(Cast Iron Plant, Variegated Cast Iron Plant)

Variegated cast iron plant is an evergreen perennial with upright blade-like, glossy, dark green leaves with cream-white striations. Its coarse foliage produces a bold, tropical effect year-round in warm climates or as a houseplant in cold climates.

Plant outdoors as a groundcover in deep shade in average, well drained, sandy soils or indoors in containers. Water and fertilize regularly in the summer growing season. Over-fertilization leads to diminished leaf variegation.

(Floralee Mother Fern, Mother Fern)

This bright green fern is identical to its parent species except that it’s more cold hardy, and may be grown at the low end of its zone rating. The parent is native to New Zealand and Australia and is called mother fern because young plantlets form along the fronds, detach over time (or early if disturbed), fall to the ground and root, eventually forming colonies. Plantlets are genetically identical to the mother plant. This is a symmetrical open center fern with long fronds that become weighted...

(Mother Fern)

Mother fern is an evergreen or semi-evergreen in its native Australia and New Zealand habitats. It has long, finely divided fronds slightly over an arm's length-long. Young plantlets form along its midrib that drop off and can be easily transplanted. It can form large colonies from these either in the ground, upon fallen logs, inbetween stones or on large tree roots.

Mother fern needs a moist and friable soil with organic matter. Bright indirect light and an acidic soil is ideal for this plant....

(Bird's Nest Fern)

This tender evergreen fern from the Old World tropics is a classic houseplant. In its native habitat it is usually epiphytic, growing in trees. In cultivation, however, it also takes well to containers or garden beds. The long linear simple leaves are glossy-green with dark midribs and pointed, often furled tips. The leaves form circular rosettes which accumulate organic debris in their hair-lined centers. The spores are borne in rib-like rows on the underside of the leaf. Numerous cultivars and...

(Ebony Spleenwort)

This tough little evergreen fern offers delightful beauty without the need for a specialized environment. Its wide adaptability is proven by its natural range which spans the warmer tropical regions of North America, Africa and the West Indies, and parts of the midwestern U.S.. It asks for porous gritty ground with plenty of humus to keep the roots in an oxygen rich medium. In the wild it’s found on rocky banks and the slopes of river canyons and in woodlands.

Ebony spleenwort was named for an...

(Hart's Tongue Fern)

This uniquely shaped fern was named centuries ago for the resemblance of its strap-shaped fronds to a deer’s tongue. It is native to Europe, preferring limestone seeps and other rocky well-drained forest conditions. Slightly different forms can be found across North America but today these small populations are endangered. It makes a beautiful rosette of upright, solid fronds that are bright green and wavy-edged, a strong contrast to to ferns with feathery fronds. Because ferns are primitive plants...

(Aster, Bonnie Blue Aster)

The bright, lavender-blue daisies of aster ‘Bonnie Blue’ offer a gorgeous contrast to the changing leaves of autumn. Its vivid, yellow-centered blooms smother generous mounds of fine, dark-green foliage in late summer to early fall, and are highly attractive to bees and butterflies.

Provide this perennial with full to part sun and moist, rich, well-drained soils. As with other asters, ‘Bonnie Blue’ is terrific for livening up tired, late-season beds and borders. It looks lovely when combined...

(Aster, Celeste Hardy Aster)

This gorgeous hybrid aster adds richness to the late summer and early fall garden with a profusion of vibrant, violet-blue daisies. Developed by Leon Glicenstein at Yoder Brothers, Inc., ‘Celeste’ is the result of a cross between the species Aster pringlei and Aster novi-belgii. Its bright blossoms are displayed atop generous mounds of fine, deep green foliage, and are highly attractive to bees and butterflies.

Grow this perennial in full to part sun and moderately moist,...

(Aster, Daydream Aster)

This stunning hybrid aster displays a profusion of cool, lavender-blue daisies atop strong, compact plants that will not collapse after heavy rains or irrigation. In cooler weather, the flowers fade to paler blue around the bright yellow centers, creating an appealing “halo” effect. They bloom in late summer to early fall, and are attractive to bees and butterflies.

Provide this perennial with full to part sun and moist, fertile, well-drained soil. As with other asters, ‘Daydream’ is excellent...

(Aster, Pink Mist Aster)

Showy, purple-pink blooms engulf this compact, bushy, mildew-resistant perennial late in the gardening season. This 2009 introduction resulted from a cross between Aster dumosus 'Kassel' and A. novi-belgii 'Jenny'.

This hardy perennial forms dense clumps of compact stems furnished with narrow lance-shaped mildew-resistant leaves. The small, semi-double, yellow-eyed blooms envelop the foliage in late summer and early fall. This sterile hybrid produces no seed.

Provide...