Luxton Perennials

ROSA Hugonis ('Father Hugo' Rose)

This is a very old rose; it came to America from China in the early part of the century. It blooms earlier than other roses and literally covers itself with small, yellow, sweet-scented blossoms in June. It spreads by underground runners and grows very tall, so it needs to be placed carefully in a garden.

MISCANTHUS sinensis 'Silver Arrow'

Good tall landscape plant that climbs to over 6 feet. (In this picture, it has not reached it's final height.) It makes lovely clumps of green and white striped tall grass with tall plumes. It sends up a 'flower' that turns golden in the fall/winter and dries nicely as a landscape plant in the winter. Cut it all down to the ground in early spring.

IRIS SIBERICA (Siberian Iris)

Dainty but stately blossoms on tall stems in the spring. You can't have too many of them for they are pest-free and disease-resistant, and they are very hardy. When the blossoms fade, the grass-like foliage remains good-looking throughout the growing season. They like damp soil but are very drought-tolerant once established. A great perennial.

SYRINGA x prestoniae 'James Macfarlane' (Lilac)

This heavily scented, rosy pink lilac blooms later than the standard lilac of your childhood. The leaves are a lighter green and do not suffer from mildew as the old-fashioned lilacs are prone to do. A lovely shrub that is also not as invasive as the old fashioned lilacs. Hence it is good in a border.