Take a tour through Danielle’s and Steve’s gardens as they point out some of their go-to plants. These options may not be the showiest or most alluring plants in their beds, but they are the dependable stalwarts that show up year after year without complaint. This episode was also filmed to have a companion video. So if you choose, you can watch it to get a sneak peek into our hosts’ gardens. We even visit the summer cottage of expert nurseryman Ed Gregan, where he points out two of his most reliable shrubs—and gives us a pruning lesson at the same time.

Expert testimony: Ed Gregan from Bailey Nurseries in St. Paul, Minnesota.

DANIELLE’S PLANTS

‘Kopper Kettle’ Itoh peony (Paeonia ‘Kopper Kettle’, Zones 3–8)

‘Blue Ice’ bluestar (Amsonia ‘Blue Ice’, Zones 4–8)

‘Perry’s Gold’ Norway spruce (Picea abies ‘Perry’s Gold’, Zones 3–9)

STEVE’S PLANTS

Shredded umbrella plant (Syneilesis aconitifolia, Zones 4–8)

‘Karmina’ geranium (Geranium × cantabrigiense ‘Karmina’, Zones 5–8)

Variegated broad-leaved sedge (Carex siderosticha ‘Variegata’, Zones 4–9)

EXPERT TESTIMONY PLANTS

Harlequin glorybower (Clerodendrum trichotomum, Zones 6–10)

Chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus, Zones 6–9)