Plants

The Gardener�s Blues

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

My notion of the perfect flower garden was formed early in life. I took it directly from a fanciful illustration of an English cottage garden in my nursery-rhyme book. I recall being enchanted by the towering spires of blue blooms—probably delphiniums, but possibly ladybells—before which Mistress Mary flounced contrarily down her garden path...

Q&A: What is late blight?

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I heard there’s a disease spreading this year called late blight that affects tomato and potato crops. Should I be worried?

Plants We Love: Hairawn Muhly Grass

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Hairawn muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris) is a native grass whose long deep pink fall flowers give it a wonderfully feathery look.

Roasting Pumpkin Seeds

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

How to roast pumpkin seeds for snacking.

Plants We Love: Slipper orchids

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Slipper orchids (Paphiopedilum) are fairly easy orchids to keep as houseplants

Homemade Dill Pickles

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Here’s an easy recipe for dill pickles. Use homegrown cucumbers or special pickling cukes.

Plants We Love: �Tiki Torch� Coneflower

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Echinacea ‘Tiki Torch’ offers the darkest orange flowers of any coneflower, plus they are wonderfully fragrant.

Plants We Love: 'Galilee' paperwhite

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

'Galilee' paperwhite (Narcissus 'Galilee') offers more flowers than other cultivars and has a softer fragrance. Bulbs should be potted by Thanksgiving for holiday bloom.

Rose Hips

Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Choose roses that readily set and ripen fruit for cheery points of interest in the fall garden.

Kalmia latifolia 'Sarah'

Fri, 23 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

As with other mountain laurel, it will do best if it is planted in bright light, with several hours or more of sun. Plant in an acid, well-drained soil and mulch with organic matter such as wood chips or pine bark...

Plants We Love: Black dalea or black prairie flower

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Black dalea (Dalea frutescens) is a low-growing Southwest-native shrub that blooms in purple from August into November

Plants for Dry Shade

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Dry shade is one of the most challenging garden sites. These plants thrive there.

Plants We Love: Muscadine grape

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Muscadine grape (Vitis rotundifolia) is a native vine with tasty purple berries that ripen in September and October.

Plants We Love: Ozark Witch Hazel

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Ozark witch hazel (Hamamelis vernalis) is a hardy shrub that blooms early, in January to April.

Growing Swiss Chard

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Tips for growing swiss chard, a leafy spring or fall crop.

Plants We Love: Pink Rain Lily

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Pink rain lily (Zephyranthes grandiflora) blooms repeatedly July through August, following periods of rain or watering. It can be grown in pots where not hardy.

Cooking with Swiss Chard

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Quick and easy ways to use swiss chard in the kitchen.

A Late-Blooming Dogwood

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Gray dogwood (Cornus racemosa) blooms well after most dogwoods and other ornamental trees have finished flowering. It also provides good fall foliage and berries for birds.

Plants We Love: Spider Lily

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Spider lily (Lycoris radiata) blooms from late summer to early autumn, with dazzling red flowers on tall stalks.

Plants We Love: Plume Poppy (Macleaya cordata)

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Plume poppy (Macleaya cordata) blooms in mid- to late summer and has large, interesting leaves.

Plants We Love: Prairie Aster

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

This fall-blooming aster has large flowers and resists mildew.

Non-invasive Clumping Grasses

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

These ornamental grasses will not take over the garden or nearby wild areas.

Ferns from spores

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT

There are no seeds, no cuttings, just spores released from the sori on a frond's underside. If the spores settle in a perfectly hospitable spot, they grow into prothallia, which look like liverworts...

Corkscrew Vine

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Corkscrew vine is a vigorous climber with interesting shell-shaped blooms and an absolutely intoxicating fragrance...

Four Great Weeping Trees

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

To add grace and elegance to the garden, try planting a weeping tree. These four choices are particularly nice.

Plants We Love: Maidenhair Ferns

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The delicate, ruffled fronds of maidenhair ferns (Adiantum species) belie their rugged nature. They’re easy to grow and they keep the shade garden looking lively all summer. Choose from three native species to find the best for your garden.

'Leonard Messel' Magnolia

Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

'Leonard Messel' is a tough magnolia tree with purple buds and copious pink flowers.

Collector's Choice: Rhodea japonica

Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

This evergreen perennial groundcover has ornamental appeal for every season, on either coast

Plants We Love: Spike Winter Hazel

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Spike winter hazel is a shrub that blooms very early in late winter to early spring with a wonderful strong sweet fragrance.

Plants We Love: New York Ironweed

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

New York ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis) is a tough native plant with late summer bloom.

Call of the Wild

Mon, 18 Oct 2004 00:00:00 GMT

After seven Job-like years of gardening, a group of tried-and-true plants remained steadfast through deluge, drought, wind, hail, record-breaking heat, and subzero winters. These became signature plants of the garden—I planted more, eager for dependable beauty. . . .

Collector's Choice: Cotinus obovatus

Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Less widely grown than its European cousin, American smoketree (Cotinus obovatus) offers a textured spring silhouette and brilliant foliage in fall, even in poor soils

Plants We Love: Dwarf Fan Palm

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

This small palm adds great texture to warm gardens and can be grown in a container or as a houseplant elsewhere.

Plants We Love: Monkshood

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Blooms wine-colored flowers.

A Healthy Addiction

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

For pleasure and pain, no genus has been more visited than Nicotiana—tobacco. Chewed or inhaled, it is more widely used than any other stimulant except coffee...

Fantastic Floribunda Roses

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Steve Jones, president of the American Rose Society, tells what makes floribunda roses the best all-around roses. Read about their long bloom time and ease of care.

Practical Matters: Best of the Beach

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The seashore offers rugged plants for dry sites.

Blueberry Soil pH

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

When planting blueberries, consider the soil.

Plants We Love: Bush Violet

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Bush Violet is an annual that can be enjoyed all year with proper care. Bring hanging baskets or pots indoors once the weather chills.

Black Lace Elderberry

Fri, 16 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Creamy pink flowers in the spring followed by blackish red fall berries, which can be harvested for making elderberry wine and jam, or left on the plant to attract birds and other wildlife...

