Pearly Wire Vine
Muehlenbeckia axillaris
Cold Tolerance: Zone 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 9a 9b-11
Light: P.Shade-P.Sun to Full Sun
Height: 2" groundcover
Water: Wet-Normal
Soil: Organic-Loamy
Flowers: Early Summer
Common Uses: Alpine Rockery, Garden Railroads, Groundcover, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental, Shade, Walk About
Walk About
Hardy Perennial

Survived 18 degees below zero in full wind and sun! Bronze ladybug sized leaves on wirey, thin branches are soon adorned with the tinest white flowers which become 1/8' miniature ôpearlsö in summer. No faery could resist. Outstanding ôWalk-Aboutö groundcover for stepping stones in the shade to areas that receive only half-day sunlight.
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Penstemon, Alpine Blue
Penstemon hirsutus `Pygmaeus'
Cold Tolerance: Zone 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 9a
Light: Full Sun to Sun-P.Sun
Height: 4" x 4" wide
Water: Normal
Soil: Sandy-Loamy
Flowers: Early Summer
Common Uses: Alpine Rockery, Borders, Container, Groundcover, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental
Mini Sun Shrub
Hardy Perennial (Zone 5-7 & S.W.)
New for 2007

Pot up patriotic centerpieces with these short mounds of dark green leaves and white-n-violet flowers tinged with blue, usually in bloom by the 4th of July. Unlike some other Penstemons, this is long lived and very easy to grow.
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Pilea, Trailing Blue Angel
Pilea sp.
Cold Tolerance: Zone 9a 9b-11
Light: P.Sun-P.Shade to P-Shade
Height: 1in. groundcover
Water: Normal Wet
Soil: Organic-Loamy
Common Uses: Jar-Gems" TM, Garden Railroads, Container, Groundcover, Houseplants, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental, Shade
New for 2008

Blue with silver streaked leaves is an uncommon find. Tiny, rust red flowers accentuate its pea sized foliage especially as it trails down the sides of tropical, shade, faery gardens. Perhaps you need a fast perennial groundcover (hardy in Southern Florida and warmer). Treat as an annual in most of US. Easily trimmed & controlled. KAREN
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Plectranthus, Ernsts Baobab
Plectranthus ernstii
Cold Tolerance: Zone 9a 9b-11
Light: P.Shade-P.Sun to Shade
Height: 16" x 16
Water: Dry-Normal
Soil: Sandy-Loamy
Flowers: Early Summer to Late Summer to Middle Summer
Common Uses: Jar-Gems" TM, Bonsai, Container, Houseplants, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental, Topiary
That's not for sale." We must have told 1,000 customers when they asked about our 6 year old "Ernsts Baobab." Yes, it bloomed all season with delicate white, snowflake flowers in 2" clusters on top of fleshy, scalloped shaped, minty leaves, but the real eye-catcher is the large swollen tree truck at its base. It really looks like one of those African "Baobab" trees that gets all the monkeys & warthogs drunk in the nature films. Now these are for sale.
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Portulacaria, Mini Elephant
Portulacaria afra
Cold Tolerance: Zone 8b 9a 9b-11
Light: Full Sun to Sun-P.Sun
Height: 3ft. x 3ft.
Water: Dry-Normal
Soil: Sandy-Loamy
Common Uses: Jar-Gems" TM, Garden Railroads, Bonsai, Container, Houseplants, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental
New for 2008

Compared to the "Mini Variegated Portulacaria" this clearly grows more erect and of course has solid green, succulent foliage. This is the better choice for dwarf trees. I suggest you add any "Haworthia," a groundcover of "Knawel Cushion" and a "Sweet Flag" and you've got a sunny, tropical garden for indoors and out. KAREN
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Portulacaria, Mini Variegated
Portulacaria afra 'Variegata'
Cold Tolerance: Zone 9a 9b-11
Light: Sun-P.Sun to P.Shade
Height: 3 x 3 Feet
Water: Dry-Normal
Soil: Sandy-Loamy
Flowers: Early Summer
Common Uses: , Alpine Rockery, Baskets, Garden Railroads, Houseplants, Miniature/Faery Garden, Topiary
New in 2006
Jar Gem
Tender Perennial

Start with a red stemmed "Jade Tree" and substitute the foliage with creamy white edged leaves that look like large, flattened peas studded all around the red stems. Really colorful succulent, that takes on the tree position in a dish garden.
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Primrose, Cowslip
Primula veris
Cold Tolerance: Zone 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a
Light: P.Shade-Shade to Shade
Height: 3" x 4
Water: Wet-Normal
Soil: Organic
Flowers: Early Spring to Late Spring to Middle Spring
Common Uses: Bedding Plant, Container, Groundcover, Medicinal, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental, Shade
Hardy Perennial

