Um, you are quite correct NHBabs, in saying some of the verbascums are a bit....naff, especially the seedgrown strains such as Southern Charm- measly little things with nothing of the grace and stature of Cotswold Cream, V.chaixii or even the seed raised V.phoenicum (I have a little purple one from a strain called 'Violetta')....and there is always the threat of mullein moth to contend with....but for all that, they are a nice easy early summer addition around roses and hardy geraniums and foxgloves. There has been a pernicious movement in the UK towards dwarf plants - 'compact', 'tiny' and 'neat' have been major selling points, often retaining full size flowers on dwarfish plants. The horror of Campanula lactiflora 'pouffe' springs to mind here - a plant I would defintely trample underfoot in disdain. I know we have small gardens in the UK (so get to grips with alpines!) but this whole shrinking thing is quite horrible. Woody, althea cannabinoides has many many small (2inch) pink flowers with darker centres, growing in the leaf axils. The leaves are almost invisible, very thin (like cannabis sativa leaves) and not susceptible to rust. The whole thing is very reminiscent of a crambe inasmuch as the tall plant throws out sprays of blooming branches and does well in poor sunny soil (the sort you would use for nasturtiums)....in a wilder part of the garden. Will take pics when mine flowers, which will also be when I collect seeds - no need for swaps although I am always up to try something different from your side of the world.

My experience with Russian Sage was a failure. I started a bunch of plants from seed. I had good germination and planted the seedlings in the garden to start. My garden tends to be very gravelly. They wintered okay. I donâÂÂt remember how long I left them there, but when I attempted to move them about the yard I eventually lost them all. They didnâÂÂt die outright, but took forever to come up in the spring and never reached their potential. I gave up on them. Then I tried the same thing with agastache. Seedlings actually wintered in their little cell packs. I thought that I was going to regret planting this hardy plant in my perennial bed. It was lovely but seemed so hardy. I thought it would seed all over, since it was so easy from seed. None are left! But wait, I think IâÂÂve found something that looks like it in a forgotten corner! I really think it may not be so much a hardiness issue though. If you have the right conditions for the plant, I mean the correct PH and soil type, etc. maybe youâÂÂll have success. However, IâÂÂve had the same experience of having a plant grow successfully for years then upon losing it for some reason or other, having every replacement die immediately or the first winter. Two that come to mind are monarda and sedum âÂÂAutumn JoyâÂÂ. Some of your disappointments are growing successfully in my yard, Donna. I have several clumps of veronicastrum or culverâÂÂs root doing quite well. I started them from seed. Not sure I like them yet. This should be the year to tell. Sea holly thrives in my gravelly garden. I know someone who has turtlehead growing naturally out at the lake here. But the others you mentioned, coreopsis, helenium, tiarella, IâÂÂve tried and failed with. I can add echinacia to that list. I've always wondered about that theory about single specimens being hardier than the rest. I have some plants rated zone 4 growing happily in my yard. Is it a fluke or were they just rated wrong to start with. I guess thatâÂÂs part of what makes gardening such a great hobby though. ThereâÂÂs always surprises to balance out the disappointments.

I have mentioned clary sage before; I love it. Mine is in full blooming glory right now- all over the place as it re-seeds everywhere. It is the first picture in your link above. Salvia sclarea. I bought seeds to start out with- in the herb section. If you get some seeds, you may just want to drop them in the dirt where you want it. Or winter sow. Its pretty easy stuff.

I grow this beautiful selection in the neutral ground in front of my home, as a tribute to Lynn Lowery, who I knew and bought many plants from beginning in 1975. Very care free, profuse blooming, after every rain, with different and stunning light periwinkle blue flowers. Slow, steady, open growth in filtered light under oak trees. I also grow them in pots in full sun in my atrium. Wonderful plants.