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
Snow-in-summer, Cerastium, is a low-mounding plant with small, wooly leaves and clusters of white flowers on wiry stems. Cerastium grows 6 to 10 inches high and spreads 2 to 3 feet in a year. Cerastium grows well in most areas except for hot, humid regions where it is best place in shade. Standing water will […] More
Aurinia–commonly called basket-of-gold–forms low-growing dense clusters of tiny golden yellow flowers. Basket-of-gold is a small-scale ground cover for border foregrounds and rock gardens. Flowers appear in spring and early summer. Aurinia forms low, tufted rosettes of lance- to spoon-shaped evergreen leaves. Showy, rounded clusters of tiny four-petaled flowers in yellow and white appear above the […] More
False Rockrose, Aubrieta, is a mat-forming groundcover often seen spilling over rock walls or in rock gardens. It forms a beautiful blanket of tiny bright purple to pink flowers in spring. Aubrieta is a low-growing perennial of the Mustard family. You will find various spellings of the name; it has also been spelled Aubrietia. Aubrieta […] More
Boltonia is a tall, late-season blooming perennial. It is a North American native wildflower that is often grown in gardens. It is a good choice for a colorful background plant in flower borders. Boltonia is a bushy, strongly upright plant covered with a profusion of small yellow-centered white, pink, or blue daisies. It blooms from […] More
Stephen Albert