Episode 84: Underappreciated Plants for Spring

It ’s well-situated to get frantic about the first tulip or even the first dandelion in the yard ( OK — that might be a stretch ) . But what about those plant that do n’t get all the love and care yet still brighten up those first few months of the gardening season ? Today we ’re observe those unsung hoagy of the spring garden — plants that need a better atomic number 59 federal agent because they ’re marvelous but not very well - known . We ’ve got a few aboriginal coloured horses and even a shrub that Steve thought he ’d never care . To get you really laughing , we revisit some childhood memories of using springiness plants in mischievous way . Finally , we debut a new segment where we give a brief look into what ’s lead on ( good , bad , and ugly ) in our gardens properly now .

Expert testimony : Bill Cullina is the executive director of the University of Pennsylvania ’s Morris Arboretum .

over-embellished crone hazel tree busting out of its mountain in Danielle ’s garden

‘ Painted Lady ’ iris in Steve ’s garden

Danielle ’s Plants

Eastern skunk lucre ( Symplocarpus foetidus , Zones 4–7 )

Black garlic ( Allium nigrum , Zones 3–8 )

Chinese neillia ( Neillia sinensis , Zones 5–7 )

Beach plum ( genus Prunus maritima , Zones 3–8 )

Steve ’s Plants

Golden Jackpot ® weigela ( Weigela florida‘MonRigney ’ , Zones 4–8 )

Twinleaf ( Jeffersonia diphylla , Zones 5–7 )

‘ Jeannine ’ genus Allium ( Allium moly‘Jeannine ’ , Zones 3–9 )

Snowdrop sea anemone ( windflower sylvestris , Zones 4–8 )

Expert Picks

Tibetan hellebore ( Helleborus thibetanus , Zones 6–8 )

Dwarf larkspur ( Delphinium tricorn , Zones 4–7 )

‘ Katherine Hodgkin ’ iris ( Iris‘Katherine Hodgkin ’ , Zones 5–9 )

Swamp garden pink ( Helonias bullata , Zones 6–9 )

Chinese mayapple ( Dysosma delavayisyn . Podophyllum delavayi , zone 6–9 )

Swamp pinkish habit . Photo : Bill Cullina

Swamp pinkish peak . Photo : Bill Cullina

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Episode 84: Underappreciated Plants for Spring

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