Plant Profile: Four-O’Clock (Mirabilis jalapa)
Karen Native to the dry tropical regions of North, Central, and South America, this herbaceous perennial, also known as marvel of Peru, is a member of the family Nyctaginaceae that also…
Genus: Sisyrinchium (Blue-Eyed Grass) for the garden
Sisyrinchium is a genus of of about 200 species of annuals and herbaceous perennials native to the New World. The plants are not grasses and are in the iris family,…
Plant Profile: Western Blue-Eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium bellum)
Native to moist grassy areas and woodlands of California and Oregon west of the Sierra Nevada, this semi-evergreen herbaceous perennial is not a true grass but is in the iris…
Perennials for Wall Gardens in Full Sun
The crevices in walls provide an opportunity to create a beautiful wall garden but also present challenges. They usually have very little soil and so can dry out or get…
Plants for a Plant Zoo: Zebra Grass (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Zebrinus’)
With long, arching leaves horozontally striped with wide bands of cream and green this warm weather perennial grass grows 4-6′ tall in tight rounded clumps. By mid September it reaches…
Genus: Erigeron (Feabane) for the Garden
Erigeron is a genus of approximately 150 species in the aster family, Asteraceae. It includes annuals, biennials, and perennials and most are native to North America. Although the genus includes…
Plant Profile: Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris aka Onoclea struthiopteris)
Native to eastern North America, Europe, and eastern Asia, this clump-forming, deciduous fern is a member of the Onocleaceae, a small plant family of ferns distinguished by having two kinds…
Plant Profile: Toad Flax (Linaria vulgaris)
Also called butter-and-eggs, and wild snapdragon, this herbaceous perennial is a member of the plantain family, Plantaginaceae, that also includes snapdragon, foxglove, and turtlehead. It is native to Europe and…
Plant Profile: Mountain Tulip (Tulipa montana)
Native to rocky and stony areas in the mountains of Iran and northern Iraq, mountain tulip is a perennial bulb and a member of the lily family, Liliaceae, that also…
Plant Profile: Martegon Lily (Lilium chalcedonicum)
Native to Tuscany, Greece, and Albania, this short-lived perennial bulb is a member of the lily family, Liliaceae, that also includes tulips and fritillaria. Plants grow 4-6′ tall and have…