Wholesale Product Guide Supplement 2022
Great plants start here.
The Mt. Cuba CollectionTM The Mt. Cuba Collection™ features a selection of exceptional native plants that provide stunning seasonal interest while welcoming wildlife into your garden. Selected for distinguished ornamental appeal and broad regional adaptability, items included in this collection have risen to become five of the most fashionable native selections available. Tucked away in rolling hills of Hockessin, Delaware, Mt. Cuba’s plant trialing program endeavors to select exceptional native plants—with an eye for ecological value and beauty—in an effort to make these plants more readily availability to garden enthusiasts. Mt. Cuba’s mission is to inspire an appreciation for the beauty and value of native plants, as well as a commitment to protect habitats which sustain. North Creek is proud to partner with Mt. Cuba Center to raise industry awareness for these superior introductions. For a list of the Mt. Cuba CollectionTM items available at North Creek, see page 7.
“What I love most about the trial garden at Mt. Cuba is the educational value it provides by inspiring beginning gardeners, experts, and the nursery industry. Our findings help gardeners make well-informed decisions and find success with exceptional native plant selections—all while adding beauty and wildlife value to the home landscapes.” – Sam Hoadley, Manager of Horticultural Research
New Products........................................... 4–9 Meet Victoria Bolden 40/40...................... 5 Growers Corner........................................ 8-9 Trial Gardens................................................. 9 Collections.............................................. 10-11 Custom Grow, Resources.....................12-13 SANC.............................................................13 Shipping, Letter from Steve.................14-15
Emerging spring foliage of Iris versicolor ‘Purple Flame’ (pictured on cover) along with the quintessential blueflag flower (pictured above). Genera evaluations at Mt. Cuba Center (pictured left) help identify species and selections that are best suited to the mid-Atlantic region. Iris versicolor ‘Purple Flame’ was awarded 2022 herbaceous Plant of the Year by Delaware Nursery & Landscape Association.
Eupatorium purpureum Euphoria™ Ruby PPAF
Joe-pye weed
A compact, early flowering variety of the classic summer flowering native. Growers find its compact habit easy to produce, while homeowners find this selection ideal for including in the mid-height perennial border. Pollinators adore the early onset of flowers. FS | 24-36” | Z 4-9 | LP32
NEW PLANT INTRODUCTIONS A plant for every purpose—2022 is the year of the garden! With people aching to return to natural rhythms as evidenced by several companies choosing a restorative green for their Color of the Year—meet your garden customers where they’re at by growing low-maintenance perennials that bring nature home. Explore our collections that showcase pollinator appeal and create solutions for tricky garden environments. Consider incorporating our carefree groundcovers to minimize the need for weeding, and our genera collections that showcase disease resistance, tidy habits, and flower power—Great Plants Start Here™!
Pollinator Appeal Achillea millefolium
common yarrow
Naturalized yarrow has soft, fern-like foliage that provides textural interest in the garden. Flower heads are compact clusters of small yellowish-white ray and disk flowers that sit atop sturdy, upright stems. Beloved by pollinators, yarrow spreads by rhizome and can be trained into full sun lawn substitute. FS | 1-3’ | Z 3-9 | LP50
Lavandula × intermedia Sensational! ® PP31786
Lavender
Peace Tree has done it again-heat and humidity tolerance, as well as cold tolerancemake this selection a sensational addition to a wider range of gardens! Thick fuzzy flowers, sturdy stems, excellent branching, and dense mounds of silver foliage make this selection a true compliment to its cousin, Lavandula × PhenomenalTM. FS | 24-30” | Z 5-9 | 50
Heliopsis
Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra ‘Bleeding Hearts’
Ox-eye daisy
A seed selection from Jelitto Perennial Seeds, Heliopsis ‘Bleeding Hearts’ stands 4’ tall with dark purple foliage and black stems providing a perfect foil for the semi-double blooms beginning as a fire red then orangered turning to bronze as they fade. ‘Bleeding Hearts’ begins blooming in its first year and flowers from June to mid-October. PS-FS | 3-4’| z 3-9 | LP32
Great plants start here.
Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra ‘Burning Hearts’
Ox-eye daisy
‘Burning Hearts’ stands 4’ tall with dark red-purple foliage and abundant contrasting yellow daisy-like flowers with orange centers. Plant begins blooming in its first year, flowering from June to midOctober. FS-PS | 3-4’ | z 3-9 | 50, LP32
Groundcovers Lysimachia lanceolata ‘Burgundy Mist’
Lance-leaved loosestrife
Short stature, continuous cheerful yellow blooms, and the exquisite bronze foliage of this native gem bumps ‘Burgundy Mist’ into the ranks of favorite groundcovers. Its carefree nature and ability to keep weeds at bay are winning over our trial gardens team as well as garnering the attention of garden visitors! Sunny spots paint the leaves a cast of bronze—truly a 3-season all-star! FS-PS | 1-2’ | z 4-8 | LP32 Scutellaria ‘Appalachian Blues’ PPAF
Skullcap
Underused in the landscape—rediscover the beauty and versatility of Scutellaria! Selected by Peter Heus, this naturally occurring hybrid of S. serrata × incana has 8 weeks of flower power, but the real beauty rests along the dark cast to serrated leaves margins. Adapts to both sun and shade, with spikes of bicolor purple-white flowers that bloom for weeks on end. FS-FSh | 12-15” | z 5-9 | 50 NEW PLANT INTRODUCTIONS continued on next page >>
Join us in congratulating Victoria Bolden for being honored as part of GPN Magazine 40 Under 40—celebrating the next generation of growers—an award which recognizes bright, young stars who are making advancements in our industry and their respective business, community, and personal life. A Penn State University alum, Victoria graduated with high distinction with a major in horticulture and minor in entomology. Prior to landing at North Creek, Victoria cut her teeth at Morris Arboretum, Longwood Gardens, and Mt. Cuba Center. As Production Administrator, Victoria wears many hats, and at the top of her task list is managing our in-house stock program and harvesting over three million cuttings annually! Victoria also manages our cutting and stock crews and purchases for stock, cuttings, grasses, and bare root materials. Additionally, she supports our Systems Approach to Nursery Certification (SANC) protocols and is a driving force in this program’s success at North Creek. What is it they say about “all work and no play?” Aside from plants, Victoria finds pleasure in honing her craft in writing fiction, and recently published her first novel, Aqua 1—Over the Brine. Industrious, dedicated, attentive, warm, and the consummate professional, Victoria performs her work with earnest love, and our production team is all the greater because of her contributions. Congratulations, Victoria!
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NORTH CREEK NURSERIES • 877.ECO.PLUG | 610.255.0100 • www.northcreeknurseries.com • sales@northcreeknurseries.com
MEET VICTORIA BOLDEN 40/40
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NEW PLANT INTRODUCTIONS continued
Monarda
Rudbeckia triloba ‘Prairie Glow’
Three-lobed coneflower
With brightly colored flowers of yellow with a bright red eye fading to a glowing orange to bronze, this native beauty brings fire to the sunny border. It’s multibranching habit provides dense flower cover, and it blooms July-October. FS | 24-40” | z 4-8 | 72, LP50
Monarda ‘Gardenview Scarlet’
beebalm
One of the most mildew resistant bee balm varieties available—this classic has rose-red flowers on 3’ stems. Long-flowering and loved by bees and hummingbirds June through August. FS-PS | 2-3’ | z 4-9 | 72
Monarda ‘Judith’s Fancy Fuchsia’
beebalm
A fan favorite at Mt. Cuba Center’s Monarda trials thanks to superior resistance to powdery mildew—this selection boasts sturdy, upright stems, and a prolific floral display of purplishred flowers atop clean green foliage. FS-PS | 36-44” | z 4-9 | 72
Monarda ‘Purple Rooster’
beebalm
The darkest, truest purple flowers to come out of Mt. Cuba’s bee balm evaluations—this selection has upright rigid stems, strongly verticality, and a rough, sand-papery texture to its foliage. Very resistant to powdery mildew. FS-PS | 36-44” | z 4-9 | 72
Rudbeckia
Rudbeckia ‘American Gold Rush’ PP28498
Black-eyed susan
Salvia
Salvia nemorosa ‘April Night’ PP26520
Garden sage
An early blooming, petite Salvia— flowering a full month earlier than the popular Salvia ‘May Night’. Lush violetblue blooms from spring to summer. Great drought and mildew resistance. FS | 12” | z 4-10 | 50
Salvia nemorosa ‘Rose Marvel’ PP30118
Garden sage
