(Harvard Agave, Harvard's Century Plant)

The dense blue-green rosettes of Harvard's century plant are dramatic and structurally interesting in the landscape. This all-American native naturally exists in the David Mountains located in western Texas. It is an unusually hardy species that can withstand periods of freezing as long as growing conditions remain dry, particularly at the root zone.

The blue-green fleshy leaves of this century plant are large, cupped and heavily spined along the margins. The sharp black leaf tips are particularly...

(Lechuguilla, Shin Dagger)

Native all the way to central Canada (as well as to much of the rest of central and western North America), this prickly pear dispels the myth that cacti are only for warm climates. It is a ground-hugging, mat-forming species bearing small, cylindrical or flattened, spiny pads that are specially adapted to survive beneath snow or dead prairie grass. Although they appear to be succulent leaves, the pads are in fact swollen stem segments (but are treated as leaves in the following description of characteristics)....

(Utah Agave, Utah Century Plant)

The unusually hardy Agave utahensis is a largely high desert perennial with dramatic, structurally interesting foliage. It is naturally found in scrubby rocky spots of the Mojave and Upper Sonoran deserts, from California to Utah. Its sharp spiny rosettes are formidable with grayish brown terminal spines at the tips of the dagger-like leaves. It can withstand periods of freezing as long as growing conditions remain dry.

The gray-green fleshy leaves of this century plant are straight...

(Kaibab Agave, Utah Century Plant)

This beautiful subspecies of Agave utahensis naturally grows on the rocky limestone slopes of the Kaibab Plateau of northern Arizona. It forms a pleasing rosette of narrow darker green lanceolate leaves making it well-suited for rock garden culture.

The unusually hardy Agave utahensis is a largely high desert perennial with dramatic, structurally interesting foliage. It is naturally found in scrubby rocky spots of the Mojave and Upper Sonoran deserts, from California to Utah....

(Agrimony)

(Common Agrimony)

(Tree-of-Heaven)

Those who know this tree know it is anything but heavenly. Tree-of-heaven is a pervasive, aggressive, fast-growing weed tree with an extensive root system that’s notorious for damaging mortar and building foundations. The roots also emit a chemical that reduces growth and seed germination of other plants growing nearby. Tree-of-heaven originates from China and Taiwan, but has become naturalized in temperate areas across the globe. Specimens are weak-wooded, short-lived and develop a broad, arching...

(Creeping Pacific Chrysanthemum, Pacific Chrysanthemum)

Pacific chrysanthemum is a low spreading perennial with attractive deep green silver-edged foliage. It is native to Japan where it exists along the Honshu Island coastline and slopes. It spreads via rhizomes and can become quite aggressive if grown in good soil and provided regular water.

In the late fall Pacific chrysanthemum becomes covered with attractive clusters of bright yellow button-like flowers. Once spent, these can be cut back to make best of the pretty evergreen to semi-evergreen...

(Creeping Pacific Chrysanthemum, Pacific Chrysanthemum)

The pretty gold flowers of ‘Mimosa Gold’ Pacific chrysanthemum light up the late season garden. This compact cultivar has a uniform habit and is very easy to grow.

Pacific chrysanthemum is a spreading perennial with attractive deep green silver-edged foliage. It originates from Japan where it exists along exposed coastline and slopes. It spreads via rhizomes and can become quite aggressive if grown in good soil and provided regular water, though cultivars in the Mimosa Series spread more slowly....

(Creeping Pacific Chrysanthemum, Pacific Chrysanthemum)

The pretty pink flowers of ‘Mimosa Pink’ Pacific chrysanthemum are a welcome change from the standard yellow-flowered form. This compact cultivar has a uniform habit and is very easy to grow.

Pacific chrysanthemum is a spreading perennial with attractive deep green silver-edged foliage. It originates from Japan where it exists along exposed coastline and slopes. It spreads via rhizomes and can become quite aggressive if grown in good soil and provided regular water, though cultivars in the Mimosa...