(Chinese Forget-Me-Not, Summer Forget-Me-Not)

Prized for its summer-long display of azure flowers, this short-lived tender perennial from East Asia is typically grown as an annual or biennial.

Dense clumps of felted, gray-green, lance-shaped to oval leaves give rise to one-sided sprays of small, five-lobed, sky-blue flowers on calf- to knee-high stems. Flowering begins in early spring or 2 months after sowing, continuing as long as temperatures remain mild. Small, bristly, bur-like fruits follow the flowers. Self-sowing often occurs, sometimes...

(Chinese Forget-Me-Not, Summer Forget-Me-Not)

Prized for its summer-long display of azure flowers, 'Blue Shower' is a tall, floriferous, seed-grown selection of Chinese forget-me-not, a short-lived tender perennial from East Asia. It is typically grown as an annual or biennial.

Dense clumps of felted, gray-green, lance-shaped to oval leaves give rise to one-sided sprays of small, five-lobed, sky-blue flowers on knee-high stems. Flowering begins in early spring or 2 months after sowing, continuing as long as temperatures remain mild. Small,...

(Papyrus, Wild Spike Cyperus)

A lovely dwarf version of papyrus, ‘Wild Spike’ offers unique tropical looks indoors or out. This hybrid papyrus straddles the line between a moisture-loving grass and a tropical foliage plant. It is composed of many dark green, leafless stems topped in a spoke-like whorl of long pendulous bracts similar to ribs of an umbrella. With ‘Wild Spike’ these are narrower giving it a fine-textured appearance. Small pale yellow to brown flowers are held just above the bracts in summer. These are not particularly...

(Alternate Papyrus, Umbrella Papyrus, Umbrella Plant)

The bold look of umbrella plant make it a favorite garden plant for moist containers and subtropical pondside gardens. This upright, evergreen, grass-like perennial is native to Madagascar. It spreads steadily by underground rhizomes to form substantial clumps over time, in fact in some areas it has escaped from garden cultivation and is considered invasive.

The chief selling point of this papyrus is its unique, striking foliage. It bears tall, dark green leafless stems topped with a spoke-like...

The bold look of umbrella plant make it a favorite garden plant for moist containers and subtropical pondside gardens. This upright, evergreen, grass-like perennial is native to Madagascar. It spreads steadily by underground rhizomes to form substantial clumps over time, in fact in some areas it has escaped from garden cultivation and is considered invasive.

The chief selling point of this papyrus is its unique, striking foliage. It bears tall, dark green leafless stems topped with a spoke-like...

The bold look of umbrella plant make it a favorite garden plant for moist containers and subtropical pondside gardens. This upright, evergreen, grass-like perennial is native to Madagascar. It spreads steadily by underground rhizomes to form substantial clumps over time, in fact in some areas it has escaped from garden cultivation and is considered invasive.

The chief selling point of this papyrus is its unique, striking foliage. It bears tall, dark green leafless stems topped with a spoke-like...

(Nut Sedge, Yellow Nut Sedge)

Gardeners who have run across this noxious perennial or annual weed know just how obnoxious it is. Nut sedge spreads aggressively if allowed to take hold because it's tough as nails and spreads via fast-growing rhizomes (underground roots and stems). To make matters worse, it also produces tuberous nutlets that remain behind when the weed is pulled and grow into whole new plants. This pervasive weed can be found in North Temperate and subtropical regions across the globe, so most will meet up with...

(Flatsedge, Hardy Papyrus)

Though some argue flat sedge looks a bit like nut sedge on steroids, this fast-growing sedge can make a pleasing garden statement if planted in a moist container or enclosed garden space among colorful garden flowers. Native populations are found in southeastern Europe, along the Caucasus Mountains and down into Syria, Israel and Pakistan. Flat sedge grows best in moist soils but will tolerate those with average moisture.

The bright green, grassy foliage of hardy papyrus has a distinct triangular...

(Miniature Papyrus)

African in origin, miniature papyrus is a super compact sedge adapted to moist ground and riversides. This evergreen tender perennial is best suited to containers and lowland gardens, and even though it's only hardy to zone 9 it can be grown as an annual in areas with cold winters.

This compact papyrus forms bunches of pinwheel-like floral heads and foliage. The arching stems are topped with fine green bracts. When weather is warm and accommodating, green and reddish brown spikelets of flowers...

(Japanese Hollyfern, Japanese Netvein Hollyfern)

Japanese holly fern is an evergreen to deciduous fern with fronds that are glossy and dark green with toothed edges resembling holly. Large spore structures are visible on the undersides of fronds.

Grow in average to fertile, moist but well-drained soil with humus in shade or part shade. Make sure not to plant too deeply. Where evergreen, Japanese Holly fern makes a rich, green groundcover in winter and summer. Holly fern is also an interesting specimen plant and makes an excellent houseplant....