Tag Archives: year-round interest

A Small Arborvitae Alternative to Alberta Spruce

September 13, 2016 | Meghan Shinn | 0

Virtues: ‘Filip’s Magic Moment’ is a small arborvitae that provides exciting and dependable foliage color all year-round. It can be grown in large containers or in the ground. Topping out at 6 to 8 feet tall, this small arborvitae makes …

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Go for the Gold Plants in the Garden

August 1, 2016 | Meghan Shinn | 1

The Summer Olympics open this Friday. While the world’s top athletes covet the gold medal, think about adding golden plants to your garden!

A Plant to Love: ‘Dallas Blues’ Switchgrass

July 21, 2016 | Jennifer Smith | 0

High Country Gardens is a fan of ‘Dallas Blues’ switchgrass, stating, “Panicum virgatum ‘Dallas Blues’ is among the finest of our native ornamental grasses.” And Plants Delights calls it “among the most stunning forms ever selected.” This vase-shaped blue-hued grass …

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American Hornbeam Dresses Up the Understory

April 26, 2016 | Jennifer Smith | 0

We love this native tree that offers up an abundance of color as well as fascinating bark. Ideally suited for the woodland understory, the tree is at home in the part shade to full shade. In the spring, leaves emerge …

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Exploring Conifers – Garden Trekking

December 18, 2015 | Jennifer Smith | 0

In the Jan/Feb issue of Horticulture, we featured a conifer on the cover and a feature story on the benefits of adding these workhorses of the landscape to your garden. I have been thinking a lot about conifers and wondering …

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Adding Structure to the Garden

July 9, 2015 | Jennifer Smith | 0

Thoughtfully placed structures, trees and shrubs have a big impact on the overall look and feel of your garden. Knowing where to add these elements simply requires a slow walk around the garden. Understanding the Bones …

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Buttonbush: The Shrub That Has It All

April 12, 2015 | Meghan Shinn | 0

Virtues: Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis), is a United States–native shrub with so much to offer. This four-season shrub adapts easily to various soil types and provides essential food to bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects. Its year-round interest, low maintenance requirements …

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Durable Desert Moss Takes Foot Traffic and Drought

February 2, 2015 | Meghan Shinn | 0

Virtues: We love ‘Wallowa Mountain’ desert moss (Arenaria ‘Wallowa Mountain’) because it is an evergreen, exceptionally short and compact groundcover native to Oregon that resembles moss yet is very drought tolerant. Superb for xeric and fairy gardens, permanent containers, between …

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Red Pine Is a Hardier Alternative to White Pine

January 26, 2015 | Meghan Shinn | 0

Virtues: We love red pine (Pinus resinosa) for its extreme cold hardiness and its tolerance of poor garden sites, an advantage over white pine. This native evergreen develops reddish bark with age. Red pine is the state tree of Minnesota …

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‘Woodward’ Is a Juniper that Grows Tall and Skinny

January 6, 2015 | Meghan Shinn | 0

Virtues: We love ‘Woodward’ juniper (Juniperus scopulorum ‘Woodward’) for its tall, narrow shape, which makes it an ideal accent for small spaces or for use as a hedge or windbreak. This snow- and wind-tolerant evergreen is a Plant Select honoree …

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Partridgeberry: A Native Groundcover for All Seasons

December 8, 2014 | Meghan Shinn | 0

Virtues: We love partridgeberry (Mitchella repens) for its evergreen foliage, spring flowers and winter berries. This native groundcover can be found in the woodlands of much of eastern North America, making it a good choice for shade gardens.