I Love Vitex agnus-castus aka Chastetree
Name: Vitex agnus-castus aka chastetree Type of Plant: A large shrub that flowers in mid to late summer. Hardy in Zone 6-8 Why I Love/Hate this plant: I love this plant because it likes the good drainage of Cape Cod’s sandy soils. I love the fact that it has...
I Love Acer palmatum ‘Sango-kaku’ aka Coral Bark Maple
Name: Acer palmatum ‘Sango-kaku’ aka Coral Bark Maple Type of Plant: Small tree for part-shade, reaching 15 to 20 feet tall and wide. Hardy in Zones 5-8. Why I Love/Hate this plant: I love this tree first for its foliage. It’s a light, lime green in the...
I Love Perovskia atriplicifolia aka Russian sage
Name: Perovskia atriplicifolia aka Russian sage Type of Plant: Perennial plant for full sun and well drained soils. It has woody stems so doesn’t usually get cut to the ground. Why I Love/Hate this plant: I love Russian sage because it has a long period of bloom,...
I Love Cephalotaxus harringtonia ‘Fastigiata’ aka upright Japanese Plum Yew
Name: Cephalotaxus harringtonia ‘Fastigiata’ upright Japanese Plum Yew Type of Plant: Slow growing, upright evergreen that grows well in sun or part shade. Why I Love/Hate this plant: It’s not easy to find an upright evergreen that stays thin and...
I Love Baccharis halimifolia, aka groundsel or eastern baccharis
Sometimes it’s great to appreciate a plant that doesn’t live everywhere, doesn’t flower all summer, and can’t be kept “under control.” Name: Baccharis halimifolia aka groundsel, eastern baccharis or groundseltree Type of Plant: A...
I Love Vernonia lettermanii ‘Iron Butterfly’ – aka ironweed
Name: Vernonia lettermanii ‘Iron Butterfly’ aka ironweed Type of Plant: A drought tolerant perennial for Zones 4-9, with grass-like foliage all summer and purple flowers in late fall. Why I Love/Hate this plant: When my gardens are open for fundraisers in the summer,...
I Love Cuphea hybrid ‘Cupver’, aka Cuphea Vermillionaire
Name: Cuphea hybrid ‘Cupver’ aka cigar plant, Cuphea Vermillionaire, firecracker plant Type of Plant: This Cuphea is an annual in northern climates but can be perennial in Zones 8-11 It grows 18 to 24 inches high and wide, and flowers all summer. Why I...
Advice for Garden Clubs Re: Virtual Meetings
Since the pandemic hit, we are gathering virtually; attending church services online, having cocktails with friends, and visiting with friends or family on various virtual platforms. Whether we like it or not, it’s an entirely new world and many groups that have...
I Love Pennisetum purpureum ‘Tift 8’ aka Vertigo Fountain Grass
Name: Pennisetum purpureum ‘Tift 8’ aka Vertigo fountain grass Type of Plant: An annual grass in colder climates (hardy in Zone 8-11) that’s tall (4 feet or more) and showy. Why I Love/Hate this plant: I love this grass because of the total drama it brings to the...