Zinnia marylandica ‘Zahara® Double Salmon Rose’ NEW! h 16-20” A Great new color for the disease resistant Zaharas. Multitude of warm salmon-pink double blooms on bushy 16-20” plants. Carefree and perfect for dry soil.

Pansy ‘Mariposa Peach Shades’ Early Packs

72 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Early Spring

Zinnia marylandica ‘Zahara® Sunburst’ h 12’-18” A This caught everyone’s eye when it was released a few years ago. It features large- petaled single flowers that are orange with a red inner marking on each petal to produce a starburst effect. The star is more prominent in the full sun and as the season goes on. As with all the Zaharas, they are well branched, disease resistant and long blooming. Zinnia marylandica ‘Zahara® Yellow Improved’ h 12-18” A Bright cheery yellow singles. Cool yellow, not the usual gold, allows new late summer color combos. Blooms all summer. Early Spring Baskets & Annuals Early Spring Pansies and Violas—1204 packs Our pansy and viola program features large blossoms, unique colors and spring color. They are ready to ship in early April.

Pansy 'Blueberry Thrill' Pansy 'Spring Matrix Lemon' Pansy 'Delta Premium Neon Violet' Pansy 'Spring Matrix Midnight Glow' Pansy 'Fizzy Lemonberry' Pansy 'Spring Matrix Pink Shades' Pansy 'Frizzle Sizzle Passion Fruit' Pansy 'Spring Matrix Sangria' Pansy 'Imperial Antique Shades' Pansy 'Spring Matrix Scarlet' Pansy 'Mariposa Peach Shades' Pansy 'Ultima Series' Pansy 'Matrix™ Series' Pansy 'Ultima Radiance Red' Pansy 'Matrix™ Blue Frost' Pansy 'Wine Flash' Pansy 'Matrix™ Lavender Shades' Viola 'Penny Peach Jump-Up' Pansy 'Matrix™ Mix Rasp. Sundae' Viola 'Sorbet Series' Pansy 'Matrix™ Mix Tanzanite' Viola 'Sorbet Antique Shades' Pansy 'Matrix™ Morpheus' Viola 'Sorbet Carmine Rose' Pansy 'Matrix™ Ocean' Viola 'Sorbet Coconut Swirl' Pansy 'Matrix™ Purple' Viola 'Sorbet Fire' Pansy 'Matrix™ Red Blotch' Viola 'Sorbet Lemon Blueberry Swirl' Pansy 'Matrix™ Rose Blotch' Viola 'Sorbet Phantom' Pansy 'Matrix™ Rose Wing' Viola 'Sorbet Red Blotch' Pansy 'Spring Matrix Series' Viola 'Sorbet XP Delft Blue' Pansy 'Spring Matrix Blotch Mix' Viola 'Sorbet XP Orange' Pansy 'Spring Matrix Deep Orange' Viola 'Sorbet XP Pink Halo'

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 73 Large Annuals Large Annuals Large Annuals—5¼” square pots, 8 pots per tray This category is meant for those items that here in the Upper Midwest we best start with a bigger plant so we can really enjoy their full potential. Think tropical. The Begonias you find here are giants. Between the foliage and the flowers there won’t be a single day all year when they don’t look fantastic.

Large Annuals

Abutilon ‘Souvenir d’Bonn standard’ (Flowering Maple) NEW! h 3-5’ C Large maple leaves have uniform variegated patterns with green centers and dramatic creamy white edges. Blooms large peach colored bell shaped flowers that stay slightly cupped. Cycles in and out of bloom even in the house. A joy in a large pot. Abutilon savitzii ‘Standard ‘ (Flowering Maple) NEW! h 4-6’ C Delicate maple-leaf foliage has gorgeous variegation. Mostly creamy white leaves with random splotches of dark green. Small apricot colored bell shaped flowers stay slightly cupped. Easy to grow and long blooming outside in bright diffused light or even in the house. A favorite since the 1800’s. Agave ‘Crème Brulee’ NEW! h 24-30” A Short, broad leaves are variegated and have center stripes of matte green with creamy crème brulee edges. Prolific. Albuca spiralis ‘Frizzle Sizzle’ h 14-24” A Fast growing bulb that sends up 12 to 20 long grey-green waxy stems that corkscrew at the ends. This is a fun novelty plant that looks like something from Dr. Seuss. Blooms all spring and summer with fragrant yellow green nodding blossoms. Some say they smell just like chocolate. Grow it hot and dry, like a succulent, for more corkscrews. Alocasia ‘Stingray’ NEW! h 3-5’ AC We have been growing these in our “Mother House” during the 2015 season and have been completely entertained by them unfolding and maturing into their true shapes. The leaves do quite literally take the shape of a stingray with short, broad bodies and very long thin whip-like tails. Can’t you just imagine these gently swaying around in the garden or the pool like giant sea creatures swimming? Asplenium ‘Victoria’ (Bird’s Nest Fern) h 24-40” CD Shiny elegant fronds are bright green with very wavy, ruffled edges. Unfurling habit creates a ‘bird nest’ like center.

74 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Large Annuals

Begonia ‘Cool Breeze Emerald’ h 18” D Where are all the foliage begonias lovers?? We are addicted to these beautiful shade plants. Such diversity! Here is a variety from Terra Nova (breeders who “get” the addiction). It features deep forest green foliage with dark red backs and stunning black-red stems. Late in summer you are further rewarded with large clusters of pink singles. You’ll want to make room in the house for this beauty over the winter. Begonia ‘Jurassic Silver Swirl’ h 10-16” AC A tightly swirled rex begonia with dark black edges, silver-mint green centers and personality to boot. Eye catching pattern. Roar! Baskets & Annuals Begonia ‘Jurassic Watermelon’ h 10-16” AC No bones about it, this begonia has juicy, mouth watering colors in a definite watermelon pattern. Deep brown edges are ruffled, margins are dark green freckled in silver and midcenters are rose-red with deep brown veining centers. Begonia Angelwing ‘Sophia Cecile’ (Fiberous begonia ) NEW! h 3-4’ C Large feathery wing shaped foliage is dark olive green with sliver splashes and speckling. Leaf backs are purple. Large clusters of small light pink flowers. Easy to grow and will get large. Begonia richmondensis ‘White’ NEW! h 12-24” CD Shiny elongated green leaves have red undersides. Small white flowers have pink and red tones. A great plant to keep going year after year as it has a nice bushing habit and a truly elegant presence. Brilliantasia subulugurica (Giant Salvia) h 36-48” A Large tropical shrub also called Giant Salvia, but with fantastic large lush deeply crinkled leaves and 2 foot flower spikes of electric blue orchid-like blooms. This is one of those incredible specimen that few people have tried but many would be thrilled to buy year after year. Blooms in mid-August. Brugmansia ‘Cassie’s Curl’ (Angel’s Trumpet) h 8’ AC Large trumpet shaped flowers in mellow cantaloupe with thin petal wisps that curl and twist upwards. Brugmansia ‘Ember Glow’ (Angel’s Trumpet) h 8’ AC Trumpet shaped flowers are a warm crème brulee color with large elliptical, soft velvet green leaves. Brugmansia ‘Jean Pasco’ (Angel’s Trumpet) h 8’ AC A very large ethereal trumpet of soft glowing butterscotch-yellow that changes to a soft yellow as the flower tapers. Jean Pasco has the largest flowers of our Brugmansias. Brugmansia ‘Peach’ (Angel Trumpet) h 8’ AC Has become the reliable bloomer of the Brugmansia family for us. Large 8” peach blossoms cover this variety. Our large specimen plant fills the entire range with sweet fragrance in mid-summer.

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 75 Large Annuals

Cissus discolor (Rex Begonia Vine) h 24-36” CD The striking begonia-like foliage of this vine has captured the hearts of our staff. Oval to heart shaped leaves are dark green with silver patterns and red undersides. The stems of this vine are also red. This plant has tendrils and will climb to 3 feet. The compact habit allows for multiple uses in mixed containers, trellised in the garden or as an attractive houseplant. Citrus ‘Key Lime’ NEW! h 1-2’ A A shrubby type of hybrid citrus, also known as bartender’s lime. Waxy oval green leaves and branches, they do have some thorns. The unique flavor is said to have more sweetness than bitterness. Smaller and thinner skinned than the Persian lime. The fruit will turn yellow when fully ripe. Overwinter this guy and keep him warm, and you might just have yourself some winter Key Lime pie, or a homegrown cocktail. Citrus ‘Meyer Lemon’ NEW! h 1-3’ A Native to China, the Meyer lemon might be a cross of true lemon and either a mandarin or common orange. Fruit develops a blush of orange when fully ripe and is sweeter than an Eureka lemon with a distinct hint of tangerine. Shiny green leaves, bushy habit with a little pruning, great producer. Tolerates our cooler temps very well but bring it on for the winter unless you’re a snowbird headed to Arizona for the holidays and it can ride along in the car. Citrus ‘Persian Lime’ NEW! h 2-3’ A Blooms and fruits year-round so it ends up being pleasingly productive. Thornless plant bears mild fruit that is seedless and thick skinned so it keeps for a long time. Ooo, lime marmalade? Plus there is no better scent in the winter than that of a citrus flower.

Begonia ‘Escargot’

76 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Large Annuals

Citrus ‘Pink Variegated Eureka Lemon’ (Pink Lemonade Lemon) NEW! h 1-3’ A Beautiful ornamental plant has variegated green and white foliage. Immature fruit is even striped and ripens to pink and yellow. Flesh is pink with a small amount of seeds. Keep pruned for a bushier habit. I (Amy) am such a sucker for anything variegated with a hint of pink, I might just go reserve one of these for myself.... Colocasia ‘Coffee Cups’ RENEW! h 36-60” AC Here’s another superior conversation piece for the garden. Green leaves with dark purple stems and veins are heart shaped. Their habit is to form upward facing cups. Water collects in the cup and when it’s full, it gently tips and pours the water out Baskets & Annuals then pops right back up. Starbucks, “Eat your heart out”. Crinum ‘Ellen Bosanquet’ NEW! h 24-48” AC Summer blooming tender perennial bulbs in the Amaryllis family. 4” wine red clusters shoot up above bright green strap-like foliage. Notice the spicy fragrance. Grows better in our climate in a pot rather than being tranferred to the garden in the spring. Since she loves to be pot bound, keep the pot just a bit larger. Overwinter in a cool, dry, frost free location . Cyperus ‘King Tut’ (Egyptian Papyrus) RENEW! h 48-60” AC Vigorous growing to 4-6 ft. Grow in or out of water. Well-suited to a water garden but also makes a great addition to the large pond or a grand thriller in a container. More shade tolerant than most. If you have a free afternoon next fall, check out the ‘King Tut’ at the Minneapolis Park’s Longfellow Garden where they serve as a staging plant for swooping hordes of hummingbirds feeding on the masses of annuals in bloom. It’s a photographer’s dream. Digiplexis ‘Illumination Raspberry’ h 36” AC An delightful cross between Digitalis and Isoplexis has resulted in a sterile, long blooming annual beauty for containers or the garden. Flower spikes of raspberry- pink flowers with salmon throats and pink speckles resemble a Digitalis blossom. Well branching and multiple spikes = unlimited potential! Ensete maurelii (Red Abyssinian Banana) h 6-10 ft. AC We think this is the best banana for our climate. It boasts brilliant red foliage. The more sun it gets, the deeper the color. Chop it back to overwinter or raise the ceiling in the living room and decorate it for Christmas. Euphorbia cotinifolia (Smoketree spurge) NEW! h 10-15’ AC Broad elliptical leaves bud out red and mature to burgundy and purple. Growth habit ends up creating spectacular architectural sculptures made for landscape design. Tiny white flowers. Good drought tolerance. The plants we winter over here in our “Mother House” turn fabulous autumn shades and then drop their leaves. Homeowners could leave their potted tree outside until the last minute and then winter them in a corner of the garage or basement.

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 77 Large Annuals

Hibiscus ‘Snow Queen’ NEW! h 4-6’ A Here’s a show stopper! Variegated foliage has spashes and sprays of green and white. Brillant red flowers are pinwheeled delights against the foliage. Suzanne found this again after many years of searching. The foliage alone is worth the price. Nephrolepsis cor. ‘Lemon Button Fern’ (Lemon Button Fern) h 8-12” CD Small arching fronds are made up of tiny round buttons on alternating leaflets. Golden-green in color, gives off a faint lemony scent when handled. Easy to grow and propagate. We have to put an alarm around them or they all seem to disappear to our homes. Pennisetum ‘Black Stockings’ h 60-72” A Very tall plants with wide grass blades are a dark rich purple with burgundy veins and canes. Our tallest, most spectacular grass. Pennisetum setaceum ‘Princess’ h 24-36” A Tidy 3’ grass. The purple hue of this grass deepens as summer heat increases. Fuller habit than other purple grasses. Perfect for smaller settings and containers. Phormium ‘Golden Ray’ NEW! h 4-5’ AC Tough sword shaped leaves are variegated green and creamy-gold with dark pink edges. The perfect unique thriller. Vitis ‘Pixie Grapes’ h 24-36” A Dwarf container sized grape plants that will produce clusters of fruit in the first year. Need to trellis. Easy to grow and a great conversation starter. Zingiber officinale ‘Ginger’ NEW! h 24-36” C Grow some culinary ginger with this tropical ginger plant. Long narrow bright green leaves add a textural element and underground a ginger rhizome is waiting for harvest. Grow in filtered sunlight in a protected location. It needs well-drained, rich soil. Keep watered but no wet feet.

Baby Junebug

78 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Baskets

Baskets Baskets— Single Species & Designer Combinations 10”, 12” and 16” Fiber Maché Baskets From edible to sun to shade, our basket program covers the field. Designed in

house, our combos will surprise and please your customers. Order early. We’ll Baskets & Annuals also continue to sell the succulents in the stylish 10” square baskets.

Baskets

12” Combination Baskets ACD Striking combination baskets in 12” fiber with emphasis on color, interesting textural plants and performance. Each basket is custom tagged listing all the varieties included and the sun or shade symbol. Fed compost tea for durability under stress, good water usage and excellent root systems. We try to offer many of our basket plants in 4”, too, for add-on sales.

16” Premium Combination Baskets ACD Our huge 16” combination baskets perform splendidly. Inspired mix of new plant materials in fiber mache baskets of colorful annuals, foliage and trailing vines. Save some space for these spectacular beauties. Sun and shade available. Each basket is custom tagged with all the varieties included and the sun or shade symbol.

10” Square Fiber Unique square baskets can be hung or used as a finished container.

Succulent Mix A A unique hanging garden with a variety of sizes, colors and shapes. As an option, remove the handle for a easy care summer container.

12” Fiber Mache Baskets Single species baskets overflowing with color and foliage. Fed compost tea for durability under stress, good water usage and excellent root systems. Begonia ‘Bossa Nova Red’ ACD Brilliant red bells of this boliviensis type will bring the carnival right to the the porch with this colorful basket.

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 79 Baskets

Begonia ‘Dragon Wing Red’ ACD Extremely vigorous and easy to grow sun-tolerant begonia with brilliant scarlet red blossoms and very glossy large green leaves. A great basket choice for the new gardener. Tough in difficult conditions. Begonia ‘Million Kisses Elegance’ ACD The most vigorous of trailing begonias, this white long petaled flower is tinged with pink on the back petal. Perfect for brightening those shady corners of the porch or garden. Begonia ‘Illumination Lemon’ NEW! CD We find Illumination begonias to be the standard in reliable basket material. Sturdy branching plant form with nonstop color throughout the summer. Lemon is a clear intense yellow that will brighten those shady corners. Begonia ‘Illumination Orange’ NEW! CD Pure deep orange colored doubles on slender stems. A perfect contrast to those blue shade plants. Cucumber ‘Patio Snacker’ A Help your patio and deck gardeners grow “up” with some delicious cukes. Compact form can be trellised or hung. Good flavor, crunchy texture and non-bitter skin. Fuchsia ‘Giant Orange King’ CD Giant 6” blooms that are swirled with pink and orange tones. Very unusual color pattern. Get ‘em while they last. Fuchsia ‘Giant Velvet Crush’ CD The softest pink sepals cover large eggplant-black corollas, adding to the drama of both colors. Fuchsia ‘Sunbeam Paloma’ CD This was our favorite fuchsia basket in 2105. Covered in rosy pink sepals over lavender corollas. Smaller flowers but many blossoms. A pleasing and manageable semi-trailing form with a sweet presence. Fuchsia ‘Ballerina Dreams’ NEW! CD A smaller neat drop flower in shades of deep red with a possible whisper of fuchsia on the bottom edge of the tutu. Geranium ‘Precision Dark Salmon’ A As the name implies, a bright pinkish coral color. A nice change up from the regular pink. Geranium ‘Precision Pink’ NEW! A We are sticking with the clearest of colors on geraniums this year. This is a beautiful intense pink. That’s it. You will love it because I said so. Geranium ‘Precision Ruby’ A Ruby red doubles. Early to flower with good disease resistance.

80 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Baskets Annuals & Baskets & Annuals

Cheryl and Birch hanging baskets

Herbs ‘Mixed’ AC A handy mix of the most popular culinary herbs. We also throw in a trailing strawberry just cuz its so pretty and delicious. Impatiens ‘Bounce Cherry’ NEW! ACD Large intensely colored flowers cover this workhorse Impatiens bred to “bounce” back after a bit of watering neglect without losing its blossoms. Impatiens ‘Bounce Pink Flame’ ACD Large neon pink flowers brighten shady areas. This series of impatiens are renowned for their durability with watering issues. Impatiens ‘New Fiesta Bonita White’ NEW! CD The Bonita series is compact, uniform and blooms prolificly. This bright white is as pretty as a clothesline full of freshly washed Calvin Klein tightie whities hanging out to dry. Impatiens ‘SunPatiens Spreading Tropical Orange’ NEW! ACD Tropical is key in the description of this impatiens. Variegated yellow and green foliage is the backdrop for the deep clear orange blossom. A bit more mounded form. Lantana ‘Landmark Sunrise Rose’ AC This plant only gets better as the summer heats up. Enough color to stand alone. Rosy pink outer petals are accentuated with brilliant yellow.

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 81 Baskets

Lobelia ‘Rush Creek Mix’ NEW! CD We are getting jiggy with it and decided to mix a few colors of lobelia to offer in one single basket. Lovely for those hard to brighten corners this mix of magenta, deep blue and white will fill the bill. Lobelia ‘Techno Blue’ AC Vivid true blue blooms. Heat and sun tolerant with a nice trailing habit. Always popular and better performing than seed varieties. Lobularia ‘Purple Stream’ NEW! AC Jimmy Hendricks was thinking of this plant when he wrote Purple Haze. A mound of solid flowers that kiss the sky. Lophospermum ‘Lophos Compact Rose’ AC This is now the go-to Lophos in our book. Truly more compact than the old school variety with a brighter red tubular flower on soft green foliage that makes for a gorgeous trailing display. Tidy is key. Pepper ‘Basket of Fire’ NEW! A Keeping it fresh and trying our hand at another veggie basket. Gotta stay groovy to impress that hipster gardening set. Edible, upright and pretty--two inch fruit starts out white and matures to red. Their Scoville heat unit is 80,000. Nothing to sneeze at. Petunia ‘Cascadias Indian Summer’ A Varied shades of yellow to rose to pink lending a terra cotta look to this vigorous plant. Petunia ‘Cascadias Rim Magenta’ NEW! A /purple centers surrounded by a white edge. A beautiful uniform mounding habit with very uniform flower color throughout the summer; does not change as the summer heats up as some of those other clown costume petunias tend to do. Petunia ‘Sweetunia® Johnny Flame’ NEW! A Rosy edged with deep magenta center flowers. A stand alone show stopper. Scaevola ‘Scalora Amethyst’ NEW! A Vigorus nonstop summer blue color that is unaffected by the hottest days of summer. Best thing about this Scaevola--it’s self cleaning. Strawberry ‘Toscana’ A An edible basket for the patio featuring plentiful, medium-sized fruit that are fragrant, delicious and oh so fun. These will produce from midsummer to frost. Hardy for the garden, too. Tomato ‘Cherry Cascade’ A Vigorous and easy to grow. Massive numbers of juicy currant sized tomatoes will cascade from the baskets.

82 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Vines

Tomato ‘Tumbling Tiger’ A Heavy producers of red striped plum-sized fruits. Dense basket-hugging growth cascades 18-24”. Heirloom and disease resistant. Good texture and very tasty. We trialed these and couldn’t believe the heavy fruit set. Torenia ‘Summer Wave® Large Violet’ AC A classic for shade with large violet deep throated blossoms all along stems covered in shiny rich green leaves. Self-cleaning and easy to grow. Annuals & Baskets & Annuals Annual Vines Annual Vines—4½” plantable pots We have been seeing vines more and more in the gardening press in the past few years. They are easy to grow in large or small spaces and some are edible too. We’ve found a unique squash (Trombetta di Albenga) that produces edible whimsical summer or winter squash. Promote this with Vignas and Malabar Spinach for children’s gardens. We love our plantable rice hull pots. Slotted side walls provide spaces for the plants to root out. This is a great improvement for those varieties that don’t like to be transplanted.

Vines

Asarina purpusii ‘Victoria Falls’ (Climbing Snapdragon) h 4-6’ AC Vibrant 2” cerise trumpets with lime bracts and lovely grey green foliage. Works twining up a trellis or trailing over the side of a mixed container. Blooms mid-June to frost. Asarina scandens ‘Joan Lorraine’ (Climbing Snapdragon) h 8-10’ AC Small purple-blue tubular snap-like blooms cover this vine from June through the summer. Attractive vigorous ivy-like foliage. Twining climber. Basella alba rubra (Malibar Spinach) h 24-60” A Unusual twining foliage with large green fleshy, glossy, sensuous leaves with red stems. Fab veggie for its nutritional values: high in vit. A, C, iron, and calcium. Also a great source of soluable fiber. White flower spikes bear small black fruit. Can be grown on a trellis or fence or used in containers. A fun addition to a patio vegetable container. Grows best in heat and humidity. Ornamental edible. Bitter Melon ‘Spindle’ h 13-16’ A This gourd family relative grows long vines in hot weather. Elongated wrinkled pale green fruit is eaten when about the size of a cucumber and used in Hmong and Thai cooking. White flowers and funky, deeply incised leaves are highly ornamental even if you don’t eat the melons.

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Cardiospermum halicacabum (Love in a Puff) h 10-12’ AC Small white flowers followed by 1” light green balloon-like pods which age to light brown papery orbs in the fall. The seed pods and glossy deeply cut foliage are the highlights of this vigorous climber. Common name comes from the tiny white heart that appears on the black seed. Cobaea scandens ‘Cathedral Bells’ (Cup-and-Saucer Vine) h 15-20’ AC Large 2” green cups changing to a lovely violet as they age. Late blooming but worth the wait! Loves the heat and is very fast growing. Works well for covering chain link or large fence. Native to Mexico. Tendril climber. Dolichos lablab ‘Ruby Moon’ (Purple Hyacinth Bean) h 15-20’ A Fragrant pink sweet pea like flowers. Large, shiny, beet-purple seed pods with purplish green leaves. A fast growing, very dense twining climber. We grew one on the internal structure of a greenhouse this year and it finished well above the 14’ gutter with hundreds of colorful pods. Thrives on heat and humidity. Not edible. Fuchsia ‘Lady Boothby’ h 3-4’ AC A climbing fuchsia! Gorgeous two-tone pink and dark purple flowers bloom throughout the summer and into fall. Named after the founder of the British Fuchsia Society and originally bred from a Brazilian species in 1939. The staff all love this one and we trialed it in several gardens last year. Ipomoea nil ‘Sunrise Serenade’ (Morning Glory) h 10’ A Very unusual. Small, fully double ruby red flowers that resemble a small butterfly or bird. Heirloom variety. Twining. Ipomoea noctiflora alba (Moonflower) h 10-30’ A Very fragrant, large waxy white flowers that open with a swirl in late afternoon. You may want to have the neighbors over to brag on that first bloom! A classic for the white garden. Twining. Ipomoea purpurea ‘Heavenly Blue’ (Blue Morning Glory) h 10-15’ A Sky blue blossoms with heart shaped leaves. Truly a classic! Get a head start on blooming by planting these large, well-developed morning glories but watch out as they might climb in the kitchen window. Great vigor and beauty. Ipomoea purpurea ‘Kniola Purple-black’ (Purple Morning Glory) h 8’ A Heirloom variety. Rich, royal purple with a rose throat. The earliest to bloom and our best seller. Often will be blooming before June 1 for a full summer of joyful color. Twining. Ipomoea purpurea ‘Scarlet O’Hara’ (Red Morning Glory) h 8-10’ A Rich deep rosy red blooms with great climbing vigor. Good for trellis or fence. Twining. Ipomoea x multifida (Cardinal Climber) h 10’ A Scarlet red mini morning glory that has a deeper red throat. Small dark green deeply cut leaves. An absolute favorite for hummingbirds. Clings tightly to its support. More delicate appearance. Twining.

84 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Vines

Lathyrus ‘King Edward VII’ (Sweet Pea) NEW! h 4-6’ A Behold! Grandiflora type with large blooms that are a stunning crimson red. Strong spicy scent on this heirloom. Lathyrus ‘Lady Grisel Hamilton’ (Sweet Pea) NEW! h 4-6’ A Soft, lucky lavender flowers are perfect for cutting. Heat tolerance with a delightfully sweet fragrance for this old fashioned heirloom. Luffa h 15’ A Immature fruits are popular in Southeast Asian cooking. Use as you would zucchini.

Vines can grow up to 15 feet but need plenty of warmth. Sorry, your luffa will not Baskets & Annuals mature to the sponge stage this far north. Mina lobata ‘Firecracker’ (Firecracker Vine) h 10-15’ A Easy to grow, arching sprays of 1” tubular flowers from yellow to orange. Large tri- lobed leaves quickly cover their support. Fast growth makes this an ideal choice for covering large trellis or fence. Native to Mexico. Twining habit. Phaseolus coccineus ‘Scarlet Emperor’ (Scarlet Runner Bean) h 10-20’. A Fast climbing bean with scarlet-orange blooms followed by glossy green pods. Blooms profusely and vigorously all summer. Easy to grow, likes moist and fertile soil. Food crop popular with early American colonists; go ahead and eat the pods if you like. Rhodochiton astrosanguineum (Purple Bell Vine) h 10’ C Unusual dusky pinkish maroon bell-shaped flowers with black clappers slightly resemble a fuchsia. Slower growing vine works well on smaller trellis, can take a bit of shade. Lovely draped over a wall or spilling over a deck. Senecio confusus (Mexican Flame Vine) h 8’ A Glossy green leaves with fragrant orange-red daisy-like blooms with reflexed petals. Charming and long blooming. Loves the sunniest, warmest spot in the garden. A tender perennial in our northern climes. Squash ‘Trombetta di Albenga’ NEW! h 6-8’ A A vigorous heirloom vine for an arbor or fence producing a versatile squash. It can be eaten at about a foot long as a firm, nutty tasting summer squash or allowed to ripen to a bright orange 4 ft. long winter squash. Delicious in ravioli. Great for children’s gardens with its long whimsical crooked shape. Thunbergia alata ‘African Sunset’ (Black-eyed Susan Vine) h 10’ AC Unique sunset shades of red, apricot & buff with dark eyes. Don’t plant this too early because it will just sit there and shiver. Really gets going in late summer, then will make you glad you waited as it twines all over everything. Vigorous in heat, yet tender in the face of frost. Will grow in some shade. Thunbergia alata ‘Arizona® Dark Red’ (Black-eyed Susan Vine) h 8-10’ AC Flashy newer color in Thunbergia -- dark red with a dark center. Wow! Prefers warm nights to grow well.

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 85 Vines

Thunbergia alata ‘Sunny Lemon Star’ (Black-eyed Susan Vine) h 6-8’ AC Lemony yellow single-petaled variety with a dark eye and a showy large flower size. Blooms all season. Twining. Thunbergia alata ‘Orange Beauty’ (Black-eyed Susan Vine) NEW! h 5-8’ AC Brilliant orange blossoms are larger than normal for an even bigger show. Very heat tolerant but not very cool weather tolerant so wait to plant until the nights are a bit warmer. Then enjoy the beauty. Tropaeolum majus ‘Jewel of Africa’ (Variegated Climbing Nasturtium) h 8’ A Nasturtiums in red, yellow, peach, cream with gorgeous variegated round foliage. Works well trailing over rocks or a wall, in a window box or as a ground cover. Leaves are large and luscious so give it some room to ramble. Likes poor soil and dry weather. Soil that is too rich results in lots of foliage, but few blooms. Needs to be tied to climb up. Tropaeolum peregrineum (Canary Bird Vine) h 8-12’ C Bright 1” yellow flowers with fringed petals and light green spurs appear to be small birds from a distance. Lettuce green leaves are five lobed, glossy, large and lovely. Prefers fertile evenly moist soil. Vigna unguiculata ‘Pretzel Bean’ h 4-6’ A A fascinating heirloom bean sets lovely pinkish purple flowers which develop into crazy downward curling long pods. The beans twist into circles maturing to yellow then brown and forming pretzel-like shapes. Also known as ‘Ram’s Horn Bean’. This is a vigorous vine with edible young pods or harvest later for green peas. Vigna unguiculata ‘Red Noodle’ (Yardlong Bean or Asparagus Bean) h 30’ A Vigorous bean vine with 2” violet blossoms that become fascinating 18-40” pendant pods that are inflated when green and shrivel to cranberry red when ripe. Fast cover for chain link fence. A fun novelty in a children’s garden. A food crop in SE Asia; you’ll see it for sale at the St. Paul Farmer’s Market.

Tropaeolum majus ‘Jewel of Africa’

86 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Edibles Charts

Edibles Edibles—Jumbo 6 packs and 3½” pots All the indications are that edibles are still a growing trend. What a great introduction to gardening. True or not, we’ve been told that Millennials are striving for uniqueness. Our edibles list is eclectic – heirlooms, patio varieties,

Asian, South American, hot, cold, big, little, colorful, crazy. That’s the makings for Baskets & Annuals a unique gardening experience. The decades of combined experience among our staff help us winnow out the marketing gimmicks and the plants that really aren’t bred for our climate and present you with a tempting list of productive, tasty, interesting and fun edibles that will work for you and your customers. Grown sustainably, too. We’re going to put the squash, melons, pumpkins and the new ‘Masterpiece’ Pea in a new plantable coir pot to eliminate transplant shock for their delicate root systems.

Edibles Charts 3½” Pots By special request, we’ve listed our incredible selection of peppers according to these characterisitics:

Pepper variety Shape Color Heat Level Aji Cristal 3-4" long pale yellow NNNN Beaver Dam 6" long pale yellow>red N Cajun Belle small bell red N Carmen 8-10" long red sweet Cayenne 'Cheyenne' 6-8" long red NNN Cayenne Golden 5" long gold NNN Czech Black 2-3" long deep purple NNN Fatalii 2-3" wrinkled gold/orange NNNNN Fish 2" long green & white striped NN Flavorburst Gold bell gold sweet Ghost 2-3" wrinkled red NNNNNN+ Gourmet Orange bell orange sweet Gypsy bell pale yellow>red sweet Habanero 1-2" wrinkled orange NNNNN

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 87 Edibles

Pepper variety Shape Color Heat Level Hunter bell green>red sweet Jalapeno 'El Jefe' 2-3" long green>red NN Karma bell green>red sweet King of the North bell green>red sweet Lady Bell bell green>red sweet Lemon Drop 2-3" long, wrinkled gold NNNN Lunch Box Mix 3-4" long gold, orange, red sweet Mama Mia Giallo 6-8" long gold sweet New Ace bell green>red sweet Pasilla Hole Mole 3-4" elongated green>red/brown N Poblano Tiburon 4-5" wrinkled green>red N Purple Beauty bell green>red sweet Serrano 2-3" long green>red NNN Shishito 4" long, wrinkled green>red N Sweet Banana 6" long pale yellow>red sweet Sweet Chocolate bell chocolate brown sweet Sweet Savour 2" pointed gold, orange, red sweet Takanotsume 2-3" pointed red NNNN Tangerine Dream 3" long orange N Thai Hot 1-2" pointed red NNNN

Edibles

88 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Edibles

Jumbo 6 packs Heirloom Patio Asian SE/East Latin American Ornmental 'Yin Thai' x x Beets 'Bull's Blood' x x Brussels Sprouts 'Falstaff ' x Cauliflower 'Graffiti' x Chinese Broccoli 'Green Lance' x Chinese Cabbage Nappa 'Green Rocket' x Chinese Celery 'Tianjin Green' x

Collards 'Georgia' x Edibles Edamame Soybeans 'Giant Midori' x Fennel 'Bronze' x Fennel, Bulbing 'Orion' x Kale 'Garden Mixer' x Kale 'Rainbow Lacinato' x Kale 'Red Ursa' x Kale 'Redbor' x Kale 'Dinosaur ' x Kale 'Starbor' x x Kohlrabi - Purple 'Kolibri' x Lettuce 'Mixed' x x Lettuce 'Red Butterhead - Avicenna' x x Lettuce 'Springtime Head Mix' x x Marigold 'Lemon Gem' x Mesclun 'Mixed Greens' x x Mizuna Mustard 'Frilly Mixed Color' x x Mustard, Indian 'Dragon's Tongue' x x Nasturtium 'Alaska' x x Nasturtium 'Alaska Scarlet' x x Nasturtium 'Empress of India' x x Nasturtium 'Gleam Lemon' x x Nasturtium 'Jewel Salmon' x x Nasturtium 'Ladybird' x x

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 89 Edibles

Jumbo 6 packs Heirloom Patio Asian SE/East American Latin Ornmental Nasturtium 'Milk Maid' x x Nasturtium 'Phoenix' x Nasturtium 'Purple Emperor' x Onion 'Borettana Cipollini' x Onion-bunching 'Deep Purple' x x Onion-bunching 'Tokyo Long' x x Pac Choi 'Mei Qing Choi' x Pak Choy 'Toy Choy' x x Raddichio 'Indigo' x Swiss Chard 'Bright Lights' x x Swiss Chard 'Peppermint' x x Swiss Chard 'Rhubarb Red' x x

3½” Pots Heirloom Patio Asian SE/East American Latin Ornmental Artichoke 'Imperial Star' x Cantaloupe 'Minnesota Midget' x x Cantaloupe 'Oka' x Cauliflower Romanesco 'Veronica' x Cucamelon x Cucumber 'Lemon' x Cucumber 'Patio Snacker' x Cucumber 'Pick a Bushel' x Cucumber bush 'Spacemaster 80' x Cucumber Japanese 'Tasty Jade' x Eggplant 'Lao Purple Stripe' x Eggplant 'Ping Tung Long' x Eggplant 'Rosa Bianca' x Eggplant 'Pot Black' x

90 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Edibles

3½” Pots Heirloom Patio Asian SE/East Latin American Ornmental Eggplant 'Prosperosa' x Ground Cherry 'Aunt Molly's' x x Kale 'Kosmic' x Pea 'Masterpiece' x Pumpkin 'Cinderella's Carriage' x Tomatillo 'Verde Puebla' x Tomatillo 'Purple ' x x Tomato 'Amish Paste' x Edibles Tomato 'Aunt Ruby's German Green' x Tomato 'Big League' x Tomato 'Black from Tula' x Tomato 'Black Plum' x Tomato 'Bonnie Best' x Tomato 'Brandywine' x Tomato 'Cherokee Purple' x Tomato 'Hillbilly' x Tomato 'Homeslice' x Tomato 'Isis Candy Cherry' x Tomato 'Italian Heirloom' x Tomato 'Jaune Flamme' x Tomato 'Lillian's Yellow' x Tomato 'Little Napoli' x Tomato 'Mexico Midget' x Tomato 'Moskvich' x Tomato 'Mr. Stripey' x Tomato 'Nebraska Wedding' x Tomato 'San Marzano' x Tomato 'Speckled Roman' x Tomato 'Stupice' x Tomato 'Tidy Treats' x

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 91 Edibles

3½” Pots Heirloom Patio Asian SE/East Latin American Ornmental Tomato 'Tiny Tim' x Tomato 'Yellow Pear' x Tomato 'Wapsipinicon Peach' x Winter Melon x Winter Squash 'Honey Bear' x Zucchini 'Buckingham' x

Jumbo 6 packs

Amaranth ‘Yin Thai’ A “Red Leaf” variety is actually variegated green and red. Tender nutritious greens are used lightly cooked in soups, stir fries or in salads. Asparagus ‘UC 70’ A High yielding hybrid F2 is hardy, well adapted and will produce medium sized spears in three to four years. Basil ‘Compact Genovese Improved’ A We offer this popular herb in Jumbo 6 packs as well as in our herb program. Compact variety is a heavy producer of deep green cupped leaves and is delicious for pesto. Beets ‘Bull’s Blood’ A Dark burgundy colored leaves and flesh give this beet its name. Remarkably sweet and earthy. Consider this for the annual bed, containers or the vegetable garden. 35 days for baby leaf tops or 55 days for roots. Beets ‘Gourmet Blend’ A Mix it up! Golden, candy striped, pink, white, red--you’ll have the prettiest beets on the block. Beets ‘Red Ace’ A Classic early season variety is sweet, uniform and tender. Greens are red veined and medium height.

