The February sunshine steeps your boughs and tints the buds and swells the leaves within. — William C. Bryant
They say, “when the days begin to get longer, spring is on its way!”
That is true, but this year I believe that winter has been making up for the past few years of neglect, as snow, sleet, freezing rain and really, really freezing temperatures have been visiting us. The groundhog (whom I’ve named Fairfax Phil) is still sleeping under my garden shed, and it will probably stay there until there are tasty plants to be eaten. Mainly from my garden! Still, during these few days of sunshine with no snow or ice on the ground, crocus and daffodils are slowly pushing their green leaves up through the partially frozen soil toward the sunlight. Kind of like dipping one’s bare toes into a cold lake to determine if the water is warm enough to swim in.
The call of the garden is growing stronger. Seeds are now available in most garden centers and box stores, while the ones we ordered in January are starting to arrive. New plants are described in garden magazines, and classes and seminars can be found on the internet or at local garden centers. People are beginning to buy tickets to visit the Philadelphia Flower Show, and plant organizations have published their newest or best choices for 2025. Daylight Saving Time might arrive on Sunday, March 9, and official spring arrives on March 20 this year. But for gardeners, spring is already in our hearts and in our minds!
The 2025 Perennial of the Year is our native clustered mountain mint (Pycnanthemum muticum). It can be found in meadows and open woodlands. This strong-growing plant can grow 2-3 feet tall and spread by rhizomes. The whole plant has a strong mint scent. The leaves are light green. The flower buds are densely packed in a tight cluster called a ‘head’; each tiny flower opens white or very light pink. These are surrounded by silvery-green bracts. It prefers full sun and well-drained soil. Pollinators love this plant; it attracts bees of all sizes and even butterflies. The seeds sprout easily.
The 2025 Herb of the Year is chamomile. There are two chamomiles: German chamomile (Matricaria recutita) and Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile). German chamomile is usually treated as an annual and grown from the many flower seeds produced. It has a sweet straw scent and is grown in eastern Europe, Asia and Egypt. Roman chamomile is considered a tender perennial and is often used as an evergreen lawn in parts of Europe. It regenerates from its roots in spring and has an apple scent.
Both chamomiles have similar properties. Although used as tea and found in cosmetics and some foods, it can cause allergic reactions, especially if one is allergic to ragweed or chrysanthemums. It is recommended that pregnant women avoid chamomile. And avoid giving this herb to children until you talk to your pediatrician. Be sure to read about the pros and cons of both chamomiles if you plan to eat, drink or use them on your skin.
Each year, the Philadelphia Horticultural Society, which sponsors the Philadelphia Flower Show, also posts its recommendations for plants that grow and thrive in the Mid-Atlantic area. Most of these plants are readily available. This year, all their recommendations are native plants, and many may be familiar to you:
- Acer rubrum ‘Redpointe’ is an excellent red maple that thrives in heat and drought. It is an upright, pyramidal-shaped tree that has fiery red foliage in the fall.
- Amelanchier x grandiflora ‘Autumn Brillance’ serviceberry can be grown as a small tree or a larger shrub. Beautiful small white flowers develop into tasty little fruits loved by birds (and people). In autumn, the leaves on this tree become a striking orange-red. Although this tree is a hybrid and has many attributes, please water it deeply when we are having low rainfall or drought conditions.
- Carex cherokeensis, or Cherokee sedge, is a native sedge that looks like a graceful, arching grass. It grows 1-2 feet tall and wide in part sun to shade and tolerates moist areas (but not a swamp). It is partially evergreen and requires a light haircut in late winter to early spring.
- Leucothoe axillares ‘Re Joyce,’ or coast leucothoe, is an evergreen shrub that prefers afternoon shade in our area. It also grows best in moist, well-drained, slightly acid soil. This plant grows to 2-3 feet tall and wide and has graceful arching branches. In spring, the new growth is bright red that ages to a rich green color by summer. In autumn, the leaves change to a wine-red color that the plant holds throughout the winter. It is said to be deer resistant.
- Solidago rugosa ‘Fireworks’ goldenrod has been around for a long time and is still valued for its back-of-the-garden interest. Fireworks grows to 36 inches tall and spreads by rhizomes; because of this, you must keep it under control. The word rugosa means rough and wrinkled, and this describes the leaves on Fireworks. In September and October, long, slender clusters of tiny yellow flowers appear on the ends of the stems that resemble fireworks to many people.
There are many more new plants this year. There are annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees. Most of them will be of interest to the public for only a few years as we get to know and discover other, newer plants. Our gardens have only so much room, so if a plant doesn’t perform the way we think it should, it is soon replaced.
Except for trees. Trees are in a class of their own. Once we plant them, we rarely move them about. That is why it is so important to choose the right spot for the right tree. Planting a tree 3 feet from the house because it is small and cute is a big mistake. Trees grow! You might not be in the house long enough to see that growth, but the next homeowner will. And the poor tree has roots to tie it to the spot for its lifetime. So, unless the tree you are planting grows only to a few feet tall and wide during its lifetime, please plant the new tree a minimum of 10 feet from the house for small trees and even farther from the house for a bigger tree.