Rush Creek Growers, Inc.

Wholesale Catalog 2015

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 1 Echibeckia‘Yellow’ Colocasia ‘Blue Hawaii’

Plant Descriptions Key

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

Height Light Width Requirements Benefits abbreviations: Form/Habit B = attracts pollinators such as bees U for upright; T for trailing; DR = deer resistant ST for semi-trailing H = attracts hummingbirds

2 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Rush Creek Growers 2015

Catalog 2015 Plant Descriptions Key ...... 2 Greetings! ...... 4 Our Growing Methods —Updates for 2015...... 9 Birds in the Greenhouse...... 13 Annuals & Baskets Specialty Annuals—4” compostable pots ...... 10 Specialty Foliage—4” compostable pots ...... 43 Annual Grasses—4” compostable pots ...... 55 Border Gems—jumbo 6-packs ...... 57 Early Spring Pansies & Violas—1204-packs ...... 71 Large Annuals—8” x 6” gallons and 5¼” square...... 74 Baskets—10”, 12” & 16” fiber maché baskets ...... 81 Fairy Gardens—4” compostable pots...... 85 Annual Vines—5¼” square...... 86 Summer and Fall Programs ...... 89 Edibles Edibles Charts...... 90 Edibles—jumbo 6-packs and 3½” pots ...... 94 Deluxe Edibles—1.04 gallon pots ...... 117 Herbs Herbs Charts...... 119 Herbs—3½” compostable pots ...... 123 Perennials Perennials—4½” deep, color coded pots ...... 138 Natives—4½ deep, color coded pots ...... 175 Ferns—4½” deep, color coded pots ...... 180 Perennial Grasses—4½” deep, color coded pots ...... 181 Tree Peonies—trade gallons ...... 184 Perennial Groundcovers—jumbo 6-packs ...... 185 Life at the Greenhouse Our Favorite Greenhouse Jobs...... 189 Tribute to Frances Williams...... 193 Index Plants to Category ...... 195

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 3 Greetings Plant Lovers

Well, we predicted a good year in 2014 and darned if it didn’t come true. The weather wasn’t perfect. The economy wasn’t perfect. The political atmosphere was far from perfect. But, in spite of it all, gardeners shopped, gardens grew and we sold out. Thanks to you and your loyal customers, we had our biggest season ever. We are extremely grateful for your partnership with us in this endeavor. Your support of both our philosophy and our plant list spurs us on to try even harder in 2015. Most of us here at Rush Creek Growers are middle aged and beyond, although we did add a couple of youngsters to the crew this year. Somehow, that increases the joy of seeing these new young gardeners entering the marketplace. It’s like handing down a treasured family heirloom to the next generation. Edibles have been their passion so far. According to a National Gardening Association study, food gardening is at the highest level in more than a decade. Spending on “food gardening” has increased by 43% in the past 5 years. And many haven’t even bought their first home yet. You can check out this study at www. garden.org if you have a “blue” day and need some forward thinking cheering up. We continue to innovate here. Our growing practices are worth a read. We have heard your concerns about pollinators and share them. Suzanne has addressed this her update on our growing practices. Our edible and herb lists are deliciously creative. Perennial sales are up again and we have added 120 new varieties. Our 4” annual program is eclectic and extensive. We work hard to fill your needs for the heirloom, the new, and the sustainably grown. We hope to visit you soon and get planning. Your hard work educating, marketing to, nurturing and “Wowing” gardeners is inspiring. Come see us sometime to see our part of the process.

The best in 2015, Suzanne Baker, Vicky Weis and all the staff (animal and human) at Rush Creek Growers, Inc.

4 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Our Growing Methods

Soilless Mix: For this coming year we have a new custom blended mix that will be 20% coir, 20% perlite and 60% peat. Last season it became clear that several of our staff members were having trouble with the fungi in the composted pine bark so we’ve gone back to the more inert ingredient, perlite. And we are increasing the percentage of the coir, which is a waste product from the coconut industry.

Living Soils: Upon planting into the soilless mix, we immediately introduce beneficial organisms. The beneficials can be mixed with water and applied through our irrigation system. They colonize the root zone preventing disease organisms from gaining a foothold. The products we’ll be using this year are Actinovate and Cease.

Compost Tea: In the first week after being transplanted, each crop receives a drenching of compost tea to further raise its biological activity. If the weather cooperates we keep applying the tea on weekly basis. Our tea is brewed from worm castings which have a fantastic selection of microbes. The 24 hr. brewing process increases the populations of the microbes. Aeration of the tea selects for the aerobic bacteria. The microbes are fed with Nature’s Source and some liquid kelp during the brewing process.

Fertility: Nature’s Source soybean based fertilizer is our fertilizer of choice. It is applied in the irrigation water. We’re

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 5 using a bit of sulfuric acid to deal with the alkaline nature of our well water. This keeps the iron and other micronutrients available.

Disease Control: We are using a variety of products to supply the plant roots with beneficial organisms. These organisms take up residence, protect them and produce beneficial substances. Healthy plants resist diseases, are drought resistant and hold better in their pots.

Containers: We have made a commitment to using compostable pots. We are still using attractive, sturdy rice pots in our 3½” herb and vegetable programs. The pots are made from rice hulls, bamboo and straw. Green colored wheat based pots unfortunately will not be available this year. So after our current inventory is gone the 4” annual program will temporarily be housed in lightweight green plastic pots. A plant-able rice pot is used for the annual vine program. It features slotted sides through which roots can grow. It’s also noteworthy that horticultural plastics very often use recycled material as a portion of their make-up.

Rainwater Harvesting: We’ve been very happy to have a rainwater supply. During the winter and early spring it really helps to have this water to avoid pH problems on the rooting cuttings and small seedlings. We also reserve its use for certain sensitive crops throughout the year. We’ve been working out the bugs in the filtering system.

Insect Control: My, oh my. This certainly has been the hot topic this year. The decline in the populations of pollinators and butterflies is alarming to all and is going to have a profound

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

effect on our industry. It’s really encouraging to hear week by week that so many growers and propagators are shifting away from the use of neo-nicotinoid pesticides. Here at Rush Creek this past year we really focused our pest control efforts on the use of beneficial insects. We had great success controlling whiteflies with Encarsia formosa, a tiny parasitic wasp. Aphids are always a challenge to control, we used two different parasites. Aphidoletes miraculously cleaned up a few spots in hanging baskets. Aphidius wasps took care of odd far flung spots. It’s still a nerve wracking business.

I also used beneficial fungi; products called Botanigard, Met52, Preferral and No Fly will be used this coming season if need be. Fungus gnats can be prevented by avoiding overwatering. We drench the plants twice in the spring with beneficial nematodes through the use of a product called Nemasys®. It’s a mass of Steinernema feltiae nematodes that eat the larvae of Fungus gnats and thrips! This has helped to control thrips in the summer. We’ll keep spider mites in check through the use of predatory mites and beetles depending on the conditions and temperatures in the greenhouse. Also with fungus in Met52.

One new strategy we’ll be trying this year is to place a few plants that are beneficial to our predators in the appropriate greenhouses. Mullein plants and eggplants, because they are highly attractive to whiteflies, means a predator will have a better chance of finding food. Pepper ‘Purple Flash’ has been

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 7 found to be a great source of pollen to sustain the thrip predator, Orius insidiosus. Also there is pollen product that can be fed to our beneficials called Nutrimac. I’m ever so grateful to have the assistance of Amy Kalmon, our newer employee, as a scout. She has been going through the crops this past summer to let me know which pests are rearing their heads.

Growth regulation: We achieve this wholly without the use of any hormone treatment or sprays. Our crops are carefully timed so they won’t be overgrown. We also use sun, wind, temperature and levels of moisture and fertility to give the plants the conditions they need to have great shelf life in your garden center. Some plants are grown under a single layer roof so they have a higher intensity of light. Others are moved outside ASAP. We have a lot of experience in knowing where and how to raise the myriad of plants to keep them all happy.

Thanks again for your support as we pursue this vision of healthy plants and people.

-Suzanne

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

Rush Creek Growers is not only a haven for plants. Many birds have discovered that it is a sheltered and relatively safe place to rear their young. New to the greenhouse this past year were two pairs of barn swallows. They kept the place lively with their constant coming and going and petty disputes. One nest reared two broods in the safety of “tag land”. The other was precariously perched on an inflation tube and did not last past fledging.

Meanwhile, the song sparrows claim the hanging baskets. When the baskets are gone they look for a dense planting of annuals – this year it was gaura. We quickly lose track of the number of broods. But, they seem successful.

House finches and English sparrows find the greenhouse a perfect fit. They don’t need doors or roll-ups to get in; they have their own entries. They certainly let us know their presence, with their chatter and song.

The robins are more subtle, preferring the work area. We hardly realize they are there until a young robin is out of the nest and demanding to be fed.

We can also add hummingbirds, and an occasional woodpecker or phoebe to the greenhouse bird list. The hummingbirds love the petunia baskets. They don’t nest in the greenhouse but find it a prime feeding ground. Occasionally they need a rescue team, when what looks like a way out really isn’t.

All the birds are quick to discover the ins and outs of the greenhouse. They ignore us for the most part, while providing us with bits of drama and song in our work day.

Norma Rudesill, Resident Ornithologist

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 9 Specialty Annuals

Annuals & Baskets Specialty Annuals Specialty Annuals—4” round pots (some compostable) 10/flat Visiting trial gardens, the Ohio Horticulture Short Course, the Chicago Botanic Gardens and looking at all those glossy plant breeders’ catalog has taken a toll on our will power. We have added 109 new varieties this year and it ain’t all petunias (only 16). Salvias are gaining in popularity and we have a diverse selection. We have added more plants to take the place of impatiens where disease is a concern. We hope you enjoy the selection.

We are really disappointed that the resin for the compostable wheat pots is unavailable to the pot company – now and in the near future. We just found this out and so will not be able to use compostable pots for all the plants in this category. We do have a stock pile so your order will be planted in as many compostables as we have. We will be working on sourcing different compostables for the future. This will not affect the pots used in our edible and herb programs.

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 ‘Lucky Lantern® Red’ NEW! h 12” U,ST CD 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’ NEW! h 12” U,ST CD Pure lemon-yellow hibiscus-like flowers on this dwarf flowering maple. The series Lucky Lantern has a compact, bushy habit.

10 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com SpecialtySpecialty Annuals Annuals Abutilon megapotamicum ‘Chinese Lantern’ h 8-12” T CD 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’ NEW! h 8-10” U A Fresh apricot colored flowers on dark spikes. Spectacular heat tolerance. Compact and floriferous.

Agastache ‘Arizona Sun’ NEW! h 8-10” U A Baskets & Annuals Sunny yellow flowers on dark green spikes. This series is spectacular for its heat tolerance. Compact, uniform and very floriferous.. 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. Ageratum ‘Monarch Grande Cherry’ NEW! h 20-26” U A This new rose-pink ageratum was bred by local breeder David Zlesak and is highly attractive to butterflies with Monarchs in particular. Its parentage includes a Mexican native species. Self-cleaning. Congrats to David for a great plant! Anagallis ‘Wildcat Blue’ 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 orange with a blue center. A color wheel combination to be sure. A vigorous trailing habit. Angelonia ‘Archangel™ Raspberry’ 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. Angelonia ‘Actors® Pink Blue Splash’ NEW! h 14-16” U,ST A Orchid-like flowers are pink with lavender splashes and purple freckles. This is a truly unique color combo. Vigorous plants are floriferous and love hot, Midwestern summers.

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

Angelonia ‘Archangel Dark Purple’ NEW! 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 Dark Rose’ NEW! 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. Arctotis ‘Ravers® Cherry Frost™’ h 10-16” U AC Cool weather tolerant daisies with deep red petals and golden eyes rest on frosty grey lobed foliage. Blooms less heavily in mid-summer and makes a strong finish in the fall. Frost tolerant. 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® Pumpkin Pie™’ h 8-12” U AC Cheerful orange daisies with silver foliage. Blooms less heavily in mid-summer and makes a strong finish in the fall. Frost tolerant. Argyranthemum ‘Flutterby™ Yellow’ h 12-24” U AC Spritely 3” yellow daisies top pleasing green mounded foliage. Cool weather hardy but heat tolerant, too, with proven performance at University trial gardens. Argyranthemum ‘Comet Pink’ NEW! h 12-18” U AC Soft baby-pink daisy-like flowers with yellow centers. Dark green ferny branching foliage and mounding habit. A popular spring seller. Bacopa ‘Double Ballerina Pink’ h 6-8” T AC Double soft pink blossoms trail over clean foliage. Very floriferous. Requires consistent moisture. Good self-cleaner. 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 ‘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.

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

Bacopa ‘Snowstorm® Blue Bubbles’ NEW! 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 ‘Arcada Apricot Bicolor’ h 8-12” ST D Double, rich apricot tuberous begonias with an attractive pendulous yet compact habit. Covered with large blossoms, they make a big color statement in a shady spot.

Begonia ‘Arcada Light Pink’ h 8-12” ST D Baskets & Annuals Double, perky pink tuberous begonias have a trailing habit but are compact enough to avoid breakage. Covered with large blossoms, they make a big color statement in a shady spot. Also available in hanging baskets. 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 ‘Bossa Nova White’ NEW! h 12-16” ST,T ACD A boliviensis cross, bred for its compact and branched habits. Almost bicolor because of the pink buds opening to expose white flowers. Dark burgundy-green arrow shaped leaves make a romantic contrast with the blooms. Begonia ‘Breezy Red’ h 8-12” M CD Bright red, fringed doubles on a semi-trailing shade loving variety. Covered in blossoms. Tuck into shade containers for a colorful spot in the shade. Ranked highly for performance and color at the 2013 Michigan State Trial Gardens.

Frances

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

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 CD 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 ‘Unbelievable Lucky Strike’ NEW! h 10-14” U CD Large serrated green foliage cradles lovely single and semi-double apricot blossoms that face upward. Early to bloom. Highly recommended. Begonia ‘Unbelievable Miss Montreal’ NEW! h 10-14” ST CD 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 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 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’ 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 ‘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 Yellow’ h 4-10” T 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 ‘Mistral Red’ NEW! h 10-12” T ACD A beautiful boliviensis type with rich red color on well-branched stems. Blossoms exhibit the traditional pointed petal and semi-open form. This is a perfect go-to for baskets.

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

Begonia boliviensis ‘Santa Cruz Sunset’ 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’ RENEW! h 10-14” ST CD Baskets & Annuals This is a very unique begonia with charming dark fuchsia 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 hiemalis ‘Rhine Fire Balls’ NEW! h 14-16” U CD Large semi-double scarlet orange blossoms sit atop dark green foliage. The petals of this begonia are ruffled and up facing for a dramatic and unique appearance. This shows some of the vigor and performance we have been hoping for. Bidens ‘Bidy Gonzales Top’ NEW! 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. Brachyscome ‘Radiant Magenta’ 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. Bracteantha ‘Helica Purple Improved’ NEW! h 10-12” U A Bright plum-purple strawflowers with golden centers. Well-branched for loads of papery blossoms. Compact and mounding. Bracteantha ‘Mohave Orange’ NEW! 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. Calibrachoa ‘Aloha Cherry Cartwheel’ NEW! h 6-10” T 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 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.

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

Calibrachoa ‘Aloha Kona Mandarin’ h 8” ST A Orange streaked with yellow. Calibrachoa ‘Aloha Kona Midnight Blue’ 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 Candy Bouquet’ NEW! h 6-10” T A Celebrations have been bred to stay open longer in cooler temps and lower light. You’ll want to see the blossoms on this unique bicolor which alternates wide stripes of rich rose with rich yellow. We have never seen a combo like this. Calibrachoa ‘Crave Sunset’ NEW! h 10-14” T A A novelty seed grown cultivar with lovely apricot-terracotta blossoms and rich burgundy veins. Calibrachoa ‘Hula Godiva’ NEW! 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’ NEW! h 6-10” T A Grapey purple centers with softer purple edges. This cultivar has strong vigor. 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’ NEW! 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.

Calibrachoa ‘MiniFamous™ Double Series’ ST A Early-to-flower, semi-trailing series has a newly expanded color range. These are really nice doubles. They show medium vigor so “play” well with others in a mixed combo. Calibrachoa ‘Minifamous™ Double Amethyst’ NEW! h 6-10” T A Vicky saw this new double at the Ball Trial Gardens in West Chicago this summer. What a show! Fully double soft purple blossoms are stunning up close or at a distance.

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

Calibrachoa ‘Minifamous™ Double Pink Vein’ NEW! h 6-10” T A The double Callies just seem to be getting better and better. This pink veined double is covered with blossoms top to tip. A showstopper alone or in combos. 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 Baskets & Annuals Popular self cleaning series really struts its stuff with vivid color, large flower size and a vigorous growth habit. Calibrachoa ‘Superbells™ Frost Fire’ NEW! 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™ Pomegranate Punch’ h 6-10” T A Making a return from 2014, 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™ 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. Calibrachoa ‘Volcano Neon’ NEW! 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. Calibrachoa ‘Volcano Sunset’ NEW! h 6-10” T A Large bicolor blooms sizzle with wide flowing striping on the petals. This one is the softest yellow with wide coral markings. Vintage with a modern pop of color. Rated with a nearly perfect 5 score at the Michigan State Trial Gardens. Canna x generalis ‘Cannova™ Bronze Leaf Scarlet’ NEW! h 36-48” U A An exceptional new 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’ NEW! h 36-48” U A An exceptional new 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! Celosia ‘Twisted’ NEW! h 16-20” U A 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.

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

Celosia caracus ‘Intenz’ NEW! h 18” U A Bold purple spikes with charming side shoots. Easy to grow in the garden or to add some interesting texture to mixed containers. Celosia spicata ‘Kosmo Cherry’ NEW! 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. Chenille ‘Fire Tails’ NEW! h 3-7” T A Dark green foliage with fuzzy kitten-tail red plumes. Great for spilling out of planters and hanging baskets. Chrysocephalum apiculatum ‘Flambé® Yellow’ h 5-8” U A Bright tiny yellow buttons cover touchable soft gray leaves. Well-branched and heat tolerant. A very interesting design element for mixed containers. 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™’ NEW! 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™ series’ A Here is a new heat loving series of Bat face cupheas that showcase paper-like brilliant colored blossoms on well-branched plants. Almost no care needed in the landscape. We loved it so much in 2014 that we added another color for 2015. Cuphea llavea ‘Sriracha™ Rose Pink’ NEW! h 16-20” U A Rich rosy pink papery petals adorn this hot weather lover. Easy to maintain in containers or the garden. Cuphea llavea ‘Sriracha™ Violet’ NEW! h 16-20” U A Brilliant purple open blooms look like crepe paper. Easy to grow with heat and drought resistance. Blooms spring thru fall.

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

Dahlia ‘Dahlinova Hypnotica series’ 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™ Tequila Sunrise’ h 12-14” U A Brilliant bicolor orange and yellow decorative on a compact dahlia with nice green Baskets & Annuals foliage. Continuous blooms if deadheaded. Dahlia ‘Dahlinova Hypnotica™ Tropical Breeze’ h 12-14” U A Striking yellow decorative variety with petals dipped in rosy pink and a pleasing dark pink center. Vigorous with large blossom size. A great garden or container plant.

Dahlia ‘Dreamy™ series’ 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. Dahlia ‘Dreamy™ Moonlight’ h 12-16” U A Semi-double, lemon yellow. 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. Datura m. ‘Ballerina White’ h 24-36” U AC Giant 6-8” double white up-facing blossoms on a fast growing annual tropical. Wonderfully fragrant. Spiky round seed pods follow blossoms. Keep deadheaded for best blossoming. May self-seed. Datura m. ‘Ballerina Yellow’ h 24-36” U AC Giant 6-8” double yellow up-facing blossoms on a fast growing annual tropical. Wonderfully fragrant. Spiky round seed pods follow blossoms. Keep deadheaded for best blossoming. May self-seed.

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

Dianthus ‘SuperTrouper™ Butterfly Dark Red’ NEW! h 8-10” U AC Fragrant deep red doubles flecked with random burgundy markings. A lovely little table topper. Dianthus caryophyllus ‘SuperTrouper™ Lilac on Purple’ h 8-10” U AC Pink with deep violet markings and a pleasing fragrance on this spring beauty. Perfect with Osteos, Pansies, Nemesias and Diascias for first plants of the season. Dianthus ‘SuperTrouper™ Magenta White’ NEW! h 8-10” U AC Sweet fragrant blossoms in magenta with a white picotee edge. Adorable! 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 barbatus ‘Green Ball’ NEW! h 10-14” U A One of our most unusual offerings for 2015. 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. May not ship until June. Diascia ‘Juliet™ Orange’ NEW! h 6-8” U AC Larger salmon-coral spurred blooms. Shade tolerant, upright foliage is nice for mixed plantings. Fantastic fall color after frost, too.

Gomphrena ‘Pink Zazzle’

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

Diascia ‘Juliet™ Pink With Eye’ NEW! h 6-8” ST AC Beautiful baby pink, pea-like flowers with delicate foliage add to cheerful spring containers or as a garden groundcover in part shade. Form is slightly upright. Fantastic fall color after frost, too. Diascia ‘Juliet™ Red’ h 6-8” U AC Very tidy, compact habit. Nice, red spurred blossoms with good cold tolerance for early and late season color. Check out the gorgeous photo on our website for its vivid fall color.

Diascia ‘SunDiascia® Upright Orange’ h 12-15” U AC Baskets & Annuals We were excited to see this new series that features tall upright stems with 3” flower spikes. This is a unique upright form for Diascias. Still self cleaning with improved heat tolerance. Good tolerance for light frost so they work well for early spring and fall containers. Saturated orange, twin spur blossoms on mid-height upright stems. Perfect form for the “Thriller” in mixed containers. Eritrichium canum-hybrid ‘Baby Blues’ 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. 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 ‘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’ NEW! h 12-18” U AC Periwinkle blue daisies with yellow centers wave above fine textured foliage. A nice upright form with an airy charm. Fuchsia ‘Artetes President George Bartlett’ NEW! h 8-10” T CD Cerise corollas with pink sepals trail gently from this compact basket or window box beauty. Well-branched and floriferous. Fuchsia ‘Autumnale’ h 6-18” T CD Incredible golden leaves accented with orange and purple. Classified with uprights although it has a quite 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!

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

Fuchsia ‘Billy Green’ h 24” U CD 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. Fuchsia ‘Delta Sarah’ NEW! h 36” U CD Our mouths dropped when we saw this upright fuchsia with lavender blue corollas, white sepals and red stamens. Nice upright form covered in drooping blossoms. Oh my! Fuchsia ‘Eruption’ h 12-24” T CD Here is a trailing fuchsia with the beauty of a Gartenmeister upright. Covered in a zillion (no kidding) long, deep pink trumpet-shaped blossoms when mature, this variety offers a whole new appeal to the fuchsia basket. Can you imagine the hummingbirds on this one? Developed in England at the Royal Horticultural Society. Use it in shade combos and window boxes, too. Fuchsia ‘Firecracker’ h 18-24” U CD We missed you ‘Firecracker’ and are glad you are back on our list. Variegated foliage of cream and green with bright red tubular flowers. The foliage adds as much as the blossoms. Upright form. Fuchsia ‘Tassel™ Dark Salmon’ h 18” U CD Long cylindrical clusters of pendent salmon and coral blossoms that open to pink. Attractive upright form for sun or shade. Fuchsia ‘Windchimes® Upright White & White’ h 6-10” M CD 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 CD 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. 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’ NEW! 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. Gaura lindeheimeri ‘Sparkle White’ h 12-24” U A Recipient of the Fleuroselect Gold Medal Award and the 2014 All America Selections for garden performance and its strong branching habit. Pretty white blossoms with long stamens adorn sturdy stems with basal foliage. Compact enough for containers but showy enough for the garden. A pleasing cut flower, too. Drought tolerant. May perennialize. Zone 5

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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® Cremazu’ h 6-8” U A Large, showy flowers in bright gold without the typical dark eye. Semi-double blooms help keep them open at night. Loves hot summers.

Gazania ‘SunBathers® Nahui’ h 12-14” U A Baskets & Annuals Large, showy, rich orange flowers without the typical dark eye around the center. Semi-double blossoms don’t close at night. Gazania ‘Sunbathers® Tikal’ NEW! 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 maroon 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. Gazania ‘New Day™ Rose Stripe’ NEW! h 8-10” U A Lots of eye-catching detail on this gazania! White petals with a flush of rose up the center and bright golden centers. These drought tolerant, beefy plants produce shorter, larger flowers that will perform nicely in containers or for edging.

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 crimson red blooms with the darkest green leaves. One of our top staff picks! 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.

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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 ‘Catalina Brocade’ h 12-14” U A Cream and green variegated foliage attracted us to this pretty pink geranium. Attractive single petaled blossoms accent the unique foliage. Use in containers or the garden. Geranium ‘Crystal Palace Gem’ h 8-12” U A Lime green foliage with a forest green center. Single coral blossoms. One of our best sellers. The foliage is exquisite. Geranium ‘Glitterati™ Gold Digger’ NEW! h 16” U A Major foliage factor here! Leaves vary from chartreuse green edges to cream colored with darker green centers and a flash of salmon-red inbetween. Bold red- orange flowers. Geranium ‘Occold Shield’ NEW! h 12-18” U A Chartreuse green to golden yellow foliage with a bronze ‘shield’ in the middle of each leaf. Large coral-red red flower clusters.

Geranium ‘Sarita series’ A This interpecific 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! Geranium ‘Sarita Fire’ NEW! h 14-16” U A Caution! Hot, hot, hot! Fire truck-red large single flowers with dark green foliage and hunter green centers. These blooming flames are tolerant to the blazing heat of summer! 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 Punch’ h 10-14” ST A The Saritas are interspecific varieties with dark foliage and large single petaled blossoms in really fun colors. Here is a sassy pink with some random red markings. High garden and container performance at trials and good performance on the retail bench, too.

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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’ NEW! 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. Annuals & Baskets & Annuals Gerbera ‘Midi Revolution Strawberry Shortcake’ NEW! h 10-12” U AC Strawberry shortcake mix of custard, raspberry tart, cherry cobbler, and watermelon kiss. We are, of course, talking about flowers. Most are bicolor or with white eye rings. Compact and floriferous, they are ‘berry’ happy at home in containers. 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. Heliotrope ‘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 ‘Big Bounce series’ ACD Interspecific impatiens will take sun to full shade with bloom count and habit like a seed grown impatiens but disease resistant. The name refers to the plant’s ability to bounce back without damage from drying out. Great for landscape use. Impatiens ‘Big Bounce Pink Flame’ NEW! 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. Impatiens ‘Big Bounce Red’ NEW! h 20-30” ST ACD Bright red bicolor blooms with dark red center. Like Bounce only BIGGER! Impatiens ‘Butterfly® Deep Pink’ NEW! 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.

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 25 Specialty Annuals

Impatiens w. ‘Centerstage’ h 6” ST D We really like the cream and green variegated foliage with the brightest red blossoms covering the top of the plant. It doesn’t trail much but makes a large vigorous mound so is great in a mixed container as a filler. It will call out to the neighbors to come over and sit in your shade garden. Impatiens w. ‘Fiesta Ole Purple Stripe’ NEW! h 10-12” U D White and magenta-purple bicolor rose shaped blooms in abundance.

Impatiens ‘Fusion™ series’ CD 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 CD 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 CD 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 CD 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 w. ‘Patchwork™ series’ Novelty patterns and colors in a low maintenance series for shade. Well branched plants are great in larger containers or in the garden. Impatiens w. ‘Patchwork™ Cosmic Orange’ h 10-16” U CD Amazing tri-color blooms. A white eye gives way to burgundy and then a blast of orange. Highly floriferous and fast growing. Impatiens w. ‘Patchwork™ Peach Prism’ h 10-16” ST CD Large showy peach blossoms with a dark coral central zone. Well-branched and spreading form. Impatiens w. ‘Patchwork™ Cosmic Burgundy’ h 10-16” U CD Rich burgundy blossoms with a distinctive white eye. Highly floriferous and with good vigor.

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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 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.

Impatiens ‘Sun Harmony Compact Lavender’ NEW! h 16-20” U ACD Baskets & Annuals Large 2” iridescent lavender blossoms on a well-branched vigorous plant. Impatiens ‘Sun Harmony Magenta’ NEW! h 16-20” U ACD Deep 2” magenta blooms are held above well branched green foliage. Impatiens ‘Sun Harmony Orange’ NEW! h 16-20” U ACD Bright 2” orange blossoms pop in the part shade garden.

Impatiens ‘Sunpatiens™ series’ 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.

