E-Newsletter: May 2014

The Phoenix Perennials E-Newsletter
May 2014

Celebrating our 11th Anniversary Season!

Hello Fellow Gardeners!

It's May and we are entering the height of gardening season.

That means that the nursery is packed with botanical marvels ready to excite and inspire you. Now's the time to visit! Plan your trip soon. You might even want to come down this weekend especially if you're a Mom. You can take advantage of our Mothers' Day Free Lily Event. Everyone needs lilies.

Mighty Matos, non-grafted tomatoes and tons of veggies are in stock. We have lots of workshops coming up including our Herb workshop this weekend and our Succulent Globes. The Palm Club is coming later in the month for their annual sale. Summer bulbs are buy one, get one free for one more weekend. There's lots going on.

And check out a jam packed Fabulous at Phoenix to see the tip of the iceberg of all the exciting plants at the nursery right now.

See you soon at the nursery!

Cheers, Gary and the Phoenicians

 

Hellebores
40% Off!

Hellebores bloom for months and we have a great selection at the nursery right now!

The Pacific Northwest Palm and Exotic Plant Society Sale
Saturday May 17th at Phoenix Perennials - This is a great opportunity to pick up some exciting subtropical plants.
More Info

Mothers' Day Weekend Free Lily

Calling all Moms on Mothers' Day Weekend. We have a free lily for you. Details below.

Please Share The E-News with your Friends and Neighbours
At the bottom of this email there is an option to "Forward Email". We'd love it if you could forward this email to as many of your neighbours and friends as possible! Thanks!
Services at Phoenix Perennials
Wish List
Looking for a special plant? Let us know. We'll watch for it.
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Give the gift of perennials: the perfect gift for the gardener in your life!

 


In this Issue

Opening Notes: News, Tidbits and the Phoenix Calendar

1. Mothers' Day Free Lily: Mom's need beautiful things and Phoenix Perennials is here for Moms on Mothers' Day...
2. Mighty Mato Grafted Tomatoes: There's a new superhero in town and it's called the Mighty 'Mato...
3. Keep Calm and Garden On: New Phoenix T-Shirt -- Coming next week...
4. Volunteer at Phoenix Perennials: Help us take care of the nursery and get paid in plants! -- Join our Hours for Flowers Volunteer Program...
Volunteer at Phoenix!
5. Charity Shopping Weekend: Shop for plants and support local charities.
Charity Shopping Weekend
6. Upcoming Workshops: What are you doing this weekend? -- there are some exciting workshops coming up. Don't miss them!
Upcoming
Workshops
7. Summer Bulbs: Buy 1, Get 1 Free: -- Cool lilies and unusual summer flowering bulbs on sale for one more weekend!
8. Fabulous at Phoenix: Gary's Picks of New, Notable and Luscious Plants at the Phoenix Candy Store

 


Opening Notes: News, Tidbits and the Phoenix Calendar

The Phoenix Perennials Calendar
There's so much going on at the nursery all the time. Here's your resource to keep track.
Date
Event Description
Sat
May 17
The Pacific Northwest Palm and Exotic Plant Society Sale | Saturday May 17th at Phoenix Perennials - This is a great opportunity to pick up some exciting subtropical plants. More Info
Tues
May 20
Garden Club Talk: Sizzling Succulents: Drama, Structure and Intrigue with Succulent Foliage | Presented to the Evergreen Garden Club, Delta. | Contact Terry for details at tafindlay at dccnet.com.
Sat Sun May 24-25
Charity Shopping Weekend benefitting the Vancouver Hospice Society and the Jeremy's Memorial Foundation Against Domestic Violence
Sat
Sept 20
Garden Club Talk: TBA | Presented to the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon, Portland, Oregon. | Contact Lucy for details at lucyflora at comcast.net.

 

KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THE EXCITING WORLD OF PHOENIX PERENNIALS
JOIN OUR ALERTS: In addition to our regular e-newsletter we have 14 different occasional Alerts on a variety of topics: Edibles, Hot Plants, Living Sculptures (Succulents and more), Made in the Shade, Hardy Subtropicals, Sales, Native Plants, Hellebores, Clematis and Vines, Maples and Cool Woodies, Mail Order, Christmas, Fragrance and Kids. Learn More About Alerts.
FACEBOOK PAGE
Lots of hot updates, pictures and great content. Be the first to know about everything Phoenix! Have a look! You'll love it.


 
TWITTER
Get your Phoenix updates through Twitter.
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YOUTUBE
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel to be notified of new videos as soon as they are published. We uploaded 24 videos in our first year!
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INSTAGRAM
Our newest social media platform great for sharing images!

Instagram
PINTEREST
If you haven't yet discovered Pinterest, you're going to love it! Pinterest allows you to create boards on which you pin images from all over the internet so you can organize them in one place. We've created our own boards of inspiring images. You can follow our profile and our boards to keep up to date on our new pins!
Phoenix Perennials on Pinterest


1.

