Throughout our site, these treasures are highlighted with a green or purple bar and the word Rarest. Most you can’t get anywhere else in North America, and the rest you’d be very hard-pressed to find. That makes them extra-endangered — and extra-exciting in the garden.
White Aster, 1879
Corky, 1959
Apricot, 1893
Preference, 1955
Lutt Wichen, 1941
Blue Rhythm, 1945
Starface, 1960
Fairy, 1905
Nita, 1959
Flavescens, 1813
Arthur Hambley, 1955
Libby Finch, 1949
Ophir, 1924
Prince Noir, 1954
Autumn Minaret, 1951
Flutter-By, 1924
Requiem, 1952
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Rarest for SPRING PlantingDAHLIA
Arthur Hambley dahlia, 1955 – lavender-pink elephant
Bloodstone dahlia, 1939 – as brilliant as the ancient gem
Blue Danube dahlia, 1948 – mysterious, bluish lilac
Clair de Lune dahlia, 1946 – elegant and wildflowery
Fashion Monger dahlia, 1955 – stylish raspberry & cream
G.F. Hemerik dahlia, 1936 – bee-friendly dwarf
Glorie van Heemstede dahlia, 1947 – Zen-like simplicity
Klankstad Kerkrade dahlia, 1954 – spiky poofs of primrose
Lavender Chiffon dahlia, 1957 – cool, man, cool!
Little Beeswing dahlia, 1909 – flame and yellow honeycomb
Little Robert dahlia, 1964 – pompon-sized and neon-bright
Lutt Wichen dahlia, 1941 – gardenia-flowered “ground-cover” dahlia
Mrs. H. Brown dahlia, 1947 – love-child of the ‘Bishop’ & ‘Clair’
Mrs. I. De ver Warner dahlia, 1920 – saved by Kentucky farm family
Natal dahlia, 1959 – dark red Christmas ornament
Nita dahlia, 1959 – freckled twin of the great ‘Juanita’
Preference dahlia, 1955 – peachy-pink with dark stems
Prince Noir dahlia, 1954 – ruffled, dark burgundy cactus
Requiem dahlia, 1952 – anything but somber
Union Jack dahlia, 1882 – candy-striped Victorian
White Aster dahlia, 1879 – world’s oldest garden dahlia
Wisconsin Red dahlia, 1910? – pass-along ruby-red
DAYLILY
Apricot daylily, 1893 – the very first
Autumn Minaret daylily, 1951 – up to 7 feet tall!
Caballero daylily, 1941 – Zorro’s favorite
Challenger daylily, 1949 – to five feet tall or more
Corky daylily, 1959 – sweet little flower with famous friends
Libby Finch daylily, 1949 – black cherry, white star
Luteola daylily, 1900 – my front yard daylily
Mikado daylily, 1929 – graceful mango and mahogany
Ophir daylily, 1924 – trumpet-shaped, American-bred pioneer
Purple Waters daylily, 1942 – Regal, dark-red/burgundy flowers.
DIVERSE SPRING
Ehemanii canna, 1863 – arching sprays of dangling flowers
GLADIOLUS
Starface gladiolus, 1960 – rapturously beautiful
IRIS
Blue Rhythm iris, 1945 – award-winning Iowa farmboy
Fairy iris, 1905 – first American iris
Flavescens iris, 1813 – pale, shimmering yellow
Flutter-By iris, 1924 – like a host of butterflies
Germanica iris, 1500 – from Rome to Van Gogh
Loreley iris, 1909 – perfectly imperfect charmer
Madame Chereau iris, 1844 – landmark iris, our Spring 2009 Bulb of the Year
Plumeri iris, 1888 – coppery rose and velvety claret
Rarest for FALL PlantingCROCUS
Albus crocus, 1847 – the “Starry Night” tommie
speciosus ‘Conqueror’ crocus, 1967 – fall-blooming naturalizer
Hubert Edelsten crocus, 1924 – purple petals with striking white bands
Weldenii Fairy crocus, 1952 – early light purple & white naturalizer
DAFFODIL
moschatus daffodil, 1604 – demurely nodding “Swan’s Neck”
Albatross daffodil, 1891 – propeller-like petals
April Queen daffodil, 1938 – bright, flame-kissed cup
Argent daffodil, 1902 – bright double with arms akimbo
Bath’s Flame daffodil, 1913 – one of Ron Scamp’s three favorites
Beersheba daffodil, 1923 – slender ivory trumpet
Brilliancy daffodil, 1906 – luminous Arts-and-Crafts-era beauty
Broughshane daffodil, 1938 – amber-white Irish trumpet
Butter and Eggs daffodil, 1777 – the classic cottage-garden double
Camellia daffodil, 1930 – chiffon yellow petals piled high
Conspicuus daffodil, 1869 – Victorian butterflies
Croesus daffodil, 1912 – gold and silver coins
Daphne daffodil, 1914 – ADS 2008 Best Historic Daffodil
Dick Wellband daffodil, 1921 – deep orange and cream
Doctor Alex Fleming daffodil, 1948 – Center is an exuberant ruffled skirt of frills and ruffles.
Early Pearl daffodil, 1899 – early, fragrant, and luminous
Emperor daffodil, 1869 – one of history’s Top Ten daffodils
Empress daffodil, 1869 – landmark white and gold
Feu de Joie daffodil, 1927 – free-spirited semi-double
Firebrand daffodil, 1897 – long creamy petals, fiery heart
Flower Drift daffodil, 1966 – free-flowering, frothy and vibrant
Horace daffodil, 1894 – poet of carpe diem
Hospodar daffodil, 1914
Inglescombe daffodil, 1912 – a double helping of sunlight
Insulinde daffodil, 1921 – graceful, exuberant double
Jenny daffodil, 1943 – like miniature shooting stars
King Alfred daffodil, 1899 – true stock!
