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jillraggett · 1 month

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Plant of the Day

Tuesday 30 April 2024

In this front garden the variegated foliage and flowers of Euphorbia characias 'Silver Swan' (variegated spurge) were creating a display. This shrubby, evergreen perennial plant, has maroon-flushed dark stems that are clothed in grey-green leaves.

Jill Raggett

#euphorbia #variegated spurge #spurge #evergreen perennial #plants #horticulture #gardens #garden #front garden #deal #kent #variegated #foliage

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regnum-plantae · 7 years

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Euphorbia characias ‘Silver Swan’, Euphorbiaceae

This striking variegated Mediterranean spurge was raised in England and introduced to the market in 2001, while the more modest plain version is native to warmer, more southerly latitudes, as indicated by the common name.

In its habitat, as in cultivation, the plant survives and retains the lush appearance even under severe drought, and is thus highly appreciated and beneficial in arid gardens, where it can shade the soil and create a sheltered niche where biodiversity can be increased.

Please be careful when handling it! If you’ve been following my blog you might know I like Euphorbias, but I approach them with care as one temporarily blinded me in one eye as a kid! (It was my fault and this is the last time I mention it, promise.)

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saatkontor · 7 years

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Euphorbia, Mediterranean Spurge 'Tasmanian Tiger'(Euphorbia characias)

#euphorbia #characias #tasmanian #tiger #variegated #mediterranean #spurge

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mmwm · 5 years

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Wednesday Vignette: Darkness & Light Entwined

“Gardens are made of darkness and light entwined.” ― F.T. McKinstry, Crowharrow

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Euphorbia epithymoides ‘First Blush’ (syn. E. polychroma), a hardy variegated spurge, along with Sedum telephium ssp. ruprechtii ‘Hab Gray’ and some hellebore, in the shade of a weeping ‘Red Jade’ crabapple tree (Malus × scheideckeri).

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“If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil…

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#darkness & light #euphorbia #good and evil #shade #shadow #Solzhenitsyn #spurge #sun and shade #variegated #wednesday vignette #wordless Wednesday

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morrak · 5 years

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1) Lithops is, I think, species marmorata, which is awesome because μάρμαρο is one of my favorite words.

2) Precocious.

3) The variegated umbrella and ZZ plant in the back are recent pilfers. Hopefully they can root this season, and double hopefully the umbrella has enough pigment still.

4) Finally seeing some more development. Poor lad was in poor light too long.

5) Rosemary seeds are kinda working, and the rubber tree hasn’t crapped out yet.

6) Legs! I do so love propping Sansevaria spp., especially trifasciata. Good lord is it ever slow.

7) Speaking of legs, the Euphorbia trigona has some now. A dejected little tangle, to be sure, but I like to pretend its proximity to the pencil plant E. tirucalli and the mats of spotted spurge E. maculata outside are hyping it up. Even in the cold, it’s starting to get some proper color back.

8) Meatball (AKA Chef) the Swedish ivy Plectranthus verticillatus (a good genus, highly recommend) is, after nearly dying, flowering.

9) New pants for Ada the African violet Saintpaulia sp. and White Christmas Tea the spider plant Chlorophytum comosum. The latter has some new henchmen from its mother, @fallonbean’s mala madre. That one’s not doing well, so Fallon might take its name if she’s not careful.

10) I spent 4 hours at the coffee shop processing the year’s last basil seeds. Thank goodness for plum oolong tea and for Emmylou Harris et al. on vinyl.

#on morrak #images

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jasonthegardeningguru · 5 years

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PLANTS TO LOOK OUT FOR THIS MONTH: March 2019

Prunus laurocerasus ‘Etna’ (Cherry Laurel)

An ideal large shrub for most aspects in the garden from sun to shade.

This hardy evergreen is a recent introduction to the laurel family. It has mid-green evergreen leaves which when the growth starts in the spring is bronze/red hence the named ‘Etna’ after the Italian volcano. It will also bear masses of white, scented candle-like flowers in mid to late spring. These will as the plant matures also bear cherry-like bluish fruit turning black to ripe.

It is the versatility of this shrub which should make it a must on every ornamental gardeners to buy list.

It grows to a height and spread of around 2 m. It can be grown as a free standing shrub, used as screen or hedge, grown in a container as patio plant. If you find a specimen with a straight-ish stem it could be trained into a standard or another ideal is why not train it two-dimensionally against a wall or fence as an evergreen wall shrub.