Plants We Love: Coast Rhododendron

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Coast rhododendron (Rhododendron macrophyllum) is native to the Pacific Northwest, and it’s the official state flower of Washington. It’s a large rhododendron that blooms in mid-spring to midsummer.

�Apricot Blush� Zinnia

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

This zinnia is florist quality for the cutting garden, with long-stemmed blossoms...

Clematis

Fri, 18 Oct 2002 00:00:00 GMT

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SPECIES CLEMATIS, (or clematis species, for they are the same thing) in a gardening context, we mean those clematis with usually quite tiny flowers, most of which are species, though some are crosses resembling species. . . .

Seeding a New Lawn

Wed, 18 Sep 2002 00:00:00 GMT

A SOFT PATCH OF LAWN provides a needed place for families and pets to sit and play as well as an agreeable foil to colorful borders. If your old lawn is worn and weedy, or you are putting in a new lawn, autumn is a perfect time of year to sow grass seed. . . .

Plants We Love: Bottlebrush

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Bottlebrush (Fothergilla major) is a shrub with interesting fragrant spring flowers and great fall color.

Plants We Love: Thunberg�s Bush Clover

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In late summer Thunberg’s bush clover (Lespedeza thunbergii) becomes a mass of bright purple flowers.

Today's Low-Maintenance Roses

Fri, 18 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

It's easy to spot the low-maintenance roses of yesterday. They're the ones that are still here, planted by some long-gone gardener, growing and blooming even as new families—and interest in gardening—come and go. . . .

Geranium 'Rozanne'

Fri, 15 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

'Rozanne' has proven to be the most garden-worthy hardy geranium you can grow. Its large flowers never quit, May until frost. It has great heat tolerance, too, and received top ratings in university trials...

Plant names I can�t say out loud without snickering

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Here’s proof that botanical mischief always prevails!

Gardeners in the Deep South

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Gardeners in the Deep South face some challenges unique to their region. Well known are the discomforts of outdoor work in the heat of summer, and the persistence of weed and insect pests due to the long growing season. Another problem is the extreme vigor of climbers and vines...

Native Oaks

Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Rugged yet beautiful oak trees contribute much to the yard and garden.

Impatiens Await

Fri, 16 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Look past the familiar bedding annuals for a host of exciting options

Artichoke Aioli

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Here’s a recipe for enjoying freshly harvested artichokes. Just make this easy dressing and dip in the artichoke leaves.

Plants We Love: Foxgloves

Tue, 05 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Foxgloves (Digitalis) are classic cottage-garden flowers that tolerate a wide range of soils and exposures. They make a dramatic addition to the formal border and an enchanting sight in the natural woodland garden.

Sunny Delights

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Everything changed for me with the first batch of catalogs I received from the daffodil specialists. To my astonishment, none were from Holland, but instead came from Oregon, Northern Ireland, England, New Zealand, and Tasmania. Unfamiliar with practically every entry, I was immediately taken in by the refinement of form and the expanded range of colors seen in some of their flowers.

Three Kinds of Redtwig Dogwoods

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Plants We Love: �Black and Blue� Salvia

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

We love ‘Black & Blue’ salvia for its color, ease of care and much more.

Pomegranate

Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Perhaps no other kind of ancient fruit tree has staged a comeback quite like that of the pomegranate (Punica granatum). Armed with new studies showing that pomegranate juice contains more polyphenol antioxidants than any other drink, including red wine and blueberry juice, California growers have vigorously promoted the consumption of pomegranates as a way to "cheat death."...

Baptisia minor Sapphire Spires

Fri, 17 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Bright colored blue flowers with a long season of interest. It is very hardy, insect and disease resistant, deep rooted (drought tolerant), nitrogen fixing, and not invasive...

Plants We Love: Willow-leaved Sunflower

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Willow-leaved sunflower (Helianthus salicifolius) is a tough native plant with clusters of cheery late summer flowers and feathery foliage.

Plants We Love: �Double Cherry� Profusion Zinnia

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

This bright flower is perfect for arrangements.

Hydrangea macrophylla Lemon Daddy

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Lemon Daddy is the most robust yellow hydrangea to date with thick shiny leaves and is a great choice to lighten up a dark area of the garden...

Gaillardia �Oranges and Lemons'

Fri, 09 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The 3-to 4-inch daisylike blooms bring luscious new color hues to the palette of these much-appreciated natives. ‘Oranges and Lemons' emerges marmalade orange with lemon yellow tips...

3 Favorite Silver-Leaved Plants

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

These 3 silver-leaved plants are no-fail choices.

Tips for Growing Strawberries

Mon, 04 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Strawberries aren’t difficult to grow. Meet their basic requirements and you can enjoy a sweet harvest.

Primrose

Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A cheery classic for early spring.

Growing Artichokes

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Artichoke plants provide a delicious harvest and also work as a striking visual in the garden. Read how to grown them and what to plant them with.

Plants We Love: Periwinkle

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Choose huge, long-lasting blooms in six colors.

Recommended Plants to Dry

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Here are some garden plants to dry for dried-flower arrangements, potpourri and the like.

Sweet Pea

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

This annual sweet pea is unusual, easy to grow, and fragrant...

Practical Matters: Good Gourd!

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

What member of the plant kingdom produces fruit that can hold beverages, float fishing nets, house crickets and make music? It’s the gourd, of the Cucurbitacea, the large family that ranges from the salad cucumber (Cucumis sativus) and melon (C. melo) to winter squash and pumpkins (C. maxima). This versatile plant likely has held a longer association with humans than any other.

Plants We Love: Christmas Fern

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

This tough, adaptable fern is an evergreen with year-round interest for even very cold gardens.

Well-Behaved Bamboo

Mon, 18 Jul 2005 00:00:00 GMT

"The borindas are coming on as a big deal," says Jackie Heinricher, proprietor of the wholesale bamboo nursery Boo-Shoot Gardens. If you can picture a 35- to 45-foot-tall, noninvasive timber bamboo with powder blue canes, you'll have an idea why Borinda boliana will storm the market when it is released in 2006. . . .

