'Bluebird' is a superlative selection of the native smooth aster introduced by Dr. Richard Lighty of the Mt. Cuba Center. This tall, vase-shaped wildflower has large 1" diameter blue flowers held in cloud-like clusters at the tips of the arching branches. You can pinch back the young shoots in June for denser habit and more flowers, but it is not essential. Staking is helpful by late summer if you forget to pinch. Perfectly clean foliage makes for easy maintenance in production and in the landscape. Aster laevis is a great source of nectar for migrating monarchs and other late season butterflies. Ranked #1 in Mt. Cuba Center's aster evaluations.

A naturally compact form with deep purple flowers in August and September. Eye-popping with Solidago 'Golden Fleece'. One of the most garden-worthy native selections out there. A fine introduction from the Mt. Cuba Center.

If you are looking for style and substance in the autumn landscape, it is hard to beat Symphyotrichum oblongifolium ‘Twilight Sky’. 'Twilight Sky' aromatic aster has long been a favorite of the horticulture staff at Mt. Cuba Center where it has been an integral part of the gardens for decades. Compared to other selections of aromatic aster, 'Twilight Sky' has the edge thanks to its robust mounding habit and its extravagant periwinkle blue floral display. Our newest introduction from the Mt. Cuba Collection.

This accession of C. tripteris was collected by Mt. Cuba Center in the wild and shows better garden performance than the straight species. This plant is approximately 1’ shorter and blooms for an additional six weeks. The flowers were also born on shorter, secondary growth. This characteristic distributed the floral display throughout the entire plant rather than solely at the top.

The cultivar name of 'Gold Standard' was assigned at the completion of the trial due to this selections superior performance compared to the straight species.  Mt. Cuba Center Coreopsis Trial 2015 

Plainly stated, it’s a show stopper. Beyond other Iris selections on the market, ‘Purple Flame’ has a richer, more intense cast to stems and flowers, yes. However, the true beauty lies in the irresistible foliage. Emerging in March, the purple flame-like foliage provides an unparalleled performance of vivid and intense eggplant purple foliage followed by an encore of rich and abundant flowers. 

Another fantastic Mt. Cuba introduction. A stunning show of sprays of golden yellow flowers from mid-August through September. Semievergreen heart-shaped leaves. Truly an excellent groundcover and bee and butterfly charmer! Hairstreaks, sulphurs and skippers are particularly attracted to goldenrod. Monarchs visit it during their autumn migration.

From the gardens of Mt. Cuba Center, North Creek is delighted to introduce this tough native groundcover. Easily identified by trailing stems and delicate lavender flowers, 'Silver Gem' forms a dense, tidy mat of attractive silver foliage. Flowers appear in March and persist into autumn. Our plant trials have proven 'Silver Gem' to be exceptionally drought tolerant and happiest in part to full shade. Pot in quarts or gallons for early spring sales.