Heuchera ‘Crimson Curls’ (Coral Flower)

Probably one of the best and recent introductions to this popular herbaceous plant.

‘Crimson Curls’ has beetroot red crinkled foliage which is completely evergreen unlike some of the other purple-leaved Heuchera’s.

It grows to a height of 30 cm and a spread of 45 cm. It bears white wispy flowers in the summer months which make a brilliant contrast against the foliage.

Best grown in an open and sunny position for the best leaf colour in any well-drained soil or compost.

Ideally grown against light backgrounds for the best effect from the foliage but also mixed with ornamental grasses like Carex ‘Frosted Curls’ (see pic) or ‘Silver Sceptre’ can contrast well. Another ideal place is to grow the ‘Crimson Curls’ just in a low, dumpy glazed bowl which would give colour throughout the year on even the drabbest patio.

Pulmonaria saccharata ‘Sissinghurst White’ (Lungwort)

Probably the most eye catching of all spring flowering herbaceous. The Lungwort has attractive, silvery spotted leaves which are covered in minute hairs and have a brilliant texture to them.

This strain has clean and crisp white flowers blooming from mid-late March until late April.

They grow to height of around 30cm by a spread of around the same.

The Pulmonaria family make ideal ground cover plants in shady conditions and also make great companion plants for growing underneath shrubs. Though in the summer if it is dry ensure that they get plenty of water.

Mahonia pinnata (Oregon Grape)

This dense and compact evergreen shrub has delightful bright and rich yellow flowers blooming on a backdrop of dark sea-green, holly-shaped leaves. The blooms appear from late February through till early April.

It grows to a height and spread of 1.2 m. It will grow in sun or shade and can make an attractive container shrub for spring colour.

Viburnum ‘Anne Russell’

This evergreen variety of Viburnum has attractive pink buds which open to white flowers which are richly scented. Its mid-green evergreen foliage can have good contrast on a light background.

It will grow in any well-lit position and in any free-draining soil. It grows to a height of 1.8-2.4 m by a spread of 1.5-1.8 m. It can also makes a great container shrub for those with no room left to place this graceful plant.

Euphorbia ‘Redwing’ (Spurge)

This recent introduction to the Spurge family has a brilliant compact shape ideal for all sorts of uses throughout the garden.

In late winter the flower heads form turning red and then opening to yellow-ish green flowers giving colour into the spring.

The ‘Redwing’ will grow to a height and spread of around 50 cm and will tolerate sun or partial shade. They will grow best in any well drained soil.

If you have an empty pot and can’t think what to place into it and your patio is lacking inspiration and interest at the moment then why not plant a container of this variety.

One final note is be very careful around this plant when trimming and tidying as the Euphorbia family have toxic sap which can cause skin irritation. So when maintaining your plant always use gardening gloves.

Hebe albicans ‘Sweet Kim’ (Veronica)

This variety of this ever-popular dwarf shrub is another recent introduction.

A uniformed growth which is rounded has superb colour 365 days of the year. It has pink, cream and green leaf variegation the pink is more noticeable in the cooler periods of the year.

Ivory white flowers open in the early summer and last through out the summer months and into the early autumn.

It will prefer to grow in a full sun or partial shaded position in any well-drained fertile soil.

An ideal dwarf shrub for providing colour for rockeries, front of your borders or even in a container. It grows to a height and spread of around 60 cm.

#plants #march #spring colour

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greenozean · 2 years

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Croton Plant (Codiaeum Variegatum)

Croton, also called “garden croton,” are native to the tropical forests of southeast Asia and Oceania. In the wild, they grow as large shrubs, reaching up to 10 feet tall (in the home or garden, they stay a lot smaller). Croton, also called Variegated Laurel, (Codiaeum variegatum), colourful-leaved plant of the Spurge Family (Euphorbiaceae). Its numerous varieties of shrubs or small trees with brilliantly coloured, glossy, leathery leaves are much grown as potted plants.

