Sam Hoadley

Jan 10, 2025 | finegardening.com | Carol Collins |Christine Alexander |Richard Hawke |Sam Hoadley

Catalogue descriptions for new plants may grab our attention, but usually provide little useful information about how these up-and-coming cultivars will perform in your garden. Fortunately, comparative trials like those conducted at Chicago Botanic Garden and Mt. Cuba Center put plants to the test, side-by-side, under typical garden conditions. In this episode, Richard Hawke and Sam Hoadley delve into a few of the similarities and differences between their trial programs.

Oct 15, 2024 | finegardening.com | Mark Weathington |Sam Hoadley

There are people who categorize plants as either workhorses or showboats, but wouldn’t we prefer our workhorses to be showboats, and vice versa? Few plants fit that brief quite so well as the lowly sedge, at least when you select the right one. The Carex genus includes about 2,000 species worldwide, with about 500 of those being native to North America. Most grow best with at least some shade, though there are also many sun-loving species.

Oct 15, 2024 | finegardening.com | Sam Hoadley |Christine Alexander

Reducing or replacing traditional turfgrass lawns with sustainable substitutes is a hot topic in today’s world of ecological gardening. A few species of Carex are uniquely poised to serve as lawn alternatives, thanks to their adaptability, low maintenance needs, and resemblance to cool-season turfgrass. These sedges tolerate regular mowing during the growing season, achieving an appearance similar to that of a traditionally maintained lawn.

Oct 15, 2024 | finegardening.com | Sam Hoadley |Christine Alexander

Throughout the wilds of North America, sedges can be found in almost every habitat, from mountaintops to shady wetlands to coastal sand dunes. This diversity of native habitats leads to great versatility in cultivation, giving these plants the ability to fill just about every landscape niche imaginable. They require minimal maintenance, with most species needing nothing more than a late-winter cutback.

Sep 4, 2024 | greenhousemag.com | Sam Hoadley |Laura Reilly

Amsonia, named for 18th-century Virginia physician and botanist John Amson, is a genus of beautiful, adaptable and long-lived perennials commonly known as bluestars. Most Amsonia are native to the United States and Mexico, with two additional species found in Greece and Turkey (Amsonia orientalis) and Asia (Amsonia elliptica).