Lamiastrum galeobdolon-Yellow Archangel

Propagating Lamiastrum or Yellow Archangel is as simple as digging up rooted plantlets either in the spring or fall but it can be viewed as invasive, similar to ivy. It is evergreen but should be clipped back hard in late winter and has variegated leaves of green and silver. It blooms in May through June and the flowers are a soft yellow, is also deer resistant, and drought tolerant.

Paronychia kapela-Mossy Whitlow-wort

Propagating Paronychia or Mossy Whitlow-wort is accomplished in the spring by digging up the parent plant and dividing the crown into as many transplants as possible that have a good root system. The plant is evergreen down to Zone 4 and can take light foot traffic since it only reahces 2" in height. It has white flowers in June-July but what is strange about the plant, like Poinsettias in bloom, silver bracts appear around the blooms that have the texture of tissue paper and remain until the fall. The plant is drought tolerant once established but also needs good drainage.

Phyteuma scheuchzeri-Horned Rampion

Propagating Phyteuma or Horned Rampion, a strange and often neglected perennial, can be done in the spring by digging up the plant and dividing the crown then transplanting rooted divisions. It blooms from June-July and they resemble the Sputnik satellite, although a close relative of the Bellflower, which are a deep blue. It is evergreen to Zone 6, prefers either full sun or partial shade and reaches a height of 8"-12" and as with most perennials needs a well drained soil.

Waldsteinia ternata-Barren Strawberry

Propagating Waldsteinia or Barren Strawberry either in the spring or fall is easy since it spreads by stolons so dig up the off-shoots and transplant. It prefers shade, blooms in the spring with small yellow blooms and once established becomes drought tolerant but needs a well draining soil. It is evergreen in milder zones but will do well in Zone 3 and reaches a height of 4"-6". Its leaves resemble strawberry plants.

Scleranthus uniflorus-New Zealand Moss

Propagating Scleranthus or New Zealand Moss can be done either in the spring or fall. The plant forms a tight hummock of moss looking plants and sometimes the clumps become patchy and die back in the center, so dig up the patch and separate the clumps with roots and transplant. It does not like wet feet but prefers a sandy or gravely soil in full sun or light shade and is drought tolerant but only in Zones 7-10. Inconspicuous green/white flowers appear in late summer and is best used as a filler between flagstones because it will take foot traffic, is also evergreen and deer resistant.

Vancouveria hexandra-Inside Out Flower, American Barrenwort

Propagating Vancouveria or Inside Out is simple. Transplant rooted rhizomes in the spring or fall. This is a native of Vancouver and it is named Inside Out because because when the plant blooms white in late spring it’s petals and sepals turn backwards. It is evergreen in warmer climates, deer resistant and depending on the humidity in the air drought tolerant although to grow profusely it prefers a rich moist woodland type soil that is slightly acidic, i.e. oak trees and partial or full shade. It grows to a height of 8"-10" and is classified as a wild flower.

Phormium-New Zealand Flax

Propagating Phormium or New Zealand Flax is similar to Liriope whose rhizomes spread out from the parent plant so transplant in the spring and trim back to 6". Unlike Liriope New Zealand Flax is hardy only in Zones 8 and up and does not bloom, except in old plants, but different varieties have different variegated leaves, ranging from green and red, to pink, to yellow, orange, silver, will reach a height up to 30", remain evergreen, and are deer resistant. Once established plants tend to take dryness but not drought conditions.

Paxistima canbyi-Pachistima

Propagating Paxistima canbyi or Pachistima is done in the spring by digging up the rooted rhizomes that spread out from the parent plant and transplant. Its blooms are insignificant in the spring and reaches a height of 10"-12", is evergreen and susceptible to foliar burn in the winter because it has glossy leaves. It prefers a high pH and a well draining high organic soil and will take full sun or partial shade and is susceptible to Euonymous scale.

Petrorhagia(pet-ro-RAY-jee-a) saxifraga-Tunic Flower

Petrorhagia saxifraga or Tunic Flower is best accomplished in the spring by digging up the root ball and dividing then transplanting and it is similar to but shorter then Baby’s Breathe. It is a groundcover that is evergreen in warmer zones, above 5, and reaches a height of 6"-8". It is a prolific self seeder if flowers are not deadheaded, is drought tolerant, and prefers full sun. It will bloom from May until August and colors vary from pink, violet and white and does best in a well draining soil, either sand or clay.

Raoulia australis-New Zealand Scab Plant, Vegetable Sheep

Propagating Raoulia or New Zealand Scab Plant is done in the early spring by digging up the plant and dividing rooted crowns into transplants. Its blooms are insignificant and it a great creeper in between and over rocks and only grows to an 1" in height and will take moderate foot traffic. It is evergreen from Zone 5 up, drought tolerant which deer tend to ignore and prefers good draining soil but not wet feet.

Stokesia laevis-Stokes Aster

Propagating Stokesia or Stokes Aster should be done in the spring by digging up the parent plant and dividing off good rootstocks for transplant. In warmer zones it is evergreen, but will winter kill below Zone 5. Mounding type of perennial that is tolerant of hot, humid summers in full sun in well drianed soil, especially winters, and butterflies enjoy the nectar, but deer tend not to browse. Deadhead to lengthen bloom time which is July to September and it can reach a height of 12"-24". Colors vary on each plant opening white and turning blue, pink, purple and even yellow.

Schizachyrium-Bluestem

Propagating Schizachyrium or Bluestem is done in late spring after pruning, the new growth is a late arrival, by digging up the plant and dividing the roots. Bluestem is deciduous, but is known for its winter interest and the varieties that show different colored stems. It reaches a height of 2'-3' and is deer resistant. It can take drought as well as wet feet and does well in full to mostly sunny areas.