Visit us: https://greenozean.com/product/croton-plant/

#Croton Plant #buy Croton Plant #tropical forests plants #Codiaeum Variegatum #buy online green plant #greenplant #green ozean

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iplantsman · 4 years

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Pachysandra terminalis (Japanese Spurge)(it isn’t a spurge, which are Euphorbia, helping prove that common names are unhelpful) today’s #oneadayplant . I like blocks of groundcover, used creatively, but with bold confidence. Pachysandra is a fine bit of evergreen groundcover which is planted less than it should be in my opinion. Difficult to get excited about; the flowers are fairly uneventful short spikes of tiny white flowers with purple-brown stamens. It is however, consistently good through the seasons, evergreen, great in shade and dense enough cover to prevent most weeds growing through it. It spreads relatively slowly through creeping stems, which root as they extend to make a solid carpet only 15-25cm (6”-10”) tall, but a single plant could get to 1m (3’4”) wide in time. . In sun, the foliage often yellows, which is less desirable to look at in my opinion. I like it grown as a carpet with large deciduous shrubs, or small trees growing through it. . Where lots of large scale plantings often reach for Ivy or Vinca (Periwinkle) as a groundcover selection, I think that this is a better solution in many cases. . There are ‘more’ green varieties like ‘Green Carpet’ and ‘Green Sheen’, which are great, but not necessarily very different. There are also a couple of variegated forms available, which are good growers, though I’m not a huge fan. Personal preference rather than an issue with the plants. . #pachysandra #pachysandraterminalis #buxaceae #groundcover #plants #subshrub #herbaceous #perennial #evergreen #plants #plant #plantingdesign #foliage #flowers #garden #gardening #gardeningtips #gardeningadvice #iplantsman #gardenista #underratedplants #gardeningguru #plantsforshade #ivy #hedera #vinca #periwinkle (at Crowborough, East Sussex) https://www.instagram.com/p/CHNNaTGAWNW/?igshid=1pam1zhw7tsyf

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jillraggett · 2 years

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Plant of the Day

Wednesday 30 November 2022

Great for a winter container or border is this evergreen spurge probably Euphorbia characias ‘Tasmanian Tiger’. This hardy sub-shrub needs a sunny location. Remember when working with the plant that all parts are highly toxic by ingestion and that the sap may irritate skin and eyes so wear gloves and other protective equipment as needed.

Jill Raggett

#euphorbia #spurge #evergreen #subshrub #plants #variegation #variegatedfoliage #containerdisplay #wateringcan #gardens #writtledesign #garden #horticulture #toxic #irritant

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plant-water-sun-repeat · 4 years

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Euphorbia erithrearea "Spurge" was repotted into terra cotta and I think it's just what it needed.

Some info I've found:

Water: Water your euphorbia every two weeks in the summer time, but triple check that the soil is completely dry between each watering. When watering make sure the water is drainage through its growers nursery pot. The biggest killer of this beauty, is over watering resulting in root rot. During the winter do not water from Nov - March. If you feel the need to water at all, just the tiniest bit of water is needed once a month. They are dormant during these months, so let them have their beauty sleep!

Light: What do cactuses love, light? Find a bright corner for your new cactus friend to live happily ever after.

Humidity: Euphorbia Ingens will fit perfectly into the ordinary homes climate. They like it dry, so need for misting.

Pet safe: Be really careful when handling your euphorbia. It is recommended to wear garden gloves when handling to protect yourself. Even the smallest amount of African milk from the tree is very toxic, it is white, latex sap can product painful irritation to the skin. Keep this plant out of reach from your pets!

Why isn’t a Euphorbia classified as a cactus?

While many species of Euphorbia do look strikingly similar to cacti, they are missing some key features that botanists use to identify cacti:

Cacti have areoles, which are cushion-like bumps that form on a cactus’ flesh. The areole is where spines, new growth, flowers, and more grow from and is a feature that only cacti have.

Some species of euphorbia are also mistaken for cacti because they have growths that look a bit like a cacti’s spines. The spines on cacti are modified leaves whereas the growths on euphorbias are thorns.

Most, if not all, euphorbias do grow leaves. The more succulent species have leaves that are smaller, more compact, and short-lived than the traditional leaf we think of, however.

I think this my euphorbia:

Euphorbia marginata

Euphorbia marginata is the only species on the list that isn’t a succulent! Commonly called Snow-on-the-Mountain due to its white variegation, this plant can be found in parts of the United States and Canada. It is an annual prairie plant that is used by some in outdoor gardens or landscaping.

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mmwm · 6 years

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While away recently for a family funeral, spouse and I took two hours off from running errands, making calls, buying and arranging flowers, delivering food, and so on, to visit Mill Mountain Park in Roanoke, Virginia, on a chilly spring day (60F and windy!). Advertising for the park describes the trails at Mill Mountain Park as “some of the best in the area. The trails feature Roanoke’s highest point — the summit of Mill Mountain (1703 ft.) and the Roanoke Star. This area offers 900 acres of park space atop Mill Mountain, picnic areas, two scenic overlooks, access to additional trails, the Mill Mountain Zoo and the Mill Mountain Discovery Center.”