The ultra-large flowers of ‘Rose Marvel’ bring a rich, deep rose color to the popular Marvel collection and impact to the landscape. This selection features a long flowering window and re-blooms without being cut back. FS | 10-12” | z 4-9 | 50
Late Season Color
Aster novae-angliae ‘Grape Crush’ PPAF
New England aster
Covered in blooms on a domed and shorter version of a black-eyed Susan. It hides spent blooms to provide uniform color as it blooms for weeks on end. Due to its thinner, hairier leaves, it is found to be resistant to Septoria leaf spot. FS | 18-24” | z 4-9 | 72, LP50
This early fall bloomer grows into a perfect, well-formed mound 30” tall and 40” wide. Covered in deep, rich purple flowers, this selection is as great garden addition for extended bloom period. FS | 26-30” | z 3-8 | 50
Rudbeckia fulgida var. deamii
Helianthus salicifolius ‘Autumn Gold’ PP30117
Deam’s black-eyed Susan
It’s back! While there may be a bounty of black-eyed Susan on the market, what makes this beauty a dream come true is its ability to wrap durability with disease and pest resistance into one tidy package. RHS plant of merit! FS | 2-3’ | z 4-9 | 72, LP50
Willow-leaf sunflower
Blooming September until a hard frost, ‘Autumn Gold’ has narrow, dark green willow-like foliage that forms a tight mound and tidy shrub-like appearance. Expect a blaze of color come autumn, and a flurry of late season pollinators. FS | 24-26” | z 5-10 | 50
Mt. Cuba Collection
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TM
Ironweed
A diminutive hybrid worthy of celebration! Olive green foliage with a purple cast on wine red stems—covered in deep purple flowers from early to midautumn. Strong, upright garden habit. Interlocking branches prevent habit from splaying open. FS | 30-40” | z 4-9 | 50
Ferns
Aster novae-angliae ‘Bluebird’
‘Bluebird’ was discovered in Guilford, CT as a spontaneously occurring seedling and introduced to the industry in 1994 by Mt. Cuba. No stranger to pollinators—you will hear the distinct buzz of bees and insects long before the beautiful sky-blue flowers come into focus. The flowers in combination with its consistently clean foliage make for an extremely attractive and dependable landscape companion.
Aster novae-angliae ‘Purple Dome’
Athyrium niponicum ‘Regal Red’
Japanese painted fern
Handsome and ruffled, this high-color selection has been a much-requested Japanese painted fern. The dark violetred interior of each ‘Regal Red’ frond is contrasted by bright silver edges making each leaflet distinct and creating an overall tapestry effect. The pinnules also twist a little giving the frond a “fluffed” up look. PS-SH | 12-18” | z 4-9 | LP32 Onoclea sensibilis
Sensitive fern
A freely running, deciduous fern with broad, pinnate, smooth leaves. It spreads in moist soil and stays low to the ground, usually not more than 12-18”, though heights of up to 3’ are possible in ideal conditions. Very effective as a moist shade groundcover. PS-SH | 1-2’” | z 2-10 | LP32 Polystichum acrostichoides
Christmas fern
While not as showy as some others, this fern makes up for it with its tidy habit, easy-going culture, and lustrous, nearly evergreen leaves. Often used in Christmas floral arrangements because it is still attractive in December. Wonderful companion for spring blooming bulbs. PS-SH | 12-18” | z 3-9 | LP32
In early autumn, ‘Purple Dome’ is covered in dense clusters of purple, daisy-like, semi-double flowers. It is a refined plant for the garden border with its symmetrical, compact mounded form reaching only 2’ tall. It grows in sun to filtered shade and performs best in moist, well-drained soil, though it is tolerant of short dry periods. A triedand-true selection discovered by Robert Seip of Lennilea Farm and introduced by Mt. Cuba in 1989.
Coreopsis tripteris ‘Gold Standard’
This selection combines all the great attributes of the straight species including excellent hardiness and disease resistance, wrapped up in a smaller and sturdier habit. Although still a large plant at just under six feet tall, ‘Gold Standard’ has strong stems that never flop—and with this sturdiness comes better floral display. A selection made by Mt. Cuba Center from seed collected in Alabama. Iris versicolor ‘Purple Flame’
Welcome spring with the arrival of Iris ‘Purple Flame’! A favorite of our blue flag collection since 2020, ‘Purple Flame’ bears striking eggplant-purple new foliage, and as the weather warms, the bold purple leaves start transition to tones of green more typical of the species. In late spring to early summer, dark stems produce dark purple flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Solidago sphacelata ‘Golden Fleece’
