Aethionema—common name stone cress– is a small shrub grown for its dense to loose terminal racemes of small 4-petaled, cross-shaped flowers that are sometimes fragrant in red, pink, or creamy to white. Stone cress grows best in fertile, humus-rich soil but will grow well in poor soil. It is a good choice for a rock […] More
Inula—commonly called elecampane– bears showy daisy-like flowers in shades of orange-yellow and yellow. The blooms are carried singly or in flat-topped clusters. Flower petals are very narrow and often dropping. Add taller Inula varieties–to 6 feet (2m) tall–to summer flower borders. Shorter varieties–to 2 feet (1.8m) tall–can be used at border edges or in rock […] More
Incarvillea is commonly known as hardy gloxinia, but this plant is not related to gloxinias; it’s more closely related to trumpet vines such as Bignonia and Campsis. Incarvillea produces showy trumpet-shaped flowers in long, spike-like clusters. Summer flowers appear above bold deep green leaves that are pinnately divided. Incarvillea is a colorful addition to perennial […] More
Heucherella—botanical name x Heucherella—is a hybrid resulting from a cross between Heuchera, coral bells, and Tiarella, foam flower. Heucherella is sometimes called foamy bells; it bears panicles of tiny pink or white flowers on erect stems from spring to fall. Heucherella is a hardy, evergreen perennial. Green leaves are rounded and lobed. Leaves can be […] More
Polygala includes perennials and shrubs that bear deep blue pea-like flowers in spring and summer. They are tender plants well-suited for warm gardens or for growing in a conservatory. Polygala flowers have 5 sepals; the inner two form broad, petal-like “wings.” Leaves are blue-green. There are 500 species in the Polygala genus. Two—Polygala x dalmaisiana […] More
Tanacetum is a genus of about 70 annuals, perennials, and subshrubs with daisy- or buttonlike flowers that are commonly white, pink, or yellow. Summer-blooming flowers are borne singly or in clusters. Tanacetums have decorative toothed or scalloped, most aromatic basal leaves. Tanacetums are well suited for mixed borders, rocks gardens, and wild gardens. Members of […] More
Cupid’s dart, Catananche caerulea, is an old-fashioned summer-blooming perennial. Solitary lilac-blue or white ray flowers are borne atop wiry stems. Catananche produces mounds of grayish-green, lance-shaped leaves. The flower clusters have strap-shaped ray florets and usually come in lavender blue but sometimes white or yellow as well. Catananche is a good choice for the front […] More
Osteospermumm — commonly called African daisy — is grown for its showy daisylike flowers in shades of yellow, white, or pink. Osteospermum makes an eye-catching summer display. Osteospermum is closely related to Dimorphotheca. Both share the common names African daisy, Cape marigold, and star of the veldt. Osteospermum has a spreading habit. It is well-suited […] More
Erysimum, commonly called wallflower, is grown for its dense clusters of four-petaled showy flowers that can be lavender, sky blue, yellow, mahogany, red, or orange. Erysimum cheiri, the annual English wallflower, and the perennial cultivar ‘Bowles Mauve’ are the best-known wallflowers. Erysimum is a genus of about 80 annuals, biennials, and perennials. This genus now […] More
Rabbit-resistant plants are one solution to preventing rabbits from consuming the garden. Rabbits can be destructive garden pests, consuming flower, foliage, and tender shoots. When it comes to the garden, rabbits have nothing in their favor except their attractive appearance and engaging manner, and the fact that they seem to be nobody’s enemy. That said, […] More
Deer-resistant plants are plants deer tend to not eat. If deer are hungry enough they will eat practically any kind of plant. This list includes annuals, perennials, and bulbs that deer have turned away from in many gardens; there is no guarantee they will not eat them in your garden. As a general rule, deer […] More
Songbirds are attracted to the garden by plants that provide food–seeds, fruit, and nectar. Fruit-bearing shrubs attract songbirds. Seed and nectar-bearing flowers attract songbirds. Drifts of flowers are attractive to almost all birds because they are home to insects and spiders as well as nectar and seed. Shrubs, hedgerows, and trees are attractive to birds […] More
Stephen Albert