Salvia guarnatica ‘Black and Blue’

Most flowers that hummingbirds like are red or orange, but this one is deep blue. It is not hardy here, but it will flower like this from late summer through the fall.

36-48″ sun

Pseudofumaria lutea (AKA Yellow Corydalis)

A nice little shade plants that blooms from spring to even after frosts. The blue-green foliage always looks fresh and the cheery yellow flowers never need deadheading. If happy with its location it will form a large clump and also seed itself in an un-obnoxious way. Very hardy despite its delicate looks. What more could you ask?

12″ part shade

Kansas Sea Holly, Eryngium leavenworthii

Hmmm, a “Sea Holly” from land-locked Kansas. Begins to give you some idea of the quirky nature of this annual flower. Each of the many small flowers look like a metallic purple pineapple with a wild, jagged haircut and wearing an equally wild and jagged tutu. Then, the stamens that emerge from all over the “pineapple” are long and bright blue. The stems and leaves also turn purplish in late summer.

This sun-loving, spectacularly spiky-looking plant is sought after as a unique accent in the garden and appreciated as a long lasting, contemporary-looking bouquet flower. It is also valued as easy, drought-tolerant addition to a xeriscape, gravel garden, or prairie garden, complemented by any goldenrod or “big yellow daisy.” Last summer, visiting gardens in England, I saw this and many other species and cultivars of Eryngium used in the best English gardens, often in purple-themed borders and mingling with swirly grasses. 36″ sun

(If you are wondering about the leaves with the orange thorns, that’s Firethorn, Solanum pyracanthum.)

Just for fun, here is the recent plant introduction Duckalicious Nasturtium (Tropaeolum ‘Duckalicious’) with Coleus ‘Quack’ and some Duckfoot Ivy.

A brand new flower form for an old favorite, each bloom is like a bouquet of tiny yellow duckies’ feet.  Even the leaves are lobed rather than the usual round shape. Trailing.

6-12”      sun

Gloriosa Lily (Gloriosa superba ‘Rothschildiana’)

The unusual, almost bizarre, 3–5” blooms of this vine begin as pale green hanging petals that gradually lengthen, become wavy, and arch backward, changing color to yellow and then scarlet in summer.

You can lift the roots in fall and overwinter in a dry basement. The roots are delicate, so handle them carefully.

Available in our Bulbs & Bareroots section.

Pink Mulla Mulla Ptilotus ‘Joey’

There are many dozens of this plant still available at half-price on Sunday: if it had been blooming during the sale, it would have sold out the first day!

A completely new genus for U.S. gardens straight from central Australia, Ptilotus is pronounced “ty-LOH-tus” (from the Greek “ptilon” for feather.) Other common names are Lamb’s Tail, Pussy Tails, and Showy Foxtail.

Many chubby 4″ fuzzy bottlebrush flower spikes glisten silver and neon pink. The silver-green leaves are paddle-shaped and succulent-looking. You could guess from its Aussie origin that ‘Joey’ is heat and drought tolerant, and that it wants excellent drainage, such as a loose potting soil.

Last summer, Henry planted ‘Joey’ in our State Fair garden next to Aeonium ‘Zwartkop,’ Helenium ‘Dakota Gold, and Alternanthera ‘Red Threads’ and reports that Fairgoers could not resist petting the feathery flowers.

We hope to see more Ptilotus varieties become available in the future: there is one now on the internet called ‘Platinum Wallaby.’

12-15″ sun (A454, page 41)

Siam Ruby Banana Musa ‘Siam Ruby’

Baby ‘Siam Ruby’ plants at Rush Creek Growers

10,000 years of banana cultivation in Papua, New Guinea produced a sport with the darkest red leaves of any banana yet discovered. Originally selling for more than $1500, ‘Siam Ruby’ was brought to the U.S. only three years ago and now you can have one for $14.

