Plants for a Plant Zoo: Spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana)
Karen With its arching foliage this easy to grow herbaceous perennial might grab your attention for resembling a squatting spider but if not, the very long bloom time will please. The…
Plant Profile: Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris aka Onoclea struthiopteris)
Native to eastern North America, Europe, and eastern Asia, this clump-forming, deciduous fern is a member of the Onocleaceae, a small plant family of ferns distinguished by having two kinds…
Weeds and Their Control: Hedge Bindweed (Calystegia sepium)
Hedge bindweed is a herbaceous perennial vine that can trail on the ground or cover fences, trees ,and shrubs with its twining stem. It is a member of the morning…
Invasive Plants and Their Native Alternatives: Japanese Wisteria (Wisteria floribunda)
Japanese wisteria is a deciduous flowering vine native to Japan but was introduced into the US in the 1830s and has become invasive from new Jersey to Indiana, south to…
Weeds and Their Control: Annual Fleabane (Erigeron annus)
Annual fleabane is a herbaceous plant belonging to the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes sunflower, yarrow, and lettuce. It is native to North American and can be found in…
Plants That Attract Beneficial Insects: False Indigo ( Baptisia australis)
False indigo is a tall, drought resistant herbaceous perennial native to central and Eastern North America, especially Midwest US. It is a member of the legume family, Fabeaceae, that also…
Plant Combination: Chrysanthemum and Praire Dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis)
For beautiful color in the garden during the fall, try a dark red mum like ‘Raquel’ and the grass, prairie dropseed. Early in the season the grass forms fine textured…
Invasive Plants and Their Native Alternatives: Earleaf Acacia (Acacia auriculiformis)
Earleaf acacia, also known as wattle, is an evergreen tree native to Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea and is currently invasive in the pinelands, scrub, and hammocks of south…
Plant Profile: Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)
This vigorous deciduous woody vine, also known as woodbine, is native to eastern and central North America south to Mexico where it grows in a variety of habitats including forests,…
Weeds and Their Control: Heal-All (Prunella vulgaris)
Also called carpenter’s weed and wild sage, heal-all is a herbaceous perennial and a member of the mint family, Lamiaceae, that also includes thyme, basil, and ajuga. It is native…