Mailorder Nurseries Online and Off, Part 10, The Primrose Path
Feature Plant Pages on Heuchera, Heucherella and Tiarella. In-depth information & good photos! |
The Primrose Path in Scottdale, PA, is another nursery that all of us who garden in shade need to know about. In December of last year, Charles and Martha Oliver put their catalogs (retail and wholesale) on the web, but they've been providing gardeners with "shade plants for every need, from difficult dry spots to moist swales, as well as a selection of many plants for sun and intermediate situations" since 1985. Their work in producing crosses and introductions of named cultivars of Tiarella and Heuchera has received both national and international awards and recognition. And, of course, as the nursery name indicates, they offer a wide range of Primula (primrose) species and cultivars.
The web site has sections for retail and wholesale. Be sure to check both of them because each section has different photographs. Plus, if you are willing to buy the wholesale quantity, you can, whether you want them for your garden or for your retail nursery. Ordering information is provided as well as an order form you can print out and send in via snail mail or fax. The mailing address, phone and fax numbers are on their homepage. Do order the print catalog; it has more information on shipping methods and charges as well as listings of Eastern wildflowers for shade, shade plants that bloom in summer and fall and other useful tidbits of information not yet on the web site. You will find on the web, good, brief descriptions of each plant plus more detailed essays on the major genera.
Martha Oliver cordially gave me permission to snag some of their photos from the website, scan some from their print catalog and she even took time during this busy season to scan a few more for me so that I could share them with you.
There are so many plants in their catalog that are perfect for our shady gardens, but I'm going to concentrate on a few of their specialties because they are of particular interest to me and the cause of much plant lust in my heart.
Asarum - The Wild Gingers
Those of you who read my articles know that I'm a foliage nut - and particularly variegated foliage. I'm also keen on groundcover plants. Well, the genus Asarum fulfills both of these requirements. They do flower, but you have to get down on your hands and knees to see them, so it's for the foliage that I grow them.
Latest Articles