Posted: April 15, 2025
The Master Gardeners of Allegheny County have finalized selections for the 2025 Garden Marketplace on April 26, 2025 at Hampton Community Center. Join us for an educational day and browse and buy for your spring planting.
Nodding Onion image by Glacier National Park Services
The Garden Marketplace will be held at Hampton Community Center in conjunction with its annual Garden & Landscape Symposium on April 26, 2025. Thanks to Amy and other Master Gardeners for the hard work in assembling this exciting assortment.
Agastache ‘Kudos Coral’- Hummingbird Mint
SUN
This Southwest native is compact, suitable for the front of the border or a container. It is quite resistant to powdery mildew. Hummingbirds and pollinators will be drawn to the glowing coral-pink plumes. Site it in full sun with excellent drainage.
Deer resistant
Hardiness zones 5-10
Height 17-20 inches, spread 18 inches
Blooms June through September
Allium cernuum – Nodding Onion
SUN/ NATIVE
This native onion is easy to grow, attractive to pollinators, especially bumblebees, and avoided by deer and rabbits. The quaintly nodding flowers vary from white to pink to lavender, and bloom from early through midsummer. The best display results when planted in a cluster of 5-7 bulbs. They will naturalize slowly in moist soil in full sun to light shade.
Deer resistant
Hardiness zones 4-8
Height 12-18 inches, spread 3-6 inches
Blooms June to August
Allium ‘Millenium’- Ornamental Onion
SUN
This hybrid allium forms a compact, upright clump of glossy green, thick and strappy leaves, covered with 2-inch rosy-purple clusters of flowers from July through August. Popular with butterflies and bees, it thrives in full sun in average to dry soil. Avoid overly moist soil. Perennial plant of the year in 2018
Deer and rabbit resistant
Hardiness zones 4-8
Height 12-18 inches, spread 10-15 inches
Blooms July - August
Amsonia ‘Starstruck’ – Bluestar
SUN
‘Starstruck’ is a compact, hybrid selection of Bluestar. Periwinkle-blue star-shaped flowers are held above dense, deep green foliage. The whole plant remains tidy all season long. This Bluestar grows best in full sun in average to moist soil. Like all members of the Dogbane family, they produce a milky sap that is discourages browsing by deer.
Deer resistant
Hardiness zones 4-9
Height 20 inches, width 32-38 inches
Blooms in May
Aquilegia Kirigami ‘Deep Blue and White’ – Columbine
SUN/ PART SHADE
An exceptionally pretty columbine for sun or part shade, in well-drained soil. Deep blue and white flowers are held upright on sturdy stems. As with all Aquilegia, allow some of the flowers to go to seed, because they are short-lived perennials by nature. In my limited experience, they came true blue from seed and bloomed in the first year.
Deer and rabbit tolerant
Hardiness zones 4-9
Height 16-20 inches, width 16-20 inches
Blooms in spring
Aralia ‘Sun King’ – Japanese Spikenard
SHADE
Golden yellow foliage complements a wide array of colors. Not prone to trouble, as long as it has adequate moisture throughout the season. Creamy white flowers in summer are followed by dark berries. This plant dies back to the ground each fall, but once it matures, it will reach up to 4-6 feet of growth each season. Grows best in moist, fertile, humus-rich soils in part shade. In full shade the foliage is more lime green than golden yellow.
Deer resistant
Hardiness zones 4-8
Height 3-6 feet, spread 3-6 feet
Blooms in summer
Aruncus ‘Fairy Hair’ – Goatsbeard
SHADE
In late spring to midsummer, lacy sprays of creamy flower plumes bloom atop finely dissected, fern-like foliage. These compact plants resemble astilbes but are more drought tolerant. Perfect for the woodland garden or beside a shady pond or stream, it will also grow in an ordinary garden site.