92 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Edibles

Broccoli ‘Artwork F1’ NEW! A Last year we called it broccolini; now “stem broccoli” is the term being tossed around. Either way, harvest the central head right away to get several weeks of lanky side shoots with sweet tender stems as well as small head. Artwork hybrid was an All America selection for 2015, with bolt resistance being the quality the judges were most excited about. Expect to get 20+ 6-8” side shoots. Broccoli ‘Gypsy’ A We finally have to say farewell to old faithful Premium Crop as it has been discontinued by its breeder, and our hoarded seed stash is gone. Rather than going off on the seed industry, let me introduce you to our new go-to broccoli, Gyspy. Sporting a good disease resistance package (rainy summer, anyone?), and adaptability to a wide variety of conditions, it’s a reliable producer of large, dome- shaped, medium green heads. Sturdy and dependable, although at 90 days, it won’t be your earliest broccoli. Brussels Sprouts ‘Falstaff ‘ A Edibles Red sprouts are about the color of a red cabbage with foliage that has deep pink veins. A lovely ornamental, good tasting and frost tolerant. Late season crop. Brussels Sprouts ‘Churchill ‘ A World War II era newspapers documented a running dialogue between Winston Churchill, FDR and their wives about how to properly cook and serve the tiny cabbages. The number of communications caused Nazi code breakers to think that “Brussels Spouts” was code for an important new weapon. Earliness is the code that breeders cracked with this medium-green hybrid. Also reported to possess improved adaptability for a variety of climates and weather trends. 90 days. Cabbage ‘Compact Mixed Varieties’ A “One meal” cabbage! We’ve selected red, savoy, and green pointed types that will finish early and fit neatly into a city-size garden. You get two plants each of Red Express, Alcosa (savoy) and Caraflex (green pointed). Cabbage ‘Deluxe Mix’ A Make some room in your garden for three of our favorite larger cabbages. Lovely “Deadon Savoy” is a January King type that will keep going in the autumn cold well down into the 20s and look SO good doing it. Rich purple-red outer leaves protect mid-green interiors. It’s Suzanne’s new favorite. “Ruby Perfection” is a mid-late season round red cabbage with densely packed leaves that will hold in the field or store well in the root cellar if you need it to, but may quickly disappear into your salads, slaws and krauts. “Late Flat Dutch” is a classic heirloom fall drumhead (flattened) cabbage for storage and kraut making. The white interior equals high vitamin C content as well as a nice bright color for your kraut. These will get big! Over 10 lb. apiece if given enough space and fertility. Better get out your jumbo fermentation crock. Cauliflower ‘Graffiti’ A An intensely purple cauliflower. A lovely ornamental with a delicious taste. Color will lighten if blanched, boiled or steamed but darkens if roasted!

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 93 Edibles

Celeriac ‘Brilliant’ A Yes, we need celery in SO MANY recipes and no, very few of us can actually grow it at home. Why? Most of us don’t have that somewhat swampy climate with steady temperatures here, not to mention a home blanching and irrigation set up. What we can grow extremely well here in the Upper Midwest is the long-term winter storage version of celery, this handy knobby root. Set out the seedlings in spring, maintain even moisture and by September you’ll have gnarly brown globes topped with small clumps of strongly flavored deep green celery. Keep the tops for soup stock or dry them as a herb, then fill the root cellar with bags of roots. Trim off as much of the clean white flesh as you need (sans peel), and use wherever you’re seeking that celery flavor. Traditional Central European favorite. Chinese Broccoli ‘Green Lance’ A A nice hybrid selection that is slower to bolt but still needs cool weather to crop. Long stems, leaves and flower buds are all eaten in this slender broccoli relative, which is popular in Southeast Asian cooking. Pleasantly sharp taste goes well with fermented black bean sauce in Thai noodle dishes. Chinese Cabbage Nappa ‘Green Rocket’ A Tall cylindrical Michihili type has tight 14” heads up to 4 lb. with a sweet crisp flavor. Best flavor and production in cool weather. Great for Kim Chi making. Chinese Celery ‘Tianjin Green’ A Hollow-stem type is used at a tender young stage. Pick off older growth to keep fresh leaves and stalks coming well into the fall. Cilantro ‘Calypso’ A For all your Latin American and Asian recipes. This is a slow bolting selection, but harvest often and replant several times for best results. We now offer cilantro in both Jumbo 6 packs and herb pots. Collards ‘Georgia’ A The classic Southern heirloom. Tender, mild flavored greens with a variety of leaf shapes on 36” plants. Elongated blue-green leaves have narrow green-white midribs. Edamame Soybeans ‘Giant Midori’ A If you can grow green beans, you can grow edamame soybeans. Yep, the plants are soybeans; edamame are the salted, lightly cooked immature beans you’ll be popping into your mouth later this summer. The word literally means “twig bean” or “beans on branches.” Compact plants are early and heavy croppers, so if you can’t eat them all at once, you’ll have plenty to freeze. Plump pods have two or three beans each. 82 days Fennel ‘Bronze’ A Beautiful ornamental with bronze colored feathery leaves. Underused in gardens. Airy texture with a superb color and fragrance! Fennel, Bulbing ‘Orion’ A New breeding has produced a bolt resistant bulbing type that is resilient in stressful growing situations. Try an early July sowing for fall harvest, too. 94 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Edibles

Forager’s Mixes A Many plants are edible! You don’t have to make like Euell Gibbons (remember him?) to harvest the wild ones. We’ve selected a colorful and textured assortment of greens usually wildcrafted or foraged. Tuck a little bit of the woods and fields in a corner of your backyard, then go native. One mix for the cool of early spring, another for the warmth of early summer. Forager’s Mix ‘Cool Season’ A After extensive trials these last seasons, we’ve refined our lists to include a profusion of tastes and textures in a selection of plants that will work in your backyard without taking over. Not every plant is native to our region, but all will make great picking in your garden. Early spring list includes: Buckshorn Plantain (Plantago coronopus), Chicory ‘Italko Rosso’ (Chicorium intybus), Mache ‘Medallion’ (Valerianella locusta), Miner’s Lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata), Upland Cress ‘Belle Isle’ (Barbaca verna) and Wild Arugula ‘Dragon’s Tongue’ (Diplotaxis tenuifolia).

Forager’s Mix ‘Warm Season’ A Edibles Once the weather has softened, move into the summer list which includes: Catalogna Chicory ‘Clio’ (Chicorium intybus), Golden Purslane (Portulaca oleracea sativa), Lambs Quarters ‘Magenta Spreen’ (Chenopodium gigantium), Purple Orach, (Atriplex hortensis), Polish Amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) and Vegetable Mallow (Malva crispa). Kale ‘Garden Mixer’ A Why choose just one? We’ll mix red and green, flat and ruffled for your garden. Hardy and delicious. Kale ‘Rainbow Lacinato’ A Cross of Redbor with Dinosaur kale to get more color, a taller height and better hardiness than either parent. Kale ‘Red Ursa’ A Siberian kale genes give this beautiful ruffled type the ability to laugh at weather well down into the teens. Large leaves equal high yields in the kitchen. Kale ‘Redbor’ A Excellent deep red-purple coloring on extremely frilly leaves. Fall color and texture is exceptional. A versatile backdrop for grasses and annuals. Makes a beautiful garnish, too.

Norma and Jack

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 95 Edibles

Kale ‘Dinosaur ‘ A Italian heirloom with blue-green heavily savoyed, strap-shaped leaves. Mild tasting and delicious after a light frost. Keep harvesting lower leaves to end up with that palm tree kale look. Kale ‘Starbor’ A Ultra curly Scotch type favored by salad makers and kale chip lovers. There really were three different kale salads at a Rush Creek potluck last spring; Suzanne’s version with maple dressing was especially memorable. Starbor is a productive, hardy hybrid with a lower-growing bushy habit as compared to the Russian and Siberian kale’s tall central stalks. Kohlrabi ‘Kossak’ A Sure those little spring kohlrabies are the first crunchy treat from the garden, but once you get ‘em peeled, there’s not much left to work with . And if they get overgrown, ‘treat’ quickly turns to ‘tough’. Not so with the tasty and tender Kossak. Large storage kohlrabi like Superschmelz, Gigante and Czech Giant have been around for a while; Kossak is the first widely available hybrid of this type. Although they’ll keep on growing, harvesting at 8-10” diameter is recommended. The flesh remains crisp and white up to at least cantaloupe size, but you will have to peel that skin. Stores well in fridge or root cellar, cut off as much as you need and the rest will stay crisp if well wrapped. Relish the mild flavor in salads, stir fries, curries, ferments, or with dips...I made an amazing Kossak ferment this summer that packed a great crunch. Hoping my fall crop sizes up in time for another batch! Kohlrabi - Purple ‘Kolibri’ NEW! A Hybrid purple kohlrabi takes off quickly and sizes up fast at 45 days. Tender crunchy white interior, harvest at 3” diameter for best texture; this is classic kohlrabi, not one of the new giant ones. Plant a second crop in August for October harvest; it’s quite hardy! Leeks ‘King Richard’ A Early full-sized leeks are ready in August. White stems are over a foot long if you hill them. Will withstand light frosts, but should be harvested before late October. Lettuce ‘Mixed’ A A colorful and tasty assortment of Romaines, Bibbs and leaf lettuces in red and green shades as well as speckled. Cut and come again culture. Lettuce ‘Red Butterhead - Avicenna’ A Vicky came back from the University Display Gardens west of Madison raving about this lovely lettuce, neglected to write down its name, then sent Eli on an e-quest to track down some seeds. Deep, deep burgundy outer leaves wrap around a tender green core, mid sized heads, great disease resistance. Photos look amazing; we can see why she was stopped in her tracks. Lettuce ‘Springtime Head Mix’ A Mix of head-forming types like Butterhead, Romaine and Iceberg lettuce in every shade of red and green. Will mature extra early as compact, bunched rosettes.

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Marigold ‘Lemon Gem’ A Edible blooms are great in salads or as garnishes. Petite golden yellow single flowers on a cloud of ferny foliage. Mesclun ‘Mixed Greens’ A Lovely colors and textures in a mix which includes Lacinato (Dinosaur) kale, red curly kale, Mizuna mustard, ‘Red Choi’ pac choi, red mustard greens and ‘Bull’s Blood’ beet greens is perfect for braising or light stir fry. Mizuna Mustard ‘Frilly Mixed Color’ A An absolutely lovely early spring addition to your salads. Feathery types in gold and red contrast with classic Mizuna foliage in purple and bicolors. Most are mild flavored. Edible impulse sales! Mustard, Indian ‘Dragon’s Tongue’ A Fuchsia and chartreuse may be color-descriptors which appear often in the flower section of our catalog but more subtle hues generally grace the vegetable patch. Not so with this slow-bolting Indian mustard. Crunchy white midribs contrast with Edibles sassy crinkled foliage in the aforementioned shades as well as classic red mustard bronze. Not too hot, plenty sweet. Nasturtium ‘Alaska’ A Variegated cream and green foliage with bright 2” blossoms in a range of summery colors. Sprawling habit. Best flowering in less fertile soil. Drought tolerant. Nasturtium ‘Alaska Scarlet’ A For those situations where a mix is just too crazy for your petite variegated nasturtiums, we present the darkest color in the Alaska series. Then you can swear you’ll never be hungry again, Scarlet, because the blooms and leaves can be tossed into your salad. Peppery leaves might also add an interesting note in a mixed ferment. Hmmm. Nasturtium ‘Empress of India’ A Deep, velvety crimson flowers against dark foliage, beloved since its 1884 introduction. A staff favorite! Best flowering in less fertile soil. Drought tolerant. Nasturtium ‘Gleam Lemon’ A Large flowered double and semi-double blooms in a soft butter yellow. Semi-trailing plant is great in a window box or as a ground cover. Drought tolerant and a lovely addition to your salads. Nasturtium ‘Jewel Salmon’ Frilly blooms in a rich apricot-salmon shade above deep green foliage. Best flowering in less fertile soil. Drought tolerant. Nasturtium ‘Ladybird’ A Luscious golden yellow blossoms with deep red centers. Sassy and adorable! Best flowering in less fertile soil. Drought tolerant.

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Nasturtium ‘Phoenix’ NEW! A Sassy “flame-petal” nasturtiums are red hot! Well, OK, they are actually a mix of reds, oranges, golds and interesting pastels in the apricot and salmon range with some bicolors thrown in. Each petal is cut and scalloped with 3 or 4 points, resulting in an all around more dramatic nasturtium that will attract human admirers as well as bees. Habit is between dwarf and vining, at about 12” with a 14” spread. Spicy edible leaves and blossoms as with any nasturtium. Nasturtium ‘Purple Emperor’ NEW! A Yep, you totally need this great new color in your nasturtium patch. Described as burgundy purple or dusty rose, the color softens to an antique-looking lavender- blue as the summer advances. Bushy 24” vines can trail out of containers or make a puffy mound in the front of the border. Edible as with all nasturtiums. Onion ‘Borettana Cipollini’ A ‘Borettana’ is an Italian heirloom traditionally used for pickling. The bulbs are a unique flattened shape like a golden flying saucer and are actually quite good keepers if you let them size up. Sweet flavor works in salads as well as cooking. Try them in grilling or stir fries. Onion ‘Copra’ A Sets the standard for storage onions in our region. Medium sized with firm texture and golden skins. Matures in about 104 days. Onion ‘Red Wing’ A Deep red onions are long season (118 days) and long storage. Will grow to baseball size. Onion ‘White Wing’ A Large round white bulbs are sweet and early. Harvest promptly when tops fall over. 97 days Onion ‘Yellow Sweet Spanish’ A Good-sized sweet onion for Northern growers. Yellow globes average 12 oz. and mature in about 98 days. Sweet onions have limited storage life. Onion-bunching ‘Deep Purple’ NEW! A Pretty bright purple outer skins at any temperature. Works for spring or summer sowing, ready in 60 days. Interiors are white. Onions, bunching ‘Tokyo Long’ A Spring onions, scallions, green onions...whatever you call them, they will answer the call for early season flavor in your cooking. Hill up the shafts to grow long white sections. Pac Choi ‘Mei Qing Choi’ A Bolt-resistant compact selection of bok choy has green midrib. Crunchy and sweet. One of the first greens you will stir fry in spring.

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Pac Choi ‘Toy Choy’ NEW! A You need this adorable pak choi because it’s ready in about 30-40 days, stands but 5” high and tolerates the onset of hot weather better than the larger varieties. Thick crunchy white stems and shiny deep green leaves just like the big guys, but this cutie will fit into your patio containers! Raddichio ‘Indigo’ A Easy-to-grow round selection is rich deep burgundy color, uniform, firm, medium- sized heads. Not as fussy about growing conditions as other varieties. Shallots A Large bulbs have reddish-copper skin, white fleshed. These will keep forever and have a mild onion flavor. Pretty and delicious, too. Strawberry, Alpine ‘Alexandria’ A Petite plants produce cute strawberries about twice the size of wild berries. Pop them in along paths, trailing over rock walls, even hanging baskets. Plants from spring 2013 were putting out tasty fruit by mid-summer and day neutral habit Edibles means the production just keeps coming. Strawberry, Everbearing ‘Tristar’ A Wish you could pick another crop of strawberries in late summer? So do we, and we picked “Tristar” as the best everbearing for our climate. Medium height and disease resistant plants should yield a heavy crop of firm, sweet, medium sized fruit in early spring with lighter crops in the hot summer weather, then one more crop of standard sized berries in fall. Strawberry, June bearing ‘Jewel’ A June-bearing variety with that flavor you can only grow at home as they wouldn’t ship far. Fine to freeze and awesome to eat fresh. Strawberry, June bearing ‘Valley Sunset’ A New June-bearing variety from Nova Scotia is a few days later than Jewel. The list of superlatives includes large fruit, great flavor, good disease resistance, heavy fruit set, nice runner production…what’s not to like? Swiss Chard ‘Bright Lights’ A Beautiful chard leaves in many colors ranging from deep red to oranges and gold with a few green shades. A delicious mild flavor. Lasts until temps stay below freezing. 1998 All America Selection winner! Swiss Chard ‘Peppermint’ A Love the pinkish hues in the mixed chards but sometimes wish they wouldn’t turn the whole hotdish red? Well, step into my peppermint chard office. Stalks vary from clean white to rich pink, and most are streaked with both shades. Leaves are shiny green with pink veins.

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 99 Edibles

Swiss Chard ‘Rhubarb Red’ RENEW! A We decided to bring back the quintessential heirloom red chard. ‘Rhubarb’ has the classic lovely big leaves and deep red stems you know and love. Like a stained glass window you get to eat! 50-60 days to full sized leaves, baby leaves whenever you feel like it.

3½” Pots A Artichoke ‘Imperial Star’ A Lovely spiny silver leaves. Striking architectural effect with giant lavender blooms followed by small delicious artichokes in late summer. Best results with high fertility. Bitter Melon See Annual Vines Cantaloupe ‘Goddess’ A Early, big, productive and sweet. Improved Athena type, so lightly netted and slightly oblong, 4-6 lb fruit. What more could you ask from a melon? 70 days Cantaloupe ‘Minnesota Midget’ A Extra early softball-sized fruits on compact vines. Can even be grown in a container. Bred by the U of MN in 1948. Cantaloupe ‘Oka’ A The sweetest melons our Eli has ever grown in her chilly Wisconsin garden. Canadian heirloom from 1912 has ridges like a muskmelon, but skin remains green when ripe. Fragrant deep orange flesh is a real treat.

Kale ‘Kosmic’

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Cauliflower Romanesco ‘Veronica’ A Remember the crazy stuff they used to round up to serve as vegetables on the original Star Trek episodes? One banquet with alien guests included a giant platter of celeriac. And you just know that if Romanesco had been on Gene Roddenberry’s radar in 1967, the Romulans would’ve been serving it up to the Enterprise crew. It is just that crazy looking. Imagine cauliflower classic. Now color it a soft chartreuse, pull those soft curves up into numerous whorled peaks and pinnacles and soon you’ll be talking Romanesco. Good soil fertility, plenty of space between the plants, even watering, and cool weather will help your garden to boldly go where no one has gone before. Cucamelon NEW! A Also known as Mouse Melon, Mexican Sour Gherkin and Mexican Miniature Watermelon. Slow starting vine will eventually hit its stride and produce multitudes of cute fruits that look like tiny watermelons and taste like a cucumber with a hit of citrus. Better trellis it as the vines can grow to 10 feet. Best eaten at about grape

size before they get too seedy, often pickled, used fresh in salsas or in stir fries. Edibles Ancient crop grown in Mexico and Central America for over 500 years. (Melothria scabra) Cucumber ‘Lemon’ A Classic heirloom sports unique lemon-sized and colored fruit on long vines. Later to bear than more modern cukes, but quickly makes up for lost time with prolificity. Skin ripens from pale to deep golden yellow, crunchy and tasty at any shade. Cucumber ‘Painted Serpent’ A Also known as Striped Armenian cucumber or snake melon. The idea is that if you don’t trellis these babies, they will twist and curve and coil all about your melon patch. Fruits are slightly fuzzy and adorned in stripes of pale and dark green. Flavor is that of a burpless cuke, with crisp texture. Great in salads, it can also work in lightly cooked dishes and stir fries. Grow as you would melons, so wait until the soil is warm before setting out. Cucumber ‘Patio Snacker’ A Handy-sized smooth-skinned cukes are perfect in a patio planter with a trellis. Cukes for your salads without taking over the yard. Good flavor, crunchy texture and non-bitter skin. Cucumber ‘Pick a Bushel’ A We thought container gardeners might appreciate a pickler to go with their slicers. High yielding and packing a good disease resistance package, keep the fruit picked at the 3-6” size to insure continued production. An All-American Select for our area. Cucumber bush ‘Spacemaster 80’ A Compact plants for small spaces produce good yields of full-size slicing cukes. Use this one in your container area. Cucumber gherkin ‘Harmonie’ A Early Euro-style picklers on high yielding vines have smooth, dark green skins. Use as gherkins when 3-5” or slicers if they get larger.

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Cucumber Japanese ‘Tasty Jade’ A Start these on a trellis then stand back! Dozens of slender 14” fruits with tender skin are burpless and don’t need peeling. One of our most popular varieties. Cucumber Middle Eastern ‘Green Finger’ A Beit alpha type has thin, smooth skin, exceptional flavor and a small seed cavity. Similar to European slicers but shorter, averaging 8-10”. Stores well without needing to be wrapped. Excellent disease resistance and high yields. Cucumber pickling ‘Cross Country’ A Highly prolific and well adapted early hybrid has uniform, crunchy fruit. Keep picked for continued production and don’t forget to plant some dill. Cucumber slicing ‘Marketmore 76’ A The classic slicing cuke to which all others still aspire. Productive, disease resistant and tasty. Released by Cornell University 35 years ago and still the best. Eggplant ‘Galine’ A Now this is an eggplant! Large Italian style fruit are early, even in our rural gardens with their chilly early summer nights. We like it even better than old favorite “Classic.” Expect glossy deep purple fruits averaging a pound or more with good flavor and texture. 72 days Eggplant ‘Lao Purple Stripe’ A Round 2” fruits are striped lavender and dark purple and popular in Hmong cooking. Fun variety for containers or the garden. Eggplant ‘Ping Tung Long’ A Early to mid-season Asian type with 12” x 1½” pale purple fruits that darken at maturity. Appealing sweetness and uniform slices make this a cook’s favorite. Stress tolerant. 65 days. Eggplant ‘Rosa Bianca’ A Italian heirloom is known for delicate non-bitter flavor and lovely fruits banded in stripes of cream and lavender. This is a long season variety that needs to be coddled a bit in our climate but is worth it for its beauty and delicious flavor. 88 days. Eggplant ‘Pot Black’ NEW! Patio sized and productive! They might be black, but I’ll bet the kettle’s green with envy when it sees the volume of handy sized 3-4” shiny purple eggplant these guys crank out. Make some room on the back steps or deck. Hmmm, right next to the grill might be handy! Eggplant ‘Prosperosa’ NEW! Striking heirloom from Tuscany boasts appealing plump ribbed fruits in rich shiny purple over bright white. Flesh is tender, mild flavored and slow to discolor. 75 days to maturity, but give it a cozy spot in the garden to make it feel like northern Italy. Tall, vigorous plants.

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Eggplant ‘Swallow’ A The best producer for our northern climate. Elongated oriental type produces earlier than any other eggplant you can grow here. Year after year, Swallow wins the race. Tender flavor without bitterness. 51 days. Ground Cherry ‘Aunt Molly’s’ A Ground cherries are native to eastern and central North America and look like compact tomatillos, husk and all. This Polish variety is sweet and prolific. Citrus- flavored ½” to ¾” fruit can be used in preserves, pies, sauces, or fresh in salads. Add some lemon for an even more delicious result. Self seeds freely in your garden. Kale ‘Kosmic’ A Looking at our rather expansive kale selection, one might infer we already think kale is beautiful. But this lovely variegated selection from the Netherlands raises the bar a couple of notches. Dramatic white edges set against mid-blue green on the slightly ruffled leaves.

Luffa See Annual Vines Edibles Pepper ‘Aji Cristal’ A Our plug grower Eli would never be without this lanky, prolific Capsicum baccatumin in her garden. Setting dozens of upward pointing, pale yellow 3-4” fruits, this native of Chile has a unique smoky citrus flavor that is perfect in salsas raw or cooked. The crunchy fruits are early, especially for one so hot. 30,000-50,000 Scoville Heat units--about like a Cayenne. Pepper ‘Beaver Dam’ A (To the tune of “Yellow Submarine.”) In the town/where I was born/ there lived a man/ who grew these peppers.//Mostly sweet/with a little heat/they start chartreuse/then ripen red. //We all love to grow the Beaver Dam peppers, Beaver Dam peppers, Beaver Dam peppers. //From Hungary/they brought the seed/to fry and slice/ on sandwiches.// Pointed tips/good sized tops/great fruit set/all summer long.// You will love to grow the Beaver Dam pepper, etc, etc. [Ed. note: Eli really was born in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin because her hometown was too small to have a hospital.] Pepper ‘Cajun Belle’ A Early, petite 2” x 3” red bell peppers on compact bushy plants, perfect for patio or container gardens. Flavor is sweet with a bit of heat, and lots of Vitamin C. All America selection in 2010. Pepper ‘Carmen’ A Thick walled Italian frying type ripens to a lush, rich red with an incredibly sweet taste. Fruit are 6” long x 2” wide and great roasted or raw. Pepper ‘Cayenne, Golden’ A Slender fruits measure up at 4-5” and are actually more of a lemon yellow shade. Thin walls mean they dry well for storage, or perhaps you’ve been dreaming up a golden chili powder… Plants are compact but productive as well as quite ornamental.

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Pepper ‘Cayenne, Cheyenne’ A This beautiful thick-walled cayenne caught Suzanne’s eye at a trial garden last summer. Flavor has that cayenne heat with plenty of sweetness, perfect for salsas and stir frying. These are big chunky fruits at 8-9”, so don’t think you’re getting those super skinny cayennes to dry. Medium sized , prolific plants. Pepper ‘Czech Black’ A Striking 2½” fruit begins purple-black and ripens to a lustrous garnet. So beautiful that it could be grown simply for its looks but then you would miss the “perfect pickled pepper.” Slightly less heat than a jalapeno. Foliage has purple tint on tall plants with pretty purple blossoms. Early and productive. Pepper ‘Early Jalapeno’ A Sausage-shaped 3” blunt fruits mature early from dark green to shiny red. Mild heat is just right for fresh salsa. Originally from the province of Xalapa on the Caribbean coast of Mexico. Pepper ‘El Jefe Jalapeno’ NEW! A More Jalapenos earlier with less checking (ie small brown cracks upon ripening) and better disease resistance. Tall sturdy plants. Pepper ‘Fatalii’ A This Capsicum chinense is hotter, earlier, and larger than its cousin Habanero with similar wrinkled fruit. Color is golden orange. Smoky citrus flavor with very few seeds. Sturdy plants loaded with fruit. Long season equals excellent choice for pots in your warmest location. Originally from Central Africa. Pepper ‘Fish’ A Putting some “ornamental” back into our Edibles selection, this 19th century heirloom from the Baltimore area has variegated foliage as well as variegated fruit. Petite 2-3” striped chilis appear to some like little fish swimming through the leaves, but most agree the name comes from its traditional use in oyster and crab houses around Chesapeake Bay. Fruits begin green with white stripes, darken to orange and end up mostly red. 5,000-10,000 Scoville Heat Units, about twice as hot as a Jalapeno. If you dry some at the early white stage, you get a white chili powder to sneak into cream sauces and other pale foods. Pepper ‘Flavorburst Gold’ A Plump chunky bell peppers start out chartreuse and ripen to golden yellow. Stocky plants crowded with fruit. Even this far north, you will strike gold with this pepper.

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Pepper ‘Ghost (Bhut Jalokia)’ A Every six months or so some new pepper is crowned as “hottest in the world,” and some sweaty, grinning guy is pictured online holding the latest mutation of a Naga Viper, Trinidad Scorpion or Carolina Reaper with Scoville Heat units up over 2 million. YouTube videos abound of, again, sweaty guys eating super hot chilis, but often they are not grinning. The Ghost pepper checks in at a mere million-plus Scovilles; for comparison a Fatalii ranges from 100,000 to 300,000 Scovilles and a Jalapeno from 3,000 to 6,000. Looking like a wrinkled deep red Fatalii or Habanero, the fruits are 2-3” long, set prolifically on bushy plants with shiny dark foliage. Reportedly a cross between Capsicum frutescens (Tobasco, bird peppers) and C. chinense (Fatalii, Habanero). As they originate in Assam, in northeast India, a long season is required to set fruit. DO try this at home, for best results, just grow it in a nice pot this far north. Bring it in to overwinter if you can; leaves may drop, but nurse it along until spring and you will be rewarded with hundreds of fruit the second year. That’s a lot of hot!

Pepper ‘Gourmet Orange’ A Edibles We’ve been trialing various orange bell peppers in our gardens the last few summers, and ‘Gourmet’ has won fans among the Rush Creek crew. Blocky green fruits ripen to brilliant orange by about 85 days and perform well under a variety of climatic conditions. Pepper ‘Gypsy’ A Slender sweet bell pepper shape with earlier and slightly smaller fruit than the blocky types. Ripens from pale yellow through orange to red for ornamental interest, too. Great for salads or frying. All-America winner from 1981. Pepper ‘Habanero’ A Habanero can be one of the more fiery peppers grown, packing 30-80 times the heat of a Jalapeno. Wrinkled 2” fruits ripen from dark green to salmon-orange. A key ingredient in West Indian jerk sauce. Originally from Caribbean coast of South America. Pepper ‘Hunter’ NEW! Productive, blocky 4-lobed dark green ripening red bell pepper that is disease resistant and well adapted to summers like ours. Sturdy, medium sized plants hold large to extra large fruits. Pepper ‘Karma’ NEW! Hybrid bell pepper with high yields of blocky dark green fruit that ripens early to a shiny red. Sturdy plants support heavy fruit. Pepper ‘King of the North’ A The very best red bell for northern gardeners where seasons are short and cooler. Wonderful sweetness, nice color, great production, decent size. No Game of Thrones jokes, this King in the North lives on! Pepper ‘Lady Bell’ A A good producer of 3” x 5” sweet, juicy bells. Rich green matures to bright red. A classic for northern gardeners for a generation.

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Rainy Kale Pepper ‘Lemon Drop’ NEW! A A type of pepper originally grown on the western slopes of the Andes Mountains in Peru, called Aji Limo in Latin America. “Limo” sounds about right because there are citrus overtones interwoven with the smoky heat that Capsicum baccatum like this are famous for. The baccatums are slightly hardier than your average pepper, and can regrow after a frost takes down the leaves. Dozens of golden yellow elongated 2” peppers hang from a well-branched 18” bush which can also work well in a container. Later to ripen than milder chilis, it will still beat your Habaneros to the punch. Sources put its heat at 15.000 to 50,000 or more Scoville units, so yes, that is hot. Perhaps in the Cayenne ballpark. Pepper ‘Lunch Box Mix’ A You’ve seen them at the grocery store, now you can grow your own bite size peppers in cheerful red, orange and gold shades. Fruits are about the size and shape of a large Jalapeno, but 100% sweet. Perfect snack for tossing in lunches, as well as salads and stir fries. Pepper ‘Mama Mia Giallo’ A The All-America Selection judges liked this Italian-fryer style pepper so much they gave it a nationwide recommendation. The long list of attributes includes cheery golden yellow color, bountiful fruit set, sweet flavor, good foliage cover to prevent sunburn, and compact tidy plants. Elongated 7-9” fruit are suggested for use raw, fried or roasted. Plus now you know how to say “yellow” in Italian. Pepper ‘New Ace’ A These sweet, easy to grow bell peppers are thin-walled and turn red early. Bred for northern climates, resists blossom drop even in variable summer weather like ours.

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Pepper ‘Pasilla ‘Holy Mole’’ A Slender, elongated 7-9” dark green peppers will ripen to a brownish shade at about 85 days. Then bust out your mole recipes, because this high-yielding, disease- resistant pasilla hybrid will provide the backbone to your sauce. Can also be pickled or dried. Mild heat at 700 Scoville Heat Units. All America winner in 2007. Pepper ‘Poblano ‘Tiburon’’ A If you love chili rellenos and moles, you will find more to love with Tiburon. Hybrid vigor will give you bigger Anchos and more of them. Tall sturdy plants. 75 days. Pepper ‘Purple Bell’ A Compact bell-shaped fruits begin green, then hold in purple stage for some time before turning a lovely purple-red. Tastes crisp and sweet like other bells. Will turn green when cooked. Pepper ‘Serrano’ A Essential ingredient for Pico de Gallo or other fresh salsas. New “Hot Rod” hybrid is much earlier and more vigorous than our old variety. Although the heat varies Edibles with the season and weather, the slender 2” fruits pack a wallop, at 8,000 to 25,000 Scoville Heat Units. Prolific tall plants. Pepper ‘Shishito’ A Move over Padron, this is the trendy appetizer pepper these days. Grilled or pan- seared and salted, they become the perfect pop-in-your-mouth snack. The sweet mild peppers are mid-green, wrinkled, slender, 3-4” long. Pepper ‘Sweet Banana’ A A favorite variety for pickling or frying. No heat at all. Ripens from pale yellow though orange to red. Pepper ‘Sweet Chocolate’ A There are those who say life is too short for milk chocolate, but when you see the warm brown tones of these bell peppers, you may set down that bar of 65% dark and head for the pepper patch. Fruits set early, are produced heavily and will keep setting through cool summer nights. 60 (green) - 85 days (brown). Released by the University of New Hampshire in 1965. Pepper ‘Sweet Savour’ NEW! Just as pretty as the best ornamental chilis, but is actually sweet and mild for snacking. Slender 3” fruits are upthrust in shades of red, yellow and orange. Bush plants are 24-32” and perfect in a patio container. Pepper ‘Takanotsume’ NEW! A Set in upthrust clusters atop a tall plant, these elongated thin-walled Japanese chilis are perfect for drying to make ichimi (one flavor) chili powder or as the main ingredient of shichimi (seven flavors) powder, both of which are sprinkled on Japanese noodle dishes. Dried Takanotsume peppers can be slightly singed before using to impart a smoky flavor. They are also used whole in simmered dishes or in pickles. Called Hawk’s Claw pepper, probably in reference to their shape, the 3-4” fruits ripen from chartreuse to fiery red. About as hot as Tabasco chilis.

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Pepper ‘Tangerine Dream’ A Another beauty for your large containers, these compact bushy plants set dozens of 3” deep orange-red elongated peppers. Mostly sweet, but packing a secret little hot punch. Pepper ‘Thai Hot’ A Hundreds of 1” fruits on small bushy plants. Nice in a container and even nicer in your stir fry. Try it with “Swallow” eggplants and Thai basil. Oh. Yeah. Can also be dried and used to make condiments like chili oil. Pumpkin ‘Cinderella’s Carriage’ A If you love your Rouge Vif d’Etampes, Cinderella’s Carriage will give you even more to love. The All-America selection committee liked the increased size and productivity as well as the mildew resistance bred into this new hybrid version. Scalloped, flattened fruit in rich crimson-orange are 10” high x 18-24” across. Can easily weigh 15- 20 lb. Pumpkin ‘Jack-O-Lantern’ A Our selection, ‘Racer Plus,’ is early, productive and has relatively short vines. Fruits average 15 -20 lbs. and have nice sturdy handles. Be a hero to all the kids on your block and grow pumpkins in the front yard! Pumpkin ‘Polar Bear’ A Want to grow the biggest white pumpkin in the neighborhood? Polar Bear has the genetics to produce 35 to 60 lb fruit on long, vigorous vines. Plenty of fertility and water throughout the season will plump it up. Eli had to roll her biggest specimen to the car in 2013 and it took two people to carry it! Pumpkin, Pie ‘Baby Pam’ A “Just right” sized deep orange fruits average 3-4 lb. Globes with dry, sweet flesh have sturdy handles. Stores well for fall and winter pie and pudding makers. 99 days. Summer Squash ‘Early Straightneck’ A Buttery yellow club-shaped fruits are perfect at the 6” size. Like zucchini to grow, cook and eat, easier to find in the squash patch. 50 days. Summer squash, Patty Pan ‘Sunburst’ A Because sometimes you don’t want the whole zucchini. Maybe you just want a couple cute little patty pans. If so, golden Sunburst fills the bill perfectly. This All- American winner from 1985 features good yields on vigorous plants. Sweet Potato ‘Beauregard’ A High yields of uniform, reddish-purple sweet potatoes with tasty, deep-orange flesh that store well and resist cracking. Semi-running vines. Maximize the sunshine for best flavor and sweetness. Black plastic and row covers will give these southern belles a jumpstart up north. Ready to ship to stores in early June. 90 days

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Sweet Potato ‘Covington’ A This selection from North Carolina State was adopted by 90% of the growers there within less than a decade of its release. Citing uniformity, disease resistance, tidy bush habit, and superior storage life, other notable features include the deep orange interior coloration, crack resistance and great taste. Named for a researcher at NC State in the 1950’s who was known as “Mr. Sweet Potato.” Ready to ship to stores in early June. 95 days Tomatillo ‘Purple ‘ A Tomatillo are allowed to self seed around the field in traditional Yucatán milpas, the heavily intercropped gardens of beans, squash, corn, tomatoes and other Mexican favorites. This purple heirloom has the same greenish papery husks as its larger green cousins, but the fruit blushes purple in the sunlight. Remove the husks and let the color darken for a day or two after harvest. Great grilled or in salsas, and for you large scale processors, note that the skin is less sticky than other tomatillos. Tomatillo ‘Verde Puebla’ A Edibles Green fruits mature to pale yellow sweetness as they fill out papery husks. Used to make salsa verde and in other Latin American recipes. Tall sprawling plants will self seed. Tomato ‘Amish Paste’ A Got a lot of canning to do? These beauties will fill up the pot in a hurry. Elongated 8-12 oz. meaty fruits vary from oxheart to plum shapes that are rich red with paler shoulders. Amish heirloom from Pennsylvania. Tomato ‘Aunt Ruby’s German Green’ A Large 1 lb. green beefsteaks get a slight yellow tint when ripe. Slightly spicy flavor. Late season for our region. Heirloom from a Tennessee woman named Ruby Arnold. Tomato ‘Big League’ NEW! A A determinate (bush) tomato with huge beefsteak fruits! Vines get to 48” and would appreciate a stake or other support just because the fruit will get heavy. Should be just right for a large patio container. Fruits average over a pound with classic flattened beefsteak shape. Early for such large fruit, too! Tomato ‘Bosque Blue’ A Our entire staff was rather underwhelmed by the Indigo Rose tomatoes that came out a few years ago, with their tough skins, lateness, and golf-ball like texture. Now breeders outside the world of patented plants have been working with some of the same genetics. Open-pollinated Bosque Blue has improved flavor and texture features with a similar anthrocyanin-rich color. About the color of a purple tomatillo when exposed to sun, color can range in the burnt red to mahogany zone. Tomato ‘Black from Tula’ A Russian heirloom with brownish-black slightly flattened fruits up to 14 oz. Delicious smoky-sweet flavor that is suitable for slicing or canning. One of largest fruits on a black tomato. Indeterminate.

