Seneca Hill Perennials

Agapanthus campanulatus subsp. patens

This is a charming species with narrow blue-green foliage and heads of bright medium-blue flared flowers (darker than the preceding selection). I encountered it several times in the Maclear district of the Eastern Cape, where I was much taken with the way it gracefully mingled with grasses. Unlike the larger agapanthus, the South African horticultural equivalent of hostas (which is to say that they are planted in massive and aesthetically stifling drifts), this one still presents itself as a wildflower. We offer previously-bloomed seed-grown plants.

Agapanthus campanulatus subs. patens 'Mooreanus' (formerly sold as "Agapanthus campanulatus,old Wayside Gardens clone")

We finally have a positive ID on this excellent agapanthus, distributed by Wayside Gardens over 40 years ago. Wesley Whiteside, our original source, dug up a 1966 Wayside catalog which reveals that this was originally sold as Agapanthus 'Mooreanus', which is now described as A. campanulatus subsp. patens 'Mooreanus'(Wim Snoeijer, Agapanthus: A Revision of the Genus). This selection is hardy in the open garden in central Illinois (zone 5), as well as here in Oswego, NY. A medium-sized and robust grower, it has the typical deciduous foliage and mid-blue, open flowers of the species. For us, it is a reliable and heavy bloomer.

Agapanthus caulescens subsp. caulescens

We have just a few divisions of this very beautiful native of the Eastern Cape, as (rather remarkably among the agapanthus) it is slow to multiply. The sturdy flowering stem supports a full head of lovely sky-blue flowers, and the foliage, as indicated by the specific name, forms a short stem. Excellent in containers if kept cool and dry in winter.

Agapanthus 'Prolific Blue'

This selection shares with its sister plant, Agapanthus ‘Prolific White’, relatively short, somewhat bluish-green deciduous foliage and very full heads of outward-facing flowers - in this case vibrant blue. 'Prolific White' has overwintered here for several winters, and blooms prolifically each summer.

Agapanthus 'Prolific White'

Very full heads of outward-facing pure white flowers and relatively compact blue-green foliage. Like its sister plant, Agapanthus'Prolific Blue', it is free-blooming and sturdy. It appears to be perfectly hardy here.

Agave parryi coll. AZ

A collection made in Coconino Co., AZ, at 2073m/6800ft by Alan Bradshaw of Alplains. Alan writes that this is "The hardiest population I've found, in coniferous forests near Flagstaff, which experiences considerable wind and cold with drifting and blowing snow during the winter". The compact, elegant rosettes, up to 50cm/20in across, are silver-gray; the flowering spike can rise as high as 3.6m/12ft. We grow our agaves in containers - we do not believe they'll ever tolerate our wet autumn and early spring, however cold-hardy they may be. In containers, they're easy if you keep them cold and dry (unwatered) in winter. It doesn't make a lot of sense for us to grow them for sale, but they're just so darn cute when they're little. Third-year plants.

Albuca fastigiata subsp. floribunda

A handsome big albuca from the Drakensberg, where it grows at altitudes up to 2400m/7800ft. The narrow leaves stand upright, and the sturdy flowering stem nicely displays the handsome green and white flowers. Grown from seed collected on Sentinel Peak. We do not know how hardy it will be in gardens, but it is easy to grow in containers.

Albuca humilis

A diminutive species from high in the Drakensberg (we collected the seed at Naude's Nek), with cylindrical leaves and white flowers, the outer tepals striped green and the inner tepals tipped in yellow. We do not know how it will fare in gardens, but it's very easy to grow in containers.

Albuca shawii

A delightful bulb, widespread in South Africa's Eastern Cape. The flowering stems, rising from a clump of unobtrusive narrow leaves, support a long succession of showy green-striped nodding yellow flowers. Like most summer-rainfall plants, this needs plenty of moisture while growing and dry conditions over the winter. We sell potted previously-bloomed bulbs. Easy to grow in containers.

