To gardeners, spring is the signal of something big to come. It kicks off our season. For the next several months we will primp and preen our beds to maximize their beauty and relish in their good looks. But as all our plants start waking up in April and early May, it can be hard to really focus on the “design” elements. Many of us are often just happy to see any signs of life, never mind if those newly emerging plants look good together. That’s why today we’re focusing on plant combinations (of two, three, or perhaps even four) that look incredible in spring when grouped together. There’s a mix of annuals, perennials, and even a few shrubs in this array. But, when massed in close proximity, the effect is just as stunning as your peak season pairings. Many of you listeners asked us to broach planting design in an episode, so here we are, answering your call!

Expert guest:

Matt Mattus is a regional reporter for FineGardening.com. The author of two gardening books, he gardens in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Danielle’s Combos

Combo 1:

‘Mango Charm’ tulip (Tulipa 'Mango Charm', Zones 3-7)

'Peach Flambe' heuchera (Heuchera 'Peach Flambe', Zones 4-9)

‘Peach Melba’ horned violet (Viola cornuta ‘Peach Melba’, Zones 6-9)

Combo 2:

Lady's mantle (Alchemilla mollis, Zones 3-8)

Fingerleaf rodgersia (Rodgersia aesculifolia, Zones 5-7)

'Halcyon' hosta (Hosta 'Halcyon', Zones 5-9)

‘Nelly Moser’ clematis (Clematis ‘Nelly Moser’, Zones 4-9)

Carol’s Combos

Combo 1:

Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia, Zones 3–8)

Interrupted fern (Osmunda claytoniana, Zones 3–8)

‘Toffee Tart' heuchera (Heuchera 'Toffee Tart', Zones 4–9)

‘Palace Purple’ heuchera (Heuchera 'Palace Purple', Zones 4–9)

Japanese painted fern (Athyrium niponicum, Zones 5–8)

‘October Moon’ Japanese shrub mint (Leucosceptrum stellipilum ‘October Moon’, Zones 5–8)

Combo 2

‘May breeze’ woodland phlox (Phlox divaricata ‘May Breeze’, Zones 4–8)

‘Wanda’ primrose (Primula ‘Wanda’, Zones 3–9)

Creeping mazus (Mazus reptans, Zones 5–8)

‘Ogon’ grassy-leaved sweet flag (Acorus gramineus ‘Ogon’, Zones 5–9)

Siberian cranesbill (Geranium wlassovianum, Zones 5–8)

Expert’s Combos

Melancholy toadflax or fairy lights (Linaria tristis, Zones 4-8)

‘Café au lait’painted tongue (Salpiglossis ‘Café au lait’, annual)

Poached egg plant (Limnanthes douglasii, annual)

‘Penny Black’ baby blue eyes (Nemophila menziesii  ‘Penny Black’, annual)

‘Jelly Bean Fiesta Marigold’ monkey flower (Mimulus ‘Jelly Bean Fiesta Marigold’, annual)

Assorted pansies in browns, reds, rusts (Viola × wittrockiana and cvs., Zones 5-9)

Desert bells (Phacelia campanularia, Zones 5-10)

Belarina® Series primroses (Primula cv., Zones 4-8)

Tulips are a lavish spring gift that any gardener can give to themself and to their neighborhood with just a little advance planning. Whether your tulip bulbs are pre-ordered as early as possible in summer through your favorite supplier, or purchased last-minute from the garden center just before the ground freezes, getting them into the ground this fall will pay big dividends next spring. Listen in as Danielle, Carol, and our experts talk about some tulip varieties that would be surefire choices for a spectacular spring display . 

Expert guests: Nick & Olivia Heltzel are the owners of Inch by Inch Permaculture in Wheelock, Vermont, where they grow tulips as a sustainable cut flower alternative for regional markets and events.

Danielle’s Plants

‘Claudia’ tulip (Tulipa 'Claudia', Zones 3-7)

'Alba Coerulea Oculata' species tulip (Tulipa humilus 'Alba Coerulea Oculata', Zones 4-8)

‘Spring Green’ tulip (Tulipa ‘Spring Green’, Zones 3-7)

‘Red Riding Hood’ Greig's tulip (Tulipa greigii ‘Red Riding Hood’, Zones 4-8)

Carol’s Plants

‘Princess Irene’ tulip (Tulipa ‘Princess Irene’, Zones 3–8)

Link to Irvin Etienne’s article, Bright Ideas for Spring Containers

‘Pretty Princess’ tulip (Tulipa ‘Pretty Princess’, Zones 3–8)

‘Lady Jane’ lady tulip (Tulipa clusiana ‘Lady Jane’, Zones 3–7)

‘Tangerine Beauty’ species tulip (Tulipa vvedenskyi ‘Tangerine Beauty’, Zones 3–7)

