Pre-1500. (Aka ‘Bride’s-bouquet; Nosebleed) Cultivated since medieval times as a medicinal herb, Sneezewort was also popular in brides’ bouquets for its pretty sprays of white flowers. 16th C herbals declared it useful for toothaches & headaches (and probably nosebleeds). Growing to 24”, it blooms in summer, & is drought-tolerant. Z 3 – 9, Sun.

'The Pearl' is a much more showy form of Sneezewort. Developed in the late 19th C. in France by Lemoine, it was named 'Boule de Neige'. Its flowers are pure white and fully double. They grow in large clusters and are especially good as cut flowers - they can last for weeks in the vase. It's also a beautiful dried flower. Easy to grow, it has the same requirments as the single form.

12th. Century. Aka Chinese Hollyhock,Holyoke. The history of the Hollyhock is shrouded in mystery. They have been in gardens for so long (since the early Middle Ages) that no one can connect them with any known wild species.An ancient plant, cultivated since medieval times. Thought to have been brought back to England from the Crusades, ("hoc" being Anglo-Saxon for "mallow"). These are the old, single forms that are so hard to come by now, in mixed shades of pink, rose and white. A cottage garden classic. Biennial, but self-seeds. 8 ft. Sun. Z 3 - 10. Late summer.

Listed by Gerard in the 16th century, this is an antique variety, grown by Jefferson at Monticello. Deep maroon, large single blossoms atop 6 - 8' stems. Beautiful! Grow in same conditions as regular Hollyhocks. Late summer.

Once thought too prim for country gardens, this diminutive beauty grows 6-12”, with silver-green foliage and chartreuse blooms in summer. Its foliage alone makes it garden-worthy. Part/full shade; Z 3 – 7.

Introduced in 1874 and popular in Victorian times and cottage gardens of that era, this delightful plant grows to 12", and produces clusters of chartreuse blossoms over broad, heart-shaped leaves. The leaves have long been considered distinctive for the way the morning dew beads on them. Self-sows. Z 2-7.

1839. As its name indicates, this plant was once the prime ingredient in making marshmallows. It was also used medicinally for sore throats. It's a lovely plant, growing to 5' with grey, velvety leaves and saucer-shaped flowers in shades of rose, mauve or white in summer. Needs full sun & rich, moist soil. Z 3 - 9.

This cottage-garden classic, native to Italy, is a statuesque plant with a heavy clump of long, lance-shaped basal leaves and towering 4-5' spikes of rich blue, giant forget-me-not type flowers (they're from the same family). 'Dropmore' is a 1905 selection that is still stunning today. Blooms in late spring/early summer. Tomato cages help it stay upright after blooming. Z 3-10. Sun; well-drained soil.

This native British wildflower has been in gardens since the 16th C. An attractive plant, it has delicate white or pink-tinged flowers, 1.5" across in spring. Sun/pt. Shade.

Aka Dyer's Chamomile. This plant was considered indispensable in medieval households for making yellow dye. It is literally smothered in small, yellow, daisy-like flowers over most of the summer. Frost and disease-resistant, it tends to be short-lived, but self-seeds abundantly. 2 ft. Full sun. Z 3 - 10.

1635. Aka 'Meeting Houses'. A native North American that is the parent to many modern hybrid Columbines. By 1635, Jesuit missionaries from Canada had introduced it to France. Red and yellow blooms seem to glow as they're held high above 2.5' stems in early summer.

This is the original columbine that was such cottage garden favourite. so different from modern hybrids, its delicate, short-spurred flowers of blue, purple or wine red nod gracefully from arching stems. Grown in gardens for hundreds of years, it is a hummingbird favourite. It reaches 24 - 36" in height & prefers sunny/partly shady site. Z 3-9.

Rose columbines have an unusual shape for a columbine - their blooms resemble full double roses, with no spurs at all. Valued in the 16th C. for their delicate beauty, there are hardly any varieties left anymore. 'Nora Barlow'is a modern name given to an ancient plant - its sepals are a rose-pink, fading to green at the base. Grows to 2.5'. Hardy to at least Z5.

Robinson (1883) considered this a useful plant for early spring, as it's one of the first plants to flower. It forms a low rosette of foliage, with 12" racemes of flowers of the deepest rose colour. Needs well-drained soil and full sun. Z 3 - 8.

A North American native, this spectacular plant grows to 7 ft. if given rich, moist soil, preferably in semi-shade. It possesses delicate foliage and feathery masses of creamy white flowers in late spring/early summer. The common name refers to the shape of the flower cluster. Z 2 - 9.

1690. An absolutely beautiful plant with clusters of bright orange-red, fragrant flowers in the fall. Native to North America, it grows to 3', and attracts Monarch butterflies. The first time it bloomed in my garden, I was awestruck by the incredible colour. Sun. Z 4-10. Certified Organic.

ASTER Aka Starwort. 17th. C. or earlier. This native of the Alps flourishes in dry spots, rock gardens or regular gardens, producing in summer good-sized (2") flowers in shades of blue and white. Low maintenance plant. 6-9"; Sun

This beautiful, airy plant was named after the French naturalist Pere Armand David, who "discovered" it in 1867 growing in its native China, where it is known as "Summer Lilac". Long popular in gardens due to its ability to attract butterflies, it also attracts bees, hummingbirds, moths and ladybugs. Growing 5-7', it has an open growing habit with long panicles of purple, pink or white florets in summer. One of the easiest shrubs to grow from seed, it can bloom the first year if sown early enough. Hardy to Z5 and benefits from being cut down to about 1' (30 cm) high early each spring. Note: this plant is considered invasive in some areas of the west coast of BC.

Technically an herb, this pretty little plant is a beautiful addition to the mid-border. Growing to 18”, it produces numerous spikes of small, blue flowers over a long period in summer. Sun; Z 5-9.

(Aka Wine-Cups) A North-American native, this deep-magenta coloured charmer blooms from June until frost, nonstop! The flowers are large (2” across), open blossoms that bloom along trailing stems that will wind through your garden. Drought-tolerant. Grows to 12”, will spread to 3’,Z 4 – 8, sun.