Deer tolerant
Hardiness zones 4-8
Height 20-24 inches, spread 20-24 inches
Blooms early to mid-summer
Asclepias incarnata ‘Cinderella’ – Swamp Milkweed
SUN
Swamp milkweed grows best in full sun in consistently moist soil, even wet heavy soil. But it is surprisingly tolerant of average well-drained soils in cultivation. ‘Cinderella’ has unusually dense clusters of pale pink flowers opening from dark pink buds. It is valuable for pollinators as well as a larval host plant.
Deer tolerant
Hardiness zones: 3-9
Height: 3-4 feet, spread 1-3 feet
Blooms from July through August
Asclepias tuberosa - Butterfly Milkweed
SUN
One of the best loved natives, cheerful orange flowers attract all sorts of pollinators. It is a larval host plant for gray hairstreak, queen, and milkweed tussock moth caterpillars, as well as the familiar monarch.
Give it lots of sun and very well drained soil. Mark its place with a sturdy sign because it is commonly late to emerge in spring.
Deer tolerant
Hardiness zones 3-9
Height 1-2 feet, spread 12-18 inches
Blooms spring through summer
Aster – see Symphyotrichum
Astilbe ‘Peach Blossom’ – False Spirea
SHADE
This classic astilbe has stood the test of time. Released in 1903, it is just as beautiful as ever. Peachy-pink full blooms in late spring over glossy green foliage. They grow best in cool sites, in part to full shade and rich, moist soil. Foliage suffers in drought and heat.
Deer and rabbit resistant
Hardiness zones 4-9
Height 24 inches, spread 15-18 inches
Blooms late spring
Brunnera ‘Alexander’s Great’ – Siberian Bugloss
SHADE
Siberian bugloss is a good substitute for Hosta, since the broad foliage fills the same landscaping niche as hostas but is deer resistant. ‘Alexander’s Great’ forms a giant mound of silvered leaves with contrasting green veins and a narrow green edge. Sprays of small, blue forget-me-not flowers in mid-spring complete the package. Grows best in cool, moist, well-drained soil in part shade.
Deer resistant
Hardiness zones 3-8
Height 12-18 inches, spread 24-30 inches
Blooms in April to May
Brunnera ‘Emerald Mist’ – Siberian Bugloss
SHADE
This brunnera has silvery bars that form a collar around the perimeter of the leaf. The rest of the foliage is spangled with silver also. Baby-blue flowers open in the spring. Grows best in cool, moist, well-drained soil in part shade.
Deer and rabbit resistant
Hardiness zones 3-8
Height 12-15 inches, spread 12-15 inches
Blooms mid to late Spring
Carex ‘Evergold’ – Japanese Sedge
PART SHADE
This sedge forms a cascading clump of narrow, creamy yellow leaves with dark green edges. It is easy to grow in average, moist soil. Best color is seen in dappled shade, where it can be used as a groundcover, filler or golden highlight.
Deer resistant
Hardiness zones 5-9
Height 12-18 inches, spread 12-18 inches
Blooms in May
Chelone ‘Hot Lips’ – Pink Turtlehead
SHADE
Turtleheads are a fun and interesting flower for late in the season, provided they are in a site with dependable moisture. They grow best in organically rich, consistently moist soil in part to full shade. ‘Hot Lips’ has deep pink flowers with red stems which bloom from July through September.
Deer resistant
Hardiness zones 3-8
Height 2-3 feet, spread 1 foot
Blooms mid to late summer
Coreopsis ‘Moonbeam’- Threadleaf Tickseed
SUN
This plant was Perennial Plant of the Year in 1992 and it is still a classic. The pale-yellow flowers and delicate blue-green foliage complement almost any color scheme. It grows best in full sun in average to rocky, well-drained soil. It blooms all summer (may be sheared to increase rebloom) since the flowers are sterile. Mt. Cuba Center says this variety “…is more likely a hybrid between Coreopsis verticillata and C. rosea.” Either way, it is a valuable addition to almost any landscape.
