Blog

In the “language of flowers,” which is spoken not by flowers but by people, Coreopsis says “constantly cheerful.” Which fits perfectly: The golden-yellow double flowers of this native American genus are bound to put a smile on your face. Their disposition is as sunny as the sites where they love to grow. ‘Early Sunrise’ lives up to its cultivar name: On your bench or in the garden, it jump-starts your season by blooming earlier than others in the species. And its flowers are borne aloft on stur

Doesn’t ‘Lime Zinger’ sound like a sparkling, citrus-y summer cocktail? Perfect for a tailgate party at the polo match, or poolside? Oh, waiter! Another round of Lime Zingers, please!Well, our version is as succulent as it sounds, but it brings a different kind of sparkle to a sunny setting. ‘Lime Zinger’ is one of our favorites from the famous SunSparkler® series of nifty, hardy, low-growing Sedum.Your customers will love the firm, lime-green leaves with nicely-contrasting cherry-red picotee ed

Geography Lessons in the GardenA good mixed perennial garden can be a trip around the world – or at least across a continent or two. Today’s tour involves a plant whose name sounds deceptively like a land it did NOT come from. Nepeta kubanica Neptune (‘Bokratune’ PP29556)Is that a funky way to spell Cuba, land of cigars and Castro? Nyet! The specific epithet refers to “big-leaf catmint’s” ancestral home on the Kuban Peninsula in Southern Russia, on the Black Sea. This particular beauty was bred

So you think Latin names are difficult, you silly English-speaking person? Hah!Let’s examine first a popular perennial, then the less-familiar story behind its name. GaillardiaA backbone of the sunny garden, “blanket flower” is known and loved world-wide for its array of bright, cheerful, often bicolor blooms.Complex daisy-like flowers feature a plethora of petals with toothy, pointed or fluted tips. Puffy gold/red centers remain attractive and interesting even after petals fade. As you mig