Plant Profile: Korean Goat’s Beard (Aruncus aethusifolius)
Karen Korean goat’s beard is a clump forming perennial and a member of the rose family (Roseaceae). It has dark green pinnately compound leaves that are fern-like and form a mound…
Plant Profile: Dusky Cranebill (Geranium phaeum)
Also called morning widow or black widow, dusky cranesbill is a herbaceous perennial native to Europe. It belongs to the geranium family (Geraniaceae) and is part of the group called…
Plant Profile: Pale Purple Coneflower (Echinacea pallida)
Pale purple coneflower is a herbaceous perennial native to the eastern half of the US where it grows in open areas on a variety of soils. It is a member…
Plant profile: Spotted Bellflower (Campanula punctata)
Spotted bellflower is a herbaceous perennial native to Japan and Siberia where it grows in lowlands on disturbed soil such as roadsides and fields. The light green leaves are triangular…
Plant Profile: Jacob’s Ladder (Polemonium caeruleum)
Also called Greek valerian, this clump-perennial is native to the cool parts of Europe and Asia where it grows in broad-leaf forests and moist grasslands and meadows. It has medium…
Book Review: Plant This Instead!
Bored by growing the same old plants year after year? Tired of pulling out the invasive plants that crowd out their neighbors? Sorry that you bought that perennial that was…
Plant Profile: Sharp Lobed Hepatica (Hepatica acutiloba aka H. nobilis var. acuta)
Sharp-lobed hepatica, also called heart liverleaf, is a herbaceous perennial in the buttercup family (Ranunculaeae) and is native to eastern US where it is found in moist shady woodlands. Although…
Plant Profile: Creeping Phlox (Phlox stolonifera)
Creeping phlox is an herbaceous perennial native to southeastern US where it grows in the woodlands and moist areas of the Appalachian Mountains. It forms large mats of low growing…
Book Review: Outdoor Decoration and Style Guide
Most gardeners look forward to getting outside and enjoying the sunshine, fresh air, and the natural environment. “Outside” may mean a balcony, porch, terrace, or garden but wherever it is,…
Plant Profile: Crested Iris (Iris crestata)
This dwarf perennial is endemic to eastern US where it grows in woodlands, rocky hillsides, mountain ledges and along streams. It spreads by branching rhizomes and can quickly form substantial…