Rare plants:Hakonechloa

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Plants beginning with H'

	Habranthus robustus -- Argentine Rainlily -- These have been hanging around our greenhouses for many years, faithfully producing their large, cheerful pink flowers every summer, and multiplying without our help. We always liked them, but never got around to figuring out what they were; we got them as a "South American Amaryllid" and so assumed they were tropical. But then we realized they looked a bit, but not quite, like Amaryllis belladona, which is pretty hardy. Turns out it wasn't hard to identify once we actually tried. It also turns out to also be pretty hardy, though whether it's to zone 6 or just to zone 8 is a matter of dispute. The American Horticultural Society says zone 9, but nearly every nursery that offers it says at least zone 8, more commonly 7b. Likes sun and dryish conditions, and bursts into bloom with the summer rains. The 2" trumpet flowers are on 6" spikes, above dark green straplike leaves that are mostly prostrate. Naturalizes easily. 4" pot $4.00 Limit 3t
	Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola' -- Japanese Forest Grass --This variety has a basically gold leaf with thin green stripes running its length. Some leaves may be white with green stripes, and there can be a reddish tinge in summer if exposed to much sun, but it is mainly a plant for lighting up a shady spot. Grows in a clump about a foot high and half again as wide, and is very elegant in a shaded area. Zones 5-9. 4" pot $5.00 Limit 2t
	Hakonechloa macra 'All Gold' -- No variegation, just a solid gold-tinged leaf. Zones 5-9. 4" pot $5.00 Limit 3
	Haloragis erecta -- 'Wellington Bronze' -- Great foliage contrast in this 3'x3' New Zealand shrublike perennial, both in terms of its bold bronze coloration and the distinctive texture created by its sawtooth leaves. Flowers are small and inconspicuous, but the foliage is great to break up the monotony of green. Takes sun, but likes moist soil. Some claim hardiness to zone 6; zone 8 is probably safer. Semi-evergreen. Haloragis is called Toatoa by the Maori, Seaberry by others. Relatively rare in cultivation, even in Wellington. 4" pot $5.00 Limit 3
Haworthias are basal-leaved, clump-forming stemless succulents from southern Africa that have patterned leaves and translucent to almost transparent leaf parts. The transparency allows sunshine to the inner parts of the leaf, which better allows the plants to grow under larger plants and in rock crevices, where they are protected from grazing animals. Flowers on long spikes may poke out of the crevices like periscopes, revealing their hiding places. Note: we are not expert in the identification of this genus. The names represent our best guesses as to species, and we haven't tried to discern varieties. If you are a serious collector, you shouldn't trust our names, but then you probably already have these species.
	*Haworthia cymbiformis --* The fastest-growing of the Haworthias we grow, it develops 3" rosettes of semi-transparent, pastel-green leaves, and becomes faceted as it pups. Small creamy tube flowers on short stems. Zone 10/houseplant. 4" pot $4.00 Limit 3
	Haworthia mutica, pictured at the top of the page, has stout triangular leaves with transparent tips. It will take temperatures right down to freezing for short periods and, unlike most succulents, prefers light shade and regular but not heavy watering. It bears small, two-lipped white flowers in summer. 4" pot $5.00 Limit 1
	Haworthia (retusa? ) tessalata -- Star Cactus -- SOLD OUT
Hebe is a genus of 100 species of evergreen shrubs, along with many named varieties. They are mainly from New Zealand, and therefore require a mild climate: not too hot, not too cold. In fact, coastal climates are just about the only good choice for Hebes in the US. If you live in a mild climate, Hebes have a lot to offer, including profuse and long-season flowering, drought tolerance, tidy appearance, and easy care. They have small, closely-set leaves that form a compact mass, and pointed terminal racemes of many tiny flowers that may be white, pink, violet, blue, or red, depending on species or variety. Most are small, 1-3', but some may reach 6-8'. Different varieties bloom at different times, spring through fall, and most produce a lot of flowers. Hebes want full sun and good drainage. Our selections come from a high, windy zone 8 location, so have shown more cold-hardiness than some varieties. All the varieties offered have taken mid-teen temperatures. If your area gets colder, choose by leaf size: the smaller, the more cold-hardy. Our Hebes are large enough to be in gallon containers, but are shipped bare-root, and are mainly half the price found elsewhere because our market isn't local, and there's little demand from most of the country. Zones 8-9 with mild summers.