Rudbeckia ‘Tiger Eye’

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Impatiens ‘Sunpatiens™ Compact Red’ h 18-24” U ACD High performing, versatile impatiens in true red. 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. 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™ Cherry Sunrise’ h 4-6” T A Gorgeous, multi-colored blossoms are cherry, yellow, apricot and pink. Larger flowers than most. Woody, trailing form is ideal for the landscape and containers. Lantana ‘Landmark™ Citrus’ h 4-6” U A Vibrant orange and yellow flowers thrive in extreme heat, drought and humidity. Free flowering. Lantana ‘Landmark™ Gold’ h 15-20” U A Bright, solid gold flowers thrive in extreme heat, drought and humidity. Free flowering. One of the most floriferous varieties we grow. Lantana ‘Landmark™ Rose Glow’ NEW! 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. Lantana ‘Landmark™ White’ h 15-20” ST A Lovely, creamy white umbels. Landmarks are a great landscape series for Midwesterners. 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 pinks. Tall sturdy plants with dozens of bloom clusters. Attractive to the 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 ‘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 reds, yellows, oranges and greens. Heat loving umbels on glossy foliage are easy to grow in our hot, humid summers. Makes a super groundcover or container plant. 28 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Specialty Annuals

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 ‘Gemini Pink’ h 10-14” U AC Covered in pink star-shaped blooms on a mound of needle-like foliage, this new F1 Isotoma shows greater vigor and is more free flowering than in the past. Leonotis menthifolia ‘Savannah Sunset’ h 48-60” U A

When a customer asks for something unique, look no further than this funky fellow. Baskets & Annuals 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 ‘Hot Springs™ series’ ACD Great new series that provides heat tolerance in the garden with improved shelf life in the garden center. Lobelia ‘Hot Springs™ Dark Blue’ h 8-10” U,ST ACD Dark blue with the smallest of white eyes. Sun tolerant. Lobelia ‘Hot Springs™ Magenta’ NEW! h 8-10” U,ST ACD Soft magenta with a tiny white eye. Sun tolerant and sweet. Lobelia ‘Hot Springs™ Sky Blue’ h 8-10” U,ST ACD An eye catching sky blue with a large white eye. Sun tolerant. Lobelia ‘Hot Springs™ White’ h 8-10” U,ST ACD Nice cool white with a touch of dark blue in the eye and the peduncle. Lobelia ‘Sunbelia™ Compact Sky Blue’ h 8-15” M ACD Beautiful powder blue blossoms with a touch of white at the throat. Slightly trailing, this variety is lovely in pots and loves the sun. A pleasure to be found. Self-cleaning and compact for ease of care in the garden center or the garden.

Lobularia ‘Stream™ series’ NEW! 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. Lobularia ‘Bicolor Lilac Stream™ ‘ NEW! h 8-12” ST,T AC Delightful tiny bicolor blooms are creamy lavender to start and mature to a dark lilac. Perfect for tabletop containers and window boxes to get a whiff of their sweet fragrance. Lobularia ‘Purple Stream™ ‘ NEW! 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.

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

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. Lysimachia ‘Superstition™’ h 2-4” T AC Beautiful trailing foliage in shades of burgundy with veins of green. Dark hue 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! 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 ‘Angelart® Orange’ h 8-10” U A A truly two toned orange bloom. Well-branched, mounding habit. Looks fabulous with blue pansies. Deliciously fragrant. Nemesia ‘Angelart® Peach’ h U A Cool weather loving annual with the prettiest peach lips with rose upper petals held on soft stems that weave through other plants.

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Nemesia ‘Angelart® Raspberry’ h 8-10” U A A pleasing blend of very deep raspberry to pink tones. Fragrant, cool and hot weather tolerant. 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 ‘Sunsatia Lemon’ NEW! h 6-18” ST,T A Bright, glowing lemon-yellow, frilly flowers on this happy trailer. Excellent in baskets or mixed containers. Tolerant to temperature variations. Baskets & Annuals 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 ‘3D™ series’ h U AC This Osteo blooms with a large, double center that remains open all day and night for greater customer appeal. The centers are made up of many small trumpet shaped flowers for even more fun! Cool weather favorites. Osteospermum ‘3D™ Berry White’ h 14-18” U AC Let’s call this one ‘Dusty Blackberry 3D eye’. With drips of berry at the tips of the petals and a blackberry double center that keeps the blossom open longer. Osteospermum ‘3D™ Purple’ h 12-16” U AC Deep, rosy purple 3” daisies with darker double centers that keep the flower open day and night. Bring on spring. Osteospermum ‘3D™ White Lemon’ NEW! h 14-18” U AC One of our favorites from the 2014 season. Bright double flowering ivory with lemon yellow centers that stay open at night. Osteospermum ‘Blue Eyed Beauty’ NEW! 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. Osteospermum ‘Cape Daisy® Fire Burst’ h 10-12” U AC Don’t settle for a spark when you can have a burst of fire. Coppery gold changes to coppery red as it matures. Traditional Osteo habit--well branched and compact. Osteospermum ‘Serenity Bronze’ h 10-14” U AC Bronze orange with a pink wash toward the purple eye. Striking and unusual color that looks fabulous with spring blues. Osteospermum ‘Serenity Red’ NEW! h 10-14” U AC Red completes the color choice for this dependable series. True red blossoms top sturdy stems.

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

Osteospermum ‘Summertime Blueberry’ NEW! h 14-18” U AC Like a tie-dyed t-shirt, the flower center starts out blueberry, blushes purple and fades out to coral on the tips of the petals. Heat tolerant and sturdy branching. Osteospermum ‘Summertime Sweet Blue Sunrise’ h 14-18” U AC Flowers have varying amounts of blue, yellow and pink all on one plant for a unique look. Good heat tolerance too. Osteospermum ‘Voltage Yellow’ NEW! h 10-16” ST AC This bright, clear yellow flower is the first in bloom and the last out. An osteo that looks good in baskets or the landscape, with a semi-trailing style. Good heat tolerance, too. 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. Oxypetalum ‘White Double Mix’ h 14-18” U A Exciting new flower form for these plants, also called Tweedia. White singles, doubles and semi-doubles show on the same well-branched plant. Attractive as a filler for containers or in the garden. Also a lovely cut flower.

Pentas ‘Butterfly series’ 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 ‘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 ‘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. Pericallis ‘Senetti® Mini Blue Bicolor’ h 18-20” U A Eye-catching 1½” daisy-like blooms with a deep purple blue center, a diffuse white ring and petals tipped with a soft purple blue. Heavy spring bloomer, cut back for reblooming in 3-4 weeks. Upright, very bushy habit and covered in blossoms. Appropriate as an indoor plant.

Petunias We need to speak to our Higher Power for strength in overcoming our recently acquired petunia addiction. The colors, sizes and shapes have blinded us to the fact that there is only so much greenhouse space. Help us or join us!

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

Petunia ‘African Sunset F1’ NEW! 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 ‘Blanket® Double White’ h 10-12” T A Our staff member Gary is a big fan of this beautiful small double petunia. He trialed it in his containers at home and couldn’t say enough about the vigor, pure white color and double flower form. Medium vigor so grows well with other varieties.

Petunia ‘Blanket® Lemon Glow’ h 18-36” T A Baskets & Annuals Small pink flowers with a lemon yellow eye on a vigorous, trailing variety that will add to any container or as a groundcover in the garden. Self cleaning. Petunia ‘Blanket® Violet’ h 6” T A Deep violet, medium-sized blossoms with a small clear white eye. Star shaped blooms and a mounding habit with some trailing. Gary, our greatest resident petunia fanatic, reported great performance and form in his garden and containers. Petunia ‘Blanket® Zinfandel’ NEW! h 10-12” T A Our basket designer, Gary, is so crazy for this series! He chose this intoxicating rich rose with a deep red wine eye for our 2015 selection. It is gorgeous but ... Gary, “Enough already.” Petunia ‘Cascadias™ Autumn Mystery’ NEW! 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 to rose to pink lending a terra cotta look to this vigorous plant. Also available in hanging baskets. Petunia ‘Cha Ching Cherry’ h 10-16” T A A keeper from our 2014 season. Cherry with a white star and yellow center. Be sure to check out the photo on our website and order early. Petunia ‘Crazytunia Pulse’ NEW! 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 ‘Glow Blue Stardust’ NEW! 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. Petunia ‘Glow Lavender Shades’ NEW! h 8-10” T A A variety of lavender shades on one plant. Trailing habit with large flowers that bloom early in the season.

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 33 Specialty Annuals

Petunia ‘Happy Magic Giant Dijon’ NEW! h 8-16” ST A Multiple shades of orange 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 ‘Lime Light’ h 8-12” M A Medium sized blossom in rose with a lime border. Opens slowly with a trumpet shaped blossom. Compact mounding form. LOTS of flowers. Petunia ‘Moonlight Eclipse’ h 12-14” U A Another favorite from our 2014 season. Rich blue with a green edge and an overall metallic sheen. It is upright and mounding in habit with 2” blossoms. Self cleaning, too. Petunia ‘Peppy Red’ NEW! 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’ NEW! 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 ‘Potunia® Plus Dark Purple’ h 8” U A Intense purple with a dark, almost black colored throat. Mounds of color on a pleasingly vigorous form.

Begonia ‘Judy Cook’

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

Petunia ‘Potunia® Plus Dark Red’ h 8-10” M A Extra large, deep red blossoms with a blood red center totally cover this upright and 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 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 ‘Potunia® Purple Halo’ NEW! h 8-12” U A Baskets & Annuals Rich grape centers are accented by clean white margins on this new color of Potunia. The mounding habit is ideal for containers and window boxes but the flower power is the star here. Petunia ‘Radiance Pink’ NEW! h 8-12” U,ST A This petunia is an early and floriferous bloomer that will be covered in radiant taffeta-pink blooms. Petunia ‘Ray Salmon’ NEW! h 8-12” ST A Don’t miss this beautiful new salmon orange variety sporting a soft cream center. We were charmed with this variety at the shows this summer. Wow! On our basket list this year, too. Petunia ‘Shock Wave ™ Denim’ h 7-10” T A A patch of this variety looks like a river of blue shades that will please any gardener. Flowers are somewhat smaller than the ‘Waves’ but with their classic vigor. Petunia ‘Sun Spun™ Orange’ NEW! h 6-10” U,ST A Orange IS the new black. Really amazing, a pure, velvety orange petunia that will stay true to its color in low light or bright. Petunia ‘Supercal® Cherry Improved’ NEW! h 10-16” U,ST A A nice red petunia/callie cross with large flowers. Semi-trailing habit and bright red blooms. 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. Petunia ‘Supertunia Black Cherry’ NEW! 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’ NEW! 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.

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

Petunia ‘Sweetunia® Grape Ice’ NEW! h ST A Another eye-catching variety with grape centers spilling into pale pink margins. Nice medium vigor on this series helps it combine well with other varieties. 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® Johnny Flame’ h ST A A new 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 ‘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 ‘Sophistica Lime ‘ h 12-15” T A A truly saturated lime color without the veining or fading that yellow petunias usually demonstrate. Very large flowers. 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’ NEW! 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 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. Phygelius ‘Funfare Cream’ h 15-18” U Loose clusters of pure white tubular flowers on strong stems above compact, dense, deep green foliage. Blooms through the summer with minimal maintenance. Classy addition to the middle of the border, smaller gardens and containers.

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

Portulaca ‘Cupcake Carrot’ h 2-4” T A Intense orange moss roses with a yellow center. These bloom earlier for us which means we’ll be able to get it to you earlier than other series we’ve grown. 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 Yellow Chrome’ h 2-4” A

Yellow moss roses dashed with orange. Earlier to bloom than most and well Baskets & Annuals branched. Primula ‘Blue Zebra’ NEW! h 6-8” U AC 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! Rudbeckia hirta ‘Gold Rush’ h 18-24” U A The compact size and large, double golden flower heads contribute to the diverse uses of this plant: for taller color in containers, the garden (might self-seed) or the cutting garden. Easy to grow and drought resistant. Once blooming it continues throughout the season. 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® Lavender’ NEW! h 12-18” U A Voilà! A lovely French lavender colored salvia with large flower spikes on a compact plant. Salvia farinacea ‘Cathedral® Purple’ NEW! 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’ NEW! 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’ NEW! 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 ‘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! Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue’ h 36-48” U A Fabulous late summer/fall display. Unusual dark calyx with brilliant deep blue blooms on a shrub-like form with shiny textured leaves. Use this plant with the yellows of late summer and tall background plants like Hibiscus ‘Mahogany Splendor’ for a sensational display. 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.

Salvia microphylla ‘Heatwave™ series’ Australian plant breeders have crossed S. microphylla with S. gregii for extreme drought and heat tolerance with continuous blooms. They came up with a compact shrubby mound of aromatic evergreen foliage with lovely open colorful blossoms. Loved by hummingbirds and butterflies, too. Salvia microphylla ‘Heatwave™ Blast’ h 30” U A Open salmon pink blossoms bloom continuously through the summer making this a good choice for attracting pollinators to your garden or containers. Salvia microphylla ‘Heatwave™ Blaze’ NEW! h 24-36” U A Fuchsia-red blooms with dark calyxes and medium green foliage. Developed to perform in hot dry climates. Salvia microphylla ‘Heatwave™ Glimmer’ NEW! h 24” U A Pale cream with a slight pink blush contrasts nicely with dark calyxes and stems. Extremely heat tolerant. Salvia splendens ‘Amistad Sunset’ NEW! h 36-48” U A Friendship Sage. Dark, eggplant 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’ NEW! h 24-36” U A Sassy red calyx and blooms with lush, bushy foliage structure. Heat tolerant and vigorous.

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

Salvia splendens ‘Saucy™ Wine’ NEW! 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 ‘Indigo 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’ NEW! h 6-10” ST A

Who doesn’t love sanvitalias! They shout “summer” with their cheery petite yellow Baskets & Annuals daisies and green centers. These spread to offer a lively mound of color. The Sunvys are early bloomers with good heat tolerance. Scaevola ‘Surdiva® Blue’ h 18-24” ST A Lavender blue fan-shaped flowers appear on sturdy stems. Great for harsh and windy locations in spite of their delicate appearance. Scaveola ‘Surdiva® Variegated Blue’ NEW! h 6-10” U,ST A Variegated scaveola! Cream and golden variegation on shiny foliage and bright lilac-blue flowers. Drought tolerant and perfect for adding complex interest in low- maintenance combinations. Snapdragon ‘Luminaire Harvest Red’ 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. 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. Spilanthes oleracea ‘Peek a Boo’ h 12-15” U A 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 ‘Ballad’ h 24-30” U A We appreciate this dwarf variety for its large (4-5”) pollen-free yellow blossoms. Use in containers, the garden, or even as a cheery addition to a sunny window. Torenia ‘Summer Wave® Bouquet Cream Yellow’ NEW! h 6-8” U,ST C,D Creamy yellow flowers with gold accents, grape centers and throats. A whole bouquet in one flower!

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

Torenia ‘Summer Wave® Large Blue’ h 8-10” T C,D 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 CD 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. Torenia ‘Summer Wave® Large Violet’ h 6-10” T CD Luxurious deep violet flowers with larger, more deeply serrated foliage than the other Torenia out there. Torenia ‘Solarina™ White Veil’ h 6-10” T CD 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. 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. Tropaeolum ‘Red Wonder’ h 6-12” U A An edible nasturtium with a tight compact habit and bright red blossoms that sit right on top of the plant make this an ideal choice as an accent for window boxes, containers and baskets. Use it with herb or other mixed edible containers.

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 new landscape series from Ball that has performance 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. Verbena ‘Aztec™ White’ h 6-10” ST AC Large, clear white flowers with attractive light textured foliage.

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

Verbena ‘Empress Flair Sky Blue Charme’ NEW! 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 Godiva’ h 6-12” ST AC Beautiful, burgundy red blossoms. Verbena ‘Empress Red’ h 6-12” ST AC Large, brilliant red blossoms.

Verbena ‘Endurascape series’ NEW! AC Baskets & Annuals 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’ NEW! 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’ NEW! 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.

Setcresea variegated

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

Verbena ‘Estrella™ UP Pink Ballet’ NEW! 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™ 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 ‘Estrella™ Voodoo 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 ‘Lanai® Candy Cane’ h 6-10” T AC White blossoms with a thin cherry stripe make this verbena both adorable and eye- catching. 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. Lovely for the cottage garden style. Nice flower size and good mildew resistance. Verbena ‘Magelana™ Plum 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’ NEW! 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 Pink Pepper’ ST AC Medium pink blossoms are peppered with dark red petals with a small light eye. Very attractive bicolor with charm but not gaudy. This series shows medium vigor and is semi-upright. 42 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Specialty Foliage Specialty Foliage Specialty Foliage—4” compostable pots, 10/flat Foliage for mixed containers has sure gotten easier to sell over the years. Customers have opened their hearts to the color and texture range that these great plants offer, so we have opened our list to over 130 varieties. New for 2015

are the Mainstreet, Marquee and Wildfire series of coleus that we just love. Baskets & Annuals

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 Ruby’ 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.

Basella alba rubra See Annual Vines Caladium ‘Candidum’ h 18-22” U ACD “Fancy Leaf” type featuring wider leaves and larger size. Large heart shaped white leaves with dark green veins. Prefers afternoon shade. 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 ‘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.

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 43 Specialty Foliage

Caladium ‘Painted Frog™ Red Bellied Tree Frog’ NEW! h 12-24” U CD What a gorgeous plant! Firstly, the heart-shaped leaves are a lava red with dark green rims. And then, the colors are accented by a glossy, reflective sheen that makes the colors even more delicious. This caladium is somewhat more sun tolerant. Her compact size makes her a colorful replacement for impatiens. 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. 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 ‘Oak Leaf Ivy’ h 18-24” T D Oak Leaf Grape Ivy. Compound leaves have three leaflets shaped like small oak leaves with soft dark hairs on red stems. Lovely trailing accent for use in shade baskets or as a simple, but elegant, houseplant.

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. 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 ‘Carnival’ NEW! h 24” U ACD Get your walkin’ shoes on ‘cause we’re goin’ to the fair! No tacky Side Shows here, this lively character has a flush of magenta down its center, edged by splotches of maroon and cream and then finished with light green on the outer edges. As the plant matures, the center magenta becomes louder. Narrow tipped elliptical leaves are softly serrated. Coleus ‘Chocolate Drop’ NEW! 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 ‘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. Coleus ‘Colorblaze® Marooned™’ h 24-36” U ACD Velvety burgundy foliage with beautifully scalloped leaf margins. An occasional touch of green.

44 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 ‘Cranberry Bog’ h 18-24” U ACD Well-branched habit supports narrow, rich burgundy leaves with striking chartreuse edges. 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. Baskets & Annuals Coleus ‘Garnet Robe’ h 12-18” 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’ NEW! 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 veined with crimson 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 ‘Flying Carpet™ Zinger’ NEW! h 24” ST CD Rippled leaves are rimmed with bright lime green and a scarlet heart. Mounded and cascading form. Great in a well-drained garden spot as well as in mixed containers or all on its own. 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-copper backlit with burgundy undersides. A shade variety with a lot of pizzazz. Coleus ‘Honey Crisp’ h 18-30” M ACD Like a ripening fruit, gold dappled with green set off by glowing pink undersides. This becomes an awesome, large specimen. Coleus ‘Indian Summer’ h 18-24” U ACD Like an autumn forest at its peak, the lovely scalloped edged leaves display a range of earth tones in red, green and rosy brown. Since introduced in 2009, this has remained in our top 10 list. An exceptional richness of color.

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 45 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’ NEW! This new series of coleus from Dummen features a range of distinct colors on upright plants that don’t bloom. Moderate growth rate lends itself to mixed containers and these are sun to 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’ NEW! h 16” U ACD Green leaves heavily netted with burgundy with a bright red central vein on new leaves. Moderate growth habit. Coleus ‘Mainstreet Gran Via’ NEW! h 16” U ACD Rich merlot pointed leaves, slightly serrated, with a narrow but bright green edge. Strong growth habit. Coleus ‘Mainstreet River Walk’ NEW! h 16” U ACD Shades of yellow and gold on a softly scalloped leaf brighten up any container - sun or shade. Coleus ‘Mainstreet Rodeo Drive’ NEW! h 16” U ACD A interesting textural feel with a unique upright growth habit. Bright green scalloped leaves are distinctly veined with burgundy. Lots of action here. Coleus ‘Mainstreet Sunset Boulevard’ NEW! h 16” U ACD Shade of chocolate accented with rosy coral centers. Coleus ‘Mainstreet Wall Street’ NEW! h 16” U ACD Solid copper colored leaves have a thin gold margin.

Coleus ‘Marquee series’ NEW! A dense, branching compact series with a lovely mounding habit. This series has gotten lots of praise from trial garden reports. We like them, too. Coleus ‘Marquee Blonde Bombshell’ NEW! h 18-24” U ACD This beautiful movie star has blond highlights with lovely undertones. The highlights are glowing golden-lime medium elliptical leaves 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’ NEW! 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! Coleus ‘Marquee Red Carpet’ NEW! h 18-24” U ACD Full of color and pizzazz the leaves are narrow and elliptical with irregular lobes and serrated edges. A red carpet rollout down the center with lime green and lemon yellow fans shouting at the edges.

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

Coleus ‘Orange King’ h 12-18” U ACD Large leafed and dramatic coleus with red-edged gold on top and burgundy on the underside. 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 covered with crimson red veins give this variety life and elegance.

Coleus ‘Smallwood’s Driveway’ h 14” ST AC Baskets & Annuals Peach colored small toothed leaves with 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™ Copper’ h 18-24” U AC Ruffled edges and unusual rose to terracotta shades make this one really stand out. Coleus ‘Stained Glassworks™ Kiwi Fern’ h 10-18” U ACD A novel ducksfoot form with deeply scalloped edges on narrow purple leaves. Very upright. Always gets a comment because it resembles a fern. 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. 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.

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

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™ Lionfish’ NEW! h 24” U ACD Fine elongated fin-like leaves in dark purple with splashes of mauve and bright green. Similar in look to a real lionfish, but very much more touchable! Coleus ‘Under the Sea™ Bone Fish’ h 18” 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” ACD Light green center with deeply cut tendrils surrounding. Everything is outlined in deep burgundy red for even more impact. Coleus ‘Under the Sea™ Red Coral’ NEW! h 24” U ACD Elongated leaves with fine fingers and small round lobes in shades of red 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! Coleus ‘Under the Sea™ Sea Weed’ NEW! 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 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 ‘Wildfire™ Flash’ NEW! h 8” ST CD Medium sized creamy yellow leaves show a green margin and bright red veining. Nice red stems, too. This is a vigorous spreading form and very self branching. A good groundcover and a hot combo accent.

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

Coleus ‘Wildfire™ Flicker’ NEW! h 14” ST CD Think of a summer night with the campfire glowing. Golden leaves with red central venation with a bit of pink in the sun. Tightly mounded form. Coleus ‘Wildfire™ Ignition’ NEW! h 8” ST CD Named for the bright red and hot pink tones in the long scalloped leaves edged in lime green or charcoal. Low growing and dense as the others in this series. Coleus ‘Zesty Zucchini’ h 18” U ACD Lance shaped leaves are washed in a soft melon with mint green centers and burgundy veins. Baskets & Annuals Cordyline ‘Black Knight’ NEW! h 24-48” U A Substantial, stout spiky blades are dark chocolate with a hint of raspberry. Matte finish. Cordyline ‘Pink Passion’ NEW! 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’ NEW! 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, spiked silver grey leaves for larger containers or garden. Give this plenty of room. 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. 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. 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! Plant has an upright form.

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

Euphorbia ‘Flame Leaf’ NEW! 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’ NEW! h 24-48” T,ST 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. Hedera ‘Golden Child’ NEW! h 6-8” ST,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 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. Hedera ‘Marengo’ h 3” T ACD A variety from one of Denmark’s top Hedera growers. This charming plant has large leaves with soft cream colored margins and two-toned green centers. If only it were hardy here, it would be perfect. Hedera ‘Needlepoint’ RENEW! T CD Charming green ivy with pointed leaves. A delicate accent but a tough grower. 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 ‘Haight Ashbury’ h 60” U A Fabulous tender hibiscus with cut foliage in deepest burgundy splashed with cream and pink. Blossoms are deep burgundy, too. Use in a large container as a tall center plant or plant several as a backdrop for a colorful planting. The leaf variegation is the star in this variety. Especially stunning in late summer and fall. 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.

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

Homocladium ‘Ribbon Bush’ RENEW! h 24-48” U,ST AC “What Is that”? Was heard several times this year as staff walked by this plant on the bench. Yes, it is also known as the tapeworm plant but its luscious green flat stems are beautiful alone or to add curiosity. New growth has small light green leaves and with bright light will produce tiny white flowers followed by tiny red fruit. 4-8’ or taller with support if brought in for the winters.

Ipomoea batatus ‘Illusion series’ AC This newer series has deeply cut saber-shaped leaves in rich colors. Medium growth rate so complements other plants nicely. Baskets & Annuals Ipomoea batatus ‘Illusion Emerald Lace’ h 8-14” T AC Very interesting cream and green patterning 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 ‘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.

Ipomoea batatus ‘Sweet Caroline series’ 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 black sweet potato vine with bewitching leaf shape and good vigor. You’ll be bothered and bewildered. Ipomoea batatus ‘Sweet Caroline Bronze’ h 8-14” T AC Unique bronze foliage. Ipomoea batatus ‘Sweet Caroline Heart Light Green’ h 8-14” T AC Nicely compact cut leafed sweet potato vine. Slower growing variety that will not dominate other plants. 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.

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

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 Georgia Bullfrog’ NEW! h 24-36” U,ST AC Narrow lobed leaves are bronze to start and mature to a rich mahogany. Irregular splotches of lime green give it a accidental bleached/bullfrog look. Iresine ‘Blazin Rose’ h 18-30” U CD Vigorous, colorful, red & rose leaves up to 7” long. Performs well in sun or shade. Rich shades of rose and burgundy. Also known as Chicken Gizzard Plant - WHOA! Iresine ‘Blazing 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. Kalanchoe thrysiflora ‘Flapjacks’ h 10-14” U ACD Large pancake-like succulent leaves surround a solid central stem. This plant turns red in cool temps for an even more unusual appearance. Works well as a central pot in a succulent container. Easy to grow inside or out. Lotus ‘Parrot’s Beak’ RENEW! h 6-8” U,ST A Soft silver-green foliage has pine tree-like pin clusters and bears large curved flowers that resemble red-orange toucan bills. Melianthus major h 36”-48” U CA Architectural. Serrated foliage, silver blue in hue. Shrub-like form by August. Rustles seductively in the wind. Rarely blooms north of I-90 but lasts through many cold fall nights. Tender perennial of the Northwest US. Mimosa pudica h 24-36” U C Sensitive plant folds up when touched, or breathed on or even walked near…but beware, the stems are prickly. Fun novelty. Native to Brazil. Muehlenbeckia a. Nana ‘Little Leaf’ h 2-4” U CD Dark green tiny oval leaves on wiry stems on a more compact wire vine. Lovely in shade combinations or as a ground cover. So darn cute, you’ll find it in our Fairy Garden Program, too. 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 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.

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

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 Baskets & Annuals Dappled pink green and white. An exciting new look in Oxalis. Perilla ‘Purple Magilla’ h 24-36” U AC Now you can get your Magilla in darker hues. 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. Plectranthus ‘Silver Shield’ RENEW! h 24-30” U,ST C Large billowed leaves are velvety silver but also textured. Long spikes produce small light blue flowers in late summer. 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 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. Sedum makinoi ‘Ogon’ h 2-5” ST, T 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” U,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.

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

Setcreasea ‘Purple Heart’ h 4-12” T AC Perfect foil 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. Strobilanthes dyerianus ‘Persian Shield’ h 30” U A Large ribbed leaves are flushed with silvery-purple iridescence above and dark purple undersides. A perfect foil for blooming plants in mixed containers. Loves the heat. Native to Burma. Talinum p. variegatum NEW! h 18-24” U A No way could we resist adding this variegated Talinum. Large thick leaves are light green to dark green and have white to cream irregular edges. Flowers and stems are bubblegum pink and the seed heads turn gold-orange. Tradescantia ‘Rainbow’ NEW! h 24-36” U,ST ACD HOYA LOVERS! Here are the variegated foliage colors you love but on a Tradescantia. Seriously varied variegation of cream, light green, dark green and light pink all with magenta undersides. Be still, my beating heart!

Collections A flat of 10 of some of our favorite plants. Variety in texture, color and form. Echeveria Collection U AC Echeveria is a large genus of succulents in the Crassulaceae family and native to Mexico to 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.

54 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Annual Grasses Annual Grasses Annual Grasses—4” compostable pots, 10/flat Annual grasses have an established place in the market now, for containers and borders. We’ve added a couple of attractive Carex to our selection. Annuals & Baskets & Annuals 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 buchanii ‘Red Rooster’ h 12-24” ACD Stately red-bronze grass with curled tips. The soft brown tones make interesting 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’ NEW! 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! Perfers moist environments. Carex oshimensis ‘EverColor® Eversheen’ NEW! 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 ‘Fuseable Twisted Arrows’ NEW! h 18-36” A Spirals! Arrows! They are fused! Each plant includes both the straight and curly dark green sturdy foliage. Fantabulous! Lagurus ovatus ‘Bunny Tails’ h 18” A Soft bunny fuzzy seed heads on a compact grass. Creates visual and tactile fun for children and adults. Drought tolerant. Prefers a cool location.