Vines
NORTH CREEK NURSERIES • 877.ECO.PLUG | 610.255.0100 • www.northcreeknurseries.com • sales@northcreeknurseries.com
Vernonia ‘Summer’s Swan Song’ PP28556
Clematis virginiana
Old man’s beard
A native replacement to the invasive sweet autumn clematis (Clematis ternifolia), expect a bevy of late summer clusters of small white flowers followed by feathery achenes. Prefers moist conditions at the edge of the woods but will tolerate a wide range of conditions once established. FS-PS | 15-22” | z 4-9 | 50
NEW PLANT INTRODUCTIONS continued on next page >>
Truly a plant that stands the test of time, ‘Golden Fleece’ was a chance seedling found in Eden, NC and shared with former Mt. Cuba director, Dr. Richard Lighty in 1985 for evaluation. All these years later, ‘Golden Fleece’ continues to prove garden worthiness. Late season pollinator appeal, this compact form of Solidago sphacelata is a highly adaptable goldenrod that thrives in full sun to partshade and average to dry soils. Are you a retail garden center currently offering these items? List your garden center’s website and location on Mt. Cuba’s website, https://mtcubacenter.org/action/nursery/. Direct Questions to Caroline Ralston, cralston@mtcubacenter.org
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NEW PLANT INTRODUCTIONS continued
Grasses & Sedges
Perennials
Carex ‘Silver Sceptre’
Heuchera longiflora
This garden-worthy selection is adaptable to a wide range of soil conditions and thrives under part to full shade. Narrow leaves outlined with white margins create a fine texture—one of the best and hardiest variegated evergreen sedges on the market. Rhizomatous and quick to form thick silvery clumps. Salt tolerant to boot! PS-SH | 12” | z 5-9 | LP32
Back and ready for direct installations in our LP32 size! Spring produces towering stems of white flowers. Summer, a sea of green foliage mottled in silver highlights, leaving autumn aglow in casts of red foliage. PS-SH | 8-14” | z 4-8 | LP32
Hakonechloa macra
Heuchera ‘Bronze Wave’
Easily flowing through the landscape, this grass softens the border with its gracefully arching blades as they drift between plantings. The soft vibrant green is especially stunning in large masses under limbed-up deciduous trees. PS-SH | 24-30” | z 4-7 | LP32
New size added! Heuchera ‘Bronze Wave’ is a large and sturdy fall flowering shade groundcover with spikes of petite, creamy white flowers. A shiny, lacquered finish adds unique color to the landscape. Happily grows amongst trees with established root zones. PS-SH | 12-24” | z 3-9| LP32
Sesleria autumnalis
Iris versicolor ‘Purple Flame’
Japanese sedge
Japanese forest grass
Autumn moor grass One of the best groundcovers in the game! Low mounding, finely textured, cool season grass topped in wheat-colored seed heads in autumn. Adapts to most site con¬ditions—does not self-sow. FS-PS | 1-2’ | z 5-9 | LP32
longflower alumroot
coralbell
blueflag
A first sign of spring as the striking eggplant-purple foliage emerges. As weather warms, the bold purple coloration starts to fade, eventually turning back to tones of green characteristic of the species. In late spring to early summer, dark stems produce rich purple flowers that attract an assortment of pollinators. An adaptable perennial that can tolerate wet feet. FS-PS | 2-3’ | z 2-7 | LP32
Sorghastrum nutans Golden Sunset™ PPAF
Yellow prairie grass
GROWERS CORNER
Selected for upright stature, clean foliage, and plentiful early to bloom golden-bronze flower plumes—this gem grows on a wide variety of sites and soils with winter hardiness to Z3! When in need of a native warm season grass with the verticality of Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’, your search ends with Sorghastrum Golden Sunset™. FS | 4-6’ | z 3-9 | 50, LP50
Francisco ‘Pancho’ Castillo Ramirez— 28 Years and Counting! Ask anyone at North Creek who the real boss is—the big jefe—you’ll get a resounding reply, Francisco ‘Pancho’ Castillo! Since Pancho’s start in 1993, he has worn many hats. From material handler, section grower, and production manager to his current role as senior grower & propagator. I met Pancho on my first day at North Creek. I was dropped off in his 1.13-acre gutter connect range. He taught me everything he knew about seed propagation, and how to navigate cuttings and tissue culture using a boom mist system. Pancho is very attuned to the success of his crop’s—so much so that he knows when a seed isn’t germinating on time. It is this strict attention to detail that has proved critical for both the production and growing departments.
