Richie Steffen

agave-leaf sea holly (Richie Steffen)

Great Plant Pick: agave-leaf sea holly

The distinctive foliage perennial adds architectural structure to the garden, and is drought-tolerant.

 

Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Ayesha’

Great Plant Pick: Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Ayesha’

This shrub’s flowers are unforgettable, especially with a background of dark green conifers. Bit it’s thirsty in summer, so have the watering can ready.

 

Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Kosteri’ (Richie Steffen)

Great Plant Pick: Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Kosteri’

This Hinoki cypress is graceful and beautiful, and is very drought-tolerant once established.

 

The GPP for this Friday is Clematis 'Rooguchi' and the image credit goes to Richie Steffen.

Great Plant Pick: Clematis ‘Rooguchi’

This charming, non-twining vine is ideal for tight situations, and does well in a container.

The GPP for this Friday is Clematis 'Rooguchi' and the image credit goes to Richie Steffen.
Polystichum setiferum Divisilobum Group, commonly called soft shield fern with image credit to Richie Steffen.

Great Plant Pick: Soft shield fern

Once exotic and much sought-after, this plant is now widely available and a treat for almost any garden.

Polystichum setiferum Divisilobum Group, commonly called soft shield fern with image credit to Richie Steffen.
The Chinese fringe tree is an excellent choice for the small garden. (Richie Steffen)

Great Plant Pick: Chinese fringe tree

This reliable and easy to grow small tree is covered with clusters of fringed white flowers in early summer.

The Chinese fringe tree is an excellent choice for the small garden. (Richie Steffen)
Lonicera ciliosa, commonly called orange honeysuckle or western trumpet vine. (Richie Steffen)

Great Plant Pick: orange honeysuckle

Its orange trumpets announce spring is here, and hummingbirds are irresistibly drawn to it.

Lonicera ciliosa, commonly called orange honeysuckle or western trumpet vine. (Richie Steffen)
Shibataea kumasasa, aka zig-zag bamboo, is one of the finest small garden bamboos. (Richie Steffen)

Great Plant Pick: zig-zag bamboo

This is one of the very best garden bamboos, and it won’t take over your entire yard.

Shibataea kumasasa, aka zig-zag bamboo, is one of the finest small garden bamboos. (Richie Steffen)
Rhododendron ‘Girard’s Fuchsia’

Great Plant Pick: Rhododendron ‘Girard’s Fuchsia’

This hardy shrub looks great under spring flowering cherries or dogwoods.

Rhododendron ‘Girard’s Fuchsia’
Epimedium × perralchicum ‘Fröhnleiten’ (Richie Steffen)

Great Plant Pick: Epimedium × perralchicum ‘Fröhnleiten’

This German cultivar is a superb ground cover for the Northwest garden.

Epimedium × perralchicum ‘Fröhnleiten’ (Richie Steffen)
Acer palmatum ‘Shindeshojo’

Great Plant Pick: Acer palmatum ‘Shindeshojo’

This Japanese maple puts on its most vibrant colors in spring rather than fall.

Acer palmatum ‘Shindeshojo’
LONGLEAF LUNGWORT

Great Plant Picks: Longleaf lungwort

This well-mannered, low-growing garden plant adds pops of color to shady areas.

LONGLEAF LUNGWORT
Trillium luteum, commonly called yellow trillium

Great Plant Pick: yellow trillium

These choice woodland wildflowers will reward your patience with beautiful flowers and a citrus fragrance.

Trillium luteum, commonly called yellow trillium

Great Plant Pick: Magnolia denudata

Creamy white flowers cover the lily tree in spring. Later on in summer, it’s an excellent shade tree. And its handsome bark is a feature in winter.

Narcissus ‘Jack Snipe.' (Richie Steffen)

Great Plant Pick: Narcissus ‘Jack Snipe’

This beautiful miniature daffodil heralds the imminent arrival of spring.

Narcissus ‘Jack Snipe.' (Richie Steffen)
Yucca flaccida ‘Golden Sword’, commonly called Golden Sword variegated yucca, (Richie Steffen)

Great Plant Pick: Golden Sword variegated yucca

This easy-to-grow shrub provides strong structural relief to perennial gardens and evergreen color to winter gardens.

Yucca flaccida ‘Golden Sword’, commonly called Golden Sword variegated yucca, (Richie Steffen)
Cryptomeria japonica “Sekkan-sugi”

Great Plant Pick: Cryptomeria japonica “Sekkan-sugi”

If you love golden foliage, the golden Japanese cedar is for you. When planted against a dark green backdrop, it shines like a beacon.

Cryptomeria japonica “Sekkan-sugi”
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Great Plant Pick: Hart’s Tongue fern, Fimbriatum group

With unique fronds that are delicately fringed along the edge of the leaf blade, it’s a distinctive perennial for the shade garden.

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GPP

Great Plant Pick: Acer tegmentosum “Joe Witt”

This Manchurian snakebark maple boasts beautiful highly striped white bark that brightens the shade garden.

GPP
× Fatshedera lizei ‘Annemieke’
GOLDEN VARIEGATED FATSHEDERA

Great Plant Pick: Fatshedera lizei ‘Annemieke’

This unusual plant is a rare hybrid between Fatsia japonica and Hedera helix (English ivy).

× Fatshedera lizei ‘Annemieke’
GOLDEN VARIEGATED FATSHEDERA