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Tomato ‘Black Plum’ A These have a place in Eli’s garden every year. Early indeterminate vines with large yields and small tasty Roma type fruits that are deep red with brownish shoulders. Great for fresh eating and drying. Tomato ‘Bonnie Best’ A Also known as John Baer. Beloved old timer introduced in 1914. Classic “girl next door” good looks, no wild shapes or colors. Heavy producer was promoted as a canner but it’s also great for fresh eating. Flavor has been described as “superb”, “old-fashioned”, “great” and “amazing”. Indeterminate, 60-80 days. Tomato ‘Brandywine’ A Famous heirloom that some call THE BEST TASTING TOMATO. Large fruits of over 1 lb. Deep pink skin with red flesh. 90 days. Tomato ‘Celebrity’ A All America selection from 1984 has the production, disease resistance, size and flavor qualities you need when you mean business in the tomato patch. Determinate plants mean more fruit ripens at once on a bushy plant. Tomato ‘Chef’s Choice Orange’ NEW! A Lovely golden-orange hybrid tomato was bred out of heirloom Amana Orange to produce improved disease resistance as well as perfectly balanced flavor and texture. Large round fruit in the 12-16 oz range on lanky indeterminate (vining) plants with good foliage cover. AAS winner 2014. Tomato ‘Cherokee Purple’ A The favorite large purple at Seed Savers Exchange. Sweet like a Brandywine, not as late for us northerners. Tall vining plant. 80 days. Tomato ‘Chocolate Cherry’ A Tangy 1” fruits set in clusters of eight are a lovely rich wine-dark hue--somewhere between dark chocolate and ruby port. Their flavor has been called rich and complex in rave reviews around the web--and in our lunch room! A bit later than most cherry toms, but the fruit set is huge! Indeterminate (vining) plants. Tomato ‘Fourth of July’ A Will they or won’t they? Ripen by July 4th, that is. Plenty of perfect 4 oz fruits on indeterminate vines, and they were pretty darn early. Tomato ‘Gardener’s Delight Cherry’ A Produces luscious, tart-sweet, bite-size cherry toms in clusters of six to twelve. Fruits start early and continue through the season on vigorous indeterminate plants. 65 days. Tomato ‘Heirloom Marriage Big Brandy’ NEW! New cross between two venerable 19th century favorites. Brandywine brings the rich tangy flavor, Big Dwarf contributes compact plant size and sturdiness, and the mix gives you higher yields and earlier fruit with fewer blemishes. Large flattened pinkish purple fruits at about 75-80 days. They are calling it semi-determinate, but growing it in the ground rather than in a pot is recommended.

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Tomato ‘Hillbilly’ A Beautiful red-gold slicers weight up to 1 lb. apiece on indeterminate potato-leaf type vines. Ohio heirloom. 85 days Tomato ‘Isis Candy Cherry’ A Complex blast of sweetness and fruitiness on red fruit marbled with gold, each bearing a gold splash on the blossom end. Grows in trusses of 6-8 fruits on vining plants. 70-80 days. Tomato ‘Italian Heirloom’ A Seed Savers calls this “one of the most productive varieties we have.” They grow hundreds of varieties, so listen up. Jumbo-sized rather oblong globes are deep red, have full tomato flavor and are ready at mid-season. They will fill the pot! Indeterminate. Tomato ‘Jaune Flamme’ A Golden orange apricot-sized French heirloom. Produces many 2-3 oz. fruits with an excellent flavor bite. Great for drying while retaining its color. 70-80 days. Edibles Indeterminate. Tomato ‘Juliet Hybrid’ A Grape type, so expect huge clusters of over a dozen flavorful 2 oz. mini-Romas. Crack resistant, good shelf life and great disease resistance. Indeterminate (tall vine) plants. Took home the All-America award in 1999. Tomato ‘Lillian’s Yellow’ NEW! A As if in a dream, Vicky heard something about this heirloom tomato drift into her brain while listening to Splendid Table re-runs late one evening. She couldn’t remember the tomato’s name nor that of the man who loved them so much, but was able to follow her dream and track down the story. Craig LeHoullier is the author of Epic Tomatoes and the tomato advisor to Seed Savors Exchange so his opinions have some weight to them, and his opinion is that “Lillian’s would have to rank as the best-tasting large tomato I have ever eaten.” Large canary yellow beefsteak fruits with smooth meaty texture grow on indeterminate potato leaf vines. Quite late for our climate at 90 days but should squeeze in under the wire. Lillian Bruce of Tennessee was the source of the seeds. Tomato ‘Little Napoli’ NEW! A Container variety with good yields of small Roma-type fruit. Cute plants stand only 12-18”, but spread is 24-36”. Good disease resistance equals increased yields. Tomato ‘Mexico Midget’ A Crazy production of ½” to ¾” dark red cherry tomatoes with big flavor. Indeterminate vines start early and they don’t stop till the season is over. You can tell by the foliage that there is some wild tomato genetics at work here. Trellis early, then stand back. Tomato ‘Moskvich’ A Early, cold tolerant vines produce deep red 4-6 oz. fruits with a rich taste. Indeterminate, 60 days.

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Tomato ‘Mountain Fresh Plus’ A Suzanne’s favorite professional hybrid. Good disease resistance, good flavor, solid performance, big yields of great looking fruit. Tomato ‘Mr. Stripey’ A Red and yellow stripes cover large 10-12 oz. fruit. Mild flavor with low acid. Indeterminate. 80 days. Tomato ‘Nebraska Wedding’ A Reliably produces 3-4” round fruits with orange skin and flesh. Good yields of fruits in clusters with well-balanced flavor. Typical height is 36” but may require staking. 85-90 days. Determinate = bush habit. Tomato ‘Nyagous’ A Love the flavor of those Russian black tomatoes but not so into that blobby look and uneven ripening? The folks at Seed Savers love this “virtually blemish-free” black tomato bred from the Russian varieties by one of their members. Large globes set in clusters. Winner of the Rush Creek tomato taste test in 2013. Indeterminate. 80 days. Tomato ‘Paul Robeson’ A Brick red to maroon, 6-12 oz. fruits often have two lobes. Sweet smoky taste beloved of seed savers and chefs. Winner of many taste contests including one at Seed Savers Exchange, where you know there was a lot of competition. Indeterminate. Tomato ‘Pink Berkeley Tie-Dye’ NEW! Beefsteak type fruit have groovy skin design a bit like a Red Zebra--stripes and zig zags of red and green. Reviewers are raving about the spicy-sweet flavor and juiciness. Vines are described as compact determinate, staking recommended to support heavy fruit. Rather early at 65-75 days. Tomato ‘Red Grape’ A Elliptical shaped thick skinned small red beauties with a delicious flavor and good keeping quality. Eat ‘em in the garden. Determinate. 75 days Tomato ‘Red Zebra’ A Gold stripes overlay red background on round 3” fruits. Very productive vines covered with uniform and sweet fruit. 75 days Tomato ‘Risentraube’ A A very productive Pennsylvania Dutch heirloom producing clusters of 20-40 red 1” fruits. The name translates as “giant bunch of grapes.” Indeterminate. 80 days. Tomato ‘San Marzano’ A The classic sauce tomato demanded by chefs worldwide. Thousands of metric tons are still processed in southern Italy every year. We don’t have that Mediterranean climate, but you will still be putting up some fine sauce with these romas. Oblong meaty fruits are set in heavy clusters on compact plants with few seeds. Easy to peel for processing, too.

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Tomato ‘Speckled Roman’ A Jagged orange and yellow stripes decorate elongated Roma-type fruit. Meaty and good for processing. Vining plant. 85 days. Tomato ‘Stupice’ A 4 ft. potato-leaf plants loaded with clusters of round 2½” fruits. Heavy yields of extremely early fruits with great flavor. Czech heirloom, indeterminate, 55-70 days. Tomato ‘Summer Girl’ NEW! Who doesn’t want an earlier tomato? Impressive earliness at 49-52 days (that’s a week earlier than Early Girl!), paired with standard fruit size at 5-6 oz on disease resistant indeterminate plants. Greater total yield than other early varieties as well. Tomato ‘Sun Gold’ A Tangerine-orange cherry tomatoes. Exceptionally sweet with a hint of acid; this IS the taste of summer. Vigorous plants yield early and bear throughout the season. 57 days Edibles Tomato ‘Super Sweet 100’ A This very popular 1” cherry tomato sets fruit in huge clusters. Needs staking. Indeterminate. 78 days. Tomato ‘Tidy Treats’ A Can it really be true? A cherry tomato bred for pot culture? You’ve tried in the past and ended up with a monster vine eating the entire patio, right? New breeding has produced a productive cherry tomato with a bush habit like a determinate, but continuous production like an indeterminate. Height 36-60”, spread 24”. Ripe fruit 50-55 days from transplant. Tomato ‘Tiny Tim’ A Got a tiny patio or container? We’ve got your tiny tomato. Red 1” cherry toms on very compact 12” plants. Bet you can’t avoid using the word “cute.” Tomato ‘Valley Girl’ A The folks at Johnny’s Seed in Maine love this early well-adapted tomato for its good looking, medium-sized, globe-shaped fruit. Stays in production longer than other early varieties and continues to crank out the fruit despite heat or cold stress. Determinate (bush) habit. Tomato ‘Wapsipinicon Peach’ A AKA White Peach. A heavy producer of 2” round fuzzy yellow fruit. Popular variety in our Rush Creek Growers tomato tasting. Peach tomatoes can be picked unripe at the end of the season, held at about 50°, then brought up to room temperature to ripen as the fall progresses. Indeterminate vines. Heirloom named for the Wapsipinicon River in northeast Iowa, known as the “Wapsi” to locals. Tomato ‘Yellow Pear’ A A small distinctive pear shaped salad tomato. Vigorous vine bears golden yellow mild flavored fruits. Indeterminate. 70 days.

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Watermelon ‘Sugar Baby’ A If you don’t need some 25 lb. melon cluttering up your fridge, grow some Sugar Babies. Early “ice box” type watermelons in the handy 8-10 lb. range are perfect for northern growers. Dark green skin, pinkish-red flesh. Watermelon ‘Yellow Doll’ A Striped 7” globes with sweet golden flesh. Weight averages 6 lb. Early production is perfect for our climate. Winter Squash ‘Acorn’ A Classic dark green 1½ - 2 lb. scalloped fruit. Dry flesh is good for baking. All modern selections derive from those grown by Native Americans in Iowa in the 19th century. 90 days. Winter Squash ‘Baby Blue Hubbard’ A A smaller version of Blue Hubbard for those of us without Walton-size families to feed. Much more compact vines and fruits weighing only 4-5 lbs, full sized Hubbard flavor. Released by the University of New Hampshire in 1953. Winter Squash ‘Bush Delicata’ A Compact plants are perfect for urban gardens as they spread only 3-4 ft. Chubby 8” fruits are striped green and cream. Bake or use in stews. Winter Squash ‘Burpee’s Butterbush’ NEW! A Single serving size fruits come in at about a pound or pound and a half, the flesh color comes in at a rich deep orange, and the flavor comes in at the very tasty level. “As sweet as the best sweet potatoes”, said the trialers at Fedco Seeds. A small seed cavity, improved earliness and more compact vines that won’t take over the neighborhood like standard butternuts, and you have yourself a great little winter squash. Winter Squash ‘Butternut’ A Orange dry flesh has a sweet nutty flavor and is never stringy when cooked. Lovely buff color with an elongated neck. Excellent keeper. Winter Squash ‘Honey Bear’ A Handy-sized 1½ lb. acorn type fruits on city-friendly compact bush. All America Selection in 2009. Sweet flavor. Winter squash ‘Jester’ A Sure, Carnival squash had the looks, but her beauty was only skin deep. New Jester has some of the same showy striping, but actually has the flavor of the best tasting acorns and the shape of a chubby Delicotta. Needs fairly long season at 95 days, short vined plants average 5-7 fruits each. Winter Squash ‘Sunshine’ A Sublime eating. These short vined plants yield fruits like an orange buttercup without the turban. Dry tender flesh with scarlet color stays bright after cooking. Averages 4-5 lbs. Awarded All-America honors in 2004.

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Winter Squash ‘Sweet Dumpling’ A Ivory and green striped fruits are shaped like miniature pumpkins. Be sure to let Dumplings mature until there is an orange spot on the ground side for the memorable sweet, rich buttery flavor. 1-1½ lb squash are decorative in your gourd display, too. Winter squash, Buttercup ‘Bonbon’ A Can you improve on an old favorite? We love the texture of old school Buttercups, but this new hybrid has improved the sweet, nutty flavor and increased the yield as well as the fruit size. Sounds great! Winter Squash, Spaghetti A Drawing rave reviews from even those who generally find spaghetti squash bland. Most of the 4 lb fruit will fall into the deep gold color range, but a few green or yellow stripes may show up here and there. All tasty and sweet. Zucchini ‘Black’ A Classic dark green fruits on large open bush. Size depends on how often you pick. Edibles Can get as big as a VW Beetle if left untended. LOL. I don’t need to add that these are prolific, do I? Zucchini ‘Buckingham’ A A compact zucchini for urban gardeners or even containers. Gold fruits are best in the 6-10” range . Zucchini , Middle Eastern ‘Alexandria’ NEW! A Also called Cousa squash or Lebanese zucchini, these are distinguished by their pale green color and bulbous shape . ‘Alexandria’ fruits early and keeps on producing late into the season, has some powdery mildew resistance, grows in an open habit so fruits are easy to pick, plus it just tastes good. Zucchini, Romanesco ‘Portofino’ A We all agree the Romanescos are the tastiest zucchini, and they sure look good with their prominent ribs and subtle striping. The vines, however, can be giant garden-devouring monsters, so when we saw a semi-bush version, we jumped right on it.

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Herbs—3½” compostable rice hull pots, 12 per flat We’ve come up with what we feel is an irresistible collection. Herbs combine fragrance and usefulness like no other plants in the garden. This year we have some great additions. Check out the new Basils, Lavenders and mushroom flavored Rungia. In case you missed it, Wasabi arugula was the new staff favorite this past year. And we can’t wait to serve up some Iced tea made with Roselle -Hibiscus sabdariffa blossoms-or calyxes to be more precise.

Herbs Charts

Tea Medicinal Lemon Specialty Culinary Cocktail Anise Hyssop x Arnica montana 'Mountain Arnica' x Arugula, wild 'Wasabi' x x Astragalus membranaceus 'Chinese Milkvetch' x Basil 'Lime' x Basil 'Mrs. Burns Lemon' x Basil 'Pluto' x Basil 'Thai Holy Basil' x Basil 'Balsamic Blooms' x x Basil 'British' x x Basil 'Dolce Fresca' x x Basil 'Lettuce-Leaf' x x Basil 'Persian' x x Basil 'Red Ball' x x Basil 'Sweet Thai' x Borage x Calendula officinalis 'Resina' x Caraway x Catnip 'Lemon' x x x x Catnip x x

116 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Herbs Charts

Tea Medicinal Lemon Specialty Culinary Cocktail Chamaemelum nobile 'Flore Pleno' x x Chamomile, German x x Chervil x Chia x x Chives 'Garlic' x Cilantro 'Confetti' x Dill 'Fern Leaf' x Echinacea angustifolia 'Narrow Leaf Coneflower' x Epazote x Edibles Fenugreek x Feverfew x Hibiscus sabdariffa x x x Horehound x Hypericum calycinum 'St. John's Wort' x Hyssop officinalis x Jiaogulan x x Lavender 'Fred Boutin' x Lavender 'Sweet' x x Lavender 'Fred Boutin' x x Lavender angustifolia 'Ellagance Pink' x Lavender angustifolia 'Ellagance Purple' x Lavender angustifolia 'Folgate' x Lavender angustifolia 'Hidcote Blue' x Lavender angustifolia 'Munstead' x Lavender angustifolia 'Platinum Blonde' x Lavender angustifolia 'Super Blue' x x Lavender pinnata 'Fern Leaf' x Lavender stoechas 'Bandera Purple' x x Lavender stoechas 'Luxurious' x x Lavender stoechas 'Silver Anouk' x Lavender x 'Goodwin Creek' x Lavender x intermedia 'Provence' x x

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 117 Herbs Charts

Tea Medicinal Lemon Specialty Culinary Cocktail Lavender x intermedia 'Phenomenal' x x Lemon Balm x x x x Lemon Grass x x x x Lovage x Marjoram 'Zaatar' x Marshmallow x x Mexican Tarragon x Mint 'Berries and Cream' x Mint 'Chocolate ' x Mint 'Curly' x Mint 'Double Mint' x x Mint 'Emerald and Gold' x Mint 'Ginger' x x Mint 'Julep' x x Mint 'Mojito' x x Mint 'Moroccan' x x Mint 'Orange' x Mint 'Peppermint' x x Mint 'Peppermint Variegated' x Mint 'Spearmint' x x Mint 'Variegated Pineapple' x x Mint 'Red ' x Mint 'Strawberry Mint' x x Mint 'Thai ' x x Nigella sativa 'Black Cumin' x x Oregano 'Hot and Spicy' x Oregano 'Mexican' x Oregano 'Cleopatra' x Papaloquelite x Patchouli x Perilla frutescens crispa 'Aka Shiso' x Prunella vulgaris 'Heal All, Self Heal' x

118 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Herbs Charts

Tea Medicinal Lemon Specialty Culinary Cocktail Psyllium x x Rosemary 'Barbeque' x Rungia klossii 'Mushroom Plant' x Sage 'Pineapple' x Sage 'Fruit Scented ' x Sage apiana 'White' x Salad Burnet x Saltwort x Savory 'Lemon' x x Savory, Summer x Savory, Winter x Scented Geranium 'Lemona' x Sesame Black x Sorrel 'French' x x Herbs Stevia x x x Sweet Grass x x x Thyme 'Creeping Lemon' x Thyme 'Golden Lemon' x Thyme 'Lemon' x x Thyme 'Lime' x Verbena, Lemon x x x Vietnamese 'Lemon Mint' x x x Vietnamese Coriander x Vietnamese Perilla 'Tia To' x Watercress x x Yerba buena 'Indian Mint' x x x

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 119 Herbs

Herbs

Herbs Allium ‘Quatro’ See Perennial Allium tricoccum ‘Ramps -Wild Leeks’ See Perennial Natives Anise Hyssop h 24-36” A This gorgeous perennial is wonderfully fragrant. Its dense purple-indigo spikes bloom for a long time and are bee and butterfly magnets. Leaves and flowers can be used fresh or dried in salads and teas. Agastache Foeniculum Arnica montana ‘Mountain Arnica’ h 12-18” AC Arnica is one of the most popular medicinal plants. It is endangered in the wild because of over collection. This ‘Arbo’ variety has large yellow flower heads and a high essential oil content. It is a must have in any medicinal herb garden. Arugula h 10-12” AC Arugula is on the top of the list of healthy foods being rich in folic acid, iron, Vitamins A, C, K and antioxidants. Delicious peppery and pungent leaves for use in salads and cooked with other greens. Adds an energizing zip. Romans considered it an aphrodisiac and made a love potion with it, lavender and chicory. Arugula, wild ‘Wasabi’ h 4-6” AC Add some zip to your salad with this sensational early spring arugula. It tastes like complex, spicy wasabi paste. Easy to grow and more weather tolerant than other varieties. It is a staff favorite here at Rush Creek Growers. Diplotaxis erucoides Astragalus membranaceus ‘Chinese Milkvetch’ h 4’ A The root of astragalus is considered to be one of the most important herbs in Traditional Chinese Medicine. In addition to being used medicinally, it is a beautiful plant in all stages of growth. A stunning upright legume with light yellow flowers and inflated red seed pods. Basil ‘African Blue’ h 24” A Ornamental herb, a large bushy plant that has purple-veined green leaves and lavender flowers. Will often reach 3 feet in the garden. Flowers are sterile, so it puts more energy into bushy growth. Somewhat more cold tolerant than other basils. Flavor is milder and less spicy than Italian basils. Thought to be an accidental cross between a camphor-scented, 6 ft tall East African type and purple-foliaged Dark Opal, with its classic Italian flavor. Ocimum Kilimandscharicum Basil ‘Ajaka Columnar’ h 20-30” AC We selected this tall, well branching, aromatic basil for its spicy flavor and exceptional disease resistance. A better performer than Greek Columnar. It blooms very late and is tolerant to low temperatures. Ocimum basilicum ‘Ajaka’

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Basil ‘Amethyst Improved’ h 16-20” A The darkest purple basil, almost black. Use as a lovely and tasty ornamental garnish, an addition to salads and more. A choice Italian basil. Full sweet flavor and fragrance. Ocimum basilicum ‘Amethyst Improved’ Basil ‘Balsamic Blooms™’ NEW! h 8-10” AC This must have, game changing basil is the winner of the 2015 Greenhouse Grower’s Medal of Excellence Editor’s Choice Award. It is the first basil to simultaneously grow edible flowers and leaves! The blooms have a minty flavor and the leaves have a sweet basil flavor. This long lasting crop is also a pollinator magnet. Ocimum ‘Balsamic Blooms’ Basil ‘British’ NEW! h 12” A We are excited about this half-hardy basil produced for British summers. It is much more tolerant of cold, wind, and light frosts than other basils. You can have tasty basil all summer and into the fall. Ocimum ‘British’ Basil ‘Cardinal’ h 24-30” A Striking celosia-like purple-red blossoms top burgundy stems. Rich heady fragrance and flavor. Ocimum basilicum ‘Cardinal’ Basil ‘Dolce Fresca’ NEW! h 10-12” A This All-American Selections winner combines intense scent and flavor with a super- compact, vigorous habit. A Genovese type basil that flowers late giving you a well

branched bush of tasty basil that is beautiful in a container, garden or windowsill. Herbs It is the new “go-to” basil: delicious, compact and ornamental. Ocimum basilicum ‘Dolche Fresca’ Basil ‘Dolly’ h 18-24” A Giant Yields! Dolly produces 50% more than standard Genovese varieties. It is uniform, fast growing, mold and fungus resistant and has improved tolerance to low temperatures. The leaf color is a little lighter than other varieties. These large leaves produce higher amounts of oil that make it ideal for pesto. Ocimum basilicum ‘Dolly’ Basil ‘Emerald Frills’ h 16-18” A Add this fun frilly textured basil to your herb garden or container for a delicious and beautiful display. Pair it with Ruby Frills basil for a splash of texture and color. Ocimum basilicum ‘Emerald Frills’ Basil ‘Envigor™’ A The first disease resistant Genovese basil. This healthy Genovese-type basil is resistant to three debilitating viral diseases. Excellent flavor and large leaves. Ocimum basilicum ‘Envigor’ Basil ‘Gecofure’ h 12-14” A This is a Genovese type basil with large flavorful leaves on a compact plant. It is bred to be resistant to Fusarium wilt. Great for containers. Ocimum basilicum ‘Gecofure’

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Basil ‘Lettuce Leaf’ NEW! h 12-24” A This famous heirloom variety of basil with large wrinkled lettuce-like leaves is considered the most productive basil. It is prized for its classic sweet, mild basil aroma and flavor. The giant 4” wide and 6” long leaves keep coming all season as you pinch back blooms. Great for sandwiches, pesto and drying. This is a slow to bolt variety giving you a long harvest season. Ocimum basilicum ‘Lettuce leaf’ Basil ‘Lime’ h 16-20” A Distinct lime aroma. Adds a citrusy zing to your cooking. Bright green 2” leaves on a compact plant. Ocimum basilicum ‘Lime’ Basil ‘Mrs. Burns Lemon’ h 20-24” A An heirloom variety from New Mexico. Elongated bright green leaves with intense sweet and tangy lemon flavor. White blooms on lanky plants. A chef’s favorite. Ocimum basilicum ‘Mrs. Burns Lemon’ Basil ‘Persian’ NEW! h 12-15” AC Also known as Licorice Basil, Persian Basil contains anethole the compound which gives anise and star anise their distinctive flavor. It is wonderfully tasty fresh or dried. These beautiful plants have bright green leaves with a silvery sheen and deep red flower bracts and pink flowers that attract pollinators. 2015 All-American Selections winner. Known as Reyhan in SE Asia. Ocimum basilicum ‘Persian’ Basil ‘Pesto Perpetuo’ h 18-36” A This lovely variegated form has light green leaves with a creamy white edge. It will live indoors as a tropical perennial. Very appealing pungent basil and lemon flavor. Does not flower. Distinctive columnar habit. A staff favorite for its beauty, good flavor and resilience. Ocimum citriodorum ‘Pesto Perpetuo’ Basil ‘Pluto’ h 7-8” A Pluto is a heavily branched dwarf basil with tiny, dark green leaves. The plants are

neat, compact globes with a fine basil flavor. Ocimum basilicum ‘Pluto’ 122 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Herbs

Basil ‘Red Ball’ NEW! h 12” A A fantastic red ball of basil! This Herbalea variety is not only beautiful it has increased resistance to diseases such as downy mildew, Fusarium and Botrytis. It is relatively hardy and late flowering. The elongated narrow leaves are dark red with a little green. Ocimum hybrid Herbalea ‘Red Ball’ Basil ‘Red Genovese’ h 18-21” A First purple leaf Genovese! Try this gorgeous basil in your garden, container or pesto. Ocimum basilicum ‘Freddy’ Basil ‘Romanesco’ h 30-32” A This is a new high oil content basil with stronger aroma and flavor that other varieties. Ocimum basilicum ‘Romanesco’ Basil ‘Ruby Frills’ h 16-18” A We are excited about our Frilly basils. Pair Ruby Frills with Emerald Frills for a glorious basil patch. Ocimum basilicum ‘Ruby Frills’ Basil ‘Sweet’ h 18-24” A An excellent variety for producing quantities for cooking, freezing and canning. Excellent for pesto. Ocimum basilicum Basil ‘Sweet Genovese Compact’ h 16-24” A Very large, rich green leaves with a sweeter taste. Most often used for cooking and pesto. Slower to bolt. Ocimum basilicum ‘Sweet Genovese Compact’ Herbs Basil ‘Sweet Nufar’ h 24-30” A Large 4” leaf has a sweet scent and flavor. Resistant to Fusarium wilt. Heavy producer. Ocimum basilicum ‘Nufar’ Basil ‘Sweet Thai’ h 12-18” A This basil keeps its flavor under high or extended cooking temperatures more than other basils. It is a favorite of our Asian food cooking staff. Green 2” long leaves have a spicy, anise-clove flavor. Attractive purple stems and blooms. Ocimum basilicum ‘Sweet Thai’ Basil ‘Thai Holy Basil’ h 15” A Slightly jagged green and purple-tinged foliage with purple stems. Strong clove-like aroma. Thai Holy basil wilts quickly so pick it as you need it. Always use cooked, never raw. Used in SE Asian cooking. Kaphrao Bay Laurel h 12-36” A An evergreen shrub from the Mediterranean. A slow grower that’s happy to come into your house for the winter. Deep green leaves are used in soups and stews. Laurus nobilis

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Borage h 18-30” A Plant borage at the end of your garden rows. You’ll receive the beauty and flavor of its edible star-shaped truly blue flowers, the cucumber flavor from the leaves and have a companion plant to protect your legumes, spinach, brassicas and tomatoes. Best of all, you’ll have the undying gratitude of every honey bee in the neighborhood. Borago officinalis Calendula officinalis ‘Resina’ h 18-24” A Brighten up a salad with these lovely bright edible yellow blooms. Attracts bees and butterflies. ‘Resina’ has high resin content prized by many for its medicinal qualities. It makes a fantastic golden salve when you infuse the slightly dried flowers in olive oil. Caraway h 30” A Feathery biennial with umbels of small white blooms on 2 ft. stalks in summer. Grown for seeds used in baking. Native to Europe and western Asia. Carum carvi Cat Grass ‘Tabby’ NEW! h 24” A Our new cats Jack Frost and June are demanding we provide their feline friends with scrumptious grass. Give your cats vitamins and fiber while keeping them from chewing on house plants. This variety gives you an ornamental perennial border as well as happy cats. Hordeum H. vulgare ‘Variegata’

Scented Geranium ‘Lemona’

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Catnip ‘Lemon’ h 48” A Lemon Catnip is a versatile herb. It has a clear lemon scent. Cats love it. It is a natural pest repellent on your skin and in the garden. Traditionally, it has medicinal properties. The American Chemical Society found Catnip to be 10 times more effective at repelling mosquitoes than commercial DEET. So rub this on your skin, sip a cup of Lemon Catnip tea, pet you kitty and truly relax. Nepeta cataria ‘citriodora’ Catnip h 18-24” A Perennial. Fuzzy heart-shaped leaves are used in teas and as an adored treat for cats. Very easy to grow as long as your cat will let it get going. A good herb to keep contained or it will spread. Nepeta cataria Celery, Cutting ‘Afina’ h 12-18” A Thin stalks are easier to grow and are more flavorful and aromatic than regular celery; curly foliage can be tossed into cooking as you would parsley. Great for a garnish. Dry the leaves for winter use in soups and salads. Apium graveolens ‘Affina’ Chamomile, Roman Double ‘Flore Pleno’ NEW! h 6” A Introducing our new perennial Roman Chamomile with double cream flowers and a beautiful carpet forming feathery green foliage. It has a delicate apple scent. Used as a pain reliever in folk medicine. Chamaemelum-nobile ‘Flore pleno’ Chamomile, German h 20” A

Annual. Sweet apple-like fragrance with white daisy-like flowers. Used for teas or a Herbs soothing calming bath. Matricaria recutita Chervil h 18-24” C Chervil is a secret ingredient for making fantastic summer dishes. Its fern-like leaves have a surprisingly delicious anise and parsley flavor. Use with salads, fish, new potatoes and veggies. A classic herb in French cooking. Anthriscus cerefolium Chia h 36” A Supergrain Chia is here! High in protein, omega 3 & 6 and antioxidants. It grows 3 feet tall and produces spikes of blue flowers during summer. Salvia Hispanica Chives ‘Garlic’ h 12” A This perennial has broad flat leaves with a mild garlic flavor. The white flowers can be used as a garnish. Called “Chinese leeks” in Asian recipes these chives are becoming more common in our kitchens both as a garlic substitute and for their antioxidant properties. Allium tuberosum Chives ‘Purly’ h 12” A Perennial. This selection has extra-sturdy leaves. Decorative purple globe-like flowers in spring. Great for container herb garden. Where’s my bagel and cream cheese? Allium schoenoprasum Cilantro ‘Calypso’ h 12-18” A Annual. Spicy herb for Mexican, Chinese and Indian cooking. Both leaves and seeds are used. This is a larger leafed, slow-bolting selection. Coriandrum sativum ‘Calypso’

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Cilantro ‘Confetti’ h 18-24” A This fine feathery cilantro is sweeter and not as over-powering as some cilantro varieties. Confetti is slow to bolt and not prone to leaf blemishes. Perfect for salsas and salads. Coriandrum sativum ‘Confetti’ Dill ‘Bouquet’ h 36-60” A Annual. Easy to grow, dark blue-green plant. A popular variety for its early large seed heads. Perfect for pickling. Attracts Black Swallowtail butterflies. Anethum graveolens ‘Bouquet’ Dill ‘Fern Leaf’ h 26-32” A Annual. More compact strain has dark blue-green ferny foliage with an intense dill flavor. Very slow to bolt. Anethum graveolens ‘Fernleaf’ Echinacea angustifolia ‘Narrow Leaf Coneflower’ h 18-30” A Small coneflower with narrow, reflexed pale pink petals. Beloved medicinal native to Great Plains Native Americans. Epazote h 24-36” A Annual. A very pungent herb whose leaves, flowers and unripe fruit are used in Mexican and Caribbean cooking. Pairs especially well with bean dishes and is believed to counter-act flatulence associated with eating beans. Prefers sandy, loamy soil. Chenopdium ambrosides Fenugreek h 24” A This fast growing legume resembles sweet clover. The leaves are used as herbs in curries and the aromatic seeds as a spice in Indian and Middle Eastern recipes. Dry roasting the seeds enhances flavor and reduces the bitterness. One of the oldest known cultivated medicinal plants. Feverfew h 24-48” A A citrus-scented bushy herb with small daisy-like flowers. Traditionally used to prevent migraines. It is a fine ornamental. Drought tolerant. Hibiscus sabdariffa ‘Roselle’ NEW! h 24-48” A Makes a delicious summer tea! Known for its crimson beauty. It is gaining a reputation for heart health. Crimson stems, lobed leaves with red veins and pale yellow flowers with a large red calyx. The calyx is the delicious part. Hypericum calycinum ‘St. John’s Wort’ h 1-2’ A St John’s Wort is a beautiful medicinal herb with stiff erect stems with abundant bright yellow blooms in late June. ‘Topaz’ cultivar has a high essential oil content. Hyssop officinalis h 24” A This well-behaved member of the mint family adds mid-summer blue spikes to an herb garden. Good for borders and sometimes planted as a hedge. Loved by bees and butterflies. Use sparingly in cooking as taste is strong and slightly bitter. More common as a tea.

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Jiaogulan C Native to Asia and Southeast Asia, this plant is often referred to as southern ginseng or poor man’s ginseng. Trailing vines up to 18” long. Related to cucumbers. Often drunk as a tea, it is grown for its medicinal benefits. Slow growing annual. We were surprised by its trailing beauty in our mixed herb containers. Lavender angustifolia ‘Ellagance Pink’ h 12-14” A We love the Ellagance line of Lavenders for their consistent well-branched, bushy habit. This lovely pink variety will bring fragrance, beauty, bees and butterflies to every garden or patio it graces. Lavender angustifolia ‘Ellagance Purple’ h 12” A Masses of fragrant purple-blue blossoms on mounds of silver-green foliage. Blooms mid-summer through early fall. Winner of the European Fleuroselect Award for bright color and early bloom time. Plant in drifts or containers. Lavender angustifolia ‘Folgate’ h 12-36” A Here’s the lavender to make lavender tea, latte, ice cream or a martini! It’s one of the best oil producing English lavenders. The dark-blue blooms attract bees. This sweet lavender is a little treasure in the garden. Lavender ‘Fred Boutin’ RENEW! h 18-24” A Long elegant violet blue spikes on silver blue foliage make ‘Fred’ a beloved garden lavender. Use like any lavender in cooking, bouquets and dried. Lavandula x

intermedia ‘Fred Boutin’ Herbs Lavender angustifolia ‘Hidcote Blue’ h 18” A Ornamental with deep purple flowers. One of the best varieties for our climate.