Deer resistant
Hardiness zones 3-9
Height 18-24 inches, spread 18-24 inches
Blooms throughout summer
Coreopsis 'Uptick Yellow and Red’- Tickseed
SUN
This hybrid coreopsis is compact in size with big bright blooms all season long. It has the same easy care: full sun, average well-drained soil and deadhead in mid-season to increase rebloom. Larger flowers, bright yellow with deep red centers stay tidy and cheerful all season long.
Deer tolerant
Hardiness zones 5-9
Height 12-18 inches, spread 12-18 inches
Blooms from June through September
Dianthus ‘Frosty Fire’ – Pinks
SUN
Dianthus ‘Frosty Fire’ is an eye-catching pink with fragrant, fiery red double flowers in early summer to midsummer. The icy blue-green mat of foliage is a nice contrast. Grows best in full sun, neutral to alkaline, sharply drained soil.
Deer and rabbit resistant
Hardiness zones 3-8
Height 6-8 inches, spread 8-12 inches
Blooms May to July
Digitalis Arctic Fox ‘Lemon Cream’ – Foxglove
SUN
New for 2025, ‘Lemon Cream’ foxglove is perennial, brand new and beautiful. Tall spikes of light-yellow flowers, with a sprinkle of freckles, bloom from late spring through fall. Deadhead spent stems to encourage rebloom. Grows best in average, well-drained soil in full sun.
Deer resistant
Hardiness zones 5-9
Height 18-24 inches, spread 16-18 inches
Blooms late spring through late summer.
Digitalis ‘Candy Mountain' – Foxglove
SHADE
‘Candy Mountain’ is a very full, formal foxglove with tall spikes of upward facing flowers. Rosy-pink bell-shaped flowers with lighter interiors, speckled with dark freckles, grow up to 4 feet tall. Since it is a biennial, allow a few of the spikes to go to seed, to keep the display going year after year. Plant in evenly moist, well-drained soil in part sun to part shade. Avoid windy, exposed sites.
Deer and rabbit resistant
Hardiness zones 4-9
Height 3-4 feet, spread 1-2 feet
Blooms in late spring
Echinacea ‘Cheyenne Spirit’- Purple Coneflower
SUN
‘Cheyenne Spirit’ won the All American Selections award in 2013, and Europe’s FleuroSelect Gold Medal for garden performance. This is a sturdy upright coneflower, famous for its multiple colors of flowers: gold, orange, red, cream, purple and yellow. It is visited by many pollinators in summer and birds eat the seeds through fall and winter.
Deer and rabbit resistant
Hardiness zones 4-9
Height 24-30 inches, spread 18-20 inches
Blooms in summer
Echinacea ‘Ruby Star’ – Purple Coneflower
SUN
‘Ruby Star’ is a solid dependable cultivar of echinacea that placed third in Mt Cuba Center’s trials for the most number of pollinators, second only to the species, (first place was ‘Fragrant Angel’.) Blooms are carmine red to purple, 4-5 inches across and the petals have a refined, horizontal arrangement. Watch for the goldfinches eating the seeds in late summer through fall.
Deer resistant
Hardiness zones 4-9
Height 2-3 feet, spread 2-3 feet
Blooms all summer
Epimedium ‘Galadriel’ – Barrenwort
SHADE
‘Galadriel’ has dainty, cherry-red flowers in early spring and bright green, heart shaped leaves all summer. The foliage turns fiery orange red in autumn. Like all epimediums it is fairly tolerant of dry, root packed soil under mature trees, although it grows best in fertile, moist, well-drained soil in part to full shade.
Deer and rabbit resistant.
Hardiness zones 5-9
Height 8-12 inches, spread 12-18 inches
Blooms in April
Epimedium ‘Orange Queen’ – Barrenwort
SHADE
Barrenworts have dainty flowers on wiry stems, but they really shine as groundcover for dry shade. ‘Orange Queen’s leaves emerge green with red edges, are bright green all summer, then turn bronze with red tones in fall. Pale, coppery-orange flowers appear in mid to late spring. Drought tolerant once established.