Mothers' Day Free* Lily
Saturday and Sunday May 10th and 11th, 2014
Mom's need beautiful things and Phoenix Perennials is here for Moms on Mothers' Day. On Mothers' Day weekend come on down, show us that you're a Mom or Grand Mom by bringing your kids (pets count too) or a picture of them and we'll give you a free lily as a thank you for raising the next generation of gardeners.


*With purchase over $10, while supplies last.

 

Upcoming Special Events

Fathers' Day Free* "Guy-Lardia" | Saturday and Sunday June 14th and 15th, 2014 | Show us that you're a Dad or Grand Dad by bringing your kids (pets count too) or a picture of them and we'll give you a free "Guy-Lardia" (otherwise known as Gaillardia or blanket flower) as a thank you for raising the next generation. *With purchase over $10, while supplies last.

The Summer Sizzle | Friday to Sunday July 11th to 13th, 2014 | 10am-5pm | Celebrate the botanical glories of high summer with specially priced plants and other surprises.

The Heirloom Tomato Festival | Saturday September 6th, 2014 | 10am-5pm | With tomato tastings, heirloom tomato fruit for sale and a display of heirloom tomatoes! | Sign up early for our Tomato Tastings. Last year they sold out with 100 people still on the wait list! View images from last year's event!

The Christmas Hurrah! | Friday to Sunday December 5th to 7th, 2014 | 10am - 3pm | Celebrate the Christmas rose, Helleborus niger, and other seasonal delights. The nursery will reopen for one weekend at the start of December for sales of the amazing Christmas rose and other members of the Helleborus Gold Collection plus other winter blooming plants. A tradition in Europe for decades, these hellebores can be enjoyed like pointsettias inside the house and given as gifts at Christmas parties. They can then be planted in the garden in spring for years of Christmas cheer. We'll be offering numerous workshops including: the Christmas Rose Wreath Making Workshop, the Christmas Rose Advanced Wreath Making Workshop, the Christmas Rose Centrepiece Workshop and the Christmas Rose Outdoor Container Workshop plus a DIY project to doll up a Christmas Rose to bring it inside for holiday decoration. View images from last year's Christmas Hurrah!

 


2.

Mighty 'Matos Grafted Tomatoes

There's a new superhero in town and it's called the Mighty 'Mato. If you love heirloom and interesting modern tomatoes then you best pay attention to this new personality coming to gardens and patios near you!

Mighty 'Matos are grafted tomatoes. Just as is done with fruit trees or maples, a desirable tomato cultivar such as 'Sunsugar' or 'Black Krim' or 'Mortgage Lifter' is grafted onto a strong and vigorous tomato rootstock. The result is a more disease resistant, cold tolerant and vigorous tomato that produces 2-3 times more fruit than the same variety in its ungrafted form. This technique was pioneered by Log House Plants of southern Oregon, a well-respected leader in veggies, herbs and intriguing edibles for more than 30 years.

 

Mighty Matos have now been available for the past two years with excellent results and big crops of tomatoes. I grow them at home in pots and was overwhelmed by their size and production -- we had to freeze bags of tomatoes to eat through the winter.

Some gardeners have had some difficulties but on closer discussion the problems seemed to related to not enough water or fertilizer or growing in containers that were too small rather than a problem with the Matos. Gardening is never 100% but these new tomatoes are proving to be worth it. Just ask our customer Ken from Richmond. He and his wife love the heirloom tomato 'Brandywine'. Unfortunately, this cultivar is notorious for low yields. But grafted onto the Mighty 'Mato' rootstock 'Brandywine' comes to life. Ken and his wife weighed all the tomatoes that came off their 'Brandywine' Mighty 'Mato. They got 100 pounds of fruit!

The larger crops can be particularly impressive for heirloom varieties which are not always as vigorous as modern strains. Heirlooms were bred for flavour and interesting shapes and colours and not necessarily for pumping out mountains of tomatoes. The Mighty 'Mato rootstock, however, provides a real boost in vigour and fruit production. And who doesn't need more delicious tomatoes from your own backyard?

   

We are offering 20 different varieties of Mighty Matos this year. Come down and have a look. They are now all in stock!

We also have tons of non-grafted tomato starts, at least 30-40 different varieties!

 
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN: If you love your tomatoes then you won't want to miss our annual Heirloom Tomato Festival this September. We'll have tomato fruit for sale, special displays, our popular tomato tastings which we run just like a wine tasting but with tomatoes and a workshop on preserving tomatoes! Spots fill up quick. You can register online. This is a great event to attend with groups of friends or family. View images from previous years!
The Heirloom Tomato Festival
Saturday September 6th, 2014
With tomato tastings, heirloom tomato fruit for sale, a display of heirloom tomatoes and a workshop on preserving tomatoes! | Sign up early.
More Info and Register for:
Tomato Tastings
Tantalizing Tomatoes Preserving Workshop


3.

Keep Calm and Garden On
New 2014 T-Shirt Available Now!

We've updated our Phoenix Apparel with a new design, new saying and new colours and cuts for men and women. Now available at the nursery!

 


4.

Volunteer at Phoenix Perennials with our Hours for Flowers Volunteer Program

Do you have some spare time and want to gain more experience with plants and plant care? A nursery like ours can always use some extra help!