Sage ‘Berggarten’ plugs

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Lavender angustifolia ‘Munstead’ h 12” A Most hardy in our area. Narrow grey-green leaf with pleasing dark purple blooms. Dwarf form. Lavender angustifolia ‘Platinum Blonde’ h 16-24” A Try this exciting new awarding winning variegated lavender from Spain. The stunning creamy-green foliage appears to glow in the garden. It also has blue flower spikes, sweet fragrance and pollinator attracting qualities. Lavender angustifolia ‘SuperBlue’ NEW! h 10-12” AC SuperBlue has the biggest blooms of any L. angustifolia. The color impact of the blooms is terrific with rich blue gorgeous spikes that are short, packed and highly aromatic. Tolerates heat and humidity. Excellent cold hardiness and landscape performance. Use fresh or dried. Lavandula angustifolia ‘SuperBlue’ Lavender pinnata ‘Fern Leaf’ h 36” A Annual. Unique light grey-green ferny foliage provides a playful texture. Especially tolerant of heat and humidity. Highly aromatic. Lavender stoechas ‘Bandera Purple’ NEW! h 7-9” A This is a power packed fragrant lavender. It flowers so heavily that the plant can look like a heaping mound of dark purple flowers. Wonderful in containers. It holds its mound in the garden without falling open. Lavandula stoechas ‘Bandera Purple’ Lavender stoechas ‘Luxurious’ NEW! h 10-12” A A sturdy, fragrant and beautiful Spanish lavender. Abundant blooms in a lovely mound. Outstanding weather and humidity tolerance. It is very resistant to foliar disease. Use in containers or sunny garden spots. Lavandula stoechas ‘Luxurious’ Lavender stoechas ‘Silver Anouk’ h 10-14” A Also called French or Butterfly Lavender, this outstanding silver-grey variety bears a succession of deep purple flower spikes holding waving violet petals at the top. Hardier than other stoechas and drought tolerant. Excellent in containers or in a hot sunny border. Hummingbirds like it too! Lavender x ‘Goodwin Creek’ h 24-36” A Unusual large, dense silvery foliage and dark blooms distinguish this vigorous, handsome lavender. Deadhead to promote continuous blooms. Does well in lower light, so it’s a good choice to bring in for winter. Lavender x intermedia ‘Provence’ h 36” A The lavender of the French countryside. Upright grey foliage. Grown for its high oil content and large blue flowers. Rot resistant. Lavender x intermedia ‘Phenomenal’ h 24-32” A This groundbreaking lavender conquers many of the challenges to growing lavender. It refuses to die back in winter, tolerates extreme heat, resists rot and foliar disease and is deer-proof. Every gardener will love the early elegant blooms, silvery foliage and deep fragrance. It is phenomenal in borders, meadows, mass plantings and containers. Don’t miss this “Must Grow Perennial”!

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Lavender ‘Sweet’ h 36-48” A One of the most productive and early blooming fragrant lavenders. Sturdy straight stems of royal purple blossoms with a touch of silver on the green leaves. Annual. Lemon Balm h 24” AC The strong lemon flavor and fragrance of the rich green, oval shaped leaves makes this herb a favorite for flavoring ice cream, teas and drinks. Great with fish. Easy to grow. Known as a mosquito repellent as well as a medicinal herb. Prefers cooler temps and part shade, but will grow in full sun. Perennial. Lemon Grass h 36-60” A Graceful long green leaves add an attractive contrast to other plants growing in the herb garden. Grows vigorously in heat and humidity. Popular in Southeast Asian cooking. Lovage h 48” A Perennial. Large plants have a celery-like appearance and flavor for cooking and drying. The leaves can be used like parsley and celery and the roots can be eaten as a vegetable and grated in a salad. Some research suggests lovage has anti- inflammatory properties. Marjoram ‘Golden’ h 6” A Low growing groundcover of bright yellow-green. Makes an excellent accent border. Marjoram ‘Greek Compact’ h 3-6” A Herbs Sub shrub with small round leaves. Compact habit. Lovely citrus-mint flavor. A favorite culinary herb in French cooking. Also used medicinally. Marjoram ‘Zaatar’ h 12” A Scent and flavor of the Middle Eastern aromatic spice blend. Small pale green leaves have hints of oregano, sweet marjoram and thyme. Marshmallow h 48-72” A Botanical name from the Greek word “although” which means “to cure”. Fleshy, erect stems with irregularly toothed round leaves. The leaves and roots are used for medicinal purposes. Mexican Tarragon h 16-20” A Sweet licorice-flavored foliage. Pretty golden yellow flowers bloom all summer. A cousin of our marigolds. It’s delicious and beautiful. Mint ‘Berries and Cream’ h 15” AC Dark green peppermint leaves smell and taste of berries and cream. Use finely chopped leaves in summer drinks or add to sauces and drizzles for deserts. Makes an excellent tea. Mint ‘Chocolate ‘ h 15” C Bronzy peppermint-like foliage with a strong chocolate scent. Lilac flowers. Will spread like all mints.

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Mint ‘Corsican’ h 1-2” C Tiny round leaves form a moss-like mat. Extremely aromatic with a pennyroyal scent. Perfect for planting around pavers or near paths. Thrives in moist soil. Not a culinary herb, but an awfully cute one. Mint ‘Curly’ h 12-18” A This curly spearmint makes fun swizzle sticks with its sturdy stalks and frilly leaves. It’s a beautiful garnish for your summer drinks. It is a taller mint and is bright green. Add texture to your garden and attract butterflies and bees. Mint ‘Double Mint’ h 6-12” A This is the best mint for Mojitos! Could that be why its also known as “The Best”. This spearmint has a mild and warm scent, wonderful flavor. Know to be good for digestion. Butterflies and bees like it too! Mint ‘Emerald and Gold’ h 12-14” C Gold leaves with emerald green markings. Rapidly growing habit makes it a nice perennial groundcover, too. Looks lovely in mixed containers and tastes lovely in your recipes. Mint ‘Ginger’ h 24-30” A Yellow and green striped leaves with a spicy flavor. Combines well with fruit, salmon and Thai cooking. Mint ‘Julep’ h 16-24” A A spicy spearmint for that perfect southern cocktail. Great for Mojitos, too.

Mint ‘Mojito’

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Mint ‘Mojito’ h 2-3” AC A spearmint variety with a mild, warm, not too sweet flavor that makes it perfect for cocktails, confections and more. Mint ‘Moroccan’ h 12-18” The mint used for tea all over North Africa, where it is mixed with green tea. Has that peppermint look with a slightly elongated leaf and nice lavender blooms. This variety won our Rush Creek Growers mint tasting competition! Mint ‘Orange’ h 12-18” AC Very fragrant citrus-like scent. Leaves are dark green with a red edge. White and pink flowers bloom mid to late summer. Mint ‘Peppermint’ h 12-36” AC Tastes like peppermint. Traditionally used for making candy canes. Peppermint has a cool, menthol tone compared to the mild sweetness of spearmint. Mint ‘Peppermint Variegated’ h 12” AC Low growing cream and green variegated variety with delicious peppermint taste. This is the one they use for the green and white candy canes. Mint ‘Red ‘ h 18-24” A Strong spearmint flavor with red stems and red tips! Mint ‘Spearmint’ h 24” AC Milder and sweeter taste than peppermint. More upright and paler green. Very Herbs fragrant. Great for desserts and cocktails. Mint ‘Strawberry Mint’ NEW! h 12-15” A A favorite mint for everything mint from cocktails, deserts, soothing teas to a splash of flavor in a salad. The strawberry scent is immediately evident when you rub the leaf. Some say it has a chocolate/strawberry flavor. You gotta give this one a try! Mentha ‘Strawberry Mint’ Mint ‘Variegated Pineapple’ h 12” AC Lovely green and creamy white wooly leaves. Good mint flavor with a distinct pineapple fragrance. Mint ‘Thai ‘ h 20” AC We’re filling out our mint collection with this dark green aromatic ‘Thai’ mint. Beautiful lavender flowers. An aromatic, flavorful mint you can use in anything from a cocktail to a salad to a curry. Mentha arvensis ‘Thai’ Nigella sativa ‘Black Cumin’ NEW! h 24-30” A Black cumin is a highly prized culinary and medicinal plant from Asia to Africa. The seeds are used in many dishes in regional cuisines. Feathery foliage with blue blooms. Shake the pod in a bag to gather the delicious seeds.

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Oregano ‘Cleopatra’ NEW! h 3-5” A A mild spicy flavor with a hint of peppermint sets this oregano apart from the Italian and Greek varieties familiar to us. Great with veggies and a must have for Mediterranean cuisine. It is a 2015 All-American Selections winner. The compact creeping habit and silvery-gray foliage brings dimension to your container, groundcover or border. Wonderful dried. Origanum syrica ‘Cleopatra’ Oregano ‘Greek’ h 12-18” A Perennial. Strong-growing hardy culinary herb used in a wide range of cooking especially tomato dishes or pizza. Excellent dried herb. Oregano ‘Hot and Spicy’ h 24” A Pungent oregano for anyone that enjoys a lot of extra spice in their dish. Goes well in fiery salsa and chili dishes. Oregano ‘Italian’ h 24” A Tender perennial with excellent fragrance and a milder flavor than Greek Oregano. Oregano ‘Mexican’ h 18” A Fast growing shrub-like plant with pale green leaves and a unique peppery flavor. Pale lavender blossoms are a lovely bonus. It is a relative to lemon verbena with notes of citrus and mild licorice. Oregano ‘Supreme’ h 12” A This is the leading potted oregano variety in Italy. This is a highly aromatic oregano that is ideal for sauces, meats and dressings. It is even used in Italian pastries. Give this fantastic oregano a try. Oregano ‘Variegated’ h 2-6” AC Creamy extra wide margins make this a standout when spreading over the edges of containers, walls and gardens. Subtle flavor. Makes an attractive garnish for salads or vegetables. Papaloquelite h 48-72” A Here’s our herb of the year. We made magic when we added it to fresh spring rolls. It is also called summer cilantro. This South American herb has a flavor between mint and cilantro with another flavor all its own. It is used in traditional Aztec dishes and salsa, generally added raw just before eating. Easy to grow annual. Parsley, curled ‘Forest Green ‘ h 15” A Dark green with deeply curled leaves. A classic garnish and essential soup ingredient. Traditional garden variety. Plant some extra for the larvae of Black Swallowtail butterflies. They love it! Parsley, flat ‘Italian Large Leaf’ h 18” A Flat green leaves and upright habit with stronger flavor than curly parsley. Popular for many culinary purposes.

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Patchouli h 12” A Large leaves that smell of the orient with a hint of mint and sandalwood. Not the nightmarish scent of a head shop but, as Gary says, “It gives a transporting exotic perfume to my back porch”. Perilla frutescens crispa, red ‘Aka Shiso’ h 36” A Large ruffled purple leaves, beautiful accent for containers, loves hot weather. Rich flavor. Used as a seasoning in Asian cooking. Lay the leaves down in a spring roll. Spectacular backdrop in the garden. Perilla, green ‘Ao Shisho’ h 24” AC This Asian herb has cinnamon flavored green leaves used in many dishes across Asia. It is used to wrap around sushi, in tempura, in salads and as a micro green. Chefs sprinkle seeds on salads and rice. Also known as beefsteak leaf. Perrilla frutescens ‘crispa’ Prunella vulgaris ‘Heal All, Self Heal’ h 8-12” AC Petite spreader with purple to blue flowers on erect stems. Long history of folk use for wounds. This selection has increased content of extract and high flower yield. Psyllium Seeds husks used in many healthful recipes as source of fiber. Plant is a narrow- leaved relative of common Plantain, with groups of tiny white blooms atop fleshy 12-18” stems. Plantago psyllium Herbs Rosemary ‘Barbeque’ h 18” AC Grown for sturdy, straight stems which make ideal skewers for shish kabobs. The pungent flavors infuse the kabobs. Or better yet, skewer and grill some jumbo shrimp. Upright form. Rosemary ‘Gorizia’ h 18” AC From Gorizia, Italy, this variety has very large broad leaves and large blue flowers. The flavor has been described as gentle, sweet and a bit gingery. Upright form. Rosemary ‘Hill Hardy’ h 2-3’ A A sturdy upright rosemary with light blue flowers and grayish leaves. Fantastic culinary rosemary with a slight pine flavor. Rosemary ‘Prostrate’ h 6” AC Glossy green leaves with a trailing habit. Fast growing. Perfect for topiaries. Rosemary ‘Shady Acres’ h 36” AC Exceptional rosemary for flavor and form. Fast grower with a strong upright form and dark green leaves. Rosemary ‘Spice Island’ h 10” AC Broad medium green leaves with camphor scent. Upright, culinary, tender perennial. Rosemary ‘Tuscan Blue’ h 36” AC Very dark blue-green leaves. Nice culinary fragrance and taste. Good choice to winter over inside. Upright habit. Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 133 Herbs

Rosemary ‘Upright’ h 18” AC One of the most prolific of the large leafed varieties. Beautiful, spacious upright rosemary. Also known as skewer rosemary since it is used for flavorful barbecue skewers. Rungia klossi ‘Mushroom Plant’ NEW! h 24” D Originated and popular in Papua New Guinea, this fast growing bushy herb tastes like mushrooms!!! Beautiful glossy green leaves contain large amounts of protein (3%), iron, vitamin C and calcium. Leaves are crispy like spinach and can be eaten raw or cooked. The mushroom flavor increases with cooking. Add leaves at the last minute to retain the bright color. Sage ‘Berggarten’ h 18” A Broad rounded foliage with silvery accents. Excellent flavor for all your recipes. Ornamental and productive. Large leaves are tasty for frying for a pungent garnish. Sage ‘Clary’ h 12-18” A Ornamental type, sports showy bracts of pink, blue or white. Blooms midsummer. Sage ‘Fruit Scented ‘ h 30” A Growth habit like pineapple sage, but leaves have a rounded, heart-shaped look and a citrus scent. Sage ‘Garden Grey’ h 12-24” Hardy, green leaf culinary selection. Good producer with excellent flavor. Sage ‘Hybrid #4’ h 24” A The hardiest culinary sage we grow. Tall plants covered in fragrant grayish green leaves. Great producer. Sage ‘Icterina (Golden Variegated)’ h 12-15” A Gold and green foliage. Compact and decorative. Use in mixed containers. Sage ‘Pineapple’ h 24-36” A Sweet pineapple scent. Beautiful red flowers in late fall, right about the time of the first frost, attract hummingbirds. Tender perennial can be overwintered inside. Sage ‘Purple’ h 24” A Purple leaves and blue flowers. Lovely in mixed containers and fine for cooking. Sage ‘Tricolor’ h 15” A Green, white and pink foliage. Very attractive. Nice contrast in the garden. Use it in summer and fall containers for foliage interest. Sage ‘White Edge’ h 24-36” A Clean and crisp, bright green leaves with striking creamy white margins. Sage apiana ‘White’ h 4’ A Large soft silvery-white lance shaped leaves are used as a ‘smudging sage’. Loves heat and drought. This plant is native to Southern California, but may over winter indoors with the right soil (sandy) and sun exposure. Will need some leaves remaining to make it through the winter, so don’t cut it all the way back.

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Tom takes a crack at greenhouse croquet Sage officinalis ‘Maxima’ h 32” A Large silver-grey leaves. Excellent culinary sage. Salad Burnet h 12” A Herbs Make exceptional salads, sandwiches and spreads when you add a little salad burnet. It’s a low growing herb with serrated leaves that has the taste of a cucumber and the appearance of a rustic fern. Very easy to grow. In the Elizabethan age it was used to garnish wine. Saltwort h 8-18” A Rich in vitamins and minerals, the long succulent leaves have an appealing tender crunchy texture. Keep harvested for continued growth of choice young leaves. Leaves can be sautéed or steamed and added to stir fries, salads or sushi. Native to the marshes of Japan, but can grow well in less damp conditions. If not regularly harvested, plants become thorny. Savory ‘Lemon’ h 6-12” AC Also known as Africa Savory. It has a strong lemon flavor and aroma. Excellent in teas and chicken and fish dishes. Satureja biflora Savory ‘Summer’ h 12” A Bushier and higher foliage mass than other savories. Savory is a peppery and sweet flavored herb used in a wide variety of cooking. Annual. Dries well for winter use. Satureja hortensis ‘midget’ Savory ‘Winter’ h 6-12” A This small leaved plant is easy to grow. More pungent than summer savory, the peppery tang makes it a good fit with beans. Called the ‘bean herb’ in Europe. Also works well with pork and poultry .

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Scented Geranium ‘Citronella’ h 24” A This well-know mosquito repellant make a pretty pot on the patio, too. Scented Geranium ‘Lady Plymouth’ h 18-24” AC Deeply divided grey-green leaves with a hint of white around the margins are topped by lavender flowers. Old fashioned lemon-rose scent. Attracts bees and butterflies. Scented Geranium ‘Lemona’ h 12-18” AC Bright crispy green leaves with a strong lemon scent. Scented Geranium ‘Mix’ h 10-18” A 12 pots including at least 4 varieties with an assortment of sizes, foliage types, scents and flower colors. Sesame Black h 36” A Black seeds contain iron and calcium as well as protein. To grow seeds, transplant in well drained location when soil has warmed. May have to harvest pods and dry them inside, stack drying seed heads on tarp to prevent loss. Long season crop. Foliage is also used in Korean recipes. Sorrel ‘French’ h 24-36” A Tart lemony-tasting perennial used in salads and springtime soups. Rosettes of spinach-like foliage early in spring. Try a sorrel pesto for a delicious change of pace. Perennial. Stevia h 18-24” A The leaves have a delicious and refreshing taste that can be 10-30 times sweeter than sugar. This is a South American herb, used as a sweetener by the Guarani Indians for centuries. Dries well for winter use. As tender as basil, so baby it a little in cooler weather. Sweet Grass h 36” A Perennial. Sweetly fragrant when the leaves are crushed. Used as incense by Native Americans. Tarragon ‘French’ h 36” A Wonderful anise flavored herb with slender, pointed leaves of medium grey-green. Upright hardy perennial. Delicious with anything involving mushrooms or peas. Makes a fabulous pesto! Be sure to dry some for year round use. Thyme ‘Creeping Lemon’ h 2-4” A A ground hugging form that is extremely fragrant and lemony. Lovely as a foliage accent in mixed containers, too. Thyme ‘Elizabeth’ h 6” A An improved English thyme with large dark foliage, wonderful fragrance and rosy pink flowers. A hardy perennial, even up here! Thyme ‘English’ h 12-18” A A classic and vigorous culinary variety. Tiny grey-green leaves add depth to soups and stews. We could use a pot of bean soup about now. Perennial. 136 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Herbs

Thyme ‘English Miniature’ h 1-3” A Tiny leaves form a wonderfully thick spreading patch of medium green. Small form is perfect for fairy gardens or mixed succulent containers. Thyme ‘Foxley’ h 4-6” Variegated creeping type with excellent classic thyme flavor. The leaves are cream and green in a clean pattern. Pretty and tasty, too. Thyme ‘French’ h 10” A Best culinary thyme. Petite grey-green leaves grow upright on woody stalks. Not as hardy as English. Thyme ‘Golden Lemon’ h 6” A Variegated golden and green leaves with strong lemony fragrance and taste. Thyme ‘Lemon’ h 12” A Compact upright shrub resembles ‘English’ thyme and adds a refreshing lemon scent. Thyme ‘Lime’ h 6-12” A Bright green citrus scented foliage topped with pink flowers. Usually hardy here. Thyme ‘Silver King’ h 4” A Brightest variegation of any white and green thyme. Pink flowers. Upright , yet slightly lax plant. Lovely in containers. Verbena, Lemon h 36” A A very pure intense lemon flavor and scent. A South American native. Tall upright habit with narrow, pointed leaves. Tender perennial can be over wintered indoors. Vietnamese Coriander ‘Rau Ram’ h 36” A This versatile culinary herb has a wonderful spicy flavor with suggestions of cilantro. It is a good cilantro or mint substitute. It compliments meats well and is delicious in stir frys and curries. Easy to grow. Green pointy leaves marked in red with a

spreading habit. Perennials Vietnamese Lemon Mint ‘ Kinh Gioi’ h 24-36” A Lemon scented flavor with a hint of mint. It is delicious eaten raw in a variety of soups and lovely on an herb plate. Also known as Vietnamese Balm. Traditionally used as soothing tea or in a steam bath for skin. Vietnamese Perilla ‘Tia To’ h 18-24” A Broad serrated green leaves with red backs are quite ornamental. Herb for Southeast Asian cooking. Watercress h 4-6” A Has an unique peppery flavor and bright green leaves. The leaves provide us with 15 essential vitamins and minerals. An aquatic plant. Yerba buena ‘Indian Mint’ h 4-6” CD Mat forming aromatic ground cover from the western US. Small glossy green leaves have a pungent spicy mint scent and flavor. Very drought tolerant.

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Perennials

Perennials—4½” color-coded pots, 10 per flat The big news here is that we are switching to a 10 count tray. The same pots put in a two row tray. This will give you more faces for your bench space! Perennials continue a steep uptick in sales. Customers consider it an investment even if there always seem to be one species or another that suffer winter casualties. There really is nothing like a 10 year old Hosta ‘Sum and Substance’ or a colony of Canadian Ginger.

Perennials

Achillea ‘Desert Eve Terracotta’ (Yarrow) h 12-18” A Tough and drought-tolerant variety with deep green foliage and lovely terra cotta umbels. Slightly more compact form for a neat appearance. Zone 4 Achillea ‘Little Moonshine’ (Yarrow) NEW! h 18” w 23” A We choose this achillea for our collection as a bright and cheery addition. Golden yellow flower umbels above silvery green foliage form non-spreading clumps. Nothing brewing illegally here. Zone 3 Achillea ‘New Vintage Red’ (Yarrow) h 12-14” w 10-12” A Bold red umbels holds their color, attractive for container use. Trim faded flowers for repeat flowering. Zone 4 Aconitum carmichaelii ‘Arendsii’ (Monkshood) h 36-48” w 24-36” AC Sturdy plant with dark blue hooded blooms. Excellent for borders and to provide late season color. Blooms August and September. Helps to keep the deer out of your garden. Zone 3 Aconitum x cammarum ‘Bressingham Sprire’ (Monkshood) NEW! h 29-35” w 18-23” AC The tidy habit of this mid-summer through fall bloomer caught our eye, along with the stunning deep violet colored blooms.. Strong upright spikes are great for cutting. Shiny green, fern like foliage. Poisonous, so a good deer deterrent. Zone 2 Actacea pachypoda ‘Misty Blue’ (White Baneberry) NEW! h 24-32” w 24-32” CD Grown for its fine blue-green ornamental foliage, this woodland perennial blooms with fuzzy white spikes in spring followed by white fruit (not edible, in fact poisonous) on dark red stems in the fall. Zone 3

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Agastache ‘Bolero’ h 16” A Spires to 16” of abundant tubular blooms in brilliant rose-purple. Aromatic bronze foliage with a compact habit. Blooms reliably the first year. Works well in containers or dry gardens. A magnet for hummingbirds, butterflies and honeybees. Zone 5 Ajuga reptans ‘Black Scallop’ (Bugleweed) h 8” w 12-24” CD Dramatic, glossy, dark-as-night, scalloped mid-sized foliage. Great for containers or the shade garden. Our favorite black! Zone 4 Ajuga reptans ‘Pink Lightning’ h 4-6” w 8-12” CD Attractive cream and green variegated groundcover is topped with spikes of pink flowers. Easy to grow even under trees. Zone 5 Alcea rosea ‘Halo Cerise’ (Hollyhock) h 48-72” A Extra large two tone blooms! Bright cerise flowers with dark magenta centers. May require staking. Zone 3 Alcea rosea ‘Halo Lavender’ (Hollyhock) h 72-96” A Saucer sized single beauties are deep lavender with hot pink centers. Mounding foliage. Tall stems may require staking. Zone 3 Alcea rosea ‘Spotlight Mars Magic’ (Hollyhock) h 70” A Vivid, clear, dark red singles gives you that grandma’s garden look with the best of modern German breeding and disease resistance. Zone 3 Alchemilla sericota ‘Gold Strike’ (Lady’s Mantle) h 14-16” w 16” AC Dense cushion of velvety, silver-green scalloped foliage is abundantly covered with tiny chartreuse flowers late spring through early summer. Very adaptable to most growing conditions. Loved by bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Excellent cut flower. Zone 3 Allium ‘Millenium’ h 12” w 12” A Rosy-purple 2” globes top robust, upright glossy deep green foliage and bloom for a month. Vigorous growth. Late summer bloom time is a nice change of pace from spring-blooming alliums. One parent, A. nutans is originally from Siberia. Zone 5 Perennials Allium ‘Quattro’ h 32” AC This garlicky, “fat leaf” allium is wonderful to use in pasta and makes a sensational salad when you add the rich purple flowers. It’s known for multiple health benefits from reducing cholesterol to being antioxidant rich. Attracts bees and butterflies, resists deer and rabbits. Great in containers. Zone 3 Allium senescens ‘Blue Eddy’ (Ornamental Onion) NEW! h 8-12” w 8-12” AC Blue green rounded clusters of narrow leaves wave and swirl below soft lavender- pink flower globes. Perfect for alpine (rock) gardens. Zone 4 Allium senescens ‘Pink Planet’ (Ornamental Onion) h 18-24” w 15-18” A Spires to 16” of abundant tubular blooms in brilliant rose-purple. Aromatic bronze foliage with a compact habit. Blooms reliably the first year. Works well in containers or dry gardens. Zone 4

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Amsonia ‘Blue Ice’ (Blue Star Flower) h 12-15” w 24” AC A compact selection of the native features mounds of narrow dark green leaves topped in late spring with clusters of vivid violet blue stars. Fall foliage glows in shades of yellow and blush orange. Zone 5 Anemone hupehensis ‘Pretty Lady Julia’ h 16” w 20” AC Fall blooming dark pink 2” double. Excellent dense dwarf habit. No pinching needed. Zone 5 Anemone sylvestris (Snowdrop Anemone) h 10-18” w 12” AC Large single white flowers with yellow anthers over deeply cut foliage. A true sign of spring in May and June. Prefers moist, well-drained soils with plenty of organic matter. Zone 3 Anemone tomentosa ‘Robustissima’ (Grape Leaf Anemone) h 36” CD Large glossy green leaves resemble grape leaves and set off the pastel pink single blooms with pale yellow centers. Blooms arch above foliage in dramatic fashion. Most hardy of the fall blooming varieties. You’ll be thrilled with how quickly it spreads. Blooms August-October. Zone 4 Angelica gigas (Korean Angelica) h 36-72” w 48” C Toothed tripartite foliage forms base for contrasting deep purple stalks. Rich wine- colored umbels in late summer. A show-stopper that is sure to provoke questions. Biennial or short lived perennial. Zone 4 Aquilegia ‘Double Pleat Blackberry™’ (Columbine) h 24” w 15” A Amazing! Fully double rich violet petals edged in white atop sturdy stems. Add some wonder to the cottage garden or plant a dramatic border. Zone 3 Aquilegia chrysantha ‘Denver Gold’ (Columbine) h 24-36” w 30” ACD A very showy canary yellow hybrid with long spurs resembling a daffodil. Fragrant flowers are 3” across and if dead headed will rebloom heavily. Prefers some relief from afternoon sun. Hybridized from a native columbine of the southern Rockies. Zone 3 Aquilegia flabellata ‘Black Current Ice’ h 6-10” w 8-12” AC Adorable dwarf variety with lemon yellow flowers accented by wine-purple spurs. Red stems add to the effect while ferny blue- green foliage completes the picture. Hummingbirds love this early spring bloomer. Zone 3 Aquilegia flabellata var. pumila ‘Selection’ (Columbine) h 8” w 12” AC After trialing this selection in 2013 we found it charming and irresistible. This dwarf plant has vibrant blue flowers that appear to be dipped in white with white spurs. A Royal Hort Society award winner. Zone 3 Aquilegia vulgaris ‘Clementine Red®’ (Columbine) NEW! h 18” AC Large doubled spurless flowers are rosy red and bloom in neat upright bouquets. Zone 3

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Aquilegia vulgaris ‘Clementine Salmon Rose’ (Columbine) h 18” w 12-18” AC New form with spectacular double blossoms that look like clematis blooms. Blossoms age from rosy salmon to lavender. Foliage stays attractive throughout the summer. Spring blooming. Zone 3 Armeria maritime ‘Morning Star Deep Rose’ (Sea Pink) h 6-8” w 12” AC Award winning new cultivar with vivid deep rose blossoms frolicking on multiple short stems above grass-like foliage that resembles a messy haircut. First year flowering and long blooming. Perfect for a hot dry spot. Zone 3 Aruncus ‘Misty Lace’ (Goatsbeard) h 30” w 24” C Tidy cross between A. dioicus and A. aethusifolius with delicate lacy white blooms. Beautiful red stems and ferny leaves. A showy addition to the shade garden plus very hardy and heat tolerant. Zone 3 Asarum europeum (European Ginger) h 6-8” w 8” D Rounded foliage so glossy that it reflects light. Hardy, but slow-growing groundcover for woodlands or shade borders. Zone 4 Asclepias incarnata ‘Ice Ballet’ (Milkweed) NEW! h 32-44” w 24-32” AC Smooth slender green leaves on tall stalks bear clusters of fragrant white flowers midseason. Zone 3 Asclepias tuberosa ‘Gay Butterflies’ (Butterfly Weed) h 22-30” w 15-20” A Selection of our native butterfly weed with a mix of yellow, orange and red blooms in mid-summer. Thrives in dry sandy soil. Zone 3 Asclepias tuberosa ‘Hello Yellow’ (Butterfly Weed) h 24-36” w 24-36” A Showy golden-yellow flower heads top attractive dark green foliage from June to August. Good drought resistance. Low maintenance plant. Zone 4 Asclepias tuberosa ssp. interior (Milkweed) NEW! h 12-24” w 12-24” AC

This is the same Asclepias tuberosa that we all love but this subspecies has been Perennials selected because it tolerates heavy and moist soils. Narrow leaves with clusters of bright orange umbels. Just another option for the pollinator friendly garden. Zone 3 Aster novae-angliae ‘Vibrant Dome’ h 15-20” w 30” AC Vibrant pink quilled flowers with yellow centers form on dome shaped mounds of dark green foliage. Sport of ‘Purple Dome’ has proven mildew resistance. Late season color. Zone 3 Astilbe arendsii ‘Cappuccino’ (False Spirea) h 24-29” DC So named for dark bronzy green foliage topped with foamy white blossoms that sit close to the foliage. Compact size and unique foliage also works well in containers. Zone 4 Astilbe arendsii ‘Glow’ (False Spirea) h 18-24” AC Deep red flower plumes with rosy highlights truly do glow above green foliage. Blooms mid-summer. The classic deep red. Zone 4

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Astilbe chinensis x ‘Love and Pride’ NEW! h 34-36” w 34-36” DC Large rose-pink plumes with bronze spring foliage that turns dark green later in the season. Zone 3 Astilbe chinensis x ‘Purple Rain’ NEW! h 12-24” DC We really wanted a purple purple purple Astilbe, so here it is! Purple plumes bloom above shiny dark toothed foliage in June-July. Zone 3 Astilbe hybrid ‘Chocolate Shogun’ NEW! h 18-24” DC Dramatic dark chocolate colored leaves are great for contrast in the shade garden. Blush pink flower plumes bloom midsummer. Zone 3 Astilbe japonica ‘Montgomery’ (False Spirea) h 20” w 24” CD Contrasting dark reddish bronze foliage and deep red flowers make this plant an elegant shade variety. Zone 4 Astilbe simplicifolia ‘Pink Lightning’ (False Spirea) h 14-16” w 12-14” CD Another staff favorite back by popular demand! Candy pink fizzy blooms pop like champagne above that lovely bronze simplicifolia foliage. The unique look is because the foliage is lobed rather than divided. Compact and well behaved, but never boring. Zone 4 Astilbe x arendsii ‘Color Flash Lime’ (False Spirea) h 18-24” DC Electric chartreuse foliage matures to lime green with burgundy edges. Blossoms are light pink plumes. Show off your shade! Prefers a moist area. Zone 4 Astrantia major ‘Star of Fire’ (Masterwort) h 19-21” CD Our staff loves masterwort. Unusual clusters of burgundy red flowers with white centers on dark purple stems are always eye-catching. Floriferous, long-lasting and vigorous. Zone 4 Astrantia major ‘Star of Magic’ (Masterwort) NEW! h 18-24” w 12-24” ACD This Astrantia puts on quite a show with creamy white and pink, mint-green variegated foliage and plum colored button flowers on tall stems. Great cut flower too. Zone 4

Baptisia ‘Decadence series’ This new series with fun colors and habits is the result of 14 years of crosses between various native baptisias. Upright, vase shaped mounds of sweet rounded blue-green leaves. The foliage and form look great all summer. Long lasting blossoms. Zone 4 Baptisia ‘Decadence® Cherry Jubilee’ (False Indigo) NEW! h 30-36” w 30-36” A Very unique bronze and gold colored flowers on this well branched and nicely upright series. Zone 4 Baptisia ‘Decadence® Dutch Chocolate’ (False Indigo) h 30-36” w 20-24” AC Velvety chocolate-purple blooms with hints of sunshine yellow centers on upright spikes. Blue-green foliage has upright and mounding habit. Zone 4 142 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Perennials

Baptisia ‘Decadence® Lemon Meringue’ (False Indigo) h 30-36” w 20-24” AC Smoky spikes yield lemon yellow flowers. Pastry friends with big hats are visible if you look closely. (That’s Strawberry Shortcake dolls to those of us in the wrong demographic.) Zone 4 Baptisia ‘Decadence® Sparkling Sapphires’ (False Indigo) NEW! h 30-36” w 30-36” A Dark sapphire-purple flowers against light green foliage. The Decadence series features a nicely upright form. What’s not to like? Zone 4 Baptisia australis (Blue Wild Indigo) h 24-30” w 36” AC Indigo blue pea-like flowers on long stems above smooth blue-green bush-like foliage. A stunning blast of color in early June. Seed pods persist through the season. Native to the southern U.S. Zone 3 Bergenia ‘Dragonfly Sakura’ (Pigsqueak) h 10” w 12” AC Lure the early arriving hummingbirds into the garden with these pink semi-double flowers named after the cherry blossoms they resemble. These are vigorous clump-forming evergreen plants with purple black foliage in fall. Deer and drought tolerant, too. Zone 4 Bergenia ‘Winter Glow’ (Pigsqueak) h 10” w 12” AC Glossy, leathery rosettes of dark green leaves make a shiny ground cover in a woodland or shade garden. Showy magenta flowers atop 16” tall stalks appear in April. Leaves will turn purplish-bronze in the fall. Deer and drought resistant. Zone 4 Brunnera ‘Sea Heart’ h 12” w 12-24” CD More pronounced variegation than ‘Jack Frost’ with thicker, larger leaves and better heat tolerance. Blooms earlier than other Brunneras with two toned blue and pink. Looks good until frost. Zone 3 Brunnera macrophylla ‘Diane’s Gold’ (Bugloss) h 12” w 24” CD This new cultivar was discovered in Madison, Wisconsin and sports clear chartreuse leaves that hold their color throughout the summer. Topped with sky blue blossoms Perennials in spring, it adds light and life to the shade garden. Zone 4 Calamintha nepeta ‘Montrose White’ (Calamint) h 12-15” w 12-18” A Large bright white flowers on small mint-scented foliage. Blooms forever, survives neglect, doesn’t flop, spreads nicely, delicate appearance but tough. Perfect! Zone 5 Campanula ‘Dickinson’s Gold’ (Bellflower) RENEW! h 4-6” w 8-10” AC The interest in this charming rock garden beauty is the small lime green to golden colored foliage and its cute short habit. Make sure this one goes in the alpine (rock) garden or near border without crowding. Lavender-blue upward facing flowers bloom late spring until midsummer. Zone 3 Campanula ‘Summertime Blues’ h 10-24” w 17” A Chosen for constant blooming spring thru summer Silvery blue bells on a pleasing mounded plant. Zone 4

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Campanula ‘Viking’ (Bell Flower) h 15-18” w 24” A Dozens of elongated 2½” trumpet-shaped fragrant lavender purple flowers burst out up and down the sturdy stems. Hybrid of C. punctata, but much better behaved than the species. Zone 5 Campanula portenschlagiana ‘Miss Melanie’ (Dwarf Bell Flower) h 6-8” w 12-18” A A showy dwarf species for alpine (rock) gardens or edging. Many open blue bells cover this vigorous groundcover. Works nicely as a trailing plant for containers, too. Easy to grow for the beginner. Zone 5 Campanula rotundifolia ‘Thumbell Blue™’ (Harebells) h 8-12” AC Love that native C. rotundifolia growing on the bluffs and ravines along the Mississippi, but it’s far too lanky to stay nice in a pot in the greenhouse. This scaled down version features a larger flower size with the same rich blue color floating on slender stems above grass like foliage. Zone 3 Centaurea ‘Black Sprite’ h 14” A Exotic new look for an old time favorite. Burgundy black spidery flower head makes this a unique addition to the garden. Easy to grow. Blooms in May and June. Zone 4 Centaurea ‘Lavender Mist’ NEW! h 16-18” w 16-18” A Light lavender centers are pin wheeled by feathery white petals. No need to deadhead, Lavender Mist has a longer bloom time and better branching than the species. Zone 4

