Category Archives: Perennials

Pollinator Buffet

a photo of Yellow bumblebee on Monarda photo by Ed Spevak, St. Louis Zoo

Following the remarkable success of Grow Native!’s “Monarch Café” lineup of tags that was released in spring of 2015, plans were set for the team to build upon the concept of purpose-driven landscape plants. By Jennifer Schamber (This article first appeared in The Gateway Gardener April 2017 issue.) Following the remarkable success of Grow Native!’s “Monarch Café” lineup of tags

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Super Plants!

A picture of Agastache 'Rosie-Posie'

Endless-blooming perennials. Jurrasic-sized ferns. Built-in deer and rabbit resistance. Welcome to the world of Super Plants, where today’s hybridizers are creating amazing plants that defy what many horticulturists thought was possible. By Abby Lapides Elliott (This article was first published in The Gateway Gardener April 2015 issue) Endless-blooming perennials. Jurrasic-sized ferns. Built-in deer and rabbit resistance. Welcome to the world

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Purple Coneflower: Made for the Shade

A photo of purple coneflower

A common misconception about purple coneflower is that they are sun-worshiping prairie dwellers. Not so. In nature they grow in the woods, open woods that is, or savannas where the trees are widely spaced, limbs are high and only patchy-filtered sunlight reaches the ground floor. By Scott Woodbury [This photo was original published in The Gateway Gardener June 2015 issue.]

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Daylilies–From Dips to Tets, History and Trends

An image of Daylily 'August Frost'.

If you’re looking for durable reliable perennials that are easy to care for and offer a variety of flower colors and forms, you should consider daylilies. By Barbara Perry Lawton [This article was first published in The Gateway Gardener July/August 2012 issue.] If you’re looking for durable reliable perennials that are easy to care for and offer a variety of

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Peony Power

A photo of Peony 'Show Opener'

Among spring’s glories are peonies. The flowers are beautiful. The fragrance is spectacular. A plus in our region is that they are not eaten by deer. By Barbara Perry Lawton Photos courtesy Klehm’s Song Sparrow Farm and Nursery (This article was first published in The Gateway Gardener May 2014 issue) Among spring’s glories are peonies. The flowers are beautiful. The

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Outstanding Perennials for Landscape Success

A picture of Allium 'Millennium'

The pace of new perennial introductions by plant explorers and breeders each year is almost staggering.  What is a herbaceous perennial enthusiast to do?  Is NEW always improved? How does the “latest and greatest” compare to the traditional tried and true? By Bill Ruppert, photos courtesy Walters Gardens, Inc., www.perennialresource,com unless otherwise credited. [An abbreviated version of this article appeared

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Hellebores and ‘Hazels

a photo of Helleborus Brandywine Mix

As winter loosens it’s grip on Mother Nature and days are brighter and longer, I look forward to my Christmas Rose, or hellebores. By Steffie Littlefield [This article was first published in The Gateway Gardener Magazine, January/February 2012] As winter loosens it’s grip on Mother Nature and days are brighter and longer, I look forward to my Christmas Rose, or

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