The first time I saw Tibouchina grandifolia was in a mass planting at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. It was many years ago but I was taken aback and have never forgotten the 5-foot-tall plants loaded with vibrant purple blooms. It was not until six years ago that I purchased a plant and was able to enjoy its beauty all year. In fact, our Tibouchina stored in the greenhouse bloom heavier in the winter to the delight of all ...   >> read article

Every garden has shady areas, and gardeners are often in doubt about which shade perennial plants to use. Chosen by the Perennial Plant Association, the 2012 Perennial Plant of the Year may provide the answer with ‘Jack Frost’ brunnera (Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’). This introduction was discovered in the well-known perennial nursery of Walters Gardens and was introduced in 2000. These perennials are treasured for their shade tolerance and lovely powder blue clustered flowers ...   >> read article

I met perennial Chinese woodland peony (Paeonia obovata ssp. obovata var. willmottiae), a come-hither autumn siren, in the woodlands of Chanticleer garden in Radnor. Her scarlet sterile seeds in split seedpods beckoned full attention in an otherwise green textural setting with some pastel blooms. Come spring, the Chinese woodland peony is a delicate white beauty. A single cup-shaped flower per stem sits on soft green, tapered, ovate foliage ...   >> read article

Most all of us are drawn to golden plants in the garden, and Choisya ‘Sundance’ is one of my favorites. This mounding shrub has soft golden leaves, white flowers in early summer, and (to my complete surprise) has been evergreen in my garden for several years. Don’t let the delicate foliage fool you — it’s a tough plant to kill. Young plants are very attractive and useful in containers and hanging baskets because of their naturally arching and weeping habit ...   >> read article

Arkansas beardtongue (Penstemon arkansanus) is an herbaceous perennial native to portions of the Central and South Central U.S. However, when planted in the garden, it is hardy to a much broader geographical range that includes Pennsylvania. Its unusual common name comes from the appearance of a prominent hairy, sterile stamen called a staminode within each flower ...   >> read article