Hillside Nursery
Wildflowers For Fall
We have found that these, by nature of their growth, do best if dug, shipped, and planted in the fall.
If you're not sure what zone you live in check here.
This page will be updated for 2012 by mid-June. The plants listed below are what we had available last fall and may or may not be available this fall.
If you would like to be notified when our website is updated for fall, please submit a request via our Update Reminders Form.
Anemonellas
With clumps of soft scalloped foliage topped with flowers in a range of colors, these spring ephemerals offer a delicate grace and unmatched beauty to the shade, or partly shaded, garden.
Anemonella thalictroides 'Betty Blake'
This Anemonella has full, double light-green flowers that can last up to 4 weeks. They start blooming a little later than the other forms. This variety is also very easy to grow.
Zones 4-8. 10 in. Moist, well-drained soil. Shade to part shade. We are offering large flowering size plants.
Anemonella thalictroides 'Cameo'
Full double light pink flowers that slowly fade to white. They can last from 4 to 8 weeks in April-June. This is one of the easiest to grow, it tends to multiply faster than most of the other double forms.
Zones 4-8. 12 in. Moist well-drained soil. Shade to part shade. We are offering large flowering size plants.
Our regular price on these was $14.00
Anemonella thalictroides 'Lloyd's Big Bloomers'
This exceptionally large and robust form is very long blooming up (to two months) creating a very satisfying floral display. The upward-facing white flowers display over delicate fern-like foliage. Will form nice clumps and self-sow in a friendly way when happy. Eastern U.S. native.
Zones 4-8. 12 in. Moist well-drained soil. Shade to part shade. We are offering flowering size plants.
Anemonopsis - D
Anemonopsis macrophylla
One of the Japanese aristocrats. This hard-to-find woodlander forms clumps of cimicifuga-like foliage topped with nodding, waxy lilac flowers in late summer. Likes a cool moist position. This year we are offering two-year-old plants with most ready to bloom next spring.
Zones 4-7. 3 feet. Shade to part shade, moist rich soil.
Aralia racemosa
A shrubby herbaceous plant with dark green leaves on shiny brown stems, clusters of white and green flowers in midsummer, and rich dark purple fruit in the fall. This is not an in-your-face showy plant but one that carries the cool essence of our rich woodlands. Eastern US native. Grown in 1/2 gallon pots.
Zones 3-8. 3-4 ft. Part sun to shade, moist rich soil.
Asarum canadense
Bright green, heart-shaped leaves over unusual brown flowers at the base of the plant. One of our best native groundcovers, it is carefree and surprisingly drought tolerant. Also an alternative food source for the Pipevine Swallowtail. Western Massachusetts genotype.
Zones 2-8. 6 in. Full to part shade, moist soil. Offering full 1/2 gallon pots.
Asarum europaeum
A popular and attractive slow-spreading glossy evergreen ground cover. It will form a nice carpet of shiny round leaves over time and is a nice back drop for other shade perennials. Blooms in spring. Easy to grow.
Zones 3-9. 5 in. Shade to part shade. Grown out in 3 1/2" deep pots.
Cimicifuga japonica 'Cheju Island Form'
This superior form came from Darrell Probst. It offers compact foliage and prolific flowering. In early spring, the foliage often emerges with a purple hue before turning green. In late summer, a single mature plant can produce 12 to 15 graceful white spikes of flowers. Clearly the best of five subforms we have grown over the years, and the most resistant to leaf spots.
Zones 4-7. Foliage 12-14 in., flower stems 4-5 ft. Shade to part shade, moist rich soil.
Grown in 1/2 gallon pots.
Diphylleia cymosa
A bold, sharp-leaved herbaceous shrub grown for its foliage effect. Flattened, upright clusters of creamy white flowers in spring are followed by blue fruits with contrasting red pedicles. Eastern US native. Grown in 1/2 gallon pots.