Expert’s Plants

‘Dreamer’ tulip (Tulipa ‘Dreamer’, Zones 3–8)

‘Pink Star’ tulip (Tulipa ‘Pink Star’, Zones 3–8)

‘Apricot Parrot’ tulip (Tulipa ‘Apricot Parrot’, Zones 3–7)

‘Verona’ tulip (Tulipa ‘Verona’, Zones 3–7)

Green plants? Well of course! What else would our topic be for a St. Patrick’s Day episode? Today we’re talking about plants that are stunners despite being “just green.” Turns out that these selections of perennials, annuals, trees, and shrubs are some of the most textural and eye-catching plants you can grow. And, we’ll remind listeners right at the top of the show—green comes in tons of different shades. So make way for some chartreuse, emerald, and lime colored options that are just what your garden needs. We can’t guarantee planting these gems will attract leprechauns but having them in your beds will make you feel like you’ve scored a pot of gold.

Expert guest: Mark Dwyer is garden manager for the Edgerton Hospital Healing Garden and operates Landscape Prescriptions by MD in Wisconsin.

Danielle’s Plants

Irish moss (Sagina subulata, Zones 4-8)

Beesia (Beesia deltophylla,Zones 6-9)

‘Soft Caress’ mahonia (Mahonia eurybracteata 'Soft Caress', Zones 6-11)

Hacquetia (Hacquetia epipactis syn. Sanicula epipactis, Zones 5-7)

Carol’s Plants

Langsdorff's tobacco (Nicotiana langsdorffii, annual)

Maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum, Zones 3-8)

Lady’s mantle (Alchemilla mollis, Zones 3-8)

'Cupressina’ Norway spruce (Picea abies 'Cupressina’, Zones 3-8)

Expert’s Plants

‘Virdis’ and ‘Green Tails’ love-lies-bleeding (Amaranthus caudatus 'Green Tails' and 'Viridis', annual)

'Act Green' and 'Spring Green' cockscomb (Celosia cristata 'Act Green' and 'Spring Green', annual)

'Sunday Green' and 'Sylphid' plume celosia (Celosia plumosa 'Sunday Green' and 'Sylphid', annual)

'Green Ball' dianthus (Dianthus 'Green Ball', annual)

 Bells-of-Ireland (Moluccella laevis, annual)

'Queen Lime' zinnia (Zinnia elegans 'Queen Lime', annual)

'August Forest' gloriosa daisy (Rudbeckia hirta 'August Forest', annual)

‘Green Jewel’ coneflower (Echinacea purpurea 'Green Jewel', Zones 4-9)

‘Green Envy’ coneflower (Echinacea purpurea 'Green Envy', Zones 4-9)

‘Limelight’ panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight', Zones 3-9)

Little Lime ™ panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata 'Bulk', Zones 3-9)

Little Lime Punch ™ panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata 'SMNHPH', Zones 3-9)

Growing spring greens is an easy, satisfying project that takes very little time and very little garden space—you can even grow greens in containers! Homegrown spring greens will be fresher than any you can find at the grocery store or farmer’s market, and you can try varieties that aren’t commonly available, like ‘Red Streaked’ arugula, or ‘Tokyo Bekana’ Chinese cabbage. If this episode inspires you to start some seedlings of your own, check out this article from Ira Wallace about options that will extend your options beyond the basic greens, and this article on growing your own salad mix.

Expert guest: Lucas Holman is director and lead horticulturist at the University of Tennessee’s Wilson County Agriculture Extension office in Lebanon, Tennessee.

Danielle’s Plants

'Danyelle' red oakleaf lettuce

Pea shoots

'Red Streaked' arugula 

'Catalonian' chicory

Carol’s Plants

‘Tokyo Bekana’ Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa var. chinensis ‘Tokyo Bekana’)

Link to Ira Wallace’s article on greens:

Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris ‘Ruby Red’, ‘Bright Yellow’, ‘Peppermint’, and ‘Oriole’)

Spinach

Tatsoi

Expert’s Plants

Green onions

Lettuce

Turnips

Raise your hand if seasonal affective disorder has set in for you. Yep, us too. Because the skies are grey and the landscape is mostly brown in many areas of the country, we decided that today’s episode would be geared towards offering a glimmer of hope. We’re talking about plants that put on a show in the last gasps of winter and first few weeks of spring. Just when you think that the garden is never going to look good again, these unsung heroes show up to give us all a little cheer. We have trees, spring ephemerals and even a few lesser-known North American natives that not only make us happy, but help support the earliest pollinators. Those living in more Southern locales will delight in our expert chiming in from Texas to talk about what gardeners in warmer climes have to look forward to in just a few short days.