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 55 Annual Grasses

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. 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.

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

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 Baskets & Annuals 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 shading on the leaves. Striking centerpiece in a large container or as a backdrop in the garden. 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. We have added some new salvias, cosmos, lisianthus and dianthus to name a few. Our zinnia addiction also continues to get the better of us. Encourage your new gardeners to try some of 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 hybrida ‘Arcado Pink’ (Hummingbird Mint) NEW! 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.

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 57 Border Gems

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. Ageratum houstonianum ‘White Bouquet’ (Floss Flower) NEW! 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.”

Dahlia ‘Hypnotica Tequila Sunrise’

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

Amaranthus cruentus ‘Hopi Red Dye’ 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 ‘Graceland ‘ (Laceflower) NEW! 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. Annuals & Baskets & Annuals 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) RENEW! 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. 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. Calendula officinalis ‘Princess Mix’ NEW! h 18-24” AC Happy yellow and cheery orange, mostly double with some single blooms. Black or green centers. Large blooms are 2-3’’ in diameter. Bright blossoms to add interest to the spring and fall garden. Celosia spicata ‘Celway Purple’ h 48” A 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 cyanus ‘Classic Fantastic’ h 36” A A charming bachelor button series with single and semi-double blossoms ranging from deep blue to pale heavenly shades, often with darker centers. A beautiful cut flower.

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 59 Border Gems

Cleome ‘Queen Cherry’ (Spider Flower) NEW! 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. Corn Ornamental ‘Broom Corn Mixed Colors’ h 60-80” A Traditionally used to make brooms, this “corn” is really a type of sorghum with the seed heads at the top of the plant. This mix includes an array of colors in the red, yellow, gold and amber range. Matures in late summer, just in time for your fall arrangements. Cosmos bipinatus ‘Cosimo Dancing Dolls’ NEW! 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’ ( ) NEW! 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 shades of white, pink and rosy red. Loads of extra large blooms for cutting. Cosmos bipinatus ‘Pink Popsicles’ h 14-18” A Three flower styles pop with candy pink to plum shades on this mid-size beauty - anemone, single and pom-pom flower types. Easy to grow and drought tolerant. 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. Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora ‘Mars’ h 24-30” AC Sword-shaped foliage is accented by upright freesia-like orange red blossoms sporting a delicate ring of yellow around the outer petals. Blooms midsummer to frost. Hummer and bee favorite will be yours, too. Unusual find in 6 packs. Looks great with Cannas and Dahlias. Native to South Africa, one charming old-fashioned common name is “Falling Stars.”

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

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) NEW! h 15-20” A Lightly serrated, divine deep crimson outer petals change to bright red, highlighting petite white centers. Extra-early flowering well-branched plants, fragrant long- lasting blooms.

Dianthus barbatus ‘Sweet Purple White Bicolor’ h 18-36” A Baskets & Annuals Dianthus are one of the earliest annuals to bloom. A cool spring does not faze them. They will add color and fragrance to your beds or containers . Add low maintenance and reblooming in the fall for a win-win combination. This new variety features sweet bicolor blooms of magenta-purple with a pinked white outer edge. Dianthus x barbatus ‘Amazon Neon Rose Magic’ (Sweet William) NEW! h 18-36” A Huge flower clusters on tall glossy green stems start out white and mature to pink and then to rose. The progressive flowering habit ends up giving you multiple hues all at once on each cluster. Mass planting of these at the Ball Trial Gardens caught our eye. Euphorbia marginata ‘Kilimanjaro’ h 12-36” A Back by popular demand, this drought tolerant prairie native of the central plains adds a light texture to your sun beds. The grey-green leaves are edged with white which becomes showier as the summers heat intensifies. Small white flowers float above the plant in an airy spray and the whole works is not attractive to deer and rabbits. 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’ NEW! 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. 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.

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

Digiplexis ‘Illumination Flame’ Hypoestes phyllostachya ‘Splash Select Red’ (Polka Dot Plant) NEW! h 10-16” CD Dark black-green leaves are splashed with red splotches. Whimsical foliage. This can be a colorful sub for impatiens where downy mildew is an issue. For containers, front of the border or even as a house plant. Pinch to keep bushy. Iberis umbellata ‘Rose Cardinal’ (Candytuft) NEW! h 12-18” A Beautiful soft purple-rose tufts of color add eye candy and attractive perfume for the gardener, the bees and the butterflies. Old fashioned cut flower doesn’t mind cool spring temps. 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’ Lovely tall doubles with high petal counts in a range of colors, formerly Avila. Lisianthus ‘ABC colors’ h 36-45” A Blue Rim/Rose

Lisianthus ‘Arena™ series’ NEW! Fully double flowers on sturdy stems with unique colors. Thick petals make for long lasting vase life. Mid-season bloom.

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

Lisianthus ‘Arena™ colors’ NEW! h 31-39” A Champagne/Red 3/White

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

Lisianthus ‘Mariachi® series’ Baskets & Annuals Quadruple blossoms are large and spectacular. Staking required but worth the trouble. Lisianthus ‘Mariachi® colors’ h 30-38” A 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® series’ NEW! h 14-18” A Fully double, multi-branching series. A standard for cutting due to thick petals and strong stems. Mid-season. Lisianthus ‘Rosita® colors’ NEW! h 14-18” A Apricot 2/Jade 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) NEW! h 28-60” 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. These are those marigolds. 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. Marigold ‘Harlequin’ NEW! 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.

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

Marigold ‘La Bamba’ (French Marigold) h 30” A Tall cultivar for the center of the garden with bright yellow singles striped in brilliant orange. Very sturdy and the lightweight blossoms can hold up in rainy weather. 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. 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 the Four O’clock 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 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’ RENEW! 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. A new classic for our Border Gem series. 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.

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

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) NEW! h 30-36” AC When the petite blooms of N. sylvestris aren’t showy enough, dial up some of these babies! Large pure white flowers are very fragrant in the evenings. Large light green leaves. May reseed, but the pollinators will be glad they did. Annuals & Baskets & Annuals Nicotiana glutinosa (Flowering Tobacco) h 20”-24” AC An old-fashioned Nicotiana with a unique appearance. Two-foot tall plants have spikes of antique rose-colored bell-like flowers. These are accentuated by grey felty leaves. Does best in partial shade. 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 hybrida ‘Tinkerbell’ (Flowering Tobacco) RENEW! h 24-30” AC Back by popular demand! Heavily blooming with masses of narrow green trumpets set off by 1” dusky brick red inner petals and a dot of dark blue pollen. Stunning and the hummingbirds think so as well. 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.

Early shipping starts!

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

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. 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) NEW! 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. Blooms all season long. 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 Rainbow’ 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 ‘Cherokee Sunset’ h 30” AC 2002 AAS Winner. 3-4” double or semi-double blooms in autumn shades of orange, yellow and rust. The really fluffy ones almost look like large mums or dahlias. A must-have for the sunny border. 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.

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Rudbeckia hirta ‘Denver Daisy’ h 22-26” A This is a fabulous plant. 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 ‘Tiger Eye’ h 16-24” A A slightly more compact variety with extremely clean tight foliage and SO MANY golden double blossoms. This is one of our favorites. Plant near the front of the border. Easy to grow. A cheery addition to the late summer garden or for a charming container. Baskets & Annuals Salvia farinacea ‘Seascape Mix’ NEW! 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. Looks like so many tiny bluebirds. Blooms early July to frost. From Mexico. Salvia splendens ‘Lighthouse Purple’ NEW! h 24-30” A 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 if she could 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’ NEW! 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. 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.

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

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 grown mainly for floral arrangements or just for fun. Requires staking, but worth the extra effort. Statice suworowii ‘Rosy Red’ (Russian Statice) h 18-24” A Very unique, long pencil-thin panicles of carmine-rose in an array of shapes. Easy to grow and drought tolerant. Extremely novel addition to bouquets or for adding a charming textural element to the garden. 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. Sunflower ‘Starburst Lemon Aura’ h 36’-48” A Double frilly blooms on sturdy stems. The flowers are a light lemon yellow with a darker lemon center. Exquisite in your bouquets and pollenless, so they don’t make a mess all over the table. Give plants space if you want lots of branches to cut. One of our staffer, Norma’s favorites. Talinum paniculatum ‘Kingswood Gold’ (Jewels of Opar) h 24-30” A Fascinating long stemmed airy panicles of tiny carmine 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 Michigan Blue’ (Blue Throatwort) NEW! h 28-50” C Colorful dense umbrellas of tiny, lavender-blue 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 late summer but so worth the wait.

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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 elegans ‘Benary’s Giant Lime’ h 36-48” A Large unusual double chartreuse blossoms top sturdy thick stems. Our most popular single colored variety. Annuals & Baskets & Annuals 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 purples, 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. 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’ NEW! 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™’ NEW! 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 ‘Profusion Double Deep Salmon’ h 12”-18” A This recent addition to the Profusion series has drawn high ratings from the staff and customers the last few years. The color is a salmon overlaid with tangerine. No matter what you call it the effect is stunning. As with all the Profusions, it is a prolific bloomer. This one produces masses of two-inch double flowers and is tolerant of both cool and hot conditions.

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

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. Zinnia marylandica ‘Uptown Grape’ ( ) NEW! 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 Sunburst’ h 12’-18” A Caught everyone’s eye when it was released a few years ago, this variety 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. Zinnia elegans ‘Zinderella Lilac’ ( ) NEW! 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. We all went “Ooooo” at the photos! Fleuroselect winner. Zinnia elegans ‘Zinderella Peach’ ( ) NEW! 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.

70 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Early Spring Pansies Early Spring Pansies and Violas—1204 Pansies and Violas seem to bring us such great joy after the long winter. These will be ready to ship mid-April. Annuals & Baskets & Annuals

Early Spring Pansies Pansy ‘Blueberry Thrill’ AC Eye-catching combination of blue, yellow and white with blotch. Pansy ‘Delta Premium Neon Violet’ NEW! AC Dark violet with a light backround to its black face. Pansy ‘Fizzy Lemonberry’ AC Charming new mix of frilly petals. Yellow with purple picotee edges. Pansy ‘Frizzle Sizzle Passion Fruit’ NEW! AC Frilly and ruffled double. Passionfruit colored edges fade to cream with dark maroon face and whiskers. Pansy ‘Imperial Antique Shades’ AC A favorite mix of soft pink, salmon, and golden shades. Just lovely! Pansy ‘Karma Blue Butterfly’ AC Wonderful contrast between bronze lower petals with gold eye and dark whiskers and the rich purple cap. Dense, early to flower plants. Pansy ‘Karma Blue Sun’ NEW! AC Deep purple wings with blue and butter yellow faces. Deep purple whiskers. Pansy ‘Mariposa Peach Shades’ NEW! AC Various shades of peach and rose with dark blotches. Pansy ‘Matrix™ Series’ AC This series has extra large flowers on short stems that resist the spindly look. Pansy ‘Matrix™ Blue Frost’ NEW! AC Frosty light blue with dark purple whiskering face mask over near white centers. Pansy ‘Matrix™ Lavender Shades’ NEW! AC Extra large flowers with purple tones range from dark to a whisper to white. Purple and lavender whiskers. Pansy ‘Matrix™ Mix Raspberry Sundae’ NEW! AC A mix of solid raspberry, raspberry wings/white face/dark blotch and all white with dark blotch.

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 71 Early Spring Pansies

Ultima Radiance ‘Deep Blue’

Pansy ‘Matrix™ Mix Tanzanite’ NEW! AC Mix of solid dark purple, white with blotch and violet with blotch. Pansy ‘Matrix™ Morpheus’ NEW! AC Vibrant blue wings, gold face with purple whiskers. Pansy ‘Matrix™ Ocean’ NEW! AC Pastel violet with dark blotches. Pansy ‘Matrix™ Purple’ NEW! AC Rich royal purple with darker centers. Pansy ‘Matrix™ Red Blotch’ NEW! AC Rich mahogany-red with dark blotches. Pansy ‘Matrix™ Rose Blotch’ NEW! AC Dark rose-raspberry with dark blotches. Pansy ‘Matrix™ Rose Wing’ NEW! AC White flower with rose colored wings and dark blotch. Cooler temps and lower light may cause a delightful rosy halo on lower petals. Pansy ‘Spring Matrix Series’ AC This strong series has been especially grown for our northern climates where compact plants without stretching and heavy blooming during short spring days is so important. Pansy ‘Spring Matrix Blotch Mix’ NEW! AC All the blotched colors in this strong heavily blooming series Pansy ‘Spring Matrix Deep Orange’ AC The name says it all--a wonderful deep orange pansy.

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

Pansy ‘Spring Matrix Lemon’ AC Pure, clean lovely yellow. Pansy ‘Spring Matrix Midnight Glow’ AC Gorgeous deep velvety purple outer edges with bright yellow whiskered faces. Very striking. Pansy ‘Spring Matrix Pink Shades’ NEW! AC A range of pink shades from raspberry to rosey-violet to pastel violet-pink and whisper pink. Dark blotches. Annuals & Baskets & Annuals Pansy ‘Spring Matrix Sangria’ AC Luscious maroon outer edges have yellow faces with dark inner blotch. Dark veins add even more character to these showy beauties. Pansy ‘Spring Matrix Scarlet’ AC Strong, dark scarlet blooms. Pansy ‘Ultima Series’ AC Medium sized flowers in an exhaustive range of colors. Very cold tolerant. Pansy ‘Ultima Radiance Red’ NEW! AC Mahogany-red with wide orange halos. Dark, detailed whiskers. Pansy ‘Wine Flash’ AC A classic favorite for spring. Rich wine red petals with a golden yellow center. Add elegance and warmth to any combination. Viola ‘Penny Peach Jump-Up’ AC Upper petals of royal purple with lower petals of peach and orange. Very striking. Viola ‘Sorbet Series’ AC Compact, heavily flowering plants cover the soil at bloom time, maintains good looks through heat and cold. Viola ‘Sorbet Antique Shades’ AC Rich plum flowers with slightly faded edges. Hints of yellow, orange and gold on the lower petals. Dark detailed whiskers. Viola ‘Sorbet Carmine Rose’ NEW! AC Sweet raspberry-rose flowers with dark whiskers. Viola ‘Sorbet Coconut Swirl’ NEW! AC Light lilac trimmed petals with a wide halo of pure white. Dark purple whiskers. Viola ‘Sorbet Fire’ NEW! AC Mahogany-red and gold with dark blotches and whiskers. Viola ‘Sorbet Lemon Blueberry Swirl’ AC Lemon yellow flowers have dark whiskers and blue-purple edges that look like they were painted on with watercolors. Delicate and sweet.

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 73 Large Annuals

Viola ‘Sorbet Phantom’ NEW! AC Dark royal purple with faded halo. Dark whiskers and small lower blotch. Viola ‘Sorbet Red Blotch’ NEW! AC Deep ruby-mahogany with dark blotches. Viola ‘Sorbet XP Delft Blue’ AC Pure blue with a wide airbrushed white halo. Small dark blotch and whiskers. Viola ‘Sorbet XP Orange’ AC Pure orange viola with delicate whiskering. Viola ‘Sorbet XP Pink Halo’ AC Light pink-violet accents behind a white halo on a mostly white flower with dark whiskers. Large Annuals Large Annuals

Large Annuals—5¼” square pots, 8 pots per tray

Agapanthus ‘Gold Stripe’ h 24” AC Clumps of green and gold strap-like leaves make a lovely display while waiting for the sturdy stems of blue and white blossoms to appear in summer. In a large container or planted en masse In the garden, it is a lovely tropical addition to the northern garden. Albuca spiralis ‘Frizzle Sizzle’ h 14-24” A Fast growing bulb that sends up 12-20 long grey-green waxy stems that corkscrew at the ends. This is a fun novelty plant that looks like something from Dr. Seuss. Blooms in late spring 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 odora (Elephant Ears) h 60” AC Upright Elephant Ear with thick glossy heart-shaped leaves in a lovely light green shade. Adds a tropical touch to the garden or containers. An easy but large houseplant, too! Aloe ‘Super® Red’ h 36-48” This red blooming aloe is quick to bloom and puts on a spectacular display of tall deep red flowers. The hummingbirds will love you all summer for growing this tough and drought tolerant beauty. Asplenium ‘Victoria’ NEW! (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 ‘Angel Glow’ NEW! h 12-18” AC Imagine the sun shining through amber on a fall afternoon when the sunlight has that perfect slant to it. These luminous, iridescent medium sized leaves have a slight spiral and range in color from dark green to copper and rusty red to maroon taffeta. Angelic. Begonia ‘Black Truffles’ NEW! h 15-18” AC We sniffed these out under the cover of night using hushed tones and reverent voices and our truffle hunting pigs. Well, not really but this rhizomatous begonia is divine. True slate black medium sized forked leaves are slightly spiraled. Lime green centers and dark red backs and stems. Baskets & 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 new 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 ‘Judy Cook’ NEW! h 12-18” AC Several staff tend to start purring or even drooling when walking by or even thinking about this gal. Really large shiny leaves are mint green with pink sheen and olive green veins and margins. This Rex type begonia has magenta flowers. Stems and leaf undersides are rosy red. Begonia ‘Jurassic Pink Shades’ NEW! h 10-16” AC T-Rex would find this begonia in an old time candy shop, amongst the licorice allsorts and hard candies. Licorice brown edges and center, margins are freckled pink with a middle that is yummy raspberry fondant.

Gracie’s bed

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

Begonia ‘Jurassic Silver Point’ NEW! h 10-16” AC Similar in color to Silver Swirl, Silver Point has dark black sharply pointed edges with silver-mint green midcenters. Slightly swirled and prehistoric. Check out our website for photos of this beauty. Begonia ‘Jurassic Silver Swirl’ NEW! 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! Begonia ‘Jurassic Watermelon’ NEW! 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 ‘Marmaduke’ NEW! AC With a color pattern that’s a little like a brindle Great Dane, this rhizomatous begonia is lime green with chocolate speckles tossed across. The leaves will be quite large. Begonia ‘Plover’ NEW! AC Star-shaped bicolor leaves are slightly spiraled. Dark green centers with lime green veins and bronzy maroon edges. 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. Blooms in mid-August. Brugmansia ‘Cassie’s Curl’ NEW! (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’ NEW! (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’ NEW! (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 ‘Mixed’ (Angel Trumpet) h 8’ We are propagating singles, doubles and variegated forms in a variety of flower colors. Fragrant large trumpets are always a crowd pleaser. 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.

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

Brugmansia ‘Variegated Pink’ NEW! (Angel’s Trumpet) h 8’ AC Large elliptical leaves are light green with white irregular margins. Trumpet shaped flowers are watermelon-pink. Calla ‘Barcelona’ NEW! h 24-28” AC Barcelona is a deep rosy-purple. Foliage is dark green, slightly wavy with a light sprinkle of sea salt like splashes. Tapas served separately. Calla ‘Mercedes’ NEW! h 18-20” AC Apricot colored flowers are streaked and blushed in shades of terracotta and salmon. Dark green arrow shaped foliage. Baskets & Annuals Calla ‘Reno’ NEW! h 18-24” AC Large royal purple flowers with dark green arrow-shaped foliage that is lightly bedazzled with sliver splashes. Calla ‘Sun Club’ NEW! h 18-22” AC Like a radiant face fresh from a vacation club destination this calla is a relaxed, sunny yellow. Foliage is bright green with lightly glittered splashes. Cassia ‘Buttered Popcorn’ h 36-48” A This plant smells like buttered popcorn…..honestly! A tropical beauty with long narrow pinnate leaves and strong stems. Glossy black buds open to bright yellow spikes of 2” flowers. Plant in a warm spot in our northern gardens or better yet in a container for best blooming. 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 1-3 feet. The compact habit allows for multiple uses in mixed containers, trellised in the garden or as an attractive houseplant. Colocasia ‘Maximus Gigante’ NEW! h 72-84” AC You will definitely feel humbled when you stand next to this giant, gently rocking side to side in the wind. Individual leaves can grow 3 to 4 feet long and 2 to 3 feet wide. Sharp contrast with slate blue-gray leaves and lime green veining. Fabulous for large containers or as garden center-pieces. Colocasia ‘Noble Giant’ NEW! h 72-96” AC Another jaw dropping giant! This royalty has a chameleon effect depending on its lighting situation. Will darken to a deep dark almost black, royal purple in the shade. In the sun, Mr. Noble will keep his dark purple stems but will have dark green marbled background with slate purple or slate green veins. Colocasia ‘Red Eyed Gecko’ NEW! h 36-48” AC Electric-chartreuse foliage has a red-pink dot in the center of each leaf. The petioles are white to light pink and the clumps contrast nicely with other dark colored foliage or with other dark Colocasias.

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

Cordyline ‘Electric Pink’ h 48” AC A shamelessly hot-pink plant with an upright habit. You’ll never use a green spike again. Cyperus albostriatus Variegatus NEW! (Umbrella Sedge) h 12” AC We love Cyperus papyrus and found this dwarf variegated cultivar. Dark green leaves are striped in bright white with variegated miniature palm tree rosettes. Digiplexis ‘Berry Canary’ NEW! h 24” AC Digiplexis has been the talk of the town! Berry Canary is another long lasting bloomer with spikes of hot pink flowers, soft yellow throats and burgundy freckles. Compact. Digiplexis ‘Illumination Flame’ NEW! h 36” AC This new cross between Digitalis and Isoplexis is taking Europe and the US by storm. This tender foxglove has dark green foliage bursting with vertical flower stems of purplish pink tipped petals with orange yellow centers streaked with purple. The plant is sterile and so continues blooming like crazy once it starts. You’d better check out the photo of this beauty on our website at rushcreekgrowers.com. Digiplexis ‘Illumination Raspberry’ NEW! h 36” AC With ‘Illumination Flame’ making a return this year, its friend Raspberry is also a must have! Flower spikes of raspberry-pink flowers with salmon throats and pink speckles. Well branching and multiple spikes = unlimited potential!

Jaci and Ean at Missouri Botanical Gardens

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

Echeveria Assorted h 8-12” ACD Amazingly beautiful and varied cultivars from Central America, these succulents feature large rosettes in shades of silver, pink, purple and variegated. Blossoms appear yearly on arching stems in fantastic colors of orange, coral, pink and more. The blossoms seem to last forever whether grown outside or indoors. They are drought tolerant and will take a bit of frost. Like Hens and Chicks, they produce numerous offsets that are easy to root to start more plants. Easy to grow for the novice or patio gardener. 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 Baskets & Annuals 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. Eucomis ‘Leia’ (Pineapple Lily) h 10” A One of the first compact pineapple lilies. Fabulous dark lavender pink buds that look like a miniature pineapple open to delightful 10” blossoms in the same rich color. They smell like coconut. The foliage is semi-erect and lance shaped with wavy margins that add to the exotic appeal. This plant multiplies rapidly producing many new bulbs for next season. Fatsia ‘Spider’s Web’ RENEW! h 60-65” CD Large dramatic palmate leaves are dark green with white splashes and dotting. As the season goes on the variegation changes to golden-green and cream. Flower clusters of little white orbs appear in the fall followed by green to black berry clusters. Superb as a houseplant or to make a statement in containers. Nephrolepsis cor. ‘Lemon Button Fern’ NEW! (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. Ophiopogon nigrescens (Black Mondo Grass) h 6-10” AC Shiny purple-black strap like foliage grows in 6” mounds and provides wonderful contrast to most colors and textures. Mid to late summer spikes of pink bell shaped flowers. If only it was hardy here. Pennisetum ‘Black Stockings’ NEW! h 60-72” A Very tall plants with wide grass blades are a dark rich purple with burgundy veins and canes. 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. Pennisetum setaceum ‘Princess Caroline’ h 36” A A slightly shorter version of ‘Princess’ with an improved growth habit. Solid deep burgundy blades. No seed heads.

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

Pennisetum setaceum ‘Vertigo’ h 36-48” A Large grass with shiny, rich burgundy foliage provides an architectural presence in the garden or in a container, adding height and drama. Fast easy grower and a favorite of the new Pennisetums. Phormium ‘Black Licorice’ (New Zealand Flax) h 36” A This may be the darkest of all the Phormium cultivars with its shining black foliage. Works well with brightly colored annuals. Slow growing but worth the wait. Rosemary Assorted Uprights h 12-18” A Large upright varieties to give your fresh herb starved customers a head start on spring. Varieties include ‘Upright’, BBQ’, ‘Shady Acres’ and more. Stachys ‘Belle Grigio’ NEW! h 12-14” AC Allergic to dogs or cats? Need a plant pet? Well, this plant could almost ease your envy. Long, strappy lambs ear-like leaves are grey and velvety. Stunning planted up with dark stemmed plants like Eryngium or Phormium. Pet one today.

Baskets from above

80 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. We love the new series and colors of Calibrachoas and are using them freely in our combos

and single species baskets. Check out the six varieties of single species begonias Baskets & Annuals for sun and shade. Designed in house, our combos will surprise and please your customers. Order early. We’ll 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 performed 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 ‘Arcada Yellow’ NEW! CD Double perky yellow tuberous begonias have a trailing habit but are compact enough to avoid breakage. Covered with large blossoms they make a big color statement in a shady spot. Begonia ‘Bossa Nova Red’ NEW! ACD Brilliant red bells with this boliviensis will bring the carnival right to the the porch with this ringing basket. Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 81 Baskets

Begonia ‘Dragon Wing Pink’ NEW! ACD So easy to grow. It’s a winner for the new or busy gardener. Baskets overflow with glossy angel wing foliage and bright pink singles. So showy and vigorous! 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® Golden Picotee’ CD Another pretty color in this eye-catching begonia series. Fully double golden blossoms have orange margins and leaf backs. Blossoms at each leaf node create a waterfall of color. Calibrachoa ‘Trio Confetti Garden™ Aloha Kona Hawaiian Flamingo’ A A riot of color featuring Aloha Purple, Aloha Neon and Aloha Tiki Soft Pink. The appearance of a combo basket. Calibrachoa ‘Trio Confetti Garden™ Aloha Kona Hawaiian Summer’ A A hot summer color mix of Aloha Kona Dark Red, Aloha Kona Pineapple, Aloha Kona Hot Orange. The appearance of a combo basket. 82 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Baskets

Calibrachoa ‘Volcano Sunset’ NEW! AC We chose this new calibrachoa for its fancy factors. Summer- yellow on intricate star cut flowers with an unique ‘lava flow’ burst pattern of sunset orange. Calibrachoa ‘Superbells™ Pomegranate Punch’ A Making a return from 2013, this Callie has a luscious rich red color with a darker throat, large blossoms and is self cleaning. Great reviews at trial gardens. Also available in 4” pots. Cucumber ‘Patio Snacker’ A

Help your patio and deck gardeners grow “up” with some delicious cukes. Compact Baskets & Annuals 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 Taffeta Bow’ CD Light pink flowers with splashes of hot pink down the lower petals. Vigorous with great branching and trailing habits. Fuchsia ‘Giant Velvet Crush’ CD The softest pink sepals cover large eggplant-black corollas, adding to the drama of both colors. Fuchsia ‘Sunbeam Paloma’ NEW! CD Rosy pink sepals over lavender corollas. Smaller but many blossoms.

Geranium ‘Precision series’ A A new series in the Ball Simply Beautiful ivy geranium program. Specially selected for early flowering and excellent uniformity as well as improved Oedema resistance. Features well-branched plants with a nicely mounded habit. Geranium ‘Precision Burgundy Ice IPD’ NEW! A We like this two toned geranium for a single species basket, cuz it’s fancy and needs nothing else. Bright fuchsia edges to the petal with a light pink center. Geranium ‘Precision Dark Salmon’ NEW! A As the name implies, a bright pinkish coral color. A nice change up from the regular pink. Geranium ‘Precision Ruby’ A Ruby red doubles. Early to flower with good disease resistance. Herbs ‘Mixed’ A A basket overflowing with 5-6 mixed kitchen herbs. Impatiens ‘Bounce Pink Flame’ NEW! ACD These Impatiens got there name for their ability to “bounce” back if neglected with watering. They don’t drop their flowers! Pink flame offers an intense deep pink with a fuchsia iridescence flush.

