Asclepias–commonly called milkweed or butterfly weed–is a showy perennial with dense clusters of orange blooms. Asclepias is a genus of perennials that exudes milky juice when stems are broken. Butterfly bush, Asclepias tuberosa, is a favorite food of the monarch butterfly and is commonly grown in gardens. Asclepias grows well in dry places. It is […] More
Aruncus–commonly called goat’s beard–is a shrub-like woodland plant with showy, plume-like spikes of tiny, cream-colored foliage. It looks very much like astilbe. Aruncus is easy to grow and makes a good background plant in beds and borders. A single plant may be used as an accent. Grow Goat’s Beard in part to full shade in […] More
Armeria is a low growing, long-blooming perennial. It is both drought-tolerant and salt spray tolerant making it a good choice for both seaside and inland gardens. Sea thrift has grass-like leaves growing in tufts and commonly pink flowers on long stems. The genus Armeria comprises dwarf perennials with evergreen leaves in rosettes and numerous flower-heads […] More
Arabis, commonly called wall rockcress, is a small mounding plant covered in white blossoms in early to mid-spring. Wall rockcress is a colorful addition for rock gardens and rock walls and containers. Rockcress is a genus of annuals, biennials, and perennials of the Mustard Family including delightful, low-growing border and rock-garden plants of easy culture. […] More
Anthemis bears cheerful daisy-like flowers commonly called golden marguerites. Flowers appear above feathery foliage on mat or mounding plants. Flowers appear over an extended time from spring into summer. Anthemis grows 2 to 3 feet high and wide. The foliage is finely cut light green on the surface and felted gray underneath. The foliage is […] More
Anemone–commonly called windflower–is an upright perennial with divided, dark green basal leaves. Windflowers produce large daisy-like flowers, some double, from late summer to early fall. Windflowers arise from corms and are slow spreading. Anemone is suitable for the border, wild garden, or rock garden. The most popular types are the autumn-flowering, fibrous-rooted Japanese Anemone, and […] More
Anaphalis–commonly called pearly everlastings–is a gray furry-leaved perennial that bears clusters of papery daisies. The foliage is perhaps the most outstanding characteristic of Anaphalis. Anaphalis has a mounding habit with erect, branching stems that carry the flowers. It is one of the few gray-leaved plants that thrive in partial shade. Anaphalis is heat tolerant but […] More
Amsonia bears clusters of flowers with funnel-shaped bases and flared, starry faces. Amsonia is commonly known as bluestar, blue star flower, or dogbane. Amsonia leaves are lance-shaped to ovate or rounded. Stems contain a milky sap. Amsonia is related to milkweed. Amsonia species are perennials or subshrubs. There are about 20 species in the genus. […] More
Alstroemeria–commonly called Peruvian Lily–produces large clusters of brilliant-colored azalea like flowers. Colors range from hot to red and pink to cool mauve and purple. Peruvian lilies are often massed in groups or mixed borders. Alstromeria is a genus of South American plants, members of the Amaryllis family that grow from tuberous roots are treated like […] More
Tiarellas are clump-forming perennials that bear small white, sometimes pinkish, star-shaped flowers on erect stems. Tiarella grows best in full or partial shade in moist, but not wet soil. Tiarella grows from rhizomes; rhizome spread can be vigorous. Plants from clumps of basal, ovate to heart-shaped or rounded leaves that are toothed. Foliage often turns […] More
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
Stephen Albert