Focus on Hellebores
We invite you to browse Focus on Hellebores, for image galleries and information on breeding, propagating and cultivation. We specialize in breeding Helleborus. We grow virtually every Hellebore species within the genus and maintain more than 50,000 flowering size stock plants for seed production. Our Helleborus x hybridus 'Sunshine Selections' are produced using a labor-intensive process of emasculation and hand-pollination to produce the only commercially available line of true F1 hybrids. And... you can even meet the King of Helleborus.

Plant Evaluation Program
Continuing with my grand ambition to grow every plant in the world, we have implemented a scientific plant evaluation program that is resulting in some very cool discoveries. For the curious, we offer this list of plants under evaluation. -- Barry

Hardy Cyclamen
There's virtually not a garden in England that doesn't have a beautiful drift of Cyclamen hederifolium and Cyclamen coum growing in it. Yet here in the US, we tend to overlook these winter-blooming perennials that will grow in every state of this country. [Learn more about Cyclamen]

Fantastic Sampler Offer
Try our 100-plant Home Garden Sampler for home gardeners and collectors. With a sampler consisting of five each of 20 different plants, we make it easy for you to get started with plants which, although rare and unusual, are still virtually idiotproof for the average home gardener. Also available: The Trade Sampler for garden centers, nurseries, professional landscapers, etc.

15 Minutes of Fame

Well, Barry just got his 15 minutes of fame, read the article now before his ego gets so big that there won't be enough broadband on the Internet to carry it. Just click on the magazine cover to be whisked away to the story.

Hellebore Naming Challenge
The Hellebores from our new 'Sunshine Spectaculars' series need names! If your name is chosen, you will win a 4" pot of your plant once it becomes available for sale. [More...]

Hellebore Breeding Gardens
Many gardeners who would love to visit during peak bloom season, mid March, and are unable to, have asked me for photos of the 6-acre section of the hillside gardens that are home to the more than 68,000 mature, blooming Hellebores, so here's a gallery for you to walk through.

Plants Up Close
Over the last several years, world-famous garden photographer Mark Turner of Turner Photographics has been a regular visitor to Sunshine Farm and Gardens. His beautiful photographs of our display gardens and exquisite plant close-ups make up several self-guided garden tours which have become one of the most popular sections of our site.

Current Special

"Foxgloves" are a wonderful bunch of plants for brilliant color in the garden. The problem is, most of them are biennials or very short lived perennials at best. Here's a "Foxglove" that's not only perennial, but self sows itself into a colossal colony of continual color. I've been growing Digitalis lutea for many years now and it's never disappointed me. The long lasting, bright yellow blooms open from the bottom up over a long period of time in early Summer and make great cut flowers. Almost overnight, from a rosette of soft, velvety leaves, multiple 12" - 24" stems arise with dark green foliage and dozens of flower buds. [More...]

Previous Specials

I don't know why this extremely hardy, bulbous perennial from South Africa isn't in everyone's garden. A lovely, deer-proof member of the Hyacinth family and formerly a member of the Lily family, Galtonia candicans has been at home in my gardens for over 20 years and seems to uncannily coordinate the commencement of its long bloom period with the Summer Solstice, almost to the day. I have it growing in full shade and in full sun, in average soil, in dry soil and in moist soil. It seems to do equally well in all of the aforementioned locations and conditions although it grows noticeably taller in full sun.
[More...]

Clintonia umbellulata

Even if Clintonia umbellulata didn't have pure white globular umbels of long lasting flowers with the cutest little green dots at the tip of each petal, the lush, thick, supple, tropical looking, orchid like foliage would be enough to satisfy the desires of even the most demanding of gardeners. [More...]

Diphylleia cymosa

Diphylleia cymosa is one of the most striking plants I've ever grown. Native to 5 southeastern states it seems to be hardy in all 50. The common name of "American Umbrella Leaf" is quite apropos as her beautifully scalloped leaves can grow up to 24" and provide a dry spot for all the little critters that seek refuge in your garden during a rainstorm, hence the umbrella reference. [More...]

Trillium cuneatum

Despite their exotic, magical, mystical appearance, most Trilliums are quite easy to grow and Trillium cuneatum is no exception. There are at least one or more Trillium species native to every state in the US but four. I've been growing and propagating many species of Trillium over the last 38 years. [More...]

Camassia scilloides

Exceptionally rare! But... exceptionally easy to grow, and exceptionally rewarding. Camassia scilloides may just be one of the very rarest plants that I've ever grown, but it's also one of the easiest. Native to almost every state east of the Rocky Mountains, I can't imagine a climate where it wouldn't thrive in an average to well drained, shady to dappled sunlight spot in the garden.
[More...]

Hydrastis canadensis

Golden will be the first word to enter your mind when you see the roots, rhizomes and dormant buds of Hydrastis canadensis. You'll understand immediately why the common name is "Goldenseal".  This very useful native woodland plant will not only charm and entertain you Spring, Summer and Autumn, it can even heal you. [More...]

Mitchella repens

And a partridge in a pear tree...

Forgive me for borrowing a line from that little ditty that some wily Jesuit priests penned in the 16th century, but I couldn't think of a more clever way to introduce you to Mitchella repens, aka "Partridge Berry". Yes, it's only the middle of November, not even Thanksgiving yet, but already my local Walmart has rolled out the Christmas decorations. [More...]

Crocosmia 'Elizabethan Gardens'

Crocosmia is a small genus of perennial species in Iridaceae, the Iris family. They're primarily native to grasslands of the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa. The name Crocosmia is derived from the Greek words krokos (saffron) and osme (smell), referring to the saffron-like scent when dried flowers are dipped in water. [More...]

More Specials of the Week.

Many are still available.