Zone 4 -8. 30-46". Moist to wet soil, Part sun to shade. Blooms in early Summer.
Disporopsis pernyi
With attractive purple spotting on the arching stems and leathery evergreen foliage, this plant makes a terrific tall groundcover. The creamy white, tubular, bell-shaped flowers dangle from leaf axils in late spring. We have wintered this species in zone 5 for several years without a problem. Clump forming. Native to China. Grown in 1/2 gallon pots.
Zones 5-7. 15 in. Part shade to shade, moist humus soil.
Disporums (Fairy Bells)
The Disporums are a small Genus of perennial woodlanders ranging from Asia to Japan. Their unusual foliage architecture and delicate flowers add valuable accents to any wildflower garden.
Disporum flavum
A rarely seen but easy-to-grow plant, forming large clumps when happy. Large yellow bell flowers in spring, blue berries in late summer. This is a top-of- the-line plant for the shade or woodland garden.
Zones 3-8. 30 in. Part shade. Large, mature, flowering size plants grown out in half gallon pots.
Disporum sessile 'Cricket'
Even those of us who aren't enamored with variegated plants cannot resist the charm of this dwarf named 'Cricket'. The central yellow leaf markings are so broad that the foliage appears mostly yellow with green edging. The variegation color ranges from whitish cream to yellow to light green, even on a single plant. This vigorous grower is a "must have" for anyone inclined towards variegated plants. Cultivar of an East Asian species.
Zones 4-8. 5-10 in. Part shade to shade. Garden soil. An order consists of three single-stemmed plants.
Disporum smilacinum
This species will form a dense ground cover and should be given some room to spread out. It is a handsome plant with starry white flowers in May-June. Best used in a large garden or plantscape. Native to Japan, Korea, and China.
Zones 4-8. 16-20 in. Shade to part sun, dryish to moist soil. Very full plants, grown out in half gallon pots.
G - H
Gentiana asclepiadea
I really like this gentian -- it's easy to grow, long-lived, and in time grows into large clumps. Deep blue tubular flowers along the leaf axes blooming in August and September. These should all be blue but it is possible that a white or light pink form might come through. Native to eastern Europe.
Zones 4-8. 18-24 in. Part sun to light shade, moist well-drained soil. Mature blooming size plants grown out in quart pots.
Gillenia trifoliata
Gillenia sports large numbers of one-inch star-shaped white flowers on wiry red branches. Flowers freely late May through June. This under-used plant not only adds shape and texture, but is also very useful for dry, shady sites, especially when planted in mass. Native to eastern U.S.
Zones 4-8. 2-3 ft. Part shade, garden soil. Mature, flowering sizeplants grown out in half gallon pots.
Glaucidium palmatum
This rare Japanese woodlander has large silky purple-pink or white flowers over full maple-like leaves. Mature plants often bloom for up to three weeks in spring. This is one of our favorite plants here at the nursery and we have been selectively breeding it for both vigor and multiple blooms. We offer a selected form that is strong growing, often carrying a trait that produces two or three blooms per stem. It can in time produce large two-foot round clumps covered with flowers.
Zones 3-8. 18-30 in. Shade to part shade, cool rich moist well-drained soil. We are offering 3 and 4-year-old blooming or near-blooming size plants.
Hepaticas (Liverleaf or Liverworts)
Hepaticas are beautiful early spring bloomers that make a nice addition to any woodland garden. Some, like H. acutiloba, bloom before the new 3-lobed leaves emerge, others bloom as the leaves are coming up or after. They are clump-forming and range in color from white to pink to blue and purple. It is hard not to be drawn to them. We certainly are. This season we are delighted to offer several different varieties.
Hepatica acutiloba
This Eastern US native has 3-lobed leaves that are pointed at the end, giving it its name. Blooms in early spring with flower color ranging from white to blue (ours are predominantly blue). Strong growing plants.
