Mulberry Creek Herb Farm: Catalog/Mulberry Miniatures

Mulberry Miniatures

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Welcome to Mark’s dream section. The smaller the plant is, the more he likes it. "I find these miniatures, so often overlooked and even walked on, absolutely fascinating. Why? Possibly as I mature in my plant tastes, the subtle details of these noble, slow growers are just as exciting as their substantial, bold, splashy counterparts. Certainly it has to do with no matter how many varieties I find, there are, literally, always room for more. And there's the fact that they are just darn cute, like the tiny doll furniture, that make you yearn to be just their size. I suppose I like the contrast with this weird world and my own sacred space, where everything is child-like perfection for my boys and me. No war, no hunger, and no weeds! Creating authentic miniature worlds, transport the artists and lucky participants."

We hope you enjoy these selections as much as we have reveled in collecting them.

Saxifage, Moss Apple Blossom

Saxifage 'Apple Blossom'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a
Light: P. Shade - P. Sun
Height: 2h x 5w inches
Water: Normal
Soil: Sandy-Loamy
Common Uses:Mini Shrub

Deer and rabbits turn their noses up at the mini hen&chick like succulent foliage. Beginning late spring, evergreen mounds host pink edged, white apple blossoms that fade gracefully to an ivory white. Described as a romantic addition along walkways, mixed with alpines in a rock garden or mingled in a victorian container.

Saxifage, Moss Cloth of Gold

Saxifage 'Cloth of Gold'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a
Light: P. Shade
Height: 2h x 5 w inches
Water: Normal
Soil: Sandy-Loamy
Common Uses:Mini Shrub

Evergreen, dense mounds of golden, succulent foliage cover the ground, year round. Welcome white flowers keep it company in the spring. No hot afternoon sun!

Saxifrage, Southside

Saxifraga X 'Southside'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a
Light: Full Sun
Height: 2h x 6w inches
Water: Normal
Soil: Sandy-Loamy
Common Uses:Groundcover

Look this up on the internet (which I suggest you do often- just be sure our botanical name and the one online match), and flowers of white, heavily speckled in maroon, pop out at you. The parent plant might slowly fade after flowering leaving the burden of propagation to the self sowing seeds. Take note of the large rosettes of pale green foliage dusted with silver. Perhaps you'll remember these plants like a “chalky” limestone soil which shouts rock garden and troughs.

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: 2in. x 6in. across
Water: Wet-Normal
Soil: Organic
Flowers: Middle Summer
Common Uses:Alpine Rockery, Bonsai, Garden Railroads, Groundcover, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental, Shade, Walk About

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.

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

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.

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: 1in. 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.

Sedum, Corsican

Sedum requinii

Cold Tolerance: Zone 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b
Light: Full Sun to Sun-P.Sun
Height: 1/4in. x 12in.
Water: Dry-Normal
Soil: Sandy-Loamy
Common Uses:Jar-Gems"""""""" TM, Alpine Rockery, Container, Garden Railroads, Groundcover, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental, Walk About

Why do we need one more miniscule, green, coarse textured groundcover? Because, you can always rely on a ""Sedum"" to be low maintenance and its leaves are smaller than the last groundcover we stumbled over. How low can we go?

Sedum, Four Leaf Clover

Sedum tetractinum

Cold Tolerance: Zone 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a
Light: Full Sun - P. Shade
Height: 2h x 8w inches
Water: Normal
Soil: Sandy-Loamy
Common Uses:Mini Groundcover, Spiller

Small, upright pancake leaves, rosette-style, inspire another common name- "Coral Reef Stonecrop" and hug the ground all summer until they sun tan to a cinnamon bronze. Before that, star shaped, lemon yellow flowers rise in the summer. A.k.a. "Chinese Sedum" as a tribute to its origin.

Sedum, Frosted Gold

Sedum hispanicum minus 'Aurea'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a
Light: Full Sun
Height: 1h x 3w inches
Water: Normal
Soil: Sandy-Loamy
Common Uses:Mini Shrub

Sedum “Frosted Blue” in bright golden color. Tiny fine texture golden leaves are incredible for any miniature landscape.

