(False Indigo, Leadplant)

Grayish light green feathery leaves on leadplant are a nice foil for the dark purple flowers in late summer and early fall. A rounded shrub that is deciduous when winters are very harsh, it is native from the hills and prairies of southern Canada to the south central United States. It was given its common name when it was believed to be an indicator of soils containing lead.

The fragrant leaves are pinnately compound - looking like a feather with ten to twenty pairs of tiny grayish and fuzzy...

(Bastard Indigo, Desert False Indigo)

Although having lovely green foliage, the desert false indigo's habit find few gardeners in love with it. The blue-violet to indigo colored flower spikes occur in midsummer. A spreading but also upright, rather unkempt deciduous shrub, it is native to a wide expanse of the eastern United States and southcentral Canada as well as in moister canyons and steamsides in the southwest America deserts. Often considered weedy, it is a tough, durable plant.

The pleasant bright green leaves are made up...

(Devil's Tongue, Elephant Yam, Konjac)

A bizarre, summer-growing plant with with a large smelly inflorescence and an immense, waxy and fleshy leaf and stalk, this tuberous perennial is native from China to Indonesia. The maroon, funnel-shaped spathe emerges in spring on a tall wrist-thick stem that bears snakeskin-like marbling. The spear-shaped purple spadix protrudes from the spathe. The highly dissected dark green leaf arises on a mottled stem after the flowers collapse.

Plant devil's tongue in a fertile, well drained soil in partial...

(Peppervine)

(Peppervine)

The unusual violet berries of this hardy woody vine really stand out in the fall. Peppervine is native to regions across the southern United States. It is rarely cultivated due to its aggressive and rampant growth habit.

Considered by many to be a weed, this deciduous vine is extremely adaptable to most growing conditions. It is fast growing and short-lived. The shiny compound leaves emerge red, turn green and then change to bright red in fall. Loose clusters of berries appear in summer. These...

(Amur Peppervine, Porcelain Vine)

This vigorous, deciduous woody vine is grown for its attractive foliage and colorful loose clusters of porcelain blue berries. The berries progress in color as they age, from green to pink, then turquoise blue and violet. It is extremely adaptable to most growing conditions and quite forgiving when transplanted. Suitable support is necessary for this rapid climber from northeastern Asia.

Porcelain vine grows well in any well-drained moist soil. A sunny or partially shade site is best. Be aware...

(Amur Peppervine)

Asian in origin, the porcelain vine is a vigorous, deciduous woody vine grown for its attractive foliage and colorful loose clusters of porcelain blue berries. The berries progress in color as they age, from green to pink, then turquoise blue and violet. This natural variety's foliage can be quite variable, with long leaves that have gentle or deep lobes.

Porcelain vine grows well in any well-drained moist soil. A sunny or partially shade site is best. Be aware that this vine is aggressive and...

(Amur Peppervine, Porcelain Vine, Variegated Porcelain Berry)

The lobed green foliage of this interesting porcelain berry is mottled with white and pink. This vigorous, deciduous woody vine is also grown for its loose clusters of porcelain blue berries that appear in summer. The berries progress in color as they age, from green to pink, then turquoise blue and violet. It is extremely adaptable to most growing conditions and quite forgiving when transplanted. Suitable support is necessary for this rapid climber from northeastern Asia.

Porcelain vine grows...

(Blue Ice Bluestar, Bluestar)

This is one of the best bluestars for the garden. Discovered at White Flower Farm in Connecticut, 'Blue Ice' is a dwarf hybrid that is believed to be a cross between among Amsonia tabernaemontana and Amsonia montana. It is a heavy-flowering, vigorous selection that looks good even after it has stopped blooming.

In spring this bushy perennial puts forth stems lined with linear green leaves that become covered with loose clusters of blue starry flowers. These are highly attractive...

(Hubricht's Bluestar)

This plant is beautiful in spring, summer and fall. Hubricht's bluestar is a clump-forming herbaceous perennial grown for both its beautiful flowers and foliage. This native of Arkansas and Oklahoma is tough, clump-forming and can become quite large over time.

In spring, clusters of five-petaled starry pale blue flowers appear with the first foliage. The dense upright stems are densely lined with very fine green leaves. These offer a soft ferny appearance to the garden throughout the rest...