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Ozark Garden Talk – Episode 4: Favorite Spring Bloomers

Episode Summary

In this episode of Ozark Garden Talk, Sarah McCue (Owner), Charity Cox (Plant Buyer), and Alex Royce (General Manager) dive into their favorite spring bloomers—from natives to garden classics, shade lovers to ground covers. Alongside lively anecdotes and practical advice, they explore plant performance, design pairings, and even a few surprises in their own gardens. Whether you're planning a pollinator patch or looking to replace your hostas, this episode has something for you.


Watch the entire episode on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.


In This Episode

🌸 Welcome & Introductions (0:00–1:00)

  • Hosts greet listeners and introduce the topic: their favorite spring-blooming plants.

  • Charity and Alex joke about struggling to narrow down their lists.


🌳 Redbud Love (1:00–2:30)

Alex highlights native Redbuds—especially vivid and long-lasting this season.

Charity shares how edible Redbud blooms add a nutty flavor to teas, salads, and even cakes.

👉 Tip: Check for flavor before peak bloom for best taste.


🌿 Rose Verbena – Glandularia canadensis (3:30–6:00)

Charity praises this vibrant native groundcover.

  • Sprawls and reseeds, blooms from early spring into summer.

  • Thrives in hot, dry “prairie” conditions.

  • Perfect for pollinators.



🌼 Fothergilla ‘Blue Shadow’ (6:00–9:30)

Sarah spotlights this three-season beauty.

  • Bare-stem bottlebrush blooms in spring.

  • Powdery blue foliage in summer.

  • Fiery fall color in autumn.

  • Thrives in part shade with consistent moisture.

Alex mentions the larger 'Mount Airy' and the native parent species.




🌺 Native Columbine – Aquilegia canadensis ‘Little Lanterns’ (10:30–12:30)

Alex showcases this petite, self-seeding native favorite.

  • Shade-tolerant and delicate in appearance, but tough.

  • Ideal for woodland gardens or lightly shaded borders.

  • Blooms attract pollinators, including hummingbirds.




🌱 Wood Spurge – Euphorbia amygdaloides (13:00–15:30)

Charity recommends this low-growing, spreading groundcover.

  • Round-leaved, evergreen form with green blooms.

  • Fills in shady spaces beneath Japanese maples.

  • Milky sap may irritate skin—handle with care.



💙 Brunnera – Brunnera macrophylla (16:30–19:30)

Sarah is replacing her chicken-devoured hostas with this shade-loving gem.

  • Bold silver foliage and dainty bright-blue blooms.

  • Varieties mentioned: ‘Jack Frost’ and ‘Alexandria.’

  • Bonus: Deer and chicken-resistant.

Charity confirms long bloom time (3+ months!) at her home.



🌸 Native Dogwood – Cornus florida (20:00–21:30)

Alex celebrates the iconic beauty of Arkansas’ native dogwood.

  • White spring blooms appear before leaves.

  • Seen across wooded landscapes like Lost Valley and the Buffalo River area.



Charity adds another reliable groundcover to the list.

  • White spring blooms on evergreen mounding foliage.

  • Prefers full sun but tolerates some shade.

  • Durable in poor soil conditions.



💜 Woodland Phlox – Phlox divaricata ‘Blue Moon’ (26:00–30:00)

Sarah shares childhood memories of spotting this fragrant woodland native.

  • Shade-loving, thrives on streambanks and in moist woodland gardens.

  • “Blue Moon” is a selected cultivar with vivid blue-purple blooms.

  • Charity notes patches in the wild near the nursery.



📝 Wrap-Up (30:30–end)

  • The team previews future episodes, including late-spring bloomers and summer showstoppers.

  • Encouragement to explore local parks like Wilson and Gulley Park for plant inspiration.

  • Reminder: Photos from their own gardens and plant references are available on the blog.


Featured Plants

Plant

Scientific Name

Notes

Redbud

Cercis canadensis

Edible blooms, native

Rose Verbena

Glandularia canadensis

Long blooming, reseeds

Blue Shadow Fothergilla

Fothergilla × intermedia

Multi-season interest

Little Lanterns Columbine

Aquilegia canadensis

Pollinator favorite

Wood Spurge

Euphorbia amygdaloides

Spreads in shade

Brunnera

Brunnera macrophylla

Foliage star, shade

Dogwood

Cornus florida

Arkansas native

Candytuft

Iberis sempervirens

Groundcover, evergreen

Woodland Phlox

Phlox divaricata ‘Blue Moon’

Classic spring wildflower

🌿 Call to Action

Visit White River Nursery: Come see our blooming favorites in person—availability may vary.

See the Photos: Head to our blog for pictures of all the featured plants, many from our personal gardens.

Follow Us:📷 Instagram | 📘 Facebook | ▶️ YouTube📝 Subscribe to the podcast and leave a review to help more local gardeners discover us!

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