Expert guest: Jared Barnes, Ph.D., is an associate professor of horticulture at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas.

Danielle’s Plants

Red trillium (Trillium erectum, Zones 4-7) 

Wood anemone (Anemone quinquefolia, 3-8)

Highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum, Zones 5-8)

Pink flowering dogwood (Cornus florida f. rubra, Zones 5-9)

Carol’s Plants

‘Berry Swirl’ hellebore (Helleborus x hybridus ‘Berry Swirl’, Zones 4–8)

Trout lily (Erythronium americanum, Zones 3–8)

False spirea (Sorbaria sorbifolia, Zones 2–8)

Shadblow serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis, Zones 4–8)

Expert’s Plants

Yellow wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox ‘Luteus’, Zones 7-9)

Paperbush (Edgeworthia chrysantha, Zones 7-10)

Virginia springbeauty (Claytonia virginica, Zones 3-8)

‘Bonita’ Japanese apricot (

Prunus mume ‘Bonita’, Zones 6-9)

‘Tojibai’ Japanese apricot (Prunus mume ‘Tojibai’, Zones 6-9)

For many gardeners, sharing a love of plants with family and friends adds another layer of enjoyment to a very fulfilling pastime. In this episode, Danielle, Carol, and expert guest Catharine Cooke explore plants that have special meaning or associations with their loved ones. Whether it is a dogwood that provides seedlings to share with others, a native orchid that is worth a long hike to see growing in the wild, a buttery colored rose, or “that gangly plant by the stone wall” that Danielle’s husband especially likes, these plants will surely get you thinking about the memories, stories, and connections that make some of the plants in your garden meaningful to you.

Expert guest: Catharine Cooke is a landscape designer and co-owner of Spring Lake Garden Design in Sherman, Connecticut. You can read some of Catharine’s past articles here: https://www.finegardening.com/author/catharine-cooke.

Danielle’s Plants

Kousa dogwood (Cornus kousa, Zones 5-8)

Siberian iris (Iris sibirica, Zones 4–9)

Koreanspice viburnum (Viburnum carlesii, Zones 4–8) ‘Horstmann’s Recurved’ larch (Larix decidua ‘Horstmann’s Recurved’, Zones 2–7)

Carol’s Plants

Lady’s slipper orchid (Cypripedium reginae, Zones 2a–7)

Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana, Zones 2–9)

Trailing arbutus (Epigaea repens, Zones 3–7)

Strawberry rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum, Zones 3–8)

Expert’s Plants

Julia Child™ rose (Rosa ‘Wekvossutono’, Zones 4–9)

‘Constance Spry’ rose (Rosa ‘Constance Spry’, Zones 5–10)

‘New Dawn’ rose (Rosa ‘New Dawn’, Zones 5–10)

Much like the United States Postal Service, these plants will not let rain, nor sleet, nor driving snow stop them from pulling through the worst winter weather imaginable.  It can be hard to find plants that will look two months of drying winds in the eyes and laugh—or sit in a frozen puddle for 4 months and not rot. We decided to sing the praises of those perennials and woodies that will take whatever January, February and March have to doll out and come out on the other side, unscathed.  Tune in to this epside to learn about plants that truly are up to the challenge of taking winter’s worst on the chin.  

Expert guest: May Ann Newcomer is a native Idahoan who gardens, scouts gardens, and writes about gardening in the Intermountain West.

Danielle’s Plants

'Ninja Stars' epimedium (Epimedium 'Ninja Stars', Zones 4-9)  Leatherleaf viburnum (Viburnum rhytidophyllum, Zones 5-8)  'Blue Chip' juniper (Juniperus horizontalis 'Blue Chip’, Zones 3-9)  ‘Biokovo’ hardy geranium (Geranium cantabrigiense ‘Biokovo’, Zones 5-8) 

Carol’s Plants

Rosemary willow (Salix elaeagnos, Zones 4-8)

Smooth blue aster (Symphyotrichum leave, Zones 3-8)

Golden Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris ‘Aurea’, Zones 3-7)

Siberian iris (Iris sibirica, Zones 3-9)

Expert’s Plants

German bearded iris (Iris x germanica cvs., Zones 3-10)

European snowball viburnum (Viburnum opulus ‘Roseum’, Zones 3-8)

‘Autumn Brilliance’ serviceberry (Amelanchier × grandiflora ‘Autumn Brilliance’, Zones 4-9)

‘Blue Shag’ Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus 'Blue Shag', Zones 3-8)

The winter blues have certainly set in around here. But thankfully we have a few plants outside that seemed to have saved their best for last. Today Carol and Danielle are talking about Winter Stunners—trees, shrubs, and even a subshrub that look so gorgeous in January and February, you’ll forget that technically it’s the “off-season.”  Whether your winter is mild and wet, cold and dry, or you live where it snows seemingly every day, we’ve got some options that will help make the landscape seem vibrant.

