Pincushion Flower
Scabiosa atropurpurea
These airy, colorful flowers are mildly fragrant and a pleasant addition to the flower border.
EXPLORE THIS PLANT
Sponsored by:
Uses: Flower Border
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
This native perennial has vibrant magenta flowers which add contrast to the overwhelming yellows and reds of the summer garden. The showy daisy-like flowers borne on stiff stems attract goldfinches if left to go to seed.
EXPLORE THIS PLANT
Red Hue Tulip
Tulipa viridiflora 'Red Hue'
Red Hue is a unique tulip, featuring pointed red petals with green centers.
EXPLORE THIS PLANT
Rhododendron
Rhododenron catawbiense 'Roseum Elegans'
The rhododendron is an evergreen plant with large, lush pinkish purple blossoms in the spring.
EXPLORE THIS PLANT
Roman Hyacinth
Hyancinthus orientalis var. albulus
This old-fashioned hyacinth has a sparser, more delicate flower than the modern types, but it is much more likely to stick around in the garden. It resists flopping under its own weight and is known to naturalize.
EXPLORE THIS PLANT
Rosa Mundi Rose
Rosa gallica var. officinalis 'Versicolor'
Rosa Mundi is a compact rose which features a profusion of bright striped flowers in the spring. The flowers are fragrant, and this old hardy rose shrugs off most pest problems, making them an easy favorite in the garden.
EXPLORE THIS PLANT
Rose Campion
Lychnis coronaria
Rose campion features soft silvery mounds of foliage graced with stalks of stunning pink or white flowers in the late spring and early summer. This short-lived perennial or biennial self-seeds readily, forming large colonies if left unchecked.
EXPLORE THIS PLANT
Rose Mallow
Hibiscus moscheutos
Shining white flowers are attractive to pollinators and light up the garden. This type of hibiscus is fairly hardy in northern regions.
EXPLORE THIS PLANT
Scarlet Rose Mallow
Hibiscus coccineus
This plant is the largest hibiscus grown at Mount Vernon, as well as the longest flowering. Its brilliant red blooms are a bold statement in the summer border. It is native to the swamps and marshes of Alabama, Florida, and Georgia.
EXPLORE THIS PLANT
Scotch Rose
Rosa spinosissima
Scotch rose is aggressively thorny but makes up for it with a profusion of white blooms. We recommend a thorn-proof hat when working in the vicinity of this rose! It offers a second show in the fall with showy maroon hips.
EXPLORE THIS PLANT