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Grail for Sale (Gallardia ) (Post)
“Why do you think I have this outrageous accent?”GaillardiaA backbone of the sunny border, “blanket flower” is loved world-wide for its array of bright, cheerful, often bicolor blooms. Butterflies and
The Sweet Smell of Success - Lavandula angustifolia (Post)Mmmmm… What’s that smell? Wait, don’t tell me – it’s lavender, of course! Yes, it’s Lavandula, all right. Nothing else can match the calming, clean fragrance of this legendary herb. That marvelous f
Switch on Year-Round Interest with Panicum(Post)Easy to grow and remarkably versatile, Panicum virgatum, commonly known as Switch grass, is a warm-season ornamental grass that thrives in USDA Zones 4–10. Panicum emerges as days lengthen and tempera
Pretty, Prairie Tough, Panicum virgatum (Post)Easy to maintain, Panicum, also known as Switch grass, is a versatile grass for all seasons and most regions, hardy for Zones 4-10. This warm season grower gets going as days lengthen and temperatures
AND THEN THERE WERE FOUR ~ 2022 Perennial Plant of the Year! (Little Bluestem) (Post)It’s a Grass Grass Grass!The Perennial Plant Association has picked a Perennial Plant of the Year every year for over three decades. In all that time, only three grasses were so honored... until now!N
Newsworthy Native ~ Bouteloua gracilis (Post)Bouteloua is one of the most sought-after grasses to hit the market in years. This versatile native is short in stature but ranks high on the Most Wanted list of discerning growers and landscapers. Ho
Astilbe ~ A Pretty, Popular Perennial(Post)With cool, elegant beauty alone or in combinations, Astilbe enhances the garden from spring to late fall. Easy growing Astilbe lights up shade gardens with beautifully vibrant, eye-catching spires. Ra
Swiss Army Knives of the Garden(Post)We’re not talking about edged implements here. We mean plants that, like the famous multi-function pocket knives, can be deployed in a multitude of situations. Gardeners sometimes need a plant that w
Warm Season Grass - Pennisetum alopecuroides(Post)Pennisetum alopecuroides (commonly known as fountain grass) thrives in late summer and early fall due to the long daylight hours and warm temperatures, which stimulate active growth and fuller foliag
What Do You Get When You Cross… (xHeucherella) (Post)A rhinoceros with an elephant?A Heuchera with a Tiarella?Let’s answer the second question first: Those two North American native genera pulled off a trick that’s pretty rare in the plant kingdom.Heuch
THE END TO BORDER WARS: Part III (Lavandula and Thymus) (Post)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 c
Bee-witching Blooms ~ Echinacea purpurea (Post)Now that we've learned how vital pollinators and native plants are, gardeners and designers want to welcome them with open arms...and wallets.Savvy growers can respond to gardeners' expanding pollinat
THE END TO BORDER WARS: Part IV (Golden Grasses)(Post)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 c
Color Your World Periwinkle! Part II(Post)Pantone Color of the Year 2022The color gurus at Pantone have anointed “Very Peri” as THE color for 2022. In their trademark breathless prose, Pantone describes Very Peri as a “red violet infused blue
“Why do you think I have this outrageous accent?” (Gaillardia Part 2) (Post)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
Energy Efficient, Cool Season Calamagrostis (Post)Need to keep your benches full and your heating bills low? With the right cool season grasses, it’s more than possible — it’s profitable. “Feather reed grass” is a classic cool season grass that thri
What''s Hot Now? Dianthus! (Post)Modern Takes on a Garden ClassicNo perennial garden can call itself complete without a complement of Dianthus. And neither can your perennial offering. These charmers are especially indispensable to t
Charming Gaura ~ Give this Native Perennial a Whirl!(Post)This North American native brings a light, graceful presence to gardens and containers, beautifully revealing a surprisingly resilient nature. Pollinators and gardeners alike are drawn to Gaura’s del