(Curagua, Pineapple)

A close relative of the commercial pineapple, curagua is distinguished by its rosette of stiff, smooth, slender red-bronze leaves and its pretty inedible fruit. This evergreen terrestrial bromeliad is from northern South America. Throughout the growing season it bears purple-white flowers and small, red, pineapple-like fruits on a stalk that arises from the center of the leaf rosette.

Curagua needs well-drained soil and full to partial sun. Insufficient sunlight will result in dull green rather...

(Dwarf Pineapple, Piñita, Pink Pineapple)

Curious as a tropical plant, the miniature pineapple's small fruit is edible, but usually no larger than that of a chicken egg. Native to northern Brazil to Suriname, this is a tender perennial bromeliad that grows as a spider-like rosette.

Long, stiff grayish green leaves lined in sharp spines, looking and piercing skin like curving swords. Healthy two-year old plants send up a tall, slender flower stalk from the center of the leaf rosette in spring's warmth. Atop this stalk is a rounded mass...

(Italian Bugloss)

A lovely perennial for sunny, well-drained gardens, Italian bugloss has branched stems covered with numerous rich royal blue flowers that will attract bees. Its green to gray-green leaves are covered with coarse hairs and are long and linear.

These plants are adapted to dry climates and require little to no water once established, so they thrive where summers are long and hot. Place in moist, well-draining soils in full sun and avoid excessive winter moisture to prevent the basal plants from...

(Italian Bugloss)

A lovely perennial for sunny, well-drained gardens, Italian bugloss has branched stems covered with numerous rich royal blue flowers that will attract bees. Its green to gray-green leaves are covered with coarse hairs and are long and linear.

These plants are adapted to dry climates and require little to no water once established, so they thrive where summers are long and hot. Place in moist, well-draining soils in full sun and avoid excessive winter moisture to prevent the basal plants from...

(Bog Rosemary)

Bog rosemary is a low, narrow-leaved, evergreen shrub inhabiting peat bogs throughout the upper Northern Hemisphere. Its dainty, white or pink, lantern-shaped flowers occur in clusters in late spring and early summer.

Several cultivars of bog rosemary are available. All require acid, moist soil and shelter from hot sun. They are splendid in a bog garden, rock garden, or combined with heaths, dwarf rhododendrons, and other acid-loving plants.

(Blue Ice Bog Rosemary, Bog Rosemary)

Bog rosemary is a low, narrow-leaved, evergreen shrub inhabiting peat bogs throughout the upper Northern Hemisphere. Its cultivar 'Blue Ice' has striking silvery blue-green leaves, and bears pale dainty, pale-pink, lantern-shaped flowers in late spring and early summer.

This shrub requires acidic, moist, but not waterlogged, soil and shelter from hot sun. It is splendid in a bog garden, rock garden, or combined with heaths, dwarf rhododendrons, and other acid-loving plants.

(Bog Rosemary, Dwarf Bog Rosemary)

Bog rosemary is a low, narrow-leaved, evergreen shrub inhabiting peat bogs throughout the upper Northern Hemisphere. Selected for its relatively compact habit, the cultivar 'Nana' also features a late-spring and early-summer display of dainty, pale-pink, lantern-shaped flowers. It requires acid, moist, but not waterlogged soil, and shelter from hot sun. It is splendid in a bog garden, rock garden, or combined with heaths, dwarf rhododendrons, and other acid-loving plants.

(Big Bluestem, Turkey Foot)

Big bluestem is an rugged, clump-forming perennial grass that makes a dense clump of leaves and tall flower stalks topped with distinctive seedheads in autumn. Native to a vast range across North America, from southern Canada to northern Mexico, it has become quite rare in the western United States.

The blue-green stems and green leaves are relatively short throughout the summer, but with the onset of fall, the stems lengthen as the flowers emerge. Silvery-red or red-purple in color, the tiny...

(Bushy Beardgrass, Bushy Bluestem, Bushy Broom Grass)

Exceptionally showy in flower and once dried in autumn and winter, the fluffy and broom-like seed heads of bushy bluestem are worth inclusion in any garden. An upright, clumping perennial grass native to Central America and the West Indies, it will reseed itself in the landscape especially if soils are moist.

The upright grassy foliage is bluish green and semi-evergreen in very mild winter regions. From late summer to late winter, depending on climate, upright plumes of silvery white to light...

(Broomsedge, Broomsedge Bluestem)

Broomsedge bluestem is a perennial, clump-forming warm-season grass that sends up seedstalks topped with coarse seedheads in autumn. Itis native to the dry fields and open woodlands of the eastern United States. Autumnal frosts and sunshine will turn the entire plant a warm, orange-tan or brown, and the small hairs of the seeds are stunning when the glow in low-angle sunlight. Skipper butterflies lay their eggs on the grass's leaves, and birds eat and spread the seeds, which sprout readily, making...