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We first ambled through the wildflower garden, 2.5 acres of land “carefully planned, weeded, planted and maintained by [Mill Mountain Garden Club] members since 1971.” (In 2014, the club used the “lasagna method”, a version of sheet mulching, laying down newspapers and leaves to smother invasive plants and prepare the ground for planting.) Having just driven south 13 hours from northern New England, where crocuses were about all that was in bloom, the sight of spring ephemerals and other perennials already in bloom made our hearts sing.

The entrance, with white dogwoods and pink-blooming redbuds:

wildflower garden trail

First, three species of trillium:

white Trillium grandiflorum

closer view of white Trillium grandiflorum (I think … was surprised to see the pink blush)

yellow Trillium luteum in bud

close view of red Trillium sessile, I think (variegated leaves)

small colony of red Trillium sessile (I think)

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) leaves (the flowers had already gone by):

Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum) flowers; lots of people want to eradicate this little gem from their lawns and garden plots as it spreads quite rampantly:

Another ephemeral, Twin Leaf (Jeffersonia diphylla), the leaves only here; Wikipedia says they’re “uncommon spring wildflowers, which grow in limestone soils of rich deciduous forest:”

Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica) are also spring ephemerals; “[t]he flower buds of Virginia bluebells are pink due to a chemical called anthocyanin. When the flower is ready for pollination, it increases the alkalinity of the flower, changing the color to blue.” I guess these were almost all ready for pollination!

May Apples (Podophyllum peltatum) were colonizing and blooming. They always remind me of childhood, when I walked a mile or so to 3rd through 6th grades, mostly through a suburban neighbourhood but also through some woods, the closest of which to the elementary school was filled with these every spring. We called them Maypops, which is one of their common names. It’s said that when the May Apple leaves start to flatten, it’s morel season!

This is a plant commonly in flower early in springtime here in N.H., too, if it’s Uvularia sessilifolia (Wild Oats) as I think. But it could possibly be Uvularia puberula (Mountain Bellwort).

One non-ephemeral perennial in bloom this late April was Honesty (Lunaria annua), also known as Money Plant: “Like all members of the mustard family (Brassicaceae), the flowers have four petals. The leaves of Lunaria are roughly heart-shaped with a toothed edge. … The easiest way to identify honesty is by the unique, circular seed pods that form soon after the plant flowers. The shape of the pod calls to mind a coin, hence the name ‘money plant,’ or sometimes ‘silver dollar plant.'”

Another purple bloom, that of the dwarf crested iris (Iris cristata), I think:

This Red-Stem Stork’s Bill (Erodium cicutarium), also called Redstem Filaree, was a new one for me, even though it’s found in northern New England; it’s small, low-growing, and considered a lawn weed:

I also wasn’t previously aware of Primula elatior, oxlip, not native to the U.S.:

I think this is a wood or celandine poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum):

This is a species of Euphorbia, perhaps Euphorbia cyparissias (cypress spurge) or E. virgata (leafy spurge) — I’m inclining toward the latter:

I took this shot of a variety of blooms because I liked the way it looked, and the Plant ID group on Facebook helped me identify Packera aurea (Golden Ragwort — the orange-yellow daisylike flowers) and Geranium maculatum (Wild Geranium, the pale purple flowers) blooming.

The dogwoods were fully in bloom in Roanoke, both white and pink!

I had never seen this foliage before; it’s Arum italicum, also called Italian arum, Italian lords & ladies, and large cuckoopint. It’s not native to the U.S. but has been introduced to only seven states: Virginia, North Carolina, Illinois, Missouri, California, Oregon, and Washington. Its “[g]reenish ivory flowers resemble those of its relative, Jack-in-the-Pulpit, and appear in midsummer followed by stunning orange-red berries” (per White Flower Farm). It’s very poisonous.

We saw a bluebird while in the wildflower garden, too, but a bit far away; still, it’s recognisable.

