Cool Plants

Falling Water Gardens is your rare plant headquarters! Our resident nurseryman Ken Hunt has scoured the ends of the earth to find specimen that you will find no place else! Are you, or do you have a plant geek in your life? You need to add some of these to your garden. Here's a list of some of the goodies we have in stock and ready to ship:

The Hardy Orchid is a terrestrial variety that originated in Japan and China. forms clusters of long, pointy, sword-like leaves and flowers that remain partially closed. The blooms are usually anywhere from a pale pink to deep fuchsia or purple. Hardy orchids bloom in spring or early summer and can reach anywhere from 2-3 feet in height.

Intersectional or Itoh Peonies are easy to grow, dependable, and live for decades. They are the result of crossing two different species of peony. The resulting plants combine the best qualities of their parents and we've got great varieties.

Trillium is a genus of perennial herbaceous flowering plants, native to temperate regions of North America and Asia. Common names include trillium, wakerobin, and birthroot. The above ground parts of Trilliums are scapes with three large, leafy bracts with the true leaves underground as a papery covering around the rhizomes. Come check them out!

Another fascinating plant we have is Oak Leaf Hydrangea 'Little Honey'. It has a distinctive leaf with bright golden-yellow foliage. The foliage emerges gold and then changes to a pleasing chartreuse as the season progresses, producing beautiful white flowers. Oh yeah, and we've got 'em!

We currently have 3 varieties of Cypripedium, commonly known as Lady Slipper. Cypripedium species normally bloom after their 5th or 6th year (cycle) of growth. Mature plants have already bloomed or are of blooming size.

Elegantly bearing twin flowers of vivid fuchsia on a white background, 'reginae' Showy Queen is an amazing variety. The hairs found on the stem and leaves discourage insect predators.

The variety 'parviflorum' or Yellow Lady's Slipper has a lot natural variability and includes subspecies parviflorum and pubescens. The flower pouch is always a brilliant yellow with variable red spotting and a light fragrance. The twisted side petals vary from green to dark brown.

Another variety we have, 'formosanum' has a large pale pink pouch speckled with dark pink could make one think of a strawberry doughnut. As an extra bonus, after flowering two pleated leaves in the shape of a fan leave a hint of the Far East. Closely related to C. japonicum, it may also be considered a variant of this species. Not hardy in Quebec but it does adapt nicely to pot culture if given a cool rest period over the winter.

Adding Color to the Fall Garden

Discriminating gardeners know how to keep color in their yard nearly year around. Is your space lacking Fall color? Here's a great list of plants that will add vibrance in Autumn.

Sedum is a Northwest favorite. With over 400 species, there's bound to one in the color you are looking for. 'Limelight' and 'Dragon's Blood' are brilliant varieties.

Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) or Smoke Tree (Cotinus obovatus) are great choices to provide brilliant crimsons for most of the year.

Pansies are another popular choice for bedding plants in the garden. They are available in almost every flower color imaginable, from vivid yellows and blues to delicate pastel colors and mixes. Flowers can be solid or bicolored.

Heuchera make excellent container plants and as woodland plants they add dramatic color and form to any partially shaded garden. They are evergreen and provide color all year around. We've got 'Peach Flame', 'Regina' and 'Lime Ricky' in stock and ready to go.

Euphorbias come in all shapes and sizes, from tiny golf balls to spiny shrubs. They add striking architectural forms, excellent contrasts and flashy summer colors.The best euphorbias can be highlighted in pots or a special border position. They’re called spurges because they were once used for their purgative qualities.

Ajuga, also called Carpet Bugle or Bugleweed, makes an excellent groundcover. It is vigorous and adaptable, even doing well in partial shade. It develops a fast-growing, tidy mat of tightly-knit rosettes of colorful foliage, punctuated in the spring with stalks of perky flowers. A perennial, its roots survive winter cold. In some regions its foliage is semi-evergreen, persisting over the winter. One amazing variety we carry is 'Golden Glow'. It gets bluish purple blossoms with gold and cream, variegated foliage. Brilliant!