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If there’s a garden grass that your average gardener knows by name, it’s ‘Karl Foerster’. This eponymous creation of the legendary plantsman was the first ornamental grass named Perennial Plant of the Year.Naturally, we know (and grow) lots more, but this is the one to know if you know only one. It’s famous worldwide for its beauty, adaptability and ease of culture.Prolific breeder and author Karl Foerster (1874-1970) introduced over 600 plants and wrote two dozen books. His breeding motto was “

Back in 1997, Emerald Coast Growers was just six years old. Bill Clinton was in the White House. A new Honda Civic cost $10,000. The Marlins beat the Indians in the World Series, and the Packers whupped the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI.But the big news that year? The Perennial Plant Association chose Salvia May Night as its Perennial Plant of the Year. All other phenomena were just fighting for silver.May Night is a classic best-seller thanks to its long-lasting violet-purple flower spikes in lat

It’s the Most Wonderful Thyme of the Year to lose your Summerthyme Blues.In our last episode, we looked at Thymus praecox ‘Highland Cream’ and Thymus vulgaris ‘Hi Ho Silver’. Well, the Thymes, They Are A-Changin’!Rounding out the trio, please give a warm welcome to The Thyme of the Season:Thymus praecox ‘Coccineus’ This dense evergreen groundcover has a pleasing cascading habit. Magenta-pink flowers bloom in summer over deep-green, fragrant foliage. Bonus: It’s deer resistant!Heig

Stop looking. They’re right here!Are your customers pleading, “Give Me Just A Little More Thyme?” You can satisfy them, Thyme After Thyme, with two highly ornamental, fragrant choices.  Love Me Two ThymesThymus praecox ‘Highland Cream’ Aromatic carpets of tiny green leaves, generously splashed with creamy white accents. Very pale pink/lavender flowers appear from late spring to midsummer. Height: 2 – 4”  Hardy in USDA Zones 3 - 8Thymus vulgaris ‘Hi Ho Silver’ A brightly varie

Well, of course it’s lavender – or more accurately, Lavandula.Nothing else in the world smells like lavender. Savvy designers know to plant it where it will be brushed against in passing, releasing that inimitable scent.We grow a dozen varieties of this classic Mediterranean-born beauty. We can’t do justice to them all, so here’s a snapshot of three favorite modern introductions. They all perform best in full sun, and are hardy in USDA Zones 5 – 9.Lavandula angustifolia Big Time Blue PP24827&nb