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 83 Baskets

Impatiens ‘Fiesta Sparkler Orange’ NEW! D A double gem with deep inset white markings with outer petals in scrumptious orange. Impatiens ‘Fiesta Sunrise Red’ NEW! D We can’t resist growing a couple of lovely double impatiens baskets. Fiesta Red is straight up bright red. Impatiens ‘Spellbound Pink Splash’ D As the name implies, a bright pinkish coral color. A nice change up from the regular pink. Impatiens ‘Sun Harmony Compact Lavendar’ NEW! ACD Large New Guinea type lavender blooms on the interspecific sun tolerant downy mildew resistant plant. This is our replacement for the Fanfare series orchid impatiens which have unfortunately been discontinued. Lantana ‘Landmark Sunrise Rose’ NEW! A Rosy pink outer petals are accented with brilliant yellow on this heat lover trailer. Easy to grow in the heat of the summer. Lobelia ‘Techno Blue’ ACD Vivid true blue blooms. Heat and sun tolerant with a nicely trailing habit. Always popular and better performing than seed varieties. Lobularia ‘Lavender Stream™ ‘ NEW! AC We can’t deny the improvements made to Lobularia made in the past years and decided it was ready for it’s own basket. Mounding heaps of lavender delight like an neverending supply of cotton candy.

Lophospermum ‘Lophos™ Compact Rose’ AC Tubular wine red thumb-sized blossoms. Soft green foliage is reminiscent of Asarina Red Dragon. New for this year is this slightly more compact Lophos. Only a 4 ft. drop covered with blossoms. Petunia ‘Blanket® Red’ NEW! A I can’t say enough about Blanket Petunias. We decided to add another color along with the violet because of their all-around great attributes. Petunia ‘Blanket® Violet’ A Gorgeous deep violet color with a white eye. Covered in charming blossoms that are easy to maintain throughout the season. Petunia ‘Cascadias™ Indian Summer’ A One of our favorite additions in 2014. Varied shades of yellow to rose to pink lending a terra cotta look to this vigorous plant. Petunia ‘Ray Salmon’ NEW! A Don’t miss this beautiful new salmon-orange variety sporting a soft cream center. We were charmed with this variety at shows this summer. Wow!

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

Petunia ‘Sweetunia Hot Rod Red’ A Hot, hot red blossoms cover this trailing variety. The blossoms are slightly smaller than some petunias but the clear bright red blossoms will rev your engine. So popular every year so pre-order early. Petunia ‘Sweetunia Grape Ice’ NEW! A This petunia boasts a pink flower with a purple throat and then finishes with rose veins. Sounds like a personal problem but what it really means is that it is stunning enough to be worthy of its own basket.

Scaevola ‘Brilliant’ A Baskets & Annuals The best blue fan flower in our estimation. A great choice for difficult conditions like windy balconies and hot afternoon sun. Easy to grow for beginners. Strawberry ‘Toscana’ A An edible basket for the patio featuring plentiful, medium-sized fruits that are fragrant, delicious and oh so fun. These will produce from midsummer to frost. Hardy for the garden, too. Tomato ‘Cherry Cascade’ A Popular and vigorous variety that is easy to grow producing massive numbers of juicy cherry sized tomatoes cascading from the basket. Always high demand for these tasty treasures. Tomato ‘Tumbling Tiger’ NEW! A Heavy producers of red striped plum-sized fruits. Dense basket hugging growth cascades 18-24”. Disease resistant, good texture and very tasty. We couldn’t believe the heavy fruit set. Torenia ‘Summer Wave® Large Violet’ CD 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. Fairy Gardens Collection Fairy Gardens—4” compostable pots, 10 pots per flat

Fairy Collections

Meadow Fairy Collection AC Meadow fairies love to frolic in the warmth of a summer day. Plant this garden or container in full to part sun and keep evenly moist for the happiest garden. Some plants in your collection will be a mix of annuals and perennials.

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Rock Fairy Collection A Mischievous fairies love to frolic in this garden filled with heat and dry loving plants. This garden or container likes very well-drained soil and moderate watering while outside but minimal watering if brought into the house for the winter. A mix of annuals, perennials and succulents. Stream Fairy Collection D Stream fairies are delighted by the moist, cool shade of the woodland stream. Plant this garden in a shady location. Keep moist. Some stream fairies prefer life in the house in a beautiful glass terrarium. Check your plant tags for which plants are annuals or perennials. Annual Vines Annual Vines—4½” plantable pots This year we’ve spiced up the annual vines program with some interesting vining edibles. Watch for Bitter Melon, Luffa and Malabar Spinach. Also new this year are two lovely varieties of Sweet Peas. 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 red fleshy, glossy, sensuous leaves and stems. 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 A 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. 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. 86 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Vines

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. Annuals & Baskets & Annuals 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. Lathyrus ‘King Edward VII’ NEW! (Sweet Pea) h 4-6’ Behold! Grandiflora type with large blooms that are a stunning crimson red. Strong spicy scent on this heirloom.

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

Lathyrus ‘Lady Grisel Hamilton’ NEW! (Sweet Pea) h 4-6’ Soft, lucky lavender flowers are perfect for cutting. Heat tolerance with a delightfully sweet fragrance for this old fashioned heirloom. Luffa 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 mature to the sponge stage this far north. Mina lobata (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. 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. 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. 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.

88 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Summer and Fall

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. Annuals & Baskets & Annuals 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.

Summer and Fall Summer—8” round fiber or 5½” square We’ve finally done it. We’ve been working diligently to develop a “knock your socks off”color program for the summer that blends right into fall. We’ve been honing the timing of crops and pot sizes to keep all the plants happy. They are rewarding us with a dazzling display. Let them dazzle you too.

Fall We’ve got it all going on. Mums, Asters, Kale & Cabbage, Veggies, Pansies and Herbs. Look for complete program details later

Summer and Fall

Mum ‘Mammoth Yellow’ Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 89 Edibles Charts Edibles Edibles—Jumbo 6 packs and 3½” pots An increasing percentage of your customers’ questions are about growing edibles, aren’t they? Vegetable production is the gateway drug for the novice gardener. They remember helping grandma in the garden or have gotten boxes of midsummer vegetables from neighbors or a CSA farm, so it’s not such a leap into the unknown. Within a season or two, however, the beginner becomes more sophisticated and wants to venture further afield. Our ever-increasing selection of amazing edibles will set you up to assist gardeners at both end of the experience spectrum—and everyone in between. We can’t help it—we are vegetable geeks and somebody here has probably already grown it. 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.

Edibles Charts Patio Heirloom Ornmental SE/East Asian SE/East Jumbo 6 packs American Latin Amaranth 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 Chinese Leeks Nira x Collards Georgia x Fennel Bronze x Fennel, Bulbing Orion x Frisee Dubuisson x Amaranth Yin Thai x x Beets Bull’s Blood x x Brussels Sprouts Falstaff x

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

(cont’d from Asian SE/East Latin American Latin Jumbo 6 packs prev. page) Cauliflower Graffiti x Chinese Broccoli Green Lance x Chinese Cabbage Nappa Green Rocket x Chinese Celery Tianjin Green x Chinese Leeks Nira x Collards Georgia x Edibles Fennel Bronze x Fennel, Bulbing Orion x Frisee Dubuisson x Kale Garden Mixer x Kale Rainbow Lacinato x Kale Red Ursa x Kale Redbor x Kale Dinosaur x Kale Starbor x Lettuce Mixed x Red Butterhead - Lettuce Avicenna x Lettuce Springtime Head Mix 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 Black Velvet x x Nasturtium Empress of India x x Nasturtium Jewel Salmon x x

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 91 Edibles Charts Latin Latin Patio Heirloom American Ornmental 3½” Pots Asian SE/East Artichoke Imperial Star x Cantaloupe Minnesota Midget x x Cantaloupe Oka x Cauliflower x Romanesco Veronica Cucumber Lemon x Cucumber Patio Snacker x Cucumber Pick a Bushel x Cucumber bush Spacemaster 80 x Cucumber x Japanese Tasty Jade Eggplant Lao Purple Stripe x Eggplant Ping Tung Long x Eggplant Rosa Bianca x Eggplant Pinstripe x Ground Cherry Aunt Molly’s x x Kale Kosmic Pepper Aji Cristal x x Pepper Beaver Dam x Pepper Cajun Belle x Pepper Czech Black x x Pepper Early Jalapeno x Pepper Fatalii x Pepper Fish x Pepper Ghost (Bhut Jalokia) x Pepper Habanero x x Pepper Kim Chi Hybrid x Pepper King of the North x Pepper Mama Mia Giallo Pepper Matchbox x x Pepper Pasilla ‘Holy Mole’ x

92 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Edibles Charts Patio Heirloom Ornmental SE/East Asian SE/East 3½” Pots American Latin Pepper Poblano ‘Tiburon’ x Pepper Purple Bell Pepper Serrano x Pepper Shishito x Pepper Tabasco x x x Pepper Tangerine Dream x x Pepper Thai Hot x x x

Pepper Capperino Cherry x Edibles Pepper Cayenne, Golden x x Pepper Cayenne, Cheyenne x Pumpkin Cinderella’s Carriage x Tomatillo Verde Puebla x Tomatillo Purple x x Tomato Amish Paste x Aunt Ruby’s German x Tomato Green 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 Mexico Midget x Tomato Moskvich x Tomato Mr. Stripey x Tomato Nebraska Wedding x

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 93 Edibles Patio Heirloom Ornmental SE/East Asian SE/East 3½” Pots American Latin Tomato San Marzano x Tomato Speckled Roman x Tomato Stupice x Tomato Tiny Tim x Tomato Valley Girl Tomato Wapsipinicon Peach x Tomato Yellow Pear x Winter Melon (Wax Gourd) x Winter Squash Honey Bear x Zucchini Buckingham x

Edibles 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 F2 is hardy, well adapted and will produce medium sized spears in three to four years. Basil ‘Sweet Genovese’ A We now offer this popular variety in Jumbo 6 packs as well as in our herb program. Large leaved compact variety that is a heavy producer and 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.

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

Belgian Endive ‘Totem’ A Also known as Witloof or Forcing Chicory. Here are seedlings to grow the roots you will harvest and chill, then force next winter in a warmer dark location like a basement. Large plants with strap-like foliage grow this summer; next winter, you will get the classic “chicons” of folded, blanched leaves. Not as tricky as it sounds to eat fresh greens in midwinter! Uniform roots store well so you can do multiple forcings. Broccoli A Year in and year out, through sleet and storm and drought and probably dark of night, this is the broccoli we depend on to fill the freezer for the coming winter. Not the earliest, but always a reliable producer of large good-looking heads. Contrary to popular opinion, you will get some side shoots after the main harvest if you keep it watered. AAS winner in 1975. Broccolini ‘Happy Rich’ A You know this classic bad housemate move; you open the fridge door to grab some Edibles broccoli for dinner and somebody has cut off and eaten all the florettes, leaving you with only a big chunky stem. Dang! OK, so not everyone knows how to work with those big broccoli stems. Thus the recent supermarket popularity of broccolini; a cross of standard broccoli with Gai Lan, its thin-stemmed Chinese relative. The skinny stems and small loose heads of buds are quick cooking, tender and easy to prepare. So here’s your home version, harvest the larger central head, then keep cutting the numerous slender side shoots every few days for over a month. Brussels Sprouts ‘Falstaff ‘ A 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.

Onion ‘Cippolini’

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

Brussels Sprouts ‘Churchill ‘ NEW! 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 codebreakers 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’ NEW! A Make some room in your garden for three of our favorite larger cabbages. Lovely “Deadon Savoy” is a January King type will keep going in the autumn cold well down into the ‘20 and look SO good while 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! As in over 10 lb. apiece if given enough space and fertility. Better get out your jumbo fermentation crock. Cauliflower ‘Graffiti’ A An intensely purple true cauliflower. A lovely ornamental with a delicious taste. Color will lighten if blanched, boiled or steamed but darkens if roasted! 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 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.

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

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. Chinese Leeks ‘Nira’ A A wide leaf strain of garlic chives. Leaves and flowers popular in Chinese and SE Asian cooking; the authentic allium component in Pad Thai. Perennial, so choose location thoughtfully. Cilantro 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. Edibles 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. Forager’s Mixes A Many parts are edible! You don’t have to make like Euell Gibbons 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.

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 97 Edibles

Forager’s Mix ‘Cool Season’ A After extensive trials last season, 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’ (Cichorium intybus), Miner’s Lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata), Nettles (Urica dioca), Upland Cress ‘Belle Isle’ (Barbaca verna) and Wild Arugula ‘Dragon’s Tongue’ (Diplotaxis tenuifolia). Forager’s Mix ‘Warm Season’ A 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). Frisee ‘Dubuisson’ A Extra frilly Wallone type chicory is slower to bolt and a bit slower to mature than our previous selection. Tie or rubber band outer leaves together to blanche inner foliage for more delicate taste. Kale ‘Garden Mixer’ A Why choose just one? We’ll mix red and green, flat and ruffled for your garden. 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. 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.

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

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, 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! 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. Edibles 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’ NEW! 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 me 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; I 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. 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, ‘Redbor’ curled kale, Mizuna mustard, ‘Red Choi’ pac choi, ‘Red Giant’ mustard and ‘Bull’s Blood’ beet greens 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!

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

Mustard, Indian ‘Dragon’s Tongue’ NEW! 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. Crunch white midribs contrast with sassy crinkled foliage in the aformentioned 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 ‘Black Velvet’ A Unique and intense velvety reddish-black blossoms with dark green foliage. Best flowering in less fertile soil. Drought tolerant. 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 ‘Jewel Salmon’ NEW! 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.

Planting cuttings

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Nasturtium ‘Milk Maid’ A Creamy pale yellow blooms are as close to white as a nasturtium gets. This selection from Seed Savers has a vining habit to 6 ft. 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 ‘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 grand cover. Drought tolerant and a lovely addition to your salads. Onion ‘Borettana Cipollini’ A ‘Borettana’ is an Italian heirloom traditionally used for pickling. The bulbs are Edibles 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 onion have limited storage life. 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. 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.

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Rice ‘Black Madras’ A How fun is this? Do you think they stock this at Home Depot??? Clump forming green and purple black leaves make a beautiful accent in the garden or as a “thriller” in containers. Late in the season they produce chartreuse heads full of rice. 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 into hanging baskets. Plants from spring 2013 were putting out tasty fruit by mid-summer and day neutral habit means the production just keeps coming. Strawberry, Everbearing ‘Tristar’ NEW! A Wish you could pick another crop of strawberries in late summer? So do we, and we picked “Tristar” as the 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 hot the 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 ‘Discovery’ NEW! A The best thing you will discover about this new chard is its improved cold-tolerance. Those few extra degrees will get you more harvestable leaves later in to the autumn. Classic bright red stem and veins contrast with deep green leaves. Also tasty at the tender baby leaf stage for salads. 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.

3½” Pots

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2014 Tomato Taste-Off A It was not much of a tomato year, was it? With all the rain and cool weather, we did not have a taste test. My black tomatoes especially hated this weather, and my cherries kept cracking, but the orange slicers and Romas pulled through best. Better luck next year? Maybe we’ll have a cabbage taste test this fall. 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 ‘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 Edibles 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. 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 Cauliflower Romanesco ‘Veronica’ A Remember the crazy stuff they used to round up to serve as vegetables on the original Star Trek episodes? I recall 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. Cucumber ‘Lemon’ NEW! 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.

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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’ NEW! 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 the fruit picked at the 3-6” size to insure continued production. An All-American Selection for our region. 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. 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 Talk about prolific! These vines pumped out picklers for months in the hot wet summer of 2010. 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.

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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 ‘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. Eggplant ‘Pinstripe’ A For patio pots with attitude. Dozens of small fruits in striking purple and white stripes on compact plants. Harvest at tennis ball or smaller stage and use as you would any Italian eggplant. 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- Edibles 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’ NEW! 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 Pepper ‘Aji Cristal’ NEW! A Our plug grower Eli would never be without this lanky, prolific Capsicum baccatumin 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’ NEW! (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. Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 105 Edibles

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, great roasted or raw. 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 ‘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’ NEW! 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 ‘Ghost (Bhut Jalokia)’ NEW! A Every six months or so some new pepper is crowned as “hottest in the world,” and some new sweaty, grinning guy is pictured online holding the latest mutation of a Naga Viper, Trinidad Scorpion or Carolina Reaper with Scoville Heat units are 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!

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Pepper ‘Gypsy’ A Slender 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 ‘Kim Chi Hybrid’ A Early production of slender, fairly hot, 6” fruits that mature from dark green to red. Use fresh, in pickling or for drying. 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 Edibles 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. Pepper ‘Mama Mia Giallo’ NEW! 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 ‘Matchbox’ A A great patio plant, this bushy pepper bears a hundred or more upright 2” fruit through that first frost. Multitudes of pale yellow-green fruit mature to deep scarlet with plenty of heat. These is my earliest hot pepper, year in and year out. Very ornamental in a pot so bring one in before frost. About 40,000 Scoville Heat Units. 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. Pepper ‘Pasilla ‘Holy Mole’’ NEW! 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.

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Pepper ‘Poblano (Ancho)’ A Called a Poblano when it is green but becomes an Ancho when it ripens to brick-red and is smoked and dried. Since it won’t dry on the plant in our climate, you’ll have to help with that process. At the Poblano stage, these make great chile rellenos and at the Ancho stage can be soaked, chopped and used in molé or ground to make the familiar chile powder. Pepper ‘Poblano ‘Tiburon’’ NEW! 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 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’ NEW! 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’ NEW! 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 ‘Tabasco’ A Capsicum frutescens. Make your own hot sauce or dry these elongated 2” fruits. Pale yellow ripening to red fruit points up rather than down on bushy compact plants. Named for the Mexican state of Tabasco on the Caribbean coast, so rather late season for our region. Might be another good one to pot up and bring inside. Pepper ‘Tangerine Dream’ NEW! 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.

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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. Pepper ‘Capperino Cherry’ A A new hybrid cherry-type pepper just the right size and heat for stuffing and pickling. Round to slightly flattened fruits are about 1½”. Medium sized plants. 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. Pepper ‘Cayenne, Cheyenne’ A 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 Edibles 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 ‘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. Pepper ‘Gourmet Orange’ A 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 ‘Inferno Hot Wax’ A Admit it, you’re not sitting around snacking on Bhut Jalokia or Trinidad Scorpion chilies; a Hot Wax pepper is just about the right amount of heat for most folks in salad or other raw uses. So if you’re going to grow the Hot Wax, go for Inferno for extremely productive plants and large uniform slightly hot fruit. Yes, it’s OK to make salsa or pickle some too; you’ll have plenty! 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. Pumpkin ‘Cinderella’s Carriage’ NEW! 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 inceased 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.

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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 fruits on long, vigorous vines. Plenty of fertility and water throughout the season will plump it up. Had to roll my 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’ NEW! A Because sometimes you don’t want the whole zucchini. Maybe you just want a couple cute little patty pans and golden Sunburst fills the bill perfectly. This All- American winner from 1985 features good yields on vigorous plants.

Osteospernum ‘3D Berry White”

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Sweet Potato ‘Beauregard’ NEW! 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 Sweet Potato ‘Covington’ NEW! A This recent selection from North Carolina State became adopted by 90% of the growers in that state within less than a decade of its relase. 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 ‘Verde Puebla’ A 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 Edibles seed. 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. 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 ‘Apricot Dream’ A Ridiculously huge trusses of 20-30 golden yellow oblong cherry-sized fruits. Indeterminate (vining) plants. 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 ‘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. Tomato ‘Black Plum’ A These have a place in our 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.

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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 ‘Bosque Blue’ NEW! 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 so 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 ‘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 ‘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’ NEW! 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 ‘Hillbilly’ A Beautiful red-gold slicers weight up to 1 lb. apiece on indeterminate potato-leaf type vines. Ohio heirloom. 85 days Tomato ‘Homeslice’ A New patio slicer produces multitudes of mid-sized 6 oz fruit on compact determinate (bush) plants. Quite early at 63 days.

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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. Indeterminate. Tomato ‘Juliet Hybrid’ A Grape type, so expect huge clusters of over a dozen flavorful 2 oz. mini-Romas. Edibles Crack resistant, good shelf life and great disease resistance. Indeterminate (tall vine) plants. Took home the All-America award in 1999. 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. 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. fruits. 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.

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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 ‘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. 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 ‘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 Tomato ‘Super Sweet 100’ A This very popular 1” cherry tomato sets fruit in huge clusters. Needs staking. Indeterminate. 78 days. 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 ‘Tomaccio’ NEW! A They call it the “raisin tomato” and recommend eating it as a snack as well as for traditional sun dried tomato uses. For real? I do love a dried tomato, so will defintely grow one of these next year, but I am not signing up to mix them into my meusli quite yet.

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

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.

Watermelon ‘Sugar Baby’ A Edibles 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 Melon (Wax Gourd) A Heat loving vine produces large to huge fruits that store well for winter use. Not sweet, used like a vegetable in soups, etc. in Southeast Asian cuisine. This variety grows a handy sized 6-7” round fruit. Winter Squash ‘Acorn’ A Classic dark green 1½ - 2 lb. scalloped fruit. Dry flesh is good for baking. All modern selections derive from those selected 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 ‘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.

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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’ NEW! 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. 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’ NEW! 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 ‘Squisito’ NEW! 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. 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, Gold ‘Sebring’ A Productive, early, bush plants produce lovely, slender, bright golden-yellow fruits, which have straight sides and are cylindrical, rather than shaped like a baseball bat. Bright color might mean you’re less likely to miss a giant fruit hiding under the leaves. Zucchini, Romanesco ‘Portofino’ NEW! 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- devoring monsters, so when we saw a semi-bush version, we jumped right on it.

116 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Deluxe Edibles Deluxe Edibles Summer—6x6” fiber pots Here is our selection of edibles in larger pots for containers and the garden. Featuring our grafted tomato varieties, papaya, goji berries and more. We will be adding more to this list as the season progresses so watch for them on our weekly availability.

Deluxe Edibles

Carica papaya T.R. Hovey’ (Dwarf Papaya) h 4-8’ A Dwarf papaya tree ideal for the patio. Large velvety leaves are lobed and palm-like. Typically will bear fruit in its first year!

Ficus carica Brown Turkey’ NEW! (Fig) h 36-48” A Edibles Tender perennial fig that will bear fruit in the fall. Large leaves resemble oak leaves. An attractive specimen. Will produce fruit in containers. Can be overwintered in a cool spot but will lose its leaves.

The Grafted Tomato A By methods very similar to those used with fruit trees, you can attach two different kinds of tomatoes together to get the best qualities of both. Commercial growers have been doing it for years. In this case, tasty heirlooms are grafted onto productive, disease-resistant root stock. The result for the gardener is dramatically increased production (generally about twice as much fruit), plus better tolerance of stress from weather, insects and disease. We are carrying both grafted Mighty Matos and Burpee varieties. Great for urban gardens with limited space but big tomato hunger. Tomato Burpee ‘Big Zac’ NEW! A An heirloom beefsteak with fruit up to 6 lbs. Big and delicious. Indeterminate. 80- 90 days Tomato Burpee ‘Fireworks’ NEW! A One of the largest of the early varieties with 2-3” fruits that are sweet and well- balanced in flavor with a slightly flattened shape. Indeterminate. 60-70 days. Tomato Mighty Mato ‘Brandywine’ h 60” A Beloved heirloom is almost too late for our area; fruits start to come on just before that first frost. Grafted version will bring on more production so you can get the Brandywines you love before Jack Frost does them in. Indeterminate. Tomato Mighty Mato ‘Homestead 24’ NEW! h 48-60” A Heirloom variety dating to 1954. Developed in the south for hot climates so perfect for container gardening where too much heat can be an issue. Large, meaty fruits. 80 days

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Tomato Mighty Mato ‘Lucky Tiger’ NEW! A Red stripes on a green elongated cherry with a delicious sweetness and tropical tang. Indeterminate. 65-75 days Tomato Mighty Mato ‘Skykomish’ NEW! A Golden yellow orange tomato with a red streak down the middle. We chose for its excellent resistance to late blight plus good flavor. 3-4” fruits. Indeterminate. Vitis Pixie Grapes’ NEW! 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

Echevaria

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

Herbs—3½” compostable rice hull pots, 12 per flat We grow over 150 varieties of culinary, ornamental and medicinal herbs. This is a case of the right sized pot for a crop. The rice hull pots look very appealing. The plants are big enough for some instant success yet they hold well on your bench. When provided with a healthy, well-grown plant, herbs can be a successful starting place for new gardeners. Signage regarding our growing practices is available. Just ask.

Herbs Charts

Tea Medicinal Lemon Specialty Culinary Cocktail Anise Hyssop x Arnica montana ‘Mountain Arnica’ x

Arugula, wild ‘Wasabi’ x x Herbs Astragalus membranaceus ‘Chinese Milkvetch’ x Basil ‘Lime’ x Basil ‘Mrs. Burns Lemon’ x Basil ‘Pluto’ x Basil ‘Thai Holy Basil’ x Basil ‘Sweet Thai’ x Borage x Calendula officinalis ‘Resina’ x Caraway x Catnip ‘Lemon’ x x x x Catnip x x Chamomile, German x x Chamomile, Roman x x Chervil x Chia x x

Herbs

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

Tea Medicinal Lemon Specialty Culinary Cocktail Chives ‘Garlic’ x Cilantro ‘Confetti’ x Dill ‘Fern Leaf’ x Echinacea ‘Narrow Leaf ’ x Epazote x Fenugreek x Feverfew x Horehound x Hypericum ‘St. John’s Wort’ x Hyssop officinalis x Jiaogulan x x Lavender ‘Sweet’ x x Lavender ang. ‘Big Time Blue’ x Lavender ang. ‘Ellagance Pink’ x Lavender ang. ‘Ellagance Purple’ x Lavender ang. ‘Folgate’ x Lavender ang. ‘Hidcote Blue’ x Lavender ang. ‘Munstead’ x Lavender ang. ‘Platinum Blonde’ x Lavender pinn. ‘Fern Leaf’ x Lavender stoe. ‘Silver Anouk’ x Lavender x ‘Goodwin Creek’ x Lavender x ‘Provence’ x x Lavender x ‘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

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

Tea Medicinal Lemon Specialty Culinary Cocktail 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 'Lime' x x x x Mint 'Mojito' x x Mint 'Moroccan' x x Mint 'Orange' x Mint 'Peppermint' x x Mint 'Peppermint Varieg.' x Mint 'Spearmint' x x Herbs Mint 'Swiss' x x Mint 'Varieg. Pineapple' x x Mint 'Red ' x Mint 'Thai ' x x Oregano 'Hot and Spicy' x Oregano 'Mexican' x Papaloquelite x Patchouli x Perilla fr. crispa 'Aka Shiso' x Prunella vulg. 'Heal All, Self Heal' x Psyllium x x Rosemary 'Barbeque' x Rosemary 'Gold Dust' x Sage 'Pineapple' x Sage 'Fruit Scented ' x Sage apiana 'White' x Salad Burnet x

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 121 Herbs

Tea Medicinal Lemon Specialty Culinary Cocktail Saltwort x Savory 'Lemon' x x Savory, Summer x Savory, Winter x Scented x Geranium 'Lemona' Sesame Black x Sorrel 'French' x x 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 x Coriander Vietnamese x Perilla 'Tia To or Hojiso' Vietnamese x Perilla 'Tia To, Ao Shisho' Watercress x x Yerba buena 'Indian Mint' x x x

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

Herbs Allium quattro h 32” AC This garlicky, flat leafed allium is wonderful to use in pasta and makes a sensational salad when you add the 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. Allium tricoccum ‘Ramps -Wild Leeks’ 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. 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. 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 Herbs 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. 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.

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 123 Herbs

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. 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. Basil ‘Cardinal’ h 24-30” A Striking celosia-like purple-red blossoms top burgundy stems. Rich heady fragrance and flavor. 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™’ h 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’ Basil ‘Lime’ h 16-20” A Distinct lime aroma. Adds a citrusy zing to your cooking. Bright green 2” leaves on a compact plant. 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. Basil ‘Neapolitano’ h 14-16” A This variety has frilly “lettuce leaf” foliage. Leaves are 4” long and make a great pesto. High producer due to the large size of the leaves.

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

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. 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’ 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. Herbs 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. 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. Basil ‘Sweet Nufar’ h 24-30” A Large 4” leaf has a sweet scent and flavor. Resistant to Fusarium wilt. Heavy producer. 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. 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.

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 125 Herbs

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. 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. 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 mosquitos 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. 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. Chamomile, German h 20” A Annual. Sweet apple-like fragrance with white daisy-like flowers. Used for teas or a soothing calming bath. Chamomile, Roman h 4” A Perennial. Evergreen mat of finely textured aromatic foliage topped with yellow button flowers. 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. Chia h 36” A Supergrain Chia is here! It grows 3 feet tall and produces spikes of blue flowers during summer. Salvia Hispanica

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

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. 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? 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. 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 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. Dill ‘Fern Leaf’ h 26-32” A Herbs Annual. More compact strain has dark blue-green ferny foliage with an intense dill flavor. Very slow to bolt. 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. 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.

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 127 Herbs

Horehound h 24-36” A Name is derived from “Horus,” the Egyptian god of sky and light. Very easy to grow, but does not like wet feet. The leaves and flowers have a menthol flavor and are used in teas, candies and cough drops. 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. It is widely used to treat depression. 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. 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 ‘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. Lavender angustifolia ‘Big Time Blue’ h 24” A We are excited to add this very early blooming English Lavender to our selection. It is a vigorous plant with gray green foliage with large, purplish blue blossoms on fat spikes. Lovely in beds, borders, large containers and as a cut flower. Lavandula angustifolia ‘Big Time Blue’ 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 angustifolia ‘Hidcote Blue’ h 18” A Ornamental with deep purple flowers. One of the best varieties for our climate.

