(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,...

(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...

(Moccasin Flower, Pink Lady's Slipper, Pink Ladyslipper Orchid)

Mid- and late spring brings out moccasin flower's rosy pink flower with brown sepals. A ground-dwelling (terrestrial) orchid that is an herbaceous perennial, this beauty grows from a rhizome (underground stem). This is a highly variable species, depending on where in North America it originates; and it readily hybridizes with other lady's slipper species. The native range is large: from Alaska southward across the lower half of Canada as well as the Rocky Mountains of the United States and a large...

(Broom, Lena Broom)

Lena broom is lower growing and less aggressive than its Scotch broom cousins. Broom is a semi-evergreen shrub that is valued for its profusion of large, fragrant, pea flowers and named for its numerous, bright green, upright and arching branches and stems that resemble sweeping-brooms. This cultivar produces sprays of lemony-yellow flowers with ruby red from mid-spring through mid-summer that are highly attractive to bees. The flowers turn to hairy-edged green pods in fall, then mature to black...

(Broom, Paulette Broom)

Broom is a deciduous shrub that is valued for its profusion of large, fragrant pea flowers and named for its numerous, bright green, upright stems and branches that resemble sweeping-brooms. The hybrid selection 'Palette' bears sprays of showy pink, red, and yellow flowers in late spring, attracting bees.

Broom is very drought tolerant and needs a well-drained sandy soil, but will tolerate other types as long as it never becomes soggy. Plant as a specimen in mixed borders, or use as a hedge...

(Scotch Broom)

Scotch broom is a deciduous shrub native to Europe but naturalized in the western United States and other areas outside its native range. It is known for its profusion of large, fragrant pea flowers and named for its numerous, bright green, upright-arching branches and stems that resemble sweeping brooms. Sprays of flowers in shades of yellow, creamy white, red and burgundy appear from mid- to late spring, attracting bees. Hairy-edged olive-green seed pods ripen in fall, then turn black in winter....

(Burkwood's Broom, Scotch Broom)

Scotch broom is a deciduous shrub native to Europe but naturalized in the western United States and other areas outside its native range. It is known for its profusion of large, fragrant, pea flowers and named for its numerous, bright green, upright-arching branches and stems that resemble sweeping-brooms. Burkwood's broom is a fast grower that produces sprays of yellow and rose shaded flowers that mature to burgundy from late spring to early summer. It is highly attractive to bees. Hairy-edged...

(Scotch Broom)

Scotch broom is a deciduous shrub native to Europe but naturalized in the western United States and other areas outside its native range. It is known for its profusion of large, fragrant pea flowers and named for its numerous, bright green, upright-arching branches and stems that resemble sweeping brooms. Sprays of flowers in shades of yellow, creamy white, red and burgundy appear from mid- to late spring, attracting bees. Hairy-edged olive-green seed pods ripen in fall, then turn black in winter....