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 anniversary episode with a question: If you could have 100 of any plant to give as gifts to friends and fellow gardeners, what would it be? Our answers may surprise you. Then we stick with the theme of gifts and launch into our annual holiday episode of plants that have made it onto our wish lists this year. Listen today and join the celebration.

Expert testimony: Amanda Bennett is vice president of horticulture and collections at Atlanta Botanical Garden.

Danielle’s Plants

100 Plant Choice: Redbud (Cercis and cvs., Zones 4–9; pictured, ‘Don Egolf’)

‘Lemon Squeeze’ fountain grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Lemon Squeeze’, Zones 4–9)

‘Ragin Cajun’ Indian pink (Spigelia marilandica ‘Ragin Cajun’, Zones 5–9)

‘Boom Chocolatta’ geranium (Geranium pratense ‘Boom Chocolatta’, Zones 4–8)

Little Hottie^® panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata ‘Bailpanone’, Zones 3–8) 

Carol’s Plants

100 Plant Choice: ‘Raydon’s Favorite’ aromatic aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium ‘Radon’s Favorite’, Zones 3–8)

‘Gilt Edge’ toad lily (Tricyrtis formosana ‘Gilt Edge’, Zones 5–8)

Mexican sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia, annual)

‘Sango-kaku’ Japanese maple (Acer palmatum ‘Sango-kaku’, Zones 5–8)

Flowering spurge (Euphorbia corollata, Zones 5–8)

Expert’s Plants

Amanda Bennett is vice president of horticulture and collections at Atlanta Botanical Garden.

‘Gethsemane Moonlight’ hardy chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum ‘Gethsemane Moonlight’, Zones 5–9)

Jelly palm (Butia capitata, Zones 9–11)

Bamboo muhly (Muhlenbergia dumosa, Zones 8–11)

‘Fragrant Pink’ camellia (Camellia ‘Fragrant Pink’, Zones 8–10)

‘Florida King’ peach (Prunus persica ‘Florida King’, Zones 6–9; not pictured)