Our Hours for Flowers Volunteer Program is for interested gardeners who want to set up a regular schedule with us to come to the nursery and help us with plant care, propagation, weeding, watering and other nursery tasks. You can do any number of hours you like on any day. We just ask that you make it a regular schedule. In addition to our gratitude we will also give you plants!

Contact Patricia by phone (604-270-4133) or email (info at phoenixperennials.com) for more information and to start volunteering!

If you've volunteered with us in the past and would like to continue, please also be in touch. It's spring and the plants are ready to go!


5.

Charity Shopping Weekends 2014

On Saturday and Sunday May 24th and 25th we support two charities that are work hard to support people in need in our communities: the Vancouver Hospice Society and the Jeremy's Memorial Foundation Against Domestic Violence

What is a Charity Shopping Weekend?: Charity Shopping Weekends are a way for Phoenix Perennials to give back to the community while helping to introduce gardeners to our nursery. Each month one charity or group of charities is selected to participate in a Weekend. During that Saturday and Sunday 25% of each purchase made by a customer who tells us they are there for that charity's Weekend will be donated to the charity. Since 2004 we have raised $14,000 for local charities and institutions.

 


6.

Upcoming Workshops

 

Online Registration: We use online registration so you can book workshops 24 hours a day seven days a week. Registration is through two of the most trusted names on the internet: Constant Contact and Paypal. Both use secure servers so you can feel safe paying online. You do not need a PayPal account to pay. They will simply process your Visa or MC on our behalf. If you wish to register by other methods please call the nursery at 604-270-4133 or visit us in person.

 

May

CONTAINER SERIES | Fairy Gardening for All Ages | Instructor: Chantal, the CFO | Sat May 10th, 10am-12pm | $40, includes a shallow plastic terra cotta pot, soil, two fairy plants and a $20 voucher for additional plants and accessories | Parent and child are welcome to attend together for the same price of $40. | Do you have fairies in your garden? If the answer is no then it might be because you haven’t planted them a fairy garden yet! Fairy gardening is a hobby for all ages from girls to grandmothers and everybody in between. Fairy gardens are gardens in miniature complete with furniture and garden accessories for fairies to lounge and entertain. These gardens can be created for indoor or outdoor spaces and are great for normal yards to little balconies. Chantal our CFO (Chief Fairy Officer) will be on site to introduce you to the world of fairy gardening including fairy lore and a demonstration on how to plant a fairy garden. Then you’ll get to plant up your very own! Join us to learn how to put some magic back in the world! The fairies will thank you for it.
MORE INFO & REGISTER ONLINE
   
PHOENIX FRESH EDIBLES SERIES | Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Chervil: Herbs to Know and Grow | Instructor: Cathy Hiebert | Sat May 10th, 2-4pm | $14 | If you don’t know what chervil is (or tarragon or savory or marjoram or shiso or epazote) or what to do with it (and many people don’t!) you’ll want to take this class. Cathy will discuss the full range of culinary herbs available to gardeners. She’ll discuss how to grow them, how to harvest them and how to use them to enhance everything you do in the kitchen including sharing recipe ideas. Your gardening and culinary life will never be the same.
MORE INFO & REGISTER ONLINE
   
GARDENING 101 SERIES | Small Trees for Urban Gardens | Instructor: Jo | Sun May 11th, 11am-12pm | FREE* | Carefully selected small trees can transform an outdoor space by offering shade, softening hard scape, creating privacy and adding beauty. In this free workshop Jo will introduce you to a range of small trees that are perfect for small spaces and even containers. You’ll learn how to select the perfect trees for your space and how to grow them.
MORE INFO & REGISTER ONLINE
   
CONTAINER SERIES | Succulent Globes | Instructor: Kate | Sunday May 11, 1-3pm | $14 + choice of globes | In this workshop a hanging basket becomes a globe and you get to plant the entire surface with succulents such as hen and chicks, stonecrops, echeveria and other succulents. You can choose between three sizes of globes and plant as many as you like. Hang them on your patio or pergola or from trees in your yard for a funky botanical installation you just don’t see everyday – except you will because they’ll be in your garden!
MORE INFO & REGISTER ONLINE
   
Coming Up in a Few Weeks
   
POWER OF PERENNIALS SERIES | Top Plant Performers for the West Coast Garden: Spring and Summer | Instructor: Shelley | Sat May 17th, 10-12pm | $14 | Do you want to know what the best performing perennials are for spring and summer? Shelley will introduce you to a selection of top plant performers for West Coast gardens that provide great seasonal interest. She will also provide seasonal maintenance tips. This course could be the most important step you take to transform your garden from ordinary to extraordinary! For a full year of top plants sign up for our second session: Fall and Winter.
MORE INFO & REGISTER ONLINE
   
GARDENING 101 SERIES | Hardy Subtropicals | Instructor: Gary | Sat May 17th, 12-1pm | FREE* | The West Coast is blessed with a mild climate that can support numerous plants with a subtropical look. Hardy palms and hardy bananas are just the start. In this workshop Gary will introduce you to a wide range of bold and beautiful plants that will transform your garden from boring to tropicalisimo!
MORE INFO & REGISTER ONLINE

