Hibiscus acetosella

When most people hear the word hibiscus, they envision a gaudy tropical flower. But not all Hibiscus species are that splashy, and one is grown primarily for its fantastic foliage. The purple-leaved H. acetoscella is easily grown from seed or cuttings as an annual to supply beautiful palmate leaves reminiscent of a Japanese maple. Learn more about this interesting tender perennial in this article…

Early Gems in the Rock Garden

My rock garden is where the first perennials, other than bulbs, bloom in my yard. Read about a few of my favorites that are the first to flower each spring. Several of these don’t need to be restricted to gravelly soils and would be a good addition to a small scale border where they can be appreciated up close. See these cute plants on display in this article…

Lychnis ×arkwrightii 'Vesuvius'

If you’re looking for a plant with purplish leaves in the spring and bright orange flowers, look no further Lychnis ×arkwrightii ‘Vesuvius’. This plant related to rose campion commands attention when it’s in bloom for a few weeks in early- to mid-summer. If you want to know more about this rarely-used perennial, read this article…

Calendula, Calendula officinalis

Did you know that “pot marigold” or calendula is considered an herb? This pretty flower is edible and can be used to color and flavor foods, as well as being used as a medicinal herb.  To learn more about this interesting plant, read this article…

Bleeding Heart Vine, Clerodendrum thomsoniae

Picture a plant from tropical west Africa that has clusters of inflated white flowers with a red “bleeding heart” emerging from the center. Maybe you’d like to try growing this twining evergreen shrub indoors if you have plenty of light. You can learn more about exotic Clerodendrum thomsoniae in this article…

Little Bluestem, Schizachyrium scoparium

Native prairie grasses are well adapted to our region and can be a nice addition to the manicured garden as well as in natural settings. Little bluestem, Schizachyrium scoparium, is one with nice blue summer foliage and reddish fall color. Read more about this pretty grass in this article…

Allium senescens ssp. glaucum

Asters, mums and pansies are the standard flowers for fall. But there are other perennials that are just getting going in the fall, too. The late-flowering Allium senescens var. glaucum offers purple-pink flowers at this time of year, and a fun display of swirled blue-green foliage the rest of the growing season. Read more about this ornamental onion in this article…

Ornamental Cabbage and Kale, Brassica oleracea

It might feel too warm right now to think about fall decorations, but now is the time to plan for colorful displays this autumn if you want to use cabbage in the mix – or at least the ornamental version of this crop. To learn more about colorful ornamental kale and cabbage, read this article…

Honeywort, Cerinthe major

Are you familiar with Cerinthe major, an herbaceous plant from the meadows and grassy plains of southern Italy and Greece? To learn more about this unusual flower grown as an annual in our climate, read this article…

Blackberry Lily, Belamcanda chinensis or Iris domestica

Flowers that resemble an exotic lily, leaves like an iris, seed clusters that look like a blackberry, and lots of different names – put them all together and what do you get? The former Belamcanda chinensis, of course! For a more extensive explanation of this plant and its new name, read this article…

Japanese Forest Grass, Hakonechloa macra

There are few grasses that perform well in the shade that also have ornamental value. One of the best is Japanese Forest Grass or Hakone Grass, Hakonechloa macra. Learn about this perennial grass in this article…

Yellow Corydalis, Corydalis lutea

Corydalis lutea is a small plant that forms neat mounds of finely cut, delicate-looking light green to blue-green foliage and bright yellow flowers.  If you’re interested in learning more about this pretty perennial, sometimes called yellow corydalis, read this article…

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