Sidalcea — commonly called false mallows, miniature hollyhocks, or checkerbloom–are North American wildflowers closely related to hollyhocks (Alcea). Sidalcea bears erect racemes of five-petaled hollyhock-like flowers. Flowers come in shades of pink, purple-pink, and white. Sidalcea flowers appear above clumps to rounded to kidney-shaped leaves. Sidalcea is suitable for growing in a mixed or herbaceous border. Sidalcea […] More
Senecio is a large genus of bedding plants, tender perennials, and houseplants that all bear daisy-like flowers. The flowers usually appear in clusters but sometimes appear singly. In most species, the eyes are surrounded by ray florets or petals. The two best-known members of the Senecio genus are Dusty Miller, Senecio cineraria, and Florist’s Cineraria, […] More
Physostegia–commonly called Obedient plant–bears spikes of hooded, two-lipped, tubular white, pink, or purple flowers. Blooms appear in late summer. Obedient plant is a compact, erect perennial with lance-shaped, toothed mid-green leaves. When moved, the flowers will remain in the new position–thus the common name obedient plant. Physostegia is a good choice to grow in borders. […] More
Limonium species are commonly known as sea lavender or statice. Statice is the former botanical name for this genus of 150 species of perennials, biennials, and annuls. Limonium–commonly called statice–bears small spiked or clustered flowers in summer. Flowers have a papery texture and can be white, yellow, rose, lavender, or blue. Plants form a basal […] More
Linum bears clusters of saucer-shaped blue, yellow, or white flowers in summer. Linum is the botanical name given to flax. The genus contains about 200 species of annuals and perennials. The Linum genus includes several favorite flower garden subjects. Linum bears numerous, delicate 5-petaled flowers. Plants are clump-forming with lance-shaped grayish-green leaves. Linum blooms from […] More
Helleborus–commonly called Lenten rose or Christmas rose depending on the cultivar–has nodding purple, white, or pink cup-shaped flowers in winter or early spring. Flowers are born singly or in clustered. Helleborus are long-lived perennials. They bloom in late winter or early spring. The showy parts of the flowers are not true petals but petal-like sepals […] More
Gypsophila–commonly called baby’s breath–bears clouds of tiny white flowers in summer. They are prized by flower arrangers. They are a beautiful addition to flower beds, cutting gardens, and large containers. Baby’s breaths belong to the genus Gypsophila. There are about 100 species, both annuals, and perennials. Perennial Gypsophila is shrub-like plants bearing minutely branched wiry […] More
Geum is a perennial grown for its brightly colored globular or cup-shaped flowers in shades of white, yellow, red, and orange. They are a vibrant addition to the front of an herbaceous border or large rock garden. Geum blooms throughout the summer. Flowers can be single, semi-double, or double. Blooms appear above handsome foliage, leaves […] More
Geranium species, commonly called hardy geraniums, true geraniums, or cranesbills, are long-lived perennials that produce mounds of foliage and loose clusters of five-petaled cup- or saucer-shaped flowers. True geraniums are different from common garden geraniums, which are properly called pelargoniums. Hardy, true geraniums, once established, are easy to grow and thrive with little care. They […] More
Gentiana, commonly called Gentian, are commonly grown for their rich shades of true blue flowers, but there are some gentians in shades of violet, yellow, white, and red. Gentiana are perennials; many are grown in beds and borders, very small species are prized by rock garden enthusiasts. Most, but not all, Gentiana can be difficult […] More
Erigeron–commonly called fleabane–is a low-growing, somewhat bushy North American native that bears flowers that looks like small asters. Erigeron is easy to grow in nearly all well-drained soils. Erigeron produces a rosette of simple, lance- to spoon-shaped or oval leaves. The daisy-like flowers are single or double and consist of many narrow ray florets (petals) […] More
Doronicum, commonly called leopard’s bane, is a perennial that bears yellow, daisy-like flower heads in spring. Plants are deciduous and go dormant in summer after blooming. Doronicum grows from tubers. The flowerheads are composed of many ray florets—petals—surrounding slightly dome-shaped yellow centers which consist of densely packed disc florets. Flowers appear one per stem. Overplant […] More
Stephen Albert