Aloe aristata

From the Eastern Cape region of South Africa, an adorable little aloe that forms colonies of small rosettes, up to 15cm/6in in diameter, of white-spotted dark green leaves. A mature plant produces showy branched inflorescences supporting numerous pendant tubular pink to red flowers. From seed collected in February 2005, these youngsters are roughly 7.5cm/3in across.

Aloe ecklonis

A delightful and vigorous aloe, widespread in South Africa's Eastern Cape region, where it ranges from coastal areas up to 2125m/6900ft. Multiplying readily into clumps of sturdy upright unmarked leaves, it produces multiple heads of soft orange flowers. Although naturally deciduous, it is not hardy here, and we really have no idea how much cold it can tolerate. It is, however, very easy and fast-growing in containers (our year-old seedlings already have offsets), so you can always bulk yours up, divide it, and experiment.

Alstroemeria presliana subsp. australis

These are descended from a collection made many years ago near Concepcion, Chile. The parent plants have grown in our upstate New York garden for years, spreading nicely and blooming heavily, with masses of clear deep pink flowers in early summer, each striped white and brown on the two upper petals. A superb garden plant, and (here) less rampant, and a good deal shorter and more upright, than Alstroemeria aurea.

Alstroemeria presliana subsp. presliana

A subspecies with a more northerly (hence warmer) distribution than the following, narrower foliage, and flowers of a lovely medium pink with white and brown striping on the upper two petals. Photo copyright Michail Belov, used with permission.

Ammocharis coranica

Two-year-old seedlings of the Karoo lily, a handsome South African bulb found over a wide range from the Karoo into the Eastern Cape. The wide, blue-green leaves stay fairly close to the ground, while the showy umbel of reddish-pink flowers is displayed on a sturdy stem. We were enchanted when one of our mature bulbs actually bloomed here this summer (in a pot), demonstrating that even in these high latitudes, with their pitiful excuse for summer sun, miracles do happen.

Amsonia montana f.alba

This is a seed strain we've developed here at Seneca Hill Perennials from seed originally received from photographer and naturalist Joe Strauch. The seeds from Joe produced a few white-flowered individuals, and we selected the best of these and have propagated it from seed.  The clean white flowers, with yellow throats, are a distinctive and lovely variation on the old theme of steely blue. (NOTE: we are unsure as to the correct specific epithet here - these plants, and their parents, are rather larger and looser growers than what we've grown as A. montana for many years. These may actually be hybrids).

Anemone nemorosa 'Allenii'

One of those plants that you tend to bypass because it's "old hat", only to discover late in life that the plants that persist in horticulture are sometimes the best ones (imagine that). This is a robust form of Anemone nemorosa with large flowers of an exquisite shade of pale blue-lilac, rather like the color of Anemonopsis macrophylla. Very full pots.

Anemone nemorosa 'Blue Eyes'

An old selection with semidouble white flowers that develop a blue "eye" as they senesce. The name is therefore a bit misleading, as the blue eye is not a prominent or persistent feature. Nice full pots.

Anemone nemorosa 'Rosea'

Another old form, with pink buds that open to near-white flowers which then develop a dusty rose exterior as they age. Nice full pots.

Anemonella thalictroides f.rosea

A seed strain of this small but sturdy American native with rich pink single flowers over delicate trifoliate leaves. We find it does best with good drainage and a fair amount of spring sun, and are told it thrives on exposed ledges in the wild. Blooming-size plants.

Anemonopsis macrophylla

This classic Japanese woodlander forms a clump of glossy cut foliage reminiscent of Actaea. The nodding, waxy lilac-blue flowers appear in late summer, suspended above the foliage on long, wiry, near-black stems. Makes an excellent cut flower. Give it a sheltered position with deep, cool soil and consistent moisture, and a dark backdrop against which the dancing flowers will show to advantage.