Expert guest: Michelle Provaznik is the chief executive officer of American Public Gardens Association. She lives and gardens in Fort Collins, Colorado.

 Danielle’s Plants

'Wintergold' white fir (Abies concolor 'Wintergold', Zones 3-8) 

'Goldilocks’ Japanese white pine (Pinus parviflora 'Goldilocks’, Zones 5-7) 

Blue deodar cedar (Cedrus deodara cv., Zones 6b-9) 

‘Divinely Blue’ or ‘Feelin’ Blue’ 

Coral bark maple (Acer palmatum 'Sango Kaku', Zones 5-9)

Carol’s Plants

American beech (Fagus grandifolia, Zones 3-9)

Red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea, Zones 3-7)

Japanese stewartia (Stewartia pseudocamillia, Zones 5-8)

Star magnolia (Magnolia stellata, Zones 4-8)

Expert’s Plants

‘Panchito’ manzanita (Arctostaphylos × coloradensis ‘Panchito’, Zones 4b–8)

Rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus spp. and cvs., Zones 4-9)

Red osier/ red twig dogwood (Cornus sericea, Zones 3-7)

Kentucky coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioicus, Zones 3-8)

Flowers and foliage get most of the fanfare, but a plant with eye-catching seed heads will add interest for weeks or even months after its bloom time is over. The textures and shapes of these seed-bearing structures are delightfully diverse, ranging from alliums’ showy starbursts to plump peony pods and the feathery tassels of clematis. Our hosts and expert guest will share some favorite selections that look great after they go to seed.

Expert guest: Amanda Thomsen is a horticulturist, garden designer, and author based in suburban Chicago.

Danielle’s Plants

'Purple Sensation' allium (Allium 'Purple Sensation', Zones 3-9) 

'Kopper Kettle' Itoh peony (Paeonia 'Kopper Kettle', Zones 3-8) 

'Goldsturm' black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii 'Goldsturm', Zones 3-9) 

Baptisia (Baptisia australis, Zones 3-9) 

Carol’s Plants

‘Strawberry Fields’ gomphrena (Gomphrena haageana ‘Strawberry Fields’, Zones 9-11)

Tibetan clematis (Clematis tibetana, Zones 6-9)

Kamchatka sedum (Sedum kamptschaticum, Zones 3-8)

‘Blue Glow’ globe thistle (Echinops bannaticus, Zones 3-8)

Expert’s Plants

Angel’s trumpet (Datura innoxia, Zones 9-10)

Love-in-a-mist (Nigella damascena, annual)

Love lies bleeding (Amaranthus caudatus, annual)

It doesn’t matter whether we’ve been naughty (Danielle) or nice (Carol) this year—we’re still going ahead and adding plenty of plants to our wish lists. We’re talking about trees that we’ve had our eyes on for months and a perennial that shines in spring, summer, and light up electric yellow in fall. Many of these plants will be new to nurseries this coming spring, while others have been around a bit longer. If you’re wondering what plants the hosts of a podcast all about plants dream and drool over, tune in today. Because visions of sugarplums don’t dance through our heads…but visions of coneflowers do!

Expert guest: Laura Trowbridge is a garden designer based in Peterborough, New Hampshire. You can read her article from issue 177 here: https://www.finegardening.com/article/how-to-use-annuals-in-your-garden

Danielle’s Plants

‘Lady Sunshine’ dove tree (Davidia involucrata ‘Lady Sunshine’, Zones: 6–8) 

Magical® Moonlight button bush (Cephalanthus occidentalis 'Kolmoon', Zones 5-9) 

'Stained Glass' liverleaf (Hepatica nobilis 'Stained Glass', Zones 4-8) 

'Fiery Meadow Mama' coneflower (Echinacea 'Fiery Meadow Mama', Zones 5-9) 

Carol’s Plants

'Seventh Inning Stretch' bluestar (Amsonia x illustris 'Seventh Inning Stretch', Zones 5-9)

‘Giggles’ dahlia (Dahlia ‘Giggles’, Zones 8-10)

Owl’s claws (Hymenoxys hoopesii, Zones 5-9)

‘Golden Delicious’ salvia (Salvia elegans ‘Golden Delicious’, Zones 8-11)

Expert’s Plants

‘Burgundy Spice’ sweetshrub (Calycanthus floridus var. purpureus ‘Burgundy Spice’, Zones 6-9)

Salsify (Tragopogon porrifolius, biennial, Zones 5-9)

‘Amistad’ salvia (Salvia ‘Amistad’, Zones 8b-11)

Lion’s ear (Leonotis leonurus, Zones 8-11)