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Chelone ‘Tiny Tortuga’ (Dwarf Turtlehead) h 14-16” A The characteristic glossy dark green foliage of Chelone ‘Hot Lips’ with reddish stems and hot pink flowers that resemble the head of a turtle….but this one is an adorable dwarf form. Tuck it in near the pond or in a petite container. Zone 3 Chelone lyonii ‘Hot Lips’ (Pink Turtlehead) h 30” w 12-18” AC Selection of the native from the southeastern states. Rose pink flowers on glossy deep green foliage with red stems. Thrives in moist woodland conditions. Good cut flower. Forms a large clump in 2-3 years. Blooms August and September. A rain garden favorite. Zone 3 Cimicifuga ‘Chocoholic’ (Snakeroot) h 24-36” w 24-30” CD Compact cultivar with dramatic burgundy-purple lacy foliage will add texture and color to a shade garden. Combine with gold or chartreuse foliage and it will really stand out. Fragrant mauve-pink bottlebrush flowers appear midsummer to fall. Zone 4 Clematis integrifolia ‘Mongolian Bells’ h 10-14” w 12-15” AC Charming hooded bells with four recurved petals in blue, pink, white or lavender bloom midspring to late summer. Not all clematis are climbers and this uncommon variety is very compact and bushy. Perfect for edging or even works as a groundcover. Low maintenance and drought tolerant. Zone 3 Clematis recta ‘Serious Black’ (Bush Clematis) h 48-72” AC Foliage emerges dark purple, almost black, and matures to olive green. Clusters of champagne-white blooms late spring often with midsummer rebloom midsummer. Stunning contrast. Like C. integrifolia, this will twist and twine among your mid- height perennials in a most pleasing fashion. Zone 3 Coreopsis ‘Leading Lady Charlize’ (Tickseed) h 12-14” w DR A Named for the sassy leading lady, Charlize Theron. Large, clear yellow, double pom- pom blooms. Mildew resistant. Zone 4 Coreopsis ‘Leading Lady Lauren’ (Tickseed) h 12-14” w B,DR A Did Lauren Bacall realize she was going to become a sultry coreopsis? Two layers of Perennials large ruffled petals with orange-yellow center. Mildew resistant. Zone 4 Coreopsis ‘Leading Lady Sophia’ (Tickseed) h 12-14” w B,DR A Named for silver screen goddess, Sophia Loren. Fluted petals with orange-yellow center, bigger blooms than your average coreopsis. Mildew resistant. Zone 4 Corydalis ‘Blue Panda’ h 10” CD Clusters of wonderfully fragrant blue spurs above lacy foliage. Plant becomes dormant after spring bloom then leaps back to life as autumn weather cools. Keep moist. Zone 5 Darmera peltatum (Umbrella Plant) RENEW! h 24”-30” CD Large round leaves are the highlight of this shade loving specimen plant. Leaves are green and toothed growing to as large as 18”. The leaves collect rainwater where small koi can live in a rainy season (Just kidding!). Grow in a moist, cool area for best success. Round clusters of soft pink flowers appear in spring. Zone

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Delosperma ‘Jewel of Desert Garnet’ (Ice Plant) NEW! h 4-6” w 8” A Another bright choice for the alpine (rock) garden! Red flowers with hot pink eyes and yellow centers, succulent foliage. Long blooming. Zone 4

Delphinium elatum ‘New Millennium™ series’ The New Millennium series has been bred for excellent garden performance with many flowers on sturdy stems. Semi double to double blooms, vigorous growth, better tolerance to heat and humidity and best of all, improved winter hardiness! Zone Delphinium ‘New Millennium Double Innocence’ NEW! h 36-48” w 18-24” AC Beautiful pure white doubles with white bees and green accents. We love this series for sturdy flower stalks and hardiness. Zone 3 Delphinium elatum ‘New Millennium™ Dwarf Stars Mix’ (Larkspur) h 18-30” w 18” AC We finally gave in to this beautiful and compact mix of purples, blues, pinks and cream colored semi-double blooms. No staking required as the stems are sturdy and wind resistant. Mid border plants appreciate some lime added to the soil. Zone 3 Delphinium elatum ‘New Millennium™ Moonlight Blues’ h 30-36” w 12-15” AC Stout spikes of medium blue flowers containing hints of pink sport black bees. We really do mean blue here, not some lavender hue. Will send out secondary blooms and often reblooms late summer. Zone 3 Delphinium elatum ‘New Millennium™ Pagan Purples’ h 48-60” w 18-30” AC Double blooms with a mix of rich purples and blues. Sturdy stalks still need staking. Better overwintering and more tolerant of heat and humidity than older varieties. Zone 3 Delphinium elatum ‘New Millennium™ Pink Punch’ (Larkspur) h 48-60” w 24” AC Intensely dark rose shades of semi-double blooms with a dark bee includes all the toughness this series is known for. Zone 3 Delphinium elatum ‘New Millennium™ Royal Aspirations’ h 63” Too beautiful to resist. Magnificent deep blue semi-double blossoms. Sturdy flower stalks. Winter hardy, yet tolerates warmer and more humid climates. Zone 3 Delphinium grandiflorum ‘Blue Butterfly’ h 16-30” w 8-16” AC Dwarf variety with deep blue single blooms that resemble butterflies over delicate lacey foliage. Free flowering through most of the summer. A classic! Zone 3

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Dianthus ‘Early Bird® Fizzy’ h 9” w 9” A Highly scented pleasing lavender blossoms with a magenta center. Silver blue foliage. Early to bloom and long lasting. Zone 5 Dianthus ‘Edgehog’ (Pinks) h 4-10” w 12-14” A Very sweet variegated foliage has sage-green centers and creamy white margins. Flowers are fragrant semi -double bubblegum pink with magenta whiskers. Zone 3 Dianthus ‘Fire Star’ h 8” w 8” AC Try this charming new dianthus in the front of your border for its intense red serrated blossoms, its reblooming (spring and fall) qualities and attractive blue green needle-like foliage. Oh, and don’t forget the delicious fragrance and deer resistance. Zone 5 Dianthus ‘Neon Star’ (Pinks) h 4” w 10” A Adorable single-petaled fragrant flowers. Fluorescent pink flowers top silvery foliage. Petals are toothed as if someone took the pinking shears to them; hence the common name. Long blooming with dead heading. Compact, mounding habit. Zone 3 Dianthus ‘Rosish One’ h 10” w 14” A Velvety rose beauty has its own sweetly spicy smell. Dark rose color with sculpted edges traced in light pink. Compact mounded silver gray leaves. Zone 4 Dianthus ‘Scent from Heaven™ Angel of Peace’ (Pinks) h 10-15” A Heavenly scented of spicy clove. Extremely long-blooming soft pink blooms with a magenta center. Tight compact grey blue foliage makes this a nice choice for containers too. Zone 5 Dianthus barbatus ‘Heart Attack’ (Sweet William) h 12” A An unusually reliable, long-lived sweet william with brilliant red-black blossoms from early spring through the summer. Not biennial like so many D. barbatus. Zone 4 Perennials Dicentra ‘Amore Rose’ (Fern-leaf Bleeding Heart) h 9” w 14” CD Billowy mounds of bright rosy pink flowers cover the lacy foliage of this sweetie. Clump forming and vigorous with a bit of attention. Zone 5 Dicentra spectabilis ‘Gold Heart’ (Golden Bleeding Heart) h 24” w 24” CD A gorgeous golden plant that shines in the spring shade garden and looks fabulous in combination with dark foliage plants. Peach-colored stems with metallic gold leaves and rich pink flowers. Summer dormant. Zone 3 Dicentra spectabilis ‘Valentine’ h 24-30” CD Cupid’s favorite. Traditional heart-shaped blossoms but in a romantic shade of red, suspended from dark red stems. Vigorous dense clumps of attractive plum-green foliage. Zone 3

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Dicentra spectabilis (Pink Bleeding Heart ) h 18-36” w 36” CD Old fashioned pink hearts bleed to white. Rewarding and easy to grow for the new gardener. Blooms May and June. Dormant in summer. Zone 2 Dicentra spectabilis alba (White Bleeding Heart) h 30” w 36” CD Arching stems of white heart-shaped elegant blossoms. A sign that winter is finally past. Summer dormant. Zone 2 Digitalis grandiflora (Yellow Foxglove) h 24-36” w 20” C Perennial foxglove for the shade or alpine (rock) garden with graceful, large yellow bells netted with brown. Lovely cut flower. Tends to be hardier than D. purpurea. Zone 3 Digitalis obscura ‘Sunset® ‘ (Sunset Foxglove) h 18” A Apricot-gold flowers are blushed red on the outside and freckled inside. Grey-green willowy leaves. Stalks of dried blooms make an interesting cut. Native to southern Spain and north Africa, so as you might expect, quite drought-tolerant once established. Zone 4 Digitalis purpurea ‘Candy Mountain’ (Foxglove) h 36-48” AC Creates garden drama with very unusual upward facing, rose-pink blossoms surrounding a sturdy stem. Very floriferous and showy when massed. An award winner. Zone 4 Dodecatheon meadia ‘Aphrodite’ (Shooting Star) h 20” w 12” CD Hybrid vigor and larger flowers make this late spring favorite even more desirable. Orchid pink flowers cluster on slender stalks. Foliage is mounded and will go dormant after several weeks of spring bloom. Check out the photo on rushcreekgrowers.com Zone 5 Echinacea ‘Big Sky™ Solar Flare’ h 24-36” w 18” A Blazing 5” flowers of magenta-red petals with purple backs held on almost black sturdy stems. Prolific compact bloomer, sweet fragrance and long bloom time make this a shining star. Zone 4 Echinacea ‘Butterfly Cleopatra’ (Coneflower) RENEW! h 15-18” w 18” A Named for the sweet little yellow Cleopatra butterfly, this vibrant Echinacea is chosen for its bright golden yellow and orange cones. Zone 4 Echinacea ‘Flame Thrower’ (Coneflower) h 36-40” w 40” A Fragrant and hot, a bicolor of electric orange and yellow petals surrounding a large rusty-brown, button-shaped cone. Zone 4 Echinacea ‘Hot Papaya’ h 30-36” w 24-30” AC A staff favorite. Large spicy orange doubles with orange reflexed petals. Truly a unique color. Highly fragrant. Good branching and vigor. From the breeder of ‘Pink Double Delight’. Zone 4

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Echinacea ‘Pink Poodle’ (Coneflower) NEW! h 22-32” w 28” A Very large, zinnia-like doubled flowers are raspberry pink and almost 4” across. Sturdy and well branched. Zone 4 Echinacea ‘Pow Wow White’ h 18-24” w 8-24” AC Pure white petals and yellow centers bloom earlier and pack more flowers on one plant than other varieties. Keeps its compact form and does not require deadheading. Zone 4 Echinacea ‘Pow Wow Wild Berry’ h 20-24” w 18-24” A Super award-winning variety with sturdy stems covered in fragrant deep rose-purple blooms. Packed with more flowers per plant. Re-blooms without deadheading. Zone 3 Echinacea purpurea ‘Ruby Star’ h 36” w 18-24” AC Classic coneflower with intense deep purple-pink blossoms with horizontal petals. Improved ‘Magnus’ that blooms July - September. Bred from Great Plains natives. Zone 3 Echinacea x hybrida ‘Sombrero Adobe Orange’ NEW! h 18-20” w 22-24” A We really like the sturdy, well-branched habit of this coneflower series. Vibrant orange blossoms pop in the summer garden and show excellent hardiness. Zone 4 Echinacea x hybrida ‘Sombrero Salsa Red’ (Coneflower) NEW! h 18-20” w 22-24” A Richly colored flowers are bright red and floriferous, darker centers. Photos just don’t do this beauty justice, it is truly a red Echinacea. Nice compact form, too. Zone 4 Echinops bannaticus ‘Blue Glow’ (Globe Thistle) h 24-48” w 12-24” A This is a showy tall variety with globular, thistle-like, steel blue blossoms on sturdy stems. Tolerates poor quality soil and drought. Blooms in July and August. Zone 3 Perennials Epimedium Why we love epimediums: the delicate foliage that floats on almost invisible dark petioles, their toughness in dry shade, the range of flower colors--white and yellow to reds and pinks, the heart-shaped leaves with contrasting veins, the beautiful fall foliage color. Really, what else could you possibly want? Zone Epimedium x rubrum (Barrenwort) h 12” w 12-15” CD Rich ruby red spurred blooms in May and June. Coppery red and yellow foliage in fall. Zone 5 Epimedium x versicolor ‘Sulphureum’ (Barrenwort) h 8-12” w 12-18” DC Bicolor buttercream flowers on sprays held above heart-shaped veined leaves. Mounding habit. Zone 4 Epimedium x warleyense (Barrenwort) h 8-12” w 8-12” DC Airy sprays of delicate apricot flowers with butter yellow sepals held on sturdy ‘fairy wands’. Foliage is woodland green with brushed bronze edges. Zone 4 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 149 Perennials

Eryngium ‘Big Blue’ (Sea Holly) h 24-30” w 24-30” A Blue, blue and more blue. Iridescent blue blossoms top blue stems and silver spiny foliage. Long lasting cut with a spectacular presence. Grows well in average to dry soil. Let some deer try to nibble on this. No way! Zone 4 Eryngium zabelii ‘Neptune’s Gold’ (Sea Holly) NEW! h 18-24” A This Eryngium is indeed like a sea creature, a worthy subject of Neptune’s kingdom. Center cone is indigo blue surrounded by golden-chartreuse bracts and foliage. Foliage won’t burn and matures to lime green. Zone 5 Eupatorium fortunei ‘Pink Frost’ (Snakeroot) h 30-36” w 24-36” AC Small raspberry-pink flower clusters on unique green and gold variegated foliage. Stands out in borders or as container thrillers. Zone 4 Euphorbia polychroma ‘Bonfire’ h 10-12” w 18” AC Foliage and form join to make this is a gorgeous plant. Deep purple, red and orange leaves with crackling yellow bracts in spring. Zone 5 Euphorbia polychroma (Cushion Spurge) h 16” w 24” A Among the earliest spring color to be found, glowing yellow bracts above a neat mound of oval dark leaves. Foliage often turns rich purple in cooler fall weather. Zone 4 Filipendula ‘Red Umbrellas’ NEW! h 30” CD Long fingered green foliage has serrated edges and dark red veining. Fuzzy pink-red flower umbels bloom atop dark stems. Fragrant. Prefers moist soil and some shade. Zone 3 Geranium cantabrigiense ‘Biokovo’ (Cranesbill) h 6-8” w 10-12” C Attractive groundcover for your part-shade garden with white flowers highlighted with light pink veins and stamens. Red to orange fall color. Discovered in the Biokova Mountains in Croatia. Zone 4

Alchemilla sericota ‘Gold Strike’

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Geranium macrorrhizum ‘Czakor’ (Cranesbill) h 12” w 14” AC Magenta flowers on dense and uniform foliage that is fragrant. Great for groundcover too! Zone 5 Geranium pratense ‘Dark Reiter’ (Cranesbill) h 10” w 12” AC Deeply cut reddish-purple foliage with dark to mid-blue flowers. Compact habit. Happiest where it won’t get too hot or dry. Zone 5 Geranium w. ‘Havana Blues’ (Cranesbill) NEW! h 8-10” w 8-10” AC Enormous and detailed, soft blue flowers are 2.5” and completely adorable on this dwarf plant. Spring foliage emerges as chartreuse-green and matures to light green. Zone 5 Geranium x cantabrigiense ‘Ann Folkard’ (Cranesbill) NEW! h 16-20” w 12-15” AC Royal purple, velvety flowers with refreshing lime green foliage, eye-catching contrast. Black centers and dark arteries. Zone 4 Geum ‘Alabama Slammer’ (Avens) h 11-14” w 10” AC Gin, Amaretto, orange juice… no, not the drink, but you can imagine the colors! Burgundy calyx with semi-double orange and gold veined petals. Bright green foliage. More adaptable and longer lived than old style Geums. Serve garnished with an orange wheel. Zone 5 Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’ (Avens) h 24-30” w 15” AC Soft apricot petals bob atop lovely fuzzy stems. Robust, heavily blooming variety is sterile which allows it to keep flowering far longer than older cultivars. May rebloom in fall if you’re lucky. Prefers a cool, moist site. Deer resistant. Zone 4 Geum chiloense ‘Red Dragon’ (Avens) h 16-20” w 12” AC Adorable double red blossoms in early summer over a medium sized mound of 6-12” lobed leaves. Cuts well. Needs good moisture and protection from afternoon sun. Zone 4

Helenium autumnale Perennials ‘Mariachi™ Siesta’ (Sneezeweed) h 24-26” w 12” A Bright red daisy-like petals around a maroon cone decorated with a ring of yellow pollen. Let’s dance! Zone 3 Heliopsis ‘Double Sunstruck’ h 14-16” w 12-14” A Sunny yellow double flowers with orange-yellow centers. Striking foliage is antique white with dark green veining. Zone 4 Helleborus ‘Winter Jewels™ Cherry Blossom’ (Lenten Rose) NEW! h 18-22” w 24” CD 3” soft pink picoteed blossoms sit atop evergreen foliage in a lovely mounded form. The backs of the petals are marked with red veining for added appeal. Zone 4

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Helleborus ‘Winter Jewels™ Golden Sunrise’ (Lenten Rose) NEW! h 18-22” w 24” CD Large 3’ nodding blooms with a red star in the center and red veins. The evergreen foliage is a light yellow green. You’ll have the worst of spring fever when these will ease your winter weary soul. Zone 4 Helleborus ‘Winter Jewels Jade Tiger’ (Lenten Rose) NEW! h 12-14” CD Elegant doubled flowers are various intensities of jade green with highlights of purple and maroon, yellow stamens. Evergreen foliage. Zone 5 Helleborus ‘Winter Jewels Ruby Wine’ (Lenten Rose) NEW! CD Single flowers are a rich merlot red contrasted by crested white stamens. Evergreen foliage. Zone 4 Hemerocallis ‘Always Afternoon’ (Daylily) NEW! h 22” w 18-24” AC Dusky rose colored sepals and petals with a darker maroon eye, yellow center and green throat. Petals have crimped edges. Zone 3 Hemerocallis ‘Black Arrowhead’ (Daylily) NEW! h 30” AC Spider type, petals are dark mauve with sharply contrasting daggers of dark maroon (sometimes dark purple-black) and yellow giving each petal an arrowhead look. 34” scape height. Zone 3

Stella with Zuke

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Heucheras (Coral Bells) New foliage colors and textures bred over the last decade make multiple heucheras a requirement in any shade bed. Some will take more sun than others, but most prefer part shade. Don’t forget that they work well in mixed containers as a foliage accent. Zone 4 Heuchera ‘Black Taffeta’ (Coral Bells) h 12” w 15” AC We chose this new heuchera because of the large, glossy, ruffled foliage. The white blossoms make a lovely contrast. Hardy and reliable. If you love ‘Obsidian’, you will really enjoy this new black variety. Zone 4 Heuchera ‘City™ Gotham’ (Coral Bells) h 6” w 10” AC We couldn’t resist the lure of these primrose flowers topping Batman black foliage. Compact form makes this excellent for garden or containers. Good heat and humidity tolerance with fast growth rate. Plant in well drained soil at the front of the border. Zone 4 Heuchera ‘Fire Chief’ (Coral Bells) h 9” w 15” ACD Wine red leaves form a medium-sized mound. Dark red stems are topped with bicolored pink and white flowers. So hot, you’ll need the hose. Zone 4 Heuchera ‘Frosted Violet’ (Coral Bells) h 12” w 24” AC Shimmering velvet purple leaves with dark veins and a frilly edge. The blush pink flowers and their dark stems really set off the foliage color. Zone 4 Heuchera ‘Galaxy’ (Coral Bells) h 9” w 12” AC This beauty showcases huge dark leaves heavily variegated with spots of color. Leaves emerge a startling bright red, turn darker, and the variegation becomes more noticeable. Similar color to ‘Midnight Rose’ but with much larger leaves. Zone 4 Heuchera ‘Georgia Peach’ (Coral Bells) h 14” w 24” CD This large leafed variety comes from the H. villosa breeding which seems much

more vigorous in our northern climate. This one has large peachy rose leaves and Perennials creamy white blossoms. Zone 4 Heuchera ‘Glitter’ (Coral Bells) h 10-16” w 14” DC Hot pink flowers stand above silvery mirror-like foliage with black veining. These glittering wonders are head turners. Zone 4 Heuchera ‘Havana’ (Coral Bells) NEW! h 7-14” w 12” DC Tropically pink flowers with chartreuse green leaves and silver highlights. Reblooming habit makes this Heuchera a nice choice for containers. But keep it shaded, keep it happy and use it to liven the darker spots in the garden. Zone 4 Heuchera ‘Lipstick’ (Coral Bells) h 14” w 18” DC Mounding green foliage in shades of mint and silver act as a foil to bright crazy red blooms. Lipstick really is the only possible name here. Va va va voom! Zone 4

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Heuchera ‘Paprika’ (Coral Bells) h 8-12” w 16” DC Hot to the touch! Set some fire to shady areas with this warm foliage. Cherry-coral veined leaves with white flowers. Zone 4 Heuchera ‘Stainless Steel’ h 8-12” AC Dazzling platinum leaves and thin dark veins mature to sea foam green with eggplant-purple undersides. More sun creates a mauve appearance. Creamy white bells on strong 18” stalks make a sturdy cut flower. Zone 4 Heuchera ‘Zipper’ (Coral Bells) h 8” w 12” AC No zippers on this flashy petticoat! Ruffles, ruffles, ruffles in shades of orange in spring to golden in fall. Beautiful magenta backs add interest. Villosa breeding adds vigor. White flowers appear in early summer. Zone 4 Heuchera villosa ‘Berry Smoothie’ (Coral Bells) NEW! h 18” w 20” D Happy smoothie colors start with strawberry and mature to raspberry-plum with darker veining. Cream colored flowers. Zone 4 Heuchera villosa ‘Berry Timeless’ (Coral Bells) NEW! h 8-10” w 20” D The timeless part of this plant is what happens with the flowers! Two tone raspberry and light pink flowers bloom on 20” scapes. After they are dried the blooms remain, a little like statice. The other great part is that it keeps sending flower stalks and reblooms continuously, not in waves, from summer to fall. Foliage is dark green with silvery mint highlighting. Zone 4 Heuchera villosa ‘Carmel’ (Coral Bells) h 10” w 12-14” CD Beautiful large caramel-gold foliage with a rosy red underside. Great heat tolerance and vigor. Creamy flowers in July and August. Zone 4 Heuchera villosa ‘Circus’ (Coral Bells) h 12-18” w 18-24” CD A vigorous newer selection which emerges as a soft peach color with deep red veins. Early summer large sprays of bright magenta flowers complement the chartreuse leaves with deep maroon veins. The flower color is rare on the vigorous villosa species. Zone 4 Heuchera villosa ‘Delta Dawn’ (Coral Bells) NEW! h 8-14” w 12” D If you google “river delta” in one window and “Heuchera Delta Dawn” in another, you’ll see where the name for this plant was inspired. Large, rounded leaves are earth green with highly detailed sand and clay colored “deltas”. Cream colored flowers. Zone 4 Heuchera villosa ‘Fire Alarm’ (Coral Bells) NEW! h 9-13” D Want a red Heuchera? This is the one. Loud, shiny, fire truck red foliage with nice substance darkens into the summer and brightens in the fall. Pink flowers bloom on red scapes. Zone 4

Heucherellas (Foamy Bells) Heucherellas combine the fun foliage of Heucheras with the great spring spires of Tiarella blooms. A cross that yields a vigorous, long-blooming plant. Zone

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Heucherella ‘Brass Lanterns’ ( Foamy Bells) h 20” w 24” CD Center stars of spicy red edged in brassy gold provide luminous spring color. Leaves turn to red and bronze as summer heats up. Best color contrasts in shade. Outstanding vigor. Zone 4 Heucherella ‘Garden Candy Infinity’ (Foamy Bells) NEW! h 18-24” w 24-36” DC Continuous bloomer! Tall flower scapes have pink buds with baby pink blooms and the plant blooms all-season-long-to-infinity-and-beyond, no joke! Large, cocoa- plum colored leaves have soft silver highlights. Patio-perfect for containers. Zone 5 Heucherella ‘Pink Fizz’ (Foamy Bells) NEW! h 8-13” w 18” AC Deeply lobed foliage is mint green with dark cherry veining and silver highlights. Foliage stays bright through the fall. Cotton candy pink flowers bloom from hot pink buds that “fizz” above the foliage on 13” scapes. Zone 4 Heucherella ‘Solar Eclipse’ ( Foamy Bells) h 10” w 16” ACD Save space for this dramatic addition. Reddish brown leaves and a scalloped lime green border. Exceptional vigor. Zone 4 Heucherella ‘Sunrise Falls’ (Foamy Bells) h 7-13” w 30” AC Delicate maple shaped yellow-green leaves have centers brushed with red highlights. White flowers on pink stems. Zone 4 Heucherella ‘Sweet Tea’ (Foamy Bells) h 20” w 28” C A sensational variety! Rusty red foliage with a lighter orange border. Good vigor. Great for containers or the part-shade garden. H. villosa breeding enhances vigor and hardiness. Good heat and humidity tolerance, too. Zone 4 Hosta ‘Abiqua Drinking Gourd’ (Plantain Lily) RENEW! h 24” w 46” CD Giant gray-blue cupped leaves are heavily corrugated. Near white flowers bloom June-July on 24-30” scapes. Zone 3

Hosta ‘Ann Kulpa’ (Plantain Lily) NEW! h 19” w 44” CD Perennials Wide medium to dark green margin with narrow creamy white center, often with light green splashes. Ovate shaped and slightly wavy and corrugated leaves. White flowers in July on 20-22” scapes. Zone 3 Hosta ‘Barbara Ann’ (Plantain Lily) NEW! h 16” w 31” CD Classy gal Barbara Ann has heart-shaped leaves that are blue-green with a medium wide creamy white margin. White flowers. Zone 3 Hosta ‘Blue Mouse Ears’ (Plantain Lily) RENEW! h 8” w 19” CD Best Hosta name ever! It perfectly describes these sweet but very sturdy little plants. Leaves are small, blue and slightly cupped with purple flowers on 11” scapes in July. Zone 3 Hosta ‘City Lights’ (Plantain Lily) NEW! h 27” w 55” CD Bright and glowing chartreuse leaves are broadly ovate and corrugated. White flowers bloom late June on 31” scapes. Zone 3

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Pulsatilla vulgaris ‘Blaue Glocke’

Hosta ‘Fire Island’ (Plantain Lily) RENEW! h 10-14” w 15-30” CD Showy contrast between chartreuse green leaves and red petioles. Ovate shaped leaves and lavender flowers (August) on red scapes. Bright for spring! Zone 3 Hosta ‘First Frost’ (Plantain Lily) RENEW! h 14-16” w 36” CD Dark green ovate shaped leaves have margins that start white and turn gold; colors intensify throughout the season. Thick substance. Pale lavender flowers on 26’ scapes in July. Zone 3 Hosta ‘Frances Williams’ (Plantain Lily) NEW! h 27” w 55” CD This Hosta is the namesake of our beloved feline Frances. Not far from the divine being she was, so is this lovely hosta. Large leaves are heavily corrugated and have muted colors of slate green centers and chartreuse margins. White flowers in dense clusters bloom June-July on 25-30” scapes. Zone 3 Hosta ‘Great Expectaions’ (Plantain Lily) NEW! h 29” w 58” CD Oh it’s true, great expectations for this creature indeed! Wide and varied blue- green margin with creamy gold to white centers. Broadly ovate, heavily corrugated. White flowers June-July are 29”. Pamper this one while small and expect great things. Zone 3 Hosta ‘Guacamole’ (Plantain Lily) RENEW! h 24” w 54” CD Lovely and large; broadly ovate leaves are chartreuse with medium green margins. The chartreuse will lighten in bright sunlight. Fragrant lavender flowers bloom mid August on 30-41” scapes. Zone 3

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Hosta ‘June’ (Plantain Lily) RENEW! h 15” w 35” CD Colors darken through the season. Ovate shaped leaves have wide blue green margins with green to chartreuse green centers. Pale blue flowers in July-August on 24” scapes. Added to our list because our cats are always named after hostas and now we have “June” kitty or Junebug as she is affectionately called. Zone 3 Hosta ‘Lakeside Cupcake’ (Plantain Lily) NEW! h 3-5” w 10-12” CD Sweet miniature! Small mound with broad ovate leaves that have wide dark green margins and creamy white centers. White flowers on 12” scapes mid summer. Zone 3 Hosta ‘Loyalist’ (Plantain Lily) NEW! h 12” w 27” CD Sport of Patriot with reverse variegation. Ovate shaped leaves are creamy white with dark green margins, colors darkening throughout the season. Slightly wavy, slightly corrugated. Light lavender flowers on 20” scapes. Zone 3 Hosta ‘Maui Buttercups’ (Plantain Lily) NEW! h 12” w 24” CD This is a very special Hosta, a cross of August Moon and Frances Williams, the namesakes of two of our dear greenhouse kitties now passed. Maui Buttercups is a nice small to medium sized mound of heavily corrugated and cupped round leaves. Bright gold leaves. White flowers bloom in July. We are currently waiting for the illusive Maui Buttercups, a rare female orange kitty, to make her appearance here at the greenhouse. Zone 3 Hosta ‘Northern Exposure’ (Plantain Lily) NEW! h 28” w 74” CD Can you hear it? The theme to the Northern Exposure TV show from the early 90’s? Do you see the moose walking through town? This Hosta has very large broadly ovate-oblong leaves with wide strong creamy margins and dark green centers. Corrugated and thick-substance. White flowers bloom June-July on 30” scapes. Zone 3 Hosta ‘Patriot’ (Plantain Lily) NEW! h 23” w 50” CD Intense dark green centers and wide bright white margins, nice substance and

lightly corrugated. Lavender flowers on 30” scapes late July-August. Zone 3 Perennials Hosta ‘Praying Hands’ (Plantain Lily) NEW! h 16” w 30” CD Unusual and interesting hosta with narrow, upright and cupped leaves. The margins have a very thin line of white and are slightly wavy. Lavender flowers on 26” scape bloom late July to August. Zone 3 Hosta ‘Rainforest Sunrise’ (Plantain Lily) RENEW! h 10” w 25” CD Another bright spot for the garden! Golden foliage with thin green margins. Slightly cupped and corrugated leaves. White flowers bloom in July. Zone 3 Hosta ‘Regal Splendor’ (Plantain Lily) NEW! h 30” w 70” CD Early color on this royal one is blue-green with narrow gold margins. Mature color changes to dark green with white margins. Lavender flowers in late July-August can be up to 60” tall! Zone 3

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Hosta ‘Robert Frost’ (Plantain Lily) NEW! h 24” w 50” CD Another Frances Williams cross! Very broadly ovate blue green leaves with gold to white margin. Good substance. White flowers in June-July on 30” scapes. Zone 3 Hosta ‘Sum & Substance’ (Plantain Lily) h 33” w 60” CD The queen of the shade garden returns! Because if you ain’t got Sum & Substance, you ain’t got hosta. Chartreuse leaves become gold as season progresses. In deep shade it will remain chartreuse. Medium to fast growing giant hosta. Zone 3 ensata ‘Pink Lady’ (Japanese Iris) NEW! h 32-35” AC Soft pink flat Iris with huge falls and short standards. Light yellow streaked beards. Zone 4 Iris germanica ‘Blueberry Bliss’ (Tall Bearded Iris) NEW! h 36-48” AC Solid blueberry-purple colored falls and standards with a slightly darker beard. Huge ruffled flowers. Floriferous. Early bloomer. Zone 3 Iris germanica ‘Harvest of Memories’ (Tall Bearded Iris) NEW! h 23-29” A Pure yellow Iris has huge semi ruffled petals with yellow beards. Blooms in early spring and then reliably blooms again in the fall! Huzzah! Zone 3 Iris pumila ‘Blue Denim’ (Dwarf Bearded Iris) NEW! h 6-10” w 6-8” C Short and sweet this pure blue Iris has large flowers with ruffled edges. Zone 4 Iris pumila ‘Cherry Garden’ (Dwarf Bearded Iris) NEW! h 4-8” w 6-8” C Black cherry colored standards and falls have bright purple beards. Zone 4 Iris siberica ‘Dance Ballerina Dance’ (Siberian Iris) h 20-24” w 20-24” A Elegant ruffled baby pink standards with lavender pink falls. The honey colored beard is intricately marked with yellow and white patterns. Zone 3 Iris siberica ‘Double Standard’ (Siberian Iris) h 26-30” w 20-24” A No outrageous expectations here, just double beauty. Cute little violet-blue double standards with same colored falls. Has sweet browned butter signals with intricate markings. Zone 3 Iris sibirica ‘Concord Crush’ (Siberian Iris) h 28” w 20-24” A Powder violet-blue standards are doubled with multiple layers. Falls are darker blue with light yellow detailed signals. Zone 4 Iris sibirica ‘Contrast in Styles’ (Siberian Iris) h 26-30” w 20-24” A Sangria colored falls are broad with very ruffled edges. Large white detailed halo area is smooth with soft yellow signal. Shorter ruffled standards are also sangria. Stunning contrast. Zone 3 Iris sibirica ‘Golden Edge’ (Siberian Iris) h 26-30” w 20-24” A Medium-large, royal violet standards and falls with fine golden edges. Detailed yellow and white signals. Quite a debonair performance. Zone 3

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Iris sibirica ‘Sparkling Rose’ (Siberian Iris) h 28-32” w 20-24” A Rose-lavender standards and falls. Very dark detailing on white and light yellow signals. Refreshing spring colors! Zone 3 Kirengeshoma koreana (Yellow Wax Bells) h 24-36” w 36-48” CD Yellow bell shaped flowers bloom from round button buds on flower clusters held on stems above and in-between the foliage. The combination of buds and open flowers is very charming. Maple leaf shaped foliage is shiny dark green. Zone 5 Knautia ‘Thunder & Lightning’ h 12-18” w 16-20” A Striking plant with showy light green foliage resembling bolts outlined in creamy white margins and topped with deep magenta pincushion flowers. Blooms all summer on wiry stems. Foliage does not burn. Zone 5 Lamium ‘Lemon Frost’ (Dead Nettle) h 6-8” w 18’ CD Enthusiastic groundcover with lime green foliage with a white center stripe. Lavender blooms add to the appeal. Light up a shady area and create a dense mat to deter weeds. Zone 4 Lathyrus vernus (Spring Bush Pea) h 12” w 12” ACD An extremely durable early flowering legume with rosy purple sweet pea-like flowers. That first spring blast of color. Pointed leaves form pinnate foliage, a bit like a Jacob’s Ladder. Drought resistant. Zone 4 Leucanthemum ‘Real Charmer’ (Shasta Daisy) NEW! h 22” w 18” A Charming indeed! Lemon butter yellow flower petals are frilly and unruly, broad and narrow, with golden centers. Zone 5 Leucanthemum x superbum ‘Becky’ (Shasta Daisy) h 24-36” A Big, single white flowers in June-July. Shiny deep green foliage. Long-lived and hardy. Classic Shasta. Zone 4 Lewisia ‘Elise Mix’ NEW! h 10” w 12” A Neat rosette blooms of salmon, white, pink, yellow, cerise or rose that have detailed petals. Foliage is blue-green and low growing, somewhat succulent. These plants Perennials are great for adding color to the alpine (rock) garden. Zone 3 Ligularia ‘Bottle Rocket’ NEW! h 28-34” w 24-28” CD Large round green leaves accent the bright golden yellow spire shooting out from the pleasing clump. A robust grower for the moist shade garden. More water is required in Part Sun. Zone 4

Lilium Asiatic (Asiatic Lily) Easy-to-grow, compact, summer-blooming lilies with large showy flowers in luxurious colors, sturdy straight stems, high bud count. Best planted in groupings. Zone 3 Lilium ‘Tiny Ghost’ (Asiatic Lily) h 14-16” C Rich rosy purple petals painted with darker centers. Dwarf habit with oodles of blossoms. Perfect for containers, the garden or cutting. Zone 3