Deer and rabbit resistant
Hardiness zones 5-9
Height 8-10, spreads 12-16
Blooms in April to May
Heliopsis ‘Sunstruck’ - False Sunflower
SUN
‘Sunstruck’ is a dwarf False Sunflower. It has big bright yellow flowers and foliage variegated cream and green. Flowering starts 4-6 weeks earlier than other heliopsis and continues all summer.
Deer resistant
Hardiness zones 4-9
Height 14-16 inches, spread 12-14 inches
Blooms in summer
Heliopsis ‘Bleeding Hearts’ – False Sunflower
SUN
Dramatically different than ‘Sunstruck’ this heliopsis’ flowers emerge intense orange red and mature to golden orange with red centers. Deep green leaves with bronze highlights and black stems complete the look. It is a large plant which can be used in the back of the border. Regularly gathering the blooms for cut flowers will ensure steady flowering all season long.
Deer resistant
Hardiness zones 3-9
Height 36-40 inches, spread 36-40 inches
Blooms July through October
Iberis ‘Snowflake’
SUN
I’ve included this plant because I have one that has grown without trouble or drama for over 20 years. Once every 5 or 10 years I trim it back from the patio. I planted it in a sunny spot with average to dry soil and it just blooms away in late spring to early summer. Always looks clean and bright, when the flowers are done it is self-cleaning and the leaves stay fresh and dark green. Had one offshoot in all that time which is also doing well.
Deer tolerant
Hardiness zones 3-9
Height 8-10 inches, spread 12-24 inches
Blooms in May
Iris Louisiana hybrid ‘Black Gamecock’ – Louisiana Iris
SUN
The Louisiana irises are native to the southern/ southeastern United States, and were found originally in moist to wet areas. Despite that, they are hardy through zone 4 and do fine in average, moist, garden soil. ‘Black Gamecock’ is a gorgeous, vigorous hybrid. The flowers are deep velvety purple-black, with a bright yellow signal on the falls. A mature clump can reach 3 feet tall. Keep soil evenly moist, cover corms with a thin layer of soil or mulch to prevent sunscald. (Not to be confused with the non-native, invasive Yellow Flag Iris, Iris pseudacorus)
Deer resistant
Hardiness zones 4-9
Height 3 feet, spread 3 feet
Blooms May to June
Iris versicolor ‘Purple Flame’ – Northern Blue Flag
SUN/ NATIVE
New and exciting! This ‘found’ cultivar of our native Northern Blue Flag was introduced by Mt. Cuba center in 2020. Striking eggplant-purple foliage emerges in March. In late spring to early summer dark stems produce dark purple flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. As the weather warms the foliage lightens to medium green. Requires consistently moist to wet soil.
Deer resistant
Hardiness zones 3-9
Height 2-3 feet, spread 2- 2 ½ feet
Blooms late spring to early summer
Kniphofia ‘Flamenco’
SUN
A real attention grabber, with 2–3-foot spikes of fiery red, orange, yellow and cream. Cut spent flowers to encourage blooms all summer. Grow in full sun in moist but well-drained soil. They are drought tolerant once established but blooming is increased with even moisture. In the fall, it is suggested that you first mulch around the crown, then tie the leaves over the crown to form a canopy. (Missouri Botanical Garden, North Carolina State University and Rich Hawke at Chicago Botanic Garden all mention this.) This prevents water from settling in the crown and freezing.
Deer and rabbit tolerant
Hardiness zones 5-9
Height 2-3 feet, spreads 1-2 feet
Blooms early to late summer
Lavandula ‘Imperial Gem’ – Lavender
SUN
This is a tidy, compact lavender for a sunny border or container. Deep purple, fragrant flowers and silvery foliage complement each other perfectly. Requires well drained, “poor” (low fertility) soil to do its best. Excellent in a water-wise setting
Deer and rabbit resistant
Hardiness zones 5-9
Height 18-24 inches, spread 18-24 inches
Blooms late spring through early fall
Lavandula ‘SuperBlue’ – Lavender
SUN
As the name suggests, ‘SuperBlue’ (all one word) flowers are an intensely saturated shade of blue. The fragrance is also strong, making it suitable for potpourri, crafts and décor and culinary uses.
