Plant Profile: Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa)
Karen Showy milkweed is a herbaceous perennial native to Northwest and north central US where it can be found in sunny moist to dry sites including savannas, prairies, roadsides, abandon fields,…
Plant Profile: White Sage (Artemesia ludoviciana)
Known by many common names including western mugwort, Louisiana wormwood, and white sagebrush, this rhizomatous perennial is a native of North America including most of the US. It is a…
Plant Profile: Rose Astilbe (Astilbe x rosea)
A hybrid from a crossing of A. chinensis and A.japonica, rose astilbe has the habit of the latter and the flower color of the former. It is a herbaceous perennial…
Plant Combination: Variegated Yucca (Yucca filamentosa)’Golden Sword’ and Threadleaf Coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata) ‘Zagreb’
Poor, dry soil in full sun might be considered a tough place for plants but this cheerful yellow combination will do well there. The yellow of the coreopsis ‘Zagreb’s’ flowers…
Botanical Latin: Pedata
Ped A ta from Latin pes, pedis meaing foot The term is used to describe plant structures, often leaves, that are divided so that they resemble a bird’s foot, with…
Plant Profile: Grayleaf Cranebill (Geranium cinereum)
Also called ashy cranebill, this semi-evergreen herbaceous perennial is native to the Pyrennes. It is a member of the Geraniaceae family that also includes the common bedding plant called geranium…
Plant Profile: Caucasian Comfrey (Symphytum caucasicum)
This coarse herbaceous perennial is native to the Caucasus Mountains where it grows in waste places, along roadsides, in scrub, and along streams. It is a member of the boarage…
Plant Profile: Alpine Pink (Dianthus alpinus)
Alpine pink is a short lived, herbaceous perennial native to to the Alps of eastern Austria. It is a member of the carnation family, Caryophyllaceae, that also includes baby’s breath,…
Plant Profile: Wallich Spurge (Euphorbia wallichii)
Wallich spurge is a clump forming herbaceous perennial native the Himalayas. It is a member of the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae, that also includes poinsettia, caster-oil plant, and cassava. The lanceolate…
Garden Plants for Flower Arrangements: Red-Hot Poker (Kniphofia uvaria)
Also called torch lily, this herbaceous perennial is native to South Africa where it grows on damp slopes as marshy areas. Stiff, semi-evergreen, grey-green leaves up to 36” inches long…