Name	Lamb's Ears
Genus/Species	Stachys byzantina
Family	Labiatae
Type	Perennial
Origin	Caucasus, Iran
Use	Tall ground cover
Zones	1 - 24
Attract	Bees
Sun	Full sun to light shade
Water	Moderate
Soil	Any
Size	1 1/2 feet tall x 1 1/2 feet wide, spreads easily
Leaf	Velvety grey
Flower	Spike with pink purple flowers, 2' tall
Bloom	Summer
Seeds	Profuse after flower
Prune	Trim flower stalks to help control
Prop	Seeds, division, transfer
Enemies	Rabbits
Warning	Invasive!!
Notes:	Rains and winter make it look slushy, trim it up
	Recovers well from just about anything
Picture	http://plantsdatabase.com/go/138/index.html
My notes	This was planted in the front, ended up in the roses and the back...winds?
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Name	Lavender
Genus/Species	Lavandula - see below for species
Family	Lamiaceae
Type	Perennial bush or shrub
Origin	Europe, Old World, Mediterranean, Asia, India
Hardy	Very - drought, heat and wind tolerant
Zones	5 - 10
Use	Culinary, craft
Attract	Bees, butterfly, hummingbird
Location	South facing wall best, north wall = short & later bloom
Sun	Full sun, period
Water	Average to low, excess water can cause death
Soil	Well drained, compost, coarse, needs air
PH	6.5 to 7.5
Size	Varies from 12" to 4'
Growth	Average to slow, 3 years to reach full size
Leaf	Varies - simple and pinnate, dissected
Flower	Stalks
Bloom	Spring to fall depending on species
Seeds	In dried flower on stalk
Feed	Compost
Prune	Yearly after bloom, cut 1/3 of actual plant, leave wood and some leaves
Prop	Seeds and cuttings, many seeds wont grow true
Enemies	Heat combined with humidity, leave air between plants
Dangers	.
Notes:	Yellow leaves = ph imbalance, add compost Avoid mulching too close to stem If planting in pots, repot every year with new soil Plant cools itself by releasing oils Harvest in am with bucket of water to keep cool
Picture	.
Winterizing	Nothing special required
Website	http://www.mountainvalleygrowers.com/lavendercareandtips.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lavandula
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English Lavenders		Lavandula angustifolia cv.	Early
	Munstead	Heat tolerant	18"
	Hidcote	Darkest	12"
	Sachet	Heavily fragrant
	Vera	Aromatherapy
French Lavenders		Lavandula dentata
	Allardii	Lavandula x allardii	Long
	Sweet	Lavandula heteropylla	Early
	Goodwin Creek	Lavandula x ginginsii
Lavandins		Lavandula x intermedia	Early
	Grosso	Heavily fragrant
	White Grosso	Heavily fragrant
	Edelweiss	Heavily fragrant
	Provence	Crafts, wands
Other Lavenders
	Wooly	Lavandula lanata boiss	Late
	Spanish	Lavandula stoechas	Early
	Yellow	Lavandula viridis	Early

Name	Lenten Rose
Genus/Species	Helleborus orientalis
Family	Ranunclaceae
Type	Perennial
Aka	Christmas Rose  is Helleborus niger
General	Does not transplant well
Use	Under canopies
Zones	All zones
Sun	Full or partial shade
Water	Moderate to ample
Soil	Organic matter helps
Size	2 feet, spreads
Plant	Fairie looking
Leaf	Dark green toothed
Flower	Mottled white to green to purple, drooping
Bloom	Early spring
Seeds	In pods under flowers
Feed	Once a year
Prune	Cut off dead leaves
Prop	Seeds, division
Notes:	Transplants easier than the Christmas Rose but still very difficult
Picture	http://plantsdatabase.com/go/76/index.html
My notes	Seeds are within pods on flower. When they become swollen with slightly reddish edges, pick and dry
	the black shiny seeds.