The Chili Pepper

Sat, 01 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

A chili pepper's heat comes from the alkaloid capsaicin. Though practically devoid of odor and flavor, capsaicin packs a wallop. The human tongue can detect it in concentrations as low as one drop in 30 million...

Grow Passionflowers as Houseplants

Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Many of these exotic plants do well in pots on the windowsill.

Plants We Love: Cobra Lily

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Giant three-lobed leaves and a purple-and-white spathe make this cobra lily a very dramatic addition to the garden.

Iris cycloglossa

Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Iris cycloglossa is a hardy bulb with blue flowers and a spicy scent.

Collector's Choice: Proteaceae

Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The Proteaceae family includes several members that can contribute enticing flowers and foliage farther north than you might guess

Winter-Blooming Snowdrops

Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

During the bleak winter months, snowdrops, a flowering bulb, offer the promise of spring.

Grow Veggies Despite Small Space and Little Sun

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Even if your garden is small and receives little sun, you can grow vegetables. Here’s how.

Growing Blueberries

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

To grow your own crop of blueberries, all it takes is an acid soil rich in organic matter, a sunny spot, and one or two inches of water a week during the growing season.

Tulips with a past

Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

These antique cultivars and species offer durability, charm, and grace.

Isotoma fluviatilis

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Blue star creeper is a fast-growing prolific bloomer, which can take heavy foot traffic. It is an excellent lawn substitution and perfect for pathways, rock walls, and topiaries...

Drying Herbs

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Using home-dried herbs is a delightful way to bring the flavor and aroma of your summer garden to winter meals. Drying herbs is an easy and satisfying project, requiring little in the way of equipment or time...

Alocasia 'Hilo Beauty'

Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

This elephant ear's heart-shaped, apple-green leaves are generously dappled with large creamy yellow blotches.

Plants We Love: Alternanthera �Purple Knight�

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Alternanthera is a perfect dark-leafed backdrop plant in borders.

Preparing Roasted Beets and Toasted Fennel Seeds

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

These tips complement Lora Brody’s recipe for Beet and Fennel Salad.

Plants We Love: Prairie Pasqueflower

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Prairie pasqueflower, a North American native plant, blooms before most other perennials have awakened, with large lavender-blue flowers.

Plants We Love: �Herbstonne� Rudbeckia

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

‘Herbstonne’ rudbeckia (Rudbeckia ‘Herbstonne’, syn. R. ‘Autumn Sun’) bears tons of bright flowers from midsummer into autumn.

�Sapphire Skies� Yucca

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Powder-blue foliage and ease-of-care make ‘Sapphire Skies’ yucca a keeper.

Identifying Tomato Late Blight

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Late blight is a fungal disease that attacks tomato and potato plants. Look for these tell-tale signs.

Plants We Love: Desert Bluebells

Tue, 12 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Glowing blue flowers decorate rugged desert bluebells (Phacelia campanularia) beginning in spring. This easy-to-please annual makes great filler.

Plants We Love: Prairie Dropseed

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) is an adaptable bunchgrass with flowing emerald green leaves.

Paperwhites for Forcing and More

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Paperwhites are simple to force for indoor bloom, as they need no chilling period. Hardy varieties are effective in the garden.

Plants We Love: White Gaura

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

White gaura (Gaura lindheimeri) creates a billowy mass of slender stems topped with delicate white flowers. Easy to care for and a good filler for a sunny border or patio container.

Herbs Are Easy to Grow and Use

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Herbs are easy to grow in the ground or in pots. They can be used fresh, or dried or frozen then stored. This article covers growing and saving herbs, plus favorite herbs and tips for growing and cooking with them.

Loropetalum chinense 'Chang Nian Hong'

Fri, 02 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

This new Loropetalum has the darkest red flowers of all cultivars. It is an evergreen shrub that is compact with blooms from late winter to early spring...

Crinums

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Like peonies in the northern United States, which often outlive the gardener who planted them, crinums have deep roots in the South. They thrive in salty sand 600 feet from the Atlantic and in sticky clay at long-abandoned homesites, delighting ghosts and passing travelers with their lush leaves and fragrant summer flowers...

Snapdragon

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A snapdragon with long sturdy stems and early uniform flowering. Flowers have an excellent vase life of 8 to10 days...

Butterfly Bush Memories

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Daniel J. Hinkley’s Memorable Encounters with Butterfly Bush

Anacampseros telephiastrum variegata

Fri, 23 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT

A definite plus for plant enthusiasts, the clusters of very succulent rosettes glow with intense rose, lime, and emerald green with violet pink on the undersides of the leaves...

Plants We Love: Origanum �Kent Beauty�

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

This ornamental oregano is an excellent choice for containers and window boxes.

Climbing Flowering Annuals

Tue, 12 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Annual climbing plants grow fast and flower within the year, making them ideal subjects for providing a quick, temporary screen in the garden.

Plants We Love: �Lime Zinger� Elephant Ear

Tue, 26 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

‘Lime Zinger’ is a giant elephant ear (Xanthosoma) with vivid chartreuse leaves. It adds a tropical, summery flair to the garden and can take full sun.

Flashes of Color

Fri, 18 Apr 2003 00:00:00 GMT

I have seen the future of siberian irises, and it's in Carlisle, Massachusetts. . . .

The Bigger, The Better

Wed, 18 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

We've all heard the expression "you can't see the forest for the trees." Though it refers to one's perspective on life, it does apply to the horticultural arts as well. . . .

Ilex verticillata

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

This deciduous holly’s red berries make it a winter winner.

Butterfly Bushes� Beauty Goes Beyond the Buds

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

From Weed to Garden Splendor

Sassafras albidum

Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Its excellent autumn tones, fantastic textural foliage, appeal to birds and butterflies, and elegant winter framework encourage us to do more than simply appreciate it in the wild.

Collector's Choice: Aristolochia

Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

With their oddly shaped flowers and bug-trapping abilities, these vines and shrubs are most intriguing.