Sedum, Irish Eyes

Sedum middendorfianum var. diffusum

Cold Tolerance: Zone 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 9a 9b-11
Light: Full Sun to P.Sun
Height: 2in. x 12in. wide
Water: Dry-Normal
Soil: Sandy-Well Drained
Flowers: Middle Summer
Common Uses:Jar-Gems"""""""" TM, Borders, Container, Garden Railroads, Groundcover, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental

Shades of the holidays- very cool, Irish green rosettes form thick blankets in Summer and then turn an amazing poinsettia red in Winter.

Sedum, Japanese Golden

Sedum makinoi 'Ogon'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 7a 7b 8a 9a 9b-11
Light: Full Sun to P.Sun
Height: 2in. x 12in. wide
Water: Dry-Normal
Soil: Sandy-Well Drained
Flowers: Early Summer
Common Uses:Baskets, Bedding Plant, Butterfly, Container, Culinary, Groundcover, Houseplants, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental

Sedum ""Voodoo"" and this rare cultivar inspired our Jar Gem series, that is, plants perfectly suited to the cramped quarters and dry, severe conditions of strawberry jars. You can't find this brilliant, yellow creeper from Japan in many catalogs. Lastly leaves are tasty as a ""micro-green"" salad addition

Sedum, Lamb's Tail

Sedum morganianum cv.

Cold Tolerance: Zone 8a 9a 9b-11
Light: Full Sun
Height: 2h x 10w inches
Water: Normal
Soil: Sandy-Loamy
Common Uses:Jar-Gem TM

NOT NEW Check to be sure you have the right common names

Sedum, Love's Triangle

Sedum anglicum 'Love's Triangle'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 9a 9b-11
Light: Full Sun to P.Sun
Water: Dry-Normal
Soil: Sandy-Well Drained
Flowers: Early Summer
Common Uses:Jar-Gems"""""""" TM, Borders, Container, Garden Railroads, Groundcover, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental

Of the 2 dozen miniature versions of popular perennials, this is Karen's favorite midget. Pinkish white flowers entertain irresistable, powder blue, pin head sized foliage each spring. To insure next year's crop, break off a small section and overwinter in a sunny window. From Arrowhead Alpines, so if someone finds this name incorrect, blame them.

Sedum, Pink Shield

Sedum nevii 'Pink form'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a
Light: Full Sun to P.Sun
Height: 2in. x 12in. wide
Water: Dry-Normal
Soil: Sandy-Well Drained
Flowers: Early Summer
Common Uses:Alpine Rockery, Garden Railroads, Groundcover, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental

1/2 inch greek shield shaped leaves turn dusky pink in cooler weather, creating a foliage color not otherwise available in our ""Jar Gem"" collections. Flowers are white veined pink. The Index of Garden Plants (Royal Horticulture Society) lists this as Zone 8 hardy, but it has been growing in Zone 5 for 3 years at Klyn's Nursery. We are satisfied.

Sedum, Tiny Urchin

Sedum humisifusum

Cold Tolerance: Zone 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b
Light: Full Sun to Sun-P.Sun
Height: 1in. x 12in. wide
Water: Dry-Normal
Soil: Sandy-Loamy
Common Uses:Jar-Gems"""""""" TM, Alpine Rockery, Container, Garden Railroads, Groundcover, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental, Walk About

This tough Sedum looks like it belongs underwater among the corals. Glossy green, urchin stems grow very compact and spread very slowly. Other possible candidates for an underwater scene on land?- ""Drabas, Limonium (Tiny Sea Statice), Mini Pastel Yarrow and Chocolate Sedge.""

Sedum, Tokyo Sun

Sedum japonicum 'Tokyo Sun'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 7a 7b 8a 9a 9b-11
Light: Full Sun
Height: 2h x 4w inches
Water: Normal
Soil: Sandy-Loamy
Common Uses:Mini Shrub, Drought Tolerant Groundcover

Some folks say this sedum hates full sun and we agree. A shaded site turns the foliage light lime green. Afternoon sun turns the foliage almost white and could burn it even with regular watering. We like a morning sun spot where the leaves glow golden. We use this variety more than “Japanese Golden Sedum” in miniature landscapes because the leaves are smaller, so it is appropriately scaled for tinier tasks. Tasty in salads too!

Sedum, Tricolor Carpet

Sedum spurium 'Tricolor'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 9a
Light: Full Sun to P.Sun
Height: 2in. x 12in. wide
Water: Dry-Normal
Soil: Sandy-Well Drained
Flowers: Early Summer
Common Uses:Jar-Gems"""""""" TM, Container, Garden Railroads, Groundcover, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental

White, pink, and green foliage with pink flowers in June- can you imagine a more colorful groundcover? Tough as nails hardy perennial for front of the flower bed, hanging basket or miniature gardens. Remove any solid green stems as these can take over the tricolored foliage.

