The Crown of Thorns plant, Euphorbia milii, gets its common name from the sharp spines that protect the thick stems of this cactus-like plant. A relative of the poinsettia, the crown of thorns has small grayish-green leaves that provide year-round color, while bright red flower bracts appear in fall and winter. Crown of thorns thrives […] More
Lychnis bears bright summer flowers often pink or red. Flowers are carried singly on branched stems or in small, rounded clusters. The Lychnis genus contains about 20 species of biennial and perennials. Lychnis coronaria is an old-fashioned favorite often planted in borders. Other species are suited for rock gardens and containers. Lychnis bears five-petaled flowers […] More
Daylilies, Hemerocallis, bear large, trumpet blooms, each lasting a day. Flowers are often yellow or orange, but there are many color variations. The daylily is a perennial that has narrow, upright, and arching glossy green leaves. There are about 15 species of evergreen, semi-evergreen, and herbaceous daylilies. From those species come more than 50,000 named […] More
Eryngium–commonly called sea holly–is an upright perennial with heart-shaped, divided green leaves. In summer, it produces tall blue stems topped with cone-shaped purple flowers surrounded by spiny bracts. Eryngium is stiff-branched and thistle-like. There are 230 species in the Eryngium genus; some are fibrous-rooted and some are tap-rooted. Eryngium self sows. Eryngium is an excellent […] More
Goldenstar, Chrysogonum, is also known as green and gold. It is a low-growing perennial groundcover with dark green leaves and bright golden blooms. Goldenstar is attractive under the shade of trees and shrubs and in woodland gardens. Chrysogonum flowers have five rays and resemble stars. Bloom is heavy in spring and fall, but sporadic through […] More
Chelone, commonly called pink turtlehead, is a bushy perennial with rose pink inflated, tubular flowers that resemble the head of a turtle with jaws open. Chelone is a genus of about six species; all are native to moist woodland, prairies, and mountains. Turtleheads have a stiff, upright habit. Flowers are borne in dense, terminal racemes […] More
Chamaemelum — commonly called Chamomile — is commonly grown for its medicinal flowers and for its foliage which releases an apple-like fragrance when crushed. The leaves and flower heads can be dried; the leaves are used in potpourri, the flowerheads for herbal tea. Chamaemelum can be grown as an ornamental lawn for a courtyard or patio where […] More
Ceratostigma–commonly called dwarf plumbago, sometimes called leadwort–is a low-creeping, semi-woody perennial with deep gentian blue flowers from mid-summer to autumn. It is a sturdy groundcover under the dry shade of large shrubs and trees. Leaves commonly turn deep orange in autumn adding seasonal flair to the garden. Ceratostigma is not to be confused with a […] More
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
Artemisia–commonly called wormwood–is a stout silvery-gray mound of feathery leaves which is almost wholly grown for the beauty of the foliage. Artemisia combined with other brightly colored perennials becomes a sort of color moderator acting to harmonize other plants with colorful, showy blossoms. The effect of wormwood is delicate rather than assertive. Artemisia is a […] 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
Stephen Albert