Fine Gardening – Issue 193

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Featured Articles

Natural Stone and Ground Covers Are a Great Combination

A hardscape is always in season, and Jerry Fritz has created versions of his signature living patio for many happy clients over the years. The concept is deceptively simple: large…
Dry Shade Done Simply

Is it possible to have a great garden in the least hospitable conditions imaginable? Many would say no. That was the challenge a pair of homeowners on Bainbridge Island, Washington,…
Dry Shade Doesn’t Have to Ruin the Party

True, dry shade might be the hardest set of conditions to find plants for. A great many interesting options do exist—including some plants you might be familiar with but just…
Dry Shade Done Simply: Plant IDs

Is it possible to have a great garden in the least hospitable conditions imaginable? This garden designed by Susan Calhoun in Bainbridge Island, Washington makes us say, yes! This stunning…
What Epimediums Need

These plants are pretty easy to maintain once established. A few simple tips will increase your chance of success. Plant in spring or early fall. In colder climates, follow the…
The Best New Plants for 2020: Vegetables

Tops in taste and in trial gardens Name: ‘Alston Everlasting’ cherry tomato Days to maturity: 65 We put a lot of stock into tomatoes that come out on top when…
The Best New Plants for 2020: Trees and Shrubs

Blooms that change colors more often than a chameleon Dandy Man Color Wheel® rhododendron (Rhododendron ‘NCRX1’) Zones: 5–9 Size: 4 to 6 feet tall and wide Conditions: Full sun to…
The Best New Plants of 2020: Annuals

A prettier version of morning glory Name: ‘Sunrise Serenade’ morning glory (Ipomoea × imperialis ‘Sunrise Serenade’) Zones: Annual Size: Vining 8 to 10 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet…
Protecting Your Lilies from the Lily Leaf Beetle

Whether you’re a lily collector, or an enthusiast, or just appreciate the beauty of lilies, you may have heard about an insect that wreaks havoc on them. The lily leaf…
A New Twist on a Fragrant Classic

To truly merit a place in the garden, a plant should be outstanding in at least two of the three golden attributes: color, form, and texture. For years, mock orange…
Splurge Plants Worth Your Time (and Money)

Let’s for a moment dare to dream big. Is there a plant you’d be willing to spend an entire paycheck on? Some folks might call these selections “coveted gems.” We…
Splurge Story | Letter from the Editor

Personally, I can’t connect with our article “Splurge Plants". From what I understand, avid gardeners can go a bit overboard when buying plants. I don’t ever do this, but I…
A Plant Worth Risking Public Embarrassment For

Name: ‘Silver Surfer’ agave (Agave americana ssp. protoamericana ‘Silver Surfer’) Zones: 7b–9 Size: 5 feet tall and 8 feet wide Conditions: Full sun; well-drained soil Native range: Mexico A few…
The Best New Plants of 2020: Perennials

No flopping allowed with this summer-to-fall gem Name: 'Red Riding Hood' Anemone (Anemone ‘Red Riding Hood’) Zones: 5–9 Size: 18 to 24 inches tall and wide Conditions: Full sun to…
Spring Into Summer: 6 Garden-Bed Designs to Try This Year

Every garden should have something going on after spring flowers fade and before the summer show really gets going. But in some gardens, this in-between season is punctuated mainly by…
Explore Edging Options

If everything is going right with your garden, no one should really notice your edging. Instead, they should notice the exquisite lines of your bed and the artful plantings it…
Epimediums: What Your Shade Garden Is Missing

Epimediums have the power to bring me to my knees in early spring. I will gladly muddy my jeans for a glimpse of their slender stems rising through the leaf…
Fragrant Houseplants

By now you should be familiar with my pitch line promoting the therapeutic side of houseplants for anybody who’s stuck indoors for weather-related or other reasons. But beyond what houseplants…
Regional Picks: Early Summer Plant Combo for the Southeast

1. ‘Sun King’ aralia Name: Aralia cordata ‘Sun King’ Zones: 4–8 Size: 3 to 6 feet tall and wide Conditions: Partial shade; moist, fertile, well-drained soil Native range: Japan, Korea,…
Regional Picks: Early Summer Plant Combo for the Southern Plains

1. Red Yucca Hesperaloe parviflora Zones: 5–11 Size: 5 feet tall and 4 feet wide Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; well-drained soil Native range: Southern Texas and northeastern Mexico…
Regional Picks: Early Summer Plant Combo for the Midwest

1. Red Fox katsura tree Name: Cercidiphyllum japonicum ‘Rotfuchs’ Zones: 4–8 Size: 40 to 60 feet tall and 25 to 50 feet wide Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; prefers…
Regional Picks: Early Summer Plant Combo for the Northeast

1. ‘Blue Shadow’ fothergilla Name: Fothergilla × intermedia ‘Blue Shadow’ Zones: 5–8 Size: 4 to 6 feet tall and wide Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; rich, moist soil Native…
Regional Picks: Early Summer Plant Combo for the Northwest

1. ‘All Gold’ Japanese Forest Grass Hakonechloa macra ‘All Gold’ Zones: 5–8 Size: 12 to 15 inches tall and 2 to 3 feet wide Conditions: Partial shade; fertile, well-drained soil…
Regional Picks: Early Summer Plant Combo for the Northern Plains

1. Inland New Jersey Tea Ceanothus herbaceus Zones: 4–8 Size: 2 to 3 feet tall and wide Conditions: Full sun; dry to medium, well-drained soil Native range: Eastern and central…
Regional Picks: Early Summer Plant Combo for the Southwest

1. Transylvanian Salvia Salvia transsylvanica Zones: 5–9 Size: 24 to 30 inches tall and wide Conditions: Full sun; well-drained soil Native range: Northern and central Russia to Romania The world…