 

CONTAINER SERIES | Living Wreaths: Plant Up a Wreath with Fantastic Succulents | Instructor: Belinda | Sat May 17th, 2-4pm | $14 + choice of wreath | And you thought wreaths were only for Christmas time! Belinda will introduce you to an intriguing idea in succulent gardening – planting up a wreath with sempervivums, echeverias, sedums, thyme and other interesting succulents and companion plants. You can hang them on your sunny door or gate or lay them on a table as a centrepiece. No matter how you use them you’ll be sure to wow everyone with this unique garden feature. After some general instruction, each participant will have the opportunity to design and plant up their own wreath! We will have round and square wreaths available for you to select when you register. The plants you use are not included in the price of the workshop.
MORE INFO & REGISTER ONLINE

 

GARDENING 101 SERIES | Succulent Perennials for Drama and Structure | Instructor: Gary | Sun May 18th, 11am-12pm | FREE* | There are many succulent perennials available to gardeners that provide great structure and drama in the garden and in containers. Gary will introduce you to some common and not-so-common succulent options (including plants you didn’t think you could grow) and discuss how to use them in your designs.
MORE INFO & REGISTER ONLINE
   
KIDS SERIES | Hungry Hagrid Veggie Gardens: Grow Food to Keep Hogwarts and Half Giants Well Fed | Instructor: Kate | Sun May 18th, 1-2:30pm | $30 (Includes all plants and materials.) | Parent participation recommended for younger children. | Calling all Hogwarts House Elves to help Hagrid grow food to keep the castle fed. Harry, Ron and Hermione can’t fight Voldemort’s forces on an empty stomach! Learn all about growing your own veggies then you'll get to plant up your own pot with yummy things to feed Hagrid and the people in Hogwarts Castle.
MORE INFO & REGISTER ONLINE
   
PHOENIX FRESH EDIBLES SERIES | Subtropical Fruits for the West Coast Garden | Instructor: Larry | Sat May 24th, 10am-12pm | $14 | MORE INFO & REGISTER ONLINE
   
PHOENIX FRESH EDIBLES SERIES | An Edible Bounty: Secrets and Strategies for Year-Round Eating from Containers and Garden | Instructor: Cathy Hiebert | Sat May 24th, 2-4pm | $14 | MORE INFO & REGISTER ONLINE
   
PHOENIX FRESH EDIBLES SERIES | How Sweet It Is: Backyard Bee Keeping and Bee-Friendly Plants | Bob Fisher, West Coast Bee Supply with Gary | Sun May 25th, 10am-12pm | $14 | MORE INFO & REGISTER ONLINE
   
CONTAINER SERIES/KIDS SERIES | Butterflies, Bees and Hummingbirds: Plant Up A Pot to Attract Wildlife to your Garden | Instructor: Jo | Sun May 25th, 1-3pm | $14 (adult or parent with child, $5 per additional child) | Parent participation required. | MORE INFO & REGISTER ONLINE
   
CONTAINER SERIES | Perennial Sphere Hanging Baskets: To Boldly Go Where No Perennial Has Gone Before! | Instructor: Belinda | Sat May 31st, 10am-12pm | $14 + sphere ($39.99) | MORE INFO & REGISTER ONLINE
   
GARDENING 101 SERIES | Plants for Privacy | Instructor: Gary | Sat May 31st, 2-3pm | FREE* | MORE INFO & REGISTER ONLINE

 

June

GARDENING 101 SERIES | Tender Succulents for Botanical Intrigue | Gary | Sun June 1st, 11am-12pm | FREE* | MORE INFO & REGISTER ONLINE
   
KIDS SERIES | Harry Potter Miniature Gardens | Instructor: Kate | Sun June 1st, 1-3pm | $30 (Includes all plants and materials.) | Parent participation recommended for younger children. | MORE INFO & REGISTER ONLINE
   
CONTAINER SERIES | From Garden to Vase: Knock-Out Flower Arranging for Special Occasions or Everyday | Instructor: Diane Levings, Full Bloom Flowers with Gary | Sat June 7th, 10am-12pm | $40 | MORE INFO & REGISTER ONLINE
   
PHOENIX FRESH EDIBLES SERIES | Cocktail Gardening: From Garden to Glass, Shaken not Stirred | Instructor: David Wolowidnyk, West Restaurant with Gary | Sat June 7th, 2-4pm | $20 | MORE INFO & REGISTER ONLINE
   
GARDENING 101 SERIES | Dynamic Grasses for Texture and Movement | Instructor: Jo | Sun June 8th, 11am-12pm | FREE* |
MORE INFO & REGISTER ONLINE
   
POWER OF PERENNIALS SERIES | Botany for Gardeners: The Fascinating World of Plants in Your Own Backyard | Dr. Luis, PhD | Sun June 8th, 1pm-3pm | $14 | MORE INFO & REGISTER ONLINE
   
PHOENIX FRESH EDIBLES SERIES | A Perfect Pickle: Flavoured Vinegars and Pickled Veggies | Instructor: Cathy Hiebert | Sat June 14th, 2-4pm | $14 | MORE INFO & REGISTER ONLINE
   
