The phone lines and internet ordering site burn from the intense flow of customer orders through the catalog and web. Literally. We put our palms on the tops of the phone switchboard and the internet server, and they’re warm. Wires are humming, hard drives are whirring. Everything inside is hot. So, what’s smoking up the kitchen tables, nightstands and living room sofas of American gardeners?

1. Helleborus x hybridus ‘Kingston Cardinal’ - A stunning mauve grape, double flowered beauty-fully deserving of its first place win.

2. Helleborus x hybridus ‘Gold Finch’ - We’re surprised that it beat out its brethren for second place, since many of us here at Heronswowod feel that its freckles—however cute—are an acquired taste

3. Helleborus x hybridus ‘Snow Bunting’ - My favorite hellebore with handsome dark green foliage contrasting with elegant single blooms that open a pale green, then turn pure white.

4. Helleborus x nigercors ‘Green Heron’ - A vigorous, free flowering compact variety, distinguished by large, luminous green blooms that gradually darken in tone as they mature.

5. Disporum cantoniense ‘Night Heron’ - This tall and majestic cultivar of Fairy Bells is one of the best selling perennials in our history.

6. Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’ - By far our most popular grass, this deciduous cultivar is more spectacular in person than it appears in our incredible photograph.

7. Lilium nepalense - A brand new red/yellow addition to our large lily collection, this one is quite stunning.

8. Dicentra macrantha - Easily the rarest of our top 20, this profoundly lovely plant was collected high in the Szechuan mountains.

9. Papaver orientale ‘Patty’s Plum’ - Everyone’s favorite new poppy, she’s extremely well adapted to almost all climates in North America and puts on a “jammy” display.

10. Sedum ‘Mediovariegatum’ - A bold new stonecrop that has variegated, spotted leaves of steely blue-green contrasting with a buttery yellow. A fantastic new cultivar.

11. Cornus controversa ‘Variegata’ - Truly astonishing giant dogwood that appears like a great fountain in the partial shade, particularly in milder zones.

12. Chelone lyonii ‘Hot Lips’ - One of the most colorful, well adapted mid-sized perennials in our garden, and native to North America. A sassy beauty in the shade.

13. Eryngium amethystinum - Weirdly serrated and cut bracts are infused with a pearly sapphire blue surrounding a striking flower head, making a dramatic, exotic accent.

14. Helianthus ‘Lemon Queen’ - The most spectacular tall perennial that we have ever grown at Fordhook Farm, with 8 foot stalks ending in 2-3″ yellow sunflower-like blooms. A “must have”.

15. Sanguinaria canadensis ‘Multiplex’ - An extremely rare bloodroot that blooms layers of white roses on enchantingly dwarf plants.

16. Deinanthe bifida HC 970678 - The whitest of our herbaceous hydrangea selections, this rare variety was collected in the mountains of Japan.

17. Adiantum pedatum - Exotic looking fern that springs up in the early fall with fan-like fronds, echoing an ancient time.

18. Helleborus ‘Heronswood Black’ - Sensational black cultivar whose place at 18—our of over 900 total cultivars—speaks to the popularity of the hellebore genus.

19. Dichroa febrifuga - Stunning Chinese shrub with uniquely iridescent blue berries.

20. Thalictrum ‘Elin’ - The tallest of our popular perennials is this lovely bicolor lavender and yellow flowered meadow rue, reaching to 10 ft.

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