Sandersonia aurantiaca
Sandersonia aurantiaca, a member of the Colchicaceae family, is a native grassland plant in the eastern areas of South Africa. It’s often called ‘Christmas bells’ because in the southern hemisphere it blooms in December. Sometimes it is also referred to as Chinese Lanterns. Highly prized for a long-lasting cut flower, New Zealand cultivates them for the cut flower industry.
Plant Name: Salix purpurea ‘ Nana’
Common Name: Dwarf Purple Willow
Plant type: Deciduous shrub
Height: 6 ft
Spread: 6 ft
Blooms: April – May
Flowers Color: White, Green
Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil Requirements: Lean, well-drained
Water Needs: Evenly Moist, somewhat drought tolerant when established.
Attributes: Prized for it’s blue-green foliage and deep purple stems. Quick growing. Deer resistant. Showy flowers attracts butterflies & hummingbirds.
Note: Can be kept smaller with winter pruning to the ground. Tolerates Black Walnut.
Uses: Pollinator garden, Good for wet areas, Beds and borders, Foundation planting, Rain garden. Whips used in basket making. Pond and Creek-side plantings.
Native to: Europe and Western Asia
USDA Hardiness Zone: 3a-8b
Plant Name: Anemone sylvestris
Common Name: Snowdrop anemone 
Plant type: Perennial
Height: 12-18 inches
Spread: 12 inches
Bloom Time: Spring to Early summer
Flower Color: White with yellow centers
Exposure: Part Shade to filtered sun
Soil Requirements: Well-drained Humus, Acidic to Neutral Soil,
Water Needs: Moderate, needs more in the heat
Attributes: Showy fragrant flower, Fall color: glossy leaves turn burgundy, Deer resistant, Rabbit resistant,
Note: Lives in the forest floor in leaf litter & shade
Uses: Naturalizing, Woodlawn garden, Cut Flowers, Mass plantings, Urban gardens where where buildings create shade, Containers, Water side gardens
Native to: Meadows & dry deciduous woodlands of central and western Europe
USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-8
Plant Name: Nigella damascena
Common Name: Love-in-a- Mist
Plant type: Annual Flower
Height: 1.5-2.5 ft
Spread: 1-1.5 ft
Bloom Time: May-August
Flower Color: Blue with cultivars available in White, Purple, Pink, Rose
Exposure: Full Sun
Soil Requirements: Average well-drained soil
Water Needs: Medium, but constant water
Attributes: Showy Flowers, Attractive egg-shaped Seed Pods, Self-seeds, Lacy Leaves,
Note: Flowers best in cooler locations, Flowers may decline in hot temperatures
Uses: Cut Flower Garden, Containers, Mixed Beds, Borders, Cottage Garden, Pollinator Garden
Native to: Southern Europe, northern Africa
USDA Hardiness Zone: 2-11
Plant Name: Epimedium pubigerum
Common Name: Bishop’s Hat, Red Barrenwort,
Plant type: Herbaceous perennial
Height: 1-2 feet
Spread: 1-2 feet
Bloom Time: April to June
Flower Color: Tiny yellow flowers
Exposure: Part to Full Shade
Soil Requirements: Fertile, well-drained
Water Needs: Average, will tolerate semi-dry situations
Attributes: Heart-shaped leaves, Bronze Fall Foliage, Deer Resistant, Drought tolerant when established,
Note: Grows well under trees
Uses: Fall Color, Winter Interest, Dry Rocky Areas, Woodland Gardens, Naturalized Gardens, Groundcover
Native to: Bulgaria, Turkey, Caucasus
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5-9
Plant Name: Arbutus unedo ‘compacta’
Common Name: Dwarf Strawberry Tree
Plant type: Evergreen Shrub
Height: 6-8 ft
Spread/Width: 5-6 ft
Bloom Time: Repeating Fall to late winter
Flower Color: White, bell-shaped
Exposure: Part to Full sun
Soil Requirements: Lean, well-drained soil
Water Needs: Low – Drought tolerant once established
Attributes: Masses of white flowers, Dark glossy green foliage, Cinnamon-colored bark, Edible strawberry-like fruit, , Dwarf plant, Bird friendly
Note: Low maintenance
Uses: Firewise plantings, Waterwise plantings, Privacy Screen, Specimen focal point, Wildlife gardens, Year-round interest, Informal hedge, Butterfly gardens, Attracts Hummingbirds, Winter interest
Native to: Southern Europe and Ireland
USDA Hardiness Zone: 7-9