Evergreen Perennials for Dry Shade
Karen Dry shade is one of the most difficult sites for growing plants. Whether it is on a hill side, under the eves of a house, or under trees where roots…
Plant Profile: Stinking Iris (Iris foetidissima)
Also known as gladdon, Gladwin iris, and roast-beef plant, this rhizomatous, beardless iris is an evergreen herbaceous perennial native to northern Africa and Europe where it grows in open woods,…
Plant Profile: Hairy Alumroot (Heuchera villosa)
Hairy alumroot is an evergreen herbaceous perennial and a member of the saxifrage family, Saxifragaceae, that also includes tiarella, bergenia, and astilbe. It is native to Southeast from Virginia to…
Plant Profile: Northern Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum pedatum)
Karen Meyers Northern maidenhair fern is a perennial deciduous clump-forming fern native to North America and Asia where it grows in humusy, moist well drained soils and rocky areas. It is a…
Summer Blooming Blue Perennials for the Garden
As the big splash of spring flowers comes to an end and spring ebbs into summer the challenge of bringing color to the shade garden changes. Blue flowers are always…
Plant Profile: Scouler’s Corydalis (Corydalis scouleri)
Scouler’s corydalis is a herbaceous perennial and a member of the fumatory family, Fumariaceae, that also includes bleeding heart and Dutchman’s breeches. It is native to western North America where…
Plant Profile: Crevice alumroot (Heuchera micrantha)
Also called small-flowered alumroot, this evergreen herbaceous perennial is a member of the saxifrage family, Saxifragaceae, that also includes astilbe, tiarella, and bergenia. It is native to western North America…
Plant Profile: Wild Sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis)
Also called false sarsaparilla, shot bush, small spikenard, wild liqorice, and rabbit root, this herbaceous perennial is a member of the ginseng family, Araliaceae, that also includes ivy, umbrella tree,…
Plant Profile: Vanilla Leaf (Achlys triphylla)
Also called sweet after death and deer foot, vanilla leaf is a herbaceous perennial native to western North America from British Columbia south to California where it forms a dense…
Genus Pigsqueak (Bergenia) for the Garden
Bergenia is genus of semi-evergreen herbaceous perennials and belong to the saxifrage family, Saxifragaceae, that also includes Astilbe, Heuchera, Tiarella, and Rodgersia. It is native to central Asia but is…