(Japanese Pincushion Flower)

Scabiosa japonica var. alpina is a hardy, short lived perennial native to uplands of Japan. From summer to early fall, it bears intricate, lacy, pale violet-blue flowerheads on compact wiry stems over glossy green, narrowly divided leaves. It prefers sun and well-drained soil. Although relatively short-lived, it still earns a place in the butterfly garden or mixed border for its lovely flowers and extended bloom season. It makes a good contrast to coarser-leaved perennials.

(Dove Pincushions, Japanese Pincushion Flower, Ritz Blue Pincushion Flower)

Scabiosa japonica var. alpina is a hardy, short lived perennial native to uplands of Japan. From summer to early fall, its cultivar 'Ritz Blue' bears intricate, lacy, pale violet-blue flowerheads on compact wiry stems over glossy green, narrowly divided leaves. It prefers sun and well-drained soil. Although relatively short-lived, it still earns a place in the butterfly garden or mixed border for its lovely flowers and extended bloom season. It makes a good contrast to coarser-leaved perennials....

(Dusty Miller, Silver Ragwort)

Dusty miller is one of the great foliage fillers for sunny containers, beds and borders. Its soft, ferny, silvery white leaves compliment almost everything. Though commonly planted as an annual in temperate regions, this Mediterranean native is actually an evergreen perennial. In the second year, small golden daisies appear in summer.

Excellent drought and heat tolerance are two of the more desirable features of this sustainable bedding plant. It grows best in sites with full sun and well-drained...

(Dusty Miller, Silver Ragwort)

Dusty miller is one of the great foliage fillers for sunny containers, beds and borders. Its soft, ferny, silvery white leaves compliment almost everything. Though commonly planted as an annual in temperate regions, this Mediterranean native is actually an evergreen perennial. In the second year, small golden daisies appear in summer.

Excellent drought and heat tolerance are two of the more desirable features of this sustainable bedding plant. It grows best in sites with full sun and well-drained...

(Dusty Miller, Silver Dust Dusty Miller, Silver Ragwort)

Dusty miller is one of the great foliage fillers for sunny containers, beds and borders. The cultivar 'Silver Dust' is admired for its particularly fine, ferny, silvery white leaves that compliment almost everything. Though commonly planted as an annual in temperate regions, this Mediterranean native is actually an evergreen perennial. In the second year, small golden daisies appear in summer. Dusty miller is drought tolerant and prefers sites with full sun and well drained average soil. It takes...

(Dusty Miller, Silver Dust Dusty Miller, Silver Ragwort)

Dusty miller is one of the great foliage fillers for sunny containers, beds and borders. The cultivar 'Silver Dust' is admired for its particularly fine, ferny, silvery white leaves that compliment almost everything. Though commonly planted as an annual in temperate regions, this Mediterranean native is actually an evergreen perennial. In the second year, small golden daisies appear in summer. Dusty miller is drought tolerant and prefers sites with full sun and well drained average soil. It takes...

(Lemon Thyme)

Talk about a great culinary thyme! Lemon thyme is an attractive, wonderfully flavorful perennial herb with a low, spreading, bushy habit. From early to midsummer it bears many small, rounded clusters of pale lilac flowers that become thronged by bees. Its tiny, oval, evergreen leaves are dark green and smell of citrus and thyme when bruised. These can be harvested throughout the season and combine well with fish, poultry, and vegetables. It is a cross between the European species Thymus pulegioides...

(Wooly Thyme)

The tiny, gray-green, wooly leaves of this fragrant herb are soft and appealing. Wooly thyme is a mat-forming perennial that originates from regions in Europe, North Africa and Asia. In early to midsummer these soft, subdued plants produce small clusters of light pink flowers.

Thyme is tolerant of heat and drought and grows best in full sun and sandy, well drained, infertile soil. This species is not as aggressive as other thymes and looks great when planted between stepping stones, in containers,...

(Tulip)

What would spring be without tulips? The diversity of color, texture and interest of these hardy blooming bulbs is unparalleled in the early perennial border. They may flower in early, mid or late spring, depending on the cultivar, and are distinguished by six showy petals/tepals that curve upward to form a cup.

Tulips have a long, rich cultivation history, but were intensively hybridized and perfected by the Dutch starting in the 16th century. There are approximately 100 species and hundreds...

(Lady Tulip, Species Tulip)

Lady tulip is a herbaceous bulb native to Central Asia and naturalized across southern Europe. In spring, it bears elegantly pointed white or yellow flowers with vertical bands of red, purple, or pink on its outer petals/tepals. Several distinct cultivars are available, such as 'Cynthia', which has butter yellow flowers with rose marks on the outer tepals.

Provide this tulip with full sun and average to fertile soil with good drainage. It is one of the few tulips that naturalizes well and thrives...