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Name	Leopard Lily
Genus/Species	Belamcanda chinensis
Family	Iridaceae
Type	Bulb, perennial from rhizome
Aka	Blackberry Lily
Origin	Asia
General	Distinctive flower.most effective planted in clumps
Use	Naturalized garden, background filler
Attract	Bees
Zones	1 - 24
Sun	Full sun to partial sun
Water	Regular
Soil	Average
Size	3 - 4 feet
Leaf	Sword like in fan groupings
Flower	Six petaled 2-3" orange with red spots
Bloom	Spring to summer
Seeds	Black berries inside pods after bloom
Feed	Standard
Prune	Trim off flowers and pods after bloom or pod set
Prop	Seeds, division
Notes:	Easy to grow from seed
	Sparse plant, best in groups
	Flowers are open only one day but continually bloom day after day
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Name	Licorice
Genus/Species	Glycyrrhiza glabra
Family	Fabaceae - legume
Type	Perennial herbaceous herb, dicot
Aka
Origin	Australia, Americas, East Asia, Mediterranean
General	Highly prized for medicinal properties
Use	Roots/rhizome for flavour, medicinal
Location	Up to 1200
Zones	5 - 9
Attract
Sun	Full or partial, perfers full with lots of water
Water	Moderate in mild sun
Soil	Rich for long tap roots, high nitrogen, sandy, alkaline
PH	6.6 - 7.5, 7.6 - 7.8 (alkaline)
Size	4 - 6 feet
Growth	Slow at first, can become difficult to remove
Plant	Delicate stems with lovely branchettes
Leaf	Light green ovals, 9-17 leaflet pairs on leaf stalk
Flower	Tiny white to blue or lav sweet pea shapes in loose spires
Bloom	Summer
Seeds	Small reddish pods holding 2-5 blackish seeds
Feed
Prune	Entire plant harvested in three years
Prop	Soak seeds in autumn, sow in greenhouse, plant out in spring
Enemies	Slugs
Dangers	Excessive consumption = cardiac disfunction
Picture	http://plantsdatabase.com/go/286/index.html
My notes	Slow to return each spring, late May to June
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Name	Lilac
Genus/Species	Syringa vulgaris
Family	Oleaceae
Type	Perennial deciduous shrub
Aka	Common Lilac, French Lilac
Origin	Eastern Europe, the word lilac is traced to Persia
Use	Old fashioned garden background, dyes (see notes)
Attract	Bees, hummers
Zones	1 - 11, 14
Location
Sun	Full sun, light shade in hotter climates, sunny and warm is best
Water	Regular
Soil	Average to slightly acidic, well drained
PH	6.4 - 7.2
Size	To 20' x 20'
Growth	Moderate
Leaf	5" rounded simple ovate s
Flower	Clusters 10" or more, legendary fragrance
Bloom	Spring, not until its second year
Seeds	Pods form after flowering, fruit capsules with flat winged seeds
Feed	Standard
Prune	Trim after flowering or seed collection
	Prune out suckers on grafted plants
Enemies
Prop	Seeds, layering Stratify seeds for 4 weeks warm, 3 weeks cold. sow in March in cold frame First winter = greenhouse if still small
Notes:	Mild winters mean little bloom next year, stop watering to force into dormancy Susceptible to mildew - needs air cirulation to prevent Needs 2 - 5 years to bloom fully Susceptible to mildew - needs air cirulation to prevent Flowers & leaves= green dye, bark & twigs = yellow orange dye Chew bark for mouth sores

Name	Lily - Amaryllis Howardii
Genus/Species	Amaryllis memoria-corsii Howardii
Family	Amaryllidaceae
Type	Perennial herbaceous bulb, evergreen when mature
Aka	Amarcrinum memoria-corsii, crinodonna
Origin	Hybrid between Amaryllis belladonna and Crinum moorei
General	Lovely rare lily
Use	Landscaping plant
Zones	8, 9, 12-24, hardy to 10°
Attract	Bees, hummers, snails
Sun	Full to partial, see notes
Water	Moderate, can survive without
Soil	Well drained
Size	2 - 3 feet tall, as wide in groupings of ten or more
Leaf	Long wide swords, almost like paper, brilliant light green
Flower	Three or more pink trumpets at the end of a leafless stalk, each flower on a 'finger' like a Naked Lady. Lightest pink to white and scented.
