(Congo Pea, Gungo Pea)

A plant of many uses, Congo pea is grown in developing countries as a source of food, fiber, animal forage and green manure. It’s a shrubby, short-lived perennial able to thrive in drier locations due to its extensive, deep taproot. Like many old crops, Congo pea no longer exists in the wild. It has been long-cultivated in Africa but is believed to have originated from India and introduced to Africa thousands of years ago via old trade routes.

The fast growing and free branching Congo pea...

(Angel Wings, Carolyn Whorton Caladium)

Carolyn Whorton caladium is a tender tropical perennial plant grown from tubers. This plant is grown for its large, showy, variegated, colorful leaves that dark green edges, mottled pink spots in the center and obvious red midribs. It is considered a "fancy leaf" type with its more delicate heart-shaped leaf.

Grow Carolyn Whorton in part sun to part shade in fertile, moist, well-drained soil. The more sun this cultivar receives, the more moisture that should be provided to the roots. It can...

(Feather Reed Grass, Foxtail Grass)

Feather reed grass is a compact, perennial ornamental grass grown for its tidy clumps of bright green grassy foliage and fuzzy whitish pink seedheads, which bloom from late summer to early fall. The foliage becomes yellowed in fall and then tan in the winter on this native of western and central Asia. The seedheads become tan as they mature and tend to crumble by early winter.

Grow feather reed grass in average, moderately moist to wet soil; it is one of the few ornamental grasses that will survive...

(Cape Mendocino Reedgrass, Leafy Reedgrass)

Cape Mendocino reedgrass, native to the northern coast of California (considered rare), is a compact, perennial grass grown for its graceful blue-green, grassy foliage and arching sprays of cream seedheads which bloom in the spring and summer. Because this grass blooms so early, it provides a beautiful contrast with the foliage. It retains its foliage color and seedheads into the winter for added late season interest.

Grow Cape Mendocino reedgrass in dappled sun to full sun in well-drained, acidic,...

(Feather Reed Grass)

This classic ornamental grass offers a desirable upright habit and has sterile blooms so no need to worry about weediness. It is a cross between Calamagrostis arundinacea and C. epigejos.

Feather reed grass is a hardy perennial with bright green narrow blades forming a neat upright clump. In summer, upright panicles of silvery-purple flowers are held well above the plant, giving it an airy appearance. The flowers and foliage turn a golden wheat color in the fall and maintain...

(Avalanche Feather Reed Grass, Feather Reed Grass)

This variegated ornamental grass offers a desirable upright habit and has sterile blooms so need to worry about weediness. It is a cross between Calamagrostis arundinacea and C. epigejos.

Feather reed grass is a hardy clump-forming perennial with bright green narrow blades with a narrow white stripe down the center of each. In summer, upright panicles of silvery-purple flowers are held well above the plant, giving it an airy appearance. The flowers and foliage turn a golden...

(Feather Reed Grass, Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass)

Feather reed grass is an evergreen perennial ornamental grass with bright green narrow leaves forming an upright clump. In summer, 'Karl Foerster' has panicles of bronze-pink flowers that are held well above the plant, giving it an airy appearance. The flowers and foliage turn gold in the fall and stay that way through winter.

Plant 'Karl Foerster' in any site with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight; it should be sheared to the ground in late winter. The inflorescences hold up well in fresh and...

(Feather Reed Grass, Overdam Feather Reed Grass)

Feather reed grass is an evergreen perennial ornamental grass with bright green variegated leaves forming an upright but somewhat loose clump. In summer, 'Overdam' has panicles of pinkish-green flowers that are held well above the plant, giving it an airy appearance. The flowers and foliage turn gold in the fall and stay that way through winter.

This grass should be sited in some sun and tolerates any soil; it should be sheared to the ground in late winter. The inflorescences hold up well in...

(Feather Reed Grass, Upright Feather Reedgrass)

Feather reed grass is an evergreen perennial ornamental grass with bright green narrow leaves forming an upright clump. In summer, 'Stricta' has panicles of greenish bronze-pink flowers that are held well above the plant, giving it an airy appearance. The flowers and foliage turn gold in the fall and stay that way through winter. It is slightly later blooming when compared to cultivar 'Karl Foerster'.

Cultivar 'Stricta' must be planted in a full to partial sun locale in practically any soil; it...

(Large-flowered Calamint)

Packing a punch in foliage aroma and floral display, large-flowered calamint is a spectacular perennial. Native to southern Europe eastward into the Crimea, Turkey and Iran, it is a bushy, rounded or mounded plant. Its leaves are medium-green above, gray-green below, and bear tiny hairs. The scent released from the leaves is a delicious blend of sweet fruit with lemon and mint. In midsummer this perennial displays hundreds of bright pink (with lavender hints), tubular flowers at the tops of the many...