Featured plants in the Lou!
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August Tree of the Month-River birch
We talk a lot about “well-drained” soils regarding plant preferences. But one tree that LOVES wet conditions is our native river birch-Betula nigra. River birch gets its common name from its natural habitat along…
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August Shrub of the Month-Smoke bush
To be, or not to be…a shrub or a tree? Well, in the plant world, there is a lot of gray area between what makes a tree a “tree” versus a “shrub”. RHS…
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August Perennial of the Month-Millenium Allium
Alliums are gaining popularity, and one of my favorites is Millenium. (Yes, that is the correct spelling of the registered cultivar!) This time of year, when the spring-blooming alliums like Globemaster and Ambassador…
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July Perennial of the Month-Bear’s Breeches
Easily confused as a weedy thistle at first glance, Acanthus spinous, or bear’s breeches, is one of the most celebrated perennials in our culture over the centuries…most people just don’t recognize it. Acanthus…
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July Shrub of the Month-Buttonbush
Can there be a flower more fun than a buttonbush flower? (Cephalanathus occidentalis)These sputnik-looking spheres don’t look real, but they are fragrant, eye-catching, and unique, like little retro Christmas ornaments harking back to…
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July Tree of the Month-Bur oak
The state champion bur oak, Quercus macrocarpa, has lived just south of Columbia, Mo, for approximately 400 years. According to the current marker, it’s named the Williamson Bur Oak since the Williamson Family has owned…
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June Tree of the Month-Sweet bay magnolia
Native to the eastern half of the US, Magnolia virginiana, or sweet bay, does very well in St. Louis, sacrificing only a bit of height to live here compared to its east-coast siblings.…
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June Shrub of the Month-The rose
Is there ANY flower more seeped in history, art, or literature than the rose? The rose has inspired admirers, artists, and lovers for thousands of years. The name rose and its many variations…
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June Perennial of the Month-Prickly pear
Everyone has that one problem spot in their landscape. Maybe it’s a low spot where water doesn’t drain well in the backyard … or maybe, it’s a super-dry, hot, and gravely spot in…
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May Tree of the Month-Yellowwood
Yellowwood, Cladrasis kentukea, is a blooming tree with a mind of its own when it comes to flowering. Maturity can take 8-10 years, and when it does start flowering, it’s not every year. Well worth…
