Super Cool Plants - Formerly Known as Let's Argue About Plants

What's not to love about sedums? They're drought-tolerant, they attract pollinators, and they flower later in the season when not much else is going on in the garden. But they also have their drawbacks—namely a proclivity to splay open (we're looking at you Autumn Joy) and look rather awful in some cases. But rest assured that today we're talking about sedums that maintain a compact habit (whether...

What gardener doesn't like something a bit out-of-the ordinary, right? Especially when it's a plant that puts on a serious show as the final curtain call is happening. Today we highlight some of our favorite unusual fall perennials, options that are interesting cultivars of a genus you may know, and weird oddballs you've likely never heard of. Just a heads up that we may have cheated a teeny, tiny...

Nearly everyone can grow tropical plants outdoors during the summer months, but when the first frosts are forecasted gardeners in colder climates know there will be some tough decisions ahead. Which plants will be moved to those coveted spots by a south-facing window for winter? Is it worth the trouble to dig dahlia tubers and overwinter them, or should you just start over from scratch with newer,...

They're tough, they're hardy, they thrive in almost any location. So, why don't we love them? Give this episode a listen to hear about plants that have a ton of good attributes, but just can't bring ourselves to draw a heart around them. It's easy to ask gardeners what plants they hate—we all have long lists of inferior perennials, trees, and shrubs that are weak or have unruly habits making them...

We all know and love parsley, sage rosemary, and thyme. And then there's sweet basil which is perhaps the queen of all the herbs. But what about those herbs that are just as tasty—or attractive—but don't get the same accolades? For those unsung heroes of the herb garden, we put together this episode. You'll hear about a deliciously spicy lemon basil, an elegant edible flower with brilliant orange...

According to NASA Earth Observatory, one-third of the United States experienced some level of drought in 2020 and 2021 was much the same. This pattern of extended dry weather is sadly becoming more and more of the norm. We recently did a feature in Fine Gardening magazine highlighting a series of drought tolerant woody plants from around the country in our regional pages and that got Carol and Dan...

The original title of this episode was, Big and Bold Plants for the Back of the Border . But between the length and the tongue-twister alliteration, we shorted it a bit for promotional purposes. However, on today's program you'll hear all about plants that really stand out in the last row of the garden choir. These perennials and shrubs are tall, yes. But they have so much more going for them than...

When late May and June hits, we can't help wandering out into the garden with a pair of shears in hand. Bringing fresh flowers into the house seems like a seasonal rite of passage for most gardeners (at least those that don't have allergies). But it can be a hard to cut those precious blooms and take them away from the landscape. That's why today we're talking about plants (perennials, annuals, an...

Is there anything ground covers can't do? They are useful in problem areas like steep slopes, under trees and shrubs, and in spaces that need erosion control. They also reduce maintenance by enveloping areas that would ordinarily need a boatload of mulch to keep weeds at bay. Now, not all ground covers play nice. Some species will not only cover bare ground, but they will choke out neighboring pla...

Always give a gift that you yourself would like to receive. That's excellent advice when it comes to life-- and as gardeners, we can extend that sentiment to giving plants as gifts. Ask yourself: what plants would I like to get as a gift? We had a lot of fun on today's episode, imagining the scenarios in which we'd give our friends, neighbors, or even strangers particular plants that would convey...

Little kids have Christmas. Gardeners have spring. To us, this is the most wonderful time of the year. And with the start of the season, comes those inevitable trips to the nursery. In an effort to not max out their credit cards, this spring Carol and Danielle are making shopping lists of plants that they will be on the hunt for. These species are going to fill a particular need or want in their g...

Yes, that's right: plants can solve problems. Maybe not problems like those noisy neighbors next door or your husband failing to replace the toilet paper roll, time and time again. But plants can solve problems like a barren patch of garden under a shallow-rooted tree, or a lack of pollinators in your yard. Today's array of fantastic perennials are plants that can address conditional or pest probl...

