Articles
Gardening Articles
Research-based horticulture information to help keep your plants and gardens thriving.
Papyrus, Cyperus papyrus
Want an easy-to-grow plant to provide a tropical feel for the growing season? Papyrus is a tropical perennial grown as an annual in the Midwest. It is right at home in shallow water gardens, but can also be grown in containers or moist ground. To find out more about this interesting plant, read this article…
Cardinal Flower, Lobelia cardinalis
Cardinal flower is an unmistakable brilliant red perennial for moist spots. This native perennial is found in moist open woods, streambanks and marshy areas and makes a great addition to the landscape. Learn more about this great plant with flowers that are irresistible to hummingbirds in this article.
Dusty Miller, Senecio cineraria
With its soft, silvery leaves, dusty miller is typically grown as an annual foliage plant – despite the fact that it’s actually a perennial that will flower after the first year. The color is an accent to the green of most other plant leaves and complements brightly colored flowers. To learn more about this bedding plant, read this article…
Romanesco
Related to broccoli and cauliflower, romanesco is a weird vegetable with pointed cones all over! To learn more about this interesting vegetable, read this article…
Stachys ‘Hummelo’
The genus Stachys includes many members, some prized for their fuzzy leaves (lamb’s ears) while others are grown primarily for their flowers. The cultivar ‘Hummelo’ is one of the latter, with bright purple-pink flowers in mid-summer held well above the dark green basal leaves. Read more about this attractive Stachys cultivar in this article…
Japanese Bloodgrass, Imperata cylindrica var. rubra
With short, bright red leaves held upright for a spiky appearance, Japanese bloodgrass is an interesting addition to the garden for contrast in texture and color. But this species is also an invasive pest in many parts of the world. To learn more about this plant read this article…
Spotted Tentiform Leafminer, Phyllonorycter blancardella
Spotted tentiform leafminer causes stippled blotches on apple tree leaves. To learn more about this insect pest, read this article…
Daphne x burkwoodii ‘Carol Mackie’
‘Carol Mackie’ daphnea is a medium-sized shrub with fragrant flowers in spring and attractive, variegated foliage the rest of the growing season. To learn more about this low-maintenance plant, read this article…
Ornamental Millet, Cenchrus americanus (Pennisetum glaucum)
The stately purple spires of ‘Purple Majesty’ ornamental millet have been a staple in many gardens for the last several years. Several other cultivars have been developed to add interest in color, texture and form. This article provides more details on this popular annual ornamental grass.
Chives, Allium schoenoprasum
Chives are a popular culinary herb in the home garden. This herbaceous perennial can also be used as an ornamental, and is particularly attractive when in bloom. To find out more about this herb, read this article…
Virginia Bluebells, Mertensia virginica
Virginia bluebells are spring blooming herbaceous perennials that disappear for the rest of the year. With pink buds and true pale blue flowers, this plant combines well with daffodils and tulips. Combine with other perennials to hide the spaces left behind when the bluebells go dormant. You can find out a lot more about this native woodland wildflower in this article.
Non-Yellow Daffodils
Everyone recognizes yellow daffodils, but these reliable spring bloomers also come in white and combinations of white, yellow and orange. Shake up your spring bulb palette by considering some of the many non-yellow daffodil cultivars. If you’re ready for something other than yellow, check out the possibilities in this article…
