Stephanie Cohen and Jennifer Benner, authors of The Nonstop Garden, share their favorite selections for late-season perennials. We are naturally drawn to whatever is in flower when we visit the nursery or garden center. Because we often find ourselves purchasing plants … Read Article
Question: I would like to add some spring-blooming bulbs to my lawn this fall. What kinds will naturalize well?
Most plants that we call “annuals” are actually tender perennials that can’t survive winters in colder climates. We treat them like annuals, cast them on the compost heap in the fall and buy new ones the following spring.
Virtues: We love Pink Turtlehead for its bearded pink to deep rose flowers that bloom from late summer through mid-fall. Its glossy, saw-toothed edged leaves add character.
A Guide to Bearded Irises Cultivating the Rainbow for Beginners and Enthusiasts by Kelly D. Norris 348 pages, hardcover Timber Press, 2012 List price: $39.95 If you’ve ever met Kelly Norris, you know that his enthusiasm for life is infectious. … Read Article
Virtues: This compact version of Blue Star is a superb introduction for any spring garden. Blue Ice displays blue-violet, star-shaped blossoms and a thick mound of deer-resistant foliage that gives credence to its hybrid origin. Once established in a garden, … Read Article
Virtues: We love Filigree daisy for its drought-tolerance and long-stemmed blooms. This hardy perennial is a perfect choice for xeriscaping or for a dry border, and its well-branched filigree foliage and profuse golden blooms will shine in any garden.
Here are a few favorite perennials that attract butterflies. Some are nectar sources for mature butterflies, and others are host plants for butterfly larvae. Every good butterfly garden should include both categories. Many of these plants also attract hummingbirds.
Question: What can you tell me about growing a cutting garden?
Virtues: Barren strawberry (Waldsteinia ternata) is a perennial flowering groundcover. It is an easy-to-grow plant with nice foliage and yellow flowers that appear in spring. As the common name barren strawberry suggests, the plant looks like a strawberry plant, but … Read Article
What is a low-maintenance plant, plus a list of low-maintenance perennial plants. Read Article