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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 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 ‘Kew Red’ h 18” A Spanish lavender. Unique red-violet blossoms add a new color to the species. Compact habit and finely textured foliage. Intensely fragrant and highly decorative. Use as edging or in containers. 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 Herbs 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 ‘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”! 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. 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.

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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 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. 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!

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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 ‘Lime’ h 12-18” A Shall we call this margarita mint? Lime, lime, lime! It isn’t just tangy and delicious, it’s beautiful with burgundy blushed foliage. Great for fish, chicken and other summer culinary delights. It’s perfect for a kitchen container or to put it in the garden for pest control. It attracts bees and butterflies and repels aphids, fleas and ants. 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 Herbs 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 fragrant. Great for desserts and cocktails. Mint ‘Swiss’ h 18” AC Light peppermint scent and flavor often used in Swiss herbal candies. Pink flowers on fine toothed foliage draws butterflies.

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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’ Mint ‘Variegated Pineapple’ h 12” AC Lovely green and creamy white wooly leaves. Good mint flavor with a distinct pineapple fragrance. 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. Oregano ‘Westacre Gold’ h 15” A An upright variety with green leaves netted with gold. Hardy to Zone 5. 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. 132 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Herbs

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’ Perilla, green ‘Tia To’ h 18-24” A Broad serrated green leaves with red backs are quite ornamental. Herb for Southeast Asian cooking. 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 Herbs 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

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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 ‘Blue Spire’ h 36” AC Upright variety with feathery rich green foliage. Highly aromatic. Excellent for seasoning foods. Rosemary ‘Gold Dust’ h 1’ A This is an exceptional rosemary for the garden! Chartreuse-gold edges on each dark green leaf make it sparkle. Abundant dark blue blooms on compact plant. Good flavor for culinary use, too. 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. 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. 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.

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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’ 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 Herbs 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. Sage officinalis ‘Maxima’ h 32” A Large silver-grey leaves. Excellent culinary sage. Salad Burnet h 12” A 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

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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 . Scented Geranium ‘Caroline’s Citrine’ A Gorgeous scented geranium with velvety glowing chartreuse leaves with an irregular splash of greens in the center. Flowers have large pink upper petals and very narrow lower petals. Pelargonium cordifolium ‘Caroline’s Citrine’ 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.

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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. 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 Herbs 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 ‘Lemon Mint’ 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. Kinh Gioi

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Vietnamese Coriander 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 with a spreading habit. ‘Rau Ram’ 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.

Perennials

Perennials—4½” color-coded pots, 12 per flat Sales of perennials are on the upswing again. Hurray! We have added 130 new cultivars to our list. Watch out for the hosta selection because it is longer than ever. Early blooming hellebores can provide some of the “Wow!” for your spring benches. Many breeders have gone crazy over coreopsis with their sassy colors, interesting foliage and ease of care. We can appreciate the important roles that natives and many perennials play in the creation of wildlife habitat, storm water management, and the designing of gardens with year-round appeal. Once again our program features color coded pots to indicate price, allowing us to sell everything from the latest tissue cultured varieties to venerable seed grown staples including over 40 varieties of natives.

Perennials

Achillea ‘New Vintage Red’ NEW! h 12-14” w 10-12” A Bold red which holds color, attractive for container use. Trim faded flowers for repeat flowering. Zone 4 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 millefolium ‘New Vintage Violet’ (Yarrow) h 12-14” w 10-12” A A new series of yarrow developed for use in the garden or containers, this compact cultivar features bold violet umbels that don’t fade, with no gap between foliage and flowers. Easy to grow. Drought resistant. Zone 4

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Achillea millefolium ‘Paprika’ (Yarrow) h 24-36” w 24-48” A Heavy lobbying from our crew brought this hardy cultivar back to our list. This is a vigorous grower that is covered with brick red blossoms in early summer. Dense growth keeps weeds down. Zone 3 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 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 Agastache ‘Kudos™ Mandarin’ (Hummingbird mint) h 17-20” w 15” A Dense, yet airy, bright orange plumes above mounding foliage; will bloom for months. Clean habit and easy to grow. Zone 5 Agastache ‘Little Adder’ NEW! (Hummingbird Mint) h 15-18” w 18-22” A Junior version of ‘Black Adder’ features dense spikes with a dark purple caylx and lavender flowers over compact, well branched light green foliage. Multi species cross includes A. rugosum and A. foeniculum. Zone 4 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 Perennials

Asclepias ‘Silky Gold’

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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 ‘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 Alcea rosea ‘Halo Cerise’ NEW! (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’ NEW! (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 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 Allium ‘Quattro’ NEW! 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 ‘Pink Planet’ NEW! (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 Amsonia ‘Blue Ice’ RENEW! (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 Amsonia tabernaemontana ‘var. Salicifolia’ h 24-36” w 36” AC Narrow, lacy willow-like foliage is topped with light blue star shaped flowers in the spring, then turns intense gold in the fall. Tough and easy to grow. Zone 3 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

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Anemone multifida ‘Annabella Deep Rose’ h 8-12” w 12” AC Abundance of adorable five-petaled blooms in vivid carmine red on sturdy stems over lacy foliage. Blooms May-June. Nice size for rock gardens. Best in moist, but well-drained locations. Zone 3 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. Perennials 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 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

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Aralia cordata ‘Sun King’ (Golden Japanese Spikenard) h 36” w 36” C Truly a fabulous plant for shade featuring large golden to chartreuse leaves with reddish brown stems. Quickly forms a large deer-resistant clump up to 3 feet tall. Racemes of tiny white flowers are produced in late summer followed by deep purple inedible berries. Native to Japan. Zone 3 Armeria maritime ‘Morning Star Deep Rose’ NEW! (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 Aruncus dioicus (Goatsbeard) h 36-48” w 36-48” C White airy panicles over finely cut foliage. Quite a specimen. Robust habit. Great cut flower. Blooms June and July. Thrives in moist soil conditions. Zone 4 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 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 Aster novae-angliae ‘Vibrant Dome’ NEW! 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’ NEW! (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 ‘Delft Lace’ (False Spirea) h 24-36” w 24” CD Features blue waxy foliage with a silver overlay, accented by delicate salmon pink blossoms on strong red stems. A lovely combination and an improvement over ‘Peach Blossom’. Extremely attractive. Zone 4 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’ RENEW! (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’ NEW! (False Spirea) h 12-18” w 20” DC Live! In Color! Springtime foliage flashes of burgundy, purple and green transform to fall colors of gold, orange and russet. Pink plumes accent. Zone 3 Astilbe x arendsii ‘Color Flash Lime’ NEW! (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 Astilboides tabularis h 36” w 36-40” C Huge, round, toothed leaves command a dramatic placement mid-border and reach a larger size each season. Like a clump of two foot umbrellas; Mr. Toad could hold a lovely garden party beneath one. Prefers moist, boggy site in cool shade. 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 Perennials Baptisia ‘Decadence® Lemon Meringue’ NEW! (False Indigo) h 30-36” w 20-24” AC This new series with fun colors and habits is the result of 14 years of crosses betweeen various native baptisias. Upright, vase shaped mounds of sweet rounded blue-green leaves. 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® Blueberry Sundae’ NEW! (False Indigo) h 30-36” w 20-24” AC Compact, upright and mounding habit. Vibrant indigo blue flowers followed by decorative seed pods in the fall. Blue-green foliage reminiscent of sweet clover. Zone 4

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Baptisia ‘Decadence® Dutch Chocolate’ NEW! (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 Baptisia ‘Midnight Prairie Blues’ h 48” w 36” A A dramatic plant with a profusion of deep violet-blue flowers on 24” racemes. Once established assumes a shrub-like form. Fine textured foliage holds beauty and interest through the season. 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 ‘Flirt’ NEW! (Pigsqueak) h 6-10” w 9” AC A cute miniature form with dark green shiny foliage and large magenta-pink flowers. Floriferous springtime bloomer with chocolate brown winter foliage. Zone 4 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 Boltonia asteroides var. latisquama ‘Jim Crockett’ NEW! (False Aster) h 18-24” w 18-24” A Glossy green foliage resembles grape leaves and set off the pastel pink single blooms with pale yellow centers. Blooms arch above foliage in dramatic fashion. Hardiest of the fall blooming varieties. You’ll be thrilled with how quickly it spreads. Blooms August-October. Zone 3 Brunnera ‘Alexander’s Great’ (Bugloss) h 12” w 28” CD Not “great” because of the gorgeous silvered leaves or sweet soft blue blossoms in early spring, but rather because these are HUGE!!! Check out the photo on rushcreekgrowers.com to see what we mean. An exceptional specimen in the garden or a large container. Must have well-drained soil to thrive. 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

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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 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 ‘Summertime Blues’ NEW! h 10-24” w 17” A Chosen for constant blooming spring thru summer Silvery blue bells on a pleasing mounded plant. Zone 4 Campanula ‘Viking’ NEW! (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’ NEW! (Dwarf Bell Flower) h 6-8” w 12-18” A A showy dwarf species for 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™’ NEW! (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 grasslike 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 Perennials Centaurea montana RENEW! (Mountain Cornflower) h 18-24” w 15-18” AC Several staff campaigned to bring back this garden classic. Solitary, fringed blue flowers with reddish centers and black bracts. Clumping habit. Zone 3 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

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Reroofing

Chrysogonum virginianum ‘Norman Singer’s Form’ (Golden Star) h 4-6” w 12-18” AC A low growing groundcover that is good for a DRY PARTLY SHADED area. Native to the eastern US, the small yellow blossoms and small circular leaves grow well under trees. Zone 5 Cimicifuga ‘Chocoholic’ NEW! (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 Cimicifuga japonica ‘Cheju-Do’ NEW! (Dwarf Black Cohosh) h 18-24” DC More compact variety from Japan features fragrant white flower stalks resembling fuzzy tapered candle sticks. Glossy green maple shaped foliage. Earlier to bloom and more heat tolerant. Great for a smaller space. 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’ NEW! (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’ NEW! (Tickseed) h 12-14” A Named for the sassy leading lady, Charlize Theron. Large, clear yellow, double pom- pom blooms. Mildew resistant. Zone 4

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Coreopsis ‘Leading Lady Lauren’ NEW! (Tickseed) h 12-14” A Did Lauren Bacall realize she was going to become a sultry coreopsis? Two layers of large ruffled petals with orange-yellow center. Mildew resistant. Zone 4 Coreopsis ‘Leading Lady Sophia’ NEW! (Tickseed) h 12-14” 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 azure blue spurs above lacy foliage. Plant becomes dormant after spring bloom then leaps back to life as autumn weather cools. Keep moist. Zone 5

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 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™ Dwarf Stars Mix’ NEW! (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™ Lilac Ladies’ NEW! (Larkspur) h 48-60” w 24” AC

Rich lilac semi-doubles with white bees on sturdy stems, series bred for cold and Perennials warm weather tolerance. May rebloom in fall with deadheading. Zone 3 Delphinium elatum ‘New Millennium™ Moonlight Blues’ NEW! 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™ Pink Punch’ NEW! (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

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Delphinium elatum ‘New Millennium™ Purple Passion’ h 48-60” w 12-18” AC Magnificent semi-double blossoms in the deepest shade of violet purple with a bright white bee. Sturdy stems with a vigorous growth habit and very good winter hardiness. Great for cutting, too. Zone 3 Delphinium elatum ‘New Millennium™ Royal Aspirations’ h 63” w 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 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’ NEW!! (Pinks) h 4-10” w 12-14” A Very sweet varigated 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’ NEW! (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 ‘Spangled Star’ NEW! (Pinks) h 8-10” A Eye catching pattern of two pink splashes on each red petal. Edges and center are serrated in pink. Bred from several alpine species so you know its compact, tough and apprectiates good drainage. Zone 4 Dianthus barbatus ‘Black Adder’ h 16” w 8-12” A Stunning purple on purple! Almost black (carmine) blooms above purple-black foliage. Compact, well-branched, heavy bloomer. Zone 4

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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 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 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 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® ‘ NEW! (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 Perennials 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

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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 ‘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 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 p. ‘Raspberry Truffle’ NEW! (Coneflower) h 14-16” w 12-14” AC Fully double, raspberry pink flower with a dark chocolate cone. Dark stems complete the picture. Zone 3 Echinacea purpurea ‘Butterfly™ Kisses’ (Dwarf Coneflower) h 12-15” w 18” A Vicky W. trialed this lovely compact pink double cultivar in her garden. She found it to be very floriferous with sturdy short stems on a petite form. It bloomed for a long time. Plant it close to the front of the border. Well-drained soil is best. Zone 4 Echinacea purpurea ‘Pica Bella’ h 24” w 24” A Chosen for its whimsical appearance with narrow deep pink flower rays and orange cones. The form is nicely compact forming a clump filled with study stems of blossoms. Drought tolerant once established. Easy to grow in a variety of soils. Zone 4 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 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

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

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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’ RENEW! (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 RENEW! (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 Eriogonum umbellatum var. aureum ‘Psdowns Kannah Creek®’ NEW! (Sulphur Flower Wild Buckwheat) h 12-15” w 12-24” AC Yellow flower clusters form gently spreading masses. Flowers blush to orange as they mature. Dark green foliage turns to purple red in the fall. Well-drained soil. Zone 3 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 Perennials

Dianthus ‘Early Bird Fizzy’

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Eupatorium ‘Chocolate’ RENEW! (Snakeroot) h 36-48” ACD Dark chocolate-green leaves and purple stems contrast with fuzzy white flower clusters. Not as towering as the native Joe Pyes, but will look most at home near the back of the border. Zone 4 Eupatorium dubium ‘Baby Joe’(Dwarf Joe-Pye Weed) h 30” w 30-35” AC Large bushy heads of fragrant magenta-pink blooms appear in late summer on this half sized version of the classic native. Makes a great cut flower. Keep some seed heads to add winter interest to the garden. Zone 4 Eupatorium fortunei ‘Pink Frost’ NEW! (Snakeroot) h 30-36” w 24-36” AC Small raspberry-pink flower clusters on unique green and gold varigated 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 Gaillardia ‘Mesa Peach’ h 14-16” w 20-24” A Sister plant ‘Mesa Yellow’ was an award winner when released a few years ago. This cultivar from Ball has the same compact, non-flopping form covered with golden flowers with a distinct peach ring around the cone. Covered in cheery blossoms in mid to late summer, it continues to rebloom when dead headed. Easy to grow and reliably hardy. Zone 4 Gaillardia aristata ‘Arizona Sun’ h 8-10” w 12-15” A Compact new strain with improved uniformity. A profuse bloomer with fiery hot oranges and reds edged in yellow. Heat and sun loving. Leave some flower heads in the garden for the goldfinches. Zone 5 Gentian cruciata ‘Blue Cross’ h 8-16” w 10” AC An unequalled violet blue beauty on compact, reliable, drought resistant plants. Attractive spoon-shaped leaves intersect to resemble a star or cross shape. Blooms July- September. 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 Geranium macrorrhizum ‘Czakor’ (Cranesbill) h 12” w 14” AC Deep red flowers on super tidy and uniform foliage that is extremely fragrant. Long blooming, never has a bad day! Zone 5

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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 sanguineum ‘Vision Violet’ NEW! h 6-12” AC Bright violet flowers accented with darker purple veining. The fern-like foliage turns coppery orange in fall. Hardy and compact. Zone 5 Geranium x cantabrigiense ‘Crystal Rose’ (Cranesbill) h 12” w 12” AC Bright magenta pink blossoms over fragrant, compact foliage which turns a lovely orange tint in the fall. A beauty in the shade garden. Compact form. Zone 5 Geranium x oxonianum ‘Miss Heidi’ NEW! h 14-16” w 14-16” A Lavender-pink flowers with purple veins. Long blooming time in the spring with occasional repeat blooming during the summer. Burgundy watermark patterns on cut leaf foliage adds extra interest. Zone 4 Geum ‘Alabama Slammer’ NEW! (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 ‘Mardi Gras’ (Sneezeweed) h 30” w 20” A

Party time! Get your feathered mask on -- or plant a clump of these. Quarter-sized Perennials fringed blooms of gold, blotched with bright orange. Quite a show in the late summer garden. Blooms July and August. Zone 4 Helenium ‘Ruby Tuesday’ (Sneezeweed) h 20” w 12” A A pleasantly compact form with small ruby-red single flowers. Blooms late summer. Hardy and tolerates a wide variety of conditions. Zone 4 Helenium ‘Short ‘n’ Sassy’ (Sneezeweed) h 12-18” w 24” A Loads of sunny orange and gold flowers on short well branched plants. ‘Short ‘n’ Sassy’ flowers earlier than other heleniums and continues putting out new flowers through frost. Compact habit makes this a great container plant. Zone 4 Helenium autumnale ‘Tie Dye’ (Sneezeweed) h 28-52” w 14-18” A Not your usual hot-hued helenium. This bi-color features yellow and purple coiled petals showing both colors at once. Against the bright green foliage the flowers are a bold groovy standout. Zone 4

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Helenium autumnale ‘Mariachi™ Siesta’ NEW! (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’ NEW! (Ox Eye Sunflower) 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™ Berry Swirl’ NEW! (Lenten Rose) h 15-18” w 18-22” DC Romantic colors of veined dark purples and pinks with butter yellow centers on large saucer-shaped double blossoms. Dark green leathery foliage. Zone 4 Helleborus ‘Winter Jewels™ Black Diamond’ NEW! (Lenten Rose) h 15-18” w 18-22” DC Single deep purple black single petaled beauties accented with burgundy rays and chartreuse centers. Evergreen foliage with amazing long lasting blossoms. Zone 4 Helleborus ‘Winter Jewels™ Golden Lotus’ NEW! (Lenten Rose) h 15-18” w 18-22” DC Cheery yellow double blooms have picoteed edges with various intesities of maroons. Evergreen leathery foliage. Zone 4 Helleborus ‘Winter Jewels™ ‘Onyx Odyssey’ NEW! (Lenten Rose) h 15-18” w 18-22” DC Frilly doubled blooms range from dark burgundy to a matte black slate. Cream colored centers. Dark green leathery foliage. Zone 4 Helleborus ‘Winter Jewels™ Red Lady’ NEW! (Lenten Rose) h 15-18” w 18-22” DC Deep burgundy single blooms with dark red freckles and cream colored centers. Rich dark green foliage. Zone 4 Hemerocallis ‘Moonlit Masquerade’ (Daylily) h 25-27” w 24-36” AC An award winning variety that has large 5” blooms and is a rebloomer as well. Blossoms are creamy white with a dark purple eye and a purple picotee edge. A very pretty variety for the part shade garden where the color would shine. Easy to grow and drought tolerant. Zone 3 Hemerocallis ‘Ruby Stella’ (Daylily) h 17-19” w 24-36” AC Ruby red blossom with a small yellow throat will give you 2 flushes of color per season. Sturdy stems with a compact habit make this a great choice for mid-border. Once established this plant will provide years of enjoyment. Zone 3 Hemerocallis ‘South Seas’ (Daylily) h 22-24” AC 5½” ruffled flowers in coral with a dark coral band. Extended initial bloom plus it’s a rebloomer. Fragrant, too. Zone 3

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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 Heuchera ‘Autumn Leaves’ (Coral Bells) h 12” w 8” C Can’t miss with this nonstop color show. Mounds of red in the spring, taupe in the summer and dark ruby in the fall. Sprays of creamy-white flowers appear in June. A heat and humidity tolerant heuchera. 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 ‘Crisp™ Pear Crisp’ (Coral Bells) h 7” w 10” AC The ‘Crisp’ series is named for the very crisp and wavy leaf margins which make them look unique. This one is a clear, bright pear yellow-green. A tight mounding habit lends itself to front of the border interest. 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’ NEW! (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 Perennials 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 creamy white blossoms. Zone 4 Heuchera ‘Glitter’ NEW! (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

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Heuchera ‘Lipstick’ NEW! (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 Heuchera ‘Obsidian’ (Coral Bells) h 24” w 16” CD A deep black coral bell with shiny broad leaves. A good contrast plant for any garden sun or shade. Plant a clump near your Dicentra ‘Gold Heart.’ Zone 4 Heuchera ‘Paprika’ NEW! (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 ‘Soda™ Cherry Cola’ NEW! (Coral Bells) h 18” w 14” AC Compact little heuchera with frilly auburn foliage supporting multitudes of cherry red blooms on slender burgundy stems. Long bloom time. 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 amber in fall. Beautiful magenta backs add interest. Villosa breeding adds vigor. White flowers appear in early summer. 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

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 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 ‘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’ NEW! (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

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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’ RENEW! (Plantain Lily) h 24” w 46” C 2014 Hosta Growers Association Hosta of the Year. Large, thick corrugated dusty blue cupped leaves with near white flowers on 24-30” scapes. Zone 3 Hosta ‘All That Jazz’ NEW! (Plantain Lily) h 29” w 52” C Very large semi-upright foliage is shiny and showy with slightly wavy golden margins that deepen to dark green centers. Pure white flowers on 39-42” scapes. Zone 3 Hosta ‘Andrew’ NEW! (Plantain Lily) h 21” w 32” C Medium leaves are centered in pure white with dark green and blue striping along the margins. Light purple flowers on 32” scapes. Zone 3 Hosta ‘Applause’ NEW! (Plantain Lily) h 28” w 55” C Creamy white margin and dark green center. Heavily cupped upturned medium leaves resemble hands clapping. Pale purple flowers. Zone 3 Hosta ‘Baby Bunting’ NEW! (Plantain Lily) h 11” w 26” C Small rounded greyish blue leaves become dark green by summer. Dense mound. Bright purple flowers on 19” scapes. Zone 3 Hosta ‘Blue Ivory’ NEW! (Plantain Lily) h 16” w 30” C Wide creamy white margins with powdery blue centers. Large thick heart-shaped foliage with lavender flowers on 20-24” scapes. Zone 3 Hosta ‘Blue Mouse Ears’ RENEW! (Plantain Lily) h 8” w 19” C Small, smooth blue-green foliage with dense pale purple flower clusters on 11” scapes. Zone 3

Hosta ‘Bright Lights’ NEW! (Plantain Lily) h 19” w 52” C Perennials Medium sized leaves, golden green centers with dark green margins are thick and moderately corrugated. Near white flowers on 20” scapes. Zone 3 Hosta ‘Cameo’ NEW! (Plantain Lily) h 4-6” w 12” C Green centers, creamy white margins. Bright purple flowers bloom on 12” scapes. Adorable small leaves, low mound. Zone 3 Hosta ‘Cats Eye’ NEW! (Plantain Lily) h 5” w 14” C Narrow elliptic golden centered foliage with dark green margins. Pale purple flowers on 6-12” scapes. Zone 3 Hosta ‘Celtic Uplands’ NEW! (Plantain Lily) h 18-20” w 38” C Ovate shaped medium green shiny corrugated foliage with lavender flowers on 28- 31” scapes. Zone 3

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Hosta ‘Cerulean Magic’ NEW! (Plantain Lily) h 16” w 28” CD Mounds of thick, round blue-green leaves. Selected for good growing habits and vivid foliage. Medium to fast grower. Zone 3 Hosta ‘Cherry Tart’ NEW! (Plantain Lily) h 6” w 15” C This cutie starts off with crisp chartreuse narrow elliptic leaves that turn to yellow. Cherry red petioles, lavender flowers. Zone 3 Hosta ‘Cracker Crumbs’ (Plantain Lily) h 5” w 19” CD Miniature; only 5” tall. Dense rounded mound of slightly wavy gold leaves with a ½” green margin. Zone 3 Hosta ‘Daybreak’ NEW! (Plantain Lily) h 18-36” w 24-36” C Rise and shine! Bright shiny golden ovate-shaped foliage. Light lavender flowers on 36” scapes will reach horizontally. Zone 3 Hosta ‘Deep Blue Sea’ NEW! (Plantain Lily) h 15” w 36” C Deep blue leaves are heavily corrugated AND cup-shaped. A slower grower, give this one some time and it will reward with its unusual texture and slug resistance as a bonus. Zone 3 Hosta ‘Empress Wu’ NEW! (Plantain Lily) h 39” w 66” C This impressive giant hosta was named in honor of the only female ruler of China. She ruled the Middle Kingdom from 690 to 705; this hosta will rule your shade garden for at least that long. Broadly ovate leaves are very wavy, slightly corrugated and thick. Very pale lavender flowers on 40-48” scapes. May produce seed pods. Zone 3 Hosta ‘Fantasy Island’ NEW! (Plantain Lily) h 7-10” w 12-15” C Elliptic wavy foliage has creamy white centers with wide green margins. Pale purple flowers. Zone 3 Hosta ‘Final Summation’ NEW! (Plantain Lily) h 22” w 60” C Broad shiny golden leaves with dark green margins. Lavender flowers. Zone 3 Hosta ‘First Frost’ NEW! (Plantain Lily) h 14” w 36” C Blue-green centers on medium ovate shaped leaves frosted with creamy white margins. Pale lavender flowers on 24-30” scapes. Zone 3 Hosta ‘Frosted Dimples’ NEW! (Plantain Lily) h 12” w 32” C Love those corrugated leaves! Slug resistant cultivar has pleasing blue leaves with a thin creamy margin. White scapes appear in mid-summer. Zone 3 Hosta ‘Frozen Margarita’ NEW! (Plantain Lily) h 24” w 24” C Medium heart-shaped ovate leaves with color that resembles this classic beverage. Irregular creamy white margins. Lavender flowers on 40” scapes. Zone 3 Hosta ‘Fruit Punch’ NEW! (Plantain Lily) h 17” w 49” C Fantabulous texture and color with these ovate shaped leaves. Brilliant gold with ruffled edges and fruity red petioles and scapes. Deep purple flowers 28-42” Zone 3

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Hosta ‘Gentle Giant’ NEW! (Plantain Lily) h 42” w 65” C Ooh! A giant vase shaped variety with a stunning blue presence. Cup shaped leaves are round and wavy with lavender scapes in early summer. Good sun tolerance. Zone 3 Hosta ‘Grand Canyon’ NEW! (Plantain Lily) h 30” w 36” C Large chartreuse-green leaves are upright, vase-shaped and deeply ribbed with elegant ruffled margins. Pure white flowers on 42” scapes. Zone 3 Hosta ‘Jimmy Crack Corn’ NEW! (Plantain Lily) h 26” w 48” C Shiny gold leaves are ribbed with slightly wavy margins. 26-30” scapes hold near white flowers. Zone 3 Hosta ‘Key West’ NEW! (Plantain Lily) h 37” w 88” C Another wonderful giant centerpiece! Very large ovate shaped leaves are slightly corrugated with 2-3 waves. Near white flowers on 48” scapes. Zone 3 Hosta ‘Komodo Dragon’ RENEW! (Plantain Lily) h 28” w 72” C Dark and rippled are these large ovate leaves. Lavender flowers with white margins on 39” scapes. We promise, this dragon will not eat you! Zone 3 Hosta ‘Love Pat’ NEW! (Plantain Lily) h 19” w 50” C One of the best blue hostas. Broad heart-shaped and cupped leaves are heavily corrugated. Near white flowers on 25” scapes. Zone 3 Hosta ‘Mississippi Delta’ NEW! (Plantain Lily) h 24” w 50” C They don’t call it the Mighty Mississippi for nothing! Large dark blue-green foliage with slight wave on the the margins. Near white flowers on 40” scapes. Zone 3 Hosta ‘Old Glory’ NEW! (Plantain Lily) h 24” w 60” C Glorious golden centered leaves with light green margins. Broadly ovate, slightly corrugated and wavy. Light lavender flowers on 38” scapes. Wave on. Zone 3 Hosta ‘Pandora’s Box’ RENEW! (Plantain Lily) h 8” w 19” C

Pocket sized and sweet. Small ovate shaped leaves with irregular-brushed pure Perennials white centers and dark green margins. Bright purple flowers on 12-19” white scapes. Zone 3 Hosta ‘Pot of Gold’ NEW! (Plantain Lily) h 8-12” w 28” C Glossy golden, narrow elliptic foliage with lavender flowers on purple 16” scapes. Get there before the leprechauns do! Zone 3 Hosta ‘Queen of the Seas’ NEW! (Plantain Lily) h 24” w 48” C Powdery blue ovate shaped leaves are distinctly ribbed and corrugated with rippled margins and a twist at the tip. Near white flowers on 33” scapes. Zone 3 Hosta ‘Rock & Roll’ NEW! (Plantain Lily) h 24” w 55” C Unruly cupped foliage is corrugated, very substantial and rich green-blue. Near white flowers on 30” scapes. Somehow if I combined Mississippi Delta, Queen of the Seas and Rock & Roll I think I’d get Tina Turner doing “Proud Mary”. Zone 3

