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!).
Syringa vulgaris 10' × same. Smallish clusters of exceptionally fragrant single light lavender-blue blooms. Blooms early and quits late. Can spread to form a massive shrub. Z3.
Rosa macrantha 3-4' × 6-8'. Clusters of unusual semi-double globular 2" silvery-pink flowers with a peppery fragrance. Rounded mounding habit. Stunning in full bloom! Z3.
Rosa 3×3'. Faint lilac-purple blooms are practically white. Semi-double, recurrent and fragrant. Tough, low-growing, salt-tolerant and can handle partial shade. Disease resistant. Z3.
Syringa vulgaris 10' × same. Very fragrant large single reddish-purple blooms, with each petal edged in pure white. Unique and beautiful! Upright rounded open form. Z3.
Hosta 18" tall and 36" wide. Rounded heavily corrugated blue leaves with wide chartreuse margins. White flowers smoked with lavender. Holds its margin color well through the season. Z3.
Syringa vulgaris 8×8'. Among the deepest and darkest purple flowers of all lilacs. One of the best in cultivation. Large clusters of very fragrant large single florets. Provides stunning contrast with others. Z3.
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.
