Weeds and Their Control: Spotted Knapweed (Centaurea maculosa)
Karen Spotted knapweed is an aggressive short-lived perennial brought to North America from Eurasia in the 1890s in contaminated crop seed. Since then it has spread to almost every state in…
Plant Profile: Golden Yarrow (Eriophyllum confertiflorum)
Native to California and Baja California, this variable annual, perennial or subshrub, is a member of the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes sunflower, daisy and lettuce. It usually grows…
Plant Profile: Diascia integerrima
This clump-forming, stoloniferous, evergreen perennial is native to South Africa where it grows in mountainous areas along streamsides, on cliffs, and in rock crevices and gravely areas. It is a…
Plant Profile: Blunt Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum miticum)
Also called short toothed mountain mint, this herbaceous perennial is in the dead nettle family, Lamiaceae, that also includes rosemary, ajuga, and monarda. It is native to Eastern North American…
Plant Profile: Astelia chathamica
Native to the Chatham Islands off the Pacific coast of New Zealand where it grows in forest margins, this evergreen herbaceous perennial forms large clumps of gently arching sword like…
Plant Profile: Castor Bean (Ricinus communis)
Castor bean is native to Africa, Middle East and India but has naturalized all over the world in subtropical and tropical areas where it can be found in disturbed areas…
Plant Combination: Upright Goldenrod (Solidago rigida) and Japanese Anemone (Anemone hypehensis) ‘Hadspen Abundance’
Just when the garden looks like it is winding down in autumn goldenrod and Japanese anemone come into bloom adding bright color with their winning combination of gold and pink.…
Plant Profile: ‘Bowles Golden’ Sedge (Carex elata ‘Bowles Golden’)
The bright yellow new growth of “Bowles Golden Sedge is the perfect plant to brighten up up a moist shady spot. The leaves are actually yellow with green margins but…
Name This Plant Game: Summer Blooming Perennials 10
Chuck This simple game tests your gardening knowledge by identifying five plants shown in photos from a list of possible names. Photos of each plant are accompaned by a clue describing…
Plant Profile: Leadwort (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides)
Plumbago is at the top of my list for ground covers blooming late in the season. It starts in mid summer with its vivid blue flowers and continues well into…