	Hebe albicans 'Snow Cover' -- A subalpine prostrate form that's useful as a groundcover or to flow over the edges of a pot, covering them. Small grey-green leaves and abundant white flowers. $4.00 Limit 3
	Hebe 'McKeanii' is small-statured, growing to just a foot tall, and tiny-leaved, having the appearance of heather and making it a nice fit for a rock garden. Flowers are white and profuse in midsummer, and the foliage is evergreen. As a general rule, the smaller a Hebe's leaves, the hardier it is, and this is no exception, with a range of zones 7-9. $5.00 Limit 3
	Hebe 'Pimeba' -- is a low-growing evergreen shrub to about a foot. The small leaves are grey-green, with red edges and becoming red in winter. Violet and white flowers spikes are abundant in early summer. $5.00 Limit 3
	Hebe 'Pinocchio'-- has the unique combination of very showy yellow-variegation, large leaves, and low growth to just 18". Flowers are deep raspberry. $4.00 Limit 3
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Hedychium -- Ginger Lily --The common name "Ginger" can refer to a lot of different plants, depending on who's talking. "Wild Ginger" is a name given to a group of small groundcovers that bear no resemblance to the ginger found on the produce aisle. That so-called "ginger root" is the rhizome of a Zingiber species, a member of the family Zingiberaceae. Other members of this family, such as Hedychium, Curcuma, Alpinia, Costus, Cautleya, Globba, Roscoea and others are also called gingers. The ginger of commerce, Zingiber officinale is not particularly ornamental, but many Hedychium species are used in cooking by indigenous peoples where they grow. The ornamental varieties offered here are sometimes called Ginger Lilies, and are renowned for their showy, usually very fragrant flowers. They grow tall, somewhat resembling corn plants, and thrive in moist, fertile soil, and, for the most part, light shade. Although Hedychiums have traditionally been considered tender plants, it's now well-established that many of the species that go dormant in winter are hardy to zone 7, especially when mulched. Gingers are vigorous growers, so not much will be lost in this way. Our gingers are usually shipped bare-root from gallon pots, or may be shipped as dormant rhizomes during parts of the year.
	Hedychium coronarium -- Butterfly Ginger -- Familiar to many who have touristed in Hawaii, where it's frequently used in leis. It's strong, sweet fragrance is unforgettable, and the snow-white flower spike quite beautiful. We first learned of its hardiness when we were selling it as a tropical plant in Seattle, and were told by locals that it was commonly grown outside there. This one is a bit shy to bloom, so it should be grown where it can get maximum heat, such as against a wall. Give it plenty of sun and compensate by extra watering. Gingers are normally understory plants, but will tolerate sun if well-watered. Grows to about 6'. Zone 7 with mulch. $8.00 Limit 3
	Hedychium gardnerianum -- Kahili Ginger is about all you could ask for; it's cold hardy, large and vigorous, spectacular in flower, free-blooming, and beautifully scented. However, don't plant it in hot climates with humid summers, e.g. Florida; under those conditions it can become an invasive pest. Low humidity in the west and low soil temperatures in the northeast will keep it under control. It can be grown in pots as well, but needs to be divided now and then. To 7'. Zone 7b. $8.00 Limit 3
	Hedychium 'Tara' -- Everything you wanted in a ginger but didn't think you could grow in your climate. This is a large, robust plant, between 3' and 9', depending on soil and climate. It flowers earlier than most gingers, as early as June, depending on climate, and has foot-tall, flaming orange-red flowers, similar in form, but not color, to Kahili Ginger above. The flowers have the Gardenia scent characteristic of gingers, and attract butterflies. Zone 7. A debate rages over whether this is a variety of Hedychium gardnerianum, a variety of H. coccineum, or a natural hybrid. So we just call it 'Tara', because it's definitely scarlet, and "Frankly, ...." $8.00 Limit 3
	*Hedychium greenei* is cometimes called Scarlet Ginger, but we call it Salmon Ginger or Himalayan Ginger to distinguish it from H. coccineum. This one is a bit different. First, its stem and leaf undersides have a rich maroon color, and a little of that color shows in the tops of the leaves as well . This makes it a very handsome foliage plant. Second, the butterfly-like orange-red flower spike is rather smaller than other Hedychiums, although the individual flowers are larger than average. This is the most free-blooming species we offer. The flowers are not fragrant, but do have an interesting characteristic: after the flower fades, it produces a 'kiki' or small plant that can be removed and rooted, making propagation a snap. Stems will also root in water on this species. Rare, unusual, and hardy to zone 7 with mulch, growing to 5-6'. $8.00 Limit 3
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	Hierochloe odorata -- Sweet Grass, Vanilla Grass -- This mounding grass was sacred to native Americans, as well as to early European peoples, being used in religious ceremonies. The soft, glossy blades are very lax, and graceful brown panicles hover above them in summer. Though nice in flower, it isn't generally grown for its ornamental value, but more for its fragrance and traditional uses. It will form a nice rounded mound, though, reminiscent of Hakonechola, but grows in sun, and is attractive in flower. The fragrance is faintly like vanilla, and is noticeable only when the plants are grown on the dry side. Easily grown in temperate climates, with a a range from Alaska to Newfoundland, New England to Arizona and northern California. Zone 3. $4.00 Limit 3
	Houttuynia cordata 'Tricolor' -- Chameleon Plant -- A colorful groundcover for moist shade or a bog, this plant can get where you don't want it, but is easily controlled. Eaten as a vegetable in Asia, it has a unique fragrance that's difficult to describe--maybe a hint of citrus. Bright white flowers in spring. Zones 6-10. $4.00 Limit 3