Plant Profile: Dusty Miller (Senecio cineraria)
Karen 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…
How to Make a Flower from a Lemon, Lime, and Strawberry
When company is coming over you may want to dress up a tray of hors d’oeuvres or appetizers. Sure, parsley will add some color and texture but how about something…
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: 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: 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: 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…
Plant Profile: Diamond Frost Euphorbia (Euphorbia graminea ‘Inneuphe’ Diamond Frost)
Diamond Frost (trade name for ‘Inneuphe’) looks so delicate that you would never know what a tough little plant it can be. From spring until fall it blooms without a…
Plant Profile: Mexican Sunflower ‘Fiesta Del Sol’ (Tithonia rotundifolia ‘Fiesta del Sol’)
‘Fiesta del Sol’ is the first truly dwarf Mexican sunflower topping out at 2½’ instead of 5-6’ like other varieties. The plants thrive in heat and humidity, are drought tolerant,…