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After basking in the wildflowers, we just had time for a 30-minute walk on the Star Trail before prepping for the funeral visitation at 3 p.m. If I’m ever in Roanoke again, I hope to walk more of these trails; they’re not challenging, if you hike or walk much, through some can be a bit steep, and they are all short — ranging from the .22 miles of the Watchtower Trail to about 1.5 miles, the Monument Trail — but they interlock with each other and the roads up the mountain, so you can create a longer walk or hike, and they are only a few minutes from downtown, though, in fact, it felt to me like the sort of place you might run into a bear. And the views of the Roanoke Valley on a clear day — which we had — from the top of Mill Mountain (where you park), are forever.

There’s a handy sign mapping local mountains in view, with their elevation and distance away:

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The trail map, posted on a kiosk, was useful and seemed accurate for the most part, except that we could not find the Mill Mountain Greenway (inset map) — we walked around for about 20 minutes hunting for it.

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Some photos from the Star Trail (yellow).

Star Trail entrance (shows blue marking but it’s actually yellow)

on the trail

Star Trail with yellow trail marking

some of the trail was rock or gravel, some clay, with a bit of washout in places, but it wasn’t a wet day, so no problems walking it

I’m always happy to find Spotted Wintergreen (Chimaphila maculata), here with a trio of tuffet-shaped seedheads

more Spotted Wintergreen (Chimaphila maculata) plants — there were lots of them in multiple locations on the trail

mosses

Pearl Crescent butterfly (probably) with some damage but it was flying OK

boulder along trail

a duskywing (Erynnis sp.) butterfly

duskywing (Erynnis sp.) butterfly on blueberry buds

well-marked trails

bench near trail marker

Largus sp. (bordered plant bug) on a rock along the trail

Off the trail, we saw and moved this handsome millipede in the parking lot!

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Thanks for taking this field trip with me!

Field Trip: Mill Mountain, Roanoke, VA While away recently for a family funeral, spouse and I took two hours off from running errands, making calls, buying and arranging flowers, delivering food, and so on, to visit Mill Mountain Park in Roanoke, Virginia, on a chilly spring day (60F and windy!).

#butterflies #Italian Arum #Lunaria annua #May Apple #Mill Mountain Park #Mill Mountain trails #Mill Mountain Wildflower Garden #Roanoke #Roanoke VA #spotted wintergreen #spring ephemerals #spring wildflowers #trillium #Twin Leaf #virginia #Virginia Bluebells #wildflowers

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mr-pinkshirt · 4 years

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25 foot, 25 year Euphorbia ammak verigata or variegated (for you cactus nerds), also known as Golden Candelabra, African Candelabra, Spurge (for the lay person)

Some more useless information:

Native To : Saudi Arabia and Yemen.

-has small insignificant yellow-green flowers followed by non edible greenish fruit

-it is common in southern Africa where it was introduced long ago by traders, but Euphorbia ammak is now listed as a threatened species in its native habitat

Like most species in the Euphorbia genus the milky white sap is poisonous and can irritate eyes, so wash hands well after trimming stems or handling them.

-Care : likes full sun part of the day to part-shade and semi-rich good draining soil mix. Requiring very little water once established, it is not tolerant of wet conditions, particularly during winter months. Hardy to 32 degrees but only for very brief periods.

Now the useful information:

-accepting offers on this beautiful specimen

#cactus cacti succulent sale Euphorbiaammakvariegated

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erotiqueb · 5 years

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Red and White Variegated Poinsettia Floral Holiday Kitchen Towel #floral #nature #botanical #spurge #holiday #KitchenTowel #plant #botanical #gardening #flower https://ift.tt/34VK1tf

#The Silly Hippy | 70s retro shopping

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ahamiltongarden · 7 years

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A GOOD DAY FOR GARDENING

It is going to be a lovely day so I am going to spend it in the garden continuing the autumn tasks. First I will remove the rest of the rose root and then I will work in the side garden, removing the agapanthus stems and cutting the spent stems of the spurge, oak leafed hydrangea and variegated hydrangea and the hellebores. Then I will dig up the allium ‘Millennium’ plants in the front garden and transfer them to the long border, into positions I have already chosen as the one there is doing extremely well. After that I will move back to the long border. I will dig up two Japanese box plants from their current location and plant them right at the back of the long border in some bare spots. I will use the spade to remove half of the veronica ground cover and put it in another spot in the long garden. I am going to remove another rose so I will be able to get at the new plumbago plant tower when it rises next year. I also want to transplant a rose but it is too early to do that. I will dig up some tall Salvia guaranitica from the side garden and relocate it in the long border at the back as it doesn’t like too much sun. I want to move one of the Salvia x superbas to a new position in the long garden as well. I don’t do this in winter as the clay soil is too wet and compacted and the roots would be trapped.

