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

With its spires of brilliant red flowers, cardinal flower is an unmistakable perennial for moist spots. This American native is found in moist open woods, streambanks and marshy areas throughout the eastern US from Canada through Central America. 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…

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…

Ornamental Millet, 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. To learn more about this ancient food crop that’s come into its own as an ornamental, read this article…

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 is an herbaceous perennial that blooms in the spring, then disappears for the rest of the year. With pink buds and true pale blue flowers, this plant combines well with yellow daffodils and pink tulips for a spring show, and 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…

Aztec Lily, Sprekelia formosissima

With bold red flowers, Aztec lily is a dramatic “summer bulb” to consider growing this year. This tender perennial can be grown as a houseplant or planted in the ground once the soil has warmed. To learn more about this Mexican native, read this article…

Arkansas or Thread-leaf Blue Star, Amsonia hubrichtii

Amsonia hubrichtii has been chosen by the Perennial Plant Association as their Plant of the Year 2011. With blue flowers in spring and bright foliage that really shines in the fall, this plant is a great addition to both formal and informal gardens. You can find out a lot more by reading this article…

Bleeding Heart, Dicentra spectabilis

Everything is decorated with hearts at Valentine’s Day. You’ll have to wait a while to decorate your garden with Bleeding Hearts, but you can learn more about this old-fashioned perennial right now by reading this article…

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