Continuously blooming verbena graces rock gardens, trellises, walls, and containers. Verbena is the ideal plant to cascade over retaining walls, containers, baskets, and window boxes. Verbena flowers are held in constantly blooming circles atop the tips of the stems. Credit: Andy Lyons These flower stalks bloom all season long and continue to grow, producing new buds all the time. This eliminatesthe need for deadheading, as they bloom on top of wilted flowers....
This reliable perennial adds interesting texture to gardens with its flower spikes. Veronica, also known as speedwell, is a genus that comprises 250 species. Veronica comes in many sizes and colors. Credit:Grant Webster Many of the spring-blooming types form mats of low-growing flowers. Some grow silver foliage that contrasts with the richblue flowers. Summer-blooming types may soar to higher heights and are more generous rebloomers. Credit:Grant Webster These taller species feature a broad spectrum of colors, including pinks, purples, blues, and whites....
Bill Stites Viburnum bushes offer something for everyone. Viburnum height and flower shapes also vary. For example, snowball bush viburnum has flowers that look like the name suggests. Credit:Bill Stites Some varieties have layered blooms, and many early-blooming varieties have fragrant flowers. Viburnum foliage is usually green, but some varieties have white or yellow variegation or pronounced veining. Many types havefiery autumn foliage, while some are evergreen or semi-evergreen, holding their leaves through winter....
This perennial comes in a range of colors from bright jewel tones to sweet pastels. Violetscome in a whole rainbow of colors. They’re usually found in bright jewel tones, but softer pastel varieties exist. Credit: Rob Cardillo Once violets are in the ground, they’ll reseed for years. This small plant can stand up well as a cut flower in a small bud vase. Only consume violet flowers known to come from a pesticide-free source....
Add woodland beauty to your garden withVirginia bluebells. Where to Plant Virginia Bluebells Virginia bluebells grow best in part shade and moist soil. Their native habitat is moist woodland areas. Grow Virginia bluebells alongside other spring bulbs. Expect them to pop up between clumps of spring bulbs, creating a casualcottage garden styleover time. At the beginning of summer, Virginia bluebells recede into the soil. Their foliage slowly dies back and an empty space extends where the cheerful purple blossoms once stood....
Virginia sweetspire is an easy-care, native shrub that offers fragrant flowers in spring and brilliant burgundy fall color. It has few problems and needs minimal pruning other than removing suckers if you want to limit its spread. A mass planting of this shrub can be spectacular and is usually preferable to single plants. Credit: Denny Schrock It spreads by suckers to create dense colonies, which can be used as a barrier....
Wall rock cress is an outstanding spring-blooming groundcover for rock gardens, slopes, and dry, sunny spots. Wall rock cress is an outstanding spring-blooming groundcover for rock gardens and dry, sunny spots in zones 4-7. After blooming, wall rock cress sports gray-green leaves that keep their color throughout the year. Credit: Peter Krumhardt Both are members of the Brassicaceae family which includescabbage,broccoli,Brussels sprouts, andmustard. Both are early spring-blooming perennials that bear striking pink, purple, or white flowers....
The blooms of this plant will put on quite a show in your garden during the spring. Native to southern Europe, wallflowers are cool-season plants hardy in Zones 3-10 with a lovely fragrance. They come in an abundance of colors. Nancy Rotenberg. Wallflower is a short-lived perennial or biennial often grown as an annual with a long season of blooms. They vary in size from low groundcovers to small shrubs....
Though it resembles a four-leaf clover,water cloveris botanically classified as a fern because it produces spores. Water clover is extremely easy to grow, and it spreads quicklywhich is useful when creating wetland groundcovers. However, because of its quick spread, water clover should be grown with caution. Credit:Matthew Benson In some areas, it is difficult to eradicate after it is established. Before planting it, know the regulations regarding growing water clover in your area....
Growing nutrient-dense and delicious watercress at home is easier than you might think. Ali Majdfar / Getty Images Watercress(Nasturtium officinale)is famous for its peppery taste and rapid growth. It’s a cut-and-come-again plant providing repeated servings of greens for salads, sandwiches, and soups. Credit:Ali Majdfar / Getty Images Perhaps the easiest way to grow watercress at home is not in the ground but in pots. You need only a few pots, clean water, a nutrient solution, and light....
Hydrangea macrophyllaWedding Gown, also called Dancing Snow, is a reblooming shrub. It is a popular bridal bouquet choice, but gardeners also love its double flowers. The plants foliage is naturally dark green, contrasting gorgeously against its elegant blooms. Hosta.Credit: Photo courtesy of Andrea_44 Wedding gown hydrangea is toxic to animalsand humans. Where to Plant Wedding Gown Hydrangea Wedding gown hydrangea is hardy in Zones 5-10. The plant prefers light shade and rich,well-drained soil....
Most people recognize a graceful weeping willow tree from a distance by its long, pendulous branches. Weeping willows grow into large trees in a short time. Its beauty doubles when you’re free to see it reflected in a pond. Opt for a site that receives full sun to partial shade. Plant weeping willows well away from water lines or sewer lines. The roots of the tree aggressively seek out any water source and can cause substantial damage....
This shrub has pretty summer flowers as well as colorful foliage. Weigela sizes can range from 1 to 6 feet tall, depending on the variety. These shrubs are also moderately fast growers, reaching their full size after just a few seasons. Mark Kane. They’rehardy in Zones 4-9, so they’ll grow just about anywhere in the United States. Along with variations in weigela sizes, it comes in manyfoliage colors. Colors can range from green and gold to deep burgundy while showing a glossy finish....