Zones 4-8. 6 in. Full to part shade. Moist, well-drained soil. We are offering good sized plants that will bloom this spring. View additional images here
Hepatica americana 'NC Marble'
This is a cultivar that Bill Cullina brought back from North Carolina during the early days of his plant career. The leaves are beautifully marbled with white and dark green. Flowers are most likely blue, but as with all hepaticas, predicting flower color is not really possible. Eastern US Native. Grown in 3 1/2 inch deep pots.
Zones 4-8. 6 in. Full to part shade, moist well-drained soil.
Hepatica henryi
H. henryi is a prolific bloomer with small white flowers above hairy, scalloped leaves. The flowers are white with a faint touch of pink as they start to bloom. They are a great addition to any hepatica collection. Plants are from seed collected in China.
Zones 4-6. 6 in. Full to part shade. Moist, well-drained soil. We are offering good sized plants that will bloom this spring.
Hepatica nobilis
This is the European form of Hepatica with deep blue flowers that emerge early in the spring, followed by tri-lobed leaves.
Zones 4-8. 4-6 in. Light shade, moist but well-drained soil. We are offering 4-year-old flowering size plants.
Jeffersonias
While this unusual and uncommon genus of woodlanders may contain but two forms, nevertheless they are of exceeding beauty and elegance - deserving of a special place in the shade garden.
Jeffersonia diphylla
White flowers in May followed by interesting pipe-shaped seed pods over large twin kidney-shaped dusty blue-green leaves. Forms exceptional clumps and is useful both as a specimen plant and planted in mass. Best in a moist site, but tolerant of both drought and root competition once established. Eastern U.S. native.
Zones 3-8. 10-12 in. Full or dappled shade, moist humus soil. Very full plants, most of which will flower, grown out in quart pots.
Jeffersonia dubia
Native to China and Korea, this is the Asian counterpart to our Eastern U.S. Jeffersonia diphylla. Rich pale blue upward facing flowers emerge in early spring, followed by lobed foliage through the rest of the season.
Zones 4-8. 12-14 in. Part to full shade, moist well-drained soil. These are three-year-old plants that should bloom in the coming spring. View additional images here
Pa - Po
Paeonia obovata var. 'Willmottiae'
A robust plantwith large single white flowers with yellow or dark maroon stamens. Blooms later in May than P. japonica and is followed in late summer by bright red seed heads with dark blue seeds. Grown in Gallon pots and will be shipped bare-root.
Zones 4-8. 30-40 in. Part sun to light shade, good rich soil.
Blooming or near blooming-sized.
Paoenia japonica
This is a strong-growing plant with gray-green foliage and single white flowers and yellow stamens. Paoenia japonica blooms in May, followed in late summer by bright red seed heads with dark blue seeds.
Zones 4-8. 18-30 in. Part sun to light shade. Good rich soil. We are offering four-year-old seedlings. Most should bloom in the coming spring, but some will need a year to settle in before blooming.
Podophyllum peltatum
Every spring I love witnessing this plant emerge from the ground. Each stem produces foliage shaped like a small umbrella that slowly opens over the course of several days. In May, large white flowers appear under the expanded leaves. This plant spreads vigorously and is great for naturalizing in a woodland setting. Eastern U.S. native.
Zones 3-8. 12-15 in. Full or part shade, moist rich soil. Mature plants grown out in half gallon pots.
Polygonatums (Solomon's Seal)
The Polygonatums add stately structure and visual diversity to a garden through their arching, upright stems and typically dangling flowers. Show to advantage by planting them with other plants whose foliage and growth offer contrasts in both color and textures.
Polygonatum (Chinese species)
I find this to be a standout among the Solomon's Seals. White and green bellflowers appear along the leaf axis, on zigzagging red-tinted stems. A strong spreading colonizer. Originally from a collection obtained in Tu Man Ling, Jilin Province, China, in 1989, as far as we know this form has never been clearly identified.
Zones 5-8. 12-14 in. Part sun to shade, garden soil. Mature plants grown out in half gallon pots.
