(Ball Trift, Joystick Ball Thrift, Plantain Thrift, Sea Pink)

Joystick ball thrift is a compact, clump forming herbaceous perennial that originates from the coasts of Portugal. In early to mid summer, upright, leafless stems topped with large clusters of white, ruby-red, bright pink or lilac flowers spring up from dense clumps of medium green foliage. Spent blossoms should be removed to encourage more flowers. This sun-loving ornamental requires well drained average to poor soil. Ball thrift makes a fine addition to rock gardens, border edges, or trough and...

(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...

(Oatgrass)

Arrhenatherum are perennial clump or tuft type grasses that are native to Eurasia, and grow from 9 to 60 inches tall and 12 to 24 inches wide. Used as ornamental grasses and as pasture in agriculture. Most have seed heads that form on top of tall stems, and some ornamental cultivars have variegated leaves.

(Tall Oatgrass)

Tall oatgrass is a perennial tufted grass. It is native to Eurasia but is widely introduced in North America, Hawaii, Australia and New Zealand because it was originally planted as a pasture grass. It is now considered an invasive weed of old fields, prairies and natural meadows.

This prolific grass has medium green blades that are tall, upright, linear and rough to the touch. The inconspicuous pale green or purple flowers are produced in late spring and early summer and resemble oats. Oatgrass...

(Tall Oatgrass)

Bulbous oatgrass is a perennial clump-forming grass and spreads rapidly by round bulb-like corms. It is native to Europe but considered an invasive weed in the western United States. It spreads and quickly escapes beyond the confines of a garden, so most refrain from planting it.

This prolific grass has medium green blades that are short, upright, linear and rough to the touch. The inconspicuous pale green or purple flowers are produced in late spring and early summer and resemble oats.

Bulbous...

(Tall Oatgrass, Variegated Tall Oatgrass)

This variegated grass spreads quickly by small round corms. Its pretty blades are gray-green with white edges.

Bulbous oatgrass is a perennial grass that is native to Europe. It is considered an invasive weed in many parts of the western United States. It spreads and may escape beyond the confines of a garden, so manage it diligently if you plant it.

This prolific grass has green and white blades that are short, upright, linear and rough to the touch. The inconspicuous pale green flowers are...

(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....

(Southernwood)

Southernwood is a deciduous to semi-evergreen shrub that produces fragrant gray green, feathery, foliage. This southern Europe native has panicles of insignificant yellowish gray flowers in late summer.

Southernwood does best in well drained, fertile soil and full sun. In heavy soils the plant will be short lived. The lemon-scented foliage of this plant is of much interest and is a great addition to any shrub border. It has some medicinal purposes and be of use to people with an interest in...