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Wait, don’t tell me – it’s lavender, of course!Photo courtesy of Running Creek Lavender Farm in Locust, North Carolina.Yes, it’s Lavandula, all right. Nothing else can match the calming, clean fragrance of this legendary herb. That marvelous fresh scent gave the genus its name. Lavender is from lavare, Latin for “to wash.” It’s been used for that purpose for millennia.Mediterranean lavenders have a multi-functional, timeless appeal, making them an essential addition to any garden or la

Here's a versatile garden plant that's fun for all ages. Growers and gardeners love the flower color, almost as close to true blue as a perennial gets. Your customers and theirs will delight at the inflated buds of this sun-loving, shade-tolerant, border beauty.'Astra Blue' buds are irresistible. Please, don't stop 'em from poppin'! Having fun in the garden is the ultimate draw. A few burst buds are a small price to pay for a host of happy new gardeners. Consider it a tiny investment in the gree

The native known as “false indigo” has deep roots – in the garden, and in American history. Now an ornamental favorite, it was once prized and even subsidized by the British government for the blue dye made from its sap.Baptisia sends up erect racemes of purple/blue lupine-like flowers in late spring. The blooms give way to decorative green seed pods that ripen to charcoal black. Flowers, foliage and seed pods in all color stages are all valuable as cut flowers, with exceptional vase life. Nativ

The weather outside is frightful, and spring seems far off. It's not. The days are getting longer, and the time is getting shorter. Now is your chance to steal a march on Mother Nature and hit the ground running when winter finally fades away. It's the perfect time to plant....Ground Hugging Veronica.Say Veronica and most of us picture flower spikes rising a foot or two above the border, but another category of "speedwell" keeps a lower profile. These varieties charm as groundcovers and edg

Amsonia x Butterscotch™ brings a fresher, richer, healthier glow to a famous native perennial genus. Like Amsonia hubrichtii, Butterscotch™ is in constant graceful motion in the slightest breeze. It, too, has starry blue flowers in spring. And like its more famous sibling, its billowy masses of fine, rich green foliage segue to a beautiful golden autumn color. So how is it different? Let us recount the ways:■ Leaf Color: Butterscotch’s slim leaves take on a deeper, richer golden hue in fal