The foliage is a remarkable dark ruby with lime flecks and streaks, although it starts out chartreuse and develops more and more red as it matures and gets more sun. Each leaf has a surprising new pattern of red and green: some leaves are even half and half! Try Googling on Musa ‘Siam Ruby’ to see many photos of the different leaf markings when the leaves are mature.

A banana tree will easily overwinter as a houseplant in a sunny window or dormant in a cool dark basement.
8’ sun (A638, page 44)

These special bananas are literally not showing their true colors at the sale, but I have faith and I bought one! If you want ‘Siam Ruby’ be sure to look at its label because there are lots of Banana ‘Rowe Red’ (looking more obviously attractive….) right next to it.

Duckalicious Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus ‘Duckalicious’)

A brand new flower form for an old favorite, each bloom like a bouquet of tiny yellow duckies’ feet.  Even the leaves are lobed rather than the usual round shape. Trailing.

6-12” sun (A395, page 40)

Ghost Thistle Onopordum acanthium (A.K.A. Onopordon)

You know this giant purple flower better than you think you do: It is the Scottish Thistle, which has been the national emblem of Scotland since the 13th century. According to legend, a Scottish army camp was alerted to the sneak attack of invading Norsemen when a barefoot Viking stepped on a Scottish Thistle and gave a hearty Viking  holler. It is also the thistle flower symbol of the Encyclopedia Britannica.

Dramatic and intimidating, like some ghost out of Macbeth, this strange white-leaved plant has a cottony, prickly down all over it, plus curious wide wings on the stem.  Another one of those oddball architectural plants seen in modern British gardens.

60” sun (P694, page 20)

Use some caution planting this one. It is not on the Noxious Weed list here in Minnesota, but it is in California and a few other places. It would be better not to let it go to seed or to plant it anywhere where you cannot monitor it (for instance in a wild garden or near a farmer’s field).  Some sources list the plant as a biennial, so it may not even flower this year (therefore, no seeds.)  I am growing it just for the weird foliage.

We’ll be issuing wristbands to early-arriving plant sale shoppers on Friday and Sunday (not on Saturday). We’ve found this is the fairest and quickest way to get everyone into the Grandstand and we appreciate your patience.

How Does It Work?
When you arrive at the Grandstand area, go to the kiosk at the WEST end of the building plaza; that’s where you’ll get your wristband. Each human arm presented will be given a wristband with a group number on it. Starting at 11 a.m., groups will enter the Grandstand in numerical order. (There will be 50 - 75 people in each group, but you won’t be snaking single-file all the way back to Ye Old Mill, so it should go faster.)

How Early Do I Have to Arrive to Get a Wristband?
You can come whenever you’d like. The sale starts at 11 a.m. Friday. We’ll be handing out wristbands by 8 a.m. If you get there before we do, just form a nice, friendly line (like you have in the past) and we’ll make sure everyone in line gets a wristband first.

Do I Have to Wait in Line for the Sale to Start?
No. Once you have your wristband, you are free to move about the Fairgrounds. Browse some of the new things we’ll have outside; go for a walk; sit in the sun, or the shade (or your car, if it’s raining). Go have breakfast somewhere if you’re one of the early arrivers.

Can I Get a Wristband for Someone Coming Later in the Morning?
Unfortunately, no. It’s one wristband per person, as you arrive. Yes, we know someone may be parking the car, but with 50 - 75 people per group, chances are their wristband will have the same group number as yours. If not, they’ll probably be entering the Grandstand about five minutes after you. The beauty of a sale this big is there’ll be plenty of plants waiting for you inside. But if you want to be sure you and your friends enter together, wait until you’re all present to get your wristbands.

What do the Wristband Colors Mean?
Wristbands are in three colors. You’ll see three corresponding color-coded lanes that lead to the grandstand entrance. The wristband color just indicates what lane you’ll use when your group number is called. Our goal is to have people continuously queuing up and moving.

Confused?
Just remember, everyone in a tie-dyed shirt is a volunteer, and they’re there to help. Again, your patience, understanding and sense of humor will help us make this new system a success! Thanks in advance.