Articles
Gardening Articles
Research-based horticulture information to help keep your plants and gardens thriving.
Scarlet Runner Bean, Phaseolus coccineus
If you’re looking for a multipurpose plant to cover a trellis or fence, provide some food, and have showy flowers, look no further than scarlet runner bean. Learn more about scarlet runner bean in this article…
Cardoon, Cynara cardunculus
Looking for dramatic foliage to make a bold statement in the garden? Consider cardoon, a relative of the artichoke that has large, spiny, blue-green leaves that provides huge contrast with most other garden plants. The purple thistle flowers are just a bonus if you can get it to bloom. Learn more about Cynara cardunculus in this article…
Feather Reed Grass, Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’
Ornamental grasses can add texture and movement in a garden. ‘Karl Foerster’is a great cultivar of feather reed grass that provides vertical interest with its tall, narrow flower heads. It adapts readily to many types of soils, is drought tolerant once established, and is hardy in zones 3-9. Learn more about this low-maintenance plant in this article…
Eastern Redbud, Cercis canadensis
Need a small tree with spring flowers and interesting structure? Unless you live way up north eastern redbud may fit the bill. To learn more about Cercis canadensis, read this article…
The Basics of Micro Irrigation
Micro irrigation has numerous advantages in greenhouses, orchards, vineyards, fields, lawns, and gardens. Learn about components of micro irrigation systems and benefits and drawbacks these systems provide.
Garlic Mustard
Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) is a European woodland plant introduced to North America by early settlers for its culinary and alleged medicinal qualities. Identification and control methods are covered in this concise factsheet.
Pineapple sage, Salvia elegans
Pineapple sage has been used as both an herb and an ornamental, with the name coming from the scent of the leaves when crushed. To learn more about Salvia elegans read this article…
Eastern Red Columbine, Aquilegia canadensis
A favorite of returning ruby throated hummingbirds and gardeners alike, Aquilegia canadensis is at its best when it shows off its dangling blooms of red and yellow for several weeks in the spring. This native species is equally at home in naturalized settings and ornamental gardens. To learn more about eastern red columbine, read this article…
Mouse Melon or Mexican Sour Cucumber, Melothria scabra
Looking for something unusual for your vegetable garden? Mouse melon or Mexican sour cucumber is a vine that produces unique tiny fruits that resemble striped watermelons. Learn more here.
Leeks
Leeks are an onion relative that is a very easy to grow cool season crop well suited to cultivation in Wisconsin. Learn more about this tasty vegetable by reading this article…
Popcorn Cassia, Senna (=Cassia) didymobotrya
Popcorn cassia is an unusual accent plant with bright yellow showy flowers contrasting with its striking black buds. This tender plant can provide seasonal vertical interest with its tall flower spikes and a tropical effect with its attractive foliage. To learn more about this small tree native to eastern Africa, read this article…
Northern Masked Chafer
A potentially serious insect pest of turfgrass, Masked Chafer has only been found in a few counties in southern Wisconsin. Learn how to be on the lookout for this pest in this publication.