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Lilium ‘Tiny Glow’ (Asiatic Lily) h 14-16” A This bright, glowing yellow lily will wake you up! High bud count. Zone 3 Lilium ‘Tiny Invader’ (Asiatic Lily) h 12-14” A An award winning reblooming variety with large 5” blooms. Blossoms are creamy white with a dark purple eye and a purple picoteed edge. A very pretty variety for the part shade garden where the color would shine. Easy to grow and drought tolerant. Zone 3 Lilium ‘Tiny Padhye’ (Asiatic Lily) h 16-18” C A striking contrast of white with large burgundy brushstrokes in the center of the flower. A little taller than the other Tinys. High blossom count. Gorgeous in a pot, the garden or your favorite vase. Zone 3 Lilium ‘Tiny Parrot’ (Asiatic Lily) NEW! h 14-16” A Orange-yellow flowers with maroon speckling. Petals are broad and slightly rounded. Zone 4 Lilium ‘Tiny Rocket’ h 14-16” C Strong compact plant. Fragrant, glowing dark red flowers with darker highlights. Bud count 4-6. Excellent cut flower. Zone 3 Linum narbonense (Blue Flax) h 12-14” w 12” A Classic blue flax and then some. A European native, this sky blue flax sports larger flowers than L. perenne. It blooms profusely in late spring and early summer on nearly evergreen foliage. Needs well-drained soil. Zone 5 Linum perenne nanum ‘Saphyr’ (Blue Flax) h 10-15” A Soft blue flowers on arching dwarf stalks. Airy texture with needle-like leaves. Long bloom time in early summer when the oriental poppies flower. Zone 4 Lupinus polyphyllus ‘Gallery Blue’ (Lupine) h 20-24” AC Blooms in the first year with large royal blue blossoms. Tap root helps in times of drought, but resents transplanting once established. Zone 4 Lupinus polyphyllus ‘Gallery Pink’ (Lupine) h 20-24” AC First year blooming, compact selection in mid-pink, multiple blooming stalks per plant. Zone Lupinus polyphyllus ‘Gallery Red’ (Lupine) h 20-24” AC A very compact form with red blossoms in June-August. Zone 4 Lupinus polyphyllus ‘Gallery Yellow’ (Lupine) h 18” AC A wonderful yellow lupine. Compact growth habit that would look great in any small garden. Excellent cut flower. Zone 4 Lupinus regalis ‘Morello Cherry’ (Lupine) h 36-48” AC Large stalks of rich cherry red flowers that will brighten up any landscape in the spring and early summer. Will bloom in the first year. Zone 5

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Cardoon and Gil

Monarda ‘Leading Lady Lilac’ (Bee Balm) NEW! h 10-14” w 22-28” A The same lovely lilac color as the wild Bergamot but this one is a nice tame height and won’t spread like crazy. Charming speckles on open petals. Dense and branching. Zone 4 Monarda didyma ‘Balmy Purple’ (Bee Balm) NEW! h 10-12” w 8-10” A Cute dwarf bee balm! Large magenta-purple flowers. Good mildew resistance. Zone 4 Monarda didyma ‘Fireball’ (Bee Balm) h 18-24” AC Scarlet pink fireballs bloom over glossy green foliage. Chosen for its compact size and sassy red blooms, this one works for containers, too. Zone 3

Nepeta x faasenii ‘Kit Cat’ (Dwarf Catmint) h 15” w 12-24” A Perennials A sterile hybrid that forms a spreading clump of upright stems with pleasing two lipped blue blossoms that smell great. Prefers a bit more moisture than other catmints but generally easy to grow in a variety of soil types. Zone 3 Nepeta x faasenii ‘Purrsian Blue’ (Cat Mint) h 16-18” w 24-28” A Bright blue blooms on compact mounds that bloom early summer through fall. Nice compact form provides a constant spray of blue flowers to accent any bed. Zone 3 Oenothera versicolor ‘Sunset Boulevard’ (Sundrops) h 18-24” w 20” A Long blooming primrose with 2” orange single petaled flowers that fade to red. Stems are sturdy and red and leaves are lanceolate. A beauty all summer. Zone 5 Papaver nudicaule ‘Spring Fever™ Mix’ (Icelandic Poppy) h 8-10” w 10-12” AC Large bright blooms of crepe paper-like petals in red, orange, yellow and white on multiple compact stems in late spring. Mass plant for high impact. Zone 3

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Papaver orientale ‘Allegro’ (Oriental Poppy) h 16” A Huge 6” black-eyed scarlet flowers in May and June on dwarf 16” plants. Fuzzy basal foliage goes dormant in heat of summer and reappears in autumn. Zone 4 Papaver orientale ‘Beauty of Livermere’ (Oriental Poppy) h 36-48” w 36” A Giant crimson blooms with black-marked centers up to 8” across. Clump-forming fuzzy foliage goes dormant in summer’s heat and regenerates in autumn’s cool. The classic poppy from grandma’s garden. Zone 4 Papaver orientale ‘Konigin Alexandra’ (Oriental Poppy) h 18” A Striking salmon pink blooms with black centers, fuzzy basal foliage goes dormant in heat of summer, reappears in autumn. Zone 4 Papavar orientale ‘Raspberry Brulee’ (Oriental Poppy) NEW! h 28” w 20” A Rich raspberry colored flowers with black eyes and centers. Very large flowers have amazing tissue paper texture and color that won’t fade. Zone 4 Penstemon ‘Dark Towers’ h 33” w 30” A Burgundy bronze foliage provides a dramatic contrast interspersed in a border. Late summer masses of pink tubular shaped flowers add a graceful touch. Very hardy and easy to grow. Good cut flower. Zone 3 Perovskia atriplicifolia ‘Lacey Blue’ h 12-18” w 24-36” AC The first truly short Perovskia. Upright, densely branched, silver stems bear spikes of lavender-blue flowers. Adds the appearance of wispy blue clouds to the landscape. Works well in a container. Blooms all summer. Cut back to 6” in the spring. Zone 4 Persicaria filiformis ‘Painter’s Palette’ NEW! h 20-24” w 30-36” ACD Yes, this is Persicaria and it’s oh-so-beautiful. Large ovate leaves are variegated splashes of white, green and cream with pink and burgundy center chevrons. Not invasive but small red seed pods form late summer, pinch these off if you want to keep them from self sowing. Zone 4 Phlomis tuberosa ‘Amazone’ (Jerusalem Sage) NEW! h 35-47” w 18-23” AC Tall flower spikes are tiered with lavender-pink flowers and dark green leaves. Clump forming. Stalks are beautiful when left for winter. Leaves are broadly elliptical with a rough texture. Zone 4 Phlox ‘Violet Pinwheels’ (Moss Phlox) NEW! h 4” w 18” A A new introduction from the breeding program at the Chicago Botanic Gardens. Described as a marriage between western and eastern spring blooming Phlox, this shows delightful violet and periwinkle blue pinwheel-shaped flowers bloom on low growing dark green needle shaped foliage. Starts blooming early and stays into late May. Good tolerance in many conditions including salt tolerance. Zone 4

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Dicentra spectibilis Phlox divaricata ‘Blue Moon’ (Woodland Phlox) h 12-15” w 12-20” CD Vigorous violet blue flowers in mid to late spring. A nice bit of early color for the shade, then the foliage looks beautiful all season. Zone 4 Phlox glaberrima ssp. triflora ‘Triple Play’ (Smooth Phlox) h 12-15” w 8-15” AC A spring blooming beauty with showy variegated foliage and clusters of soft pink flowers with darker eyes. Prefers moist conditions. White leaf margins blush pink in cooler temperatures. Zone 4 Phlox paniculata ‘Sherbet Cocktail’ (Garden Phlox) h 30” w 15” AC Yellow-green buds emerge from chocolate burgundy bracts and open to soft pink with creamy yellow edges. Fragrant blooms from June through August. Zone 4 Phlox paniculata ‘Shockwave’ (Garden Phlox) NEW! h 12-18” w 12” A Variegated (and stable!) foliage is green and white with white margins turning cream as the season progresses. Lavender-pink flower clusters with white starburst Perennials centers are frosting on the cake. Zone 4 Phlox paniculata ‘Wendy House’ (Garden Phlox) h 18-24” w 12-24” AC Large clusters of fragrant, dark fuchsia-purple flower heads that bloom through the season. Compact, clean and mildew resistant. Zone 4 Polemonium ‘Stairway to Heaven’ (Variegated Jacob’s Ladder) h 12-15” w 15” CD A must have! Fantastic foliage with contrasting cream and green variegation. Leaf margins tinged pink in cool temps. Bell-shaped, soft blue flowers in May-June. Larger leaves and more vigorous than other varieties. Tolerates heat and drought once established. Blooms in May and June. Zone 4

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 163 Perennials

Polemonium carneum ‘Apricot Delight’ (Royal Jacob’s Ladder) h 16-20” w 12-16” AC Native to the West Coast, this selection forms a mound of deep green foliage with clusters of single petaled pink-apricot flowers on tall stems. Blooms in early summer. At home in woodlands, alpine (rock) gardens or containers. Self seeds a bit but won’t go nuts. Zone 3 Polemonium yezoense ‘Bressingham Purple’ (Jacob’s Ladder) h 15” CD Striking purple foliage and elegant purple-black stems showcase its deep blue flowers. Deeply cut foliage is neat and attractive. Needs cool moist light shade. Blooms May and June. Zone 4 Polygonatum japonica variegatum (Variegated Solomon’s Seal) h 18-24” w 36” CD Vivid plant with leaves edged creamy yellow turning white. White flowers dangle under softy arching stems. Fast spreading. Beautiful plant in shady borders or woodland gardens. Early spring blooming. Zone 3 Portanthus ‘Pink Profusion’ (Bowman’s Root) h 24-30” Loads of delicate pink fairy flowers sitting lightly on red stems and reddish leaves. Blooms late spring. Drought tolerant once extablished. Zone 4 Primula capitata ‘Noverna Deep Blue’ (Asiatic Primrose) NEW! h 8-10” w 6-8” C This is an intriguing Primula. Large romaine type leaves have a fuzzy silver hue and the flowers bloom atop tall silver stalks that echo a scabiosa look. Flowers are indeed a deep indigo blue. Zone 4 Primula japonica ‘Miller’s Crimson’ h 18-24” w 8-12” D Classic shade lover returns. Red rocket of star shaped blooms launching from a pad of felted foliage. Zone 3 Primula vulgaris ‘Belarina® Nectarine’ (Primrose) h 7” w 12” CD Alluring rosettes of double blooms in golden yellow appear early spring progressing to intensely pink and orange at petal margins. Long blooming. Zone 4 Prunella grandiflora ‘Bella Blue’ (Self-Heal) h 6-8” w 8-10” AC Brilliant blue-violet blossoms on compact plants are tough, easy to grow, attract butterflies and will bloom in the first year. Zone 4 Pulmonaria ‘Moonshine’ (Lungwort) h 16” w 12” CD Silver white leaves shimmer on this more compact Pulmonaria. A thin edge of green lines each leaf. Small pale blue tubular shaped flowers appear in early spring. Zone 4 Pulmonaria ‘Raspberry Splash’ h 12” w 25” CD A profuse bloomer with small tubular raspberry coral flowers. Attractive spotted foliage sets off the blossoms. Zone 3

164 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Perennials

Pulmonaria ‘Trevi Fountains’ (Lungwort) h 12” w 25” CD A brightly spotted beauty which forms large clumps with profuse clusters of rich cobalt-blue flowers. Zone 4 Pulsatilla vulgaris ‘Blue Bells’ (Pasque Flower ) h 8-10” A Selection of the native pasque flower. Deep violet purple blossoms above finely divided pinnate foliage covered with soft hairs. Earliest to bloom in April and May. Zone 4 Pulsatilla vulgaris ‘Red Bells’ (Pasque Flower ) h 8-10” A Selection of the native pasque flower. Bright red blossoms top finely divided pinnate foliage covered in soft hairs. Blooms in April and May. Zone 4 Rodgersia ‘Chocolate Wings’ NEW! h 28-32” w 28-30” C Large, textured and serrated leaflets are shiny green and change to shades of bronze and chocolate. Raspberry-pink flower buds open and mature to a wine-red. A stunning specimen plant for the shade garden. Zone 4 Rudbeckia ‘Little Henry’ h 36” w 24” A Here is a compact version of the charming ‘Henry Eilers’ with attractive, quilled petals and perky brown cones. So easy to grow and the compact, upright form will fit in anywhere the sun shines. Zone 4 Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Early Bird Gold’ (Gloriosa Daisy) h 18-24” w 18-24” AC A breeding breakthrough in Rudbeckia, this variety isn’t dependent on day length to come into color so it starts blooming much earlier and continues to bloom later in the season. Discovered in a field of Rudbeckia ‘Goldsturm’ blooming before and after the rest of the field. Imagine the excitement. Zone 3 Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Goldsturm’ h 24” w 18” AC There are many reasons that it’s a classic! Dozens of 3-4” flowers equal long bloom time. Branching bush always looks neat and tidy. Bred from prairie natives. Golden yellow slightly drooping daisy-like bloom with black cone on short stalks above slightly fuzzy foliage. Longer-lived than R. hirta selections. Zone 3 Perennials Salvia koyamae (Yellow Sage) Renew! h 18-24” w 18-24” C Native to Japan, this yellow sage is wonderful for woodland gardens or groundcover. It actually prefers part shade and does well in full shade. Large narrow heart-shaped textured leaves. Yellow two-lipped flowers bloom late summer to fall. Zone 4 Salvia nemorosa ‘Blue Marvel’ (Meadow Sage) NEW! h 10-12” w 10-12” A Two things about this Salvia caught our eye: these extra large fluffy blue flowers and its super upright and tidy habit. Textured, lush green foliage. Blooms all summer. Zone 4 Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’ h 24-30” w 12-18” A Our favorite! Rich violet blue flowers with very dark purplish black stems. Great in bouquets. Blooms June-July. Reblooms with deadheading. Zone 3

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Salvia nemorosa ‘New Dimension Rose’ h 10-12” w 12-16” A Compact form with rich rosy pink flower spikes that blooms earlier than others of this species. All season color with aromatic foliage. Makes a long lasting cut flower with good drought resistance once established. Zone 4 Salvia verticilata ‘Purple Rain’ h 18-24” w 16” AC Bushy, carefree plants with long arching stems of smoky purple flower spikes. Will flower July through frost with deadheading. Zone 4 Sanguisorba ‘Little Angel’ (Burnet) NEW! h 12-24” AC Rounded serrated leaves are blue-green with white margins and form a rounded mound. Flower stems emerge bearing raspberry like flower heads. Zone 4 Saxifraga x arendsii ‘Rocco Red’ NEW! h 3-5” w 3-5” A Another fun little beauty for the alpine (rock) garden. Uniform plant, red star shaped flowers with yellow centers. Uses include miniature gardens and rock gardens. Zone 4

Sedum A A large genus of over 400 species which vary wildly in habit and habitat. Most are from mountain ranges in the northern hemisphere and are tough succulents. Our collection includes groundcovers, upright types and mounding selections. Sedum ‘Autumn Fire’ h 18-24” AC Improved ‘Autumn Joy’ with thicker stems and more consistent, longer holding blooms. Easy to grow and drought tolerant. Blooms Aug-Sept. Good upright habit. Zone 3 Sedum ‘Sunsparkler™ Dazzleberry’ h 6-8” w 18” A Eye-catching blue-gray foliage with smoky overtones. Raspberry red flower heads top the leaves in late summer and remain for 6-7 weeks. Zone 4 Sedum ‘Sunsparkler™ Firecracker’ h 6-8” w 18” A Cherry red foliage and large fuzzy pink flower clusters. Zone 4 Sedum ‘Touchdown Teak’ (Stonecrop) h 15” w 16” A Glossy red-brown foliage with rose colored flower clusters. Zone 4 Sedum ‘Xenox’ h 15-18” A Gorgeous foliage is purplish-green in the spring turning to a rich reddish-purple in the summer with rosy-pink flowers in August. The color is more intense when grown in hot and dry conditions. Zone 3 Sedum ‘Sunsparkler Jade Tuffet’ NEW! h 6-8” w 18” A True to its name, Jade Tuffet has shiny jade green narrow leaves and mauve flowers that cover over (tuffet) the foliage. Compact plants with red stems. Zone 4 Sedum ‘Sunparkler Lime Twister’ NEW! h 6-8” w 18” A A new twist on Lime Zinger, here’s the variegated version! Compact plants have rounded leaves that are green and cream. Won’t burn. Same lovely rose-pink colored flowers too. Zone 4

166 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Perennials

Semiaquilegia ecalcarata h 12-16” w 8” C Defines the word “cute.” It’s a tiny columbine, complete with dainty, airy foliage and adorable, nodding, spurless ½” blooms in burgundy-violet. For fairies and us big folk. Originally from Western China. Zone 5 Sempervivum ‘Cobweb Buttons’ (Hens & Chicks) h 4” w 6” A Gray threads weave over the tips of pale green mounded rosettes giving it a spider webbed appearance. Use in containers and alpine (rock) gardens. Zone 3 Sempervivum ‘Oddity’ (Hens & Chicks) NEW! h 2-4” A Rounded mass of green tubular leaves have open tips that are tinted maroon. Definitely odd but certain will add interest. Check out the photo on our website. Zone 4 Sempervivum ‘Silver King’ (Hens & Chicks) h 2-4” A Silver green foliage blushed red at the base. Large heads of silver with tiny babies. Zone 3 Sempervivum arachnoidium ‘Kalinda’ (Hens & Chicks) h 2-8” w 4-8” A Large succulent leaves in tight green heads with blood red tips. Zone 5 Sempervivum species ‘Royal Ruby’ (Hens & Chicks) h 3-4” w 4-8” A Dark burgundy-red pointed leaves form a dense mat. Use in mixed succulent containers as well as the garden. Zone 3 Sempervivum species ‘Silverene’ (Hens & Chicks) h 3-4” w 12” A Rosettes of sharply pointed, silvery green leaves that are reddish-purple at the base. Very unique deep pink flowers in midsummer. Zone 4 Solidago ‘Fireworks’ (Goldenrod) h 36” w 24” A The fall garden sparkles with these long blazing yellow flower panicles arching over attractive green foliage. Zone 4

Stachys ‘Helene Von Stein’ (Lamb’s Ear) h 8-10” w 24” AC Perennials Large silvery, woolly foliage with lavender spikes. Vigorous and great looking. Tolerant of heat and humidity, prefers well drained soil. Zone 4 Stachys minima (Dwarf Betony) h 3-6” w 8-12” A AWE! Mini Lambs Ear! Small narrow leaves are mint-green, textured and softly serrated. Habit is a neat and tidy mound. Lavender-pink flower spikes bloom in early summer. Zone 3 Symphytum ‘Goldsmith’ (Ornamental Comfrey) NEW! h 10-12” w 12-15” AC Narrow elliptical leaves are textured, variegated light and dark green with gold margins. Comfrey can be an aggressive grower but ‘Goldsmith’ has been tamed and is easily controlled. Bell shaped blue, white or pink flowers. Zone 4

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Thalictrum ichangense ‘Evening Star’ h 8” w 10” CD We were charmed by this diminutive woodland beauty which resembles an Epimedium in the color of its leaves and wiry texture. Leaflets are colored olive, tan and copper with a central silver star. Small tufted flowers are a lovely shade of lavender and will rebloom if cut back after flowering. Zone 5 Thalictrum petaloideum h 12” C Perfect for the shady fairy garden or anywhere else where “cute” really matters. Clean white umbels in late summer atop sweet and petite plants with blue-green pinnate foliage. Zone 4 Tiarellas (Foamflower) CD Long blooming with cheery pink, white or coral foamy spires in spring, these cultivars brighten shady spots throughout the summer. The variations in foliage make them fun collector plants - some are clumpers, some runners. They are versatile and easy to grow. Zone Tiarella ‘Spring Symphony’ (Foamflower) h 7” w 10” CD This charming woodland plant is noted for its clump forming habit, long lasting soft pink blossoms and red central markings on lovely cut leaves. We especially enjoy the extremely long bloom time of this shade-loving beauty. Grow in moderately moist soil. Zone 4 Tiarella cordifolia ‘Running Tapestry’ (Foamflower) h 10-12” w 24” CD Vigorous groundcover with deeply cut red-speckled foliage and long lasting white flowers. Blooms in early summer. Zone 3 Tiarella cordifolia ‘Diva-rella Sherry Kitto’ (Foamy Bells) NEW! h 6-8” w 18-24” DC Elegant foliage is dark olive green and deeply lobed with purple veining. Don’t be overwhelmed when loads of soft pink fuzzy flower spikes bloom in early spring. You’ve been warned. Zone 4 Tiarella x ‘Pink Skyrocket’ (Foamflower) h 6” w 12” CD One of the longest blooming varieties that we have grown. Beautiful pink plumes cover clumps of attractive foliage. Clump forming. Zone 4 Tradescantia ‘Tough Love’ (Spiderwort) NEW! h 11” w 16” A This toughie can perform in any dry sandy spot or even in wet clay. Magenta-purple flowers. Compact foliage is clump forming with leaves similar to a daylily. Zone 4

Tricyrtis (Toad Lily) Toad lilies are one of last treasures of our growing season with their small orchid- like blooms illuminating the fall shade garden. Some upright, some arching. Plant them close to where you walk to appreciate their delicate appearance. Zone Tricyrtis ‘Golden Festival’ h 15-17” D A graceful addition to the autumn woodland/shade garden. Excellent compact and well branched plant with elegant yellow orchid-like flowers dappled with bronze. Good cut flower. Zone 5 168 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Summer and Fall Programs/ Natives

Tricyrtis ‘Tojen’ (Toad Lily) h 24” w 36” C Fall blooming beauty with unspotted orchid, lavender and white flowers. A Japanese hybrid with larger foliage than other toad lilies plus it’s a great glossy green. Vigorous growth habit. Zone 5 Tricyrtis macropoda h 23-27” w 18-23” CD Highly prized lily-like creamy white to pink flowers with mauve spotting appear in mid-summer. Attractive gray-green foliage looks good through the growing season. Excellent cut flower. Will colonize in the garden over time, but divides easily if you want to share. Zone 4

Trollius Globe flowers shine in part sun to shade. Blooms of orange to golden to bright yellow draw your eye into the shade garden. Buttery blooms are interesting in shape. Can’t wait to see them blooming next spring. They love a moist, rich soil. Trollius cultorum ‘New Moon’ (Globe Flower) RENEW! h 24” w 16-20” AC Our staff was pining for this spring blooming beauty as we hadn’t been able to get seeds for a couple of years. Hurray! The moon has returned. Large, showy, upright blooms are butter yellow with golden centers. Feathery fine foliage has a mounding habit. Zone 3 Trollius x cultorum ‘Earliest of All’ (Globe Flower) h 24-36” C Golden orange flower globes, nice foliage, blooms earlier than other varieties in May and June. Zone 3 Verbascum phoenicum ‘Temptress Purple’ h 15-18” w 10-12” AC Compact verbascum with short sturdy spikes of neon purple flowers blooming late spring until early frost. Excellent cutting flower that looks great in fresh arrangements, but allow some to mature so plant will self-seed. Zone 5 Veronica ‘Eveline’ (Speedwell) h 20” w 12-16” AC

A taller speedwell with gorgeous dense purplish red flower spikes, a superb cut Perennials flower. Foliage turns red in cool temperatures. Likes evenly moist conditions and average soil. One of our staff favorites. Zone 4 Vinca minor ‘Moonlit’ (Periwinkle) NEW! h 4-6” w 12-24” C Cream and green variegated leaves with fully double lavender blooms in Spring. A delightful groundcover or trailing variety for containers and baskets. Zone 4

Summer and Fall Programs/ Natives

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 169 Natives Summer and Fall Summer Perennials—5¼” and Trade Gallons

Our summer selection has broadened with the introduction of large pots of fresh blooming perennials and natives for summer and fall sales. We have been working on a list of our favorites and you will find them on our Order Form with descriptions on our website - www.rushcreekgrowers.com. We will continue to sell our 4 1/2” stock throughout the summer as well. We will continue to sell our 4 ½” stock, too. Summer Annuals—8” round fiber or 5½” square We will be sending out a summer catalog mid-spring with loads of color for pots and the garden. Big 8” Zinnias, Celosias and more along with sun and shade varieties in 5 ¼”.

Fall We’ve got it all going on. There will be perennial and annual mums, asters, kale & cabbage, veggies and herbs, so your benches need not look bare as pumpkin season approaches. Look for complete program details later.

Natives Perennial & Native Grasses—4½” Deep Pots, 10 per flat

Natives

Adiantum p. ‘Five Fingered Maiden-Haired Fern’ h 18” w 30” CD A North American native which forms lovely clumps of graceful arching foliage with delicate segments on wiry stems. Deciduous foliage. Likes moist shade. Zone 2 Agastache scrophulariaefolia ‘Purple Giant Hyssop’ h 36-60” w 18-24” A The bees and butterflies are typically very attracted to native Agastache and will be with these very tall, bushy and sturdy plants! The flower spikes are a very light purple, almost white from a distance. History states that the leaves were used in poultices and teas. Zone 3 Allium tricoccum h 18” CD Native woodland wild flower is also called Spring Onion. A beautiful edible, it has blue green broad foliage emerging from red stems followed by tall white flowers. This is one of the most phytonutrient rich foods you can eat. It is fantastic added to salads, sautéed on its own or added to soups. 170 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Natives

Amorpha canescens ‘Lead Plant’ h 30-36” w 60” AC Slow growing woody shrub with long interesting leaflets and spiky clusters of tiny pea-like purple blooms with contrasting bright orange anthers. Dry to mesic prairie. Attracts butterflies. Zone 2 Andropogon gerardii ‘Big Blue Stem’ h 4-8’ A Impressive native of the tallgrass prairies. Tolerant of a wide variety of conditions. Seed heads resemble the 3 toes of turkeys feet. Stems have great red fall color. Zone 3 Aquilegia canadensis ‘Canada Columbine’ h 24-36” w 12” CD WOODLAND. The familiar woodland columbine seen around the upper Midwest. Red blooms with soft yellow corollas dancing on delicate stems above three-lobed foliage. Prefers to grow in dry mesic soils. Zone 3 Arisaema triphylum ‘Jack in the Pulpit’ h 12-24” w 12-20” CD WOODLAND. Unusual wine-green hood-like blooms followed by clusters of scarlet berries. Blooms in late spring. Goes dormant in late summer. Zone 4 Asarum canadensis ‘Wild Ginger’ h 4-8” w 10” D WOODLAND. Delicate white blooms with lilac magenta hoods suspended on arching 5” stems. Rounded glossy evergreen foliage forms a nice clump. Zone 4 WOODLAND. Delicate white blooms with lilac magenta hoods suspended on arching 5” stems. Rounded glossy evergreen foliage forms a nice clump. Asclepias incarnata ‘Marsh Milkweed’ h 36-60” w 12-24” A Beautiful umbels of rose mauve flowers in mid-summer. Willow-like foliage. Great cut flower. Tall presence for the back of the border. Damp prairie. Would be a great addition to your butterfly garden. Deer resistant. Zone 3 Asclepias tuberosa ‘Butterfly Weed’ h 12-24” w 12-24” A Our most popular native. Bright orange-red flowers will attract butterflies in mid- late summer. Prefers sandy, dry soil. Huge roots help it survive droughts. Butterfly garden must-have. Deer resistant. Zone 3 Perennials Asclepias verticillata ‘Whorled Milkweed’ (NEW!) h 12-24” w 12-24” A We can’t get enough Asclepias, so we’re bringing you, and the monarchs, one more. This whorled milkweed produces abundant umbels of soft white flowers. Because this is one of the last milkweeds to fade in the fall, it is a frequent late season host plant for monarch larvae. Zone 4 Aster laevis ‘Smooth Aster’ h 24-48” A Soft blue, little daisy shaped flowers and dark green foliage. This is a very sturdy and hardy native late bloomer. Tolerates frost and keeps blooming long after everyone else is done. Zone 4 Bouteloua curtipendula ‘Side Oats Grama’ h 36” w 12-16” A Tough native grass that tolerates sandy or gravely dry sites or heavy soils and low fertility. It is clump forming, useful in mass or meadow, with flowers that are nice enough to cut. Zone 4

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Caltha palustris ‘Marsh Marigold’ h 12” w 12” A WOODLAND. Brilliant yellow blooms with heart-shaped glossy foliage. Found along stream edges and boggy areas in the early spring. Best in very shallow water or moist area. A harbinger of spring. Zone 3 Carex pensylvanica ‘Pennsylvania Sedge’ h 8” CD This native is shade tolerant and resilient. A good lawn substitute and semi- evergreen with narrow blades. Loves oak woods. Survives in sandy soil. Zone 4 Carex plantaginea ‘Seersucker Sedge’ h 12” CD Shiny broad leaves with accordion-fold veins. Slowly spreading, good evergreen ground cover that tolerates moist conditions. Zone 4 Cassia hebecarpa ‘Wild Senna’ h 60-72” w 36” A Tall prairie shrub topped with clusters of yellow pea-like blooms in mid-summer. Lovely pinnately compound leaves turn golden in autumn. A legume family member that fixes nitrogen in soil. Zone 4 Chelone glabra ‘White Turtlehead’ h 24-36” w 24” AC Double-lipped white blooms do look like a turtle’s head. Likes boggy soil in sun or part shade in a less damp spot. Nice color in late summer. Attracts butterflies. Zone 3 Dalea purpurea ‘Purple Prairie Clover’ h 12-36” w 12-18” A Bright violet cylindrical shaped heads with orange stamens in flashy clumps with soft, needle-like foliage. Blooms July-August. Drought tolerant. Shrubby habit is best intermixed with other natives. May not bloom until third season. Zone 4 Dodecatheon meadia ‘Shooting Star’ h 8-16” CD Graceful, showy spring bloomer of magenta or white star shaped flowers held above large basal leaves. Plant in lightly shaded woodland or open woods. Zone 4 Echinacea paradoxa ‘Bush’s Coneflower’ h 24-30” w 18” A Golden yellow reflexed petals around rich brown cones. Narrow foliage. Blooms early summer. Zone 4 Erythronium albidum ‘White Trout Lily’ h 4-6” CD WOODLAND. Mottled foliage with white nodding star-like flowers. Often blooms before other spring wildflowers preferring the dappled sunlight for best blooming. More shade later is fine. It will take a couple of years to fully develop but worth the wait. Geranium maculatum ‘Wild Geranium’ h 20” AC WOODLAND. Upward facing lilac to bright pink 1¼” blossoms with white at the center. Bushy plant with deeply cut foliage. A shower of pink in the late May woodlands. Grows in dry, sandy soils. Deer resistant. Zone 4 Geum triflorum ‘Prairie Smoke’ h 9-12” AC Many nodding rosy-pink flowers with feathery reddish seed heads above fuzzy pinnate basal leaves. Earliest spring color on the prairie and one of the most charming varieties. Zone 2

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Hepatica acutiloba ‘Sharp Leafed Hepatica’ h 24-48” w 6” D WOODLAND. Leaves to 5” with sharp three pointed lobes. Blooms of white, blue or lavender. Prefers neutral to alkaline soil. Blooms in very early spring. Zone 3 Lobelia cardinalis ‘Cardinal Flower’ h 36” AC Blood-red blooms look like tiny birds along long upright stems. Attracts hummingbirds. Grows in moist soil along creeks and ponds. Blooms in late summer. Zone 4 Lobelia syphilitica ‘Blue Cardinal Flower’ h 36-48” AC Two-lipped irregularly tubular bright blue flowers in late summer. Grows in damp areas of native prairies. Attracts butterflies. Zone 4 Matteuccia struthiopteris ‘True Ostrich Fern’ h 36” w 36” CD A vigorous tall vase-shaped fern from grandmother’s garden. A native of northern North America. It appreciates constant moisture on the north side of the house but will grow easily in the woodland garden. Zone 2 Mertensia virginica ‘Virginia Bluebells ‘ h 12-24” C WOODLAND. Wildflower with soft blue tubular blossoms in late spring. Dusty blue foliage goes dormant after blooming so don’t forget where you planted them. Zone 3 WOODLAND. Wildflower with soft blue tubular blossoms in late spring. Dusty blue foliage goes dormant after blooming so don’t forget where you planted them. Mitchella repens ‘Partridge Berry’ h 2” D A creeping groundcover with shiny petite evergreen leaves and ornamental red berries. Delicate white flowers late May to June. Prefers a moist shady location. Give it a try in an open terrarium. Zone 3 Mitella diphylla ‘Bishop’s Cap’ h 6-16” w 6-8” C WOODLAND. Wonderful delicate spring bloomer of the northern woodlands. Mounds of spring-green, rounded foliage below upright stalks of tiny five-petaled, fringed, creamy white flowers. Airy “see-through” effect. Zone 4

Penstemon grandiflorus Perennials ‘Large Flowered Beardtongue’ h 40” A Prairie plant with upright stems of tubular pinkish-blue blooms and stiff waxy bluish foliage. Tough as nails in a dry location. Hummingbird magnet. Zone 4 Podophyllum peltatum ‘May Apple’ h 18” D WOODLAND. Large umbrella-like glossy green leaves above down-turned white blooms. Grows in wet to dry soils. Works well as a groundcover for large areas and tough locations. Blooms in spring. Zone 4 Polystichum acrostichoides ‘Christmas Fern’ h 12-24” w 36” CD A slender arching fern with evergreen foliage. A native of eastern North America used by early settlers for Christmas decorations, hence its common name. An easy- to-grow attractive fern. It will tolerate drier conditions than most ferns. Zone 3

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Pycnanthemum virginianum ‘Mountain Mint’ (NEW!) h 24-36” w 12-18” A A densely flowered, fragrant native, mountain mint is extremely attractive to pollinators. Long, mid to late summer bloom time adds to the appeal. Clusters of white flowers have subtle purple spotting. This is a gorgeous native with great appeal to our staff. Zone 3 Rudbeckia triloba ‘Brown-eyed Susan’ h 30-48” w 36” A Hundreds of 1-2”yellow blooms with brown, button-like centers, bushy habit. Short- lived perennial will gladly self-sow. Very eye-catching in late summer. Zone 3 Sanguinaria canadensis ‘Bloodroot’ h 8” CD WOODLAND. Red stems with large translucent white blooms in earliest spring. Blue- gray leaves form clumps. Prefers moist, well-drained soil. A post winter joy! Zone 3 Schizachyrium scoparium ‘Little Blue Stem’ h 2-4’ A Tough prairie native with lovely blue tones, incomparable winter beauty, thrives in poor, dry soils. Zone 3 Sporobolus heterolepsis ‘Prairie Dropseed’ h 36” A Native Americans believe this was the first plant to cover Mother Earth. Used by them for food, crafts and spiritual practices. Vanilla scent when dried. Zone 4 Trillium erectum red ‘Red Trillium’ h 8-12” CD WOODLAND. Maroon-red blossoms in spring are a harbinger of spring. Clumping habit. Zone 4 Trillium grandiflorum ‘White Trillium’ h 8-12” CD WOODLAND. What we endure the winters to see! Large white 3-petaled blooms that fade to a pink. Blooms in mid May. Zone 4 Trillium luteum ‘Yellow Trillium’ h 12” CD WOODLAND. Large, sweetly fragrant, 3-petaled yellow blooms which sit upon beautiful mottled leaves. Blooms in spring. Native to the southeastern US. Zone 4

Rainy Grasses

174 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Perennial Grasses Perennial Grasses Perennial Grasses—4½” color-coded pots, 10 per flat

Perennial Grasses

For Native Grasses - see Native section Acorus gramineus ‘Ogon’ (Grassy Leaved Sweet Flag) RENEW! h 6-14” AC Although this isn’t really a grass, this Sweet Flag forms a low, dense mound of bright, variegated lance-like leaves to add a splash of bright color near ponds or moist spots in the garden. Zone 5 Bouteloua ‘Blonde Ambition’ h 24-36” w 24-36” A Whimsical chartreuse-blonde flowers float like flags above blue-green foliage. Mass plantings make a dramatic statement. Zone 3 Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’ (Feather Reed Grass) h 3-4’ A It’s a classic for a reason. Strictly upright clumps with narrow cinnamon colored blooms. A carefree and very popular selection as a screen, in masses or as an upright accent. Nice movement in a breeze. Even tolerates clay soils. Zone 4 Carex ‘Ice Dance’ (Variegated Sedge) h 8-12” CD Waxy green and white foliage with a crisp texture highlight this shade tolerant groundcover. Slow to spread. Looks great with hostas. Zone 5 Carex muskingamensis ‘Oehme’ (Golden Variegated Palm Sedge) h 2’ CD Golden variegated leaves radiate like palm fronds with a bit of a twist and bit of a Perennials flop. This is a great dishevelled look with an overall upright form. Grows well in the shade garden. I’m sure Wolfgang Oehme is proud to have his name attached to this plant. Zone 4 Carex plantaginea ‘Blue Ridge’ (Seersucker Sedge) NEW! h 8-10” ACD A new cultivar of the lovely native. Very hardy, featuring wider pleated leaves than the native and countless golden brown seed heads that hold up into the winter. Grows well in moist light shade. Zone 4 Chasmanthium ‘River Mist’ (Variegated Northern Sea Oats) h 2-3’ ACD Stunning green and white variegated foliage makes a great specimen plant. Lovely dangling white seed heads appear in late summer and last through the winter. Spreads a bit. Zone 5

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Festuca ‘Beyond Blue’ (Blue Fescue) h 9-12” A An intense, powder blue mound that stays attractive without browning throughout the summer. Likes a moist spot. Looks great in a pot, too. Zone 4 Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’ (Golden Variegated Japanese Forest Grass) h 1-3’ C Graceful arching stems look great cascading out of pots or over walls. A large specimen will take your breath away. Its home area is cool and moist so shade is required to make it through our summer heat. Zone 4 Luzula sylvatica ‘Auslese’ (Greater Wood Rush) h 8-12” ACD Soft evergreen tufts are endearing with small hairs protruding from wide green blades. This plant thrives in moist shade. Useful under trees. Forms lush mounds. Zone 4 Miscanthus sinensis ‘Goldbar’ (Maiden Grass) h 36-60” A A dramatic upright tuft of green leaves banded horizontally with creamy yellow from bottom to top. Bands are closer together than other Miscanthus creating a very unique look. I always feel as if a tiny tiger could camouflage itself in this grass. Elegant burgundy blooms top the foliage in mid-fall. Slow growth initially. Works well in containers. Zone 5 Panicum virgatum ‘Ruby Ribbons’ (Switch Grass) h 3-5’ A This cultivar adds deep red color to the mid summer and fall garden after emerging with blue green foliage in spring. Compact size can work well in the garden or in large containers. Zone 2 Panicum virgatum ‘Shenandoah’ (Switch Grass) h 2-3’ A Beautiful red tips in summer become purple black with red plumes as autumn approaches. Slow growing but worth the wait. Zone 2 Schizachyrium s. ‘Blue Heaven’ (Little Bluestem) h 3-4’ A This cultivar is taller and more upright than is typical of little bluestem grasses. Foliage is dark blue to burgundy during summer turning purple violet and then red in the fall. Delicate fluffy white seedheads appear in the fall. Zone 3 Schizachyrium s. ‘Prairie Munchkin’ (Little Bluestem) h 30” A A cultivar of the native Little Bluestem that is celery green in spring, silver blue in fall with maroon highlights turning orange. The form is compact but very erect. Easy to grow and drought tolerant. Zone 3

Ferns Ferns—4½” deep, color-coded pots, 10 per flat

176 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Ferns

Ferns Athyrium angustum forma rubellum ‘Lady in Red’ h 24” w 30” CD Vibrant bright red stems contrast with lacy green fronds. Stems become darker in the 2nd year and on. Very hardy and easy to grow. Zone 2 Athyrium f. femina ‘Dre’s Dagger’ (Lady Fern) h 18” w 18” CD A different form of Lady Fern with thin deep green fronds which are often crisscrossed, terminating with a small crest. Great for pots or woodland. Zone 4 Athyrium f. femina ‘Frizelliae’ (Tatting Fern) h 12” w 18” CD A delicate deciduous fern from Europe with unique narrow fronds and pinnae reduced to bead-like balls. An extremely fascinating texture. Zone 4 Athyrium f. femina ‘Victoriae’ (Lady Fern) NEW! h 18-24” w 20-24” CD A unique form with criss-cross pinnae forming x’s on the fronds. Called the “Queen of Green” by the former curator of the New York Botanical Garden for its fabulous structure. Zone 4 Athyrium niponicum ‘Pictum’ (Japanese Painted Fern) h 8-20” w 12” CD A deciduous spreading fern with spectacular triangular blades in shades of burgundy, red gray and dark green. The best color is developed in cool light shade. Perennial Plant of the Year in 2004. Zone 4 Athyrium niponicum ‘Pictum Regal Red’ NEW! h 12-18” w 24” CD The slightly twisting fronds of this Japanese Painted Fern are deep violet red toward the center and silvery at the edge, creating a unique and striking effect. Outstanding selection with reliable color. Zone 4 Athyrium niponicum ‘Pictum-Applecourt’ (Japanese Painted fern) h 12-24” CD Another luminous painted fern with heavy cresting at the ends creating a fuller but still delicate appearance. Zone 3 Perennials Athyrium x ‘Ghost’ h 30-38” w 30” CD A cross between the American Lady Fern and the Japanese Painted Fern. A strong tall-growing fern with ghostly gray-green foliage. Forms lovely clumps. A beautiful contrast with dark-foliage plants. Zone 3 Dryopteris erythrosora ‘Brilliante’ (Autumn Fern) h 18-24” w 15” CD An Asian fern with arching evergreen foliage. The young fronds are glossy coppery pink. They become darker green as they mature. The triangular bipinnate fronds will hold their color all winter. Zone 4 Dryopteris goldiana ‘Goldie’s Giant’ (Goldie’s Giant Fern) h 36-48” w 24” CD The largest of our native Dryopteris from the cool moist woods of the Northeast. Makes an attractive stand of arched fronds that taper abruptly at the tip with shaggy brownish fiddleheads in the spring. Zone 3

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Osmunda cinnamomea (Cinnamon Fern) RENEW! h 24-36” w 36” CD Spore bearing, showy cinnamon fronds emerge spike-like in early summer for a dramatic impact. Fiddleheads open to graceful, arching sterile green fronds. Zone 3 Thelypteris decursive-pinnata (Japanese Beach Fern) h 32” w 16” D A lush green fern from Japan. Attractive form with good vigorous growth habit. Forms large clumps in moist or dry shade. Zone 4 Perennial Groundcovers Perennial Grasses—jumbo 6-packs

Affordable and delightful, our perennial ground covers offer your customers attractive alternatives for planting around pavers and borders or for erosion control. This year we’ve added some of the perennial “adorables” from our miniature garden program. The charming sedums from our long list work well planted in succulent containers or troughs, too. Varieties for sun or shade applications are available.

