Featured plants in the Lou!
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April Tree of the Month-Redbud
One of the easiest trees to identify in spring is our native redbud, Cercis canadensis. The long-lasting purple blooms stand out against the early flush of green along roadsides, the forest edge, in backyards,…
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April Shrub of the Month-Korean spice viburnum
What would spring be without fragrant viburnums? The Korean spice viburnum, Viburnum carlesii, is one of the earliest spring-flowering shrubs in our area. Petite pink buds open white in clusters along the branch tips,…
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April Perennial of the Month-Trillium
Early spring is THE best time to wander about the woods and hiking trails to see native wildflowers. (Preferably before the mosquitos are out!) Visiting Missouri Botanical Garden’s Woodland Garden, Emmenegger Park, or…
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March Tree of the Month-Merrill Magnolia
You don’t have to be a Plant-geek or a Tree-geek to appreciate a Merrill magnolia in full bloom. They are stunning, no doubt, but the timing is one thing that makes them so…
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March Shrub of the Month-Forsythia
Forsythia and I go way back. My parents had forsythia bushes dotted across the back of our suburban backyard. They were the cheery first signs of spring in the neighborhood and the background…
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March Perennial of the Month-Bleeding heart
Oh, be still my heart! Can there be a more charming perennial than bleeding heart? Lamprocapnos spectabilis (Syn. Dicentra spectabilis) is a super low-maintenance perennial that is a great companion in the shade garden. Typically,…
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February Perennial of the Month-Marginal wood fern
The marginal wood fern, Dryopteris marginalis, is one of Missouri’s native evergreen ferns. If you love ferns and have plenty of shade, it makes a beautiful, well-behaved addition that can reward you year-round, especially in…
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February Shrub of the Month-Junipers
Juniperus spp. By February, we are all craving color, ANY color. There’s still a long way to go before most gardens explode into yummy yellows and passionate purples. One of the best ways…
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February Tree of the Month-Taylor Juniper
Picture the rolling golden hills of an Italian landscape painting. You know, the kind with the sun-kissed stucco facades, olive trees, and the occasional cart pulled by a donkey. Now, what else do…
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January Perennial of the Month-Little bluestem
The doldrums of January have arrived. What if you could turn your Winter Blues to red? Or, more precisely, russet or orange? Little bluestem, Schizachyrium scoparium, is quite the chameleon, providing our gardens with a…
