Articles

Caladiums

Caladiums are tropical perennials that are grown for their dramatic, brightly colored foliage. To learn more about these shade-loving “summer bulbs” read this article.

Gaura, Oenothera (Gaura) lindheimeri

Gaura is an airy flowering plant with a long bloom period, making it useful as an annual in regions where it is not hardy. There are also many compact cultivars. Learn more about this native North American perennial in this article.

Sage, Salvia officinalis

Sage may be best known as a flavoring but there’s much more to this aromatic plant, including attractive foliage and interesting flowers. Learn more about this versatile plant in this article.

Yellow Goatsbeard, Tragopogon spp.

Yellow flowers blooming individually on tall, scraggly stems or fluffy seed heads like extra-large dandelions along the roadside are one of two species of Tragopogon. These are introduced weeds with the common name yellow goatsbeard. Learn more about them in this article.

Ground Beetles (Carabidae)

There are all kinds of beetles found in gardens. One common type are the ground beetles, which as the name suggests, are typically found under leaves or debris, in cracks in the soil, or running along the ground. Most of these are predators, consuming all sorts of other insects including pests. Learn more about these beneficial insects in this article…

Wild Geranium, Geranium maculatum

Wild geranium (Geranium maculatum) is a pretty pink flowering native plant native ideal for natural woodland openings and in informal gardens. Learn more about wild geranium in this article.

Nicotiana langsdorffii

Nicotiana langsdorffi is quick-growing annual that produces lots of pendant chartreuse flowers on branched flower stems at the top of the plant. This makes it a great filler among other herbaceous plants. Learn more about Nicotiana langsdorffii in this article.

Star Magnolia, Magnolia stellata

Star magnolia is a great choice for a small tree or large shrub with large, showy white or pink flowers in early spring. Read more about Magnolia stellata in this article.

Hepatica

Spring is heralded in Wisconsin woodlands by a number of wildflowers. One of the earliest of these is Hepatica, with delicate, starry flowers in a range of colors from white to purple. Learn more about these native plants in the buttercup family, whose tri-lobed leaves were once thought to have medicinal properties, by reading this article…

River Birch, Betula nigra

River birch (Betula nigra) is a tall native tree that makes a great ornamental for large spaces because of its graceful form and attractive bark. To learn more about river birch, read this article.

Konjac, Amorphophallus konjac

Voodoo lily is a member of the philodendron family that grows from a tuber. Each tuber produces a single tripartite leaf on a tall, mottled stem. This unusual tropical plant is easy to grow as a seasonal conversation piece and store indoors as a dormant “bulb” during the winter. To learn more about Amorphophallus konjac, read this article…

Laurentia, Isotoma axillaris

Star-shaped flowers of blue, pink or white and ferny foliage makes laurentia a great filler in the flower bed or containers. Most Wisconsin gardeners use it as an annual to add pleasingly fine foliage and soft color in the garden. Read more about laurentia in this article.