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Hosta ‘Stained Glass’ NEW! (Plantain Lily) h 20” w 45” C Bright, golden sun-shiny centered ovate leaves with irregular dark green margins. Corrugated and slightly wavy. Fragrant pale lavender flowers on 24-36” scapes. Zone 3 Hosta ‘Sugar and Spice’ NEW! (Plantain Lily) h 20” w 48” C Bright, shiny ovate shaped leaves have dark green centers with slightly rippled golden margins maturing to creamy white margins. Fragrant pale lavender flowers on 20-30” scapes. Zone 3 Hosta ‘Sum & Substance’ RENEW! (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 Hosta ‘Sunshine Glory’ NEW! (Plantain Lily) h 19-28” w 43-60” C Large cresting waves of upright leaves have gold to pale green centers with wide bright gold to white margins. Broad ovate, slightly corrugated and wavy. Lavender flowers on 32” scapes. Zone 3 Hosta ‘Tokudama Aureonebulosa’ RENEW! (Plantain Lily) h 16-18” w 33-42” C Large ovate heart-shaped leaves start with chartreuse green centers that change to gold with wide blue green margins. Heavily corrugated, slightly cupped and wavy. Large near-white flowers on 24” scapes. Zone 3 Hosta ‘Tokudama Flavocircinalis’ NEW! (Plantain Lily) h 17-23” w 48-70” C Pucker up for this blue green corrugated beauty. Edged in lime green to gold, this cultivar blooms white in early summer. Nice medium sized slug resistant hosta. Zone 3 Hosta ‘Twist of Lime’ NEW! (Plantain Lily) h 16” w 29” C A medium sized but vigorous grower to add that golden chartreuse light to the shade garden. Gold with a dark green margin with purple scapes in mid summer. Zone 3 Hosta ‘Winter Warrior’ NEW! (Plantain Lily) h 19” w 39” C Sharp looking, narrow ovate leaves have dark green centers with wide creamy white margins that don’t melt out. Slightly wavy texture. Near white flowers on 24” scapes. Zone 3 Iris germanica ‘Anaconda Love’ NEW! (Bearded Iris) h 23-25” A You don’t have to be a herpetologist to love this one! Salmon colored standards with whispers of lavender above beet-purple falls splashed with silver. Zone 3 Iris germanica ‘Breakers’ RENEW! (Bearded Iris) h 36-39” A A classic with its large delightful ruffled solid blue flowers. Lots of blooms and reblooms as well. A classic! Zone 3

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Iris germanica ‘Magical Encounter’ (Bearded Iris) h 34” w 12-24” A Non-fading intensely shrimpy pink with bright salmon-pink beards grace this elegant beauty. Excellent bud count and it reblooms on top of it all! Zone 3 Iris germanica ‘Rosalie Figge’ h 34” w 12-24” A Sweetly scented purple violet flowers with a speckled white throat. She is lightly ruffled with sturdy stems. A rebloomer! Zone 3 Iris germanica ‘Saturday Night Live’ h 37” w 12-24” A Ready for a hot date, this variety has huge ruby red flowers with a touch of gold at the throat to add to the allure. Cut a bouquet to liven up your Saturday night. Zone 3 Iris pumila ‘What Again’ NEW! (Dwarf German Iris) h 10-12” A Billowing sails of saltwater blue standards and falls with sunshine yellow beards will have you thinking summer at the shore with this mid-springtime bloomer. Reblooms. Zone 3 Iris pumila ‘Yankee Skipper’ NEW! (Dwarf German Iris) h 8-10” A Violet blue standards and falls with dark blue veins and light blue beards. Compact. Zone 3 Iris siberica ‘Dance Ballerina Dance’ NEW! (Siberian Iris) h 20-24” w 20-24” A Elegant ruffled baby pink standards with lavender pink falls. The honey colored beard is intricatedly marked with yellow and white patterns. Zone 3 Iris siberica ‘Double Standard’ NEW! (Siberian Iris) h 26-30” w 20-24” A No outragous 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’ NEW! (Siberian Iris) h 28” w 20-24” A

Powder violet-blue standards are doubled with multiple layers. Falls are darker blue Perennials with light yellow detailed signals. Zone 4 Iris sibirica ‘Contrast in Styles’ NEW! (Siberian Iris) h 26-30” w 20-24” A Sangria colored falls are broard with very ruffled edges. Large white detailed halo area is smooth with soft yellow signal. Shorter ruffled standards are also sangria. Stunning contast. Zone 3 Iris sibirica ‘Golden Edge’ NEW! (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 Iris sibirica ‘Sparkling Rose’ NEW! (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

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Kirengeshoma koreana NEW! (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 Kirengeshoma palmata (Yellow Waxbells) h 36-48” w 36” C Unusual look for the shade. Bell-shaped 1½” yellow flowers above soft green maple-type leaves with reddish stems. Although late to bloom it’s worth the wait. Great in a woodland garden. Interesting seed pods, too. Zone 4 Knautia ‘Thunder & Lightning’ h 12-18” w 16-20” A Striking plant with showy light green foliage resembling lighting 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 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 Leucanthemum x superbum ‘Goldfinch’ NEW! (Shasta Daisy) h 12-18” w 12-15” A Semi-double wispy blooms are butter-yellow to goldfinch-yellow with the classic daisy yellow center. Dark green shiny foliage. Zone 4 Leucanthemum x superbum ‘Sante’ NEW! (Shasta Daisy) h 22-26” w 18-20” A Think of Fraggle Rockin’ Muppet hair on a daisy. Shaggy pure white daisies with summer yellow centers. Very strong stems will not require staking and will hold up in the rockin’ wind. Zone 4 Lewisia longipetala ‘Little Plum’ NEW! h 6” AC Adorable compact plant is a heavy springtime bloomer and may repeat in the fall. Light plum starburst flowers with hints of orange after opening. Perfect for rock gardens and containers. Zone 4 Liatris spicata ‘Floristan violet’ (Marsh Blazing Star) h 36-48” A Long-stemmed lilac spikes over grass-like, strap-leaved foliage. Good cut flower, attractive to pollinating butterflies. Zone 3

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Ligularia dentata ‘Midnight Lady’ NEW! (Golden Ray) h 30-36” w 24-30” A Large and shiny, heart-shaped, green-black wavy leaves. Topped with bold bright yellow-orange stars on dark purple petioles in late summer. 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 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 Lilium ‘Tiny Orange Sensation’ (Asiatic Lily) h 14” C Brilliant orange blossoms with burgundy speckles in the center. Bright color for the part shade garden. Loads of blossoms. 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 Diamond’ NEW! (Asiatic Lily) h 12-14” A Rosey-red with diamond-white starburst center and magenta pink centers. Zone 3 Lilium ‘Tiny Double You’ h 14-16” A First Asiatic double bred for containers. Short orange lilies bloom full force. With 5-7 buds per stem and dense foliage, this tiny lily has a truly giant presence. Zone 3 Lilium ‘Tiny Glow’ NEW! (Asiatic Lily) h 14-16” A This bright, glowing yellow lily will wake you up! High bud count. Zone 3 Lilium ‘Tiny Invader’ NEW! (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 picotee edge. A very pretty variety for Perennials the part shade garden where the color would shine. Easy to grow and drought tolerant. Zone 3 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 Lilium ‘Tiny Spider’ NEW! (Asiatic Lily) h 13-15” A Hot pink flowers with a heavy concentration of maroon freckles in the center that fade to soft pink at the tips. Zone 3 Linum narbonense NEW! (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

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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 Lobelia ‘Black Truffle’ (Cardinal Flower) h 36-48” w 36-48” A We have enjoyed the newer black foliage cardinal flower varieties but found that they tended to turn olive green in the summer. Here is a new cultivar from Plants Nouveau that holds its black color throughout the year. Use it as an accent with golden and chartreuse plants. Will deter the deer. Likes moist soil. Zone 5 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 Monarda ‘Raspberry Wine’ (Bee Balm) h 36-48” w 24” A Deep clear wine red flowers bloom June thru August. Deadheading will keep this excellent cut flower blooming. Promoted as a very mildew resistant variety. Zone 3 Monarda ‘Sugar Buzz™ Cherry Pops’ NEW! h 20” AC Like a cherry tree ready for pickin’, this one will be loaded with cherry-red blooms. Dark green, mildew resistant foliage. Won’t take over the garden. Zone 4 Monarda didyma ‘Fireball’ NEW! (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 Monarda didyma ‘Purple Rooster’ NEW! (Bee Balm) h 30-36” w 20-26” AC Large 2-3” regal purple blossoms top bushy, well-branched plants. Minty scented foliage and fade resistant blossoms on this showy cultivar of the native bee balm. Zone 4 Nepeta ‘Joanna Reed’ (Catmint) h 20-25” w 30-36” A Huge numbers of dark violet flowers, a long bloom time and low wide habit make this an excellent choice for a ground cover. These features also make it an outstanding container plant. Full sun helps to maintain tightness. Skip the fertilizer as it could encourage floppiness. Zone 4

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Nepeta faasenii ‘Purrsian Blue’ NEW! (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 Nepeta x faasenii ‘Kit Cat’ NEW! (Dwarf Catmint) h 15” w 12-24” A 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 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 Origanum laevigatum ‘Herrenhausen’ (Ornamental Oregano) h 12-22” w 14” A A popular European variety of fragrant, colorful ground cover with lovely mauve flowers in mid summer to fall. Drought tolerant plus it’s deer resistant. Zone 5 Pachysandra terminalis ‘Green Carpet’ (Japanese Spurge) h 6-8” w 18-24” CD Rich glossy evergreen foliage. Lovely compact ground cover for shade with small white flowers appearing in spring. Zone 4 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 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 Perennials 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 Papaver orientale plena ‘Red Shades’ (Oriental Poppy) h 36” AC For those times when six petals are not enough. Shades of red and scarlet on large semi-double blooms in late spring. Like all oriental poppies, the foliage goes dormant in summer’s heat and reappears in autumn, harkening back to their origins in arid Central Asia. Great cold hardiness, too, of course. Zone 3

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Papaver orientalis ‘Plum Pudding’ NEW! (Oriental Poppy) h 30” w 24” A Tissue-like blooms brighten June with their large plum-pink flowers held on strong stems. An improved ‘Patty’s Plum’. 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 Penstemon grandiflorus ‘War Axe’ h 24-36” AC An exceptional native strain discovered near the War Axe Wildlife Management Area in Nebraska. Reddish stems clad in tubular flowers of pink, maroon, red, purple. The waxy gray green foliage and attractive seed heads add structure to the garden long after the blooms have faded and it’s drought resistant. MIDWEST GARDENERS NEED PENSTEMONS!!! Zone 3 Perovskia ‘Little Spire’ (Russian Sage) h 24” w 24-36” A As beautiful as her taller cousins, Little Spire rarely gets over 2 feet. Sturdy and erect, the silvery foliage and purple blue spires stand firm. Low maintenance and drought resistant. Cuts well too. Zone 4 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 Perovskia atriplicifolia ‘Peek-A-Blue’ NEW! (Russian Sage) h 24-28” w 20-28” A A perfect Russian sage for the mid border or a smaller garden. Compact and sturdy, the silver foliage and lovely lavender blue spikes accent other varieties of mid to late summer blooming perennials. Zone 4 Perovskia atriplicifolia ‘Superba’ (Russian Sage) h 36-48” A Lavender to blue blossoms with the classic look. Blooms Aug-Oct. Zone 4 Persicaria amplexicaulis ‘Firetail’ h 36” C Large heart-shaped deep green foliage with slender bright carmine red flower spikes that continue blooming summer through fall. Spreads nicely. A unique flower color. Zone 4 Persicaria amplexicaulis ‘Golden Arrow’ h 18-24” w 24-36” C Can’t miss the mark with this vibrant golden green lance-shaped foliage. Keeps its color throughout the season. Slender spikes of crimson red flowers bloom late summer and make an excellent cut flower. Zone 4 Persicaria polymorpha (Fleece Flower) h 48-60” w 48-60” C Great plant from Asia. White plumes with bushy, bold, clumping foliage. Blooms from May- September. Noninvasive but spreads to a large clump. The specimen in the yard of one of our neighbors regularly tops 8 ft. Your results may vary. Zone 4

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Phlox divaricata ‘Mary Helen’ (Woodland Phlox) h 12-15” w 12-20” CD Vigorous indigo flowers softly streaked with deep magenta 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’ NEW! (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 ‘Blue Paradise’ (Garden Phlox) h 28” AC Fragrant blooms of lavender-blue with white eyes and tiny red centers atop dark purple stems. Good mildew resistance. Blooms July-August. Zone 3 Phlox paniculata ‘Peacock White’ (Garden Phlox) h 14-21” w 14” A An award winning upright that is compact with clear white clusters of fragrant flowers. Bred for disease resistance and heat tolerance. 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 ‘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 Phlox paniculata ‘Flame® Coral’ NEW! (Garden Phlox) h 12-20” w 18” AC The compact nature of the coral pink variety with hot pink centers lends itself to garden or containers. The plants are nicely branched. The flower color is exciting and the bloom time is long. A winner! Zone 4 Phlox paniculata ‘Glamour Girl’ (Garden Phlox) h 32” w 24” A

A tall, alluring beauty with fragrant, showy coral pink flowers on dark purple stems. Perennials Trialed and loved in several of our staff’s gardens. This cultivar keeps healthy green foliage throughout the summer with excellent mildew resistance. Blooms mid through late summer. Zone 3 Phlox paniculata ‘Katherine’ NEW! (Garden Phlox) AC For the lovers of pastels this variety can’t be beat. 5 petaled blossoms in various shades of lavender with a distinct white eye. In trials at the Chicago Botanic Garden, this cultivar showed good mildew and insect resistance. Zone 4 Phlox paniculata ‘Peacock™ Cherry Red’ NEW! (Garden Phlox) h 18-24” w 20” AC The Peacock series is one of the best in our eyes for mildew resistance, long bloom time, fragrance and sturdy, compact form. Here is a new cherry color that really pops in the garden. A bouquet favorite. Zone 4

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Phlox paniculata ‘Shortwood’ (Garden Phlox) h 42-48” w 24-30” A Large heads of brilliant pink flowers accented by dark pink centers. The combination of a well-branched habit, heady fragrance and the profusion of mid-summer color confirms the garden phlox’s reputation as the backbone of a perennial border. Zone 4 Phlox subulata ‘Early Spring™ Dark Pink’ NEW! (Creeping phlox) h 12-14” w 20” A Two weeks earlier than all the other subulata on the market and they’re really floriferous. That’s gonna be tough to beat. Rich pink blossoms cover the dense needle-like foliage. Zone 2 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 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, 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 humile (Dwarf Solomon’s Seal) h 6-9” CD You wanna talk fairy garden? This charming dwarf Solomon’s Seal makes a uniquely delightful addition to any woodland garden, but I’m quite sure the fairy folk especially love it. It’s exactly that type of cute. Upright habit with dainty white flowers in spring. Will spread evenly over time, unless 100 years have passed while you wandered in the fairy’s world for one night. Zone 5 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 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

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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 Primula vulgaris ‘Belarina® Valentine’ (Primrose) h 7” w 12” CD Always a joy to see in early spring, these brilliant red double blossoms will delight. Very long blooming with lovely textured foliage. Plant them in containers or close to the house where you can enjoy them every day. Zone 4 Prunella grandiflora ‘Bella Blue’ NEW! (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 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 Perennials Rodgersia ‘Bronze Peacock’ h 22” w 28” C Add long lasting dramatic structure to the shade garden with these thick, glossy, palmate, bronze-brown leaves. This is the darkest of any Rodgersia and will pair well with finely textured plants. Mid-summer spikes of white or pink florets provide additional splash. Zone 5 Rodgersia henrici (Rodger’s Shield) h 36-48” w 36-48” AC Large purple palmate leaves when young. Blooms with tall reddish purple spires. A dramatic specimen in the shade garden once established. 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

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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 Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii ‘Little Goldstar’ (Black-Eyed Susan) h 14-16” w 14-16” A An improvement over ‘Goldsturm’ with a more compact and floriferous nature. Destined to become a classic. Can produce up to 80 flowers on a mature plant. 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 Salvia nemorosa ‘Lyrical™ Blues’ NEW! (Meadow Sage) h 22-24” w 22-24” A Because sometimes you want blue to mean BLUE, not purple. Super easy perennial for the novice that rewards with deepest blue spikes on purple stems. Similar to our favorite ‘Cardonna’ in form but much more blue. Excellent branching. Good heat tolerance for summer-long enjoyment. Zone 4 Salvia nemorosa ‘New Dimension Rose’ NEW! 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

Sedum 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. Zone 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

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Sedum ‘Chocolate Drop’ h 8-10” w 14” A Lightly scalloped leaves of dark chocolate brown on multi-branched upright stems form a mounding habit. In July and August soft rose colored flower heads top the leaves creating a splendid contrast. Zone 4 Sedum ‘Matrona’ h 18-24” AC Shiny red stems with pale pink flowers that turn chocolate-brown in winter with deep grey leaves. A sturdy, upright habit. Blooms August. Zone 3 Sedum ‘Mr. Goodbud’ h 17” A A wonderful upright, compact sedum. Beautiful contrasting colors between light buds and dark mauve flowers. Preferred plant by our local high flying honey bees. Zone 4 Sedum ‘Sunsparkler™ Dazzleberry’ h 6-8” 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 ‘Thunderhead’ (Stonecrop) h 27” w 24” A Fantastic huge deep rose flower heads top blue green foliage. Sturdy upright form for the mid border. Spectacular color for the late summer garden. Bees and butterflies love it. 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 telephium ‘Marina’ (Stonecrop) h 10” w 24” A Lovely oblong blue grey leaves that tint purple in the summer. Attractive mounding habit and vigorous growth appeal to us. Rosy pink flowers appear in late summer. Drought and deer tolerant. Zone 4 Semiaquilegia ecalcarata h 12-16” w 8” C

Defines the word “cute.” It’s a tiny columbine, complete with dainty, airy foliage Perennials 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 rock gardens. Zone 3 Sempervivum ‘Sanford Hybrids’ (Hens and Chicks) h 12” w 12” A Emerges deep red in spring and turns dark green with red tips as the season progresses. Foliage turns red again in the fall for an added bonus. Pink star shaped flowers with red bracts appear on tall red stems in mid summer. Zone 2 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

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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 Seseli gummiferum (Moon Carrot) h 24-36” w 12-18” AC We are always searching for the unique and here is one of our fun newish varieties. Biennial or short lived perennial native to eastern Europe and the South Aegean. Year one features basal rosettes of fern-like silver foliage as wide as it is tall. In year two, large 5” umbels of pale pink flowers appear in mid-summer on thick gray green stems that rise 2-3 feet. Drought and poor soil tolerant. Zone 5 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 Large silvery, woolly foliage with lavender spikes. Vigorous and great looking. Tolerant of heat and humidity, prefers well drained soil. Zone 4

Lilium ‘Tiny padhye’

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Stachys minima NEW! (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 Stachys monieri ‘Hummelo’ h 18-24” w 18-24” AC Basal rosettes of textured, somewhat glossy scalloped foliage with rosy lavender spikes. Easy to grow in containers or the garden. Blooms mid summer when it’s a highlight of my rock garden. Zone 4 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 Thermopsis chinenis (Chinese Bush Pea) h 24” Get the lupinesque look you love on a true perennial. Multiple stalks of soft yellow blooms in late spring. A more compact plant with shinier foliage than the familiar T. carolinian. Zone

Tiarellas (Foamflower) 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 ‘Delaware’ RENEW! (Foamflower) h 6-12” w 18-24” CD

Foliage begins lime green, turns kelly green and in the fall deepens to a tawny tone. Perennials It’s said that its foliage could almost be mistaken for a begonia! Very light pink fuzzy flower spikes. Zone 4 Tiarella ‘Diva-rella Stephanie Cohen’ NEW! (Foamflower) h 6-8” w 18-24” CD Cute little Tiarella named for the Perennial Diva! Light green star shaped leaves topped with fuzzy light pink towers. Foliage turns dark green with hints of dark purple in cooler weather. 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 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

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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 ‘Dark Beauty’ NEW! (Toad Lily) h 2-3’ w 18-24” CD This beauteous late bloomer has white orchid-like flowers with rich dark purple spotting held on arching purple stems. Dark green alternating eliptical foliage. Zone 4 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 Tricyrtis ‘Samurai’ (Toad Lily) h 18” CD Green leaves with creamy, almost gold edges. The flowers are orchid-like and appear in clusters along the gently arching stems. Delicate blooms are purple with darker purple spotting and yellow throats. Zone 4 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. Zone 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 flower. Foliage turns red in cool temperatures. Likes evenly moist conditions and average soil. One of our staff favorites. Zone 4

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Swallowtail

Natives

Natives Natives Perennial & Native Grasses—4½” Deep Pots

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) NEW! h 36-60” w 18-24” A The bees and butterflies are typically very attracted to native agastache and will Perennials 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 poltices and teas. Zone 3 Allium tricoccum NEW! 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. Zone 3 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

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Andropogon gerardii (Big Bluestem) h 48-72” A Impressive native grass of the tall grass prairies. Tolerant of a wide variety of conditions. Seed heads resemble the three 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 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 Aster laevis (Smooth Aster) NEW! 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 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. 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

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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 Eryngium yuccifolium (Rattlesnake Master ) h 36-48” w 24” A Prairie plant with sword-shaped, spiny-margined, blue-grey leaves and many spherical white spiky blooms in mid-summer. Adds a unique textural element. A must-have for any backyard prairie. Zone 5 Erythronium albidum (White Trout Lily) h 4-6” CD 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. Zone Eupatorium maculatum (Joe Pye Weed) h 60-84” w 36” AC

Broad corymb-like panicles of pinkish-purple blooms above whorled lance-shaped Perennials foliage in late summer. Very tall and showy in the back of the border. Found in damp meadows and along streams in the Midwest. A must have for attracting butterflies and bees. Zone 3 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 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 Monarda fistulosa (Wild Bergamot) h 24-60” AC Showy fragrant lavender blooms in mid-summer. Easy to grow. Attracts bees, and is deer resistant. Will thrive in dry, sandy soils. Zone 3 Penstemon grandiflorus (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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Ratibida pinnata (Grey Head Coneflower) h 36-60” A Pinnate, toothed, bluish foliage. Bright golden rays twist around a darker disk that elongates to become a prominent cone through late summer. Drought resistant and good for naturalized plantings. From the central Great Plains. Zone 3 Rudbeckia triloba (Brown-eyed Susan) h 48-60” w 36” AC 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 Bluestem) h 12-48” A Tough prairie native grass with lovely blue tones. Incomparable winter beauty that thrives in poor, dry soils. Beautiful in a prairie or formal garden. 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 Vernonia fasciculata (Common Ironweed) h 36” A

Great hot color for the back of the border in late summer when everything else Perennials blooms yellow. Dense rounded clusters of vivid magenta blooms atop erect stalks with pointed, finely toothed leaves to 6” long. Native habitat is damp prairies. Zone 4 Veronicastrum virginicum (Culver’s Root) h 48-72” w 18-24” AC Outstanding vertical presence in the back of the border. Dramatic spikes of clean white flowers with showy gold stamens in a candelabra form, above whorled, pointed foliage. Blooms in July-August. Tough as nails and long-lived. From our Great Plains. Zone 3

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 179 Ferns Ferns Ferns—4½” deep, color-coded pots, 12 per flat

Ferns Adiantum pedatum (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 Athyrium Ocean’s Fury h 30-36” w 24-36” CD Distinctive large upright silver-green fern with red stems. Silver color remains throughout the growing season. Zone 5 Athyrium Silver Slippers NEW! (Dwarf Painted Fern) h 6-8” w 12-15” D Short and tidy, this fern fits well into shaded rock beds or troughs and has a tolerance for drier conditions. Silvery green fronds. Zone 4 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 criss- crossed, 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 niponicum Burgundy Lace (Japanese Painted Fern) h 15” w 12” CD A gorgeous painted fern with metallic burgundy leaves which will light up the woodland or shade garden. A new classic. 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 Godzilla NEW! (Painted Fern) h 36” w 48-72” D Yes, named for its size and divine color! Dark stems hold massive, arching mint and silvery fronds. Zone 3

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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 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 (Goldies 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 archy fronds that taper abruptly at the tip with shaggy brownish fiddleheads in the spring. Zone 3 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 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 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 Perennials

Perennial Grasses Perennial Grasses—4½” color-coded pots, 12 per flat

Perennial Grasses

For Native Grasses - see Native section

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Acorus gramineus ‘Ogon’ (Grassy Leaved Sweet Flag) h 10” AC Not really a grass, but this Japanese native Iris can be used where a grass-like form and texture is desired. Beautiful green and golden striped leaves form a pleasing mounded shape. Loves moist conditions so especially suited to ponds. Zone 5 Andropogon ‘Rain Dance’ (Big Bluestem) h 72” A This new bluestem is deeper green than the species, features red-tipped foliage and turns a beautiful dark maroon with red flowers on red stems in the fall. A gorgeous backdrop. Zone 3 Andropogon gerardii (Big Bluestem) h 48-72” A Impressive native grass of the tall grass prairies. Tolerant of a wide variety of conditions. Seed heads resemble the three toes of turkeys’ feet. Stems have pleasing red fall color. Zone 3 Bouteloua ‘Blonde Ambition’ NEW! h 24-36” A Whimsical chartreuse-blonde flowers float like flags above blue-green foliage. Mass plantings make a dramatic statement. Zone 24-36” Bouteloua curtipendula (Side Oats Grama) h 36” A Tough native grass that tolerates sandy, gravely dry sites or heavy soils. Able to survive on low fertility. It is clump forming, useful in mass or meadow, with flowers that are nice enough to cut. Zone 4 Calamagrostis arundinacea ‘Eldorado’ (Korean Reed Grass) h 4’ AC Newer addition to the line of wonderful feather reed grass cultivars. Gold central variegation added to the leaves of C. ‘Karl Foerster’ really shines. Upright clumps topped in late summer with narrow vertical plumes. Zone 4 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 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 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. Zone 4

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Carex plantaginea (Seersucker Sedge) h 12” CD Shiny broad leaves with accordion-fold veins. Nice light green color shows up well in the shade. Slowly spreading, good evergreen ground cover that tolerates moist conditions. 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 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” CD 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 Molinia caerulea ‘Variegata’ (Variegated Moor Grass) h 2-3’ AC Cream and green grass with a compact mounding habit that is ideal for borders or containers. Adds a relaxed, sprawling texture. Loves moist, acid soils. Lovely airy Perennials seed heads appear high above the foliage in late summer. 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 Panicum virgatum ‘Hot Rod Red’ NEW! (Switch Grass) h 36-48” A A lovely compact switch grass that emerges blue green and reddens rapidly to produce a rich, deep maroon show. Quite early to color. Zone 4

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Schizachyrium s. ‘Carousel’ NEW! (Little Bluestem) h 30” A A shorter bluestem with a neat rounded mounding habit. Fine green summer foliage transitions to fall color highlights of pink, copper and mahogany. Zone 4 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 Schizachyrium scoparium (Little Bluestem) h 12-48” A Tough prairie native grass with lovely blue tones. Incomparable winter beauty that thrives in poor, dry soils. Beautiful in a prairie or formal garden. Zone 3

Tree Peonies Tree Peonies—Trade Gallons We adore the fragrant large blossomed Japanese tree peonies and so must have them in our plant list. Quantities are limited 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.

184 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Perennial Groundcovers 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. 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 shades of pink, 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 Aubretia ‘Audrey Blue Shades’ h 6-8” AC Masses of blue flowers cover this plant. A very early and long lasting bloomer. Will look great falling over walls or in the rock garden. Zone 4 Cerastrium alphinum lanatum ‘Alpine Mouse Ear’ h 3” A Drought-tolerant rock garden plant which will spread to become a mat of foliage with tiny soft gray-green leaves. White bell-like flowers in early summer. Do not overwater. Zone 3 Perennials 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 Lamiastrum ‘Herman’s Pride’ RENEW! (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 ‘Ghost’ (Dead Nettle) h 10-12” CD This tall variety has the mounding appearance of a silver cloud. The leaves are twice as long as most other lamiums making this a good cover to mask drying bulb foliage. Zone 4 Lamium ‘Purple Dragon’ (Dead Nettle) h 4-8” CD Silvery-white foliage with large purple flowers. Flowers heavily throughout the summer. Zone 3 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 185 Perennial Groundcovers

Lamium ‘White Nancy’ (Dead Nettle) h 6-8” CD Silver leaves with a narrow green edge. Charming white flowers. Blooms May-July. Zone 4 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 Pachysandra terminalis (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 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 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’ NEW! (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. Forms a dense mat. Blooms with pale pink star-shaped flowers. Zone 4

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

Sedum dasyphyllum ‘Major’ (Creeping Sedum) h 4” A Prostrate mats of tight blue foliage. Small white flowers. Zone 4 Sedum hispanicum ‘Purple Form’ NEW! (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. Bright yellow flowers as large as leaf rosettes. From Mexico. Very sweet! Zone 4 Sedum kamtschaticum ‘Weihenstephaner Gold’ 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 NEW! (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 Sedum ochroleucum ‘Red Wiggle’ NEW! (Stonecrop) h 3-4” A 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. Zone 4 Sedum sieboldii ‘October Daphne’ NEW! (Stonecrop) h 6-12” A Round flat succulent foliage is dark green, edged with red. Rose-pink flowers appear

in late summer. Zone 3 Perennials 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 Sedum ussuriense ‘Turkish Delight’ NEW! (Stonecrop) h 4-6” A Very dark burgundy-black flat succulent foliage bears red flower clusters in midsummer. 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 3 Sempervivum ‘Silverene’ (Hens and Chicks) h 4” A Silver blue rosettes with red overtones. Zone 3

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 187 Perennial Groundcovers

Sempervivum arachnoidium ‘Kalinda’ (Hens & Chicks) h 2-8” 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 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 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 ‘Whitewater’ NEW! (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

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

Life at the Greenhouse We asked our staff to tell you about their favorite job at the greenhouse. Here is what they said.