Kinglet daffodil, 1959 – sweetly-fragrant, glorious, and Oregon-bred
La Riante daffodil, 1931 – Sweetly scented “laughing girl.”
Laurens Koster daffodil, 1906 – pioneering poetaz
Little Witch daffodil, 1921 – cute, very cute
Louise de Coligny daffodil, 1940 – sweet-scented apricot beauty
Lucifer daffodil, 1890 – heavenly wings, devilish cup
Maximus, Trumpet Major daffodil, 1576 – loved for over 400 years!
Merlin daffodil, 1956 – glowing red-rimmed yellow hearts in pure-white blossoms
Mrs. William Copeland daffodil, 1930 – Mary and Irene’s mother
Niveth daffodil, 1931 – Thalia’s elegant, uptown cousin
Ornatus daffodil, 1870 – earlier blooming pheasant's eye
Polar Ice daffodil, 1936 – too good to let go
Princeps daffodil, 1830 – graceful white and yellow wildling
Romance daffodil, 1959 – our most richly colored “pink”
Rose of May daffodil, 1950 – rose-like shape and fragrance
Rosy Trumpet daffodil, pre-1952 – starry white perianth around a long apricot trumpet
Rustom Pasha daffodil, 1930 – truly orange, sun-proof cup
Seagull daffodil, 1893 – floats like a butterfly, apricot rim
Sir Watkin daffodil, 1868 – one of the all-time greats
Stilton daffodil, 1909 – from the Golden Age of pheasant’s-eyes
Sweet Harmony daffodil, 1956 – striking both in the garden or bouquets
Twin Sisters daffodil, 1597 – aka Loving Couples, Cemetery Ladies
Twink daffodil, 1925 – a classic southern double
White Lady daffodil, 1897 – Victorian lady with a parasol
White Marvel daffodil, 1950 – unique and graceful
Will Scarlett daffodil, 1898 – dazzling groundbreaker
DIVERSE FALL
antique freesia, 1878 – super fragrant naturalizer
Byzantine gladiolus, 1629 – true stock!
Magnet snowdrop, 1889 – “easily recognized, even from a distance”
HYACINTH
Anna Liza hyacinth, 1972 – pink/lavender/mauve and beautiful!
Roman Pink hyacinth, 1573 – wildflowery, pink, and wonderful
Roman White hyacinth, 1597 – the rarest Roman of all
PEONY
Coral Sunset peony, 1965 – Spectacular and uniquely colored!!
Minuet peony, 1931 – ‘Mrs. Roosevelt’s beautiful sister
Philippe Rivoire peony, 1911 – rose-scented legend
Philomele peony, 1861 – fragrant and fascinating
TULIP
Absalon tulip, 1780 – chocolate and chestnut on gold
Archeron tulip, 1913 – strikingly dark garnet and rust
Black and White tulip, 1920 – dark flames on creamy white
Bridesmaid tulip, 1900 – slender cherry and ivory flame
Clara Butt tulip, 1889 – once the world’s favorite
Columbine tulip, 1929 – purple, lace-like tracery
Cottage Maid tulip, 1857 – rose and white sweetheart
Dillenburg tulip, 1916 – wonderfully fragrant
Dom Pedro tulip, 1906 – “undoubtedly the most attractive” brown tulip
Duc de Berlin tulip, 1854 – fragrant and bold
Duc van Tol Red & White tulip, 1750 – early and cheerful
Duc van Tol Red and Yellow tulip, 1595 – ancient, landmark miniature
Duc van Tol Scarlet tulip, 1850 – perfect miniature
Duc van Tol Violet tulip, 1700 – ancient pixie
Duc van Tol Yellow tulip, 1830
Duchesse de Parma tulip, 1820 – much more than red and yellow
Elegans Rubra tulip, 1872 – stark simplicity
George Grappe tulip, 1939 – lovely and late-blooming
Greuze tulip, 1891 – rich, deep purple
Insulinde tulip, 1914 – enjoy its enchanting transformation
James Wild tulip, 1890 – gloriously amber-brown
Je Maintiendrai tulip, 1863 – regal and unusual
Jules Favres tulip, 1913 – fiery chestnut-bronze
Julia Farnese tulip, 1853 – “supremely elegant” broken tulip
Klopstock tulip, 1863 – silky violet-purple
La Harpe tulip, 1863 – named for an early explorer of Texas?
Lac van Rijn tulip, 1620 – ancient crown of purple-red and ivory
Le Mogol tulip, 1913 – rose blushed with bronze
Lord Stanley tulip, 1860 – almost as exciting as the Cup itself!
Mabel tulip, 1856 – barmaid’s delight?
Madras tulip, 1913 – golden-bronze and fragrant
Old Times tulip, 1905 – “garnet and primrose”
Orange King tulip, 1903 – “sweet-scented, a grand tulip”
Pluvia D’Oro tulip, 1925 – sunny, delightful
Prince of Austria tulip, 1860 – fragrant and enduring
Prince of Wales tulip, 1863 – deep purple-brown
Princess Amalia tulip, 1908 – lovely and late
Princess Elizabeth tulip, 1898 – “rose-pink with topaz lights”
Royal Sovereign tulip, 1820 – mahogany on gold
Rubens tulip, 1903 – rare broken
Schoonoord tulip, 1909 – lush and radiant double
The Lizard tulip, 1903 – weird name, cool flower
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