Richie Steffen

"Betty Corning" clematis' lavender-blue petals dangle from long flower stems, which look like ballerina skirts floating in the air. (Richie Steffen)

Great Plant Pick: Clematis ‘Betty Corning’ aka viticella clematis

This clematis’ lavender-blue petals dangle from long flower stems, which look like ballerina skirts floating in the air.

"Betty Corning" clematis' lavender-blue petals dangle from long flower stems, which look like ballerina skirts floating in the air. (Richie Steffen)
The GPP for tomorrow is Sedum spurium 'Fuldaglut' and the image credit goes to Richie.

Great Plant Pick: Sedum spurium ‘Fuldaglut’

This perennial has small, scalloped bronze-red leaves that form a durable, evergreen, succulent, weed-smothering groundcover.

The GPP for tomorrow is Sedum spurium 'Fuldaglut' and the image credit goes to Richie.
Frame this shrub with other shade-loving plants like hosta, epimedium and ferns in the garden. (Richie Steffen)

Great Plant Pick: Hydrangea ‘Preziosa’ aka mophead hydrangea

Frame this shrub with other shade-loving plants like hosta, epimedium and ferns. (Richie Steffen)

Frame this shrub with other shade-loving plants like hosta, epimedium and ferns in the garden. (Richie Steffen)
Himalayan cobra lily is a tall-growing summer bulb with a tuft of leaflets at the top resembling a palm tree. (Richie Steffen)

Great Plant Pick: Arisaema consanguineum, Himalayan cobra lily

Himalayan cobra lily is a tall-growing summer bulb with a tuft of leaflets at the top resembling a palm tree.

Himalayan cobra lily is a tall-growing summer bulb with a tuft of leaflets at the top resembling a palm tree. (Richie Steffen)
Sambucus nigra ‘Gerda’ BLACK BEAUTY ™
PURPLE-LEAF BLACK ELDER

Great Plant Pick: Sambucus nigra ‘Gerda’ Black Beauty

The best of the purpleleaf elders, this robust shrub retains its deep burgundy-purple foliage color from spring to fall.

Sambucus nigra ‘Gerda’ BLACK BEAUTY ™
PURPLE-LEAF BLACK ELDER
Many gardeners grow bear's breeches for their foliage alone, although the flowers are also quite nice. (Richie Steffen)

Great Plant Pick: Acanthus spinosus aka bear’s breeches

Many gardeners grow this acanthus for their foliage alone, although the flowers are also quite nice.

Many gardeners grow bear's breeches for their foliage alone, although the flowers are also quite nice. (Richie Steffen)
"Milky Way" dogwood is covered in star-shaped flowers that open lime green and quickly change to a creamy white. (Richie Steffen)

Great Plant Pick: Cornus kousa var. chinensis ‘Milky Way’, Chinese dogwood

This dogwood is covered in star-shaped flowers that open lime green and quickly change to a creamy white.

"Milky Way" dogwood is covered in star-shaped flowers that open lime green and quickly change to a creamy white. (Richie Steffen)
Variegated Japanese water iris features white, mint and green foliage and dark purple flowers on long stems. (Rick Peterson)

Great Plant Pick: Iris ensata ‘Variegata,’ variegated Japanese water iris

This iris features white, mint and green variegated foliage and dark purple flowers on long stems.

Variegated Japanese water iris features white, mint and green foliage and dark purple flowers on long stems. (Rick Peterson)
This large holly fern adds a bold and elegant look to shaded gardens. (Richie Steffen)

Great Plant Pick: Polystichum x dycei aka Dyce’s holly fern

This large hybrid named after Jimmy Dyce adds a bold and elegant look to shaded gardens.

This large holly fern adds a bold and elegant look to shaded gardens. (Richie Steffen)
Golden full moon maple gets its common name from its bright lemon-yellow foliage in springtime. (Great Plant Picks)

Great Plant Pick: Acer shirasawanum ‘Aureum,’ golden full moon maple

This small tree gets its common name from its bright lemon-yellow foliage that dazzles in springtime.

