Best nursery catalogs? Stick to those with lots of detail

Q: I'm buried in garden catalogs. Help! Which ones are the best?

A: Each has its strengths and weaknesses, depending on what kind of plants you're looking for and how much you want to spend. Are you seeking the "it" plants for this season, or do you want to buy in bulk?

I'm most interested in catalogs that tell me what I really need to know in order to distinguish between one plant and another. Does this cultivar have good fall color? Is it fragrant? Does it bloom earlier than the species? What is exceptional or unique about this specific plant?

I'm captivated by writing that convinces me that whomever is in charge knows the plants, grows them, cares about them.

Here's my "Who's Who" short list of nursery catalogs:

There are many more worthy ones, as well as seed, bulb and specialty catalogs. To find your own favorites, check the catalog files at the Miller Horticultural Library (3501 N.E. 41st St., Seattle; 206-UW-PLANT), and the listings in the Northwest Gardener's Resource Directory (Sasquatch, 2002). Most catalogs are now online, searchable by plant name on www.google.com.

• Heronswood Nursery Ltd. 7530 N.E. 288th St., Kingston WA 98346; 360-297-4172; www.heronswood.com; catalog price $5. Exciting new plants, and such knowledgeable descriptions that it works as a reference book.

• Siskiyou Rare Plant Nursery, 2825 Cummings Road, Medford, OR 97501; 541-772-6846; www.wave.net/upg/srpn; catalog price $3. A great Northwest source for hard-to-find hardy perennials, shrubs and rock-garden plants.

• Raintree Nursery, 391 Butts Road, Morton, WA 98356; 360-496-6400; www.raintreenursery.com; free catalog. A delicious selection of fruit and other edibles.

• Gossler Farms Nursery, 1200 Weaver Road, Springfield, OR 97478-9691; 541-746-3922; catalog price $2. Reasonable prices, great selection of unusual trees and shrubs.

• Greer Gardens, 1280 Goodpasture Island Road, Eugene, OR 97401-1794; 541-686-8266; www.greergardens.com; catalog price $3. Good-sized plants, color photos, a fine selection of rhododendrons, azaleas and Japanese maples.

• Naylor Creek Nursery, 2610 W. Valley Road, Chimacum, WA 98325; 360-732-4983; www.naylorcreek.com; catalog price $2. A wide variety of shade plants at affordable prices.

• Delight Nursery, 9241 Sauls Road, Raleigh, NC 27603; 919-772-4794; www.plantdel.com; catalog price 10 stamps or a box of chocolates. Unusual perennials with lively description and comment.

• Heirloom Old Garden Roses, 24062 Riverside Drive, St. Paul, OR 97137; 503-538-1576; www.heirloomroses.com; catalog price $5. Root roses for disease-resistance and hardiness.

• Joy Creek Nursery, 20300 N.W. Watson Road, Scappoose, OR 97056; 503-543-7474; www.joycreek.com; catalog price $2. A discerning selection of the new and special, plus many special clematis.

• Forestfarm, 990 Tetherow Road, Williams, OR 97544-9599; 541-846-7269; www.forestfarm.com; catalog price $5. More than 4,000 trees, shrubs, vines and perennials for the Northwest, at reasonable prices.

• YuccaDo Nursery, P.O. Box 907, Hempstead, TX 77445; 979-826-4580; www.yuccado.com; no catalog. Organically grown drought- tolerant plants, many are surprisingly hardy.

• B&D Lilies, P.O. Box 2007, Port Townsend, WA 98368; 360- 385-1738; www.bdlilies.com; free catalog with orders; $5.20 for first-class mailing of one. Informative color catalog full of gorgeous lilies and daylilies.

Valerie Easton also writes about Plant Life in Sunday's Pacific Northwest Magazine. Call 206-464-8470 or e-mail planttalk@seattletimes.com with your questions. Sorry, no personal replies.