Perennials
‘Fireworks’ Goldenrod (Solidago)
With a sensational explosion of golden flowers bursting from the plant like skyrockets, 'Fireworks' is not your usual goldenrod. This refined cultivar of our native North American Solidago rugosa makes a great focal point in the autumn garden. Hardy to zone 4, slowly expanding clumps grow 3-4 feet tall but rarely need staking. Combine this spectacular plant with purple asters and bright-colored chrysanthemums for a fabulous fall display! Learn more about 'Fireworks' in this article...
Winecups, Callirhoe involucrata
Brilliant magenta cup-shaped flowers festoon the rambling stems of winecups all summer long. This native prairie plant comes from dry, rocky areas, but tolerates many types of soil. It combines particularly well with other plants that have pink flowers or blue to gray foliage. Learn more about Callirhoe involucrata in this article...
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 inconsipcuous, dark-colored flowers. Learn more about widl 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...
Hosta of the Year 2005: ‘Striptease’
Each year the American Hosta Growers Association chooses one plant to feature as the Hosta of the Year. For 2005, this honor went to 'Striptease', a medium-sized plant with uniquely colored leaves, with dark green margins, a narrow ivory to gold center, and irregular white stripesbetween the green and gold areas. Read more...
Perennial Plant of the Year 2005: Helleborus x hybridus
The Perennial Plant Association chooses a different plant annually to be their Plant of the Year. For 2005 they selected Helleborus x hybridus, or Lenten rose. This late-winter or early spring bloomer is a member of the buttercup family. Learn more about this fascinating flowering plant for shady spots in 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...
'Silver Falls' Dichondra
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...
Hosta of the Year 2004: ‘Sum & Substance’
Each year the American Hosta Growers Association chooses one plant to feature as the Hosta of the Year. For 2004, this honor went to 'Sum & Substance', a popular plant with very large, deeply-veined chartruese leaves. In summer this hosta produces lavendar flowers. To learn more about 'Sum & Substance', read 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...
