(Horseradish)

This hardy, coarse, deep-rooted perennial is the source of horseradish, the familiar, fiery condiment. It grows as a clump of large, toothed, puckered, dark-green leaves on long stems arising from a fleshy root that divides vigorously into offshoots and sends out tunneling stems to start new plants with such vigor that one plant soon becomes many. Unless dug out regularly, the new plants can become invasive pests. Even a tiny fragment of root left in the ground will grow a new plant.

From late...

(Chokeberry)

(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...

(Artemisia, Huntington Wormwood)

For billowing masses of silvery foliage, the sheer size of this evergreen shrub does the job. It is a hybrid of Artemisia absinthum a native of Europe and temperate Asia. The oil-rich aromatic foliage was prized in the old herb garden, and the plant was cultivated as pesticide, worm tonic and ingredient of the drink, absinthe. This hybrid offers soft texture and less finely divided leaves with slightly thickened margins. Long grayish yellow flower heads are produced in late summer but offer...

(Powis Castle Wormwood, Wormwood)

When it comes to super silver foliage nothing performs like ‘Powis Castle’!

This distinctive wormwood is a large, semi-woody, mound-forming, deciduous perennial. From spring to fall it offers feathery silver leaves that partner well with many other flowering ornamentals. In late summer insignificant silver and yellow tinged panicles of blooms may appear, though ‘Powis Castle’ often does not flower. If blooms do appear simply remove them to keep the distinctive soft textured foliage neat looking....

(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...

(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...

(Silver King Sagebrush, Western Mugwort, White Sagebrush)

Silver King western mugwort is a compact clump-forming, herbaceous perennial native to western North America, including Mexico. The lance shaped, white and woolly leaves turn an impressive red in autumn. Leave edges are mildly waved and curved. It also tends to bear more of the smaller male flowers in late summer.

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.