(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...

(Purple Chokeberry)

Dainty white flowers dot this shrub's foliage in late spring, followed by astringent deep purple berries in summer and red fall foliage. The purple chokeberry is a thicket-forming upright deciduous shrub from the eastern United States, regarded as a naturally-occurring hybrid between the red chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia) and black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa).

The foliage is green, becoming deep green with a hint of gray because of the sparse hairs on the undersides of...

(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...

(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...

(French Tarragon)

The fragrant leaves of tarragon lend herbal sweetness to vegetables, salads and meats. Native from Europe to western North America, it is a clump-forming, shrubby perennial herb that's sun-loving and quite easy to grow. It is related to wormwood and absinthe and a member of the sunflower family, Asteraceae.

The aromatic, green, strap-like leaves of tarragon appear in spring, when they are at their sweetest. In summer insignificant clusters of yellowish white flowers may be produced. Stems of...

(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.

(Silver Queen White Sagebrush, Western Mugwort, White Sagebrush)

Silver Queen western mugwort is a clump-forming, herbaceous perennial native to western North America, including Mexico. The lance shaped, silvery white leaves are slightly larger than the regular species. These leaves become slighter greener with age. This cultivar does not produce as many of the woolly, yellowish brown flowerheads.

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.