Plant Profile: Virginia Bluebell (Mertensia virginica)
Karen A carpet of Virginia Bluebells in spring is a magnificent sight! These clump forming native plants colonize and naturalize readily providing beauty to a woodland garden for about 3 weeks…
Plant Profile: Grecian Windflower (Anemone blanda)
Native to southeastern Europe, Turkey, Lebanon, and Syria Grecian windflower is a herbaceous perennial belonging to the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae, that also includes delphinium, clematis, and hellebore. The plants grow…
Plant Profile: Adam’s Needle (Yucca filimentosa) ‘Color Guard’)
When I look out across 100 feet of lawn to my perennial garden in winter the plant that first catches my eye is ‘Color Guard’. It’s canary yellow color is…
Plant Profile: Monkshood (Aconitum carmichaelii ‘Arendsii’)
In late summer I look for tall plants with blue flowers borne in spikes and monkshood is one of the best. The deep violet blue color is striking and the…
Plant Profile: False Aster (Boltonia asteroids ‘Snowbank’)
Boltonia starts off in spring as a small, finely textured gray-green plant but grows slowly and steadily until late summer when it reaches its full height and girth and is…
Plant Profile: New England Aster ‘Alma Potschke’ (Aster novae-angliae ‘Alma Potschke’)
The bright vivid pink color of ‘Alma Potschke’s’ daisy-like flowers is outstanding and goes looks terrific with both late summer and early fall flowers. Yellow flowers warm it up and…
Plant Profile: Joe-Pie Weed ‘Little Joe’ (Eupatorium dubium ‘Little Joe’)
If you like the prairie look but have limited space consider ‘Little Joe’ Pie Weed. It has the same large clusters of small mauve pink flowers, attractive foliage, and appeal…
Plant Profile: New England Aster ‘Purple Dome’ (Aster novae-angliae)
The deep purple daisy-like flowers with bright gold centers make ‘Purple Dome’ a standout in the garden. Blooming at a time when other plants are fading, it gives a fresh…
Plant Profile: Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ (Sedum x telephium ‘Autumn Joy’)
Sedum “Autumn Joy’ is a very special plant and is an asset in every garden. It gives year round interest beginning in early spring when mounds of green foliage push…
Plant Profile: Lamb’s Ear (Stachys byzantina aka S. lanata)
Lamb’s ear is a herbaceous perennial native to Turkey, Armenia, and Iran, and is a member of the deadnettle family, Laminaceae, that also includes mint, basil, and beebalm. It forms…