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Phlox carolina ssp. carolina ‘Kim’
thickleaf phlox
Thought lost in the trade but she’s back! Bright pink five-petaled flowers are open and airy, resting just above very narrow, clean green foliage; blooming summer into early autumn, Phlox ‘Kim’ forms a nice mat along the front of the perennial border. Stems are sturdy, and this selection has excellent mildew resistance. FS - PS | 18-24” | z 5-9 | 72 Pycnanthemum tenuifolium
slender mountain mint
Rounding out our mountain mint collection is the finely textured foliage P. tenuifolium—a more delicate appearance than P. muticum with all the same pollinator appeal. The slender, lanceolate foliage creates a fine texture, and the densely branched stems spreads via rhizome. White blooms in late summer. FS - PS | 24-30” | z 4-8 | LP32 Sisyrinchium angustifolium ‘Suwannee’
blue-eyed grass
Soft blue, star shaped flowers with gold centers peak out above fine, iris-like foliage from May to June. Tidier habit with more flower power than the straight species; strong floral show without seeding around. Blueeyed grass works overtime with its combo of durable foliage and floral appeal. FS-PS | 8-10” | z 4-9 | 72
Pancho and I walk his greenhouse range three days a week and use this time to bounce ideas off one another, problem solve, and connect to the crops. If I’m seeking historical data on a plant process, I go to him first. When not discussing plants, we chat about our running endeavors and training schedules. Pancho’s family is big into running races together—recently completing the Boston half marathon with his kids! A quiet soul who always wears a smile—though getting Pancho to crack a smile for a photo is nearly impossible! He is always willing to face the task at hand and share knowledge with the team. A mentor to all at North Creek, I am grateful to have him as a part of my career path and the opportunity to work alongside the big jefe! — from the desk of Maddie Maynor, Growing Operations Manager
Over 3 acres of garden space make up our living laboratory. From a tall meadow to a constructed wetland to vegetated retaining walls and sideby-side trials, we use these areas to evaluate our catalog material and trial plants brought in from plant breeders, industry suppliers, native plant enthusiasts, and our own selections. Plant material goes through a rigorous vetting process and must meet the standards of the New Plant Principles— the plant is garden-worthy, not aggressive or invasive, and requires little maintenance once established. Catalog and trial materials are evaluated by our staff, and you, our valued customers! Plant form and habit, disease and pest resistance, culture, wildlife value, and potential for landscape or garden application are all taken into consideration when deciding on what plants we’ll bring to market. What does this mean for you? When visiting our trial gardens, you are seeing the plants as they are—their growth patterns, their drawbacks, their relationship with insects and wildlife, and their limitations. The information we gather and share is based on three decades of real-world experience, plant trials, critical feedback from our customers, and global collaborations with entities and individuals engaged in scientific research. To learn more, please contact our Plant Trials & Gardens Manager, Arden Pontasch, arden@northcreeknurseries.com.
NORTH CREEK NURSERIES • 877.ECO.PLUG | 610.255.0100 • www.northcreeknurseries.com • sales@northcreeknurseries.com
OUR TRIAL GARDENS
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POLLINATOR PLANTS 1.Lobelia cardinalis 2.Lonicera ‘Major Wheeler’ 3.Chelone ‘Hot Lips’ 4.Echinacea ‘Magnus’ 5.Eupatorium ‘Little Joe’ 6.Geranium ‘Ingwersen’s Variety’ 7.Monarda ‘Claire Grace’ 8.Phlox ‘Jeana’ 9.Physostegia ‘Pink Manners’ 10.Sedum ‘Autumn Fire’ 11.Asclepias tuberosa (pictured) 12.Achillea ‘Moonshine’ 13.Coreopsis ‘Gilded Lace’ 14.Coreopsis ‘Sunshine Superman’ 15.Gelsemium ‘Margarita’ 16.Helenium autumnale 17.Helianthus ‘First Light’ 18.Oenothera fruticosa 19.Ratibita pinnata 20.Rudbeckia fulgida var. fulgida 21.Solidago ‘Solar Cascade’ 22.Agastache ‘Black Adder’ 23.Aster novae-angliae ‘Purple Dome’ 24.Caryopteris Blue Empire™ 25.Lavandula ‘Phenomenal’ 26.Liatris microcephala 27.Nepeta ‘Walker’s Low’ 28.Perovskia ‘Superba’ 29.Scutellaria incana 30.Salvia ‘Caradonna’ 31.Vernonia noveboracensis 32.Veronicastrum ‘Lavender Towers’ 33.Boltonia ‘Snowbank’ 34.Calamintha ‘White Cloud’ 35.Eryngium yuccifolium 36.Penstemon ‘Husker Red’
COLLECTIONS FROM THE CREEK! We’re grateful for your quest to find plants that provide solutions to your unique gardening experiences. These North Creek collections were built out of customer need— thanks for relying on our plant expertise and trialing experience to help build plant collection with garden solutions! If you build it, they will come. As the value of pollinator species diversity and interest continues on the uptick, we’re hoping our top selling pollinator collection helps your bottom line. Year round, our customer service team is busy fielding an array of plant performance and management questions. Beyond what’s new, the dialogue has shifted focus to what will work best?
