Podcast: Let's Argue About Plants

Episode 14: Our Holiday Wish List

December 15, 2017

Have you ever wished that Santa shopped exclusively at the nursery? Us too.

On this special holiday edition of the LAAP podcast, we’re talking about which plants (and miscellaneous garden items—think piles of self-spreading mulch) are on our wish list for next year. We’ll cover some new offerings, some oldies but goodies, and expert Jared Barnes even throws in an edible that he claims no garden should be without.

Expert: Jared Barnes, assistant professor of horticulture at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, TX.

Danielle decided to steal Steve’s Amsonia  thunder this week and feature a newer cultivar, ‘Storm Cloud’ (Amsonia tabernaemontana ‘Storm Cloud’, Zones 3-9) which features black stems and silver-veining on the leaves.

Steve hates being blasted by sun when he’s doing dishes (no, seriously, he really does do dishes) in his kitchen, so he wants to plant a shadblow (Amelanchier canadensis and cvs., Zones 4-8) to help shade that side of his house.

Since the sedum variety she wants is apparently ugly as sin (way to be a dream killer, Steve) Danielle is willing to settle for ‘Midnight Masquerade’ penstemon (Penstemon 'Midnight Masquerade', Zones 3-8) instead. It’s hard to argue with that beautiful, chocolate foliage.

Silver sage (Salvia argentea, Zones 5-8) is a bold, textural wonder. Or, you could describe it like Steve as, “looking like a hobbit’s foot.” The previous description seems a bit more accurate.

Every garden should have asparagus according to this episode’s expert, Jared Barnes. It’s so tough, it survives along the side of highways across the country and its diaphanous flower plumes are striking. The best part about asparagus? You can eat it.

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