Collector's Choice: Schefflera

Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Besides the typical houseplant, this genus includes some attractive species worth trying in cooler gardens

Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

This sweet fall dessert uses sugar pumpkins from your garden or the farmstand.

Highbush vs. Rabbiteye Blueberries

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Understanding the difference between highbush and rabbiteye blueberries. Learn which to grow.

Oven-Roasted Tomato Catsup

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Here’s how to use your homegrown tomatoes to make your own catsup.

Bush Clover, A Late Bloomer

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Bush clover lights up the August garden with cascading purple flowers.

Herbs With Scented Leaves

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Plant these scented-leaf herbs throughout the garden and in containers to enjoy their refreshing fragrance as you garden or relax on the patio.

Rose Classifications Explained

Mon, 04 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Confused by terms like Hybrid Tea Rose, Grandiflora Rose, Floribunda Rose and other like them? This article explains the differences between rose classes and gives tips on the care and use of the different types of roses.

Plants We Love: Christmas cactus

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera xbuckleyi) is an ideal houseplant that will bloom for the holidays

Plants We Love: Japanese Maple

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

This small tree attracts attention year-round.

Red-Branched Moosewood Maple

Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The branches of moosewood maple ( Acer pensylvanicum ‘Erythrocladum’) turn a glowing salmon red once the weather gets cold.

Daphne bholua

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Daphne, the first love of Apollo, gave her name to a genus of shrubs as endearing as her flight from his embrace. She was transformed into a laurel tree to escape the god, so we crown champions with laurel (Laurus nobilis) wreaths. But for fragrance alone, there is no single genus of shrubs that I find more indispensable for the garden than Daphne...

Viburnum xbodnantense

Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Picea pungens 'Sester Dwarf'

Fri, 26 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Very well-mannered conifer with color, texture, growth rate, and habit appropriate for gardens of any size...

Black-Eyed Susan Vine

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

This trumpet vine works well mingling with other trailing annuals in a hanging basket. It would look nice in a larger container with compact annuals that could fill up the planter...

Plants We Love: Kalm�s St. John�s Wort

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Kalm’s St. John’s wort (Hypericum kalmianum) is a tough small flowering shrub native to the Great Lakes area. Easy to grow and versatile.

Hardy Vegetables

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

With the first frost coming soon, will you tell me which vegetables will survive unprotected in the garden?...

Shrubby Dogwoods

Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

These stems provide color and luster, all year

Kale

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

In late summer, my neighbor, who has been growing vegetables since the 1930s, cranks up his tiller to make room for fall crops, including a couple of good long rows of kale. Kale is one of the essential winter vegetables, as pretty as it is delicious, and not hard to grow...

Plants We Love: Gray Dogwood

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Most gardeners associate dogwoods (the genus Cornus) with the white-bracted spring flowers of C. florida, C. kousa and C. nuttallii. But gray dogwood (Cornus racemosa) is a lovely dogwood that blooms in midsummer. Consider planting one this spring.

Collector's Choice: Itea

Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

A pleasant experience with one stunning selection led to other members of the genus Itea

Hardy Boxwood

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

There are plenty of boxwood choices for the colder zones.

The Dwarf Daphnes

Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Dwarf daphnes are small shrubs that offer a large dose of beauty and fragrance with their spring flowers

We Love: Witherod Viburnum

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

This native of Eastern woodlands and wetlands has very interesting berries.

Quiet Clematis

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

North America is home to over two dozen species of clematis, but very few of these are found in gardens. Our native species lack the big, blowsy blooms of the garden hybrids, producing instead demure, understated flowers. To compare the two is to compare a raucous pop song with a gentle fiddle tune. Both are satisfying in their own way, and both have a place in the garden...

Propagating Rocks

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

When I turn over the vegetable garden in the spring I remove all rocks and stones, but by next spring more have returned. I swear they propagate during the winter! If not, why is my rock pile getting bigger each year? Where do they come from?..

Plants We Love: Lion's Tail

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Hummingbirds love Lion’s Tail, with its showy blossoms.

Hoyas: Great Houseplants

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

With striking fragrant flowers and little care needed, hoyas are the perfect houseplant.

Impatiens namchabarwensis

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Keep it cool and moist as it is in its Tibetan homeland. Also, note that the flower color changes with light and temperature.

Plants We Love: Shamrock Plant

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The shamrock plant (Oxalis regnellii) can be too aggressive in gardens, but it makes a fun and pretty houseplant. It’s widely sold around St. Patrick’s Day. Here’s how to keep a potted shamrock healthy all year long.

Plants We Love: Winterberry Holly

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

This deciduous shrub offers a long-lasting show of vivid red berries.

Oven-Roasted Tomatoes

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Roasting tomatoes brings out their flavor. Use roasted tomatoes to top burgers, sandwiches and salads.

Cornus 'Midwinter Fire'

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’ is a plant for all seasons—including winter.

Plants We Love: �Midwinter Fire� dogwood

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

This shrubby dogwood’s bright red stems ignite the winter landscape.

Magnolia stellata 'Jane Platt'

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Considered the best of pink flowering magnolias because it consistently holds color better and longer. It has won an award of merit from the Royal Horticultural Society in 1993...

Marvelous Milkweeds

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Not all Milkweeds Deserve the Group’s Bad Rap.

Magnolia sieboldii

Sat, 01 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The four species that belong to the section Oyama of the genus Magnolia–M. sieboldii, M. globosa, M. wilsonii, and M. sinensis–share a set of traits that makes them easy to recognize (if not to distinguish from one another). All are relatively small-growing deciduous trees native eastern Asia that bear white, rounded, nodding or pendent flowers, opening from egg-shaped buds in late spring or early summer after the foliage has appeared...

Pruning a Raspberry Patch

Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

No other fruit is as tasty, as perishable, and as easy to grow as the raspberry. This alone should be grounds to have a patch of one's own. Given sunlight and some well-drained soil, all that raspberries require, beyond weeding and a little fertilizer, is periodic pruning.

Witherod Viburnum: A Bright-Berried Shrub

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

This viburnum’s berries turn a variety of shades, including pink.

