Lamb's Ears
Stachys byzantina
This silver-leafed groundcover does best in well-drained soil, but tolerates adverse conditions. Its purple flowers are attractive to honeybees and bumblebees.
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Season: Spring
Larkspur
Consolida ajacis
A favorite in the Mount Vernon gardens, this annual reseeds readily. Its pink, blue, and white flowers add height to the spring border.
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Leeks
Allium ampeloprasum
Leeks are an onion relative with strappy green leaves which an edible stalk which is usually blanched.
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Lemon Balm
Melissa officinalis
Lemon balm is a spreading herb with a strong citrusy fragrance. It can be used for teas and cooking and is frequently used for essential oil. Gardeners should be aware that it can be aggressive and should be carefully contained.
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Lettuce
Lactuca sativa
Lettuce is a cool season leafy vegetable that is most frequently used in salads. Its leaves come in a variety of colors, from green to red to splotchy.
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Leucothoe
Leucothoe axillaris
This glossy-leafed shade loving shrub has a graceful arching habit and panicles of white flowers in the late spring.
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Lilac
Syringa vulgaris
Large fragrant bouquets of purple flowers make this shrub the queen of spring in the northern garden.
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Love-in-a-Mist
Nigella damascena
This feathery flower blooms in shades of blue, white, and pink, and reseeds easily, but does not transplant well. It is noted for its interesting seedpods.
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Maximus Daffodil
Narcissus hispanicus 'Maximus'
Maximus is a standard among daffodils for its height and large yellow blooms. It does well in the middle of the border where it can be easily seen.
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Mock Orange
Philadelphus coronarius
Mock oranges are common in older gardens, although they are regaining popularity with the introduction of dwarf and double-flowering cultivars. Richly fragrant, they offer a profusion of star-shaped flowers with yellow centers.
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