Perennial Groundcovers

Ajuga ‘Black Scallop’ (Bugleweed) h 4” AC The blackest in color with uniform, ruffled leaves. Dark violet flower spikes. Zone 4 Ajuga ‘Burgundy Glow’ (Bugleweed) h 4” CD Foliage in , silver and purple with blue flowers. The pink hues are especially vibrant in cooler weather. Zone 4 Ajuga ‘Chocolate Chip’ (Bugleweed) h 6” CD Sweet miniature. Dark chocolate elongated leaves. Blue blooms with low spreading habit. Spring blooming. Zone 4 Arabis procurrens ‘Variegata’ NEW! h 6-8” A Mounding habit, white-edged foliage and fragrant white flowers make a beautiful bright addition to your rock garden. Drought tolerant. Zone 3 Arenaria ‘Wallowa Mountains’ NEW! h 1” AC Fabulous mat of tiny evergreen leaves fills cracks between paving stones, looks great in fairy gardens. Requires very little water. Adorable. Zone 4 Galium odoratum (Sweet Woodruff) h 6-12” CD Sweetly fragrant with tiny white star-shaped flowers. Lovely fragrant green foliage. Blooms in May and June. Spreads quickly under the right conditions. Zone 4

178 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Perennial Groundcovers

Iberis sempervivums ‘Little Gem’ NEW! h 6-8” AC Compact mounding habit looks great cascading over rocks and walls, spilling clusters of small white flowers in late spring. Drought tolerant. Zone 3 Lamiastrum ‘Herman’s Pride’ (Yellow Archangel) h 12-15” CD Silver textured foliage with dark green venation. Tall flower stalks covered in lemon yellow flowers appear in early summer. Perfect filler for shade gardens and hosta beds. Zone 3 Lamium ‘Purple Dragon’ (Dead Nettle) h 4-8” CD Silvery-white foliage with large purple flowers. Flowers heavily throughout the summer. Zone 3 Lamium ‘White Nancy’ (Dead Nettle) h 6-8” CD Silver leaves with a narrow green edge. Charming white flowers. Blooms May-July. Zone 4 Lamium ‘Anne Greenaway’ NEW! h 6-8” CD Striking marbled foliage of light and dark green, chartreuse, and silver is topped with mauve flowers in late spring. Zone 3 Lysimachia nummularia ‘Goldilocks’ (Moneywort) h 4” AC Shiny round greenish gold leaves with bright lemon yellow blooms in late spring. Great for containers as a foliage accent or as a fast spreading ground cover. Zone 4 Muehlenbeckia ‘Variegated’ NEW! h 3-6” AC This perennial wire vine stands out with leaves of green mottled with creamy white and blushes of pink. Woody stems create a unique textural element. Great in containers, too. Zone 4 Pachysandra terminalis ‘Green Carpet’ (Japanese Spurge) h 8” CD Compact glossy evergreen foliage. White flowers appear in spring. Spreads quickly, deer resistant. Foolproof and trouble free in sun or shade. Zone 4

Phlox subulata ‘Appleblossom’ (Creeping Phlox) h 4-6” AC Perennials Soft pink blossoms with darker pink centers in spring. Needle-like foliage that persists through the summer. Zone 2 Phlox subulata ‘Millstream Daphne’ (Creeping Phlox) h 6” A Deep rosy pink flowers with a darker pink eye on dense needle-like foliage. Blooms in late April to May. Zone 4 Phlox subulata ‘Oakington Blue Eyes’ (Creeping Phlox) h 6” A Sky blue flowers in mid to late spring. Needle-like foliage in low spreading mats. Zone 4 Phlox subulata ‘Scarlet Flame’ (Creeping Phlox) h 6” A Beautiful glowing cerise blossoms in spring. Dense mat of foliage. Zone 4 Phlox subulata ‘White Delight’ (Creeping Phlox) h 4-6” AC Clear white blossoms in mid spring. Zone 2

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Sagina subulata (Irish Moss) h 3” C Charming rich green moss covered in tiny white blossoms in late summer. Use in containers or the shade garden. Pretty sure the fairies are all over this one, too. Zone 4 Sagina subulata aurea (Scotch Moss) h 1-3” C Chartreuse moss with small white blossoms. Use in containers or the shade or fairy garden. Zone 5 Sedum ‘Sunsparkler® Cherry Tart’ (Stonecrop) h 6” A Black cherry colored foliage has amazing 5” dark pink flower clusters in the fall. Adding sparkle to your rock garden. Zone 4 Sedum ‘Sunsparkler® Lime Zinger’ h 6” A A great addition to the Sunsparkler series, bright lime green leaves with a cherry- red picotee around the edge. In late summer through fall, there are masses of pink flowers. The butterflies and bees will love this plant. Zone 4 Sedum album ‘Coral Carpet’ (Creeping Sedum) h 1-3” A Tiny pinkish-green foliage reverts to all green in the summer and takes on as reddish cast in the fall. Forms a dense mat. Blooms with pale pink star-shaped flowers. Zone 4 Sedum dasyphyllum ‘Major’ (Corsican Sedum) h 4” A Prostrate mats of tiny powder blue rounded foliage. Fast growing and tough. Small white flowers. Zone 4 Sedum forsterianum ‘Oracle’ (Creeping Sedum) h 4-8” A Attractive needle-like grayish blue foliage with large golden flower clusters in early to midsummer. Zone 3 Sedum hispanicum ‘Purple Form’ (Stonecrop) h 2-4” A Blue-green succulent clusters develop a purple tint as the leaves mature. Tiny star shaped flowers are pink, almost white, and bloom in the heat of summer. Zone 5 Sedum humusifusum (Creeping Sedum) h 1” AC Creeping stems bearing rosettes of tightly overlapped mid-green leaves, aging to red. The mounds are extremely dense. Perfect for a minature or succulent garden addition. Bright yellow flowers as large as leaf rosettes. From Mexico. Very sweet! Zone 4 Sedum kamtschaticum ‘Weihenstephaner Gold’ (Creeping Sedum) h 4-9” AC Tight mats of serrated flat green rosettes which turn red in cool temps. Golden yellow flowers. An extremely reliable and fast spreading variety. Zone 3 Sedum lydium (Stonecrop) h 6” A Amazing texture and detail on this little trooper. Tight upright green succulent clusters flush with magenta pink in drought and cooler weather. Taller clusters of white flowers have hints of pink. Zone 5

180 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Perennial Groundcovers

Sedum ochroleucum ‘Red Wiggle’ (Stonecrop) h 3-4” A One of our favorite recent introductions. Tiny needle-like succulent foliage is bright red with bright green tips and turns completely red in the cooler fall weather. Yellow flowers. Zone 5 Sedum reflexum ‘Blue Spruce’ (Creeping Sedum) h 4-8” AC Dense mats of blue-green pine-like foliage with yellow blooms. Nice textural element for mixed succulent containers, too. Zone 4 Sedum rupestre ‘Angelina’ (Creeping Sedum) h 3-6” AC Trailing habit with bright chartreuse to yellow needle-like foliage, similar in form to ‘Blue Spruce’. Color blushes orange in fall. This one really spreads. Great addition to containers, too. Zone 4 Sedum spurium ‘Fulda Glow’ (Creeping Sedum) h 4” A Lovely bronzy red foliage with rose-red flowers in summer. A reliable and fast- spreading ground cover. Zone 3 Sempervivum ‘Cobweb Buttons’ (Hens and Chicks) h 4” A Grey threads weave over the tips of pale green rosettes like tiny spider webs. Charming and unique. Zone 4 Sempervivum ‘Silverene’ (Hens and Chicks) h 4” A Silver blue rosettes with red overtones. Zone 4 Sempervivum arachnoidium ‘Kalinda’ (Hens & Chicks) h 4” A Large succulent leaves in tight green heads with blood red tips. Use in rock gardens or mix with other succulents for an attractive container. Zone 4 Thymus ‘Caborn Wine and Roses’ h 2” A Enjoy a carpet of pink crimson flowers with this compact, spreading thyme. Zone 4 Thymus praecox ‘Highland Cream’ h 2-4” A Adorable variegated cream and green small leaved variety. Blooms with soft pink

flowers. Zone 4 Perennials Thymus praecox coccineus (Red Creeping Thyme) h 2-4” A Dense flat mat of dark green leaves with bright magenta-red flowers in midsummer. Zone 3 Thymus praecox pseudolanginosus (Woolly Thyme) h 1-3” AC Charming woolly grey foliage. Delicate looking, yet tough as nails. Zone 4 Thymus serphyllum ‘Elfin’ h 1-3” AC Very tiny foliage forms a dense mat with whorls of purple blooms. Seriously cute! Zone 4 Thymus x ‘Spicy Orange’ h 2-4” A Prostrate needle-like foliage forms a carpet covered in soft pink flowers early summer. Gives off fragrant scent of orange when touched. Will take moderate foot traffic. When used as a culinary herb, it offers hints of allspice and orange flavor. Great for borders and rock gardens. Zone 4

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Trifolium ‘Dark Dancer™’ h 3-8” A Vigorously growing clover with dark burgundy leaves edged in pale green. White clover flowers appear in summer. This is a fast growing spreader. Makes an elegant foliage accent in containers, too. Zone 4 Veronica ‘Tidal Pool’ NEW! h 2-3” A This new prostrate speedwell is a real winner. Lovely deep violet blue flowers are abundant on small oak leaf-like leaves that have a hint of silvery blue. Tough, dense and fast growing, this is a versatile groundcover for any sunny spot. Will even tolerate some foot traffic. Zone 4 Veronica ‘Whitewater’ (Speedwell) h 2-6” AC Shiny dark green foliage has hints of copper at the tips. Pure white spring flowers. Foliage turns completely bronze for fall. Zone 4 Veronica liwanensis (Creeping Speedwell) h 1-3” AC Deep green leaves form a mat covered with cobalt blue flowers in the summer. Tough and beautiful. Zone 3 Vinca ‘Illumination’ h 4-6” CD Striking golden-yellow lance shaped leaves edged with green. Ground hugging mat brightens any shady spot. A classic for containers as a trailing accent plant. Zone 5 Vinca minor ‘Bowles Cunningham’ (Periwinkle) h 4” D Dazzling periwinkle blue flowers bloom spring to fall. Larger flowers than standard ‘Bowles’. Zone 5 Vinca minor atropurpurea h 6-10” CD Large wine-purple flowers make a vivid contrast to mats of low growing dark green foliage. Longer bloom period than other vincas. Zone 3

182 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Tree Peonies Tree Peonies Tree Peonies—Trade Gallons We adore the Japanese tree peonies with their fragrant large blossoms. Quantities are very limited this year so be sure to preorder.

Tree Peonies

Tree Peonies Hardy, woody shrub with huge colorful blossoms, sturdy stem that need no staking, spectacular.

Paoenia suffruticosa ‘Light Pink’h5’ w4’ AC Zone 4. Paoenia suffruticosa ‘Red’h5’ w4’ AC Zone 4. Paoenia suffruticosa ‘Lavenderh5’ w4’ AC Zone 4. Paoenia suffruticosa ‘Purple’h5’ w4’ AC Zone 5. Perennials

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 183 Life at the Greenhouse Life at the Greenhouse Life at the Greenhouse

We asked our staff to tell you about a childhood or young adult memory that they have about the garden, plants or the outdoors. Here is what they said.

Amy: One of my favorite childhood memories involving flowers is actually one of my first memories period. I can remember walking around my yard with my mom one day, at the age of not much more than a year, so the memory is as if a dream. I spied fuzzy pink flowers blooming on a bush and I just had to have me some. My love of flowers has no doubt been culti- vated by the women in my family. Upon the beginning of a “Minnesota Goodbye” after visiting Grammie Marie’s house, she would always pick a little bouquet of flowers from her garden for me to take home. As I got older, she would let me pick them myself, so if the Lily of the Valley was blooming, I would head straight for the secret pink ones blooming under her front pine tree. I can still hear her saying “Don’t forget your posies” and I still have that “I gotta have that plant” feeling that started with this Red Spiraea so long ago. I hope you enjoy Amy with her flower picking out your plants this year from our 2016 selection, and find many that you “just gotta have”. .

Annie: I grew up on a resort in northern Minnesota. It was a great childhood. Occasionally we would sneak behind the barn to smoke cigarettes with those city kids – no inhaling. We heard that eating raw potatoes would cover up the smell so my brother and I would dig and eat potatoes for this purpose. Such a fond memory.

Babette: A picture saves a thousand words. (See photo of Babette’s rhubarb.)

Becca: One of my most cherished childhood memories is of my father tilling the family vegetable garden. He would walk the rototiller back and forth across the garden and I would follow behind, barefoot, stepping into his footprints, sunken deep into the soft soil. Now, I keep a vegetable garden for my own fam- ily and I still love the feel of fluffy soft, freshly tilled garden soil between my toes on a warm spring day. My preschool aged daughter can always be found digging her toes in beside me as we plant the garden and I hope these memo- ries will lead her to plant a vegetable garden of her own someday.

Eli: As one could find in many a small Wisconsin town in the 1970s, we had a

184 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Life at the Greenhouse

barn across the backyard. Our neighbor lady, called Grandma Luebke by my sib- lings and I, lived in the oldest house on the block and it still had a hulking barn and a couple of sheds on the lot. I cannot imagine the help it was for my mom, new in town, stuck there with five kids and all of our relatives several states away, to have a neighbor who would help keep an eye on us --and would share the bounty of her garden.

Not only did plump raspberries grow between the boards of a decaying wagon east of the barn and ripe mulberries and apples drop to the driveway north of her house, Grandma Luebke maintained a real garden complete with pumpkins for her own grandkids as well as all five Babette’s rhubarb of us, burpless cucumbers because she knew my mom liked those, zinnias for her bouquets and sweet peas tangled in the old gate under the lilac. Huge oriental poppies, like a dream of the richest, deepest orange and towering soft pink hollyhocks grew next to the house. My first memory of seed saving was Grandma Luebke crushing hollyhock and poppy seed pods and sprinkling the contents about to grow the following year. She’d be out there summer morn- ings after the dew dried, keeping down the weeds with an ancient gooseneck cultivating hoe.

Other neighbors on the block had gardens with neat rows of peppers and carrots; even my parents managed to rock out some green beans most sum- mers, and one memorable year, amazing home grown broccoli. But Grandma Luebke’s garden was, to a child’s eye, everything that a garden should be. Sure, there was its size and tidiness, but most likely, it was the pumpkins.

Gary: I grew up with a mom who always found time to plant flowers around our farm house. She had learned gardening from her mother. I remember viv- idly one summer day my grandmother calling my mom and telling her that she needed to come down and see a flower she was so excited about. With that, we jumped in the car and drove down to her house and saw a passion flower blooming. I was amazed. I had never seen anything like it. I would suppose it About Us was something she had ordered from the Gurney’s catalog and was very proud that she had this thing that looked so exotic thriving and growing up a little trellis.

Jan: I have two main memories from my childhood concerning plants, and they both involve my mother. Vegetable gardening was not a big thing in my neighborhood when I was young, but my mother always had three tomato

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 185 Life at the Greenhouse

plants along the side of the house. I thought this was really cool…growing your own food! So she encouraged me to dig up a strip of grass nearby and plant something of my very own. Every year I dug up that little patch and seeded carrots. I tended them like they were my pets and was so proud to unearth those delicious fresh carrots and present them to my mother, a woman who loved food and was the best cook I knew. We consumed most of them together, raw and still attached to the greens.

My other memory is the precious time I spent with Mom walking in the woods of northern Wisconsin every year on our summer vacation. Gary as a child She instilled in me a deep love of wildflowers, and while I only learned a few back then, it led me on a lifelong journey of adventures in the wilderness and an appreciation for all that sprouts and blooms and creeps beneath the canopy of forest cover.

Katharine: I remember with my brothers picking our sweet Silver Queen corn, throwing the ears into the wooden wheelbarrow, tying it to the back of our bikes, and pulling it down the long drive to the main road. There we sold them to church-goers on their way home from the two churches 1/2 mile away in each direction. The ears went so fast, we kept riding the barrow back to the garden to refill it....I remember pulling back the husks at the top looking for worms and cutting them out for squeamish customers. We thought them quite silly. The people, that is.

Margy: I remember my grandmother burying fish scraps in the garden, my un- cle planting a half acre of flower varieties to let grow unpicked, and my mother on her knees tucking in begonias below the forsythia bush. My pleasure was to climb any available tree as high as I could get. My work was creating elaborate forts out of field brush and bushes as a secret place of my own.

Mel: One of my favorite fruits from the garden is strawberries. Growing up we had a large garden and my mom did a lot of canning. There are eight children in my family. We all had to help plant the garden, harvest and do lots of weed- ing. When I was about 4 years old I would go the garden and look for all the ripe strawberries and eat them. I didn’t like to share them with my siblings. If there weren’t any ripe berries then I had a stump that I sat on. I would sit on that the stump waiting for the strawberries to ripen in my rubber boots. This continued for several years and to this day I still really enjoy strawberries, but I don’t wait for them ripen anymore

Norma: My earliest memories of the garden and gardening were mostly “Watch where you walk”, “Stay out of there,” “Go play on the swing,” and “Stay out of my way”. My parents took the garden very seriously. After all there were

186 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Life at the Greenhouse

Becca with her toes in the freshly tilled soil four kids to feed and that required many quarts of frozen vegetables. It was not until I was old enough to tell a weed from a vegetable and a ripe straw- berry from a not ripe one that I entered the work of gardening (completely unaware of child labor laws).

Ruth: My fondest memory of being introduced to gardening was at a very young age. My dad was the gardener and I loved spending time with him plant- ing and harvesting all the produce. With seven kids in the household it was a special one and one that I cherished. He was the fun parent!

Suzanne: My family has a spot in the North Woods of Wisconsin with a ‘crick’ flowing through it and a log cabin that my grandfather built. It’s the sort of wild woods where trees are allowed to lie where they fall. They become elon- gated hummocks covered in an array of mosses, lichen, clubmosses, partridge berry and princess pines. Spring ephemerals surround them. I spent a lot of hours poring over the miniature wonderlands. On our last trip up in the fall I’d put together a terrarium in the hopes that in the middle of winter I could lift the cover and transport myself back to the woods.

Tom: Well I would say that the first substantial interaction I had with plants in my life was at the age of 10 years when I started spending the summers work- ing at local farms in my home state of Oregon picking strawberries, raspberries and beans. We got paid by the amount we picked, so we didn’t make much.

The work was tedious, but we had some fun, too. In the strawberry and rasp- About Us berry fields we’d have some berry fights, which were usually quickly broken up by the row bosses. Now the row bosses were adults who inspected the rows we were picking to make sure we were “picking clean”, that is not leaving too many berries or beans behind. Most of the row bosses seemed to be Okies, folks who came moved out to Oregon during the dust bowl days.

In the pole bean fields we usually had a picking partner, that is someone else who would pick on the other side as we worked down the row. One sum-

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 187 Life at the Greenhouse

mer my picking partner was a guy named John. He was a bit of a “Fonzie” character. He talked a lot and liked to goof off as much as he could get away with while the row bosses tried to keep an eye on him. Working with him was always entertaining and eased the tedium. One day as we picked we each put a bean in our mouth, pretending it was a cigarette. Well one of the Oakie row row bosses spied us from the far end of the row. She crept up on us behind the cover of the adjacent row, then burst though the vines yelling “Aha! I caught you smoking!” Then she saw that the cigs were just beans. We laughed so hard we fell off the buckets we sat on, while she hollered at us to get back to work and to pick cleaner. She had it out for us for the rest of the season.

Vicky W.: When we were little, my Uncle Gavin was the Superintendent of one of the University of Wisconsin Extension Farms. One summer day (maybe I was 10) he took us and our cousins out into the field for a wonderful tomato tast- ing adventure. We tried a slice of trial after trial of juicy summer beauties and I remember being amazed at their unique flavors. That day stayed with me for years and I was hooked.

Cat report from Suzanne: The Reign of the Hosta continues…

With the passing of our cats August Moon and Frances Williams we endured a long and cat-less winter. The spell was broken one morning when Jack Frost appeared on our doorstep. As we unlocked the door he walked right into our office and our hearts. He’s a young guy, a big kitten really. He demanded so many hours of play that we knew what he really needed was another kitten. The search began. The search quickly end- ed. We had all traipsed down to the nearby hamlet of Martell where we knew there to be numerous litters. We chose JuneBug out of a litter that was several weeks shy of being able to leave Mom. Which was AOK because it turned out that Jack Frost had nu- merous health issues after his homeless youth that needed to be resolved. In fact even after June was old enough to come home we weren’t sure if Jack’s cough wasn’t conta- gious. So Becca took her home for a few weeks. There she received time honored and invaluable training that only 3-yr olds can provide. Becca was kind enough to run home and get JuneBug at lunchtime so we didn’t miss out on any of her kittenhood. These two cats are perfectly adorable and instantly became family. They have played together endlessly and then fallen into a sleepy heap. More recently, mousing has commenced. We are at 2 …and counting.

Jack Frost and JuneBug

188 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Index Index Plants to Category We’ve included this index for your quick reference when you are unsure where in our catalog to look for a particular item. The table of contents lists where to find each of the categories listed below, and plants are listed alphabetically within that category. The category codes are as follows: AnGr = Annual grasses in 4” pots BASK = Hanging Baskets BGem = Border Gems in jumbo 6 packs EARLY= Early Spring Program (Pansies/Violas) ED3 = Edibles in 3½” pots ED6 = Edibles in jumbo 6 packs FERN = Perennial ferns in quarts Big E = Edibles in larger pots GrCov = Perennial ground covers in jumbo 6 packs HERB = Herbs Lg A = Large Annuals in 1 or 2 gallon pots PER = Perennials in quarts P Gr = Perennial grasses in quarts P Nat = Perennial natives in quarts SA = Specialty annuals in 4” pots SF = Specialty foliage in 4” pots Vine = Annual vines in 4 ½” pots

Index Abutilon ‘Fairy Coral Red’...... SA Adiantum p. ‘Maiden-Haired Fern’. P Nat Abutilon ‘Souvenir d’Bonn standard’.Lg A Agastache ‘Bolero’...... PER Abutilon ‘Lucky Lantern® Red’...... SA Agastache ‘Arizona Sandstone’...... SA Abutilon ‘Lucky Lantern® Yellow’...... SA Agastache ‘Arizona Sun’...... SA Abutilon m. ‘Chinese Lantern’...... SA Agastache ‘Little Adder’...... Sum P Abutilon savitzii ‘Standard ‘...... Lg A Agastache hybrida ‘Arcado Pink’....BGem Achillea ‘Little Moonshine’.... PER, Sum P Agastache hybrida ‘Astello Indigo’.BGem About Us Achillea ‘New Vintage Red’...... PER Agastache ‘Purple Giant Hyssop’....P Nat Achillea ‘Desert Eve Terracotta’...... PER Agave ‘Crème Brulee’...... Lg A Achillea m. ‘Strawberry Seduction’.Sum P Ageratum ‘Mediano Rose’...... SA Aconitum carmichaelii ‘Arendsii’...... PER Ageratum ‘Mediano Violet Wine’...... SA Aconitum x c. ‘Bressingham Sprire’... PER Ageratum ‘Patina Purple’...... SA Acorus gramineus ‘Ogon’...... P Gr Ageratum h. ‘Blue Horizon’...... BGem Acrous g. ‘Pusillus Minimus Aureus’.AnGr Ageratum houstonianum ‘Red’...... BGem Actacea pachypoda ‘Misty Blue’...... PER Ageratum h. ‘White Bouquet’...... BGem

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Ajuga ‘Black Scallop’...... GrCov Aquilegia vulgaris ‘Clementine Red®’.PER Ajuga ‘Burgundy Glow’...... GrCov Aquilegia v. ‘Clem. Salmon Rose’...... PER Ajuga ‘Chocolate Chip’...... GrCov Arabis procurrens ‘Variegata’...... GrCov Ajuga reptans ‘Black Scallop’...... PER Aralia cordata ‘Sun King’...... Sum P Ajuga reptans ‘Pink Lightning’...... PER Arctotis ‘Opera Fire’...... SA Albuca spiralis ‘Frizzle Sizzle’...... Lg A Arctotis ‘Ravers® Bumble Bee’...... SA Alcea rosea ‘Spotlight Mars Magic’... PER Arctotis ‘Ravers® Cherry Frost’...... SA Alcea rosea ‘Halo Cerise’...... PER Arenaria ‘Wallowa Mountains’...... GrCov Alcea rosea ‘Halo Lavender’...... PER Argyranthemum ‘Beauty Yellow’...... SA Alchemilla s. ‘Gold Strike’...... PER, Sum P Arisaema ‘Jack in the Pulpit’...... P Nat Allium ‘Millenium’...... PER Armeria juniperifolia ...... SA Allium ‘Quattro’...... PER Armeria m. ‘Morning Star Dp.Rose’.. PER Allium senescens ‘Pink Planet’...... PER Arnica montana ‘Mountain Arnica’.HERB Allium senescens ‘Blue Eddy’...... PER Artemisia ‘Parfum d’ Ethiopia’...... SF Allium tricoccum ...... P Nat Artemisia ‘Silver Brocade’...... SF Alocasia ‘Stingray’...... Lg A Artichoke ‘Imperial Star’...... ED3 Alternanthera ‘Brazilian Red Hots’...... SF Arugula ...... HERB Alternanthera ‘Burgundy Threadleaf’.SF Arugula - wild ‘Wasabi’...... HERB Alternanthera d. ‘Little Ruby’...... SF Aruncus ‘Misty Lace’...... PER Amaranth ‘Yin Thai’...... ED6 Aruncus dioicus ...... Sum P Amaranthus ‘Copperhead’...... BGem Asarina purpusii ‘Victoria Falls’...... Vine Amaranthus caudatus ‘Red Tails’...BGem Asarina scandens ‘Joan Lorraine’..... Vine Amaranthus c. ‘Hopi Red Dye’...... BGem Asarum canadensis ‘Wild Ginger’....P Nat Ammi majus ‘Dara’...... BGem Asarum europeum ...... PER Ammi majus ‘Graceland’...... BGem Asclepias ‘Monarch Promise’...... SA Amorpha canescens ‘Lead Plant’....P Nat Asclepias c ‘Silky Gold’...... BGem Amsonia ‘Blue Ice’...... PER Asclepias c. ‘Silky Deep Red’...... BGem Amsonia hubrichtii ...... Sum P Asclepias incarnata ‘Ice Ballet’...... PER Amsonia t. ‘var. Salicifolia’...... Sum P Asclepias i. ‘Marsh Milkweed’...... P Nat Anagallis ‘Wildcat Blue’...... SA Asclepias incarnata ...... Sum P Anagallis ‘Wildcat Mandarin’...... SA Asclepias physocarpus ‘Oscar’...... BGem Andropogon ‘Big Bl. Stem’...P Nat, Sum P Asclep. t. ‘Butterfly Weed’...P Nat, Sum P Andropogon gerardii ...... Sum P Asclep. t. ‘Gay Butterflies’..... PER, Sum P Anemone ‘Pretty Lady Julia’. PER, Sum P Asclep. t. ‘Hello Yellow’...... PER, Sum P Anemone sylvestris ...... PER Asclepias tuberosa ssp. interior ...... PER Anemone tomentosa ‘Robustissima’.PER Asclepias v. ‘Whorled Milkweed’.....P Nat Angelica gigas ...... PER Asparagus ‘UC 70’...... ED6 Angelonia ‘Actors® Pink Blue Splash’.. SA Asplenium ‘Victoria’...... Lg A Angelonia ‘Archangel Dark Purple’..... SA Aster laevis ‘Smooth Aster’...... P Nat Angelonia ‘Archangel Dark Rose’...... SA Aster novae-angliae ‘Vibrant Dome’. PER Angelonia ‘Archangel Raspberry’...... SA Astilbe ‘Little Visions in Purple’...... Sum P Angelonia ‘Serenita Purple’...... SA Astilbe arendsii ‘Cappuccino’...... PER Anise Hyssop ...... HERB Astilbe arendsii ‘Glow’...... PER, Sum P Aquilegia ‘Dbl Pleat Blackberry™’..... PER Astilbe chinensis x ‘Delft Lace’...... Sum P Aquilegia c. ‘Canada Columbine’.....P Nat Astilbe chinensis x ‘Love and Pride’.. PER Aquilegia chrysantha ‘Denver Gold’.. PER Astilbe chinensis x ‘Purple Rain’...... PER Aquilegia f. ‘Black Current Ice’...... PER Astilbe hybrid ‘Chocolate Shogun’..... PER Aquilegia f. ‘Selection’...... PER Astilbe japonica ‘Montgomery’...... PER

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Astilbe simplicifolia ‘Pink Lightning’.. PER Brachyscome ‘Radiant Magenta’...... SA Astilbe x arendsii ‘Color Flash Lime’.. PER Bracteantha ‘Dreamtime Jumbo Red’.SA Astilboides tabularis ...... Sum P Bracteantha ‘Mohave Orange’...... SA Astragalus m. ‘Chinese Milkvetch’...HERB Bracteantha ‘Mohave White’...... SA Astrantia major ‘Star of Fire’...... PER Brilliantasia subulugurica ...... Lg A Astrantia major ‘Star of Magic’...... PER Broccoli ‘Gypsy’...... ED6 Athyrium a. f. r. ‘Lady in Red’...... FERN Broccolini ‘Artwork’...... ED6 Athyrium f. femina ‘Dre’s Dagger’...FERN Browalia ‘Endless Flirtation’...... SA Athyrium f. femina ‘Frizelliae’...... FERN Browalia ‘Endless Illumination’...... SA Athyrium f. femina ‘Victoriae’...... FERN Browallia americana ‘Sky Blue’...... BGem Athyrium niponicum ‘Pictum’...... FERN Brugmansia ‘Cassie’s Curl’...... Lg A Athyrium nip. ‘Pictum Regal Red’....FERN Brugmansia ‘Ember Glow’...... Lg A Athyrium nip. ‘Pictum-Applecourt’.FERN Brugmansia ‘Jean Pasco’...... Lg A Athyrium x ‘Ghost’...... FERN Brugmansia ‘Peach’...... Lg A Bacopa ‘Bahia Purple Sand’...... SA Brunnera ‘Alexander’s Great’...... Sum P Bacopa ‘Scopia Double Snowball’...... SA Brunnera ‘Sea Heart’...... PER Bacopa ‘Scopia Gulliver White’...... SA Brunnera macrophylla ‘Diane’s Gold’.PER Bacopa ‘Snowstorm® Blue Bubbles’... SA Brussels Sprouts ‘Churchill’...... ED6 Baptisia ‘Decadence® Cherry Jubilee’.PER Brussels Sprouts ‘Falstaff’...... ED6 Baptisia ‘Deca. ® Lemon Meringue’... PER Cabbage ‘Compact Mixed Varieties’.ED6 Baptisia ‘Deca.® Sparkling Sapphires’.PER Cabbage ‘Deluxe Mix’...... ED6 Baptisia ‘Deca® Dutch Chocolate’..... PER Caladium ‘4 selections’...... SF Baptisia australis ...... PER Calamagrostis x a.‘Karl Foerster’...... P Gr Basella alba r. ‘Malibar Spinach’...... Vine Calamintha n. ‘Montrose White’...... PER Basil ‘Compact Genovese Improved’.ED6 Calamintha n.‘Montrose White’.....Sum P Basil ‘28 varieties’...... HERB Calendula ‘Sunset Buff’...... BGem Bay Laurel ...... HERB Calendula o. ‘Maya Orange’...... BGem Beets ‘Bull’s Blood’...... ED6 Calendula officinalis ‘Resina’...... HERB Beets ‘Gourmet Blend’...... ED6 Calibrachoa ‘25 selections’...... SA Beets ‘Red Ace’...... ED6 Caltha palustris ‘Marsh Marigold’...P Nat Begonia ‘23 selections’...... SA Campanula ‘Dickinson’s Gold’...... PER Begonia ‘5 selections’...... Lg A Campanula ‘Summertime Blues’...... PER Begonia ‘5 selections’...... BASK Campanula ‘Viking’...... PER Begonia ‘Dragon Wing Red’...... BASK, SA Campanula p. ‘Miss Melanie’...... PER Belamcanda ‘Freckle Face’...... Sum P Campanula r. ‘Thumbell Blue™’...... PER Bellium minutum ...... SA Canna ‘CannaSol Lily’...... SA Bergenia ‘Dragonfly Sakura’...... PER Canna x g. ‘C. Bronze Leaf Scarlet’...... SA Bergenia ‘Winter Glow’...... PER Canna x generalis ‘Cannova Rose’...... SA Bidens ‘Beedance Painted Red’...... SA Cantaloupe ‘Goddess’...... ED3 Bidens ‘Beedance Red Striped’...... SA Cantaloupe ‘Minnesota Midget’...... ED3 Bidens ‘Bidy Gonzales Top’...... SA Cantaloupe ‘Oka’...... ED3 Bidens ‘Campfire Fireburst’...... SA Caraway ...... HERB Bitter Melon ‘Spindle’...... Vine Cardiospermum halicacabum ‘Love in a Boltonia a. var. lati. ‘Jim Crockett’...Sum P Puff’...... Vine Borage ...... HERB Carex ‘Ice Dance’...... P Gr Bougainvillea ‘Sunvillea Rose’...... SA Carex ‘Rekohu Sunrise’...... AnGr Bouteloua ‘Blonde Ambition’...... P Gr Carex ‘Spark Plug’...... AnGr Index Bouteloua curt.‘Side Oats Grama’...P Nat Carex buchanii ‘Red Rooster’...... AnGr

