A darn nice alternative to boxwood is the equally tough and hardy inkberry holly (Ilex glabra). Here you see the increasingly popular short variety ‘Shamrock’, It’s indigenous from Nova Scotia to Florida and west to Mississippi. Details Prefers wet soils…
Bottlebrush Buckeye (Aesculus parviflora) is a magnificent shrub native from the Carolinas south to Alabama and Florida, which woody plant expert Michael Dirr calls “truly one of the best native shrubs for late-spring and early-summer flowers.” My original five are…
Spiderwort or Tradescantia virginiana is native throughout the Eastern U.S. from Maine to Alabama, and was first introduced to Europe as a garden plant in 1629. Arriving in my garden as a weed, it’s been a keeper for me, despite…
There are about 150 different Goldenrods, most of them native to the prairies, river banks, and mountains of North America. They’ve also spread widely throughout Europe, especially along roadsides and in vacant lots. They’re good for a brief back-of-the-border splash…
Rudbeckia fulgida, popularly called the Black-Eyed Susan, is Maryland’s State Flower and incredibly popular with local gardeners, for its many good qualities. Looks great with grasses and the seedheads of Monarda, or with just about anything. Shown is the popular…
The ever-popular purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) is native to – well, sources vary. Some say to the prairies of the Midwest, where it was discovered and brought to the East by Lewis and Clark. And some very reputable sources have…
Green and Gold (Chrysogonum virginiana) is a great groundcover for shade. Mat-forming plant with long-lasting gold flowers. Trouble-free. Also known as Golden Star. You see here the variety ‘Pierre’, with acuba. Native to the Eastern U.S. Details Prefers partial shade…
Bignonia capreolata, better known as Crossvine, is a fast-growing perennial vine that’s fully evergreen in our region – yay! It bursts in the spring with these amazing 2-inch-long reddish-orange floral trumpets, then reblooms sporadically until autumn. Unscented. Its common name…
The turtlehead (Chelone obliqua) is native to the moist woodlands and mountains of Eastern and Midwest North America. It’s one of the few native woodland plants that blooms after spring — in this case from July through September. Details Prefers…
And it was love at first sight, though lust may be more accurate. Though slow to establish, Baptisia becomes a tough, drought-tolerant and low-maintenance plant. The flowers are followed by 2-inch swollen pods that turn black as they mature; the…
Kermit and our local frogs alike would love the surge of environmental awareness. With housing developments popping up like fungi on a log, our local habitats are disappearing. The ray of sunshine in all this is that each of our…
With various sizes, colors, light requirements, foliage shapes and textures, it is possible to fit an easy-to-grow hosta into almost any landscape situation.