DRY SHADE 1. Carex eburnea 2. Tricyrtis ‘Sinonome’ (pictured) 3. Solidago caesia 4. Aster cordifolius 5. Scutellaria ovata 6. Dryopteris ‘Brilliance’ 7. Polystichum acrostichoides 8. Carex ‘Evergold’ 9. Euphorbia amygdaloides var. robbiae 10.Helleborus foetidus 11. Heuchera ‘Caramel’ 12.Aster divaricatus
WINTER INTEREST 1.Lobelia ‘Black Truffle’ 2.Penstemon ‘Blackbeard’ (pictured) 3.Salvia ‘Purple Knockout’ 4.Hypericum calycinum 5.Lysimachia lanceolata var. purpurea 6.Oenothera ‘Fireworks’ 7.Sedum sexangulare 8.Sedum ‘Blue Spruce’ 9.Carex amphibola 10.Polystichum polyblepharum 11.Helleborus Brandywine™ 12.Rubus calycinoides
GROUNDCOVERS 1.Callirhoe involucrata 2.Fragaria ‘Lipstick’ 3.Geranium maculatum 4.Stachys ‘Silver Carpet’ 5.Oenothera ‘Siskiyou’ 6.Salvia ‘Purple Knockout’ 7.Chrysogonum ‘Quinn’s Gold’ 8.Eriogonum ‘Little Rascal’ 9.Geum fragarioides 10.Hypericum ‘Brigadoon’ 11.Packera aurea 12.Athyrium ‘Regal Red’ 13.Ceratostigma plumbaginoides 14.Dracocephalum ‘Blue Dragon’ 15.Meehania cordata 16.Verbena ‘Homestead Purple’ 17.Anemone sylvestris (pictured) 18.Antennaria plantaginifolia 19.Asarum canadense 20.Aster ‘Snow Flurry’ 21.Erigeron ‘Lynnhaven Carpet’ 22.Heuchera longiflora 23.Rubus calycinoides 24.Tiarella ‘Running Tapestry’
1.Lonicera ‘Major Wheeler’ 2.Helenium ‘Tiny Dancer’ 3.Callisia ‘Morning Grace’ 4.Chelone ‘Hot Lips’ 5.Fragaria ‘Lipstick’ 6.Geranium ‘Espresso’ 7.Phlox ‘Jeana’ 8.Phlox Earlibeauty® ‘Rose Bouquet’ 9.Porteranthus ‘Pink Profusion’ 10.Silene ‘Short and Sweet’ 11.Eriogonum allenii ‘Little Rascal’ 12.Chrysogonum ‘Allen Bush’ 13.Chrysogonum ‘Quinn’s Gold’ 14.Coreopsis ‘Gold Standard’ 15.Coreopsis ‘Sunshine Superman’ 16.Gelsemium ‘Margarita’ 17.Solidago ‘Solar Cascade’ 18.Thermopsis ‘Sophia’ 19.Panicum ‘Cape Breeze’ 20.Schizachyrium ‘Standing Ovation’ 21.Dracocephalum ‘Blue Dragon’ 22.Aster ‘Avondale’ 23.Kalimeris ‘Blue Star’ 24.Kalimeris ‘Daisy Mae’ 25.Salvia ‘Caradonna’ 26.Sisyrinchium ‘Lucerne’ (pictured) 27.Vernonia ‘Iron Butterfly’ 28.Viola ‘Silver Gem’ 29.Aster ‘Eastern Star’ 30.Erigeron ‘Lynnhaven Carpet’ 31.Heuchera ‘Dale’s Strain’ 32.Phlox Earlibeauty® ‘Daughter of Pearl’ 33.Phlox Earlibeauty® ‘Rose Bouquet’ 34.Phlox Earlibeauty® ‘Solar Flare’ 35.Tiarella ‘Running Tapestry’ 36.Helleborus BrandywineTM
LONG BLOOM TIME 1.Lonicera ‘Major Wheeler’ 2.Fragaria ‘Lipstick’ 3.Gaura ‘Siskiyou Pink’ 4.Geranium ‘Rozanne’ 5.Penstemon Red Rocks® 6.Silene ‘Short and Sweet’ 7.Coreopsis ‘Sunshine Superman’ 8.Nepeta ‘Junior Walker’ 9.Perovskia ‘Blue Jean Baby’ 10.Viola ‘Silver Gem’ 11.Kalimeris ‘Blue Star’ 12.Calamintha ‘White Cloud’ 13.Hydrangea ‘Haas’ Halo’ (pictured) 14.Panicum ‘Cape Breeze’ 15.Salvia ‘Snow Hill’
MULTIPLE SEASONS OF INTEREST 1.Sedum sieboldii 2.Athyrium filix-femina ‘Victoriae’ 3.Bouteloua ‘Blonde Ambition’ 4.Carex ‘Variegata’ 5.Deschampsia ‘Goldtau’ 6.Hakonechloa ‘Albovariegata’ 7.Muhlenbergia UNDAUNTED® 8.Schizachyrium ‘Standing Ovation’ 9.Amsonia hubrichtii 10.Vernonia ‘Iron Butterfly’ 11.Anemone × hybrida ‘Honorine Jobert’ 12.Heuchera ‘Frosted Violet’
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NORTH CREEK NURSERIES • 877.ECO.PLUG | 610.255.0100 • www.northcreeknurseries.com • sales@northcreeknurseries.com
NORTH CREEK UNIQUE
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CUSTOM ORDERS We are happy to discuss growing a crop in your chosen size or a variety not listed in our catalog. Minimum quantity per variety may vary, please email our customer service team for details and inquiries, order@northcreeknurseries.com. Custom Grow Request forms can be downloaded from the availability page of our website.
