Story and Photos by Andrea Dee Swamp sunflower, perennial cousin to the popular annual sunflower (Helianthus annuus), is a stately specimen that reaches 6 feet more with flowers that may be on the small side at 2-3 inches, but it blooms for an extended period of time. Thin dark green leaves adorn coarse burgundy stems …
Story by Peggy Hill I asked Blair Durant, owner of Niche Gardens in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, to suggest a plant for this article. Blair said, “Baptisia (false indigo) is a fantastic, long-lived, native plant for many reasons. It’s one of the first perennials to bloom in the spring, providing food for early pollinators. It …
Evercolor Series Japanese sedge Story and Photos by Hubert P. Conlon whatgrowsthere.com Indigenous to the dry woodlands and rocky slopes around Honshu Island in Japan, variegated sedges have been greatly improved. The Evercolor series, the result of breeding efforts at Fitzgerald Nurseries in Kilkenny, Ireland, is a collection of six varieties that are evergreen in …
Would you like to attract more bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators to your garden? Do you like to grow your own cut flowers for arrangements? Story by Denise Pugh If you answered yes to the questions above, Verbena bonariensis might be the plant for you. Tall verbena, sometimes called Brazilian vervain, stands tall without …
Darcy’s Mexican sage Story and Photos by Alan Pulley Salvias have always been one of my favorite garden plants. With all the different types and countless varieties, there is a salvia for every gardener. I came across a new salvia a couple of years ago that quickly become one of my favorites – Darcy’s Mexican …
‘Prairie Sun’ gloriosa daisy Story and Photos by Norman Winter @NormanWinterTheGardenGuy on Facebook ‘Prairie Sun’, one of the most striking gloriosa daisies ever, was chosen as an All-America Selections Award Winner years ago. This followed on the heels of ‘Indian Summer’, another outstanding selection. Thanks to progressive greenhouse growers and a new generation of landscape …
Story and Photos by Hubert P. Conlon whatgrowsthere.com Brighten up dark areas in your woodland garden with Japanese forest grass, sometimes called hakone grass. This warm-season ornamental grass performs well in most areas of Tennessee; it may struggle a bit in the warmer regions. Start by planting in amended, compost-rich soil in full to partial …
Story and Photos by Peggy Hill “We think Carex ‘Everillo’ is one of the most exciting shade plants of the last decade, and as such we’ve already planted dozens in our own garden.” That is high praise from Tony Avent, proprietor of Plant Delights Nursery in Raleigh, North Carolina. After growing it myself, I see …
Story by Kenny Coogan kennycoogan.com Hyssop can be grown in containers, along perennial borders, or trimmed to form a low hedge in sunny gardens or along walkways. Author Henry Beston of Herbs and the Earth (1935) says, “The garden has no more quietly dependable and satisfactory border plant.” Hyssop’s showy purplish blue, pink, or white flowers …
Stokes’ aster Story and Photos by Norman Winter Stokes’ asters (Stokesia laevis) are wonderful native perennials that attract all sorts of pollinators – from bees to butterflies. Its striking blue flowers and fiery orange butterflies make for a winning combination. The Stokes’ aster is a native from Louisiana eastward to North Carolina. Surprisingly, they are …
