Plant Profile: Joseph’s Coat (Amaranthus tricolor)
Karen Amaranthus tricolor is not for the timid. Its very bright, perhaps gaudy, colors are sure to catch the eye and enliven any border. Frankly, I love it. Plant several tall…
Plant Profile: Mediterranean Spurge (Euphorbia characias)
If you know this shrubby perennial by its common name, Mediterranean spurge, you probably know that it thrives in dry hot climates. And you can probability guess that it languishes…
Plant Profile: Bishop’s hat (Epimedium grandiflorum)
What a blessing this plant is for the shade garden! In addition to growing well in limited light it competes well with the roots of trees and can grow in…
Plant Profile: Brazilian Vervain (Verbena bonariensis)
This is not a plant that will catch your eye the first moment you look at a garden but it creates a subtle mood especially when planted as a “see…
Plant Profile: Dusty Miller (Senecio cineraria)
Dusty miller is a half-hardy perennial native to the Mediterranean area and a member of the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes daisy, yarrow, and lettuce. It grows 12-24″ tall…
Plant Profile: Purple heart (Setcreasea pallida/Tradescantia pallida)
Although experts can’t agree on a name for purple heart they do agree that it is one of the toughest plants for the South. Give it high heat and humidity…
Plant Profile: Creeping Zinnia (Sanvitalia procumbens)
When you see this plant for the first time covered with flowers you can’t help wonder how it ever got the name “zinnia”. Creeping is understandable, as it is very…
Plant Profile: Rose Mallow (Lavatera trimestris)
Check out the botanical name on this one because there are several plants that go by the name rose mallow. This plant is a large, bushy annual with the flowers…
Plant Profile: Perwinkle (Vinca minor)
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…