OUR BROKER NETWORK Ball Seed Company 630-231-3600 BFG Supply Company 800-883-0234 Bondi Plant Brokerage 619-403-0238 Eason Horticultural Resources 800-214-2221 Express Seed Company 800 221-3838 Florasource 949-498-1131 Germania 800-380-4721 Griffin 800-323-7253 Holland Garden Products 616-399-1919 McHutchison 800-943-2230 Mid-Atlantic Plant Company 800-366-0350 Perennial Market 877-766-8748 Robin Wittman Company 845-222-7036 Star Roses & Plants 800-458-6559 The Henry F. Michell Company 800-422-4678 The Nursery Stock Market 503-357-5357 Vaughan’s Horticulture 855-864-3300
INDUSTRY INSIGHTS Tony Post of Brookdale Treeland Nurseries Valleybrook Farm, chose Schizachyrium scoparium ‘Standing Ovation’ as a top performer for the Canadian region. “This selection adds excellent texture to the summer garden, while burgundy highlights add late season appeal. Seed heads are particularly attractive when backlit.”
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SANC
A Systems Approach to Nursery Certification
PPA 2022 PLANT OF THE YEAR Schizachyrium scoparium and outstanding cultivars! The Perennial Plant of the Year® program highlights perennials that standout amongst the competition. Since 1990, plants bestowed this honor have criteria in common including: suitable for a wide range of growing climates, require minimal maintenance inputs, possess multiple seasons of interest, and are free from pest and disease issues. 2022 marks the year of Schizachyrium scoparium and notable cultivars of this species! We love little bluestem, and with so many improved selections of Schizachyrium scoparium, gardeners from all regions are certain to find something that works for their needs. Schizachyrium ‘Standing Ovation’—North Creek’s first patented plant introduction—is as friendly in production as it is eye-catching in the landscape. Truly a no flop-no fuss, four season all-star that provides excellent ecosystem benefits for wildlife while knitting the perennial border together with texture and verticality. https://perennialplant.org/news/575083/2022-PerennialPlant-of-the-Year-Announced.htm
ONLINE RESOURCE CENTER Stay up to date with our growing list of resources on ISSUU.com. Following our stack guarantees you’ll receive live notifications when we publish new booklets, fliers, and North Creek related content. No matter your preferred platform, we’ve got you covered! Together, our wholesale product guide, seasonal supplements, electronic library, and information driven website deliver exactly what you need to build a distinctive and diverse perennial program with quality products and depth of offering.
Questions? E-mail our marketing team! marketing@northcreeknurseries.com
North Creek has been recognized as SANC compliant, becoming the 2nd nursery in the Keystone State and the 5th nursery in the nation to receive this designation. The Systems Approach to Nursery Certification is a certification system based on how plants are produced rather than how plants appear at the time of a single inspection. SANC is an ongoing effort to incorporate the designated processes into existing state based certification programs to reduce pest risk and disease movement while facilitating and expediting the handling of nursery stock. What does this mean for you, our customers? An even higher level of growing practices to ensure clean, healthy plugs produced efficiently with less handling—streamlining processes on our end saves time and money on your end. A win-win!
NORTH CREEK NURSERIES • 877.ECO.PLUG | 610.255.0100 • www.northcreeknurseries.com • sales@northcreeknurseries.com
THE BENEFITS OF SANC
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HELPFUL TIPS FOR EASE OF ORDER PLACEMENT AND PLANT ARRIVAL
✓ To ensure we have material in stock, refer to the product availability posted on our website when placing orders. AVAILABILITY IS UPDATED DAILY. ✓ Orders must be received by NOON on THURSDAYS to ship the following week (subject to availability). ✓ Requests to delay material arrival or cancel orders must be received ONE FULL WEEK prior to ship date—this includes new orders and additions to active orders. ✓ Plants damaged in transit must be reported immediately to ensure proper claim processing. ✓ All claims must be made within 5 days of shipment arrival. Please call us right away at 610-255-0100 with any concerns. ✓ Freight and handling are based on weight and added at time of shipment. ✓ No log-in required! Price and availability are updated daily here: www.northcreeknurseries. com/Availability ✓ Orders ship out over the course of the requested ship week and will arrive by Friday of that week.
