Plant Profile: Perwinkle (Vinca minor)
Karen Also called myrtle, this perennial evergreen vine is a member of the dogbane family, Apocynaceae, that also includes milkweed, oleander, and bluestar. It is native from central and southern Europe…
Plant Profile: Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus)
Sweet William has charmed flower lovers for centuries and even in modern times Kate Middletown included it in her bridal bouquet to honor her groom. The fringed and toothed flowers…
Plant Profile: Arend’s Saxifrage (Saxifraga x arendsii)
Of the many different kinds of saxifraga that exist the hybrids developed by the German nursery Arends, these are among the best and most readily available. The delicate flowers in…
Plant Profile: Winter Heather (Erica carnea)
Winter heather is a low growing compact evergreen shrub that gets up to 12” tall and up to 24” wide so makes a very good ground cover. It grows slowly…
Plant Profile: Baby’s Breath (Gypsophila paniculata)
Baby’s breath is a herbaceous perennial and a member of the carnation family, Caryophyllaceae, that also includes pinks and campions. It is native to central and eastern Europe but is…
Plant Profile: Pumpkin Galeuse D’Eysines (Cucurbita maxima)
You will either hate or love this pumpkin but if you put it on your doorstep at Halloween you will be sure to turn heads or perhaps scare some trick…
Plant Profile: Fire Flame Tulip (Tulipa acuminata)
This tulip is so strange that I am tempted to call it bizarre. The bright orange color streaked with yellow is only part of its appeal; the petals are long,…
Plant Profile: Granny’s Bonnet/ Garden Columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris)
With a name like “granny’s bonnet” this plant is bound to raise the curiosity of any gardener. As one of 65 species of columbine, this is not the best known,…
Plant Profile: Japanese Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis cinnamomea aka A. yedoensis))
Native to India, this herbaceous perennial is a member of the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes daisy, yarrow, and lettuce. It grows 2-3″ tall from a rhizomateous rootstock and…
Plant Profile: Cinderella Pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima)
Whether you want to make pie or a flower arrangement, the Cinderella pumpkin is a good choice. It gets its name from its resemblance to the carriage that Cinderella’s fairy…