Calanthe aristulifera Gladiolus Usually the evergreen foliage gets

Usually the evergreen foliage gets tattered overwinter

Liatris pycnostachya is an amazing Central US (Canada south to Texas) prairie native that's one of the most stunning of the blazing star species

this may be the closest you'll ever get

sieboldiana 'Elegans' from Rick Crowder of NC's Hawksridge Nursery is sure to become an industry standard

The clumps are topped with 40" flower spikes of light lavender flowers in July

Calanthe aristulifera Gladiolus Usually the evergreen foliage getsCalanthe aristulifera is one of the rarest of the Japanese endemic species from the mountains of Japan's Kyushu island. Calanthe aristulifera forms an 18" wide clump of pleated, evergreen leaves topped in mid spring with 15" tall flower spikes lined with small light pink flowers. We find a slightly moist organic rich soil is best, although these are extraordinarily drought tolerant.