(Chokeberry)

(Black Chokeberry, Black Chokecherry)

Small, pretty white blossoms in spring, orangey fall color and dark purplish-black berries make black chokeberry a great shrub for naturalistic massed plantings. An upright deciduous shrub that suckers to form a thicket of twigs and leaves, it is native to the moist soils of the eastern United States and a thin sliver of southeastern Canada. Individual plants have a cluster of many, thin, dark brown stems that have a white, waxy, semi-flaky film on the smaller, reddish-brown twigs. It is slightly...

(Autumn Magic Black Chokecherry, Black Chokeberry, Black Chokecherry)

With small, pretty white blossoms in spring, 'Autumn Magic' black chokeberry has orange-red to burgundy-tinged fall color and black berries. A compact, upright deciduous shrub that may form a thicket, it is native to the moist soils of the eastern United States and a thin sliver of southeastern Canada. Individual plants have a cluster of many, thin, dark brown stems that have a white, waxy, semi-flaky film on the twigs, which are reddish-brown.

Small clusters of five-petaled white flowers appear...

(Black Chokeberry, Black Chokecherry, Viking Chokeberry)

Small, pretty white blossoms in spring, orangey fall color and dark purplish-black berries make black chokeberry a great shrub for naturalistic massed plantings. An upright deciduous shrub that suckers to form a thicket of twigs and leaves, it is native to the moist soils of the eastern United States and a thin sliver of southeastern Canada. Individual plants have a cluster of many, thin, dark brown stems that have a white, waxy, semi-flaky film on the smaller, reddish-brown twigs. It is slightly...

(Purple Chokeberry)

Dainty white flowers dot this shrub's foliage in late spring, followed by astringent deep purple berries in summer and red fall foliage. The purple chokeberry is a thicket-forming upright deciduous shrub from the eastern United States, regarded as a naturally-occurring hybrid between the red chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia) and black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa).

The foliage is green, becoming deep green with a hint of gray because of the sparse hairs on the undersides of...

(Curlicue Wormwood, Seafoam Wormwood)

This curious silvery-blue perennial, ‘Seafoam,’ is a curlicue sage, so named for the finely divided, plumey, curly leaves that crowd together in distinct bunches like froth on a wave. It is a variety of Artemisia versicolor a plant of unknown origin which is thought to be a dwarf because of its small leaves and density. Low-growing and spreading, ‘Seafoam’ will cascade off rock ledges and over pots and curbs.

Developed mainly for its soft texture and color, ‘Seafoam’ blooms irregularly...

(Absinthe, Wormwood)

Absinth, or wormwood, is a clump forming, woody, perennial that is native to Europe and Asia. The aromatic, hairy, silver gray foliage also bears panicles of insignificant grayish yellow flowers.

This plant is best grown in rich, well drained soil and full sun. It is commonly used as an ingredient in the liquor absinthe and has other medicinal purposes that may be useful for an herb garden. It is also excellent in a rock garden or in the background in a perennial border. It is a lovely companion...

(Absinthe, Variegated Absinthe)

Variegated absinth, or wormwood, is a clump forming, semi-woody, perennial that is native to Europe and Asia. It has a large, shrubby habit and fine, aromatic, silver gray and white foliage. In early summer it bears panicles of insignificant gray-yellow flowers.

This plant is best grown in full sun and average to poor soil with perfect drainage. It is commonly used as an ingredient in the liquor absinthe and has other medicinal purposes, so it is useful in the herb garden. The variegated form...

(French Tarragon)

The fragrant leaves of tarragon lend herbal sweetness to vegetables, salads and meats. Native from Europe to western North America, it is a clump-forming, shrubby perennial herb that's sun-loving and quite easy to grow. It is related to wormwood and absinthe and a member of the sunflower family, Asteraceae.

The aromatic, green, strap-like leaves of tarragon appear in spring, when they are at their sweetest. In summer insignificant clusters of yellowish white flowers may be produced. Stems of...

(Western Mugwort, White Sagebrush)

Western mugwort is a clump-forming, herbaceous perennial native to western North America, including Mexico. The lance shaped, silvery white leaves, become greener with age and bear insignificant, woolly, yellowish brown flowerheads from midsummer to fall.

Western mugwort is often regarded as invasive and grows best in well drained soil and full sun. This plant is used in sunny mixed borders and rock gardens. Cultivars of note include 'Silver King' which is compact and has leaves that turn reddish...