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Carex d. ‘Gold Fountains’...... AnGr Cissus discolor ...... Lg A Carex muskingamensis ‘Oehme’...... P Gr Clematis i. ‘Mongolian Bells’...... PER Carex oshimensis ‘EC® Everillo’...... AnGr Clematis recta ‘Serious Black’...... PER Carex oshimensis ‘EC® Eversheen’. AnGr Cleome ‘Clio’...... SA Carex p.‘Pennsylvania Sedge’...... P Nat Cleome ‘Queen Cherry’...... BGem Carex pensylvanica ...... Sum P Cleome ‘Queen Violet’...... BGem Carex plantaginea ‘Blue Ridge’...... P Gr Cobaea scandens ‘Cathedral Bells’.. Vine Carex p. ‘Seersucker Sedge’...... P Nat Coleus ‘57 varieties’...... SF Carex testacea ‘Prairie Fire’...... AnGr Collards ‘Georgia’...... ED6 Carharanthus ‘Soiree Double Pink’..... SA Colocasia ‘Coffee Cups’...... Lg A Carharanthus ‘Soiree Ka-wa-i-i Coral’.SA Cordyline ‘Black Knight’...... SF Cassia hebecarpa ‘Wild Senna’...... P Nat Cordyline ‘Pink Passion’...... SF Cat Grass ‘Tabby’...... HERB Coreopsis ‘Leading Lady series’...... PER Catnip ...... HERB Coreopsis ‘Jethro Tull’...... Sum P Catnip ‘Lemon’...... HERB Coreopsis tinctoria ‘Roulette’...... BGem Cauliflower ‘Graffiti’...... ED6 Corydalis ‘Blue Panda’...... PER Cauliflower Romanesco ‘Veronica’... ED3 Cosmos bipinatus ‘5 varieties’...... BGem Celeriac ‘Brilliant’...... ED6 Cotton ‘Black’...... SF Celery - Cutting ‘Afina’...... HERB Crinum ‘Ellen Bosanquet’...... Lg A Celosia ‘Dragon’s Breath’...... SA Cucamelon ...... ED3 Celosia ‘Intenz Deep Purple’...... SA Cucumber ‘11 varieties’...... ED3 Celosia ‘Intenz Lipstick’...... SA Cuphea ‘Flamenco Samba’...... SA Celosia ‘Twisted’...... SA Cuphea hybrid ‘Vermillionaire’...... SA Celosia spicata ‘Celway Purple’.....BGem Cuphea llavea ‘Sriracha Rose Pink’..... SA Celosia spicata ‘Kosmo Cherry’...... SA Cynara cardunculus ‘Cardoon’...... SF Centaurea ‘Black Sprite’...... PER Cyperus ‘King Tut’...... Lg A, AnGr Centaurea ‘Lavender Mist’...... PER Dahlia ‘7 varieties’...... SA Centaurea ‘Boy Black’...... BGem Dahlia variabilis ‘Fireworks’...... BGem Centaurea ‘Colchester White’...... SF Dalea p. ‘Purple Prairie Clover’...... P Nat Centradenia grandiflora ...... SA Darmera peltatum ...... PER Chamaemelum nobile ‘Flore Pleno’.HERB Datura m. ‘Ballerina Purple’...... SA Chamomile - German ...... HERB Delosperma ‘Jewel of Desert Garnet’.PER Chasmanthium ‘River Mist’...... P Gr Delphinium ‘8 varieties’...... PER Chelone ‘Tiny Tortuga’...... PER Dianthus ‘Early Bird® Fizzy’...... PER Chelone glabra ‘White Turtlehead’.P Nat Dianthus ‘Edgehog’...... PER Chelone lyonii ‘Hot Lips’...... PER, Sum P Dianthus ‘Fire Star’...... PER Chenille ‘Fire Tails’...... SA Dianthus ‘Jolt Cherry’...... SA Chervil ...... HERB Dianthus ‘Neon Star’...... PER Chia ...... HERB Dianthus ‘Rosish One’...... PER Chinese Broccoli ‘Green Lance’...... ED6 Dianthus ‘Scent from Heaven™ Angel of Chinese Cabge Nappa ‘Grn Rocket’.. ED6 Peace’...... PER Chinese Celery ‘Tianjin Green’...... ED6 Dianthus b. ‘Heart Attack’..... PER, Sum P Chives ‘Garlic’...... HERB Dianthus barbatus ‘Dash Crimson’.BGem Chives ‘Purly’...... HERB Dianthus barbatus ‘Green Ball’...... SA Cilantro ‘Calypso’...... ED6, HERB Dianthus c ‘SuperTrooper Orange’..... SA Cilantro ‘Confetti’...... HERB Dianthus c. ‘SuperT. Red+White’...... SA Cimicifuga ‘Chocoholic’...... PER Diascia ‘My Darling Clementine’...... SA Cissus rhombifolia ‘Grape Leaf Ivy’.....SF Diascia ‘Romeo Red’...... SA

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Diascia ‘SunDiascia Upright Peach’..... SA Evolvulus ‘Blue My Mind’...... SA Dicentra ‘5 varieties’...... PER Felicia amelloides ‘Felicity Blue’...... SA Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’...... SF Fennel ‘Bronze’...... ED6 Digiplexis ‘Illumination Raspberry’....Lg A Fennel - Bulbing ‘Orion’...... ED6 Digitalis grandiflora ...... PER Fenugreek ...... HERB Digitalis obscura ‘Sunset® ‘...... PER Fern Collection...... SF Digitalis purpurea ‘Candy Mountain’.PER Festuca ‘Beyond Blue’...... P Gr Dill ‘Bouquet’...... HERB Feverfew ...... HERB Dill ‘Fern Leaf’...... HERB Ficus pumila ‘Creeping Fig’...... SF Dodecatheon meadia ‘Aphrodite’..... PER Filipendula ‘Red Umbrellas’...... PER Dodecatheon m.‘Shooting Star’...... P Nat Forager’s Mix ‘Cool Season’...... ED6 Dolichos lablab ‘Ruby Moon’...... Vine Forager’s Mix ‘Warm Season’...... ED6 Dorotheanthus ‘Mezoo Trailing Red’...SF Fuchsia ‘9 selections’...... SA Dryopteris erythrosora ‘Brilliante’...FERN Fuchsia ‘4 selections’...... BASK Dryopteris goldiana ‘Goldie’s Giant’.FERN Fuchsia ‘Lady Boothby’...... Vine Echeveria collection ...... SF Gaillardia aristata ‘Arizona Sun’...... Sum P Echinacea ‘9 selections’...... PER Galium odoratum ...... GrCov Echinacea ‘4 selections’...... Sum P Gaura ‘Belleza Dark Pink’...... SA Echinacea angustifolia ‘Narrow Leaf Gaura ‘Little Janie’...... SA Coneflower’...... HERB Gaura lindheimeri ‘The Bride’...... BGem Echinacea p. ‘Bush’s Coneflower’....P Nat Gazania ‘SunBathers® Nahui’...... SA Echinops bannaticus ‘Blue Glow’...... PER Gazania ‘Sunbathers® Tikal’...... SA Edamame Soybeans ‘Giant Midori’.. ED6 Gazania ‘SunBathers® Totonaca’...... SA Eggplant ‘7 selections’...... ED3 Geranium ‘15 selections’...... SA Ensete maurelii ...... Lg A Geranium ‘Precision Dark Salmon’.BASK Epazote ...... HERB Geranium ‘Precision Pink’...... BASK Epimedium x rubrum ...... PER Geranium ‘Precision Ruby’...... BASK Epimedium x v. ‘Sulphureum’...... PER Geranium cantabrigiense ‘Biokovo’... PER Epimedium x warleyense ...... PER Geranium macrorrhizum ‘Czakor’..... PER Eritrichium c. ‘Baby Blues’...... SA Geranium m. ‘Wild Geranium’...... P Nat Erodium x variabile ‘Bishop’s Form’.... SA Geranium pratense ‘Dark Reiter’...... PER Eryngium ‘Big Blue’...... PER Geranium s. ‘Vision Violet’...... Sum P Eryngium yuccifolium ...... Sum P Geranium w. ‘Havana Blues’...... PER Eryngium zabelii ‘Neptune’s Gold’..... PER Geranium x c. ‘Ann Folkard’...... PER Erysimum ‘Artist Paintbox’...... SA Gerbera ‘Jaguar Formula Mix’...... SA Erythronium alb. ‘White Trout Lily’.P Nat Geum ‘Alabama Slammer’...... PER Eucalyptus ‘Boxwood’...... SF Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’...... PER Eucalyptus ‘Lemon Bush’...... SF Geum chiloense ‘Red Dragon’...... PER Eupatorium dubium ‘Baby Joe’...... Sum P Geum triflorum ‘Prairie Smoke’...... P Nat Eupatorium fortunei ‘Pink Frost’...... PER Gibasis geniculata ‘Bridal Veil’...... SF Eupatorium maculatum ...... Sum P Gomphrena ‘Fireworks’...... BGem Euphorbia ‘Breathless Blush’...... SA Gomphrena ‘Pinball Purple’...... SA Euphorbia ‘Flame Leaf’...... SF Gomphrena ‘QIS Orange’...... BGem Euphorbia ‘Glamour’...... SA Gomphrena ‘Strawberry Fields’.....BGem Euphorbia ‘Star Dust Super Flash’...... SA Ground Cherry ‘Aunt Molly’...... ED3 Euphorbia cotinifolia ...... Lg A Gypsophila ‘Gypsy Deep Rose’...... SA Euphorbia polychroma ‘Bonfire’...... PER Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’...... P Gr Index Euphorbia polychroma ...... PER Hebe ‘Variegated’...... SF

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 193 IndexIndex

Hedera ‘Golden Child’...... SF Iris siberica ‘6 selections’...... PER Hedera ‘Marengo’...... SF Jiaogulan ...... HERB Hedera ‘Needlepoint’...... SF Juncus effusus ‘Big Twister’...... AnGr Helenium ‘Ruby Tuesday’...... Sum P Kale ‘6 varieties’...... ED6 Helenium ‘Short ‘n’ Sassy’...... Sum P Kale ‘Kosmic’...... ED3 Helenium a. ‘Mariachi™ Siesta’...... PER Kinh G. (Vietnamese Lemon Mint) .HERB Helenium autumnale ‘Tie Dye’...... Sum P Kirengeshoma koreana ...... PER Helichrysum p. ‘Lemon Licorice’...... SF Knautia ‘Thunder & Lightning’...... PER Heliopsis ‘Double Sunstruck’...... PER Kniphofia hirsuta ‘Fire Dance’...... Sum P Heliotrope ‘Fragrant Delight’...... SA Kohlrabi ‘Kossak’...... ED6 Helleborus ‘Wint.Jewels Jade Tiger’.. PER Kohlrabi -purple ‘Kolibri’...... ED6 Helleborus ‘Wint. Jewels Ruby Wine’.PER Lagurus ovatus ‘Bunny Tails’...... AnGr Helleborus ‘Wint. Jewel Cherry Bl’... PER Lamiastrum ‘Herman’s Pride’...... GrCov Helleborus ‘Winter Jewel Sunrise’.... PER Lamium ‘Lemon Frost’...... PER Hemerocallis ‘Always Afternoon’...... PER Lamium ‘Purple Dragon’...... GrCov Hemerocallis ‘Black Arrowhead’...... PER Lamium ‘White Nancy’...... GrCov Hepatica a. ‘Sharp Leafed Hepatica’.P Nat Lamium ‘Anne Greenaway’...... GrCov Herbs ‘Mixed’...... BASK Lantana ‘10 selections’...... SA Heuchera ‘18 selections’...... PER Lantana ‘Landmark Sunrise Rose’... BASK Heuchera ‘5 selections’...... Sum P Lantana ‘Landmark Sunrise Rose’...... SA Heucherella ‘6 selections’...... PER Larkspur consolida ‘Blue Cloud’.....BGem Hibiscus ‘Little Zin’...... SF Lathyrus ‘King Edward VII’...... Vine Hibiscus ‘Snow Queen’...... Lg A Lathyrus ‘Lady Grisel Hamilton’...... Vine Hibiscus a. ‘Mahogany Splendor’...... SF Lathyrus vernus ...... PER Hibiscus sabdariffa ...... HERB Laurentia ‘Beth’s Blue’...... SA Hosta ‘21 selections’...... PER Laurentia ‘MegaStar Pink’...... SA Hydrangea a. ‘Haas Halo’...... Sum P Lavender ‘16 selections’...... HERB Hypericum calycinum ‘St. John’...... HERB Leeks ‘King Richard’...... ED6 Hypoestes p. ‘Splash Select Red’....BGem Lemon Balm ...... HERB Hyssop officinalis ...... HERB Lemon Grass ...... HERB Iberis sempervivums ‘Little Gem’...GrCov Leonotis m. ‘Savannah Sunset’...... SA Impatiens ‘4 varieties’...... BASK Lettuce ‘Mixed’...... ED6 Impatiens ‘16 varieties’...... SA Lettuce ‘Red Butterhead - Avicenna’.ED6 Iochroma ‘Purple Queen’...... SA Lettuce ‘Springtime Head Mix’...... ED6 Ipomoea ‘11 selections’...... SF Leucanthemum ‘Real Charmer’...... PER Ipomoea nil ‘Sunrise Serenade’...... Vine Leucanthemum ‘Real Galaxy’...... Sum P Ipomoea n. ‘Moonflower’...... Vine Leucanthemum x superbum ‘Becky’. PER Ipomoea purpurea ‘Heavenly Blue’.Vine Lewisia ‘Elise Mix’...... PER Ipomoea p. ‘Kniola Purple-black’...... Vine Liatris spicata ‘Floristan violet’...... Sum P Ipomoea purpurea ‘Scarlet O’Hare’.Vine Ligularia ‘Bottle Rocket’...... PER Ipomoea x multifida ‘Cardinal Vine’.Vine Ligularia dentata ‘Midnight Lady’...Sum P Iresine ‘Blazin’ Lime’...... SF Lilium ‘6 selections’...... PER Iresine ‘Blazin’ Rose’...... SF Lilium ‘3 selections’...... Sum P Iris ensata ‘Pink Lady’...... PER Linum narbonense ...... PER Iris germanica ‘Blueberry Bliss’...... PER Linum perenne nanum ‘Saphyr’...... PER Iris g. ‘Harvest of Memories’...... PER Lisianthus ‘14 varieties’...... BGem Iris pumila ‘Blue Denim’...... PER Lobelia ‘4 selections’...... SA Iris pumila ‘Cherry Garden’...... PER Lobelia ‘Rush Creek Mix’...... BASK

194 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Index

Lobelia ‘Techno Blue’...... BASK Muehlenbeckia complexa ‘Wire Vine’.SF Lobelia cardinalis ‘Cardinal Flower’.P Nat Mustard - Indian ‘Dragon’...... ED6 Lobelia cardinalis ...... Sum P Nasturtium ‘8 varieties’...... ED6 Lobelia s. ‘Blue Cardinal Flower’.....P Nat Nemesia ‘Nesia Lemon’...... SA Lobelia syphilitica ...... Sum P Nemesia ‘Nesia Magenta’...... SA Lobularia ‘5 colors’...... BASK Nemesia ‘Opal innocence’...... SA Lophospermum ‘Lopho Compt Rose’. SA Nemesia ‘Parfum Blueb. Ala Mode’.... SA Lophosp. ‘Lopho Compt White’...... SA Nemesia ‘Sunsatia Blood Orange’...... SA Lophosp. ‘Lophos Cmpt Rose’...... BASK Nepeta x faasenii ‘Kit Cat’...... PER Lotus ‘Amazon Sunset’...... SF Nepeta x faasenii ‘Purrsian Blue’...... PER Lovage ...... HERB Nephrol. cor. ‘Lemon Button Fern’....Lg A Luffa ...... Vine Nicotiana ‘Whisper Deep Pink’...... BGem Lupinus polyphyllus ‘5 colors’...... PER Nicotiana a. ‘Fragrant Delight Mix’.BGem Luzula sylvatica ‘Auslese’...... P Gr Nicotiana alata ‘Lime Green’...... BGem Lysimachia ‘Sundew Springs’...... SA Nicotiana a. ‘Perfume Dp Purple’...BGem Lysimachia ‘Superstition’...... SA Nicotiana a. g. ‘Grand Old White’...BGem Lysimachia ‘Walkabout Sunset®’...... SA Nicotiana sylvestris ...... BGem Lysimachia n. ‘Goldilocks’...... GrCov Nicotiana x s. ‘Crimson Bedder’.....BGem Marigold ‘7 varieties’...... BGem Nigella ‘Moody Blues’...... BGem Marigold ‘Lemon Gem’...... ED6 Nigella ‘ Rose’...... BGem Marjoram ‘Golden’...... HERB Nigella papillosa ‘Midnight’...... BGem Marjoram ‘Greek Compact’...... HERB Nigella sativa ‘Black Cumin’...... HERB Marjoram ‘Zaatar’...... HERB Oenothera v. ‘Sunset Boulevard’...... PER Marshmallow ...... HERB Onion ‘6 varieties’...... ED6 Matteuccia s. ‘True Ostrich Fern’....P Nat Onion-bunching ‘Deep Purple’...... ED6 Mecardonia ‘GoldDust’...... SA Onions - bunching ‘Tokyo Long’...... ED6 Melinus nerviglumis ‘Savannah’..... AnGr Ophiopogon p. ‘Black Beard’...... AnGr Mertensia v. ‘Virginia Bluebells ‘.....P Nat Oregano ‘9 selections’...... HERB Mesclun ‘Mixed greens’...... ED6 Origanum ‘Kent Beauty’...... SA Mexican Tarragon ...... HERB Orlaya grandiflora ...... BGem Mina lobata ‘Firecracker’...... Vine Ornamental Millet ‘Jade Princess’.. AnGr Mint ‘18 selections’...... HERB Ornamental Millet ‘Purple Baron’.. AnGr Mirabilis ‘Harlequin’...... BGem Ornamental Pepper ‘Black Pearl’...... SF Mirabilis ‘Limelight’...... BGem Osmunda cinnamomea ...... FERN Mirabilis ‘Salmon Sunset’...... BGem Osteospermum ‘5 selections’...... SA Miscanthus sinensis ‘Goldbar’...... P Gr Oxalis vulcanicola ‘Charmed Wine®’...SF Mitchella repens ‘Partridge Berry’..P Nat Oxalis vulcanicola ‘Molten Lava’...... SF Mitella diphylla ‘Bishop’s Cap’...... P Nat Oxalis vulcanicola ‘Plum Crazy’...... SF Mizuna Mustard ‘Frilly Mixed Color’.ED6 Oxypetalum ‘Heavenborn’...... SA Monarda ‘Jacob Cline’...... Sum P Pac Choi ‘Mei Qing Choi’...... ED6 Monarda ‘Leading Lady Lilac’...... PER Pac Choi ‘Toy Choy’...... ED6 Monarda ‘Raspberry Wine’...... Sum P Pachysandra t. ‘Green Carpet’...... GrCov Monarda ‘Bergamo’...... BGem Panicum virgatum ‘Ruby Ribbons’.....P Gr Monarda didyma ‘Fireball’...... PER Panicum virgatum ‘Shenandoah’...... P Gr Monarda didyma ‘Balmy Purple’...... PER Panicum virgatum ‘Hot Rod Red’...Sum P Monarda fistulosa ...... Sum P Pansy ‘28 varieties’...... EARLY Muehlenbeckia ‘Variegated’...... GrCov Papaloquelite ...... HERB Index Muehlenbeckia a. Nana ‘Little Leaf’....SF Papavar orientale ‘Raspberry Burlee’.PER

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 195 IndexIndex

Papaver commutatum ‘Ladybird’..BGem Phlox p. ‘Peacock™ Cherry Red’.....Sum P Papaver n. ‘Spring Fever™ Mix’...... PER Phlox paniculata ‘Shockwave’...... PER Papaver orientale ‘Allegro’...... PER Phlox paniculata ‘Shortwood’...... Sum P Papaver o. ‘Beauty of Livermere’...... PER Phlox subulata ‘5 selections’...... GrCov Papaver o. ‘Konigin Alexandra’...... PER Phormium ‘Golden Ray’...... Lg A Parsley - curled ‘Forest Green’...... HERB Phygelius ‘Candy Drops Deep Rose’... SA Parsley - flat ‘Italian Large Leaf’...... HERB Pilea microphylla ...... SF Patchouli ...... HERB Pilea nummularifolia ...... SF Pennisetum ‘Black Stockings’...... Lg A Plectranthus ‘Silver Shield’...... SF Pennisetum setaceum ‘Princess’...... Lg A Plectranthus ciliatus ‘Lemon Twist’.....SF Pennisetum s. ‘Cherry Sparkler’...... AnGr Podophyllum p. ‘May Apple’...... P Nat Pennisetum setaceum ‘Fireworks’. AnGr Polemonium ‘Stairway to Heaven’.... PER Pennisetum s. ‘Princess Molly’...... AnGr Polemonium c. ‘Apricot Delight’...... PER Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’.... AnGr Polemonium y. ‘Bressingham Purple’.PER Penstemon ‘Dark Towers’...... PER Polygonatum japonica variegatum ... PER Penstemon grandiflorus ‘Large Flowered Polystichum a. ‘Christmas Fern’...... P Nat Beardtongue’...... P Nat Portanthus ‘Pink Profusion’...... PER Penstemon grandiflorus ‘War Axe’.Sum P Portulaca ‘Cupcake Cherry Baby’...... SA Pentas ‘Northern Lights’...... SA Portulaca ‘Cupcake Grape Jelly’...... SA Pentas l. ‘Butterfly Deep Rose’...... SA Portulaca ‘Cupcake Yellow Chrome’... SA Pentas lanceolata ‘Butterfly Red’...... SA Pratia pedunculata ‘County Park’...... SA Pentas lanceolata ‘Butterfly White’.... SA Primula ‘Blue Zebra’...... SA Pepper ‘F1 Basket of Fire’...... BASK Primula ‘Party Girl Mixer’...... SA Pepper ‘35 varieties’...... ED3 Primula c. ‘Noverna Deep Blue’...... PER Perilla ‘Purple Magilla’...... SF Primula japonica ‘Miller’s Crimson’... PER Perilla - green ‘Ao Shisho’...... HERB Primula v. ‘Belarina® Nectarine’...... PER Perilla f. ‘Tricolor’...... SF Prunella grandiflora ‘Bella Blue’...... PER Perilla fr. crispa - red ‘Aka Shiso’.....HERB Prunella v. ‘Heal All - Self Heal’...... HERB Perovskia atriplicifolia ‘Lacey Blue’.... PER Psyllium ...... HERB Perovskia atriplicifolia ‘Superba’....Sum P Pulmonaria ‘Moonshine’...... PER Persicaria a. ‘Golden Arrow’...... Sum P Pulmonaria ‘Raspberry Splash’...... PER Persicaria f. ‘Painter’s Palette’...... PER Pulmonaria ‘Trevi Fountains’...... PER Petunia ‘40 varieties’...... SA Pulsatilla vulgaris ‘Blue Bells’...... PER Petunia ‘Cas Indian Summer’...... BASK Pulsatilla vulgaris ‘Red Bells’...... PER Petunia ‘Cascadias Rim Magenta’... BASK Pumpkin ‘Cinderella’...... ED3 Petunia ‘Sweetunia® Johnny Fl’...... BASK Pumpkin ‘Jack O Lantern’...... ED3 Phaseolus c. ‘Scarlet Emperor’...... Vine Pumpkin ‘Pie - Baby Pam’...... ED3 Phlomis tuberosa ‘Amazone’...... PER Pumpkin ‘Polar Bear’...... ED3 Phlox ‘Violet Pinwheels’...... PER Pycnanthemum v. ‘Mountain Mint’.P Nat Phlox divaricata ‘Blue Moon’...... PER Quinoa ‘Br. Brilliant Rainbow’...... BGem Phlox drum ‘Intensia® Blueberry’...... SA Quinoa ‘Red Head’...... BGem Phlox drum ‘Intensia® Cabernet’...... SA Raddichio ‘Indigo’...... ED6 Phlox drum ‘Intensia® White’...... SA Ratibida pinnata ...... Sum P Phlox g. ssp. triflora ‘Triple Play’...... PER Rau Ram (Vietnamese Coriander) .HERB Phlox paniculata ‘Blue Paradise’.....Sum P Rhodochiton a. ‘Purple Bell Vine’..... Vine Phlox p. ‘Peacock™ White’...... Sum P Rodgersia ‘Chocolate Wings’...... PER Phlox paniculata ‘Sherbet Cocktail’... PER Rodgersia henrici ...... Sum P Phlox paniculata ‘Wendy House’...... PER Rosemary ‘8 selections’...... HERB

196 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Index

Rudbeckia ‘Little Henry’...... PER Sanguinaria canadensis ‘Bloodroot’.P Nat Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Early Bird Gold’... PER Sanguisorba ‘Little Angel’...... PER Rudbeckia f. ‘Goldsturm’...... PER, Sum P Santolina ‘Lemon Fizz’...... SF Rudbeckia f. s. ‘Little Goldstar’...... Sum P Santolina ‘Lemon Fizz’...... HERB Rudbeckia hirta ‘Cherry Brandy’....BGem Sanvitalia ‘Sunvy Super Gold’...... SA Rudbeckia hirta ‘Denver Daisy’...... BGem Savory ‘Lemon’...... HERB Rudbeckia hirta ‘Sahara’...... BGem Savory - Summer ...... HERB Rudbeckia hirta ‘Tiger Eye’...... SA Savory - Winter ...... HERB Rudbeckia t. ‘Brown-eyed Susan’....P Nat Saxifraga x arendsii ‘Rocco Red’...... PER Rudbeckia triloba ...... Sum P Scaevola ‘Scalora Amethyst’...... BASK Rumex s. ‘Bloody Sorrel’...... SF Scaevola ‘Scalora Amethyst’...... SA Rungia klossii ‘Mushroom Plant’.....HERB Scented Geranium ‘6 selections’....HERB Sage ‘10 varieties’...... HERB Schizachyrium s. ‘Blue Heaven’...... P Gr Sage apiana ‘White’...... HERB Schizachyrium s. ‘Prairie Munchkin’.. P Gr Sage officinalis ‘Maxima’...... HERB Schizachyrium s. ‘Little Blue Stem’..P Nat Sagina subulata ...... GrCov Schizachyrium scoparium ...... Sum P Sagina subulata aurea ...... GrCov Scirpus cernuus ‘Fiber Optic Grass’.AnGr Salad Burnet ...... HERB Sedum ‘13 selections’...... GrCov Saltwort ...... HERB Sedum ‘10 selectioms’...... PER, Sum p Salvia argentea ...... SF Sedum ‘3 selections’...... SF Salvia buchanii ‘Wendy’s Wish’...... SA Semiaquilegia ecalcarata ...... PER Salvia farinacea ‘Cathedral®Purple’.... SA Sempervivum ‘9 selections’....GrCov, PER Salvia f. ‘Cathedral®Shining Seas’...... SA Senecio c. ‘Mexican Flame Vine’...... Vine Salvia farinacea ‘Cathedral®White’.... SA Senecio mikanoides vari ‘Ger Ivy’...... SF Salvia farinacea ‘Sallyfun Blue’...... SA Sesame Black ...... HERB Salvia farinacea ‘Seascape Mix’.....BGem Setcreasea ‘Purple Heart’...... SF Salvia greggii ‘Desert Blaze’...... SA Setcreasea ‘Variegated’...... SF Salvia greggii ‘Joy’...... SA Shallots ...... ED6 Salvia greggii ‘Maraschino’...... SA Snapdragon ‘5 varieties’...... BGem Salvia greggii ‘Radio Red’...... SA Snapdragon ‘Fruitsalad Cranberry’..... SA Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Bloom’.. SA Snapdragon ‘Peachy Dragon’...... SA Salvia hybrid ‘Ember’s Wish’...... SA Solanum i. ‘Pumpkin on a Stick’.....BGem Salvia hybrid ‘Love and Wish’s’...... SA Solanum jasminoides variegata ...... SF Salvia h. ‘Suncrest Autumn Moon’...... SA Solanum ratonelli var...... SA Salvia hybrid ‘Suncrest Lemon Light’.. SA Soleirolea solerolii ‘Baby Tears’...... SF Salvia koyamae ...... PER Solidago ‘Fireworks’...... PER Salvia microphylla ‘Hot Lips’...... SA Solidago ‘Fireworks’...... Sum P Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’...... PER Sorrel ‘French’...... HERB Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’...... Sum P Spilanthes oleracea ‘Peek a Boo’...... SA Salvia nemorosa ‘Blue Marvel’...... PER Sporobolus h. ‘Prairie Dropseed’.....P Nat Salvia n. ‘New Dimension Rose’...... PER Sporobolus heterolepsis ...... Sum P Salvia patens ‘Blue Angel’...... BGem Stachys ‘Helene Von Stein’...... PER Salvia splendens ‘Amistad Purple’...... SA Stachys minima ...... PER Salvia s. ‘Lighthouse Purple’...... BGem Stachys monieri ‘Hummelo’...... Sum P Salvia splendens ‘Saucy Red’...... SA Stevia ...... HERB Salvia splendens ‘Saucy Wine’...... SA Stipa arundinacea ‘Pheasant Tails’. AnGr Salvia verticilata ‘Purple Rain’...... PER Stipa tenuissima ‘Pony Tails’...... AnGr Index Salvia x ‘Mystic Spires Blue’...... SA Strawberry ‘Toscana’...... BASK

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 197 IndexIndex

Strawberry - Alpine ‘Alexandria’...... ED6 Tricyrtis ‘Golden Festival’...... PER Strawberry - Everbearing ‘Tristar’.... ED6 Tricyrtis ‘Tojen’...... PER Strawberry - June ‘Valley Sunset’..... ED6 Tricyrtis ‘Samurai’...... Sum P Strawberry - June bearing ‘Jewel’..... ED6 Tricyrtis macropoda ...... PER Strobilanthes d ‘Persian Shield’...... SF Trifolium ‘Dark Dancer™’...... GrCov Succulent Collection ...... SF Trifolium ‘Limerick Isabella’...... SF Succulent Mix ...... BASK Trillium erectum red ‘Red Trillium’.. P Nat Summer Squash ‘Early Straightneck’.ED3 Trillium g.‘White Trillium’...... P Nat Summer Squash ‘Patty Pan Sunb.’.... ED3 Trillium luteum ‘Yellow Trillium’...... P Nat Summer/Winter Squ. ‘Trombetta di’.Vine Trollius cultorum ‘New Moon’...... PER Sunflower ‘Firecracker’...... BGem Trollius x cultorum ‘Earliest of All’..... PER Sunflower ‘Solita Yellow’...... SA Tropaeolum ‘Duckalicious’...... SA Sweet Grass ...... HERB Tropaeolum majus ‘Jewel of Africa’.Vine Sweet Potato ‘Beauregard’...... ED3 Tropaeolum p.‘Canary Bird Vine’...... Vine Sweet Potato ‘Covington’...... ED3 Verbascum p. ‘Temptress Purple’...... PER Swiss Chard ‘3 varieties’...... ED6 Verbena ‘21 selections’...... SA Symphytum ‘Goldsmith’...... PER Verbena - Lemon ...... HERB Talinum p. ‘Kingswood Gold’...... BGem Verbena bonariensis ...... BGem Tarragon ‘French’...... HERB Vernonia fasciculata ...... Sum P Tecoma ‘Sun Trumpets Orange’...... SA Veronica ‘Eveline’...... PER Thalictrum ichangense ‘Evening Star’.PER Veronica ‘Tidal Pool’...... GrCov Thalictrum petaloideum ...... PER Veronica ‘Whitewater’...... GrCov Thelypteris decursive-pinnata ...... FERN Veronica liwanensis ...... GrCov Thunbergia alata ‘African Sunset’.... Vine Veronicastrum virginicum ...... Sum P Thunbergia alata ‘Arizona® Dk Red’.Vine Vigna unguiculata ‘Pretzel Bean’..... Vine Thunbergia alata ‘Orange Beauty’... Vine Vigna unguiculata ‘Red Noodle’...... Vine Thunbergia a. ‘Sunny Lemon Star’.... Vine Vinca ‘Illumination’...... GrCov Thyme ‘10 selections’...... HERB Vinca minor ‘Bowles Cunningham’.GrCov Thymus praecox ‘Highland Cream’.GrCov Vinca minor ‘Moonlit’...... PER Thymus praecox coccineus ...... GrCov Vinca minor atropurpurea ...... GrCov Thymus praecox p...... GrCov Viola ‘11 varieties’...... EARLY Thymus serphyllum ‘Elfin’...... GrCov Vitis ‘Pixie Grapes’...... Lg A Thymus x ‘Spicy Orange’...... GrCov Watercress ...... HERB Tia To (Vietnamese Perilla) ...... HERB Watermelon ‘Sugar Baby’...... ED3 Tiarella ‘Spring Symphony’...... PER Watermelon ‘Yellow Doll’...... ED3 Tiarella cordifolia ‘Running Tapestry’.PER Winter Squash ‘11 varieties’...... ED3 Tiarella c. ‘Diva-rella Sherry Kitto’..... PER Yerba buena ‘Indian Mint’...... HERB Tiarella x ‘Pink Skyrocket’...... PER Zea mays ‘Strawberry Popcorn’...... ED6 Tithonia rotundifolia ‘Torch’...... BGem Zea mays j. ‘Field of Dreams’...... AnGr Tolmiea ‘Piggyback plant’...... SF Zinnia ‘19 selections’...... BGem Tomatillo ‘Purple’...... ED3 Zucchini ‘Alexandria’...... ED3 Tomatillo ‘Verde Puebla’...... ED3 Zucchini ‘Black’...... ED3 Tomato ‘36 varieties’...... ED3 Zucchini ‘Buckingham’...... ED3 Torenia ‘7 selections’...... SA Zucchini ‘Romanesco Portofino’...... ED3 Torenia ‘Summer W.® Large Violet’.BASK Trachelium c. ‘Lake Louise Purple’. BGem Tradescantia ‘Tough Love’...... PER Tradescantia fluminensis ‘Lilac’...... SF

198 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com

How to Find Us We are located in western Wisconsin about 50 miles east of Minneapolis/St. Paul or 60 miles west of Eau Claire, WI on a lovely rural property between River Falls and Spring Valley. We are easily accessible from I-94 (8 miles south of Exit 19), but you probably won’t be able to find us on MapQuest. We’re open year round from 8:30am - 4:00pm with much longer hours in the spring and a few breaks here and there. Please call before driving out. We’d love to have you visit our facility.

Back row: Gary Peterson, Katharine Grant, Norma Rudesill, Ruth Cain, Tom Rauch, Steve Kiefer. Middle row: Zach Albert, Jon Miller, Ann Laursen, Melanie Mader, Amy Kalmon, Eli Wheeler, Don Melander. Front row: Babette Lightner with Grace the Beagle, Suzanne Baker, Becca Kiefer with Kip, Jan Binder with Frieda, Vicky Weis Missing from the photo: Cheryl Elliott, Margy Balwierz, Agatha the collie, Jo Jo the chocolate lab, June and Jack, the cats. Special mention to our wonderful Saturday crew - Ty, Sophie, Andrea and Sam.

Thanks from all of us.