Plants for a Plant Zoo: Bird’s Nest Fern (Asplenium nidus)
Karen The dramatic foliage of this evergreen fern will attract the eye and beg for a closer look to see the unique nest formed in the center of the plant. The…
Plants for a Plant Zoo: Gooseneck Loosestrife (Lysimachia clethroides)
As the gooseneck-shaped spikes of tiny white flowers emerge in late spring and fill the garden bed, the playful, rambuctious, whimsical behavior of the plant bursts forth. Like a naughty…
Plants for a Plant Zoo: Goat’s Beard (Aruncus dioicus)
With its feathery plumes of tiny cream colored flowers moving gracefully over dark green leaves this shrub-like herbaceous perennial makes a beautiful presence in a woodland setting, beside a stream…
Plants for a Plant Zoo: Toad Flax (Linaria vulgaris)
Toad flax might not be the star of the show in any garden but it adds a lot of charm even growing in lean dry soil. True, it is a…
Plants for a Plant Zoo: White Turtlehead (Chelone glabra)
Attract ruby-throated hummingbirds, bumblebees and Baltimore checkerspot butterflies by adding a clump of this perennial with its flowers that resemble the head of a turtle peering out of its shell.…
Plants for a Plant Zoo: Parrot’s Beak (Clianthus puniceus)
Brighten up the garden in spring with the bright pink to red flowers of parrot’s beak, a bushy evergreen shrub endemic to New Zealand’s North Island. The waxy, 3″ long…
Plant for a Plant Zoo: Hens and Chicks (Sempervivum tectorum)
Hens and chick is an endearing plant that is very easy to grow and does well even with neglect; a perfect plant for a children’s garden! The plants grow 4-12″…
Plants for a Zoo Garden: Giraffe Thorn (Vachellia erioloba aka Acacia erioloba)
Armed with 3″ long thorns, this evergreen tree or shrub presents a great opportunity to introduce children to the unusual feeding habits of the giraffe. Yup, a giraffe can feed…
Plants for a Plant Zoo: Alligator Plant (Kalanchoe daigremontiana aka Bryophyllum daigremontianum)
The alligator plant deserves a place in a plant zoo on the basis of its name alone but another name, mother of thousands, gives a better idea of the uniqueness…
Plants for a Plant Zoo: Pignut (Conopodium denudatum aka Bunium flexusosum)
If you like to dig in the soil for treasures, grow pignut, dig up the tubers, cook them and enjoy a delicious treat that has a sweet taste something like…