Shy Valley Plant Farm

Native Plants, Herbs, and Heirloom Vegetable Plants

Since 2001

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Welcome to the Featured Plants Page.  Here you will find in depth information about plants that we have in the nursery that we think you need to know more about.  Right now we are featuring the following items:

 

  

 

 

 

 

The Mountain Mints

Everybody who knows me very well knows I am a little loopy over mountain mints.  They offer aromatic foliage, they attract a bazillion different types of tiny bees and wasps which are good to have around, they grow easily and are low- maintenance (when you choose the right one for your needs), and they are native.  Here are three that I offer in the nursery.

   

Starting from the left, Hoary Mountain Mint.  Hoary refers to the frosted leaves (think hoar frost).  It is a very aggressive spreader, and so must be relegated to natural types of plantings, or areas where it can be allowed to take over and form a mass planting.  Tolerates sun to part shade, average to dry soil (never tried it in wet areas...) including clay soil.  Grows three feet tall, and makes a great cut flower, fresh or dried.  In the center is Threadleaf Mountain Mint, a much better behaved garden plant.  Forms a non-spreading clump, and grows about 3 feet tall.  Flowers are attractive to butterflies.  Great filler plant, and nice for tea, too, as are all the mountain mints that I have grown.  On the right is another relation that I assume is also called Hoary Mountain Mint, although I have not keyed it out, myself.  It is native to western South Carolina, where I collected my first specimen by the roadside.  Very pretty, and not invasive like the first selection.  Grows to about 2 feet tall.  

 

Switchgrass Panicum virgatum

An indispensable grass for the new low-maintenance garden.  Switchgrass is one of my top three favorite grasses.  It is native.  Easy to grow in sun to part sun, wet areas, dry areas, clay soil, sandy soil, normalish soil (as if anyone has that...).  It is available in a number of named varieties, which vary in size (from 4 feet tall and wide up to 8), color (shades of green tinged with varying degrees of red, and varying degrees of bluish green), and habit (from more lax to quite reliably columnar).  Most that I have trialed are quite vigorous, hardy, and easy to love.  Excellent for fall and winter interest, when they just light up the garden with their color, texture and movement.  Great backdrops for a number of other excellent plants.  As for maintenance, just get it established and forget about it is my motto.  In front is a "Summer Wine" Ninebark, just planted this spring. This is already a pretty pairing, and I can't wait to see it when it is more mature.
Text Box: Switchgrass Panicum virgatum An indispensable grass for the new low-maintenance garden.  Switchgrass is one of my top three favorite grasses.  It is native.  Easy to grow in sun to part sun, wet areas, dry areas, clay soil, sandy soil, normalish soil (as if anyone has that...).  It is available in a number of named varieties, which vary in size (from 4 feet tall and wide up to 8), color (shades of green tinged with varying degrees of red, and varying degrees of bluish green), and habit (from more lax to quite reliably columnar).  Most that I have trialed are quite vigorous, hardy, and easy to love.  Excellent for fall and winter interest, when they just light up the garden with their color, texture and movement.  Great backdrops for a number of other excellent plants.  As for maintenance, just get it established and forget about it is my motto.  In front is a "Summer Wine" Ninebark, just planted this spring. This is already a pretty pairing, and I can't wait to see it when it is more mature.

 

Blue Flag Iris (Native- tolerates wet soil well)                                            Scented Geranium- we have a great collection of these tender herbs

 

Comfrey- Must have plant!           Creeping Comfrey- Not sure of its medicinal qualities- but very ornamental!

Chokecherry- incredibly fragrant shrubby tree, great wildlife plant            Carolina bush pea just starting to flower.

 

 

(Foreground, left) Willow Sunflower- Many of you have seen this in the garden here and wanted to buy it for its wonderful foliage.  I have a few this year.

Right- Heirloom Crocosmia- stunning and easy to grow perennial. Limited.

Fringe Tree- we have 12 of these gorgeous natives- get yours soon!             Heirloom primrose- limited quantities

African Blue Basil

Gorgeous!  Gorgeous! Gorgeous!  From the day you plant it to the day it dies with fall's first good freeze you will enjoy this plant.  Cut it for the vase, cut it back just to keep it in check if needed, and it just keeps on blooming.  Becomes a three foot tall and wide mass of "gorgeous" and stays that way.  Great with borage, blood veined sorrel, red yarrow, onion family plants.  I keep several of these through the winter as stock plants so that I am sure to have some plants for you in the spring. 

Coming for 2009, we will also have a variegated version, below.

Text Box: African Blue Basil Gorgeous!  Gorgeous! Gorgeous!  From the day you plant it to the day it dies with fall's first good freeze you will enjoy this plant.  Cut it for the vase, cut it back just to keep it in check if needed, and it just keeps on blooming.  Becomes a three foot tall and wide mass of "gorgeous" and stays that way.  Great with borage, blood veined sorrel, red yarrow, onion family plants.  I keep several of these through the winter as stock plants so that I am sure to have some plants for you in the spring.  Coming for 2009, we will also have a variegated version, below.

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Last modified: 01/03/11