Echinacea is a bold upright perennial that bears large daisy-like flowers in purple, rose-pink, or white in late summer. Flowers are up to 6 inches (15cm) across and are composed of radial petals around a cone-shaped center. Commonly called purple coneflower, Echinacea has gray-green foliage and bristly, oblong leaves. Flowers are borne on tall stems […] More
Calamintha is a member of the mint family. Its leaves give off a minty-lemon odor when brushed. Calamintha bears clusters of small, tubular, two-lipped flowers in shades of lilac-blue, pink, and white. The Calamintha genus contains about eight species of perennials and subshrubs. Commonly called calamints. The name Calamintha is from the Greek kalos, meaning “beautiful”, and minthe, “mint”. Calamintha bears small […] More
Delphinium produces tall showy spikes of brightly colored flowers in summer. Blooms come in a range of colors—blue, violet, pink, white, or two-toned. The delphinium’s tall wand of flowers emerges from a low mound of foliage. Columns of blooms grow from 3 to 6 feet (.9-1.8m) tall or more. Leaves are lobed or fanlike and […] More
Baptisia–commonly called blue false indigo–is a shrubby perennial with indigo-blue flower spikes. In winter, blue false indigo has showy blue-black seedpods on grassy stems. False indigo is attractive in all seasons. Baptisia is a native of the United States growing wild from Pennsylvania to Texas. With deep green cut foliage and indigo-blue, white or yellow […] More
Verbenas bear dense terminal clusters of small primrose-like flowers in shades of blue, pink, red, violet, and white from summer to fall. There are two main types of verbena: the hardy, summer-flowering perennials, and the dwarf, half-hardy bedding plants grouped under Verbena x hybrida and V. peruviana. Some of these are upright and some are […] More
Mint is a group of herbs grown for their decorative aromatic foliage. Mint — botanical name Mentha — is a genus of 25 perennials that bear tubular to bell-shaped flowers usually borne on spikes of whorled clusters. Mint has lance-shaped to round, light to dark green or gray leaves, often highly aromatic. Mints are widely […] More
Polygonatum – commonly called Solomon’s seal–is a perennial grown for foliage and flowers. Polygonatum have whorled linear to broadly ovate, parallel-veined leaves that turn yellow in autumn. Mostly pendent, sometimes erect, tubular to bell-shaped white, cream, and occasionally purple-pink flowers with green markings are either solitary or borne in small clusters. Flowers hang beneath stems on […] More
Dusty Miller, Centaurea cineraria, with its silver velvety foliage adds light to gardens. The leaves are nearly reflective as walkway edgings at night. Its compact form fits nicely in open spots in beds and borders. Summer flowers are usually mustard yellow and occasionally purple, but they are nearly an afterthought to the decorative foliage. Centaurea […] More
Rudbeckia–commonly called black-eyed Susan or gloriosa daisy–produces golden daisy-like, brown-centered blooms from late summer to fall. Black-eyed Susans are tough and easy to grow. The Rudbeckia genus is made up of about 20 annuals, biennials, and perennials. Garden Rudbeckias are descendants of North American wildflowers. Rudbeckias thrive in all but soggy soils. They are drought-tolerant […] More
Centaurea montana–known as perennial cornflower–bears thistle-like flowers in shades of purple, blue, white, or pink. Perennial cornflower is also called mountain knapweed, and mountain bluet. It is part of the Centaurea genus which also includes the annual cornflower called bachelor’s button, Centaurea cyanus, as well as Dusty Miller, Centaurea gymnocarpa. Centaurea montana–perennial cornflower–is also called […] More
Campanula–commonly called bellflower–are popular perennials and biennials covered with bell-shaped flowers. Varieties include small mounded plants and tall branched plants. There are nearly 300 species of bellflower. Campana is Latin for “bell.” Campanula flowers are usually bell-shaped but can also be a star, cup, or saucer-shaped. Each flower has five “petals” or lobes. Flowers are […] More
Lobelia is a diverse genus of annuals and perennials. There are about 370 species of Lobelia. Most are native to the Americas. They are among the most popular native plants for gardens. The most popular Lobelia, Lobelia erinus, is simply known as edging Lobelia. It is a small tender plant that grows 4 to 8 […] More
Stephen Albert