Life at the Greenhouse Amy: It’s really hard to decide which has been my favorite job around the greenhouse because there are several! I am a newbie so each season has been a brand new experience. One of the first things I did was transplant- ing; enjoyable to see the little plants move to larger homes. Another favorite is taking photos of plants and putting a face to their names. At times challenging but fun was pulling orders; picking out the plants ready for their customers. Yet another was looking through the 2015 catalogs and being part of the growing process for next year. Before I began work- ing here, I remember seeing the staff photo on the Rush Creek Growers Facebook page, and thinking, “Those are my people!” Yes, sappy, but I am honored to be a part of the jobs here and the amazing team of people.

Annie: I am the bookkeeper. When the May accounts balance on the first try, I am a happy camper.

Babette: One of my favorite tasks at Rush Creek Growers is trimming herbs. We plant tiny herb cuttings to grow into herb plugs. We then transplant those plugs into the herb pots we ship to you. Trimming these little plants is one part of the process of growing full, healthy herb plugs About Us

which become vibrant herbs in someone’s garden. I am lucky to get to do this job most of the time. As I work wafts of the rich smells of rosemary, mint, oregano or lavender surround me. I take home some sprigs to make a meal or a drink. I learn a bit each year about what the individual herbs

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 189 Life at the Greenhouse

want and offer. It is sensory rich and inspirational work. The hardest part is taking a wheelbarrow of trimmed mint or thyme to the compost pile. But growing is all about the cycle of life. I enjoy trimming herbs.

Becca: As I complete my first growing season here at Rush Creek, it’s hard to pick just one of my favorite jobs I’ve experienced here. From unpacking mountains of plug liners to planting to fertilizing to pulling and shipping plants. It feels as though I’ve done it all. My two favorite experiences came towards the end of the season. The first was creating topiaries of herbs, vines and anything else I could get my hands on. It was a learning experience but the living wreaths look amazing. My second favorite job was climbing up into the gutters of one of our tall greenhouses to change the roof plastic. What an incredible view of our little slice of heaven. Hey. I can see my house from here.

Eli: I guess I shouldn’t really say driving the delivery van around rural Wis- consin on a lovely late summer morning, should I? Although I am a sucker for a hilly two lane highway. Well, the intensity and breakneck pace of spring shipping season appeals to my high energy personality. I pull the edibles, and many of the early crops are finished outside, so there is no handy monorail cart nearby. It’s just schlepping those trays three at a time into the nearest doorway as fast as I can. Love the workout, love the quick crop turnaround, love the subtle colors of cold-kissed little kale and broccoli plants, love the feeling of a job well done when that last truck of the day pulls out… But my absolute favorite soul-nourishing job here is the Science Project component of being a grower. The word “trial” still gets me excited and Suzanne and Vicky will let me try to grow almost anything. Sure there are plenty of duds, but there is always a chance that some little seedling will mature into a really cool plant all of us fight over the honor of taking home.

Gary: I have been in charge of basket designs for the past nine years. Is this my favorite job? Yes and no. I start designing them in the late summer and it takes approximately 2 weeks of scanning catalogs, organizing plants by growth habit, sun, shade or in between, finding new varieties and lots of discussions with Suzanne and Vicky about what they would like to see and offer. What has been enjoyable about this task is seeing the editing process develop over the years. The game of what plant is compatible with what plant. Will they grow together evenly? What is unique for color combinations? The introduction of mixed liners, ready for greenhouses, to grow into baskets has boomed over the past few years and are offered by almost all plug growers. I am proud that Vicky and Suzanne still have confidence in my vision to allow me to continue designing. Hopefully can we offer our customers a unique product they aren’t going to find anywhere else.

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

Jan: Responding to the question “What is my favorite job at Rush Creek Growers?” is genuinely difficult. There are so many things I love doing at the greenhouse. But to pick just one, I’d have to say it is organizing the shipping. During the busy time of the year it is my job to coordinate the rest of the crew to pull orders and load trucks. I love it because it’s always a bit crazy. There are so many small details to keep track of, quality control to keep an eye on, and problems to solve. I enjoy multitasking and organizing chaos, so it’s both fun and challenging.

Refoofing

Katharine: My favorite part of this job is handling the plants, and watch- ing them change. So that to me means planting the teeny-beenies, and weeding and pruning the “matures”. When I’m pruning, time disappears. I get to see the natural forms of each species and even each individual, in response to a given set of growing conditions. Sometimes they look worse after a pruning, before they look better. But I find it fun to work with what is given, and use the buds’ encoded “instructions” to find a form suitable for travel and sale: neat, compact and strong.

Margy: The spring greenhouse is where I unwind....literally! My challenge is to keep annual vines from intertwining, which is exactly what they aim to do. Once winter is fading and the sun streams into the greenhouse, I become the vine tamer on the seasonal team.

Mel: My favorite job here at Rush Creek is ordering perennials. It gives me the chance to see what is new in the perennial industry. Gives me insight on how plug companies deal with pests and how well these companies work into our program. About Us Norma: My favorite job at the greenhouse is watering on the weekends. It is quiet and I can see and hear the birds outside (and inside). It gives me time to see how things are growing, what is coming into bloom and decide which plants I really like.

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 191 Life at the Greenhouse

Ruth: Rush Creek is the best job I’ve ever had. I can’t imagine wanting to work anywhere else. Just getting my hands dirty in a warm greenhouse in the dead of winter is wonderful enough... not to mention the eclectic cast of characters I get to work with. It keeps this 56 year old grounded in knowing what is most important to pass on to my granddaughters as we did with our own children.

Planting

Suzanne: Working with our crew and coordinating the production of the spring crops is my favorite task. Getting everything planted on time and providing the right growing conditions to have everything finish at the right moment is a really great challenge. We get a clean slate each year.

Tom: Instead of deciding a particular favorite job that I do here at Rush Creek, I’m just going to say that the thing I like best about my job is that I do so many different things. It changes almost every day. There’s always something else breaking down or wearing out that I have to try to fix.

Vicky W.: Imagine… it is a cold winter day. Maybe fresh snow or frost on the trees as I drive to meet with one of our customers. Hot cup of coffee in their kitchen or a coffee shop talking plants and getting excited about the coming spring. I get to spend hours with folks who live and breathe plants and exciting their customers. I get to hear about their plans for the coming year and we get to be part of that. Wow! Meanwhile our crew is back at the greenhouse, making it all come true. Just don’t offer me a second cup of coffee or I’ll never stop talking! P.S. I do love greenhouse construction. I have become less able to help with some of the projects we do in the winter but I love the camaraderie of the crew working to complete a new greenhouse or change roofs, a tangible sense of accom- plishment and tired to the bones at the end of the day.

192 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Tribute to Frances Williams

Tribute to Frances Williams Frances Williams Beloved greenhouse cat March 1997 – Sept 2014

Our beloved greenhouse cat Frances Williams passed suddenly on September 2.

I’m still feeling shocked by her absence. Through her 17 years we constantly remarked on her sweetness. She had a sort of dancerly movie star quality. I think the dancerly quality was due in large part to her extra front toes that expressed themselves as extremely large thumbs.

When she walked she looked a bit like a runway model whose legs sort of cross each other as they walk. And I like to think it had something to do withthe way she came to us. I had asked our plug grower, Eli, to put my dibs on any extra- toed female born at Greenfinger’s Farm where she was employed and where I had worked for many years.

Tribute to Frances Williams The day that Frances came home I picked France up from Eli’s house on my way to the movies. Frances and I went to the Sunday Matinee at the Parkway Theater in Minneapolis. She sat calmly in my lap as she would continue to do for 17 years. About Us

Frances was quite the office cat. I don’t know how Vicky managed it really. Frances sat on Vicky’s desk between Vicky and her monitor. When she wanted to be petted, which was often, she would lean over and rub her face on Vick’s mousing hand. I use a laptop so I didn’t have the

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 193 Tribute to Frances Williams

same issue. I did marvel, however, at Frances’s computer acumen. More than once as she casually walked across my keyboard she created graphics. I remember one was an incredible chart of Chrysanthemum bloom dates inserted into my Xcel spreadsheet.

Frances loved the bottom heated germination bench. No matter how busy the germination schedule was, the space of one plug tray was reserved as a lounge for Frances. She could lie folded into an exact 10” x 20” rectangle to maximize the amount of fur in contact with the heated mat. During the busiest time of spring she somewhat avoided the work area.

She was always greeted warmly when she graced us with her presence.

August, the cat, loved Frances the moment he laid eyes on her. In fact rather than leave Frances at work, for the first few weeks I took her home with me at night because she was a bit overwhelmed by his affection. They slept adorably draped over each other or curled up together for months each winter.

As you probably know, Frances Williams and August Moon our cats were named after famous Hostas. They were both either spayed or neutered and their relationship wasn’t romantic. But I’ll just let you know that this summer while researching hostas, we discovered that there is a variety named Maui Buttercups that is a cross between Frances and August. Stay tuned.

Cat lonely,

Suzanne

194 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Tribute to Frances WilliamsIndex 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

Abutilon ‘Lucky Lantern Red’...... SA Agastache ‘Bolero’...... PER Abutilon ‘Lucky Lantern Yellow’...... SA Agastache ‘Kudos Mandarin’...... PER Abutilon m. ‘Chinese Lantern’...... SA Agastache ‘Little Adder’...... PER Acacia ‘Cousin Itt’...... LgA Agastache scrophulariaefolia ...... P Nat Achillea ‘Desert Eve Terracotta’...... PER Ageratum ‘White Bouquet’...... Bgem Achillea ‘New Vintage Red’...... PER Ageratum ‘Monarch Grand Cherry’.... SA Achillea ‘New Vintage Violet’...... PER Ageratum ‘Patina Purple’...... SA Achillea m. ‘Paprika’...... PER Ageratum h. ‘Blue Horizon’...... Bgem Acidanthera murielae ...... Bgem Ageratum h. ‘Red Sea’...... Bgem Aconitum carmichaelii ‘Arendsii’...... PER Ajuga ‘Black Scallop’...... PR, GrCov Adiantum p...... FERN Ajuga ‘Burgundy Glow’...... GrCov Agapanthus ‘Gold Stripe’...... LgA Ajuga ‘Chocolate Chip’...... GrCov Agastache ‘Arcado Pink’...... Bgem Ajuga reptans ‘Pink Lightning’...... PER

Agastache ‘Arizona Sandstone’...... SA Albuca spiralis ‘Frizzle Sizzle’...... LgA Index Agastache ‘Arizona Sun’...... SA Alcea rosea ‘Halo Cerise’...... PER Agastache ‘Astello Indigo’...... Bgem Alcea rosea ‘Halo Lavender’...... PER Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 195 TributeIndex to Frances Williams

Alcea rosea ‘Mars Magic’...... PER Armeria ‘Morning Star Deep Rose’.... PER Alchemilla sericota ‘Gold Strike’...... PER Arnica montana ‘Arbo’...... HERB Allium ‘Millenium’...... PER Artemisia ‘Parfum d Ethiopia’...... SF Allium ‘Pink Planet’...... PER Artichoke ‘Imperial Star’...... ED3 Allium ‘Quattro’...... PER Arugula ...... HERB Allium tricoccum ...... P Nat Arugula, wild ‘Wasabi’...... HERB Alocasia ‘Mayan Mask’...... LgA Aruncus ‘Misty Lace’...... PER Alocasia odora ...... LgA Aruncus dioicus ...... PER Aloe ‘Eric the Red’...... LgA Asarina purpusii ‘Victoria Falls’...... VINE Aloe ‘Super Red’...... LgA Asarina scandens ‘Joan Lorraine’.....VINE Alpinia ‘Variegata Ginger’...... LgA Asarum canadensis ...... P Nat Alternanthera ‘Brazilian Red Hots’...... SF Asarum europeum ...... PER Alternanthera ‘Burgundy Threadleaf’.SF Asclepias c. ‘Silky Deep Red’...... Bgem Alternanthera d. ‘Little Ruby’...... SF Asclepias curassavica ‘Silky Gold’.. Bgem Amaranth ‘Yin Thai’...... ED6 Asclepias incarnata ...... P Nat Amaranthus ‘Copperhead’...... Bgem Asclepias phys. ‘Oscar’...... Bgem Amaranthus ‘Hopi Red Dye’...... Bgem Asclepias tuberosa ...... P Nat Amaranthus c. ‘Red Tails’...... Bgem Asclepias tuberosa ‘Gay Butterflies’. PER Ammi majus ‘Graceland Selection’.Bgem Asclepias tuberosa ‘Hello Yellow’..... PER Amorpha canescens ...... P Nat Asparagus ‘UC-70’...... ED6 Amsonia ‘Blue Ice’...... PER Astelia ‘Silver Shadow’...... LgA Amsonia tab. var. salicifolia ...... PER Aster laevis ...... P Nat Anagallis ‘Wildcat Blue’...... SA Aster novae-angliae ‘Vibrant Dome’. PER Anagallis ‘Wildcat Mandarin’...... SA Astilbe ‘Cappuccino’...... PER Andropogon gerardii ...... P Nat Astilbe arendsii ‘Glow’...... PER Anemone h. ‘Pretty Lady Julia’...... PER Astilbe chinensis ‘Color Flash’...... PER Anemone m. ‘Annabella Dp Rose’.... PER Astilbe chinensis ‘Color Flash Lime’.. PER Anemone rivularis ‘Glacier’...... PER Astilbe chinensis ‘Delft Lace’...... PER Anemone sylvestris ...... PER Astilbe japonica ‘Montgomery’...... PER Anemone tomentosa ‘Robustissima’.PER Astilbe simplicifolia ‘Pink Lightning’.. PER Angelica gigas ...... PER Astilboides tabularis ...... PER Angelonia ‘Actors Pink Blue Splash’.... SA Astragalus ...... HERB Angelonia ‘Archangel series’...... SA Astrantia major ‘Star of Fire’...... PER Angelonia ‘Serenita Purple’...... SA Athyrium ‘Godzilla’...... FERN Anise Hyssop ...... HERB Athyrium ‘Silver Slippers’...... FERN Aquilegia ‘Black Current Ice’...... PER Athyrium ‘Ocean’s Fury’...... FERN Aquilegia ‘Denver Gold’...... PER Athyrium a.f. r. ‘Lady In Red’...... FERN Aquilegia ‘Double Pleat Blkberry’..... PER Athyrium f. femina ‘Dre’s Dagger’..FERN Aquilegia canadensis ...... P Nat Athyrium f. femina ‘Frizelliae’...... FERN Aquilegia fl var. pumila ‘Selection’.... PER Athyrium n. ‘Burgundy Lace’...... FERN Aquilegia v. ‘Clem Salmon Rose’...... PER Athyrium niponicum ‘Pictum’...... FERN Aralia ‘Sun King’...... PER Athyrium n. ‘Pictum-Applecourt’...FERN Arctotis ‘Ravers Bumble Bee’...... SA Athyrium x ‘Ghost’...... FERN Arctotis ‘Ravers Cherry Frost’...... SA Aubrieta ‘Audrey Blue Shades’...... GrCov Arctotis ‘Ravers Pumpkin Pie’...... SA Bacopa ‘Bahia Purple Sand’...... SA Argyranthemum ‘Comet Pink’...... SA Bacopa ‘Double Ballerina Pink’...... SA Argyranthemum ‘Flutterby Yellow’..... SA Bacopa ‘Scopia Dbl Snowball’...... SA Arisaema triphylum ...... P Nat Bacopa ‘Scopia Glvr White’...... SA

196 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Tribute to Frances WilliamsIndex

Bacopa ‘Snowstorm Blue Bubbles’..... SA Bouteloua curtipendula ...... P Nat Baptisia ‘Lemon Meringue’...... PER Brachyscome ‘Radiant Magenta’...... SA Baptisia ‘Blueberry Sundae’...... PER Bracteantha ‘Helica Purple’...... SA Baptisia ‘Dutch Chocolate’...... PER Bracteantha ‘Mohave Orange’...... SA Baptisia ‘Mdnt Prairieblues’...... PER Brilliantasia ...... LgA Baptisia australis ...... PER Broccoli ‘Premium Crop’...... ED6 Basella a. rubra ‘Malibar Spinach’...VINE Broccolini ‘Happy Rich’...... ED6 Basil ‘24 varieties’...... HERB Browalia americana ‘Sky Blue’...... Bgem Basil ‘ ‘...... ED6 Brugmansia ‘Mixed’...... LgA Bay Laurel ...... HERB Brugmansia ‘Peach’...... LgA Beets ‘Bull’s Blood’...... ED6 Brunnera ‘Alexander’s Great’...... PER Beets ‘Gourmet Blend’...... ED6 Brunnera ‘Sea Heart’...... PER Beets ‘Red Ace’...... ED6 Brunnera m. ‘Diane’s Gold’...... PER Begonia ‘Arcada Yellow’...... BASK Brussels Sprouts ‘Churchill ‘...... ED6 Begonia ‘Bossa Nova Red’...... BASK Brussels Sprouts ‘Falstaff’...... ED6 Begonia ‘Bossa Nova White’...... SA Cabbage ‘Compact Mixed Varieties’.ED6 Begonia ‘Mistral Red’...... SA Cabbage ‘Deluxe Mix’...... ED6 Begonia ‘Rhine Fire Balls’...... SA Caladium ‘5 varieties’...... SF Begonia ‘Unbelievable Lucky Strike’.... SA Calamintha ‘Montrose White’...... PER Begonia ‘Unbelievable Miss Montreal’.SA Calendula ‘Princess Mix’...... Bgem Begonia ‘Arcada Apricot’...... SA Calendula ‘Maya Orange’...... Bgem Begonia ‘Arcada Light Pink’...... SA Calendula offinalis ‘Resina’...... HERB Begonia ‘Big Red with Bronze Leaf’.... SA Calibrachoa ‘Volcano Sunset’...... BASK Begonia ‘Big Rose w Bronze Leaf’...... SA Calibrachoa ...... SA, BASK Begonia ‘Breezy Red’...... SA Calla ‘5 varieties’...... LgA Begonia ‘Cool Breeze Emerald’...... LgA Caltha palustris ...... P Nat Begonia ‘Crackling Fire Pink’...... SA Campanula ‘Summertime Blues’...... PER Begonia ‘Crackling Yellow’...... SA Campanula ‘Viking’...... PER Begonia ‘Dragon Wing Pink’...... BASK Campanula p. ‘Miss Melanie’...... PER Begonia ‘Dragon Wing Red’...... SA, BASK Campanula r. ‘Thumbell Blue’...... PER Begonia ‘Gryphon’...... SA Canna ‘Cannova Bronze Leaf Scarlet’.. SA Begonia ‘Illum. Golden Picotee’..... BASK Canna ‘Cannova Rose’...... SA Begonia ‘Million Kisses Elegance’... BASK Cantaloupe ‘Goddess’...... ED3 Begonia ‘Santa Cruz Sunset’...... SA Canteloupe ‘Minnesota Midget’...... ED3 Begonia ‘Sparks Will Fly’...... SA Canteloupe ‘Oka’...... ED3 Begonia ‘Unstoppable Upright Fire’... SA Caperbush ...... HERB Begonia ‘Unstoppable Upright White’.SA Caraway ...... HERB Begonia fuchsiodes ‘Pink’...... SA Cardiospermum halicacabum ...... VINE Belgian Endive ...... ED6 Carex ‘Ice Dance’...... PGr Bergenia ‘Dragonfly Sakura’...... PER Carex ‘Spark Plug’...... AnGr Bergenia ‘Flirt’...... PER Carex buchanii ‘Red Rooster’...... AnGr Bergenia ‘Winter Glow’...... PER Carex dol. ‘Gold Fountains’...... AnGr Berlandiera ‘Lyrata’...... PER Carex muskingamensis ‘Oehme’...... PGr Bidens ‘Bidy Gonzales Top’...... SA Carex ‘EverColor Everillo’...... AnGr Bitter Melon ‘Spindle’...... VINE Carex ‘EverColor Eversheen’...... AnGr Boltonia ast. var. lat. ‘Jim Crockett’.... PER Carex pensylvanica ...... P Nat Borage ...... HERB Carex plantaginea ...... P Nat Index Bouteloua ‘Blonde Ambition’...... PGr Carex testacea ‘Prairie Fire’...... AnGr

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Carica papaya ...... BigE Cobaea s. ‘Cathedral Bells’...... VINE Cassia ‘Buttered Popcorn’...... LgA Coleus ‘53 selections’...... SF Cassia hebecarpa ...... P Nat Collards ‘Georgia’...... ED6 Catnip ‘Lemon’...... HERB Colocasia ‘6 varieties’...... LgA Catnip ...... HERB Cordyline ‘Black Knight’...... SF Cauliflower ‘Graffiti’...... ED6 Cordyline ‘Electric Pink’...... LgA Cauliflower ‘Romanesco’...... ED3 Cordyline ‘Pink Passion’...... SF Celeriac ‘Brilliant’...... ED6 Coreopsis ‘Leading Lady Charlize’...... PER Celery ‘Conquistador’...... ED6 Coreopsis ‘Leading Lady Lauren’...... PER Celery Cutting ‘Afina’...... HERB Coreopsis ‘Leading Lady Sophia’...... PER Celosia ‘Celway Purple’...... Bgem Coreopsis ‘Big Bang Cosmic Evo’...... PER Celosia ‘Intenzia’...... SA Coreopsis ‘Mahogany Midget’...... Bgem Celosia ‘Kosmo Cherry’...... SA Coreopsis tinctoria ‘Roulette’...... Bgem Celosia ‘Twisted’...... SA Corn Orn. ‘Broom Corn Mix Colors’.Bgem Centaurea ‘Black Sprite’...... PER Corydalis ‘Blue Panda’...... PER Centaurea ‘Classic Fantastic’...... Bgem Cosmos ‘5 varieites’...... Bgem Centaurea ‘Colchester White’...... SF Cotton ‘Black’...... SF Centaurea montana ...... PER Crocosmia ‘Mars’...... Bgem Cerastium a. l. ‘Alpine Mouse Ear’.GrCov Cucumber ‘11 types’...... ED3 Chamomile ‘German’...... HERB Cuphea ‘Sriracha Violet’...... SA Chamomile ‘Roman’...... HERB Cuphea ‘Vermillionaire’...... SA Chasmanthium ‘River Mist’...... PGr Cuphea ‘Sriracha Rose Pink’...... SA Chelone ‘Tiny Tortuga’...... PER Cuphea llavea ‘Flamenco Samba’...... SA Chelone glabra ...... P Nat Cynara cardunculus ‘Cardoon’...... SF Chelone lyonii ‘Hot Lips’...... PER Cyperus papyrus ‘King Tut’...... LgA Chenile ‘Fire Tails’...... SA Dahlia ‘7 varieties’...... SA Chervil ...... HERB Dahlia variabilis ‘Fireworks’...... Bgem Chia ...... HERB Dalea purpurea ...... P Nat Chinese Broccoli ‘Green Lance’...... ED6 Datura m. ‘Ballerina Purple’...... SA Chinese Cabbage ‘Green Rocket’...... ED6 Datura m. ‘Ballerina White’...... SA Chinese Celery ‘Tianjin Green’...... ED6 Datura m. ‘Ballerina Yellow’...... SA Chinese Leeks ‘Nira’...... ED6 Delphinium ‘7 selections’...... PER Chives ‘Garlic’...... HERB Delphinium g. ‘Blue Butterfly’...... PER Chives ‘Purly’...... HERB Dianthus ‘Dash Crimson’...... Bgem Chrysocephalum a. ‘Flambe Yellow’... SA Dianthus ‘Edgehog’...... PER Chrysogonum ‘Norman Singers’...... PER Dianthus ‘Scent --Angel of Peace’..... PER Cilantro ...... ED6 Dianthus ‘Spangled Star’...... PER Cilantro ‘Calypso’...... HERB Dianthus ‘Early Bird Fizzy’...... PER Cilantro ‘Confetti’...... HERB Dianthus ‘Fire Star’...... PER Cimicifuga ‘Chocoholic’...... PER Dianthus ‘Green Ball’...... SA Cimicifuga japonica ‘Cheju-Do’...... PER Dianthus ‘Neon Star’...... PER Cissus discolor ...... LgA Dianthus ‘Rosish One’...... PER Cissus rhombifolia ‘Oak Leaf’...... SF Dianthus ‘SprTrouper Butterfly D Red’.SA Clematis integrifolia ‘Mongol. Bells’.. PER Dianthus ‘SprTrouper Lilac on Purple’.SA Clematis recta ‘Serious Black’...... PER Dianthus ‘SprTrouper Mag. and Wh.’. SA Cleome ‘Queen Cherry’...... Bgem Dianthus ‘SprTrouper Orange’...... SA Cleome ‘Clio’...... SA Dianthus b. ‘Sweet Pur W. Bicolor’.Bgem Cleome ‘Queen Violet’...... Bgem Dianthus barbatus ‘Heart Attack’..... PER

198 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Tribute to Frances WilliamsIndex

Dianthus x barbatus ‘Amazon Neon Rose Eupatorium ‘Chocolate’...... PER Magic’...... Bgem Eupatorium ‘Pink Frost’...... PER Diascia ‘Juliet Orange’...... SA Eupatorium maculatum ...... P Nat Diascia ‘Juliet Pink With Eye’...... SA Euphorbia ‘Flame Leaf’...... SF Diascia ‘Juliet Red’...... SA Euphorbia ‘Breathless Blush’...... SA Diascia ‘SunDiascia Upright Orange’... SA Euphorbia ‘Stardust Super Flash’...... SA Dicentra ‘Amore Rose’...... PER Euphorbia marginata ...... Bgem Dicentra spectabilis ...... PER Euphorbia p. ‘Bonfire’...... PER Dicentra spectabilis ‘Gold Heart’...... PER Euphorbia polychroma ...... PER Dicentra spectabilis ‘Valentine’...... PER Evolvulus ‘Blue My Mind’...... SA Dicentra spectabilis alba ...... PER Felicia amelloides ‘Felicity Blue’...... SA Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’...... SF Fennel ‘Bronze’...... ED6 Digiplexis ‘Illumination Flame’...... LgA Fennel Bulbing ‘Orion’...... HERB Digitalis grandiflora ...... PER Fennel, Bulbing ‘Orion hybrid’...... ED6 Digitalis obscura ‘Sunset ‘...... PER Fenugreek ...... HERB Digitalis p. ‘Candy Mountain’...... PER Fern Collection...... SF Dill ‘Bouquet’...... HERB Festuca ‘Beyond Blue’...... PGr Dill ‘Fern Leaf’...... HERB Feverfew ...... HERB Dodecatheon meadia ...... P Nat Ficus carica ‘Petite Nigra’...... LgA Dodecatheon meadia ‘Aphrodite’..... PER Ficus pumila ...... SF Dolichos lablab ‘Ruby Moon’...... VINE Forager’s Mix ‘Cool Season’...... ED6 Dorotheanthus ‘Mezoo Trailing Red’...SF Forager’s Mix ‘Warm Season’...... ED6 Draceana ‘Red Edge’...... LgA Frisée ‘Dubuisson’...... ED6 Dryopteris erythrosora ...... FERN Fuchsia ‘various’...... SA, BASK, VINE Dryopteris g...... FERN Gaillardia ‘Arizona Sun’...... PER Echeveria ‘Assorted’...... LgA Gaillardia ‘Mesa Peach’...... PER Echeveria collection ...... SF Gaillardia g. ‘C.motion Moxie’...... PER Echinacea ‘8 selections’...... PER Galium odoratum ...... GrCov Echinacea angustifolia ...... HERB Gaura ‘Belleza Dark Pink’...... SA Echinacea paradoxa ...... P Nat Gaura ‘Little Janie’...... SA Echinops b. ‘Blue Glow’...... PER Gaura ‘Sparkle White’...... SA Edamame ‘Giant Midori’...... ED6 Gaura ‘The Bride’...... Bgem Eggplant ‘6 varieties’...... ED3 Gazania ‘New Day Rose Stripe’...... SA Ensete maurelii ...... LgA Gazania ‘Sunbathers Cremazu’...... SA Epazote ...... HERB Gazania ‘Sunbathers Nahui’...... SA Epimedium ‘Sulphureum’...... PER Gazania ‘Sunbathers Tikal’...... SA Epimedium ‘x warleyense’...... PER Gazania ‘Sunbathers Totanaca’...... SA Epimedium x rubrum ...... PER Gentian cruciata ‘Blue Cross’...... PER Eriogonum u. var. aureum ‘Psdowns’.PER Geranium ‘Precision Burgundy Ice’. BASK Eritrichium hybrid ‘Baby Blues’...... SA Geranium ‘Precision Dark Salmon’.. BASK Eryngium yuccifolium ...... P Nat Geranium ‘14 selections’...... SA Eryngium zabelii ‘Big Blue’...... PER Geranium ‘Dark Reiter’...... PER Erythronium albidum ...... P Nat Geranium ‘Dragon Heart’...... PER Escholtzia ‘seed ‘...... SA Geranium ‘Precision Ruby’...... BASK Eucalyptus ‘Boxwood’...... SF Geranium m. ‘Czakor’...... PER Eucalyptus ‘Lemon Bush’...... SF Geranium maculatum ...... P Nat Eucomis ‘Leia Aloha Lily’...... BigE Geranium oxonianum ‘Miss Heidi’.... PER Index Eupatorium ‘Baby Joe’...... PER Geranium partense ‘Double Jewel’.. PER