They're often called the "exclamation points" of the landscape, drawing attention in a not-so-subtle way. Of course, we're talking about columnar (AKA fastigiate) plants and today we're highlighting some of the best options. Skinny plants are invaluable for several reasons other than their ability to catch the eye. They also have a small footprint which makes them ideal for siting in narrow places...

Even though there's still snow on the ground for many of us, warmer weather is most definitely on our brains. So today we're going to be talking about native plants that put on a spectacular show in spring. And, although we're a podcast based out of New England, the plants we decided to talk about have an extensive native range (even into Texas!). There is an exquisitely fragrant perennial, a self...

There's no reason to tell everyone how great 'Brandywine' tomatoes are because everyone already knows! And the same goes for 'Blue Lake' green beans or 'Hot Wax' peppers. We all know these names because they are great varieties that vegetable gardeners have relied on for decades. Yet, there are a bunch of lesser-known veggies that deserve the same praise, but their PR agents aren't the best. On th...

If you live in the Northeast, Mountain West, or Midwest your idea of winter interest is certainly different than say, a gardener living in the South. Those of us who live in cooler locales are often satisfied with calling any plant that sticks its head above a snowbank "a winter stunner." But in today's episode we're holding the bar a bit higher and talking about plants that really do save their b...

Is there a better time of year than seed-ordering season? You may shop for seeds online, or perhaps you prefer the analog version (like us) of paper catalogs. Regardless, ordering and starting seeds is an act of defiance against the winter conditions outside. Starting seeds says, "Hey snow and ice--you don't scare me! I know spring is right around the corner." Today we'll talk about the seeds that...

What if you could have a garden that basically planted itself? The idea isn't as far-fetched as you might think. Self-sowing plants are delightfully serendipitous plants that will happily disperse seed without any intervention from you. Yes, there are lots of plants out there that spread indiscriminately and obnoxiously--but those are not the ones we are discussing in this episode. Instead, we're...

Perhaps it's the winter season we're in right now, or perhaps we're just hungry, but regardless, we have berries on the mind. This episode highlights some plants that provide us with unexpected (but very appreciated) fruit. It could be a perennial that is grown for its foliage but puts on a late fall show with its berry-set. Or a shrub that is known for it's berries--just not in a certain bubblegu...

Well loyal listeners, it's hard to believe, but this is our 100th episode! We cannot thank everyone out there who has stuck with us from the early days of trying to figure out what a podcast about plants should sound like, and still downloads episodes to this day (when we've only figured out a bit more of what we're doing). We're not big on birthdays around here, but we did decide to kick off this...

The thought of restricting most gardeners to only three of any plant might sound cruel. After all, what makes us happier than heading to the nursery to fill a shopping cart? But limiting your plant palette has many advantages. Less variety means less chaos, in many cases. And, when it comes to trees, limiting yourself to just three options may also be necessary since trees take up more space and a...

Everyone likes an upgrade. Whether it's a faster car or a more efficient cell phone, it's hard to turn down a better version of something you already like. Plants are much the same. If you already love that gorgeous catmint that flowers all season long, what not try one that not only has all the same great attributes but also has an improved habit.  Today we're talking about plants we have a great...

Here at Let's Argue About Plants we're big fans of native plants. Our gardens are filled with them and for good reason: native plants are essential to the preservation and health of the local ecology. Aside from their benefits to the environment, many native plants are built to thrive in the conditions where you live, too. Today, we're talking about native alternatives to certain less-desirable pl...

Nothing says fall in the garden more than the sight of ornamental grasses pluming. It goes right along with all other things that signal the season change—the kids going back to school, pumpkin spice everything, and turning the heat on for the first time. Gardeners seem to have a love/hate relationship with ornamental grasses. They have great texture, they give life to the late-season landscape, a...

Since the Let's Argue About Plants podcast is based in New England, we know all about fall color. This time of year is a favorite for most of our staffers with the native sugar maples turning bright red and the birch trees shifting to brilliant yellow. But this episode is all about the unsung heroes of fall—plants that don't immediately pop to mind when you think of vibrant autumnal color. And, we...