Short Sedum: Perennial Ground Cover
The short groundcover size of sedum fills in along the fronts of flowerbeds and gives a neat, finished appearance but it also acts as a weed and erosion barrier.
Hardy Hibiscus: Tropical Splendor in a Zone 5 Garden
Gorgeous Hibiscus, a dramatic perennial with large flowers, were first discovered in the swamps and marshes of the southern part of United States. They grew wild and were known as “rose mallow.” They have evolved, with help from...
Long-Blooming Perennials – Color that Lasts All Season
A common question asked by a gardener shopping for perennials is, “Do you have something that blooms all summer?” I find I have to curb a sassy retort of, “Only if you plant petunias and marigolds!” Long-blooming color...
Filipendula – Queen of the Meadow and Meadowsweet
Filipendula is one of those little-used perennials that deserves to be in every partial shade or shade garden. The large size of flipendula is called “Queen of the Meadow” and grows as a four-foot shrub while the short...
That Pesky Driveway Strip and Hot Sidewalk – Solving Landscaping Problems With Alpine Perennials
Gardeners who grow perennials in climates where water is scarce and sunlight is plentiful often have one perplexing difficulty when they are designing their landscapes: What perennials will grow in hot, dry, drought-stressed areas of a yard such...
Rock Garden Rock Stars: Perennials that Spill or Cascade
Cascading perennials are valuable assets to any garden, but if you have a rock garden, acquiring some of these varieties is a must! 7 Favorite Perennials for the Western Rock Garden Most of these are the tough, small...
Karl Foerster Fountain Grass – Easy Care, All-Season Beauty
Landscaping with grasses such as Karl Foerster fountain grass has become very popular with today’s homeowners. The ease of care and dependability have a lot to do with the popularity of grasses, but most homeowners say, “I just...
Hosta: How to Plant, Hybridize and Care for Hostas
Like potato chips, one Hosta is never enough! Infatuation with this hardy perfect perennial for shade gardens is a malady shared by all gardeners. The history of Hosta is short compared with most of our perennials for it...
Lilium – Growing Lilies in High Mountain Gardens
Every gardener adores Lilium for its elegant, unbeatable beauty, exquisite colors, and ease of growing (they grow from bulbs). However, not all Lilium perform in Rocky Mountain gardens. Other varieties like the Oriental types of Lilium are breathtakingly...
Native Perennials – Plants That Stand the Test of Time
Question: Native Perennials are supposedly hardier for Western Gardens but what plants are considered native? Native Perennial species are defined as plants growing naturally in a particular geographic area prior to European settlement. Native plants are considered plants of...