Hellebores are wonderful plants that bloom in winter and early spring when very little else is flowering. Color ranges from white to dark purple, although some species have greenish flowers. The evergreen foliage is generally dark green and glossy, divided…
Rudbeckia, or black-eyed Susan, is a tough plant that blooms summer and autumn. Nearly all have flowers in the yellow and orange range. ‘Indian Summer’ has a dark brown center while ‘Irish Eyes’ has a green center. ‘Goldsturm’ is a…
Echinacea, or coneflower, is a tough plant that blooms for a long period in summer and autumn. Recent breeding has produced flowers of many colors and plants of varying heights. These plants are suitable for the garden or containers.
Spring blooming bulbs such as narcissus, iris and tulips arrive in September. Paperwhites, a small white flowering form of narcissus, are always popular for forcing for Christmas bloom. Crocus, a true harbinger of spring, are some of the earliest bulbs to bloom in late…
Bamboo is really a giant grass, hence its inclusion in the grass category. There are two main types of bamboo – clumping and running. Clumping varieties will increase gradually and not take over the universe. Bambusa and most Fargesia will do well…
Ferns are wonderful shade plants, adding a lush, woodland look to a shady area. Shown at left is Polystichum munitum, a native fern that grows to two to four feet. Another excellent fern for our area is…
Centranthus, or Jupiter’s beard, is a great perennial, but be prepared for its rather vigorous self-sowing. It is very tolerant of most conditions and needs little water. Flower color ranges from crimson to pink to lilac to white, with a…
Aquilegia, or columbine, has lovely lacy foliage with flowers that rise above the leaves. There are many flower colors available, all of which attract hummingbirds. It blooms in spring and early summer and prefers shade, especially in the afternoon. Regular…
Agapanthus, or lily of the Nile, can be evergreen or deciduous, one foot tall or four feet tall, white or blue flowered. There are several shades of blue, from pale to dark blue-violet. It has green, strap-like leaves with round…
Both E. fortunei and E. japonicus have variegated varieties that brighten up the garden with their foliage. Height ranges from about three to ten feet, depending on the variety. Moderate to regular water is required.