GARDENING 101 SERIES | Ferns for Luxurious Shade | Jo | Sun June 15th, 11am-12pm | FREE* | MORE INFO & REGISTER ONLINE
   
GARDENING 101 SERIES | Architectural Plants for Drama, Drama, Drama | Jo | Sun June 22nd, 11am-12pm | FREE* | MORE INFO & REGISTER ONLINE

 

September

PHOENIX FRESH EDIBLES SERIES | Heirloom Tomato Tasting | Instructor: Gary | Sat Sept 6th at 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm (45 min each) | $14 (Tasting) + $16 (Party Mix) = $30 (Includes a 3+ pound Party Mix of heirloom tomatoes, value $16.) | MORE INFO & REGISTER ONLINE
   
PHOENIX FRESH EDIBLES SERIES | Tantalizing Tomatoes: Preserving a Favourite Edible for Year-Round Eating | Instructor: Cathy Hiebert | Sat Sept 6th, 3:30-5:30pm | $14 | MORE INFO & REGISTER ONLINE
   
POWER OF PERENNIALS SERIES | Top Plant Performers for the West Coast Garden: Fall and Winter | Instructor: Shelley | Sat Sept 13th, 10am-12pm | $14 | MORE INFO & REGISTER ONLINE
   
GARDENING 101 SERIES | Grasses for Fall and Winter | Jo | Sun Sept 14, 11am-12pm | FREE* | MORE INFO & REGISTER ONLINE
   
CONTAINER SERIES | Jewels of the Spring Garden: Bulbs for the Garden and Containers | Instructor: Shelley | Sat September 20th, 10am-12pm | $14 | Bulbs not included. | MORE INFO & REGISTER ONLINE
   
CONTAINER SERIES | Winter Containers to Die For: Plant Up a Container to Create Winter Interest | Instructor: Shelley | Sat Sept 27th, 10am-12pm | $14 | MORE INFO & REGISTER ONLINE
   
GARDENING 101 SERIES | Plants for Fall Colour | Instructor: Jo | Sun Sept 28th, 11am | FREE* | MORE INFO & REGISTER ONLINE

 

October

CONTAINER SERIES/KIDS SERIES | Succulent Jack-O-Lanterns | Instructor: Kate | Sat Oct 18th, 10am-12pm | $14 | MORE INFO & REGISTER ONLINE

 

December

Christmas workshops will be added soon.

 


7.

Summer Bulbs
Buy 1, Get 1 Free

Oriental Lilies, Asiatic Lilies, Tree Lilies that grow 8 feet tall, hardy gladiolus and various unusual bulbs.

We have a great selection of packaged bulbs that need a home. These summer bulbs will bloom in the months of June through September offering an additional layer of colour to your garden and containers.

On sale until May 11th, 2014.

 


8.

Fabulous at Phoenix
Gary's Picks of New, Notable and Luscious Plants at the Phoenix Candy Store

You gotta get down here! The following plants are a fraction of the incredible selection we currently have at the nursery!