Sedum, Voodoo

Sedum spurium 'Voodoo'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 9a
Light: Full Sun to P.Sun
Height: 2in. x 12in. wide
Water: Dry-Normal
Soil: Sandy-Well Drained
Flowers: Early Summer
Common Uses:Jar-Gems"""""""" TM, Bees, Container, Garden Railroads, Groundcover, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental

I can't think of a darker, (mahogany, almost black) foliaged representative from the plant world. Imagine the color contrast in your garden of a low, 2"" groundcover spilling over light colored stones, or nestled next to Sedum, ""Golden"" as a ""Jar Gem"". This is sure to be a garden classic.

Senna, Desert Candle

Senna polyphylla

Cold Tolerance: Zone 8a 9a 9b-11
Light: Sun-P.Sun to P.Shade
Height: to 10 feet
Water: Normal-Dry dormancy
Soil: Organic-Loamy
Flowers: Middle Summer to Late Summer
Common Uses:Bonsai, Houseplants, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental, Topiary

Very rare Caribbean Pea family tree that makes and easy bonsai or mini tropical tree that looks like a graceful ""Honey Locust"". You know, that lawn tree that's in everyone yard with that light, airy look, usually golden. The Senna leaf is however dark green to a purplish, only 1 inch long with 7-10 pairs of eraser head size leaftets. Very delicate, oh ya did a mention the bright yellow 1 inch summer flowers?

Serissa Snowrose, Cherry Blossom

Serissa foetida 'Cherry Blossom'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 8a 9a 9b-11
Light: Sun-P.Sun to P.Shade
Height: up to 2 feet
Water: Wet-Normal
Soil: Organic-Loamy
Flowers: Early Winter to Late Winter to Middle Winter
Common Uses:Bonsai, Garden Railroads, Hedges/Shrubs, Houseplants, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental, Topiary

Instead of the loud, varigated leaves of ""Pink Mountain"", this foliage is delicately edged in white with strong, single pink flowers. Natural miniature tree that does not like to dry out.

Serissa Snowrose, Cherry Blossom 5in.+

Serissa foetida 'Cherry Blossom'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 8a 9a 9b-11
Light: Sun-P.Sun to P.Shade
Height: 3' x 3' wide
Water: Wet-Normal
Soil: Organic-Loamy
Flowers: Early Winter to Late Winter to Middle Winter
Common Uses:Bonsai, Garden Railroads, Hedges/Shrubs, Houseplants, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental, Topiary

Instead of the loud, varigated leaves of ""Pink Mountain"", this foliage is delicately edged in white with strong, single pink flowers. Natural miniature tree that does not like to dry out.

Serissa Snowrose, Double White

Serissa foetida 'Fleno-Plora'

This all green tropical shrub looks like a mini magnolia tree, but blooms most of the year! Grows best when temperatures are above 60 degrees (although a light frost is O.K.) Very appropriate for bonsai. Because of my divided attention between my sons and our business and the careful neglect I give my test subjects, I have gained yet another ""hat"", this one as unofficial tester of houseplants. I declare this plant the 2004/2005 winter winner of the ragaves of our warm, dry, poorly lit (compared to outdoors) home and oops! occasional watering!

Serissa Snowrose, Double White 5in.+

Serissa foetida 'Fleno-Plora'

Serissa Snowrose, Pink Mountain

Serissa foetida 'Pink Mountain'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 8a 9a 9b-11
Light: Sun-P.Sun to P.Shade
Height: to 2 feet
Water: Wet-Normal
Soil: Organic-Loamy
Flowers: Early Winter to Late Winter to Middle Winter
Common Uses:Bonsai, Garden Railroads, Hedges/Shrubs, Houseplants, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental, Topiary

A striking, variegated leaved miniature pink magnolia tree! Doesn't bloom as freely as ""Cherry Blossom"" but I have to admit, it does not need flowers to charm visitors. Like ""Cherry Blossom"", it prefers temperatures above 60 degrees (although a light freeze is okay) and does not like to dry out. Still, it is a great bonsai and miniature landscape tree.