Plants We Love: Fairy�s Fishing Rod

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

This grasslike perennial blooms in summer with dramatic flowers that inspire the common name fairy’s fishing rod.

Beet and Fennel Salad

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 14:51:32 GMT

Here’s an easy way to enjoy freshly harvested beets in the spring. Feta cheese and fennel round out this simple beet salad.

Fava Beans

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

For gardeners who want an early start on bean production, fava beans fit the bill...

Q&A: Attracting Bees

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Can you recommend some plants that are particularly attractive to bees? I’m hoping to lure many bees toward my vegetable garden so they will also pollinate my veggie plants and help ensure a good harvest.

Frozen Strawberry Parfait

Mon, 04 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Here’s a cool recipe that uses the delicious fresh strawberries from farmstands, groceries or your own garden. Enjoy this homemade strawberry ice cream parfait.

All-America Hybrid Tea Roses

Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

ALL-AMERICA ROSE SELECTIONS, INCORPORATED, a nonprofit research organization, was founded in 1938 for the purpose of evaluating new roses thought to be worthy of a special stamp of approval. Except for 1951, when no selection was made, All-America Rose Selections have been designated every year since 1940...

Balsam Apple

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Peggy Cornett of the Thomas Jefferson Center for Historic Plants recommends Momordica balsamina, or balsam apple. This fast-growing vine will provide lush foliage and bursts of orange color from its fruits.

Collector's Choice: Indigofera

Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

These Indigofera species reward simple care with scads of charming pea flowers and ferny foliage

Deciduous Hedges

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

These deciduous shrubs make attractive, easy-care hedges.

Ornamental Pepper

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A showstopper. Against the pure black leaves are light purple flowers, followed by iridescent purple peppers that change to shiny black and ripen to bright red...

Rhododendron X 'Conlea'

Fri, 20 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Autumn Rouge™ is one of 23 varieties of Encore Azalea®, with each variety delivering differing growth habits and bloom colors. Autumn Rouge™ was the first seedling to bloom from the thousands of azalea seedlings derived from numerous controlled crosses...

Cuphea 'Flamenco Samba'

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The Flamenco series features a collection of vigorous, well-branched, large-flowered, and continuously blooming Cuphea. The flower size turns heads, and the heat tolerance is unsurpassed...

New Seeds for 2009

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Here’s what’s new to grow from seed for the 2009 growing season.

Plants We Love: Japanese Pagoda Tree

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Japanese pagoda tree (Sophora japonica ‘Pendula’) is a small to medium ornamental tree with a weeping habit and feathery leaves. It adds soft structure and elegance to the garden.

Native Ferns for the Shade Garden

Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Invasives List

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In his series on invasive plants, C. Colston Burrell discusses many plants that can take over the landscape. Here he provides two lists of additional plants to be wary of...

Baptisia alba 'Wayne�s World'

Mon, 17 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT

A vigorous growing selection that forms a full-figured upright clump. In spring, the three-foot wide emerging clumps are topped with dramatic spikes of white.

Prairie Gentian

Tue, 22 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

It has late, long bloom period (August and September), spectacular flowers, and great foliage. Can be grown as an annual, biennial, or short-lived perennial...

Beesia deltophylla

Fri, 23 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Excellent evergreen ground cover with exceptional shiny, heart-shaped leaves. It is a fuss-free filler for under story open spaces...

Marvelous Milkweeds

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Not all Milkweeds Deserve the Group’s Bad Rap.

Prairie Dropseed

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Prairie dropseed is a bunchgrass, forming a flowing mound of shiny, emerald green, narrow foliage about 15 to 18 inches high and two feet wide.

Anemonella thalictroides

Fri, 09 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Native to deciduous forests from New Hampshire to the Midwest and as far south as Florida. Loves rocky woods, ridges and uplands. Comes from Ranunculaceae family...

Weeds to whack in the Winter

Mon, 18 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A winter walk in the woods sounds like a nice idea. But there are bad characters out there, attacking our native flora...

Plants We Love: �Tardiva� Hydrangea

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

This hardy hydrangea’s flowers intensify in color as they age, making it an interesting shrub from July until the frost.

Heirloom Sweet Pea

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Looks great twining up the most ornate obelisk or the simplest willow tipi...

The Echinacea Factor

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Unless you pulled a mini Rip Van Winkle over the last four years, you’ve watched a revolution take place in the genus Echinacea. We now enjoy orange and peach petals, sweet fragrance and more. From where did these extreme echinaceas come? Here’s a brief history.

Itea ilicifolia

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Flowers offer a honeyed scent, nearly foot long catkins, and handsome evergreen foliage...

Plants We Love: Tuberous Begonia

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Plants bloom until first frost.

Plants We Love: Canada Columbine

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Canada columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) produces delicate red flowers from mid-spring to midsummer. It’s easy to care for.

Agaves, At Last

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The hottest trend in container gardening has its roots in a group of plants that for over 7,000 years delineated the agricultural and cultural progression of Mexico. Throughout its history, the genus Agave supplied food, drink, and materials for building and weaving, and held religious significance...

Field Notes 31

Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

WINTER FLOWERS always come as a special delight—all the more so if they happen to be fragrant. Luckily, we in the South can grow a number of winter-blooming shrubs renowned for their fragrance.

Wave Petunias

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

These petunias grow very easily from seed. One plant can cover a lot of ground. Wave petunias bloom prolifically...

Plants We Love: Garland Flower

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Garland flower (Daphne cneorum ‘Ruby Glow’) is a very small evergreen shrub whose bright pink spring flowers offer a nice strong fragrance.

Plants for Spring "Bling"

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Right now a visit to my favorite garden center sits high on my agenda. I’m in search of plants that dazzle in the spring, some luscious colors, great foliage, and unusual shapes—a bit of horticultural “bling.” If I choose the right jewels, the garden will look even better next year...

White Gaura

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

This gaura has better cold hardiness and a more robust habit than most. It lives up to the Greek origin of the genus name: gauros, superb...

Poll: Cut Costs by Growing Food?