Bloom	June, earlier in more sunny areas
Seeds	Indivdual seed pods at the ends of the fingers contain seeds, dont dry them
Prune	In winter the greenery gets slimy, cut to a foot above the ground
Prop	Division or seeds or off shoots, new plants do not bloom for about two years Gather pods and place them in new pots, roots establish in the fall
Enemies	Snails
Danger	Belladonna is poisonous, so this is as well
Notes:	Western Sunset says get a off shoot from a friend as these are rare
My notes	We had ours below an extensive Mulberry tree in complete shade. We lost the branch last May, the lily leaves had dead edges but then she adjusted and did fine. One bulb ended up in another location in sull sun, that produces a darker pink flower.
Picture	http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/51550/ Seed pods - http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/51549/
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Name	Lily of the Nile, Storm Cloud
Genus/Species	Agapanthus oritentalis
Family	Amarylidaceae
Type	Evergreen Perenial
Aka
Origin
General
Use
Zones
Attracts	Hummers, bees
Sun	Full to partial
Water	Moderate
Soil	Any
Size	Plants rounds to 4 feet
Plant	Rounded mass of sword leaves
Leaf	Thick bright sword
Flower	Deep purple blue trumpets  forming a ball on tall stalk
Bloom	Summer
Seeds
Prune	None required
Prop	Division
Enemies	Snails
Notes:
Picture	http://plantsdatabase.com/go/64232/index.html
My notes
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Name	Lisianthus
Genus/Species	Eustoma grandiflorum Lisianthis russellianus
Family	Gentianaceae
Type	Biennial, short perennial, herbaceous
Aka	Texas Bluebell
Origin	Garden types from Japan
General
Hardy	Hardy in the cold, best where nights are warm
Use	Cut flowers
Zones	All
Attract	Bees, Butterflies, Birds
Sun	Full sun
Water	Regular water, do not overwater? Remove trays!!
Soil	Standard potting mix, good drainage
Size	12 - 18"
Plant	Multi stemmed
Leaf	Grey green
Flower	Pink, purple, white
Bloom	Spring, Summer, Fall
Seeds	Dust like seeds
Feed
Prune	Cut spent flowers for rebloom
	Pinch for larger growth and bloom
Prop	Sprinkle seeds on soil surface. Soak well, cover with glass Transplant at 4 leaf stage (2 months)
Enemies
Danger
Notes:
Picture
My notes	I have killed these every year, try bringing them inside this winter?
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Name	Loropetalum
Genus/Species	Loropetalum chinese
Family	Hamamelidaceae
Type	Evergreen shrub, tender
Aka	Chinese Witch Hazel, Chinese Fringe Flower
Origin	China
General	Excellent landscape
	Needs protection in hard freezes
Zones	6-9, 14-24, borderline in 4-5
Sun	Full on coast, partial shade inland. Avoid afternoon sun
Water	Some summer water
Soil	Rich, well drained, peat or gravelly also reported
Size	3 - 5 feet tall, 3' wide (reportedly 12' tall with age)
Plant	Round lush bush
Leaf	Round, soft light green, purple cast
Flower	White to green clusters
Bloom	March to April
Seeds	Seeds pods form after flowers, contains millions of teensy seeds
Prop	Seeds or cuttings
Picture	http://plantsdatabase.com/go/1536/index.html
	My picture of the seed pods uploaded Aug 10
My notes	This plant is in almost complete shade and does well
	Seeds sprouted after several weeks
	Rubrium or Razzleberry has purple leaves and bright rosy pink flowers
	Mine has yellow flowers and green leaves whose edges purple in the fall
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