Paeonia Itoh Hybrids - Itoh Peonies - The Itoh peonies are intersectional hybrids between the tree peony (P. suffruticosa) and the garden peony (P. lactiflora). The result is an outstanding group of perennial herbaceous peonies with huge flowers in a wide range of unusual colours such as yellows, coppers, apricots, pinks, magentas and bicolours. The foliage emerges rich red and gradually turns to green. A mature plant can have over 50 blooms! Passiflora 'Jeanette' - Passion Flower - 'Jeanette' is a hybrid between the hardy blue passion flower and 'Amethyst'. It has deep mauve flowers with a blush of white striping and coronoa filaments with wine purple and blue colouration. Has proven reliably hardy in zone 7. Bury the stem 6 inches deep to improve winter hardiness. Blooms over a long period throughout summer.
Meconopsis betonicifolia - Himalayan Blue Poppy - One of the holy grails of the botanical world, the Himalayan Blue Poppy. Count yourself lucky to live in one of the few places in the world with a suitable climate for growing these fabulous plants. M. betonicifolia is the best species for the garden. The flowers are from three to five inches across in pale to deep sky blue. Prefers peaty, well-drained soil that is kept evenly moist in summer and bright but indirect light. Anemonella thalictroides 'Shoaf's Double Pink' - Rue Anemone - A classic double-flowered form of the eastern North American native rue anemone with exquisite, fully double, dark pink, even raspberry pink flowers in cool climates. One of the most beautiful spring flowers - a little jewel in the spring garden. Bloom time can last for months -- since the reproductive structures have become petals the flowers cannot be pollinated. Without pollination there is no signal for flowering to stop and petals to fall. That's convenient! Easy to grow in gritty, well-drained soil.
Melianthus major - Peanut Butter Plant - This intriguing plant has beautiful rippled and dissected pinnate, powdery blue foliage on stems between three and six feet. It is shy to flower in our climate though I have seen the intriguing red spikes on a few occasions in Vancouver and Victoria. The most interesting aspect of this plant is the fragrance of the foliage which is very close to that of peanut butter. Plant with chocolate cosmos, Cosmos atrosanguineus, to turn your border into a peanut butter cup! Fragaria 'Pink Panda' - Strawberry - Although a member of the strawberry genus, this ground cover/edger is really grown for its constant strawberry pink flowers. Perfect in a container or beside the patio. Tolerates more shade than your average strawberry! Will rarely produce fruit unless you plant 'Lipstick' (or another different cultivar) nearby then you will get lots of small, incredibly sweet strawberries.
Libertia perigrinans - New Zealand Iris - Valued for its richly coloured orangey-bronze, erect, iris-like foliage that is especially pretty backlit by the sun. The foliage is evergreen, or I should say everorange, and looks great 365 days a year. The small creamy white flowers appear intermittently and are lightly fragrant. The orange colouration in the leaves is more intense when plants are stressed so don’t baby them. Give them lean, well-drained soil in sun. Veronicastrum virginicum 'Lavender Towers' - Culver's Root - A lovely, tall, back of the border, late-flowering clumper that loves moist feet and good sun. The flowers look like lavender candelabras in the garden. Plants bulk up with time offering large clumps of lavender spires and attractive foliage whorled at regular intervals along the stems. A native from Manitoba east and south to Florida.
Heucherella 'Solar Eclipse' - Foamy Bells - Leaves of red brown bordered in lime green combined with such a beautiful habit and broadly scalloped leaf edges. There is nothing else like it in the world of Heucherella or Heucher for that matter. Forming a vigorous mound of dense crowns, 'Solar Eclipse' has it all! Heucherella 'Glacier Falls' - Foamy Bells -'Glacier Falls' features soft, fuzzy, blue green leaves and dark red veins that will trail 18 inches in all directions. A superb groundcover and stunning "spiller" in a container, this calm, cool and collected Heucherella is more subtle than some of its bolder compatriates with a frosted, cool appearance. A member of the Falls Series which includes 'Redstone Falls', 'Yellowstone Falls', 'Glacier Falls' and 'Sunrise Falls'.
Polygonatum 'Double Stuff' - Bleeding Heart - This variegated Solomon's seal has double the white margin making a new classic beauty for the woodland or shade garden. Each arching red stem carries large leaves with broad white margins and green centres. The white flowers dangle below the leaves in spring. A clean and elegant, eye-catching plant. Much broader band of white than 'Variegatum', around the whole leaf. Compared to 'Double Wide' it is has narrower leaves, longer stems, and is taller. Mukdenia rossii 'Crimson Fans'/'Karasuba' - Mukdenia - This valuable yet relatively little known Asian perennial is great as a ground cover or specimen plant in partial shade. In early spring, branched stalks of small, white (sometimes pink), bell-shaped flowers appear before the foliage. The large, toothed leaves of 'Crimson Fans' are especially handsome, emerging bronzy green, turning to all green, and then taking on red splashes that become gold in fall. Evenly moist, well-drained soil. Plants will spread slowly from thick rhizomes.
Adiantum venustum - Himalayan Maidenhair Fern - The Himalayan maidenhair fern is evergreen in mild areas, with a thin, creeping rhizome. It forms a mat with ovate fronds composed of many small fan-shaped segments, often turning an attractive orange or rusty-brown in autumn and winter. Daphne x transatlantica 'Eternal Fragrance' - Daphne - This hybrid forms a neat, mounded, evergreen shrub two to three feet high and three feet wide. The dark green leaves make a pleasing backdrop for the pink buds and white flowers which are intensely fragrant like sweet baby powder. ‘Eternal Fragrance’ flowers generously on the previous season’s wood in April and May and from June until autumn on new growth provided good moisture and nutrients. Rich, well-drained soil in sun. Do not move after planting. Photo courtesy of Great Plant Picks.
Pyrrosia lingua 'Eboshi' - Tonge Fern - Pyrrosia lingua is a common rock-dwelling fern from northeast Asia with tongue-shaped, leathery fronds with cinnamon-felted undersides. 'Eboshi' is a rare and intriguing form with twisted fronds. It can be grown in open potting media, orchid mix, or on a slab. Keep dry in winter; water and fertilize in summer. Makes a good houseplant. Pyrrosia lingua 'Ogon Nishiki' - Tongue Fern - Pyrrosia lingua is a common rock-dwelling fern from northeast Asia with tongue-shaped, leathery fronds with cinnamon-felted undersides. 'Ogon Nishiki' is a very rare thing in that it is a variegated fern. Every leaf offers different light green stripes on an emerald green background. It can be grown in open potting media, orchid mix, or on a slab. Keep dry in winter; water and fertilize in summer. A good houseplant.
Dicentra spectabilis 'Valentine' - Bleeding Heart - This new cultivar of the classic cottage garden favourite has flowers that are so dark pink they border on true red! These heart-shaped flowers hang from arching stems over vigorous growth of deeply dark grey/green lobed foliage that is flushed with burgundy when young. Blooms for ages in the spring garden. May go dormant in summer if soils are dry. Dicentra spectabilis 'Alba' - Bleeding Heart - This is the pure white form of the classic bleeding heart. The flowers hang delicately from the arching stems which emerge out of the ground in spring with the flowers already forming. May go dormant in summer if soils are dry.

