Tollerances: Rabbit

Adam's Needle

Yucca filamentosa

This unique plant looks more suited to a desert climate, but it is found wild up and down the east coast. Its strappy leaves are crowned by huge spikes of creamy white flowers every other year.

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Alpine Squill

Scilla bifolia

These tiny blue flowers are some of the most shade tolerant of the spring flower bulbs.

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Asparagus

Asparagus officinalis

Asparagus is an unusual plant that is primarily cultivated for its edible tender young shoots in the spring. When mature, it has large ferny foliage that is pale green.

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Bee Balm is a tall summer-blooming perennial with brilliant red flowers subtended by a whorl of showy, red-tinged, leafy bracts. The aromatic leaves can be used for tea, but are susceptible to mildew, so this plant needs good air circulation. A member of the mint family, bee balm spreads readily by rhizomes…

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Blue False Indigo

Baptisia australis

This unique plant features bright blue-purple flowers on tall green stalks followed by interesting black seedpods. It forms a deep taproot and does not transplant well, so be certain of its location before planting.

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Boxwood

Buxus spp.

Boxwood are the quintessential southern garden hedge plant. They are popular for use in knot gardens, parterres, edging, and as topiaries. While the historic English boxwood (Buxus suffruiticosa) are especially susceptible to a devastating and widespread blight caused by the fungus Cylindrocladium buxicola…

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Butter and Eggs Daffodil

Narcissus incomparabilis aurantius plenus

Butter and Eggs is pale yellow double daffodil with many frilly petals. Its height makes it well suited to the middle of the flower border.

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Calendula

Calendula officinalis

Calendulas are an old fashioned herb with bright yellow or orange flowers. They are profuse bloomers in the spring and fall, but will stop blooming during the hot part of the summer. Their flowers can be used in salads and soaps.

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Candytuft

Iberis sempervirens

This compact plant is covered in drifts of tiny white flowers in the spring. It blooms at the same time as many of the spring bulbs and provides a nice accent among them.

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Cardinal Flower

Lobelia cardinalis

The vibrant red blooms of the cardinal flower makes it an ideal plant for the shady summer garden. It reseeds readily and is ideal for naturalizing and sharing with friends.

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Cowslip

Primula veris

This cute perennial forms small masses of green foliage with bright yellow or red flowers in the early spring. It is particularly sweet when planted with bulbs or other spring ephemerals in the front of the border.

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Early Louisiana Daffodil

Narcissus jonquilla 'Early Louisiana'

Early Louisiana is a petite yellow daffodil that is well suited to naturalizing. It does well towards the front of the flower border.

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English Lavender

Lavandula angustifolia

Fragrant spires of dark purple flowers above silvery foliage light up the garden border in summer. If trimmed after blooming, they will flower again. Their flowers may be used in sachets or as flavoring in baking and drinks.

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Four O'clock

Mirabilis jalapa

Named for the time of day the bloom opens, four o'clocks will attract hummingbirds and nocturnal pollinators to your garden. This bushy plant reseeds readily, producing hundreds of large black seeds that resemble hand grenades.

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Foxglove

Digitalis purpurea

Wands of bell-shaped flowers ascend from a broad, woolly basal rosette. This common cottage garden flower has an important role in the manufacture of heart medicine.

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Germander

Teucrium chamaedrys

Germander is a small, shrubby herb with bright flowers and a distinctive fragrance. It works well as a short, clipped hedge.

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Globe Thistle

Echinops ritro

An unusual flower for the summer garden, these blue thistle-like blooms add a unique texture. If cut back after blooming, they will send up new flowers. They make excellent dried and cut flowers.

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Gooseberry

Ribes uva-crispa

This uncommon shrub produces tart green fruits in summer that are suitable for jams and desserts. They have many sharp thorns and some care should be used when working around them.

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Hollyhock

Alcea rosea

Hollyhocks are old-fashioned cottage garden favorites for their height and cheerful flowers in a wide range of colors. Most require staking to support their heavy stems.

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Hoop Petticoat Daffodil

Narcissus bulbocodium 'Golden Bells'

The Hoop Petticoat is one of the smallest daffodils grown at Mount Vernon and is often crowded towards the front of the border for ease of viewing. It has unique flowers with large bells and slender, petite petals.