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

There’s much buzz in the media this year about more people turning to vegetable gardening as a way to cut grocery expenses. Based on your experience, do you think people can save money by growing their own vegetables?

The Tomato

Fri, 01 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Julia Child couldn't imagine civilization without onions; for me, life without tomatoes would seem incomplete. Of the hundreds of varieties available, three favorites always find space in my summer garden...

Sweet Peas

Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Fragrant flowers in a wide range of colors.

Heleniums

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Links to Helenium information.

Celeriac

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Though it is pretty enough in the garden, celeriac wins no beauty contests on the kitchen counter. The edible part is a knobby root, and its thick skin must be cut away before the cream-colored flesh is revealed. But if your favorite part of celery is the carefully pared bit at the end, celeriac, its close relative, is for you...

Amaranth

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

It grows to 6 feet tall, making it a good background plant. Quickly and easily grown from seed. Works as a cut flower...

'Porto Spineless' Cardoon

Tue, 27 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Striking architectural accent in the garden, elegant silver-gray toothy foliage, excellent as a cut flower and edible to boot!

Plants We Love: Bee Balm

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Bee balm (Monarda didyma) is a bushy perennial that flowers from mid- to late summer. Its bright red or pink flowers attract bees, hummingbirds and butterflies.

Plants We Love: Ginkgo biloba

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A slow-growing, easy-going tree with great fall foliage and a long history.

Plants We Love: Dazzling Dahlia

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Vibrant colors that make bold statements early summer to late fall.

The Next Classic Lilacs

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Today we have available from nurseries a number of other species and their hybrids that offer not only sweet-smelling blooms but splendid habit and leaves that stay fresh and healthy all summer. Some of them also color handsomely in autumn...

Figs

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Commercial fig production takes place in California and the Southwest, but gardeners can successfully grow in-ground figs as far north as Massachusetts.

Coreopsis 'Autumn Blush'

Fri, 21 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

A beauty that blooms all summer long. Bright green mounds are covered with large flowers. Easy to grow and doesn't seed around...

Little Bluestem

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

It resembles ocean waves and excels in dry, sandy soils.

Roasted Root Vegetables

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Bring out the flavor of root vegetables with this easy recipe.

Plants We Love: Virginia Bluebells

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Early-blooming Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica) have flowers as blue as the bright spring sky.

Plants We Love: Morning Glory

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Morning Glory is relatively trouble-free as it is heat tolerant.

Hibiscus moscheutos

Fri, 24 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

This series has more flowers and the plants are more compact. They are also bushier than older Hibiscus moscheutos varieties, and have uniform growth habits...

Rhododendron 'Landmark'

Fri, 19 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Tolerates light shade, but best in full sun, even windy, exposed locations. Needs acid soil, good drainage, and best in humusy soil with plenty of space to grow and be seen. Avoid planting in an area where water sits on the ground after rain, or in deep shade. Zones 5 to 9...

Field Notes: Ohio Valley

Sun, 18 Aug 2002 00:00:00 GMT

Maybe it's the heat, but Allen Bush can't imagine a better place to garden than Louisville, Kentucky. Here he reminds us that the hottest days of summer are for simple tasks.

The genus Aloe

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The genus Aloe merits wider use, be it in a potted collection or in mixed plantings. More than any other plant, aloe vera is an icon of the 1960s and ’70s (at least within the realm of legality). It grew on nearly every countercultured windowsill in North America, offering its gelatinous sap to be smeared or swallowed for every known malady...

NEW INTRODUCTIONS 2002

Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

New flowers and vegetables introduced in 2002

�Highlight� Zinnia

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The blooms on this zinnia are extremely bright—the color of a highlighter pen.

Plants We Love: Trailing Abutilon

Tue, 19 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Trailing abutilon (Abutlion megapotanicum) is a graceful wall shrub or container plant with rich green foliage and vivid red all-summer flowers.

Malus 'Belmac'

Fri, 28 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Belmac originated at Agri-Food Canada, St. Jean-Sur-Richelieu Station in Quebec, Canada just north of the Vermont border. The noted fruit breeder, Shahrokh Khanizadeh, bred it...

Rosa 'ANGelsie'

Fri, 18 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

This prolific beauty rapidly establishes itself in the first year and shows excellent tolerance to a wide spectrum of environmental conditions. It is also classified as a repeat-bloomer...

Helianthus 'Lemon Queen'

Fri, 07 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

'Lemon Queen' is so tall and lovely and self-sufficient that you can plant it once and enjoy it forever...

Rhododendron 'Marydel'

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Deep pink buds opening to very light pink. A natural hybrid found on Maryland's Eastern Shore by Polly Hill...

Black-Eyed Susan

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Pair it with its sister black-eyed Susan, ‘Irish Spring’, which has green eyes...

Plants We Love: �Alicia� Heather

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

This small shrub provides fall and winter interest with its persistent buds.

Plants We Love: Wax Plant

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

This nearly indestructible houseplant has attractive leaves and lovely fragrant flowers.

Crinum 'Mrs. James Hendry'

Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

'Mrs James Hendry' is a crinum bulb with sturdy flower stalks.

Plants We Love: �Julia Child� Rose

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The ‘Julia Child’ rose is an excellent rose to grow. It has great disease resistance, a naturally rounded growth habit and beautiful yellow roses with a spicy-sweet fragrance.

Cornus angustata 'Empress of China'

Fri, 25 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

A magnificent evergreen dogwood with up to 150 white blooms on a single branch and translucent strawberry-like fruit...

Gardening with Enkianthus Shrubs

Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Enkianthus are shrubs that flower in the spring, covering themselves with delicate bell-shaped dangling blooms. They also offer vivid fall foliage color. This article describes good enkianthus species and how to grow them.

Plants We Love: Adam�s Needle

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

We love Adam’s needle (Yucca filamentosa) for its strong form, wide range of hardiness and dramatic midsummer flowers.

The Invasive Problem , Understanding the Issue - Part One

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Our quest for plants from around the globe has enriched our gardens and brought us important food plants. At the same time, we have unwittingly created some devastating ecological consequences...