A compact plant of 10-12 inches, it requires perfectly drained soil of low fertility to thrive. Drought tolerant once established.
Deer and rabbit resistant
Hardiness zones 5-9
Height 10-12 inches, spread 10-12 inches
Blooms in late spring to early summer, may rebloom in late summer
Liatris ‘Floristan Violet’- Blazing Star
SUN
Fluffy wands of bright violet-purple flowers contrast nicely with the strappy, grass-like foliage. It is attractive to butterflies and makes a great cut flower. Plant in moist, well-drained soil in full sun. Don’t leave in heavy, wet soil in winter. Leave a few spikes if you want to increase your stock, otherwise deadhead to reduce reseeding.
Deer tolerant
Hardiness zones 3-9
Height 3-4 feet, spread 1-2 feet
Blooms midsummer to fall
Monarda ‘Pardon My Cerise’
SUN
Pardon My Cerise – This beebalm has dark cherry-pink flowers, is quite compact and is mildew resistant. The clumping habit means less spreading than the species. It will grow best in full sun and average soil, but do give it good air circulation. Attractive to butterflies, hummingbirds and pollinators.
Deer and rabbit resistant
Hardiness zones 4-8
Height 14-18 inches, spread 10-12 inches
Blooms July-August
Nepeta ‘Purrsian Blue’ – Catmint
SUN
Purrfectly lovely periwinkle blue flowers with smoky-purple calyces cover this plant from May to September. Its compact habit stays tidy and upright. Rebloom is best if flower spikes are sheared back after first flush. Thrives in moist, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Drought tolerant
Deer and rabbit resistant
Hardiness zones 3-8
Height 14-18 inches, spread 18-30 inches when mature
Blooms early to late summer
Origanum ‘Kent Beauty’ – Ornamental Oregano
SUN
Most unusual pink, cream and green bracts highlight this herb in summer and linger through the fall. The flowers resemble hops and are popular for dried arrangements. The silver-veined, blue-green foliage is a perfect backdrop. Grow in well-drained, gritty, neutral to alkaline soil in full sun with good air circulation. Try allowing it to cascade down a limestone wall!
Deer resistant
Hardiness zones 6-9
Height 6-9 inches, spread 8-12 inches
Blooms early summer to early fall
Packera obovata – Golden Groundsel, Roundleaf Ragwort
SHADE, NATIVE
Bright yellow flowers in early spring make this native plant a cheerful groundcover. Grows in part shade to full sun in average to moist, well-drained soil. It spreads by both self-seeding and stolons. You can cut back flowerheads to control seeding or leave them for birds and wildlife to enjoy.
Deer resistant
Hardiness zones 3-8
Height 12-18 inches, spread 12-24 inches
Blooms April to June
Penstemon ‘Dark Towers’ – Beardtongue
SUN
‘Dark Towers’ boasts large, light pink tubular flowers in late spring that contrast with deep wine-red foliage. Blooms make good cut flowers. These clump-forming plants should be grown in well-drained soil in full sun. They have tolerance to heat, humidity and drought but benefit from a loose winter mulch. ‘Dark Towers’ attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
Deer tolerant
Hardiness zones 4-8
Height 18-36 inches, spread 12-24 inches
Blooms May to June
Pulmonaria ‘Raspberry Frost’ – Lungwort
SHADE
Lungwort is a great three season groundcover and ‘Raspberry Frost’ is one of the best. Coral red blooms in spring, white speckled foliage with a distinctive creamy white margin from early spring till the snow covers it. Grows best in a part to full shade with consistently moist soil. Trim tattered foliage in March.
