Blue vervain (Verbena hastata) is a tall, slender perennial that thrives in moist environments, growing up to 6 feet high. It produces spikes of small, tubular purple flowers from June to October, attracting various pollinators. This plant can thrive in full sun to full shade in moist soils...
We must confine plants to be able to grow trees in openings in the sidewalk or perennial gardens in patio containers. That’s all copasetic so long as we understand the unavoidable consequence of limited space: premature aging. Wood ages and dies sooner, herbaceous stems become more crowded mor...
Pearly everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea) is a sturdy native perennial of sunny, sandy places that opens white nubbin flowers in dense clusters in August. The flowers dry in place—thus the moniker “everlasting.” The plant’s downy gray foliage gets little special attention, except when invaded...
Garden centers fill their benches in the fall with thousands of mums. But what else is blooming? With a little effort, dozens of great perennials that bloom during early fall can be found.Chelone, or turtlehead, is a North American native perennial whose peak flowering period lasts about fo...
Lynn’s favorite flower is bottle gentian (Gentiana andrewsii) because the blue flowers never fully open. In the late summer, our native bumblebee pollinates it by pushing its way in. She likes this plant’s interesting story. White turtlehead (Chelone glabra) is the host of the Baltimore...
It’s a simple question, ending in the name of a flower, tree, tool or material used in the garden. When people ask, I know they want a simple answer, such as, “Flo’s Flowers on the corner of Main and Fifth Street.” Yet there’s a lot that goes into the definition of a go...
other perennial. More and more retailers are selling them packed in plastic bags with some peat moss. Make sure the rhizomes are firm and try to plant them before the leaves emerge. Bury rhizomes horizontally about 2 to 4 inches deep in the moist, rich soil that most woodland wildflowers ...
flowers are held well above the showy, large, silvery leaves. As the season progresses, however, the foliage tends to become unattractive, so I recommend planting more pleasing, slightly shorter plants in front. This fact alone makes globe thistle best suited for the back of the perennial ...
doubles, single lates, etc., have exceptional flower colors and forms. These, however, rarely last for more than a few years in the garden, even with the best conditions. On the other hand, tarda tulip is a true perennial type and should last for many years with minimal or no effort....
The thymes are important to cooks. Most varieties are perennial in Michigan, but they are little subshrubs that only grow about a foot tall, and they tend to get woody, which some gardeners consider unsightly. Thyme is also pleasant on the windowsill for the winter. It holds its flavor ...