Farm & Garden - Perennials

Lamb's Ears

Mon, 02 Apr 2007 01:00:14 -0600

Stachys byzantina 'Lamb's Ear'
Photo Credit: Tish King

Intro and History

Family: Lamiaceae (lay-mee-AY-see-ay)
Genus: Stachys (STAK-iss)

Common Names: Lamb's Ears, Wooly Betony, Wooly Hedgenettle

Geranium

Mon, 05 Mar 2007 01:00:18 -0700

Geranium 'Brookside'
Photo Credit: Tish King

Geranium 'Brookside'
Photo Credit: Tish King

Intro and History

Family: Geraniaceae

(jer-ay-nee-AY-see-ay)

Genus: Geranium

Common Names: Cranesbill, Hardy Geranium, Perennial Geranium

Botanically speaking, there are geraniums, and then there are true geraniums. The plants commonly known as geraniums, treated as annuals, and frequently used as bedding, are actually of the genus Pelargonium. The "real" geranium is commonly called Hardy Geranium, or Cranesbill because the elongated seed pod is fancied to resemble the bill of a crane. The scientific name comes from the Greek word for crane, geranos.

Geranium - Pelargonium

Mon, 05 Feb 2007 05:00:15 -0700

Geranium – Pelargonium

Family: Geraniaceae

Genus: Pelargonium

Intro/Brief Description

Geranium or not a geranium, that is the question! Fact is, plants used for bedding and basket plants that most people call geraniums actually belong to the genus Pelargonium. For whatever reason, these plants got stuck with the common name of geranium. To make things more confusing, plants in the genus Geranium are commonly called Hardy Geraniums or Cranesbill. Botanically, both groups belong to the same family, the Geraniaceae.

Echinacea

Mon, 01 Jan 2007 02:00:49 -0700

Echinacea

Genus Echinacea

Family Asteraceae

So many times in our present world we hear about Echinacea and its healing properties. Many take it in pill form. Echinacea is one of the most beautiful perennial flowers that can be added to your perennial flower bed.

Examples

There are many genus of Echinacea. Wikipedia lists the following:
• Echinacea angustifolia - Narrow-leaf Coneflower
• Echinacea atrorubens - Topeka Purple Coneflower
• Echinacea laevigata - Smooth Coneflower, Smooth Purple Coneflower
• Echinacea pallida - Pale Purple Coneflower
• Echinacea paradoxa - Yellow Coneflower, Bush's Purple Coneflower
• Echinacea purpurea - Purple Coneflower, Eastern Purple Coneflower
• Echinacea sanguinea - Sanguin Purple Coneflower
• Echinacea simulata - Wavyleaf Purple Coneflower
• Echinacea tennesseensis - Tennessee Coneflower
E. angustsifolia and E. purpurea are the most common varieties grown in the home flower bed.

Achillea

Sun, 03 Dec 2006 22:10:11 -0700

Achillea

Intro/Brief Description

Family: Asteraceae

Genus: Achillea L.

Common Name: Yarrow

The genus was named Achilles from Greek mythology. Achilles' soldiers used yarrow to treat injuries, thus it is also called healall and bloodwort.

Achillea is considered an invasive species in some parts of the United States.

Examples

Achillea tomentosa. Common name - wooly yarrow. Usually a low growing mat averaging 6” in height, though sometimes reaching 12”. This rapidly growing plant can easily become evasive. Pull unwanted seedlings as necessary. Hardy in zones 3-8.

Daylily

Mon, 06 Nov 2006 02:00:50 -0700

H. Fulva 'Tawny'
Photo Credit: Tish King

Daylily

Family: Liliaceae

Genus: Hemerocallis

Intro and History

Hemerocallis (hem-er-o-KAL-is) is the scientific name for daylily. The name is derived from two Greek words for “beauty” and “day”, referring to the fact each beautiful flower lasts only one day. Fortunately for daylily lovers, there are many flower buds on each stalk, and several stalks in each clump of plants, so the flowering period lasts a long time. Also, there are many cultivars that have more than one flowering period.

Hibiscus

Mon, 02 Oct 2006 02:00:00 -0600

Hibiscus moscheutos 'Fireball'
Photo Credit: Tish King

Intro/Brief Description

Hibiscus

Family: Malvaceae

Genus: Hibiscus

Hibiscus belongs to the mallow family, Malvaceae. It is the largest genus with over 200 diverse species of annuals and perennials, shrubs and trees, and thousands of registered cultivars.

The name "hibiscus" comes from hibiskos, the Greek name for the common marsh mallow. Interestingly enough, the marsh mallow is not actually a hibiscus, but a close family member, Althaea officinalis.

