How to Grow Dame's Rocket (Hesperis): Fragrant Biennial for Wild and Cottage Gardens

How to Grow Dames Rocket (Hesperis) Dames Rocket (Hesperis matronalis) is a fragrant biennial (perennial/biennial) from Eurasia/Japan, introduced 1600s. White, pink, purple four-petaled flowers in large loose clusters Ma

How to Grow Shasta Daisies: Classic White Perennials for Sun and Cutting

How to Grow Shasta Daisies Shasta Daisy (Chrysanthemum maximum / Leucanthemum × superbum) may be the most beloved daisy—cheerful white petals, golden centers, 2–3 feet tall. Easy, long-blooming, perfect in any setting: b

How to Grow Cupid's Dart (Catanache): Blue Daisies for Drought and Dried Arrangements

How to Grow Cupids Dart (Catanache) Cupids Dart (Catanache caerulea) is a carefree perennial with blue daisies on wiry stems and gray-green foliage, 18–24 inches tall. Drought-tolerant, unbothered by crowding. Superb in

How to Grow Cotton: Conversation-Piece Plant for Garden and Patio

How to Grow Cotton Cotton (Gossypium herbaceum) is a perennial grown as annual (rotation reduces disease). Long season required. Yellow flowers at ~45 days; withered flowers form “bolls” that split open to reveal real fl

How to Grow Coreopsis (Tickseed): Sunny Daisies for Butterflies and Songbirds

How to Grow Coreopsis (Tickseed) Coreopsis (Coreopsis grandiflora) is a sunflower-family perennial (some annuals) with daisy-like blooms in yellow, gold, red, maroon, and combos on sturdy 1½–4 foot stems. Native to prair

How to Grow Coral Bells (Heuchera): Foliage Stars for Shade and Containers

How to Grow Coral Bells (Heuchera) Coral Bells (Heuchera) are North American woodland perennials grown primarily for stunning, evergreen, scalloped foliage in myriad colors. 12–36 inches tall. Airy ½-inch bell flowers in

How to Grow Chinese Lantern (Physalis): Ornamental Husks for Dried Arrangements

How to Grow Chinese Lantern (Physalis) Chinese Lantern (Physalis alkekengi) is a fast-spreading perennial (often sold as annual) from SE Europe and Japan, not China. Grows 1–2 feet with white summer flowers followed by g

How to Grow Canterbury Bells (Campanula): Elegant Biennial Bellflowers

How to Grow Canterbury Bells (Campanula) Canterbury Bells (Campanula medium) are showy biennials with 2-inch, bell-shaped flowers in pink, white, purple, lavender, blue, and violet in summer of their second year. 18–36 i

How to Grow Butterfly Flower (Asclepias tuberosa): Milkweed for Monarchs and More

How to Grow Butterfly Flower (Asclepias tuberosa) Butterfly Flower (Butterfly Weed, Milkweed) is a U.S. native perennial (east of Rockies) with brilliant orange mid-summer blooms atop 24–36 inch plants. Unlike other milk

How to Grow Buttercup (Ranunculus): Cheerful Yellow for Beds and Wild Spaces

How to Grow Buttercup (Ranunculus) Buttercup (Ranunculus spp., ~400 species) is a half-hardy perennial with bright yellow (also orange, pink, red, white), five-petaled summer blooms. Native across Asia, Australia, Americ

How to Grow Bleeding Heart (Dicentra): Romantic Shade Perennial for Spring

How to Grow Bleeding Heart (Dicentra) Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectabilis) is a shade-loving woodland perennial from U.S./Canadian woods, prized for arching sprays of heart-shaped pink/white (also red, rose, yellow, pur

How to Grow Blanketflower (Gaillardia): Drought-Tough Daisy for Butterflies

How to Grow Blanketflower (Gaillardia) Blanketflower (Gaillardia aristata, G. × grandiflora) is a cheerful, drought-tolerant perennial native to the central U.S. and Canada. Large, daisy-like, bi-colored blooms (orange,

How to Grow Bee Balm (Monarda): Hummingbird Magnet for Moist, Sunny Spots

How to Grow Bee Balm (Monarda) Bee Balm (Monarda didyma) is a native eastern North American woodland perennial (mint family) with aromatic, square-stemmed clumps and shaggy, tubular flowers in pink, purple, red, and whit

How to Grow Balloon Flower (Platycodon): Pop-able Buds and Starry Blooms

How to Grow Balloon Flower (Platycodon) Balloon Flower (Platycodon grandiflorus) delights kids and adults: balloon-like buds pop when squeezed, then open to 2-inch, five-pointed stars in violet-blue, pink, or white. Foli

How to Grow Astilbe (False Spirea): Feathery Plumes for Shade Gardens

How to Grow Astilbe (False Spirea) Astilbe (False Spirea, False Goat’s Beard) is a premier shade perennial from Asia and North America, with dense, glossy foliage and airy, feathery plumes in pink, red, white, purple, an

How to Grow Anemone (Windflower): Perennial Herbs for Spring and Fall Bloom

How to Grow Anemone (Windflower) Anemone (Ranunculaceae) is a diverse genus of ~120 perennial species, native to the Mediterranean, with spring- and fall-blooming types. Flowers in white, purple, yellow, blue, green, pin

How to Grow Zinnias: Easy, Colorful, and Perfect for Cutting

How to Grow Zinnias Zinnias (Zinnia elegans) are garden favorites—easy, heat-loving annuals with a dazzling range of colors, forms, and sizes (6-inch dwarfs to 4-foot giants). Blooms from mid-summer to frost. Superb cut

How to Grow Thunbergia (Black-Eyed Susan Vine): Cheerful Climber for Fences and Pots

How to Grow Thunbergia (Black-Eyed Susan Vine) Thunbergia alata (Black-Eyed Susan Vine) is not related to Rudbeckia. Native to East Africa, naturalized worldwide, it twines to 8 feet as an annual (20 feet perennial in fr

How to Grow Texas Bluebonnet: The State Flower of Texas for Wildflower Meadows

How to Grow Texas Bluebonnet Texas Bluebonnet (Lupinus texensis and relatives) is the iconic state flower of Texas—actually five species share the title. A hardy annual of the lupine family, native to Texas, it paints ro

How to Grow Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus): Fragrant Biennial for Cottage Gardens

How to Grow Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus) Sweet William is a classic biennial (often grown as annual) from Europe, forming 12–24 inch mounds of fragrant, clustered blooms in white, red, pink, crimson, scarlet, purple