Golden full moon maple gets its common name from its bright lemon-yellow foliage in springtime. (Great Plant Picks)
While Bulley’s candelabra primrose can naturalize, it is best to plant three to five to insure pollination and seed set. (Richie Steffen)

Great Plant Pick: Primula bulleyana, Bulley’s candelabra primrose

This primrose can naturalize, but it is best to start with more than one to insure pollination and seed set.

While Bulley’s candelabra primrose can naturalize, it is best to plant three to five to insure pollination and seed set. (Richie Steffen)
Weigela florida "Variegata." (Richie Steffens)

Great Plant Pick: Put Latin name and common name here

What: Weigela florida “Variegata” is an old-fashioned garden shrub that has proven its worth for decades as an excellent landscaping choice. The bare branches emerge… Continue reading

Weigela florida "Variegata." (Richie Steffens)
Lady tulip is cold hardy and, unlike most tulips, it doesn't need an extended "cold period" to bloom. (Richie Steffen)

Great Plant Pick: Tulipa clusiana aka the lady tulip

This tulip is cold hardy and, unlike most tulips, it doesn’t need an extended “cold period” to bloom.

Lady tulip is cold hardy and, unlike most tulips, it doesn't need an extended "cold period" to bloom. (Richie Steffen)
The GPP for this Friday, April 23rd is Trillium sessile, commonly called sessile-flowered wakerobin and the image credit goes to Richie Steffen.

Great Plant Pick: Trillium sessile, toadshade, sessile-flowered wakerobin

This easy-to-grow plant emerges in spring with leaves that are mottled chocolate, green and mint in color.

The GPP for this Friday, April 23rd is Trillium sessile, commonly called sessile-flowered wakerobin and the image credit goes to Richie Steffen.
"Lilafee" has multitudes of dainty magenta flowers with white-tipped spurs that hover above colorful leaflets. (Richie Steffen)

Great Plant Pick: Epimedium grandiflorum ‘Lilafee,’ fairy wings, bishop’s hat

This perennial has multitudes of dainty magenta flowers with white-tipped spurs that hover above colorful leaflets.

"Lilafee" has multitudes of dainty magenta flowers with white-tipped spurs that hover above colorful leaflets. (Richie Steffen)
The pink lobner magnolia has strap-like petals that drape over branches and quiver in the slightest breeze. (Richie Steffen)

Great Plant Pick: Magnolia x loebneri “Leonard Messel,” pink lobner magnolia

This magnolia features strap-like petals that drape over branches and quiver in the slightest breeze.

The pink lobner magnolia has strap-like petals that drape over branches and quiver in the slightest breeze. (Richie Steffen)
"Snowdrift" evergreen clematis gets its name from the profusion of small pure-white flowers that cover it like a sudden snow flurry. (Richie Steffen)

Great Plant Pick: Clematis armandii ‘Snowdrift’

This vine gets its name from the small pure-white flowers that cover it like a sudden snow flurry.

"Snowdrift" evergreen clematis gets its name from the profusion of small pure-white flowers that cover it like a sudden snow flurry. (Richie Steffen)
This Daphne's rosy-pink flower buds open to white, sweetly fragrant flowers in March. (Richie Steffen)

Great Plant Pick: Daphne odora ‘Aureomarginata,’ variegated winter Daphne

This Daphne’s rosy-pink flower buds open to white, sweetly fragrant flowers in March.

This Daphne's rosy-pink flower buds open to white, sweetly fragrant flowers in March. (Richie Steffen)
The lily-of-the-valley shrub is smothered in snow-white flowers around this time of year. (Great Plant Picks)

Great Plant Pick: Pieris japonica ‘White Cascade,’ lily-of-the-valley shrub

The lily-of-the-valley shrub is smothered in snow-white flowers around this time of year.

The lily-of-the-valley shrub is smothered in snow-white flowers around this time of year. (Great Plant Picks)
Vilmoriniana’s needles are olive in color most of the year, but often take on bronze or purple highlights in wintertime. (Richie Steffen)

Great Plant Pick: Cryptomeria japonica ‘Vilmoriniana,’ dwarf Japanese cedar

The conifer’s needles are olive in color most of the year, but often take on bronze or purple highlights in wintertime.

Vilmoriniana’s needles are olive in color most of the year, but often take on bronze or purple highlights in wintertime. (Richie Steffen)