Podcast: Let's Argue About Plants

Episode 60: Why Am I Not Growing This?

Video: Danielle Sherry and Steve Aitken, Edited by Christine Alexander

For years these plants have been on our lists of must-haves—but they have tragically never made it into the garden. Why? Truthfully it’s probably because both Steve and Danielle suffer from short term memory loss and when it comes to buying plants, they are easily distracted. But then something happens, like a visit to a botanic garden, that triggers them to say, “Why am I not growing this?” These are amazing plants that really standout in their season of glory, but sadly, they seem to always get left of the shopping list. Apparently plant guru Andy Pulte can relate because he chimes in with some plants that he’s kicking himself for not planting. Is this a universal thing with gardeners? We think so.

Expert testimony: Andy Pulte is a faculty member in the plant sciences department at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

 

 

 

DANIELLE’S PLANTS

Bush clover (Lespedeza thunbergi and cvs., Zones 4-8)

*mentioned cultivar ‘Gibraltar’

Bear’s breeches (Acanthus mollis and cvs., Zones 6b-10)

Large bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora, Zones 4-9)

Baby cyclamen (Cyclamen hederifolium, Zones 5-9)

 

 

STEVE’S PLANTS

Autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale, Zones 4-8)

Pawpaw (Asimina triloba, Zones 5-9)

Upright wild ginger (Saruma henryi, Zones 4-8)

Winecraft Black® smoke bush (Cotinus ‘NCCO1’, Zones 4-8)

 

 

‘Gibraltar’ bush clover

‘Gibraltar’ bush clover
‘Gibraltar’ bush clover. Photo: Josh McCullough

 

Baby cyclamen

Baby cyclamen
Baby cyclamen

Large bellwort

Large bellwort
Large bellwort

 

Bear’s breeches

Bear’s breeches
Bear’s breeches

 

Autumn crocus

Autumn crocus
Autumn crocus

 

Winecraft Black® smoke bush

Winecraft Black® smoke bush
Winecraft Black® smoke bush. Photo: courtesy of Proven Winners® Color Choice®

 

Pawpaw

Pawpaw
Pawpaw

 

Upright wild ginger

Upright wild ginger
Upright wild ginger

 

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