Obedient plant (Physostegia virginiana), or false dragonhead, is a very fun plant that has some very unique qualities. The common name comes from the flowers’ unique pliable nature: the flower heads can be pushed from side to side along the stem, and they will remain wherever they are moved. This makes the plant very useful…
Carolina jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) is a 10- to 20-foot-long, twining evergreen vine native to the southeastern United States. As it is a southern species, in southeastern Pennsylvania it is best to use the cold-hardy variety called ‘Margarita’ and plant it in a location where it will be protected from harsh winter winds. Gelsemium is among…
Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) is an underused deciduous native shrub, but one that is gaining in popularity for a number of reasons. Growing from about 2’ to about 6’ in height, depending on the cultivar, it is a very tough plant able to grow in a wide range of garden conditions. It tolerates pollution, salt,…
The swamp rose mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos) is an upright shrub-like herbaceous perennial that is commonly found in moist areas such as marshes or lake shores. It is a member of the Mallow family, Malvaceae. This plant is unique because of its showy, tropical-looking hibiscus flowers. The flowers are typically a large, beautiful, funnel shape with…
Hubricht’s bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii) is a beautiful clump-forming, herbaceous perennial that has many noteworthy characteristics. It is a member of the Dogbane plant family, or Apocynaceae. One trait expressed by members of this family is a milky/latex sap. Due to this, Hubricht’s bluestar is not preferred by deer. It is known for its elegant powdery…