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regnum-plantae · 7 years

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Euphorbia characias, Euphorbiaceae

A few days ago I wrote about the variegated version of the Mediterranean spurge, an Euphorbia which does particularly well in dry soils prone to drought and with little attention, two abilities developed to thrive in its native habitat and which have gained it attention within the ornamental market.

At Glasgow Botanic Gardens, right after some winter rain and in bloom, this spurge rivaled its variegated counterparts in attractiveness. Looks are not all though, and it’s important to note this species is a really good source of nectar, and one of the few flowering so profusely and early in the year at the gardens, although generally flowering more in spring. In particular, the Mediterranean spurge attracts some species of Diptera and Hymenoptera, with ants playing an important part in seed dispersal.

The link below takes you to a Royal Horticultural Society list of plants beneficial to pollinators, divided by flowering season and month, which can help plan a wildlife friendly garden and attract more of those welcomed visitors to boost your food production.

RHS Perfect for Pollinators plant list

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livingcorner · 3 years

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10 Great Plants for Shade Gardening | Gardener’s Supply

Dalmation Peach foxglove

The once-a-year perennial plant sale at our company’s Vermont garden center is a huge event. Shoppers line up well before the 8 a.m. start time, eager to get first shot at the selection. My job is usually to roam the aisles, answering questions. One of the most common questions always goes something like this: “My yard gets lots of shade. What perennials can I plant other than hostas?”

You're reading: 10 Great Plants for Shade Gardening | Gardener’s Supply

Once I’ve cautioned the person that they’ll be hard-pressed to find another plant as rugged and carefree as a hosta, I tell them about my top 10 easy-care, shade-tolerant perennials. Every one of them is a “good do-er” as my friend Sue would say.

If you have a shady area that could use a little visual excitement, I encourage you to give a couple of these plants a try. You’ll surely find a few that will give those stalwart hostas a run for the money.

Brighten your shade garden with these easy-care perennials.

Chocolate Ruffles Heuchera

Heuchera (Coral bells). Heucheras make fine plants for shady sites. Plant breeders have had a field day with the genus heuchera. There seems to be no end to the variations in leaf color: silvery, burgundy, purple-black, chartreuse, salmon and rusty orange. With heuchera, its the foliage that provides the visual excitement, though some varieties also have showy flowers on tall, slender stems. The variety in the photo is called Chocolate Ruffles.

Read more: How to Plant Your First Vegetable Garden | Gardener’s Path

Lamium

Lamium maculatum (Dead nettle). A low, spreading plant with silvery foliage and purple, pink, red or white blooms in early summer. In shady locations, I find this plant spreads happily — not invasively. If you wind up with too much of it, just give it a tug, lift out a whole section and pass it on to a friend.

Tiarella

Tiarella cordifolia (Foamflower). Similar to heuchera in leaf and form, tiarella has matte rather than shiny leaves, which gives it a slightly more “natural” look. The bottle-brush flowers are white or pale pink and I find them showier than those of most heucheras. New varieties often feature burgundy-red leaf veins.

Pulmonaria

Pulmonaria (Lungwort). Another plant with beautiful silvery foliage. Leaves are typically long and narrow, and may be entirely silver, spotted with silver or randomly splashed with silver. Lungwort flowers in spring and its blossoms are quite showy, ranging in color from white through pink and blue — with different colors often appearing on the same plant.

Astilbe. Known best for their colorful flower plumes, many of the newer astilbe varieties also have showy foliage that may be bronze, pale green, blue green, dark green or wine red. If you choose varieties with different foliage colors, bloom times and heights, they can add lots of interesting color and texture throughout the season.

Foxglove

Digitalis (Foxglove). Most foxgloves are biennials, which means they spend their first year growing foliage, their second year flowering and then they die. This may sound troublesome, but the plants usually reseed and sort things out so you wind up having flowers every year. I find Digitalis grandiflora the easiest and most reliable of the bunch.

Japanese Forest Grass

Hakonechloa (Japanese forest grass). Unlike most grasses, this one grows best and looks best in partial shade. It’s short (12-15″) and clump-forming, and the narrow leaves have a cascading habit. Depending on the variety, its foliage is golden green, lime green or variegated. Some turn red, orange or purple in the fall.