Herbaceous ornamentals add interest to our yards and gardens with bright, beautiful flowers and interesting foliage. Whether native, non-native, sun-loving or shade-tolerant, herbaceous plants invite wildlife, provide for pollinators, and bring us enjoyment with color, texture and fragrance.
Native & Naturalized Selection
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Campanula carpatica is a low growing herbaceous perennial from the Carpathian Mountains of southeastern Europe. One of the best selections of this species is the ‘Clips’ series. These plants form neat mounds of light green foliage about a foot wide and 6-8 inches tall and remain in clumps that spread only slowly. To learn more about these attractive perennials, read this article…
Are those insects with striped abdomens really all bees? Take a closer look – if they have only one pair of wings, they’re actually a type of fly. Called by various common names, these hover flies or flower flies or syrphid flies are beneficial insects. The adults feed on flowers, but the larvae are important predators of aphids. To learn more about these insects, read this article…
Tall purple flower spikes characterize the several species of Liatris that are used as ornamentals in gardens. This native plant is at home in the border as it is in a meadow or prairie planting. There are several species and varieties of this easy-to-grow herbaceous perennial. Learn more about Liatris in this article…
With its long, airy sprays of purple flowers, Verbena bonariensis is a great addition to the garden. It is a perennial, but only to zone 7. However, it is very easy to grow and will flower the first year from seed, so can be treated as an annual in colder climates. The flowers are highly attractive to butterflies and other insects. To learn more about Verbena bonariensis, read this article…
Looking for a trailing plant with silvery foliage? ‘Silver Falls’ dichondra fits the bill, with shimmering silver leaves on trailing stems. Only hardy to zone 8, it makes a great seasonal plant for containers or planted in the ground as a fast-growing ground cover. Learn more about this attractive foliage plant in this article…
With airy purple-blue flowers and gray-green leaves, Russian sage is a nice addition to the late summer garden. This semi-woody plant can be used as a substitute for lavendar where it is too cold to grow that plant reliably. It combines well with ornamental grasses and white-flowered perennials. To learn more about Russian sage read this article…
Not many bedding plants boast blue flowers. Ageratum flowers come in a variety of blue, pink and purple tones and various heights. The soft fuzzy flowers are dainty and feathery, often delightfully fragrant, and usually completely cover the plants. To learn more about this easy-to-grow, tender annual, read this article…
Lantana is a tender perennial shrub that’s grown as a flowering annual in colder climates. The species may have rangy habits, but newer ornamental types are compact, more floriferous and come in a variety of colors. To learn more about this plant, read this article…
