Super Cool Plants - Formerly Known as Let's Argue About Plants

Unusual Plants for Fall  

Forget about mums and asters, these lesser-known gems will truly help your late season garden sparkle  

Maybe it's time to retire some late-season staples have had their moment (okay, several decades of moments). This episode, we're digging into the  dark horses that most gardeners walk right past: the weird bulbs, the sneaky reseeders, the plants that wait until everyone else has packed it in to finally show off. 

We'll talk about why fall gardens don't have to look like a grocery store endcap, which underrated perennials are quietly having their best month right now, and how a few unusual picks can take your October garden from "fine" to genuinely sparkling. 

If you're ready to retire the same five fall plants everyone else is using, this one's for you.  
Dr. Andy Pulte is a contributing editor to Fine Gardening and a faculty member in the plant sciences department at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. 

Richie Steffen is a contributing editor to Fine Gardening and the executive director of the Miller Garden in Seattle. 

Learn more about the plants in this episode on our website: https://www.finegardening.com/podcast

There are many different types of shade, and when low light levels combine with other soil or climate challenges it can be tricky to find suitable plants. Fortunately, the guests on this episode have a great list of shade plants that perform well in a variety of shady situations. Listen along to see if any of their problem-solving plant choices are worthy of adding to your wish list.
Irvin Etienne is curator of herbaceous plants and seasonal garden design at Newfields in Indianapolis.
Hayes Jackson is an urban regional extension agent with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and the liason for Longleaf Botanical Garden in Anniston, Alabama.

Trade in those thirsty water hogs for some of these water-wise options  

Do water shortages have you (and your garden) stressed? This episode is all about the toughest, thirst-averse plants out there — and how to build a landscape that thrives even when the rain is nowhere in sight. On this episode we have two expert guests from two very different climates: one in the Mid-Atlantic and one from the Southwest. Each of them will share the plants that they turn to when the conditions are dry and watering every day is out of the question.  
We'll talk through which plants need a little help getting started versus which ones you can practically set and forget, and how to group plants with similar water needs so you're not overwatering your survivors to keep your divas alive. Whether you're xeriscaping a whole yard from scratch, converting a thirsty lawn bit by bit, or just trying to keep your patio containers alive through a brutal heat wave, tune in for practical, plant-nerd-approved advice. 
Get the plant list for this episode on the Fine Gardening Website: https://www.finegardening.com/podcast


Episode Experts:
Ed Lyon is a horticulturist, an author, the former director of the Reiman Gardens at Iowa State University in Ames, and a frequent contributor to Fine Gardening magazine. He is nationally recognized as a top-tier garden educator with decades of experience helping gardeners cultivate beautiful, resilient landscapes. After many years in the Midwest, Ed relocated to Pennsylvania and launched Spellbound Garden Writing & Consultation. 

Natalie McAnarney, known online as The Plant Ninja, is a Texas gardener and YouTube creator based about an hour north of Austin. A former U.S. Army officer who now works as a physician assistant, she began transforming her lawn into native and adapted plantings in 2020. Through her YouTube channel, The Plant Ninja - Texas Gardener, she documents her de-lawning projects and plant choices and features others in horticulture taking on similar approaches.  
Natalie's efforts have also made her an advocate for drought-tolerant landscaping, after successfully persuading her HOA to approve a large-scale native-plant conversion of her front yard by citing Texas law protecting homeowners' rights to xeriscape.

Plants We Covet
The heart wants what it wants, but when it comes to which plants we can grow Mother Nature sometimes gets the final say. On this episode, our expert guests dive into the plants that have eluded them, why they can't grow them, and what makes these plants so hard to resist. Whether you are a northern gardener who loves frost-sensitive species, a Pacific Northwesterner who longs for spiky desert plants, or a Midwesterner who bemoans the limitations of clay soil, you'll find this episode very relatable. 
Episode Experts:
Amanda Thomsen is a talented horticulturist, garden designer, author, and the owner of Aster Gardens, a plant shop in suburban Chicago.  
Loree Bohl is the creator of the Danger Garden blog and website, and author of Fearless Gardening: Be Bold, Break the Rules, and Grow What You Love. She gardens in Portland, Oregon.

In this episode of Super Cool Plants, we explore the power of plants to calm, comfort, and restore. From soft, touchable foliage to gentle fragrances and soothing color palettes, our panel of horticultural experts shares their favorite selections for creating a more sensory-friendly garden. Looking to design a peaceful retreat, engage more deeply with your outdoor space, or simply take the edge off a busy day? Well, we've got plants that deliver on those needs. Expect recommendations that appeal to all five senses—rustling grasses, velvety leaves, aromatic blooms, and more—along with practical tips for weaving them into your landscape. Tune in for a thoughtful, plant-filled conversation that just might change how your garden feels. 

GUEST BIOS: 

Mark Dwyer is the garden manager for the Edgerton Hospital Healing Garden in Edgerton, Wisconsin, and he operates Landscape Prescriptions by MD. He is also a Midwest Regional Reporter for FineGardening.com 

Jason Reeves is a horticulturist for Tennessee Department of Agriculture at the Ellington Agriculture Center in Nashville. He is also a contributing editor for Finne Gardening magazine. You can follow him on Facebook at Jason Reeves-in the garden.