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Hydrangea

Hydrangea arborescens

This versatile hydrangea tolerates a wide variety of conditions and is ideal for borders or natural areas. It benefits from an annual pruning in late winter to prevent the heavy blooms from flopping.

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Lamb's Ears

Stachys byzantina

This silver-leafed groundcover does best in well-drained soil, but tolerates adverse conditions. Its purple flowers are attractive to honeybees and bumblebees.

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Lilac

Syringa vulgaris

Large fragrant bouquets of purple flowers make this shrub the queen of spring in the northern garden.

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Maximus Daffodil

Narcissus hispanicus 'Maximus'

Maximus is a standard among daffodils for its height and large yellow blooms. It does well in the middle of the border where it can be easily seen.

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Monkshood

Aconitum napellus

This late blooming perennial adds height and colorful spires to the end of summer shade garden. It prefers afternoon shade in the southern garden, but will tolerate sun further north.

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Nora Barlow Columbine

Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata 'Nora Barlow'

A fluffier flower sets this columbine apart from the simpler native type. It has cheerful magenta and white flowers on tall stems and reseeds readily.

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Odorus Flore Pleno Daffodil

Narcissus odorus flore pleno

Odorus Flore Pleno is a medium to small daffodil with double yellow flowers. It is strongly fragrant.

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Onion

Allium cepa

Onions are commonly planted in the fall for a spring harvest. Red and yellow types are available to grow.

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Peony

Paeonia sp.

Herbaceous, shrub-like plants bear single or double flowers in shades of pink and cream. They are an old-fashioned favorite in East Coast gardens.

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Pheasant's Eye Daffodil

Narcissus poeticus

The Pheasant's Eye daffodil is a clear white daffodil featuring a yellow cup with a red ring. It is one of the later blooming daffodils and it does best towards the middle of the border.

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Potato

Solanum tuberosum

Potatoes are a tomato relative and are often mistaken for them, as their foliage is somewhat similar in appearance. They are an agricultural staple that ranks with wheat and rice as among the most important in the world. Their South American origin is often obscured by their fame as a mainstay crop…

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Adam's Needle

Yucca filamentosa

Alpine Squill

Scilla bifolia

Asparagus

Asparagus officinalis

Bee Balm

Monarda didyma

Blue False Indigo

Baptisia australis

Boxwood

Buxus spp.

Butter and Eggs Daffodil

Narcissus incomparabilis aurantius plenus

Calendula

Calendula officinalis

Candytuft

Iberis sempervirens

Cardinal Flower

Lobelia cardinalis

Cowslip

Primula veris

Early Louisiana Daffodil

Narcissus jonquilla 'Early Louisiana'

English Lavender

Lavandula angustifolia

Four O'clock

Mirabilis jalapa

Foxglove

Digitalis purpurea

Germander

Teucrium chamaedrys

Globe Thistle

Echinops ritro

Gooseberry

Ribes uva-crispa

Hollyhock

Alcea rosea

Hoop Petticoat Daffodil

Narcissus bulbocodium 'Golden Bells'

Hydrangea

Hydrangea arborescens

Lamb's Ears

Stachys byzantina

Lilac

Syringa vulgaris

Maximus Daffodil

Narcissus hispanicus 'Maximus'

Monkshood

Aconitum napellus

Nora Barlow Columbine

Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata 'Nora Barlow'

Odorus Flore Pleno Daffodil

Narcissus odorus flore pleno

Onion

Allium cepa

Peony

Paeonia sp.

Pheasant's Eye Daffodil

Narcissus poeticus

Potato

Solanum tuberosum

Red Currant

Ribes rubrum

Rhubarb

Rheum x hybridum

Roman Hyacinth

Hyancinthus orientalis var. albulus

Seventeen Sisters Daffodil

Narcissus tazetta 'Avalanche'

Siberian Iris

Iris sibirica

Swan's Neck Daffodil

Narcissus moschatus

Tiger Daylily

Hemerocallis fulva

Twin Sisters Daffodil

Narcissus x medioluteus

Van Sion Daffodil