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From the dawn of time, ferns have seen it all. Many of our best-sellers graced the world's gardens over a century ago. Before that, their foliar ancestors shared the planet with really big reptiles during the Jurassic era, a likely inspiration for the newest cultivar to catch our attention.Both Dryopteris varieties shown here grow to a mature height of 18-24" and are hardy for Zones 5-9. Let's explore more. Dryopteris erythrosa(Autumn fern)New fronds emerge warm coppery-bronze and mature to bri

We grow so much Pennisetum xadvena 'Rubrum' – bench after bench, whole greenhouses full of it – that we sometimes wonder where it all goes. And then we take a drive, anywhere in North America, and there it is! ‘Rubrum’ barely needs an introduction. It’s that gorgeous annual grass you see wherever you go. There it is -- waving its burgundy blades and matching foxtail flowers in big containers on Main Street, in landscapes public and private, surrounding fountains and flagpoles, flanking entranc

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

Here’s a perennial you may not have considered. Colorful, easy to grow, drought-tolerant once established – and with eye-catching fall colors, to boot! ‘Ascot Rainbow’ lives up to the colorful part of its name with striking, yet subtle, gray-green leaves edged in gold. Come cool nights, the foliage becomes suffused with ever-deepening reds. It’s an autumn display worth waiting for. Culture NotesThey don’t come much simpler. Give it full sun or very light shade, and keep it irrigated until it’s

We work in the green industries. We celebrate our world’s greenery. The word “green” isn’t just an adjective, it’s an eco-friendly accolade.But sometimes, oddly enough, green is a surprise.When someone mentions the genus Festuca, “blue fescue” is the term that comes to mind. It’s an unwritten law that every new Festuca must be bluer than the last one.Eilers Beauty™ is an outlaw: Its slender, hair-like blades are a rich, subtle matte green.Named for a distinguished Illinois nurseryman, Eile