Wild Ginger, Asarum spp.

There are several species of perennial foliage plants in the genus Asarum that make great ground covers for shady sites. European wild ginger and the North American wild ginger are the most commonly used as landscape plants. Both have interesting, but inconspicuous, dark-colored flowers. Learn more about wild ginger in this article…

Campanula carpatica ‘Blue Clips’ & ‘White Clips’

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…

Amur Cherry, Prunus maackii

Amur cherry is a small tree from the Far East that has cinnamon-brown exfoliating bark that is most prominent in winter, when the leaves have fallen. To learn more about this attractive tree hardy to zone 2, read this article…

Kohlrabi, Brassica olearcea var. gongylodes

Looking somewhat like a space alien, kohlrabi is a member of the cabbage family that has a turnip-like enlargement of the stem above the soil surface. To learn more about this vegetable, read this article…

Hover, Flower or Syrphid Flies (Syrphidae)

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…

Lady of the Night Orchid, Brassavola nodosa

With a lovely perfume coming from the flowers in the evening, Lady of the Night orchid is aptly named. This relatively small epiphytic orchid from Central and South America adapts readily to being grown as a houseplant. To learn more about Brassavola nodosa and how to grow it as a pot plant, read this article…

Liatris

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…

Corn Earworm, Helicoverpa zea

No one likes opening a fresh ear of sweet corn only to find it chewed up and often with a worm inside. The culprit is usually a corn earworm. The caterpillar of this species of moth varies a lot in color but is always seen feeding on the silk end of ears of corn. To learn more about this pest and how to control it, read this article…

Verbena bonariensis

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…

'Silver Falls' Dichondra argentea

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…

Bird of Paradise, Strelitzia reginae

The iconic, stereotypical flower of the tropics – bird of paradise – isn’t really a tropical plant at all – Strelitzia reginae is from subtropical southern Africa! But there’s no denying it has a very exotic bloom that looks tropical. Although it won’t survive outdoors in the midwest, it can be grown as an indoor or patio plant. To learn more about this interesting flower, read this article…

Support Extension