By Historic Annapolis / Published on May 7, 2026
New at this year’s William Paca Garden Plant Sale are several curated collections available for purchase as a group. These plant selections can assist all gardeners, from first timers to experienced horticulturalists in your spring planting. The collections were thoughtfully assembled by our experienced garden volunteers to address the needs expressed by our Plant Sale customers over the years. The curated collections offered this year are Maryland Native, Deer Resistant, Pollinator/Sun, and Shade. The collections contain multiple plants that thrive in the same conditions. Full collections will be offered at a10% discount over the list price.
The Collections have been expertly selected to create a garden space with plants that complement each other, grow at different heights and provide color through the gardening season. The collections will be preassembled in a box in the Perennial area. Stop by the table in front of the greenhouse and grab yours. The Collections contents are:
Maryland Native
Aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium) with a purple flower with yellow centers lasts well into the fall.
Cone Flower (Echinacea purprea) has large pink petaled flowers, blooming much of the summer and into the fall.
Golden Alexander (Zizia aurea) provides tall stems with delicate yellow flowers in the spring.
Woodland phlox, Blue Moon (Phlox divaricata) is a spring bloomer with blue-violet flowers
Solomon’s Seal (Polygonetum biflorum) has small bell like white flowers that nod and sway from arching stems. Solomon’s Seal will spread slowly and a small patch of it becomes a garden showstopper!
Deer Resistant
Ornamental onion or (Allium millenium) has 2-inch purple-rosy flowers that show up in the summer, providing mid-season color.
Eastern Bluestar (Amsonia tabernaemontana) is a hearty, low maintenance plant with light blue flowers early in the season.
Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) has both edible stems and flowers. The pinkish purple flowers last for most of the season.
Catmint (Nepeta faasenii) has lavender blooms and with tending will bloom most of the summer.
Garden sage (Salvia nemerosa) has striking blue or purple blooms and flowers all summer long.
Pollinator/Sun
Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) is critical to monarch butterflies. After flowering it produces a seed pod which can be used in flower arrangements.
Threadleaf Coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata) has yellow blooms starting in mid-summer and lasting into the fall.
Native columbine ( Aguilegia canadensis) has some of the most delicate and striking red and yellow flowers in any garden. Blooms in spring.
Culver’s Root (Veronicastrum virginicum) has delicate blue and white flowers in early summer
Goldenrod fireworks (solidago rugosa) has bright yellow flowers full of nectar later in the season.
Shade
Astilbe Bridal Veil (astilbe x arendsii) produces feathery white blooms and stands tall in the garden
Epimedium (Epimedium rubrum) is an easy to grow shade lover with red tinged leaves in the spring along with delicate red blooms in the spring.
Sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum) likes a moist area. It blooms in spring and again in fall with fragrant small white flowers.
Wild ginger (Asarum canadense) has beautiful heart shaped leaves that form a beautiful ground cover.
Wood aster (Eurybia divaricata) has small daisy like flowers that blooms in late summer
Hosta and Blue Mouse Ears hosta are easy to grow, love the shade and do produce flowers mid-summer.
Contributed by Julia Sauter, garden volunteer