Tanacetum niveum-Snow Daisy

Propagating the relatively unknown Tanacetum or Snow Daisy is accomplished in the spring by digging up the plant and separating the crown into good rooted transplants or allow the plant to self seed since it is a short lived but profusely blooming perennial which will flower from June until frost. It’s petals are white with a yellow center similar to mums/daisies and reaches a height of 12"-18", it also attracts butterflies, is deer resistant, deciduous, does not like wet feet and once established is drought resistant.

Actinidia kolomikta-Kiwi

Propagating Actinidia or Kiwi is sometimes propagated from store bought fruit but the problem is in the second year it must be grafted so I presume cuttings might be the best alternative as is buying stock from a nursery. Surprisingly it is winter hardy down to Zone 4 although a native to Asia. The blooms are fragrant and white in late spring or early summer and it will take 3-4 years before the woody vine bears fruit. It’s growth habit is similar to grape but is much faster, shallow rooted so it needs protection from drying out because it does best with a southern exposure in a well draining soil, and one plant can produce up to 200 pounds of fruit that ripens in the fall. Pruning is done either in the spring or fall and needs a sturdy trellis to support the vine.

Allium neapolitanum-Naples Flowering Onion

Propagating Allium or Naples Flowering Onion can be accomplished by allowing the plant to prosper then dig up the parent plant and separate the bulbils from the parent bulb or allow it to self seed on its own, however be aware it can become invasive in the Zones it thrives in, which are 7-10. This is one plant that does not like moisture except when transplanting bulbils so it does not like clay soils. It prefers full to partial sun. Its characteristics remind me of the wild onion that seem to sprout up in my lawn even after I assumed I eradicated all the bulbs, however the blooms are white and fragrant and attract butterflies. It is deer resistant. The leaves die back in summer after reaching a height of 12"-16" and is native to the Mediterranean.

Echinops tienschanicum-Giant Globe Thistle

Propagating Echinops or Giant Globe Thistle should be done in the spring, wearing gloves and a long sleeve shirt, by digging up the parent plant and dividing into good rooted transplants and should be done at least every 3-4 years. Since they can grow upwards of 6', including the flower head, the plant may need staking in windy locations. Some prefer leaving the dry plants through the winter for its effect but others prefer cutting them back to the ground in the fall. Their light blue blooms flower in August/September, are deer resistant, however its flowers attract butterflies, they do not like wet feet in the winter, and prefers full sun.

Pycnanthemum virginicum-Virginia Mountain Mint

Propagating Pycnanthemum or Virginia Mountain Mint is done in the spring by digging up the parent plant and dividing into good rooted transplants or will self seed in the right environment. The plant prefers rich loamy soil, wouldn’t all plants prefer loam, and must remain moist either in sun or partial shade. The plant exudes a minty fragrance and butterflies and honey bees enjoy it flowers which are pink to white and bloom August-September. Its height can vary from 12"-36" I’ll presume depending on the richness of the soil, is deer resistant, deciduous, and native to North America.

Smilacina racemosa-False Solomon’s Seal

Propagating Smilacina or False Solomon’s Seal can either be transplanted in the spring or fall by locating well rooted rhizome leaders that spread out from the parent plant. It blooms are white and make a show in June/July which are also fragrant. The plant is deer resistant and prefers a moist well drained woodland environment, partial to full shade. Red berries appear in the summer and stay until fall and reaches a height of 24"-36", is a native of North America, and is deciduous.

If you live in or near a major city search craigslist.org for cheap plants

I check craigslist.org every now, farm+garden, and then for sales on perennials and plants. This weekend someone advertised 3 2.5 quart containers of perennials for $5.00 in suburbia. I bought lavender, verbena, soapwort and primrose and repotted into 5 gallon because a 2.5 pot is a bit smaller then a 1 gallon. Early in the spring I bought specific colored azaleas, foster holly, gardenia and repotted into 5 gallon and a 5 gallon Candy Stripe phlox subulata for $5.00 and took cuttings of the plant and planted 4-1 gallons. There are sometimes great deals instead of waiting for close-outs at big box stores. Also in the free people sometimes give away iris and daylilies if you dig. It is a wonderful place to find the plants to increase the color of your garden beds.