Plant Profile: Lobelia (Lobelia erinus)
Karen The bright indigo blue flowers of bedding lobelia in six packs at garden centers always catch my eye and dance in my mind in images of the splendid border I…
Plant Profile: Purple Rock Cress (Aubrieta deltoidea)
A wildflower native to the Mediterranean and Asia Minor, purple rock cress is a member of the mustard family, Brassicaceae, that also includes cabbage, broccoli, and stock. It grows 4-6″…
Plant Profile: Basket-of-Gold (Aurinia saxatilis)
A native of central and southeastern Europe, basket-of-gold is an evergreen perennial also known as yellow alyssum, madwort, goldentuft, and gold-dust. It is a member of the cabbage family, Brassicaceae,…
Plant Profile: Mountain Bluet (Centaurea montana)
Also known as perennial bachelor’s button and montane knapweed, this clump forming herbaceous perennial is native to the upper montaine and sub-alpine zones of Europe where it grows in meadows…
Plant Profile: Common Lilac (Syringa vulgaris)
Few plants evoke nostalgia and fond memories more than the common lilac with its heavy trusses of very fragrant flowers. This deciduous shrub is native to southeastern Europe where it…
Plant Profile: Jack-in-the Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)
Jack-in-the Pulpit is a herbaceous perennial in the arum family, Araceae, that also includes skunk cabbage, calla lily, and elephant ear. It is native to eastern North America where is…
Plant Profile: Weigela (Weigela florida ‘Variegata’)
Shurbs that bloom in the spring are always a big asset but when they have foliage as gorgeous as variegated weigela, they rise to the top of my list. The…
Plant Profile: Hepatica (Hepatica nobilis)
This is one of those plants that has a certain aura because of its association with the “doctrine of signatures”, a belief that links the shape of a plant with…
Plant Profile: Spanish Bluebell (Hyacinthoides hispanica)
When I first grew Spanish bluebells they were called Scilla or Wood Squill and, in fact, many bulb catalogues list them with scillas. The Spanish bluebells are taller and bloom…
Plant Profile: Arkansas Bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii)
I bought my first Arkansas bluestar at a Master Gardener’s Fall plant sale. It was a puny little plant but since I had never had one but had always heard…