Ed Lyon

Ed Lyon is a horticulturist, an author, and the director of the Reiman Gardens at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa.

Design
A Garden Planting Plan That Utilizes Adaptable Plants

This plan represents a bed along a property fence between the west side of a house and a large canopy tree. The edge of the border is curved because I…
Design
5 Plants That Thrive Across Varied Soil Types and Textures

The following plants come from habitats that are seasonally or permanently wet, yet they can thrive in drier upland regions too. They are also tolerant of different soil types and…
Design
5 Easygoing Plants That Can Adapt to Either Sun or Shade

The following selections exhibit a remarkable ability to grow in a variety of lighting situations, including those outside of their preferred conditions. Shrubs The super-showy fruit of Proud Berry® coralberry…
Midwest Regional Reports
Late-Winter and Early-Spring Bloomers for the Midwest

In Jason Reeves' article Plants That Bloom in Late Winter or Early Spring, he discusses how plants that bloom during the coldest time of the year, often go underappreciated: "Some…
Midwest Regional Reports
Plants for the Midwest to Add to Your Shopping List

Whether you're walking through your local garden center, flipping through the pages of your favorite catalog, or scrolling the website of an online retailer, the sheer number of plant choices…
How-To
How to Site Your Ground-Cover Plants Right

The further the spacing, the fewer plants that are needed to cover an area. However, this also means it takes more time for bare areas of ground to be covered.…
Design
27 Better Ground Covers for Shade to Replace Problematic Plants

“Ground cover” technically refers to the base layer of the four forest levels: ground cover, shrub, understory, and canopy. But in gardening, ground covers are generally considered low-growing or trailing…
Midwest Regional Reports
Underused Perennials for the Midwest

1. Martagon Lily Name: Lilium martagon Zones: 3–9 Size: 3 to 6 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide Conditions: Partial sun to partial shade; evenly moist,…
Design
Surprising Plants for Shade

I recently designed my third shade garden on as many properties. As my fascination with shade plants grows, I continually look for more variety beyond the plants commonly available in…
Midwest Regional Reports
Regional Picks: Plant Wish List – Midwest

1. Rhizoma Corydalis Name: Corydalis turtschaninovii Usda Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9 Size: 6 to 8 inches tall and wide Conditions: Partial to full shade; moist, well-drained soil…

No results found.