Pulsatilla vulgaris
http://courses.nres.uiuc.edu/h...

@kabby, how about Tiger Eyes sumac? I just planted one, and it's got the softest looking leaves right now.

Also, bronze fennel is a perennial for me.

Thanks Sue, I don't think I've ever seen a Pasque flower before.
@ssgardener The sumac is gorgeous. I may buy one and place it near our seawall, that way if it starts to sucker I can keep an eye on it. Wouldn't want it in my regular beds and it get out of control. But for the bronze fennel being a perennial for you, hopefully for me too!

aruncus-aethusifolius might be good. It's fernlike.

I know you said that you aren't really fond of artemesia, but I'm really enjoying mine right now. Shape and form is nice, and the texture is great. It has two little off-sets/rootlets(?) that I want to move into the rock garden as soon as this freezing spell is over. I want more of it!


I'm going to try to keep it trimmed up this year, to see if it will keep a nice round shape. Last year it did get a bit straggly, but I didn't trim it at all.

Does anyone else trim theirs back during growth spurts?

It's one of those jobs that are always on my "to-do" list that seldom gets done until it's too late, then looks awful when it's haircut time. I do love the plant.

@chelle does it get scraggly after flowering or does it flower? I really did like the plant until it got to the flopping phase.

I didn't trim mine at all and it eventually got overcrowded, so it ended up sort of flowing like a river. Flowers weren't noticeable to me.

This picture was taken in late August...when everything is out of control in my gardens.

@chelle now with the other plants giving it close quarters it looks great. It's probably saying, give me elbow room, I don't like being crowded. The other plants are saying trust us, splaying is not a good look for you.
Addendum: I love your gardens!

Thank you!

Those artemesia sure were pretty this morning...all decked out in shimmering ice crystals. The great thing is, it didn't hurt them a bit.

Chelle I couldn't for the life of me figure out what the tall white flowers were in the foreground were. I finally saw the hostas. We can't grow them like you can in the north, magnifico!

I put Tanacetum vulgare -Tansy in all my gardens. It looks like a fern but can take sun. Some people hate it but it helps keep the rabbits and other animals out of my gardens.

Kabby said:Chelle I couldn't for the life of me figure out what the tall white flowers were in the foreground were. I finally saw the hostas. We can't grow them like you can in the north, magnifico!

They do love it here, and some of them smell so good! I'm constantly splitting them up, and the root systems still get as big, thick and heavy as cinder blocks in a season's time. They seem to adore this heavy, slimy clay.


Cinta, at first I thought you meant Feverfew. I have that one, and like it a lot. I might not like it as well in a warmer climate, but here it's one of the first to green up in late winter. As soon as the snow is gone, it looks good.

Cinta, have your tried any of the yellow tansies? I think they have much the same properties as vulgare, perhaps not as strong. Nice pretty pop of foliage color, and easy care.

Chelle, I love feverfew. It does not over-winter so much as reseed itself for me. I let it grow here and there to give a bright white pop that is not too overpowering or too robust. I've had some really pretty combos over the year, usually not to be repeated quite exactly. How fun is that.

I agree, Deb.


I just got to thinking about it again, and there are also a lot of diminutive plants chosen primarily for texture in the rock garden, too.

Pterocephalus depressus is a new one for me. Its leaves are also soft and somewhat feathery.




Pink Heron's Bill (Erodium 'William Bishop') , or really any of the perennial geraniums have touchable leaves, and some of them color up so very nicely in colder weather.



I missed getting a picture of it at its finest color this year, but Geranium (Geranium thunbergii 'Jester's Jacket') showed bright, lemon yellow leaves painted with pink to red streaks, and shot through with stunning chartreuse veins once the snow melted. Love it, too.


Finally, after several years of trying this plant, I think my Prairie Smoke (Geum triflorum) has finally found its happy spot. What's not to love about this plant? Mine needs an after-winter trim yet, but it's getting a flower!

I had ordered some Lady's Mantle not knowing how velvety they feel. Win win !

I love plants that are fun to touch and feel, bonus if they smell good too. I always take visitors to them, especially kids. A favorite is Scarlet Hedge Nettle (Stachys coccinea 'Pow Wow') AKA the Seven-up Plant because that's what the leaves smell like.

chelle said:I know you said that you aren't really fond of artemesia, but I'm really enjoying mine right now. Shape and form is nice, and the texture is great. It has two little off-sets/rootlets(?) that I want to move into the rock garden as soon as this freezing spell is over. I want more of it!


I'm going to try to keep it trimmed up this year, to see if it will keep a nice round shape. Last year it did get a bit straggly, but I didn't trim it at all.

Does anyone else trim theirs back during growth spurts?

I love my artemisia as well--so feathery soft and shimmery. I don't trim mine at all either.

At my new job in a plant nursery everyone who walks by the artemisia pets it! And now not much left. It sold fast because people were fascinated by it