The following plants come from habitats that are seasonally or permanently wet, yet they can thrive in drier upland regions too. They are also tolerant of different soil types and textures.
03.05.2024 - 19:27 / finegardening.com
Irvin Etienne is the curator of herbaceous plants and seasonal garden design at Newfields, a 152-acre campus with art galleries, performance spaces, world-class public gardens, and a nature park in Indianapolis. Irvin has been a frequent contributor to Fine Gardening, sharing his horticultural expertise through informative articles like A Bright Idea for Spring Containers, Big and Bold Plants for the Back of the Border, and Bring It In!, a primer on overwintering all kinds of tropical plants. In this episode he delves into the path that brought him to horticulture, the lessons learned from decades of gardening in public, and some of the (many, many) plants that earn their keep in his home garden.
Irvin’s Indiana garden includes an intriguing array of tropical plants like ‘Flaming Kabobs’ canna.
Digging and storing hundreds of tender plants in late autumn keeps Irvin busy for many weeks, both at work and at home.
Planting layers of bulbs in plastic nursery pots is an easy way to plan ahead for a spectacular spring display.
Irvin’s Indianapolis garden didn’t exactly blend into the surrounding neighborhood.
Another view from the Indianapolis garden.
Moving to the country has allowed Irvin to grow even more of the plants he loves, like ‘Pretoria’ canna.
‘Holy Grail’ hardy hibiscus pairs smoky dark foliage with smoldering red blooms.
Plants with dark foliage like ‘David Howard’ dahlia keep the garden interesting, even when not in bloom.
‘Day Dream’ canna is another dark-leaved beauty.
Photos: Irvin Etienne and Carol Collins
The following plants come from habitats that are seasonally or permanently wet, yet they can thrive in drier upland regions too. They are also tolerant of different soil types and textures.
These fascinating plants have an incredible ability to release oxygen around the clock through a process called Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM). At night, they breathe in carbon dioxide, while during the day, use stored CO2 to produce fresh oxygen for us to breathe!
Name: Hydrangea arborescens ‘Kolpinbel’
Name: Cornus kousa var. chinensis
Name: Mahonia repens syn. Berberis repens
Name: Pycnanthemum albescens
Want to turn your yard into a bee haven? Our Bee Friendly Plants guide will show you the Best Plants that Attract Bees so you can enjoy a blooming garden full of healthy foliage.
Do you know there are some plants that have a natural tree-like appearance, making them a great alternative to bonsais that can be hard to maintain!
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What makes these plants special in the world of gardening? Well, all of these bring something unique to the table (umm, the sides on the leaves or stems) that will enrich your plant collection!
The popping of the seed pods in the plants is in response to a stimulus that acts as a trigger, such as touch or environmental factors. This mechanism aids in the dispersal of seeds and ensures the plant’s propagation in its natural habitat.
Architectural indoor plants are great to use them as a part of the furniture or overall design element of any room in the house, where they form a perfect camaraderie with the space.