Deer and rabbit resistant
Hardiness zones 4-9
Height 10 inches, width 18 inches
Blooms March through May
Pulmonaria ‘Trevi Fountain’ – Lungwort
SHADE
Pink buds quickly turn to deep cobalt blue flowers in early spring and continue for weeks. Silver and white speckled leaves lighten up a shady area the rest of the season. The rough hairy surface keeps the deer away but do wear gloves when you trim the tattered leaves in early spring.
Deer and rabbit resistant
Hardiness zones 3-8
Height 8-12 inches, width 12-24 inches
Blooms in spring
Pycnanthemum muticum – Clustered Mountain Mint
SUN/ NATIVE
We already know that Mountain Mint is a fantastic plant but now it is officially recognized as ‘Perennial of the Year’ for 2025 by the Perennial Plant Association. Soft pink flowers on tall stalks of gray-green leaves blend with any backdrop. Plant it in full to part sun in fertile, moist, well-drained soil. It is a quite vigorous spreader so either set it out in a meadow, or plan to root prune every spring with a sharp spade. Share those starts with friends. Minty-fresh leaves are great in iced tea and summer salads.
Deer resistant
Hardiness zones 4-8
Height 1-3 feet, spread 1-3 feet, will continue indefinitely
Blooms July-September
Rudbeckia ‘American Gold Rush’ – Black-Eyed Susan ‘Goldrush’
SUN
Chose as “Plant of the Year” in 2023 by the Perennial Plant Association, an All-American Selections National Winner in 2020, and resistant to Septoria leaf spot, this plant is a total winner. Gorgeous 3-inch yellow-gold flowers cover a naturally dome-like, compact form. Attractive to all sorts of birds, bees and butterflies.
Deer resistant
Hardiness zones: 3-9
Height 18-24 inches, spread 18-24 inches
Blooms July to September
Sedum ternatum – Mountain Stonecrop
SHADE/ NATIVE
This diminutive succulent groundcover looks great in a rock garden or sprawling over a wall. Unlike most sedums it grows best in partial shade but will tolerate some sun as well as deep shade. Foliage grows in whorls of round leaves arranged in threes. In spring, white star-shaped flowers support early pollinators.
Deer tolerant
Hardiness zones 4-8
Height 6 inches, spread 6-9 inches
Blooms April to May
Solidago ‘Golden Fleece’ – Goldenrod
SUN/ NATIVE
This goldenrod was found as a compact spontaneous seedling of our native Solidago sphacelata. Covered with bright yellow flowers in late summer into fall. Outstanding for pollinators and a larval host, ‘Golden Fleece’ will spread slowly in full sun and average to dry soil.
Deer tolerant
Hardiness zones 4-8
Height 12-18 inches, width 12-18 inches
Blooms August through September
Symphyotrichum laeve var. ‘Bluebird’ (previously known as Aster laevis)
SUN/ NATIVE
Asters are one of the keystone species for the ecosystem and ‘Bluebird’ is ranked as the #1 aster in a study by the Mt. Cuba Center. It is a robust, upright plant to 3-4 feet, with healthy disease resistant foliage. Covered with 1-inch, violet blue flowers with yellow centers from September through late October, it provides an end-of-season banquet for pollinators, butterflies, and moths. May be pruned in spring and early summer to control height and increase branching.
‘Bluebird’ was discovered as a spontaneously occurring seedling in 1988.
Deer tolerant
Hardiness zones 4-8
Height 3-4 feet, spread 1-2 feet
Blooms early to mid-fall
Tricyrtis ‘Autumn Glow’ – Toadlily
SHADE
Orchid-like pale violet flowers with deep purple spots appear on 2–3-foot arching stems in late summer to fall. But it is the wide yellow leaf margin that sets this toadlily apart from older varieties. Thrives in light shade and requires moist, well-drained soil.
Deer tolerant
Hardiness zones 4-9
Height 24-26 inches, width 24-36 inches
Blooms late summer to fall