Primula

Sun, 03 Sep 2006 23:00:57 -0600

Primula

Family: Primulaceae

Genus: Primula

Intro/Brief Description

Primula comes from the Latin prima which means first. Primula are among the first flowers to bloom in the spring. Its common name is primrose.

There are more than 500 species in this genus. The genus Primula is believed to have originated in many parts of the world including China and France. Species within the genus have originated in many parts of the world. It is a popular house and garden plant in Europe, where many of the species originated in alpine meadows. Although most Primula are perennials there are a few biennials.

Salvia

Sat, 24 Jun 2006 18:22:21 -0600

Sage

Family Lamiaceae

Genus Salvia

Intro/Brief Description

Salvia, or sage, is a 900-species strong genus of the family Laminaceae. It is one of the most versatile, robust and forgiving of border plants. Salvia is valued for its easy cultivation and wide variety of colorful flowers and foliage.

This bushy perennial probably originated in Syria and spread through the world via trade routes. It is also famed for its medicinal properties so it comes as no surprise to learn that it is named for the Latin verb “to heal.” Sage is said to help calm the nerves and soothe ailments of the throat as well as aiding in the digestion of meat. This explains its use as an ingredient in poultry stuffing. American Indians use S. apiana for purification rituals and S. divinorum is famed as an hallucinogen.

Rudbeckia

Sat, 24 Jun 2006 17:56:08 -0600

Rudbeckia

Family Asteraceae

Genus Rudbeckia

Introduction

This great wildflower of North America is among the famous group of wildflowers that inhabit the prairies. The Black Eyed Susans were the first to become domesticated garden flowers. The genus was classified by Linnaeus who chose to name it in honor of his mentor and friend, Olof Rudbeck (1660-1740). There are over 30 species native to America. This species is found in moist meadows of Michigan, south to Missouri and West Virginia. The species was classified by English botanist William Aiton (1731-1793). "Goldsturm" is an old German seed strain that has proven far better under cultivation although it is hotly debated whether there is a difference between R.F. var sullivantii and Goldsturm.

Lavender

Tue, 11 Apr 2006 07:56:26 -0600

Photo Credit:
mooseyscountrygarden.com

Intro/Brief Description

Lavender

Genus: Lavendula

The lavender plant has been known for centuries, and since time immemorial man has used lavender to relax, soothe and refresh.

Ancient medical texts extol its healing powers. It is written that in the Middle Ages people handling lavender never fell victim to the Bubonic Plague.

Poppy

Mon, 20 Feb 2006 14:22:04 -0700

Papaver orientale
Photo Credit:
Wikipedia

Poppy

Family:Papaver

Intro/Brief Description

Poppies in the genus Papaver have a long and storied history. We know they were cultivated as early as 5000 BC in ancient Mesopotamia and they’ve been found in Egyptian tombs. Ancient Greeks viewed wild poppies as a sign of agricultural fertility. Because the seeds can lie dormant for years and grow best when the soil is disturbed or cultivated, Greeks who found them growing wild in their corn fields saw them as an omen of a bountiful corn harvest.

Windflower

Fri, 12 Aug 2005 07:13:51 -0600

Anemone blanda 'Blue Star'
Photo Credit:
Missouri Botanical Garden

Genus: Anemone

Introduction to Windflower

Often referred to as Windflowers, the Anemone genus comes from the Buttercup family and makes up some of the more striking blossoms that can appear in a home garden. By comprising as many as 120 different species, this genus yields a color spectrum that ranges from milky white to soft lavender and encompasses a variety of pinks, yellows, oranges, blues and even greens.

Peony

Thu, 11 Aug 2005 19:54:47 -0600

Photo credit: Peter D. Asquith

Intro/Brief Description

Peony

Genus: Paeonia

Introduction to Peony

Often one of the more vibrant and colorful additions to any home garden is the Peony - genus name Paeonia. It produces a flower distinguishable by petals that are broad and cup-shaped or, alternatively, ornately crumpled together to form an exquisite blossom. This genus includes the Rose, which helps to explain why for most of the numerous Peony species the blooming period is as fragrant as it is aesthetically pleasing. Colors include yellow, red, pink, deep violet and white.

Lupine

Thu, 11 Aug 2005 19:23:16 -0600

Photo credit: Robin Follette

Intro/Brief Description

Lupine

Genus: Lupinus

Introduction to Lupine

Due to the vibrant and colorful flowers they produce, growing Lupines can be a rewarding experience for nearly any home gardener. With a color spectrum consisting of violet, blue, red, pink, orange, yellow and white, the Lupine's flowers stand up in straight clusters, the wings of each blossom folded back at times to slightly resemble a butterfly at rest.