Arugula, Eruca sativa
Arugula is a trendy green that is easy to grow. A great fast crop for spring or fall, this tangy leafy vegetable tolerates frost and is ready to eat within a few weeks. To learn more, read this article…
Articles
Ground Cover Veronicas
Do you need a low-growing groundcover that also flowers in the spring? Something to cover poor, rocky ground, or fill in among flagstones or pavers? There are a number of species of speedwell that fit the bill. To find out more about these plants in the genus Veronica, read this article…
Bellwort, Uvularia grandiflora
Are you familiar with the wildflower Uvularia grandiflora, one of the first woodland perennials to emerge in the spring? Also planted as an ornamental with understated pendant yellow flowers, this native plant is at home in the informal, shady garden as well as the woods. To learn more about this relatively uncommon plant, read this article on bellwort…
Easter Lily, Lilium longiflorum
You can readily find Easter lilies in bloom at this time of year. This hardy bulb is forced out of season to provide floral displays for this holiday. Whether you want these fragrant flowers to brighten your home at this time of year, or would just like to have them bloom in your garden at their normal time, this is a plant well worth getting to know. Read on to learn more about Lilium longiflorum …
Blue False Indigo, Baptisia australis
Baptisia australis is a great, under-used herbaceous plant. This tough, but beautiful, prairie native has been chosen by the Perennial Plant Association as their Plant of the Year 2010. Purple-blue flowers and foliage that remains attractive throughout the season make this a nice a specimen plant or a good addition to the perennial border. Read more…
Dill, Anethum graveolens
Every year the International Herb Association chooses one plant that is used as an herb to highlight. For 2010 this plant is dill. There’s more to this culinary herb than just pickles! Read more…
String of Hearts, Ceropegia woodii
Hearts abound in mid-February, so now is a good time to learn about String of Hearts. This tender African succulent plant with heart-shaped leaves is easily grown as a houseplant. Read more…
Jade Plant, Crassula ovata
Crassula ovata is a tender succulent south African native that is very easy to grow and propagate, making it a very common houseplant. You probably know it by its common name of jade plant. To learn more about jade plant read this article…
Crown of Thorns, Euphorbia milii
Flowering houseplants are not as common as indoor foliage plants. If you want a tough plant that produces bright or pastel colored flowers, consider crown of thorns. There are a wide variety of cultivars of this succulent species to choose from. To learn more about this plant and how to care for it, keep reading…
Ponytail Palm, Beaucarnea recurvata
It’s called a ponytail palm, but isn’t really a palm. This succulent plant sort of resembles a palm with its long leaves on a single stem. Its enlarged base gives rise to its other common name of elephant’s foot tree. It makes a low-maintenance houseplant here in the Midwest. To find out more about this easy-to-grow species, keep reading…
Nerine bowdenii
It’s getting pretty late in the season for new flowers, but there is one plant that is in bloom now. It’s a tender bulb from South Africa, but does great in container culture. To find out what plant this is and how to grow it, read on…
Fiber Optic Grass, Isolepis cernua
Want a fun plant for the water garden, containers or garden bed? Give fiber optic grass a try! Not really a grass, but a sedge, this low maintenance plant has small flower spikes at the tips of the grass-like stems reminiscent of those fiber optic lamps, hence the common name. Although it’s not hardy here and is frequently used as an annual, you can overwinter it in the house. Read this article on fiber optic grass…
