What if you could have a garden that fundamentally planted itself ? The idea is n’t as far - fetched as you might imagine . ego - sowing plants are delightfully serendipitous plant that will mirthfully disperse seed without any interposition from you . Yes , there are lots of plants out there that spread arbitrarily and offensively – but those are not the I we are discussing in this installment . rather , we ’re focusing on an raiment of perennial , annual , and even victual that will create progeny politely — filling in break and white spot in your beds and boundary line . The English have squeeze the approximation of self - sowers more readily than gardeners stateside , but on today ’s podcast we argue that opportunistic industrial plant have a place in virtually every garden . mind now to find out which ego - sowers dance through our garden ( and driveway ) .
Expert testimony : Amanda Thomsen is a plantsman , garden designer , and generator base in suburban Chicago .
Carol’s Plants
‘ McKanna Giants ’ columbine ( Aquilegia‘McKanna Giants ’ , Zones 3–10 )
Nipponese painted fern ( Athyrium niponicum , Zones 5–8 )
Mealycup salvia ( Salvia farinacea‘Victoria Blue ’ and ‘ Victoria White ’ , Zones 8–10 )

‘ Hon Tsai Tai ’ mustard ( Brassica rapa‘Hon Tsai Tai ’ , annual )
Danielle’s Plants
Myrtle spurge ( Euphorbia myrsinites , Zones 5–9 )
Mexican bespeckle tinantia ( Tinantia pringlei , Zones 6–10 )
Golden jewels of Opar ( Talinum paniculatum‘Aurea ’ , Zones 9–10 )

Foxglove ( Digitalisspp . and cvs . , Zones 4–9 )
Mexican speckle tinantia
Expert testimony : Amanda Thomsen is a horticulturist , garden intriguer , and generator based in suburban Chicago .

Amanda’s Plants
‘ Dietrich ’s Wild ’ broccoli raab ( Brassica rapa‘Dietrich ’s Wild ’ , biennial )
Bronze fennel ( Foeniculum vulgare‘Purpureum ’ , Zones 4–9 )
majestic shiso ( Perilla frutescens , yearly )

Moonflower ( Datura innoxia , Zones 9–10 )
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‘McKanna Giants’ columbine
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‘McKanna Giants’ columbine

Japanese painted fern

Mealycup sage

‘Hon Tsai Tai’ mustard

Myrtle spurge

Golden jewels of Opar

Foxglove


‘Dietrich’s Wild’ broccoli raab.Photo: Amanda Thomsen

Bronze fennel.Photo: Amanda Thomsen

Purple shiso.Photo: Amanda Thomsen

Moonflower.Photo: Amanda Thomsen


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