Rosa 'Wild Thing'

Fri, 06 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

No-maintenance, disease resistant rose that can literally be grown by anyone. 'Wild Thing' has large clusters of bright hot pink blooms that mix well with any other perennial. Also, it continually blooms from spring all the way through fall...

Amsonia hubrichtii

Fri, 05 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Summer and fall-blooming natives like coneflowers, black-eyed susans, and asters. Works well in borders, formal plantings, wildflower gardens, meadows, or open woodland area. It is most effective when massed...

Plants We Love: �Caribbean Cocktail� bush nasturtium

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Pastel shades of creams and pinks appear in this plant’s pleasant mix of blooms.

Garden Worthy - Monkshoods

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The genus Aconitum is a sinister one, containing some of the most poisonous plants in the world, a fact known about them since ancient times. The common name for garden varieties, monkshood, comes from the curious cowl or hooded shape of the flowers, though the plant is also known as wolf's bane. Some species were long ago ground into powder and mixed with meat to poison wolves...

Prickly Pear

Sun, 01 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

One August afternoon in 1996, my wife and I discovered that the several acres of Engelmann's prickly pear (Opuntia engelmannii) growing neglected in a vacant lot behind our Tucson, Arizona, home were loaded with ripe fruit, known as tunas in Spanish.

Winter's Green Wonders

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

A garden needn’t look doornail dead in winter. One cold, windy day last January I took a stroll around my northern Alabama garden (USDA Zone 7), notebook in hand. I found a few blooms (winter aconite, Lenten rose, and even an odd scattering of ‘King Alfred’ daffodils), but I was struck by how many herbaceous perennials presented lush, interesting winter foliage...

Fresh Picked: Leeks

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT

In the movie The Queen, starring Helen Mirren, the scene that caught my eye shows her taking a phone call in the kitchen at Balmoral Castle. Cooks and scullery maids scatter; the queen is left at a table piled high with leeks. They are gorgeous leeks, long and fat, their snow-white stems topped with aquamarine. They are a dish fit for a queen...

See-Through Plants

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT

In mid-winter, I value strong but supple structural plants. Their movements in the winter wind play with the slanting light, in a view that gets me through the year’s shortest days...

Poisonous Plants Directory

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A list of some of the most toxic plants among commonly grown garden plants.

Plants for fall color

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

When the temperature cools I want color: purple daisies, pink grass plumes, gleaming blue fruits, and the brightest of leaves...

Brunnera 'Jack Frost'

Fri, 11 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Bright silvery leaves veined with deep green, deer resistant, and more heat tolerant than other variegated Brunnera types...

Eggplants

Wed, 01 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

There are people who keep their fingers on the pulse of color trends for various reasons, verging from haute couture to house paint, and they're predicting that deep purple is about to happen. So it's time to talk eggplants. Yes, pretty soon all the best-dressed gardens will be in aubergine...

Geum coccineum

Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Scarlet avens (Geum coccineum) has bright red flowers and interesting leaves.

fresh picked: white asparagus

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

fresh picked: white asparagus

The Invasive Problem, Choosing Alternatives - Part 2

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Invasive species alter the structure and function of ecosystems and displace native plants. When we design a landscape, aesthetics often rule our choices, but it is equally important to consider each plant’s potential to invade...

A Man Obsessed with Alliums

Wed, 01 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

If he wanted to, Mark Mcdonough could fashion a soup a l'oignon with a most exalted pedigree. It might contain rare onions from almost every part of the Northern Hemisphere-from Turkey, China, Tajikistan, Norway, Israel, or various regions of this country. McDonough has grown well over a hundred different Allium species, so the possibilities for culinary exploration are huge...

Restios: Great Grassy Plants

Wed, 01 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Restios are textural, colorful grasses for gardens or containers.

'Leonard Messel' Magnolia

Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

'Leonard Messel' is a tough magnolia tree with purple buds and copious pink flowers.

'Lemon Queen' Sunflower

Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

'Lemon Queen' is a dazzling perennial sunflower that blooms in late summer.

Spring Vetchling

Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Spring vetchling (Lathyrus vernus) blooms early, with red or pink sweet pea flowers.

Plants We Love: Littleleaf boxwood

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A hardy boxwood for an easy-care hedge.

Muhlenbergia capillaris 'Regal Mist'

Fri, 14 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

This relatively small ornamental grass has a fantastic flower color. It is also low maintenance and virtually pest free...

Chrysothemis pulchella 'Black Flamingo'

Fri, 02 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

'Black Flamingo' is an excellent flowering plant for the summer. It will dazzle you with abundant yellow and orange flowers that contrast nicely against its dark textured foliage...

Plants We Love: Snowdrops

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The simple white flowers of these bulbs remind winter-weary gardeners of the promise of spring.

Plants that nature never made

Wed, 31 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

What gardener hasn’t wished for the impossible: cobalt blue roses, frost-hardy petunias, lawn grass that never needs mowing? In hindsight, maybe we should have been more careful what we wished for. These wishes and more may soon come true, in the form of transgenic ornamental plants...

Winter Hazels

Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Winter hazels are among the first shrubs to bloom at winter's end, with sweetly scented yellow flowers.

Rosa 'William Shakespeare 2000'

Fri, 04 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Around 120 velvety petals intertwine beautifully to form perfect quartered flowers. Has excellent disease resistance and repeat flowering. This rose enjoys the warm American summers...

Climbing Nasturtium

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Climbing Nasturtium attracts more than just the eye with its bursts of scarlet-orange blooms. Hummingbirds love this climbing vine.

Plant This: Sweet Peas

Fri, 16 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

An Alaskan gardener's thoughts on this classic, flower.

Happy Valleys

Sun, 18 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Adored and spurned by gardeners, lily of the valley (Convallaria spp.) is the most familiar member of the family that bears its name (Convallariaceae). . . . Lily of the valley's relations—Solomon's plume and mayflower (Maianthemum spp.) and a host of others, including Solomon's seal (Polygonatum spp.)—are less storied but no less garden worthy. . . .