Polygonatum commutatum
The majestic arcs of P. commutatum grace the shade garden, and feature white bell-shaped flowers followed by attractive blue berries. Blooms in spring. A large natural tetraploid form. Eastern U.S. native.
Zones 3-8. 4- 4 1/2 ft. at maturity. Full or part shade, good loam. Mature, flowering size plants grown out in half gallon pots.
Polygonatum hirtum
Broad oval glossy light-green leaves on arching stems makes this Solomon's Seal a standout. White nodding flowers in spring. Native to Eurasia.
Zones 4-8. 18-24 in. Part shade, good garden soil. Large, mature plants grown out in half gallon pots.
Polygonatum humile
This little fellow makes a great ground cover, especially under other Solomon's Seals. Petite arching stems with paired leaves, white bell-shaped flowers followed by blue berries. Blooms in spring. Tolerates dry conditions in late summer. From northeast Asia. Grown in 1/2 gallon pots.
Zones 4-8. 8-10 in. Full or part shade, good loam.
Polygonatum odoratum 'Byakko'
This rarely offered, exceptional plant is an unusual variegated form. The tip of the leaf is green, and midsection towards the stem is white. The name 'Byakko' means "white tiger", as plants often have a striped appearance. The color is better on larger plants, and best when grown in light shade with morning sun. Grown in 1/2 gallon pots.
Zone: 4-9. 1-2'. Good Loam. Shade to Part Shade. Blooms in spring.
Polygonatum verticillatum
With its slightly arching stems of narrow, whorled leaves, this plant adds architecture to the woodland garden. In late spring, white bell-shaped flowers rimmed in green dangle from the leaf axils. Flowers give way to coral berries in autumn. Native to mountainous regions of Europe and Asia. Grown in 1/2 gallon pots.
Zones 5-8. 12 to 24 in. Part sun to shade, moist to moderately dry soil.
S - Z
Syneilesis aconitifolia
Grown for its foliage more than the flowers. Umbrellas of finely dissected leaves that are covered with a silvery fuzz as they emerge in spring. Will form nice clumps over time but is not invasive. Native to China and Korea.
Zones 4-8. 18-24 in. Light shade, good garden soil that does not dry out completely.
Trautvetteria carolinensis
A quietly attractive native plant for filling in a spot in the woodland garden. Round fuzzy white flowers blooming in summer over clumps of deeply divided maple-like leaves. Will spread to form a sizeable patch in moist shade. Native to parts of eastern U.S. Grown in 1/2 gallon pots.
Zones 5-9. 12-16 in. Shade to part shade, rich moist soil.
Tricyrtis ohsumiensis x flava
We are pleased to offer this cross made by Darrel Probst between T. flavum and T. ohsumiensis, two very sought after Tricyrtis. In spring, the highly attractive leaves are shiny green with purple spots and mottlings. In fall, the plants produce large upward-facing deep yellow flowers. A vigorous hybrid with solid cold hardiness. Forms healthy-sized clumps. Grown in 1/2 gallon pots.
Zones 4-9. 12-18 in. Shade to part shade, garden soil.
Tricyrtis ohsumiensis x nana
Another Darrel Probst hybrid, this Tricyrtis looks very similar to the one listed above except that it is a smaller plant -- only 8-12 inches tall. Grown in 1/2 gallon pots.
Zones 4-9. 8-12 in. Shade to part shade, garden soil.
Triosteum himalayanum
After growing this in our garden for many years, we are excited to offer it for the first time this year. Though shrub-like in appearance, it is an herbaceous member of the honeysuckle family. The large, rounded, fuzzy leaves provide a soft backdrop to the eye-catching clusters of gumball-sized red fruits that hold from late summer into autumn. Grown from seed collected by Tom Clark years ago in China. Grown in 1/2 gallon pots.
Zones 5-7. 24 in. Part to full shade, garden soil.