Fremontodendron 'California Glory' - California Flannel Bush - 'California Glory' is a fast-growing shrub or small tree which will reach six to ten feet in our area. It is festooned with large yellow hibiscus-like flowers over a long period through spring and summer. Somewhat short-lived, flannel bush should be planted against the south wall of the house or grown in a pot where it can be moved to a frost free or more protected location. A hybrid between F. californicum and F. mexicanum two species that hail from the family that also brings you chocolate!

Gardenia 'Kleim's Hardy' - Hardy Gardenia - Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus! This is a HARDY gardenia! The star-like single flowers have an intense and intoxicating fragrance and appear most profusely in early summer and sporadically thereafter. This extremely hardy selection has survived minus 18 degrees Celsius! Prefers full sun to light shade and will bloom best where walls or patios provide extra night time warmth in spring and summer. Plant in a protected location just to be safe. Evergreen.

We also have in stock two other hardy gardenia: 'Frostproof', 'Chuck Hayes' and 'Summer Snow'.

Brunnera macrophylla 'Looking Glass' - Heartleaf Alkanet - This sport of the oh-so-popular ‘Jack Frost’ has incredible completely silver leaves (‘Jack Frost’ has green veins). But you must follow a simple recipe. Take one ‘Looking Glass’ and add it to one prominent spot in the shade border. Combine with plants of contrasting foliage. Add a small measure of trust and a dash of patience. ‘Looking Glass’ won’t achieve its all silver look until it’s mature in a year or so. Until then it will look like ‘Jack Frost’ but definitely worth the short wait. Ligularia 'Dragon Wings' - Leopard Plant - The dramatic, leathery leaves are 12 inches across and deeply cut like a snowflake or the wings of a mythical creature. Yellow summer flowers in slender, dense racemes. The leaves and flower spikes have dark purple stems that add to the drama. Clumping habit. Best if protected from the hottest sun and kept evenly moist.
Calanthe 'Red Selection' - Hardy Calanthe Orchid - These are vigorous hybrids producing ten inch spikes of highly fragrant bright red to orange flowers and pleated foliage in spring. Virus-free plants from flasked seedlings. Vigorous blooming size plants. Calanthes are hardy terrestrial orchids for classic shade garden conditions. They are relatively easy to grow in rich, well-drained soils in part shade. Calanthe 'White Selection' - Hardy Calanthe Orchid - These are vigorous hybrids producing ten inch spikes of highly fragrant pure white flowers sometimes with a warm purple tip on the lip. Virus-free plants from flasked seedlings. Vigorous blooming size plants. Calanthes are hardy terrestrial orchids for classic shade garden conditions. They are relatively easy to grow in rich, well-drained soils in part shade.
Calanthe tricarinata - Hardy Calanthe Orchid - One of the hardiest calanthes with spikes of yellow-green flowers with a burgundy, red, yellow and white lip in spring. The lip of the flower is elaborately frilled which helps explain the Japanese name "sarumen" calanthe meaning "monkey face." Foliage is evergreen in milder climates but can go dormant in colder areas. Rare but easy to grow. Virus-free plants from flasked seedlings. Calanthe 'Pink Selection' - Hardy Calanthe Orchid - These are vigorous hybrids producing ten inch spikes of highly fragrant white and pink flowers. Virus-free plants from flasked seedlings. Vigorous blooming size plants. Calanthes are hardy terrestrial orchids for classic shade garden conditions. They are relatively easy to grow in rich, well-drained soils in part shade.
Leucosceptrum japonicum 'Golden Angel' - Japanese Shrub Mint - This golden yellow-leaved form of this Japanese woodland perennial lights up the woodland garden all season long and is then topped with spikes of soft yellow flowers in fall. Said to be one of the prettiest foliage plants for brightening the shade garden. Light shade or morning sun. Calanthe discolor - Hardy Calanthe Orchid - A very durable, cold-hardy orchid species from Japan with showy 10 inch spikes of burgundy and white bicoloured flowers in May. The burgundy can vary between cool and warm burgundies. The attractive foliage is heavily pleated and semi-evergreen. These seven year old plants are blooming-size, virus-free and were derived from flasked seedlings. Calanthes are hardy terrestrial orchids for classic shade garden conditions.

Clematis Evison Collection 'Josephine' - Clematis - ‘Josephine’ has big, bold, luscious, fully double flowers with lilac pink petals centred with a magenta midrib. Grow it in shade, however, and you’ll get double green flowers! A 1998 Chelsea Flower Show Award winner. The Evison Hybrid clematis are a new collection of superior clematis cultivars with long bloom periods, excellent disease resistance, and bold colours. Use them on trellises and pergolas, grow them into shrubs, or use them as groundcovers.

Cypripedium 'Frosch's Mountain King' - Hybrid Lady's Slipper - ‘Frosch’s Mountain King’ is a hardier clone selected from Cypripedium ‘Sebastian’. It has pure white slippers with rich burgundy red petals with a corkscrew twist. Hybrid lady's slippers have great hybrid vigour. They are easy to grow and bulk up fast.