'Forellenschluss' romaine lettuce

Sun, 01 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Historically, lettuces of the ancient world were divided into two main camps: the cabbage-headed lettuces, which are of a round, relatively loose-leaved habit, and the cos or romaine lettuces, of a tighter, more conical, and elongated inclination. Said to have originated on the Greek island of Cos (Kos), off the coast of Turkey, romaine lettuces were known to be under cultivation as early as 3000 BC...

Hemerocallis 'Zarahemla'

Fri, 27 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Hemerocallis 'Zarahemla' is compact, 20 to 22 inches in height. Also, it has repeat blooms and performs well in multiple zones...

Echium pininana

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

This tall, dramatic plant blooms purplish blue in spring.

Plant This: Ironweed

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Looking for a plant that can hold its own?

Vegetable Varieties for Containers

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

These vegetable varieties are perfectly suited to growing in containers. Essential for the gardener with limited space.

Penstemon 'Cherry Glow'

Fri, 30 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Blooms are tubular in shape and red with muted white throat in color. The red has a light sheen, which brings out scarlet undertones in the tube. The burgundy red stem and petioles emphasize the brighter hue of the blossoms...

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Blushing Bride'

Fri, 02 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla), the thirstiest species, might need two inches weekly to keep it from wilting in summer heat...

Plants We Love: �Gartenmeister Bonstedt� Fuchsia

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

‘Gartenmeister Bonstedt’ is a free-flowering heirloom hybrid fuchsia descended from Fuchsia triphylla. Grow it for its upright, bushy shape and multitudes of red tubular flowers.

Plants We Love: Passionflower

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Passionflower brings exotic beauty to warm gardens and can be grown as a houseplant in cold areas.

Christmas Fern

Tue, 18 Dec 2001 00:00:00 GMT

With its deep green, undivided pinnae (a pinna is the primary division or "leaflet" of a frond), Christmas fern falls toward the bold end of the fern spectrum . . .

Plants We Love: Beardstongue

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Blooms attract butterflies and hummingbirds, while foliage has striking appearance.

Brugmansia 'Inca Sun'

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Grow in full sun. They are heavy feeders and under heat and sun need copious amounts of water. They can be held in a dormant state in basements or heated garages through the winter...

Chrysocephalum apiculatum

Fri, 16 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Drought tolerant, heat tolerant, sandy soil tolerant, frost tolerant to 30°F with minimal damage, so good for extending season both in spring and in fall. Somewhat salt tolerant as well...

Plants We Love: Indoor Ivy

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Although English ivy can take over the garden, this undemanding and attractive plant deserves a place indoors.

Rosa x 'Double Knock Out'

Mon, 17 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT

A close relative of the famous 'Knock Out' rose the 'Double Knock Out' grows in full sun with adequate moisture throughout the summer. It does not require deadheading to continue blooming and thrives in humid climates without spraying.

Plants We Love: �Elijah Blue� Fescue

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

This low-growing ornamental grass offers great texture and color in its fine silver-blue foliage.

Plants We Love: Siberian squill

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A blue-flowerd bulb that naturalizes easily.

Agastache rupestris

Fri, 31 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Licorce mint hyssop is a superior perennial enjoyed in the garden for its spicy fragrance, uniquely colored flowers, and finely textured foliage. It is a superb hummingbird plant attracting them for several months with its nectar-rich flowers...

Hemerocallis 'Scentual Sundance'

Fri, 08 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Hemerocallis 'Scentual Sundance' was a plant that Darrel Apps hybridized around 1990 while in Chadds Ford, PA...

Impatiens xhybridus

Fri, 13 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The first impatiens to take full sun and all-day heat. Common impatiens are America's favorite flower but are best in shady gardens - new Sunpatiens have been selected to be large and showy garden flowers in all-day sun and hot spots...

Chocolate Flower

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

This incredible native perennial is tough and drought tolerant. Fills the air with the fragrance of chocolate when it opens its flowers in the morning...

Plants We Love: Forty Heroes Rose

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

This beautiful yellow rose honors the memory of the crew and passengers of United Flight 93, which crashed on 9/11/01.

Plants We Love: Bigroot Geranium

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

This rugged hardy geranium is an easy groundcover with great summer flowers and good fall color.

Wonderful Wood Ferns

Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Reading fern descriptions can be as tedious as wading through the Smiths in a phone book. Frond for frond, most people think they all look the same. Not wood ferns (Dryopteris spp.)...

Echinacea 'CBG Cone2' PPAF Pixie Meadowbrite

Fri, 13 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Echinacea Pixie Meadowbrite is a product of three plants crossbred by Dr. Jim Ault from the Chicago Botanical Garden...

Hydrangea arborescens

Sat, 18 Aug 2001 00:00:00 GMT

It's easy sometimes to take a good plant for granted. I don't think I fully appreciated the ornamental potential of smooth hydrangea until I saw it in Helen Dillon's superb garden in Dublin, Ireland . . .

Chilean Blue Crocus

Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The rare Chilean blue crocus is a collector's item.

Lilium henryi

Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Henry's lily (Lilium henryi) is an easy-to-grow, late-blooming lily.

One Plant Five Ways: Sources

Mon, 18 Oct 2004 00:00:00 GMT

In our September/October 2004 issue, Carol Klein places different species of Euphorbia with in combination with five different "supporting casts" of plants. Here, find retail mail-order sources for the plants featured in each combination. . . .

Angelonia

Mon, 18 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Easy to care for. Its colors and texture are somewhat reminiscent of heather...

Plants We Love: European beech

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A majestic tree with great fall and winter interest and the ability to serve as a hedge.

'Midnight Blend' Impatiens

Tue, 20 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Dazzling gemstone colors add interest to shady spots.

Vaccininum 'Sunshine Blue'

Fri, 20 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Originated in Florida although widely adapted as far north as zone 5 or 6. Produces loads of delicious, dime-size blueberries. USDA hardiness zones 5-10...

Chrysothemis pulchella Iris 'Roaring Jelly'

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The striking and unusual coloring, extraordinary vigor, and repeat blooming. In addition, 'Roaring Jelly' is easy to grow and has attractive foliage all season...