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We’re euphoric about this Euphorbia, and that’s no euphemism. ‘Ascot Rainbow’ is a riot of ever-changing color. Blue-green leaves with creamy yellow edges are its summer wardrobe. Cool weather inspires a costume change, with intense red tones.Euphorbia xmartinii ‘Ascot Rainbow’ PP21401Like many spurges, ‘Ascot Rainbow’ performs best with well-drained soils and resents wet feet in winter. Keep it happy, and you’ll soon know why this Australian introduction earned the Royal Horticultural Society’s

Talk about intoxicating beauty! Spirits and flowers go together like, well, like wine and roses. Here’s a round of some of our favorite ornamental grasses. All share their names with fancy adult beverages. Miscanthus sinensis var. condensatus ‘Cosmopolitan’The Plant:Beautiful broad blades with longitudinal striping. Creamy white margins surround rich green centers. This is an impressive specimen, reaching up to nine feet in flower. Hardy in Zones 5 – 10.The Beverage:Every bar and bistro has its

When the color experts at Pantone announced their Color of the Year for 2021, they gave us a rare double-header. Illuminating is a cheerful yellow. Ultimate Gray is exactly what it sounds like. They complement one another beautifully: Yellow for sunny optimism, gray for rock-solid reliability. We looked at gray last time, so let’s get sunny and optimistic again! In this episode, we shine an Illuminating beam on the golden blades of two grasses and a Carex (a grass like sedge, not a tru

When the color experts at Pantone announced their Color of the Year for 2021, they gave us a rare double-header.Illuminating is a cheerful yellow. Ultimate Gray is exactly what it sounds like. They complement one another nicely: Yellow for sunny optimism, gray for rock-solid reliability. Let’s go gray first. Obviously, gray – even Ultimate Gray -- is not sexy. Call it silver if it makes you feel better. As designers know, there’s a place for it in nearly every border.Magically, colors that clash

Dangling, jangling wind chimes give the breeze a voice.Dancing, swaying grasses make it visible. Miscanthus sinensisThe world’s premier ornamental grass genus, Miscanthus has graced America’s gardens for over a century. Heights range from just a few feet to Wow! Blades run the gamut from very narrow to very wide, in solid green or a variety of variegation patterns -- so there’s a “maiden grass” for every purpose.All varieties provide movement and sound for a delightful garden presence nearl