Plant Profiles

Below are links to articles posted in Plant Profiles.

Sambucus nigra. “Black Lace” Elderberry Update

So here we are about 9 months after I first planted this bush and I thought I’d give an update, because really, I have so much more to say. I first blogged about Sambucus “Black Lace” when I first got it, so while I could talk about the colors whatnot, I couldn’t tell you much […]

Something to Grow: Black Currants

I was just reading an article about black currants and my interest was piqued. I am really into nutrition and apparently black currants have twice the antioxidants of blueberries, double the vitamin C of oranges, and double the potassium of bananas, among other health virtues.
But you cannot buy them in the store, even if […]

Hardy Perennial Hibiscus

The flower form of hibiscus is very common to the tropics, blooms typically 4-6 inches across that are brightly colored and form on shrubs. Many people in more northernly climes also grow them as patio plants.
But did you know you could plant hibiscus plants with flowers twice the size in the ground in your garden […]

My New Tanyosho Pine

I went to Rome in June, read all about it here. I fell in love with the beautiful stone pines that dotted the landscape. They are a very graceful pine with no understory branches and an upside down pyramid flat-top upperstory. Unfortunately they are not hardy where I live in Michigan.
Well, a few […]

Sambucus nigra. “Black Lace” Elderberry

Sambucus nigra. “Black Lace” is a hot new elderberry cultivar that was available in very limited release in 2006. I first saw it in Wayside Garden’s fall catalogue last fall. When I went to order one it was already sold out.
I finally got on their waiting list late this Spring when they started […]

Endless Summer Hydrangea

I really like big mop head hydrangeas. They’re hard to beat for pure vibrancy and size of blooms.
One of the problems with these though is that they’re just barely hardy here where I live, and further north they are not hardy at all, at least not enough to bear blooms.
See, the problem is […]

‘Eden’s Paintbrush’ Japanese Iris

My first japanese iris began blooming today. Called Eden’s Paintbrush I got it from Spring Hill 2 summers ago and it is finally blooming. Sure, Spring Hill is cheap, but no one has ever accused them of sending large plants.
I really enjoy the japanese iris flower forms. Their standards (those are the up-petals) are […]

Petunias: My Favorite Annual

I wrote a new article today, all about petunias, enjoy!
(and yes, since I decided to turn my more article-like blog posts into actual articles I’m going to just be linking to them instead of reposting them here.)

Bonkers over Buddleia

I have 3 buddleias, also known as the Butterfly Bush, in my backyard and they’re really nice. I don’t find them that attractive, and they get somewhat overgrown, but they attract butterflies like mad. At some times of the day it’s not uncommon to find 4 or 5 large butterflies on a single plant, […]

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