Plants for a Plant Zoo: Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
Karen The bright red flowers of this North American herbaceous perennial will light up dark, moist areas of the garden for 4-6 weeks from late summer into fall . The plants…
Plants for a Plant Zoo: Snail Vine ( Cochliasanthus caracalla aka Vigna caracalla)
Beautiful and exotic, the snail like flowers of this tropical vine are sure to attract attention and squeals of delight. They appear in 12″ long clusters from summer to early…
Plants for a Plant Zoo: Spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana)
With its arching foliage this easy to grow herbaceous perennial might grab your attention for resembling a squatting spider but if not, the very long bloom time will please. The…
Plants for a Plant Zoo: Cardinal Vine (Ipomoea multifida)
If you like dainty red flowers on a lacy, fern-like vine, you will love cardinal vine. But watch out; if you plant it in a spot that it likes you…
Plants for a Plant Zoo: Tiger Lily (Lilium lancifolium aka L. tigrinum)
This vigorous, easy to grow, perennial lily from Asia captures the eye with its large tumpet-shaped flowers produced in profusion in mid summer. The 5″ wide flowers are orange with…
Shakespeare’s Garden: Crabapple
Crabapple is the name given to several deciduous trees in the species Malus, a member of the rose family, Rosaceae, that also includes cherry, lady’s mantle, and firethorn. The plants…
Plants for a Plant Zoo: Panda Face Ginger (Asarum maximum)
There are few flowers in the garden that are as cute as the black and white blooms of panda face ginger. They peak through the foliage at ground level and…
Invasive Plants and Their Native Alternatives: Sawtooth Oak (Quercus acutissima)
Sawtooth oak is a medium sized deciduous tree growing up to 98” tall. It is native to northeastern India, Nepal, Bhutan, Indochina, China, Tibet, Korea, and Japan and was introduced…
Invasive Plants and Their Native Alternatives: Japanese Wisteria (Wisteria floribunda)
Japanese wisteria is a deciduous flowering vine native to Japan but was introduced into the US in the 1830s and has become invasive from new Jersey to Indiana, south to…
Invasive Plants and Their Native Alternatives: Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius)
Scotch broom is a deciduous to evergreen, nitrogen-fixing shrub growing 4-8’ tall. It is native to dry, sandy soils in central and western Europe but was introduced into North America…