How to grow Eryngium From the ancient Greek name eryngeon, the meaning of which is obscure (Urnbelliferae). A genus of over 200 species of hardy and nearly hardy perennial herbaceous plants, some with thistle-like leaves. Some species are seaside plants […]

How to grow Echinacea Echinacea (ek-in-ay-se-a) From the Greek echinos, hedgehog, referring to the whorl of prickly, pointed bracts close beneath the flower head (Compositae). A genus of two North American species of hardy herbaceousperennial plants. Echinacea plants E. angustifolia […]

How to grow Doronicum Doronicum (dor-on-ik-um) From the Arabic name doronigi (Cornpositae). Leopard’s bane. Hardy herbaceous perennials, natives of Europe and Asia, early-flowering, with long-stemmed, daisy-like yellow flowers. The sap from the root of D. pardalianches is said to be […]

How to grow Coreopsis (kor-e-op-sis) From the Greek koris, a bug or tick, opsis, like, a reference to the appearance of the seeds (Compositae). Tickseed. The annual species are often cataloged under Calliopsis. Hardy perennials and annuals with showy flowers, […]

How to grow Convolvulus (kon-volvu-lus) From the Latin convolvo, to entwine, as some of the species do (Convolvulaceae). A valuable race of plants both annual and perennial, herbaceous or sub-shrubby. Flowers are bell-shaped throughout and highly attractive. Hardy perennial species […]

How to grow Centaurea (sen-taw-re-a) From the classical myths of Greece; the plant is said to have healed a wound in the foot of Chiron, one of the Centaurs (Compositae). A genus of annual and perennial plants with flowers not […]

How to grow Catananche (kat-an-an-kee) From the Greek katananke, a strong incentive, referring to its use in love potions (Compositae). A small genus of annuals or perennials of which C. caerulea is the only species likely to be found in […]

How to grow Callirrhoe (kal-ir-ho-ee) Named after Callirhoe, one of the Greek goddesses (Malvaceae). Poppy mallow. This North American genus has both annual and perennial species. The flowers are saucer shaped and of red hues, which are brilliant in sunshine. […]

How to grow Bellis (bel-lis) From the Latin bellus, pretty, handsome (Compositae). The double daisy, a garden variety of one of our commonest wild plants, was cultivated in Elizabethan gardens side by side with double forms of the native buttercup. […]

Starlike flowers, hence the name from the Greek aster, a star (Umbelliferae). Masterwort. Summer-flowering perennials with fascinating papery-looking flowers in shades of green, white and pink The actual flowers are insignificant but they are surrounded by parchment-like bracts that give […]