Groundcovers for Shade: Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis)
Karen Lily of the valley is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial native to the temperate parts of the Northern Hemisphere and grows best where summers are warm but not hot. Each plant…
Plant Profile: Thinleaf Sunflower (Helianthus decapetalus)
Also called rough sunflower and ten-petal sunflower, this herbaceous perennial is native to the woodlands and forests of Eastern and Central US. It is a member of the daisy family,…
Plants for a Mary Garden: Common Speedwell (Veronica officinalis) Our Lady’s Resting Place
Karen Meyers According to the Bible, Mary made several significant journeys in her adult life that could have involved a resting place along the way: to the hill country of Judea to…
Plants for a Mary: Longleaf Speedwell (Veronica longafolia aka Pseudolysimachion longifolium) Our Lady’s Faith
The link between Veronica longafolia and the Virgin Mary is vague but probably began in the Middle Ages when the plant was believed to have medicinal properties and was used…
Plants for a Mary Garden: Roman Chamomile (Anthemis nobilis aka Chamaemelum nobile) Mary’s Plant
Roman Chamomile has been valued for over 2000 years. The ancient Egyptians associated it with their sun god, Ra, while the ancient Greeks and Romans used it medicinally to promote…
Ground Covers for Shade: Deadnettle (Lamium maculata)
Native to Europe, north Africa and temperate Asia, this semi-evergreen herbaceous perennial forms attractive mats of silvery green leaves with large silver blotches on the upper surface. The 1″ long…
Plants for a Mary Garden: Spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana) Mary’s Tears
In the Catholic tradition, Mary endured seven sorrows and is often shown grieving in art related to the Crucifixion, Lamentation, and Pietà. Tears are a part of sorrow and grieving…
Plant Profile: Hybrid Japanese Anemone (Anemone x hybrida)
Hybrid Japanese anemone is a herbaceous perennial often sold as A, japonica. It is a member of the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae, that also includes delphinium, clamatis, and hellebore. Plants form…
Plants for a Mary Garden : Harebell (Campanula rotundifolia) “Our Lady’s Thimble”
The association between harebell and the Virgin Mary is the result of medieval Christian traditions and folklore. Although the Bible makes no mention of Mary’s domestic skills, the veneration of…
Plant Profile: Chinese Anemone (Anemone hupehensis)
Also called Japanses anemone, this herbaceous perennial is a native of central China where it grows in scrub, grassy slopes, and streamsides. It is a member of the buttercup family,…