From the first crocuses to emerge through the spring’s melting snow, through summer’s warmth and fall’s chill, flowers satisfy our need for beauty (while feeding our allies, the pollinators!).
Salvia azurea 3-5' tall. North American native with delicate spires of sky-blue tubular double-lipped flowers and sweetly scented foliage. Incredible in mixed bouquets. Blooms from August to October. Z4.
Rosa carolina 2-4' × same. Single pink 5-petaled flowers emerge May-June. Small red hips in fall. Found along streams, roads and open woods throughout New England. Full sun to partial shade. Native. Z4.
Syringa vulgaris 12-15' × same. A mass of medium-light purple blooms. A magnificent New England sight for nearly 400 years. The best lilac for a spreading hedge. Z3.
Syringa meyeri 3-4' × 3-6'. Excellent choice for small spaces! Dwarf lilac with clusters of fragrant pale pinky-violet single blossoms. Blooms midseason. Z3.
Gladiolus murielae 12-18" tall. Sword-like foliage is topped by wonderfully scented star-shaped white flowers with mahogany-purple centers on arching stems. Beautiful in the garden or as a cutflower. Z7.
Lobelia siphilitica 3–5' tall. Native wildflower of stream edges and bogs with also thrive in moist gardens. Blue-violet blossoms beloved by bumblebees. Z3.
Penstemon hirsutus 16-30" tall. Shorter than P. digitalis, with fuzzy stems topped by clusters of slender tubular nodding 1" lavender flowers with arching white lips. Z3.
Verbena stricta 12-48" tall. North American native. Attractive to pollinators, most notably the Buckeye butterfly. Birds will devour the seeds! Blooms June through August. Z3.
Eutrochium fistulosum 4-6' tall. Dusky-rose flowers are held on beautiful wine-red stems dusted with a light purplish bloom. Adaptable to wet soils. Z4.
Gladiolus 12-18" tall. Marvelous miniature glads in mixed colors, bicolors and butterfly types. Very satisfying clumped in a bed or as cuts. Darling! Z5/6.
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae 4-6' tall. North American native. Blooms range from blue-purple to lavender-pink with yellow eyes. Attractive to pollinators. Z3.
Iris versicolor 30-36" tall. Northeastern native species with gorgeous blue-violet flowers with bold purple veining and a white and lemon-yellow blaze. Early. Z2.
Aquilegia canadensis 12-24" tall. This eastern North American native features delicate red-spurred sepals with yellow petaled skirts. Blooms late May to early June. Irresistible to hummingbirds! Z3.
Baptisia australis 3-4' × same. Vibrant blue lupine-like flowers in early summer. Bushy habit and shrub-like structure once mature. Good for erosion control. Z3.
Amsonia tabernaemontana var. salicifolia 24–36" tall. Fine grassy willow-like foliage. Clusters of powder-blue florets in early summer. Best planted en masse. Z3.
Crocosmia × crocosmiiflora 24-36" tall. Midsummer sprays of bright red flowers open from bottom to top on long arching bronze stems. Grows well in pots. Makes a long-lasting cutflower.
Paeonia lactiflora Early season blooms. Semi-double to double type. A symphony of coral, peach, melon and pink. Very fragrant and packed with petals. Z3.
Paeonia lactiflora Late season blooms. Fully double type. Fragrant flowers open with narrow red lines shot onto light rose-pink. One of our favorites! Z3.
Echinops ritro 3–4' tall. Luminous steel-blue spiky spheres on stiff stems with silvery green leaves. Excellent for fresh or dried arrangements. Blooms mid-to-late summer. Z3.
Zizia aurea 18-32" tall. Native wildflower is an important pollinator plant. Long bloom time, late spring to summer. Short-lived perennial spreads by seed. Z3.