An English native full of myth, folklore and medicinal tradition with a rosette of dark green leaves look similar to florist primrose, but the yellow flower cluster is born on the end of an 8" stalk. We apply mulch over soil to retain moisture.
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Primrose, Gold Lace
Primula elatior-Hydrid 'Gold Lace'
Cold Tolerance: Zone 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a
Light: P.Shade-Shade to Shade
Height: 3" x 4
Water: Normal
Soil: Organic
Flowers: Early Spring to Late Spring to Middle Spring
Common Uses: Bedding Plant, Groundcover, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental, Shade
This is the antique variety from England that so long ago inspired the "Primrose Fairie" by Cicely M. Barker. The dark red flowers have a beautiful golden, picotee (outside) edge to all the petals. Faeries are shy, but you know they'll appreciate it.
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Primrose, Wanda
Primula X juliae
Cold Tolerance: Zone 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a
Light: P.Shade-Shade to Shade
Height: 2" x 4
Water: Normal
Soil: Organic
Flowers: Early Spring to Late Spring to Late Winter to Middle Spring
Common Uses: Bedding Plant, Groundcover, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental, Shade
'Wanda' is among the first flowers of spring, exploding with a fuchsia fury. It is the perfect companion with daffodils, keeping them company their entire blooming season! We consider it the toughest, hardiest primrose there is, by its behavior in our open fields. Don't have large shady areas? Just plant it on the north side of any shrub and divide clumps every year after flowers have finish.
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Privet, Mini Yellow
Lonicera nitida 'Baggescen's Gold'
Cold Tolerance: Zone 7a 7b 8a 9a 9b-11
Light: Sun-P.Sun to P.Shade
Height: 3 x 3 Feet
Water: Normal
Soil: Organic-Loamy Sandy
Flowers: No
Common Uses: Bonsai, Garden Railroads, Hedges/Shrubs, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental, Topiary
One look at this small sized privet and I imagine an English hedge outlining a slighty shaded faery garden. 3/8" golden-yellow leaves share space on this very branchy plant. Although it can grow to 3 feet, it does so slowly and is easily pruned. Use as a bonsai, shrub, small tree in railroad gardens or around a down-sized, backyard cloister garden.
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Ptilotrichum \ Tiny Shrub Alyssum
Ptilotrichum (Alyssum) spinosum
Cold Tolerance: Zone 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 9a
Light: Full Sun to P.Sun
Height: 12x12 inches
Water: Dry-Normal
Soil: Sandy
Flowers: Early Summer to Late Spring
Common Uses: Alpine Rockery, Borders, Garden Railroads, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental
New in 2006
Hardy Perennial

Related to the bedding plant white alyssum, with the same white flowers, but the similarity ends there. Its thyme-sized, silvery gray leaves form a shrubby mound or can be shaped into a mini tree. The fun (for you sadist) is that the previous year's flowers become this year's prickly spines. RXR gardeners will get a kick out of this native of the Southern France to Spain region.
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Putatoria, Pink Trumpet Bush
Putatoria calibrica
Cold Tolerance: Zone 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b
Light: Sun-P.Sun to Full Sun
Height: 4 in. x 12 in. wide
Water: Normal
Soil: Sandy-Loamy
Flowers: Early Fall to Early Summer to Late Summer to Middle Summer
Common Uses: Container, Groundcover, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental
New for 2008

It looks like it can endure the intense heat of its native Mediterranean but NOT the extreme cold of an Ohio Winter. Tight clusters of loud, pink trumpets dominate over this low, spreading green shrub, Spring through Summer. KAREN
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Ragged Robbin, Dwarf
Lychnis flos-cuculi 'Nana'
Cold Tolerance: Zone 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 9a
Light: Sun-P.Shade to Sun-P.Shade
Height: 2" x 4
Water: Dry-Normal
Soil: Sandy
Flowers: Early Summer to Late Spring to Middle Spring
Common Uses: Alpine Rockery, Bedding Plant, Borders, Groundcover, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental
Alpine, Rock Garden
Hardy Perennial

This Cicely Mary Barker faerie plant is a curious miniature with twisting, tough, shiny, dark green leaves that form a weird-looking, tight mound complete with bright pink, ragged edged flowers in spring. Lewis and Clark were intrigued by this too.
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Rosularia, White
Rosularia sedoides
Cold Tolerance: Zone 6b 7a 7b 8a 9a 9b-11
Light: Sun-P.Sun to Shade
Height: 2" x 12
Water: Dry-Normal
Soil: Sandy-Loamy
Flowers: Early Fall to Late Summer
Common Uses: Jar-Gems" TM, Borders, Groundcover, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental
Jar Gem, mini landscapes
Hardy Perennial

The soft light green rosettes with white flowers are tougher than they look. As we write this and the last snow just melted after -5 degrees, these are still looking great. They look more like a "Hen & Chick" then the Sedums to which they are related. Great for mini landscapes too.
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Rush, Var Corkscrew
Juncus effusus spiralis 'Frenzy'
Cold Tolerance: Zone 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b-11
Light: P.Sun-P.Shade to Full Sun
Height: 4in. x 8in.
Water: Wet-Normal
Soil: Organic-Loamy
Common Uses: Alpine Rockery, Container, Garden Railroads, Groundcover, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental, Shade
New for 2008

