Articles
Gardening Articles
Research-based horticulture information to help keep your plants and gardens thriving.
Euphorbia Diamond Frost®
Euphorbia Diamond Frost® is a great little plant that requires little care yet continues to flower all season and combines well with almost any other garden plant. Learn more about this tough but dainty looking tender perennial in this article.
Malabar spinach, Basella alba
While most leafy greens wither or go to seed in the heat of summer, hot weather is when Malabar spinach shines. To learn more about this interesting plant, read this article…
Elephant Ears (Colocasia, Alocasia, and Xanthosoma)
Elephant ears are tender perennials frequently grown as annuals here in the Midwest. Lots of new ornamental cultivars have been developed in recent years. Learn more about this group of plants with large, heart-shaped leaves in this article.
Scarlet Runner Bean, Phaseolus coccineus
Scarlet runner bean is a multipurpose plant that can be used to cover a trellis or fence, provide some food, and have showy flowers. Learn more about scarlet runner bean in this article.
Cardoon, Cynara cardunculus
Cardoon, a relative of the artichoke, features large, spiny, blue-green leaves that provide huge contrast with most other garden plants. The purple thistle flowers can be a bonus. Learn more about Cynara cardunculus in this article.
Feather Reed Grass, Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’
‘Karl Foerster’ is an excellent cultivar of the ornamental grass feather reed grass that provides vertical interest with its tall, narrow flower heads. It is very adaptable to many soils, is drought tolerant, and hardy in zones 3-9. Learn more about this low-maintenance plant in this article.
Eastern Redbud, Cercis canadensis
Eastern redbud is a small tree with spring flowers and interesting structure. Hardiness is a concern, so it is limited to the southern half of Wisconsin. Learn more about Cercis canadensis in 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. Learn more about Salvia elegans in 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.