Ryan Gainey Selections ™
Our collaboration with world-renowned designer Ryan Gainey has led us to develop a collection of his favorite plants. Plants he has selected and promoted to reflect the palette of his self expression.
Adenophora liliifolia
Lady Bells. Low foliage rosette, fragrant bell-like flowers in midsummer
on 2-3’ stems. Heat tolerant. Sun/Part-shade. 18” x 12-15”. Zone 3-8.
Adenophora tashiroi
Long racemes of nodding violet-blue bells June-August on well branched,
slender-stemmed dark green plants. Better heat tolerance than Campanulas.
Sun/Part-shade. 12-18” x 12”. Zone 5-8.
Anemone x hybrida ‘Honorine Jorbet’
Japanese Anemone. Single, 2-3” white blooms in fall on robust plants.
Lush, dark green foliage. Part shade. 2.5-3” x 2’. Zone 5-8.
Aguilegia nepalensis
Nepal Columbine. Clusters of delicate, deep blue flowers held above dark
green foliage in late spring. Sun/Part-shade. 12-24” x 18”. Zone 3-9.
Aquilegia nepalensis ‘Alba’
White flowered form of A. nepalensis selected by Alex Smith.
Araujia sericifera
Cruel Vine. Twining vine with fragrant white waxy flowers from summer
through fall. Part-shade. 20-30’. Zone 8-10.
Aster carolinianus
Climbing Aster. Panicles of mauve, yellow-centered daisies open in the fall
at the ends of long, arching stems. Sun/Part-shade. 6-8’ x 2-2.5’. Zone 4-8.
Aster grandiflorus
Large Flowered Aster. Large, showy, deep purple flowers in fall. Thin ray
petals with yellow disk flowers. Sun/Part-shade. 2-5’ x 2-2.5’. Zone 5-8.
Aster oblongifolius ‘Rachael Jackson’
Rachael’s Aster. Selected from the garden of Rachael Jackson at the
Hermitage in Nashville, Tennessee. Late fall blooming with masses of
lavender-blue blooms. Sun/Part-shade. 2-3’ x 2-3’. Zone 4-8.
Chrysanthemum x morifolium ‘Ryan’s Pink’
Large, single daisies with soft-pink petals and golden yellow centers.
Upright, bushy plants. A Goodness Grows introduction. Sun/Part-shade.
2-2.5’ x 2’. Zone 4.
Chrysanthemum x morifolium ‘Thanksgiving’
Found blooming on Thanksgiving Day. Single, burnt-orange blooms. Same
robust plant characteristics as Ryan’s other selections. 2-2.5’ x 2’. Zone 4.
Chrysanthemum x morifolium ‘Ryan’s Yellow’
Same characteristics as ‘Ryan’s Pink’ but with soft-yellow blooms. Sun/
Part-shade. A Goodness Grows introduction. 2-2.5’ x 2’. Zone 4.
Dianthus plumarius ‘Rose de Mai’
Old-fashioned cottage pink. Double, light pink, very fragrant blooms in
spring. Forms neat mounds of blue/gray foliage. Full Sun. 12-18” x 12”.
Zone 4-9.
Digitalis purpurea ‘Alba’
White flowered selection of biennial foxglove. Showy spikes of bell-
shaped tubular flowers May-June. Sun/Part-shade. 3-3.5’ x 1.5-2’.
Zone 4-9.
Digitalis x ‘Emerson’
White-flowering hybrid selected by Marc Richardson for its pure color,
robust growth habit, and lengthy bloom time. A Goodness Grows
introduction. Sun/Part-shade. 3-5’ x 1.5-2’. Zone 4-9.
Cassia corymbosa
Argentina Senna. Tender perennial shrub. Showy, bright yellow pea-like
blooms late summer through fall. Attractive pinnately compound foliage.
Sun/Part-shade. 6-10’ x 3-4’. Zone 8-10.
Erigeron flagellaris ‘Profusion’
Trailing Fleabane. Small, white and pink daisy-like flowers throughout
summer. Great for walls, containers, or borders. Sun/Part-shade.
6-12” x 18-24”. Zone 5-8.
Eupatorium maculatum ‘Gateway’
Joe-Pye Weed. Huge lavender flower heads in late summer. Erect clumps
with coarsely serrated, dark green, lance-shaped leaves on purple spotted
stems. Full Sun. 4-6’ x 4’. Zone 4-9.
Euphorbia epithymoides
Cushion Spurge. Mounds of green foliage covered with bright yellow
flowers in spring. Foliage turns reddish in fall. Sun/Part-shade.
12” x 18”. Zone 4-8.
Fragaria vesca
Alpine Strawberry. Compact, decorative, ever-bearing plants with dark
green foliage produce delicious, aromatic strawberries spring through fall.
Sun/Part-shade. 6-8” x 6-8”. Zone 5-8.
Hesperis matronalis
Dame’s Rocket. Showy, highly fragrant, purple flowers May-June.
Biennial. Sun/Part-shade. 24-36” x 15-18”. Zone 4-8.
Hesperis matronalis ‘Alba’
White flowered selection.
Iris hexagona
Dixie Iris. Light lavender to deep purple with a rich yellow central stripe.
Multi-flowered infloresence with two terminal flowers. Very fragrant
blooms in spring. Stiff, erect bright green leaves arise from shallow rooted
branching rhizomes. Full Sun. 18-24” x 18-24’. Zone 7-10.
Lathyrus latifolius
Perennial Sweet Pea. Long lasting pink flowers on vigorous climbing
vines. Sun/Part-shade. 6-9’ x 2’. Zone 4-8.