Clematis recta 'Purpurea Select' - Crimson Scabious - This uncommon clematis is a non-climbing clump former that is grown primarily for its beautiful leaves and stems which are at first rich burgundy gradually maturing to a grey-green. The flowers are white, vanilla-scented and quite small but appear in nice clusters by the hundreds. This is a good clematis to grow in the perennial border up through other perennials or shrubs. Cut back after blooming for a new flush of burgundy foliage.

Primula japonica - Candelabra Primrose - Candelabra primula tend to be mid spring bloomers that bloom for a few months with flowering stems that elongate holding the flowers in tiers at regular intervals. These species are also quite long-lived and robust. Primula japonica is an excellent plant for shade or moist soils in sunnier locations. The flowers can be magenta, pink or white. Plant in colonies for a great show.
Arisaema ringens - Cobra Lily - This common Asian species is one of the best for gardens. It has glorious three-parted foliage, gray-green and glossy, and a unique green-and purple, rather fist-shaped flower. A. ringens is an easy long-lived garden plant that forms large clumps with time. Worth growing as a handsome foliage plant with the bonus of very cool flowers. Always popular. Beesia deltophylla - Beesia - I’m excited to offer one of my favourite shade plants, the handsome Beesia deltophylla with glossy, deep green, evergreen, heart-shaped leaves tinged in purple when new that form dense rosettes up to 12 inches across. Sounds fantastic, doesn’t it? Spires of small white flowers rise up to 20 inches above the foliage in mid to late spring repeating later in the season. Excellent in well-drained yet evenly moist soil in full or partial shade.
Arisaema griffithii var. pradhanii - Cobra Lily - Variety pradhanii is the rare Sikkim form of this species. It is the choicest (yes, that is a word in horticulture!) and most beautiful form with a stunning contrast between the dark chocolate-purple background and the yellowish-green markings of the spathe which is up to eight inches across! A. griffithii resents summer heat and moisture. Plant it in a dry, partly-shaded position or at the base of a shrub or large tree. Arisaema sikokianum - Cobra Lily - One of the most desirable of all cobra lilies with its incredible burgundy spathe, pure white interior and pure white knobbed spadis. This selection even has silver-centred foliage! Plant in well-drained soil that is dryish in the winter such as on a slope or near or under evergreen shrubs or trees.
Salvia 'Hot Lips' - Baby Sage - Very cool and a bestseller. This is a fast-growing wild selection of a Mexican sage which is adorned with stunning bicolour flowers -- white flowers with red lips -- from May until frost. But the expression of colour is temperature sensitive. In spring the flowers are usually all red, later bicoloured/hot lipped and in the heat of the summer all white, then returning to bicoloured and then red again in the fall. Will produce thousands of flowers in a season. Well-drained soil in full sun. Hard prune each spring. Lavandula stoechas 'Anouk' - Spanish Lavender - This popular selection forms a dense shrub with grey-green foliage. The flower stems bear tight flower spikes of small purple flowers crowned by several one inch long magenta purple petal-like bracts that look like butterflies. ‘Anouk’ has a long bloom period from late spring through to fall. Shear lavenders lightly in early spring just as they begin growth and again after flowering to keep tidy.On
Podophyllum 'Goyoren' - Mayapple - This selection boasts large, vigorous, lobed umbrella-shaped, green and silver leaves. Huge garnet-coloured dark red flowers are found under the leaves in clusters of five or more. This form was selected for its colouring, improved late spring frost tolerance, vigour, and habit. Will form spectacular specimens in the shade garden. Gaura 'Gaudi Red' - Butterfly Gaura - This cultivar is compact with dark green foliage flushed with burgundy when young. It produces numerous delicate spikes of dark pink flowers. Gaura put on a spectacular flower show throughout the spring, summer and the early fall months. They love hot spots with well-drained soils and also do great in containers.
Digiplexis 'Illumination Flame' - Hybrid Foxglove - 'Illumination Flame' is an intergeneric hybrid between foxglove (Digitalis) and its Canary Island relative Isoplexis. It sports spectacular tubular flowers that are bright reddish orange with yellow throats. The flowers are densely packed on tall black stems with attractive foliage. Side branching and its sterile nature give an extended bloom time. Delosperma Wheels of Wonder 'Rose Wonder' - Ice Plant - Magenta tips turn to red then yellow then white moving towards the centre of the flower. The 'Wheels of Wonder' series features selections with much larger flowers and more upright habit with a long bloom period from late spring to frost. Ice plants are long-blooming and carefree succulent mat-forming perennials similar to sedums that thrive in heat, drought and nearly any well-drained soil. Very hardy but should be protected from winter wet either with very well drained soil or in the rainshadow of a house or other structure. Deer resistant.

 


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Phoenix Perennials and Specialty Plants Ltd.
One of the largest and most exciting selections of perennials in Canada.

3380 No. 6 Road (Between Bridgeport and Cambie)
Richmond, BC | 604-270-4133 | www.phoenixperennials.com

Opening Dates and Hours
February 14th to November 2nd, 2014
10am-5pm


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