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 as 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)