Lavandula x intermedia ‘Provence’
Provence Lavender. Tall, graceful, sturdy flower spikes above excellent,
gray-green fragrant foliage.Great for hedges. Full Sun. 2-3’ x 2’.
Zone 5-9.
Leucanthemum x suberbum ‘Ryan’s White’
Ryan’s Daisy. Large 3” white daisies on tall, strong stems. Thick, dark
green foliage forms massive clumps. A Goodness Grows introduction.
Sun/Part-shade. 3-3.5’ x 2’. Zone 5-9.
Lilium phillippinense
Phillippine Lily. Long, funnel-shaped, fragrant white blooms on tall sturdy
stems. Late blooming selection. Sun/Part-shade. 6-7’ x 2’. Zone 7-9.
Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Salem’
Salem Rosemary. Highly fragrant culinary herb. A North Carolina
selection with thick, sturdy, dark green foliage and bright, dark blue
flowers. Full Sun. 3-4’ x 2-3’. Zone 7-10.
Rudbeckia triloba
Brown-eyed susan. Plants burst into bloom in late summer with masses of
brillant yellow flowers with button-shaped jet-black centers that fade to
brown. Sun/Part-shade. 2-3’ x 2-3’. Zone 4-9.
Salvia leucantha
Mexican Bush Sage. Fragrant velvety purple flower spikes late summer
through fall. Graceful habit. Forms large clumps of highly fragrant gray-
green foliage. Full Sun. 3-4’ x 2-3’. Zone 8-10.
Solidago rugosa ‘Fireworks’
Goldenrod. Lacy, radiating, sparkling golden-yellow flower spikes
provide brilliant fall color. A North Carolina Botanical Garden
introduction. Sun/Part-shade. 2-4’ x 2-3’. Zone 4-8.
Thymus vulgaris ‘Provencal’
French Thyme. Excellent culinary variety and essential ingredient for
‘Herbes de Provence’. Tiny, gray-green leaves on neat upright plants.
Selected by Thomas DeBaggio. Full Sun. 12-16” x 24”. Zone 5-8.
Verbascum chaixii
Perennial Mullein. Prolific spikes of bright yellow flowers with rosy-
violet stamens rising above basal rosettes of gray-green foliage.
Full Sun. 3-3.5’ x 2-2.5’. Zone 4-8.
Browallia elata
Browallia. Produces a profusion of violet-blue flowers from mid-may
until frost. Wonderful substitute for impatiens. Part-shade. 12-24” x 12”.
Solanum jasminoides ‘Variegatum’
Variegated Potato Vine. Bright golden variegated foliage with clusters of
1” white star-shaped flowers on a dense fast growing vine.
Sun/Part-shade. 15-20’.
Tropaeoleum majus
Nasturtium. Old-fashioned cottage garden favorite. Edible 2” trumpet-
shaped blooms have a sweet, mildly spicy flavor. Part-shade. 12” x 12”.
Petunia grandiflora
Grandiflora Petunia. Mostly upright plants produce large mounds covered
with 3-4” blooms throughout summer. Full Sun. 12-15” x 12-15”.
Chimonanthus praecox
Fragrant Wintersweet. Large multi-stemmed shrub with lustrous dark green
leaves. Highly fragrant transparent yellow to purple flowers in mid-winter.
Sun/Part-shade. 10-15’ x 8-12’. Zone 6-9.
Hydrangea arborescens ‘Ryan Gainey’
Ryan Gainey Hydrangea. Excellent new selection by Don Shadow. Darker
green leaves, smaller more numerous blooms, and thicker stems than
Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’. Part-shade. 3-5’ x 3-5’. Zone 4-9.
Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’
Limelight Hydrangea. Large lime-green blooms in mid summer that age to
rich deep pink. Wonderful both in the landscape and as a cut flower. Use
in borders or as a specimen. A de Belder introduction from Holland. Sun/
Part-shade. 6-8’ x 6-8’. Zone 3-8.
Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Alice’
Alice Oakleaf Hydrangea. Large, quite vigorous shrub with 10-14” long
creamy-white blooms that age to pink. Dark green foliage turns burgundy-
red in fall. Selected by Michael Dirr. Sun/Part-shade. 4-8’ x 4-8’.
Zone 5-9.
Ilex verticillata ‘Winter Red’
Winterberry Holly. Multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub with lustrous dark
green leaves. Persistent bright red berries in winter. Introduced by
Simpson Nursery. Full Sun. 6-10’ x 6-10’. Zone 3-9.
Ilex verticillata ‘Winter Gold’
Branch sport of ‘Winter Red’ discovered at Simpson Nursery. Fruits are
yellowish tinged pinkish orange. Leaves are lighter green than ‘Winter
Red’. Full Sun. 7’ x 7’. Zone 3-9.
Osmanthus fragrans f. aurantiacus
Fragrant Tea Olive. Medium to large shrub with evergreen lustrous dark
green leaves. Extremely fragrant pale orange-colored flowers open in fall.
Sun/Part-shade. 10-15’ x 6-8’. Zone 7-9.
Osmanthus x fortunei ‘Fruitlandii’
Fortune’s Osmanthus. Upright form with deeply serrated dark green leaves.
Pale cream-yellow flowers are exceedingly fragrant. Blooms in fall. Sun/
Part-shade. 12-15’ x 6-8’. Zone 6-9.
Pseudocydonia sinensis
Chinese Quince. Dense, multi-stemmed shrub or small tree. Flowers are
soft pink. Fruits are fragrant, citron-yellow, 5-7” long, egg-shaped pomes.
Beautiful exfoliating bark. Full Sun. 15-20’ x 10-12’. Zone 5-8.