Articles
Gardening Articles
Research-based horticulture information to help keep your plants and gardens thriving.
Brass Buttons, Leptinella squalida
Looking for a miniature-scale ground cover? Brass buttons is a different type of low-growing plant, hailing from New Zealand, but hardy to zone 4. Learn more about the perennial Leptinella squalida in this article…
Rose Campion, Lychnis coronaria
With silvery, woolly leaves and small, bright magenta, rose, pink or white flowers, rose campion, Lychnis coronaria can be a wonderful addition to the dry garden. It is a relatively short-lived perennial, but does self seed (not invasively) and has few pest problems. Read more about this pretty plant…
Sweet Woodruff, Galium odorata
Sweet woodruff is an attractive groundcover for moist, shady spots, producing tiny white flowers in the spring. This European plant was used as an herbal remedy for a variety of ailments, and the dried leaves and flowers smell like freshly mown hay. If you want to learn more about this herbaceous perennial, continue reading…
Euphorbia myrsinites
With lots of common names including creeping spurge, donkey tail, and myrtle spurge, Euphorbia myrsinites is an interesting succulent perennial that can be either a great garden plant or an aggressive pest. Learn more about this Eurasian species with blue foliage that’s in bloom now (at least in the Madison area) in this article…
Celandine Poppy, Stylophorum diphyllum
Celandine poppy or wood poppy will soon be opening its bright yellow flowers in shade and woodland gardens throughout the area. Learn more about this eastern US native perennial in this article…
Pea-Staking
Don’t like the look of metal or plastic stakes, but you need to offer some support for a few floppy annuals or perennials? How about using prunings from your yard or elsewhere to do the job in an informal way? Learn more about this time-honored technique…
Shamrocks, Oxalis spp.
Everything’s coming up green – no, not outside in the yard, but in stores as St. Patrick’s Day approaches. You’ve probably seen the displays in the grocery store, florist or even on discount store’s shelves, but do you know anything about those plants they call shamrocks? Learn more about the plants marketed for this holiday…
Robber Flies (Asilidae)
Have you ever noticed a medium-to large, hairy fly perched on a rock or leaf and wondered what it might be? There’s a whole family of these distinctive flies that get the common name of robber fly from their manner of ferociously pouncing on their prey. Read this article to learn more about these interesting insects…
Purple Heart, Tradescantia pallida
Want to add a splash of purple foliage to your containers and plantings this season? One easy-to-grow plant is Purple Heart. This tender perennial can be used outdoors during the growing season, but makes an easy houseplant in the winter. To learn more about this species, read on…
Sweet Bay, Laurus nobilis
Every year the Herb Society of America features one plant that is used as an herb. In 2009, they focus on Laurus nobilis, a woody plant whose leathery leaves are used as a culinary herb – bay leaf. Although it is not hardy in our area, we can still grow this as a container plant to bring indoors over the winter. If you want to learn more about this interesting herb, read this article…
Three Flowered Maple, Acer triflorum
Are you looking for a small tree with great fall color and winter interest? The Asian maple Acer triflorum fits the bill. Learn more about this attractive species in this article…
Blue Anise Sage, Salvia guaranitica
Looking for an unusual flower that comes in truly blue shades (as well as purple)? There is a tender perennial sage that can be grown as an annual to add this unusual color in the landscape or in containers. To learn more about Salvia guaranitica read this article…
