Five Fabulous Perennials to Get Rid of the Summer Blahs
Karen By the time August rolls around my garden usually looks like it needs a new lease on life. The heat and humidity have taken their toil, the insects, fungi, and…
Plant Profile: Black Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’)
When I first saw this plant over ten years ago I was thrilled by its unique look: black leaves. Of course there really are no truly black leaves in nature…
Plant Profile: Hardy Iceplant ( Delospera cooperi)
Hardy iceplant is a tough little plant as long as it doesn’t get too much water. The succulent leaves form a dense low growing mat and appear to have tiny…
Plant Profile: Pigsqueak (Bergenia cordifolia)
Native to Russia, this herbaceous perennial is a member of the Saxifragaceae family that also includes foam flower, coral bells, and astilbe. The plants form a rosette of shiny, heart-shaped…
Plant Profile: Dwarf Chinese Astilbe (Astilbe chinensis var. pumila)
I used to think of astilbes in general as needing shade and moisture until I met this one. It thrives in shade and moist soil but it tolerates considerably more…
Plant Profile: Gooseneck Loosestrife (Lysimachia clethroides)
Native to moist soils of China and Japan, this clump-forming herbaceous perennial is a member of the primrose family, Primulaceae, that also includes cyclamen. It grows up to 3′ tall…
Plant Profile: Ladybells (Adenaphora lilifolia)
When I first introduced this plant into my garden I was delighted. It grew form a rosette of leaves and bore blue bell shaped flowers on a 24” stem for…
Plant profile: Dead Nettle ‘White Nancy’ (Lamium maculatum ‘White Nancy’)
The white flowers of this fabulous ground cover are charming but the foliage makes it outstanding! Plant it in a shady spot and both the flowers and foliage will brighten…
Plant Profile: Catmint (Nepeta x fassenii ‘Walkers Low’)
Picture a medium sized mound of lavender-blue flowers with silver-gray foliage in front of your favorite pink rose bush and you are probably seeing ‘Walker’s Low ‘ catmint. Beloved by…
Plant Profile: Japanese Iris (Iris ensata syn. kaemperi)
The Japanese have spent over 500 years breeding this beardless iris and have created a spectacular flower that are very different from those of the more familiar German or Siberian…