varieties for 2025

plant key

• Annual, unless otherwise marked “P” for Perennial or “SSA” for Self Sowing Annual
• “T” for Tropical, must be brought indoors during colder temperatures
• Sizes and timing on these plants may vary

Curry Leaf (Curry tree, Kadipatta, Karipatta, Bergera or Murraya koenigii)
T.
No, we’re not talking about the turmeric-yellow spice blend “curry” here. This tree is native to the Indian subcontinent and indispensable in several South Asian and Southeast Asian cuisines. The fresh leaves are added to hot oil along with other aromatics as you start a dish, and the smell is unlike anything else. In Ohio, you must bring it inside for the winter if you wish to keep your plant season to season.

Fig, Hardy Chicago (Ficus carica)
P.
This variety is hardy in Ohio, though without winter protection, it may die back to the ground. These cuttings are from two ten-year old trees that have done very well along the east side of my house. With plenty of sun and a warm fall, it’s very productive, with delicious medium size purple-brown fruit. Hopefully other varieties to follow soon, as I trial other cold hardy varieties. To learn all about Growing Figs in Cold Climates, check out the book by Lee Reich.

Hardy Prickly Pear

Hardy Citrus

Lifesaver Plant (Huernia zebrina)
T.
A fun, easy-care, easy-to-propagate succulent with crazy flowers. The flowers look fake, but they really are like mini red lifesavers surrounded by yellow and red zebra-striped petals.

Inchworm Plant

Queen of the Night

Bachelor’s Buttons, ‘Blue Boy’ (Cornflower, Centaurea cyanus)
SSA. 3”
A beautiful true-blue flower with a striking spiky texture. Its color makes a fantastic accent in salads or on desserts, and its nectar attracts several kinds of beneficial insects.

Bee Balm, ‘Lemon Mint’ (Monarda citriodora)
P. 3.5”
description coming soon

Bee Balm, ‘Panorama Red’ (Oswego Tea, Monarda didyma)
P. 3.5”
description coming soon

Bee Balm, ‘Wild Bergamot’ (Monarda fistulosa)
P. 3.5”
A 3-4 ft native wildflower with lovely lavender flower attractive to pollinators. Also used in herbal medicine and the kitchen.

Borage (Borago officinalis)
SSA. 55 days. 3”
My favorite edible flower - they’re blue (and occasionally pink) and taste like cucumber! Suspend them in ice cubes for cool summer drinks or try the young leaves in soups, German green sauce or filled pastas. The flowers are attractive to beneficial insects, especially common green lacewings.

Butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
P. 3.5”
One of the native butterflyweeds in our region that provide food for the monarch butterfly. If you plant it, they will come... (hopefully!) and eat the leaves. A great educational opportunity for kids to keep an eye out for pupating larvae, and extra special if you catch the monarchs the morning they hatch, drying off their wings before they head off.

Calendula ‘Resina’ (Calendula officinalis)
SSA. 3”
Seed originally from Ridge & Hollow Seed Alliance in Athens. A highly aromatic and cheery daisy-like flower with bright yellow and occasionally orange flowers. ‘Resina’ has an especially high resin content, ideal for medicinal use in oils and tinctures

Castor Bean ‘Gibsonii’ (Ricinus communis)
On the backburner due to low sales. Let me know if you’d like to see it back!
Poisonous! But beautiful. The tall and striking tropical look of the red-tinged foliage and flowers make an excellent centerpiece plant and lend height (6 ft +) to the landscape.

Hyacinth Bean ‘Ruby Moon’ (Dolichos lablab)
On the backburner due to low sales. Let me know if you’d like to see it back!
Another bean NOT to eat, but just to gaze upon. Gorgeous purple stems, flowers and seed pods. Will vine 10 - 15 ft if given support, and chances are, it will reseed itself next year.

Nasturtium, ‘Bloody Mary’ (Tropaeolum majus)
description coming soon

Nasturtium, ‘Empress of India’ (Tropaeolum majus)
description coming soon

Nasturtium, ‘Jewel Mix’ (Tropaeolum majus)
42 days. 3.5”
A bushy nasturtium with a bright mix of 2” orange, yellow, red and gold blooms. The striking flowers have a peppery flavor and make a flashy garnish.

Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)
P. 3.5”
Sorry, crop failure this year

Passionflower, Hardy (Maypop, Passiflora incarnata)
P. 3.5”
Stunningly complicated and exotic purple flowers turn into small passionfruit. They’re edible, but awfully seedy. The plant might start slow, waiting to come up even into June, but it can soon take over if you’re not careful… But it’s so beautiful, you won’t even care. It’s a vine, so give it something to climb or expect it to crawl all over.

Poppy, Chima Family Heirloom (Papaver somniferum)
On the backburner due to low sales. Let me know if you’d like to see it back!

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
P. 3.5”
description coming soon

Tithonia Torch (Tithonia rotundifolia)
3”
Also known as ‘Mexican Sunflower,’ these deep orange flowers attract a range of butterflies, pollinators and hummingbirds. Reaching 6 ft tall, tithonia can provide a striking, easy-care backdrop to your garden.

Zinnia, ‘Cactus Flowered Mix (Zinnia elegans)
3”
description coming soon

Zinnia, ‘Queen Red Lime (Zinnia elegans)
3”
description coming soon

Zinnia, ‘Whirlygig Mix’ (Zinnia elegans)
3”
description coming soon