Our Pledge to You North Creek customers are guaranteed to receive healthy, disease-free plants that are true to name. Plants are guaranteed to be alive and viable upon arrival. Our plants are not meant to be ready for retail sale and may have been cut back for shipping purposes. In the winter months some plants are shipped in a dormant state and may have no visible growth above the soil line. Upon Arrival Count your boxes and inspect for major damage while the driver is present. Please unpack and examine plants immediately upon arrival. Check for errors right away and contact us as soon as possible if you have received the wrong quantity or size of plant or if you are dissatisfied with the quality of your plugs. Please check the roots of dormant plants for health and vigor. Proper Plug Removal Pulling on the crown of the plant can break roots at the stem. We recommend pushing the root zone up and out from the base of the flat. We also strongly suggest using a spatula to dislodge the plug. Cultural Details Basic cultural and growing requirements for each plant are listed on our website, www. northcreeknurseries. com. If your questions are not answered there, please feel free to contact us at info@northcreeknurseries. com or 610-255-0100. Picture Tags A picture is worth a thousand words—in addition to beautiful photography, our custom tags include a detailed plant description, care instructions and habitat information. Tags purchased will match the quantity of plugs per flat—what you need is what you get!
Angela Clelan, Regional Sales Manager angela@northcreeknurseries.com Jerry Rice, Regional Sales Manager jerry@northcreeknurseries.com Addison Van Ness, Customer Service Manager addison@northcreeknurseries.com Annie Acton, Customer Service annie@northcreeknurseries.com Sharon Dunfee, Customer Service sdunfee@northcreeknurseries.com Scott Fisher, Ecological Sales scott@northcreeknurseries.com Arden Pontasch, Plant Trials & Gardens Manager arden@northcreeknurseries.com Carrie Wiles, Marketing Manager carrie@northcreeknurseries.com Chelsea Campbell, Marketing Assistant chelsea@northcreeknurseries.com Editor: Carrie Wiles, Chelsea Campbell Designer: Suzanne Gaadt www.gaadt.com Printing: Conner Printing www.connerprinting.com
Flowering seed heads Eryngium yuccifolium (pictured on back cover) in North Creek’s bioswale.
A MESSAGE FROM STEVE
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The future is bright, seize the moment! What will our industry look like in the coming years? This is the topic that is being written about in every trade publication and spoken about amongst colleagues. At each tradeshow—virtual or live—the future of our industry is at the center of discussion. Nearly all horticultural businesses that were on sound financial footing prior to COVID-19 are thriving today. We now face the challenges of our success: supply chain concerns, price increases, and employee shortages. The future is always uncertain, but this is our moment to invest in that bright future with confidence. The world is finally waking up to the power of plants. The plants that heal our landscapes and our souls. The plants that feed every living being, directly or indirectly. The plants that provide solutions for the ecological challenges facing our planet. Our continuous commitment to education will create a culture of confidence. Our success translates into the success of our customers, whether a startup business, new gardener, or horticultural expert. We have all stood before great challenges these past couple of years, but we have also experienced tremendous blessings. At North Creek, we are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead. Our customers and yours will follow us if we enthusiastically share our passion for plants and promote the beauty and solutions they provide. At North Creek: • We promise to respond to your inquiries in a timely manner with courtesy. • We promise to provide an outstanding selection of the highest quality plants. • We promise to offer a unique plant palette that educates and serves as a conduit to Where Horticulture Meets Ecology. You have many options when it comes to choosing a perennial plug supplier. Thanks again for making us yours.
NORTH CREEK NURSERIES • 877.ECO.PLUG | 610.255.0100 • www.northcreeknurseries.com • sales@northcreeknurseries.com
Keep in Touch
388 North Creek Road Landenberg, PA 19350 877.ECO.PLUG | 610.255.0100 www.northcreeknurseries.com sales@northcreeknurseries.com
“You’re in the garden, you’re where John is, in the dirt, abstracted, holding his green trowel. This is how he gardens: fifteen minutes of intense effort, fifteen minutes of ecstatic contemplation.” – Louise Glück, The Wild Iris