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 199 TributeIndex to Frances Williams

Geranium sang. ‘Vision Violet’...... PER Hypoestes ‘Splash Select Red’...... Bgem Geranium x c. ‘Biokovo’...... PER Hyssopus officinalis ...... HERB Gerbera ‘Midi Rev. Strawb. Shortcake’.SA Iberis umbellata ‘Rose Cardinal’..... Bgem Geum ‘Alabama Slammer’...... PER Impatiens ‘Bounce™ Pink Flame’.... BASK Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’...... PER Impatiens ‘Fiesta Sparkler Orange’. BASK Geum chiloense ‘Red Dragon’...... PER Impatiens ‘Fiesta Sunrise Red’...... BASK Geum triflorum ...... P Nat Impatiens ‘Spellbound Pink Splash’.BASK Gibasis geniculata ‘Bridal Veil’...... SF Impatiens ‘Sun Harmony™ Lav.’...... BASK Gomphrena ‘QIS Orange’...... Bgem impatiens ‘17 varieties’...... SA Gomphrena ‘Fireworks’...... Bgem Impatiens balsamica ...... Bgem Gomphrena ‘Pinball Purple’...... SA Iochroma ‘Purple Queen’...... SA Gomphrena ‘Strawberry Fields’..... Bgem Ipomoea ‘Cardinal Climber’...... VINE Grapes ‘Pixie Grapes’...... BigE Ipomoea b. ‘11 selections’...... SF Ground Cherry ‘Aunt Molly’s’...... ED3 Ipomoea p. ‘5 varieties’...... VINE Gypsophila ‘Gypsy Deep Rose’...... SA Iresine ‘Blazin Lime’...... SF Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’...... PGr Iresine ‘Blazin Rose’...... SF Hebe ‘Fern Leaf’...... LgA Iris ‘Blueberry Tart’...... PER Hebe pimeleoides ‘Quicksilver’...... LgA Iris germanica ‘Anaconda Love’...... PER Hedera ‘Golden Child’...... SF Iris germanica ‘Breakers’...... PER Hedera ‘Marengo’...... SF Iris pumila ‘What Again’...... PER Hedera ‘Needlepoint’...... SF Iris pumila ‘Yankee Skipper’...... PER Helenium ‘Mardi Gras’...... PER Iris siberica ‘7 selections’...... PER Helenium ‘Mariachi Siesta’...... PER Jiaogulan ...... HERB Helenium ‘Ruby Tuesday’...... PER Juncus ‘Fuseable Twisted Arrows’... AnGr Helenium ‘Short n Sassy’...... PER Kalanchoe thrysiflora ‘Flapjack’...... SF Helenium ‘Tie Dye’...... PER Kale ‘Kosmic’...... ED3 Helichrysum p. ‘Lemon Licorice’...... SF Kale ‘6 types’...... ED6 Heliopsis ‘Double Sunstruck’...... PER Karma Blue Butterfly...... EARLY Heliotrope ‘Fragrant Delight’...... SA Karma Blue sun ...... EARLY Helleborus ‘5 selections’...... PER Kirengeshoma koreana ...... PER Hemerocallis ‘Moonlit Masquerade’.PER Kirengeshoma palmata ...... PER Hemerocallis ‘Ruby Stella’...... PER Knautia ‘Thunder & Lightning’...... PER Hemerocallis ‘South Seas’...... PER Kohlrabi ‘Kossak’...... ED6 Hepatica acutiloba ...... P Nat Lagurus ovatus ‘Bunny Tails’...... AnGr Herbs ‘Mixed’...... BASK Lamiastrum ‘Herman’s Pride’...... GrCov Heuchera ‘15 selections’...... PER Lamium ‘Ghost’...... GrCov Heuchera v. ‘Caramel’...... PER Lamium ‘Lemon Frost’...... PER Heuchera villosa ‘Circus’...... PER Lamium ‘Purple Dragon’...... GrCov Heucherella ‘Brass Lanterns’...... PER Lamium ‘White Nancy’...... GrCov Heucherella ‘Buttered Rum’...... PER Lantana ‘11 selections’...... BASK Heucherella ‘Solar Eclipse’...... PER Larkspur consolida ‘Blue Cloud’..... Bgem Heucherella ‘Sunrise Falls’...... PER Lathyrus ‘King Edward VII’...... VINE Heucherella ‘Sweet Tea’...... PER Lathyrus ‘Lady Grisel Hamilton’...... VINE Hibiscus a. ‘Mahogany Splendor’...... SF Lathyrus vernus ...... PER Homocladium ‘Ribbon Bush’...... SF Laurentia ‘Beth’...... SA Horehound ...... HERB Laurentia ‘Gemini Pink’...... SA Hosta ‘42 selections’...... PER Lavender ‘Kew Red’...... HERB Hypericum p. ‘Topaz’...... HERB Lavender ‘Sweet’...... HERB

200 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Tribute to Frances WilliamsIndex

Lavender ‘14 selections’...... HERB Lysimachia ‘Sundew Springs’...... SA Leeks ‘King Richard’...... ED6 Lysimachia ‘Superstition’...... SA Lemon Balm ...... HERB Lysimachia ‘Walkabout Sunset’...... SA Lemon Grass ...... HERB Lysimachia n. ‘Goldilocks’...... GrCov Leonotis men. ‘Savannah Sunset’...... SA Mandevilla ‘Sun Parasol Pretty Crim’.LgA Lettuce ‘Red Butterhead - Avicenna’.ED6 Mandevilla ‘White’...... LgA Lettuce ‘Mixed’...... ED6 Marigold ‘8 varieties’...... Bgem Lettuce ‘Springtime Head Mix’...... ED6 Marigold ‘Lemon Gem’...... ED6 Lettuce, Bibb ‘Nancy’...... ED6 Marjoram ‘Golden’...... HERB Leucanthemum x s. ‘Becky’...... PER Marjoram ‘Greek Compact’...... HERB Leucanthemum x sup ‘Goldfinch’...... PER Marjoram ‘Zaatar’...... HERB Leucanthemum x superbum ‘Sante’. PER Marshmallow ...... HERB Lewisia ‘Little Plum’...... PER Matteuccia struthiopteris ...... FERN Leycesteria ‘Jealousy’...... LgA Mecardonia ‘GoldDust’...... SA Liatris spicata ‘Floristan violet’...... PER Melianthus major ...... SF Ligularia ‘Midnight Lady’...... PER Melinus nerviglumis ‘Savannah’..... AnGr Ligularia d. ‘Osiris Fantaisie’...... PER Mertensia virginica ...... P Nat Lilium ‘9 Tiny selections’...... PER Mesclun ‘Mixed greens’...... ED6 Linum narbonense ...... PER Mexican Tarragon ...... HERB Linum perenne nanum ‘Saphyr’...... PER Mimosa pudica ...... SF Lisianthus ‘15 selections’...... Bgem Mina lobata ...... VINE Lobelia ‘Black Truffle’...... PER Mint ‘19 varieties’...... HERB Lobelia ‘Hot Springs Dk Blue’...... SA Mirabilis ‘Harlequin’...... Bgem Lobelia ‘Hot Springs Magenta’...... SA Mirabilis ‘Limelight’...... Bgem Lobelia ‘Hot Springs Sky Blue’...... SA Mirabilis ‘Salmon Sunset’...... Bgem Lobelia ‘Hot Springs White’...... SA Miscanthus sinensis ‘Goldbar’...... PGr Lobelia ‘Sunbelia Compact Sky Blue’.. SA Mitchella repens ...... P Nat Lobelia ‘Techno Blue’...... BASK Mitella diphylla ...... P Nat Lobelia cardinalis ...... P Nat Mizuna Mustard ‘Frilly mxd color’.... ED6 Lobelia syphilitica ...... P Nat Molinia caerulea ‘Variegata’...... PGr Lobularia ‘Lavender Stream™’...... BASK Monarda ‘Bergamo ‘...... Bgem Lobularia ‘Silver Stream’...... SA Monarda ‘Sugar Buzz Cherry Pops’... PER Lobularia ‘Stream Bicolor Lilac’...... SA Monarda ‘Raspberry Wine’...... PER Lobularia ‘Stream Purple’...... SA Monarda didyma ‘Fireball’...... PER Lobularia ‘Summer Stream’...... SA Monarda didyma ‘Purple Rooster’.... PER Lonicera ‘Baggesen’s Gold’...... LgA Monarda fistulosa ...... P Nat Lophospermum ‘Compact Rose’.... BASK Muehlenbeckia ‘Little Leaf’...... SF Lophospermum ‘Lophos Comp.Rose’.SA Muehlenbeckia complexa ...... SF Lophospermum ‘Lophos Compac Wh’.SA Mustard, Indian ‘Dragon’s Tongue’.... ED6 Lotus ‘Parrot’s Beak’...... SF Nasturtium ‘8 varieties’...... ED6 Lovage ...... HERB Nemesia ‘Angelart Orange’...... SA Luffa ‘aka Chinese Okra’...... VINE Nemesia ‘Angelart Peach’...... SA Lupinus polyphyllus ‘Gallery Blue’.... PER Nemesia ‘Angelart Raspberry’...... SA Lupinus polyphyllus ‘Gallery Pink’.... PER Nemesia ‘Opal innocence’...... SA Lupinus polyphyllus ‘Gallery Red’..... PER Nemesia ‘Sunsatia Lemon’...... SA Lupinus polyphyllus ‘Gallery Yellow’.PER Nepeta ‘Joanna Reed’...... PER Lupinus regalis ‘Morello Cherry’...... PER Nepeta f. ‘Kit Kat’...... PER Index Luzula sylvatica ‘Auslese’...... PGr Nepeta f. ‘Purrsian Blue’...... PER

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 201 TributeIndex to Frances Williams

Nephrolepsis cor. ‘Lem Button Fern’.LgA Papavar ‘Manhattan’...... PER Nicotiana ‘Tinkerbell’...... Bgem Papavar commutatum ‘Ladybird’.. Bgem Nicotiana ‘Fragrant Delight Mix’.... Bgem Papaver ‘Plum Pudding’...... PER Nicotiana ‘Perfume Dp Purple’...... Bgem Papaver nudicaule ‘Spring Fever’..... PER Nicotiana ‘Whisper Deep Pink’...... Bgem Papaver orientale ‘Allegro’...... PER Nicotiana alata ‘Lime Green’...... Bgem Papaver o. ‘Beauty of Livermere’..... PER Nicotiana alata ‘Grand Old White’. Bgem Papaver o. ‘Konigin Alexandra’...... PER Nicotiana glutinosa ...... Bgem Papaver orientale ‘Red Shades’...... PER Nicotiana sylvestris ...... Bgem Parahebe ...... LgA Nicotiana x s. ‘Crimson Bedder’..... Bgem Parsley ‘Forest Green’...... HERB Nigella ‘Moody Blues’...... Bgem Parsley flat ‘Italian Large Leaf’...... HERB Nigella ‘Mulberry Rose’...... Bgem Patchouli ...... HERB Nigella papillosa ‘Midnight’...... Bgem Pennisetum ‘Cherry Sparkler’...... AnGr Oenothera ‘Sunset Boulevard’...... PER Pennisetum ‘Cherry Sparkler’...... LgA Okra ‘Annie Oakley’...... ED3 Pennisetum ‘Fireworks’...... AnGr Onion ‘7 varieties’...... ED6 Pennisetum ‘Fireworks’...... LgA Ophiopogon nigrescens ...... LgA Pennisetum ‘Graceful Grass. Vertigo’.LgA Oregano ‘7 varieties’...... HERB Pennisetum ‘Prince’...... LgA Organium laev. ‘Herrenhausen’...... PER Pennisetum ‘Princess’...... LgA Origanum ‘Kent Beauty’...... SA Pennisetum ‘Princess Caroline’...... LgA Orlaya grandiflora ...... Bgem Pennisetum ‘Princess Molly’...... AnGr Ornamental Millet ‘Jade Princess’.. AnGr Pennisetum s. ‘Rubrum’...... AnGr Ornamental Millet ‘Purple Baron’.. AnGr Penstemon ‘Dark Towers’...... PER Ornamental Pepper ‘Black Pearl’...... SF Penstemon grandiflorus ...... P Nat Osteospermum ‘3D Berry White’...... SA Penstemon grandiflorus ‘War Axe’... PER Osteospermum ‘3D Purple’...... SA Penstemon wasonii ...... PER Osteospermum ‘3D White Lemon’..... SA Pentas ‘Butterfly Deep Rose’...... SA Osteospermum ‘Blue Eyed Beauty’.... SA Pentas ‘Butterfly Red’...... SA Osteosper ‘Cape Daisy Fire Burst’...... SA Pentas ‘Butterfly White’...... SA Osteospermum ‘Serenity Bronze’...... SA Pepper ‘35 selections’...... ED3 Osteospermum ‘Serenity Red’...... SA Pericallis ‘Senetti Baby Blu Bicolor’.... SA Osteosperm ‘Summertime Blueberry’.SA Perilla ‘Purple Magilla’...... SF Osteospermum ‘Sweet Blue Sunrise’. SA Perilla f. cr.(green) ‘Ao Shiso’...... HERB Osteospermum ‘Voltage Yellow’...... SA Perovskia ‘Little Spire’...... PER Oxalis vulcanicola ‘Charmed Wine’.....SF Perovskia a. ‘Lacey Blue’...... PER Oxalis vulcanicola ‘Molten Lava’...... SF Perovskia a. ‘Superba’...... PER Oxalis vulcanicola ‘Plum Crazy’...... SF Perovskia atriplicifolia ‘Peek-A-Blue’. PER Oxypetalum ‘Heavenborn’...... SA Persicaria ampx ‘Golden Arrow’...... PER Oxypetalum ‘White Double Mix’...... SA Persicaria polymorpha ...... PER Pachysandra t. ‘Green Carpet’...... PER Petunia ‘Dozens of choices’...... SA, BASK Pachysandra terminalis ...... GrCov Phaseolus c. ‘Scarlet Emperor’...... VINE Pak Choi ‘Mei Qing Choi’...... ED6 Phlox ‘Early Dark Pink’...... PER Panicum virgatum ‘Hot Rod Red’...... PGr Phlox ‘Intensia White’...... SA Panicum virgatum ‘Ruby Ribbons’.....PGr Phlox d. ‘Intensia Bluberry’...... SA Panicum virgatum ‘Shenandoah’...... PGr Phlox divaricata ‘Mary Helen’...... PER Pansy ‘27 varieties’...... EARLY Phlox drummondii ‘Intensia Cab’...... SA Pansy ‘27 varieties’...... EARLY Phlox glaberrima ‘Triple Play’...... PER Papaloquelite ...... HERB Phlox paniculata ‘11 selections’...... PER

202 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Tribute to Frances WilliamsIndex

Phlox subulata ‘Apple Blossom’.....GrCov Rice ‘Black Madras’...... ED6 Phlox subula ‘Millstream Daphne’.GrCov Rodgersia ‘Bronze Peacock’...... PER Phlox subul ‘Oakington Blue Eyes’.GrCov Rodgersia henrici ...... PER Phlox subulata ‘Scarlet Flames’.....GrCov Rosemary ‘10 varieties’...... HERB Phlox subulata ‘White Delight’...... GrCov Rosemary ‘Assorted Uprights’...... LgA Phormium ‘Black Licorice’...... LgA Rudbeckia ‘Gold Rush’...... SA Phormium ‘Duet’...... LgA Rudbeckia ‘Little Henry’...... PER Phormium ‘Golden Ray’...... LgA Rudbeckia f. ‘Early Bird Gold’...... PER Phormium ‘Pink Stripe’...... LgA Rudbeckia f. v .s. ‘Little Goldstar’..... PER Phygelius ‘Candy Drps Dp Rose’...... SA Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Goldsturm’...... PER Phygelius ‘Funfare Cream’...... SA Rudbeckia h. ‘Cherokee Sunset’.... Bgem Physostegia ‘Miss Manners’...... PER Rudbeckia h. ‘Cherry Brandy’...... Bgem Plectranthus ‘Lemon Twist’...... SF Rudbeckia h. ‘Denver Daisy’...... Bgem Plectranthus ‘Silver Shield’...... SF Rudbeckia hirta ‘Tiger Eye’...... Bgem Podophyllum peltatum ...... P Nat Rudbeckia triloba ...... P Nat Polemonium ‘Apricot Delight’...... PER Rumex sanguineus ...... SF Polemonium ‘Stairway to Heaven’... PER Sage ‘12 varieties’...... HERB Polemonium y. ‘Bress Purple’...... PER Sagina subulata ...... GrCov Polygonatum humile ...... PER Sagina subulata aurea ...... GrCov Polygonatum japonica variegatumXL .PER Salad, Burnet ...... HERB Polystichum acrostichoides ...... FERN Saltwort ...... HERB Portulaca ‘Cupcake Carrot’...... SA Salvia ‘Cathedral Lavender’...... SA Portulaca ‘Cupcake Cher Baby’...... SA Salvia ‘Cathedral Purple’...... SA Portulaca ‘Cupcake Yellow Chrome’... SA Salvia ‘Cathedral Shining Seas’...... SA Primula ‘Blue Zebra’...... SA Salvia ‘Cathedral White’...... SA Primula ‘Belarina Nectarine’...... PER Salvia ‘Saucy Red’...... SA Primula ‘Belarina Valentine’...... PER Salvia ‘Saucy Wine’...... SA Primula japonica ‘Millers Crimson’... PER Salvia ‘Amistad Sunset’...... SA Primula novera ‘Deep Blue’...... PER Salvia ‘Suncrest Autumn Moon’...... SA Prunella grandiflora ‘Bella Blue’...... PER Salvia ‘Suncrest Lemon Light’...... SA Prunella vulgaris ...... HERB Salvia argentea ...... SF Pseuderanthemum rubrum ...... LgA Salvia buchanii ‘Wendy’s Wish’...... SA Psyllium ‘Plantago ovata’...... HERB Salvia f. ‘Sallyfun Blue’...... SA Pulmonaria ‘Moonshine’...... PER Salvia farinacea ‘Seascape Mix’...... Bgem Pulmonaria ‘Raspberry Splash’...... PER Salvia g. ‘Black and Blue’...... SA Pulmonaria ‘Trevi Fountains’...... PER Salvia gregii ‘Maraschino’...... SA Pulsatilla vulgaris ‘Blue Bells’...... PER Salvia microphylla ‘Heatwave Blast’... SA Pulsatilla vulgaris ‘Red Bells’...... PER Salvia microphylla ‘Heatwave Blaze’... SA Pumpkin ‘Cinderella’s Carriage’...... ED3 Salvia microp ‘Heatwave Glimmer’.... SA Pumpkin ‘Jack-O-Lantern’...... ED3 Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’...... PER Pumpkin ‘Polar Bear’...... ED3 Salvia nemorosa ‘Lyrical Blues’...... PER Pumpkin Pie ‘Baby Pam’...... ED3 Salvia nem ‘New Dimension Rose’.... PER Quinoa ‘Brightest Brill. Rainbow’.. Bgem Salvia patens ‘Blue Angel’...... Bgem Quinoa ‘Redhead’...... Bgem Salvia splen ‘Lighthouse Purple’..... Bgem Quisqualis ‘Indica’...... LgA Salvia verticilata ‘Purple Rain’...... PER Raddichio ‘Indigo’...... ED6 Salvia x ‘Mystic Spires Blue’...... SA Ratibida pinnata ...... P Nat Sanguinaria canadensis ...... P Nat Index Rhodochiton astro...... VINE Santolina ‘Lemon Fizz’...... HERB

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 203 TributeIndex to Frances Williams

Sanvitalia ‘Sunvy Super Gold’...... SA Stachys monnierei ‘Hummelo’...... PER Savory ‘Lemon’...... HERB Statice suworowii ‘Rosy Red’...... Bgem Savory Summer ‘Midget’...... HERB Stevia ...... HERB Savory Winter ...... HERB Stipa a. ‘Pheasant Tails’...... AnGr Scaevola ‘Brilliant’...... BASK Stipa tenuissima ‘Pony Tails’...... AnGr Scaevola ‘Surdiva Amethyst Blue’...... SA Strawberry ‘Toscana’...... BASK Scaveola ‘Surdiva Variegated Blue’..... SA Strawberry, alpine ‘Alexandria’...... ED6 Scented Geranium ‘5 varieties’...... HERB Strawberry, Everbearing ‘Tristar’...... ED6 Schizachyrium s. ‘Blue Heaven’...... PGr Strawberry, June bearing ‘Jewel’...... ED6 Schizachyrium s. ‘Carousel’...... PGr Strawberry, June ‘Valley Sunset’...... ED6 Schizachyrium s. ‘Prairie Munchkin’..PGr Strobilanthes dyerianus ...... SF Schizachyrium scoparium ...... P Nat Succulent Collection ...... SF Scirpus c. ‘Fiber Optic Grass’...... AnGr Summer Squash ‘Early Straightneck’.ED3 Sedum ‘Many choices’.... PER. GrCove, SF Summer squash, Patty Pan ‘Sunb.’.... ED3 Sedum ‘Sunsparkler Cherry Tart’....GrCov Sunflower ‘Ballad’...... SA Semiaquilegia ecalcarata ...... PER Sunflower ‘Firecracker’...... Bgem Sempervivum ‘Cobweb Buttons’...GrCov Sunflower ‘Starburst Lemon Aura’.Bgem Sempervivum ‘Cobweb Buttons’...... PER Sweet Grass ‘Sweet Grass’...... HERB Sempervivum ‘Kalinda’...... GrCov Sweet Potato ‘Beauregard’...... ED3 Sempervivum ‘Sanford Hybrids’...... PER Sweet Potato ‘Coventry’...... ED3 Sempervivum ‘Silver King’...... PER Swiss Chard ‘Bright Lights’...... ED6 Sempervivum ‘Silverene’...... GrCov Swiss Chard ‘Peppermint’...... ED6 Sempervivum ‘Silverene’...... PER Swiss Chard, red ‘Discovery’...... ED6 Sempervivum a. ‘Kalinda’...... PER Symphytum ‘Goldsmith’...... PER Sempervivum species ‘Royal Ruby’.. PER Talinum p. ‘Kingswood Gold’...... Bgem Senecio confusus ...... VINE Talinum p. variegatum ...... SF Senecio mikaniodes var ‘German Ivy’.SF Tarragon ‘French’...... HERB Sesame Black ...... HERB Thalictrum ich ‘Evening Star’...... PER Seseli gummiferum ...... PER Thalictrum petaloideum ...... PER Setcreasea ‘Purple Heart’...... SF Thelypteris decursive-pinnata ...... FERN Setcreasea ‘Variegated’...... SF Thermopsis chinensis ...... PER Shallots ‘Ambition SUB Camelot’...... ED6 Thunbergia alata ‘4 varieties’...... VINE Snapdragon ‘Potomac Lavender’... Bgem Thyme ‘12 varietes’...... HERB Snapdragon ‘Chantilly Dp Orange’.Bgem Thymus ‘Cayborn Wine & Roses’...GrCov Snapdragon ‘Chantilly Lt Salmon’.. Bgem Thymus praecox ‘Highland Cream’.GrCov Snapdragon ‘Luminaire Harvest Red’. SA Thymus praecox coccineus ...... GrCov Snapdragon ‘Peachy Dragon’...... SA Thymus praecox pseud...... GrCov Snapdragon ‘Purple Twist’...... Bgem Thymus serphyllum ‘Elfin’...... GrCov Snapdragon ‘Red Delilah’...... Bgem Thymus x ‘Spicy Orange’...... GrCov Solanum i. ‘Pumpkin On A Stick’.... Bgem Tiarella ‘Spring Symphony’...... PER Solidago ‘Fireworks’...... PER Tiarella cordifolia ‘Deleware’...... PER Sorrel ‘French’...... HERB Tiarella cord ‘Diva-rella Steph Cohen’.PER Spilanthes oleracea ‘Peek a Boo’...... SA Tiarella cordifolia ‘Running Tapestry’.PER Spirea ‘Ogon’...... LgA Tiarella x ‘Pink Skyrocket’...... PER Sporobolus heterolepsis ...... P Nat Tithonia rotundifolia ‘Torch’...... Bgem Stachys ‘Belle Grigio’...... LgA Tomatillo ‘Purple’...... ED3 Stachys ‘Helene Von Stein’...... PER Tomatillo ‘Verde Puebla’...... ED3 Stachys minima ...... PER Tomato ‘43 varieties’...... ED3

204 Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com Tribute to Frances WilliamsIndex

Tomatoes, 6 “ ‘7 varieties’...... BigE Winter squash ‘9 varieties’...... ED3 Torelus ...... SA Yerba buena ‘Indian Mint’...... HERB Torenia ‘Solarina White Veil’...... SA Zea mays ‘Field of Dreams’...... AnGr Torenia ‘Sum Wave Large Blue’...... SA Zea mays ‘Strawberry Popcorn’...... ED6 Torenia ‘Sum Wave Large Silver’...... SA Zinnia e. ‘11 selections’...... Bgem Torenia ‘Sum Wave Lrg Violet’...... SA Zucchini ‘Black’...... ED3 Torenia ‘Summer Wave Large V’..... BASK Zucchini ‘Buckingham’...... ED3 Torenia ‘Summerw. Bouqu CrYellow’. SA Zucchini ‘Gold - Sebring’...... ED3 Trachellium ‘Lake Michigan Blue’... Bgem Zucchini, Romanesco ‘Portofiro’...... ED3 Tradescantia ‘Rainbow’...... SF Tricryrtis ‘Tojen’...... PER Tricyritis ‘Samurai’...... PER Tricyrtis ‘Golden Festival’...... PER Tricyrtis formosana ‘Dark Beauty’..... PER Tricyrtis macropoda ...... PER Trifolium ‘Dark Dancer’...... GrCov Trillium erectum red ...... P Nat Trillium grandiflorum ...... P Nat Trillium luteum ...... P Nat Trollius x culto ‘Earliest of All’...... PER Tropaeolum ‘Duckalicious’...... SA Tropaeolum ‘Red Wonder’...... SA Tropaeolum majus ‘Jewel of Africa’.VINE Tropaeolum perg ‘Canary Bird V’.....VINE Ultima Radiance Red ...... EARLY Verbascum ‘Temptress Purple’...... PER Verbena ‘19 selections’...... SA Verbena bonariensis ...... Bgem Brugmansia ‘Gary’ Verbena Lemon ...... HERB Vernonia fasciculata ...... P Nat Veronica ‘Whitewater’...... GrCov Veronica liwanensis ...... GrCov Veronica longifolia ‘Eveline’...... PER Veronicastrum virginicum ...... P Nat Vietnamese ‘Lemon Mint’...... HERB Vietnamese Coriander ...... HERB Vietnamese Perilla ‘Ao Shisho’...... HERB Vietnamese Perilla ‘Tia To’...... HERB Vigna unguiculata ‘Pretzel Bean’.....VINE Vigna unguiculata ‘Red Noodle’...... VINE Vinca ‘Illumination’...... GrCov Vinca m. ‘Bowles Cunningham’.....GrCov Vinca minor ‘atro purpurea’...... GrCov Viola ‘11 selections’...... EARLY Watercress ...... HERB Watermelon ‘Sugar Baby’...... ED3 Watermelon ‘Yellow Doll’...... ED3 Index Winter Melon ‘round’...... ED3

Rush Creek Growers, Inc. • 800-669-2971 • www.rushcreekgrowers.com 205