Like it exploded from the soil, 4-5" long, variegated, wirey, corkscrew leaves pop out in every direction. Will tolerant normal garden soil, but prefers wet soil, even to the point of being placed in the pond. KAREN
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Sanvitalia-Tiny Sunflowers
Sanvitalia x 'Golden Aztec'
Cold Tolerance: Zone 9a 9b-11
Light: Full Sun to Sun-P.Sun
Height: 5in. x 12in.
Water: Normal
Soil: Organic-Loamy
Common Uses: Container, Garden Railroads, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental
New for 2008

You can get corny with a little farm scene or just enjoy a patch of golden flowers on green, you'd swear looked like micro sunflowers, all season. This tough annual performs most anywhere you place it (in the sun) and it's very tolerant of drought and high temperatures. KAREN
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Sedge, Mini Chocolate-Leaf
Carex buchmanii
Cold Tolerance: Zone 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 9a 9b-11
Light: P.Shade-P.Sun to Full Sun
Height: 2" x 6" across
Water: Wet-Normal
Soil: Organic
Flowers: Middle Summer
Common Uses: Alpine Rockery, Bonsai, Garden Railroads, Groundcover, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental, Shade, Walk About
Shady Grass, Railroad
Hardy Perennial

Looking for a shade loving miniature grass for a Southwest theme railroad garden? All aboard! Rich chocolate to olive green leaves become darker chocolate color if sitied in a sunnier spot. Forms thick, tufty mounds, spreading very slowly. Frankly, it is best to dig and divide them to encourage or speed up the process of spreading, if desired. Typically rated as Zone 7, but likes our -18 winters.
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Sedum Amber Glow
Sedum adolphii 'Golden Glow'
Cold Tolerance: Zone 8a 8b 9a 9b-11
Light: Full Sun to Sun-P.Sun
Height: 24in. x 24in.
Water: Dry-Normal
Soil: Sandy-Well Drained
Flowers: Early Summer
Common Uses: Jar-Gems" TM, Baskets, Container, Ornamental
New for 2008

Huge contrasts can be found even in collections of the same genus. Take "Sedums." Plump, skinny, gold, pink, purple, thyme-like and in 'Amber Glow's case, green turning glowing red (as the temp. rises), are just a few foliar examples. Winter flowers, seen indoors in Ohio, are pure white. You'll never be bored with a "Sedum" collection. KAREN
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Sedum, Blue Crested
Sedum reflexum 'Monstrosum Cristatum'
Cold Tolerance: Zone 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 9a 9b-11
Light: Full Sun to P.Sun
Height: 4" x 8" across
Water: Dry-Normal
Soil: Sandy-Well Drained
Flowers: Late Summer
Common Uses: Jar-Gems" TM, Alpine Rockery, Container, Groundcover, Houseplants, Miniature/Faery Garden
Railroad, Mini Landscapes
Jar Gem
Hardy Perennial

Blue needled leaves pop out from around stems much like a Japanese fam. Cristata or Monstrosa are the names used to describe these weird looking mutations. Ever seen 'Fain-Tail Willow"? Well that is one example. Great dish gardens, "Jar Gem", and Southwest desert theme railroad gardens. We are still learning its hardiness and real name.
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Sedum, Blue Rosette Mini
Sedum 'pachyclados'
Cold Tolerance: Zone 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 9a 9b-11
Light: Full Sun to P.Sun
Water: Dry-Normal
Soil: Sandy-Well Drained
Flowers: Middle Summer
Common Uses: Jar-Gems" TM, Alpine Rockery, Container, Garden Railroads, Groundcover, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental
Rock Garden
Jar Gem
Hardy Perennial

Rosette of powder blue leaves that remind us of the "Moss Saxifrages," partner well with rosy-peach, summer flowers. Leaves are tightly packed on top of one another, forming bonsai- like pads. Sedums are the queen of all "Jar Gem" TM or rockeries. "Arrowhead Alpine" reports that this one is from Pakistan.
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Sedum, Blue Spruce
Sedum reflexum 'Blue Spruce'
Cold Tolerance: Zone 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 9a 9b-11
Light: Full Sun to P.Sun
Height: 4" x 12" across
Water: Dry-Normal
Soil: Sandy-Well Drained
Flowers: Middle Summer
Common Uses: Jar-Gems" TM, Alpine Rockery, Container, Groundcover, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental
Course textured groundcover sedum, with very blue (spruce colored), 1/2" long, needle-like foliage complement yellow flowers in summer. Any sedum, upright or ground hugging make a superior Jar Gem addition.
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Sedum, Coral Carpet
Sedum album 'Coral Carpet'
Cold Tolerance: Zone 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 9a 9b-11
Light: Full Sun to P.Sun
Height: 1" groundcover
Water: Dry-Normal
Soil: Sandy-Well Drained
Common Uses: Jar-Gems" TM, Alpine Rockery, Garden Railroads, Miniature/Faery Garden
First year it remained just green. "So where's the coral color?" Then, we went easy on the water for a spell and witnessed a coral red foliage transformation. We recommend you "abuse" this diminuitive groundcover with full sun and little water. Flowers pale-pink.
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