I took into consideration zones, as the Topsail Beach doesn't get quite as cold as our area. With that in mind, here are a few plants that can endure (and even thrive) in the harsh sun, drying winds and poor soils of the beach (and, alas, of some of my garden beds).

Dusty miller (Artemesia stellatiana) isn't native to the North American coastline, but this perennial is found in many areas along the shore. While it doesn't have great flowers like fellow members of the aster family, the foliage is beautiful.

Seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) is showy and is very tolerant of the salty beach conditions, making it perfect by a driveway or roadway that might be salted in the winter. Low maintenance, easy to grow and adaptable to poor environments, it prefers full sun, is shade intolerant and can withstand part-shade at best. It is salt tolerant and can be grown in environmental extremes ranging from dry seaside sand dunes, rocky crags and slopes, to wet marshlands.

 Flower production will actually be best in poor soil, while overly fertile soil will encourage vegetative growth. It does not spread vegetatively, but can do so quite aggressively from seed. Cutting the stems back to the ground after flowering will tidy up the overall appearance of the plant and help control unwanted spread. This is a late-season bloomer, from July to October depending on geographic location. It also will thrive in temperature extremes ranging from Zone 4 (possibly colder) to 11.

I'm crazy about Gaillardia, a perennial also called Indian Blanket. The plants form a low mound of light green leaves, bearing upright stems of daisy-like flowers. These are attractive to butterflies, and are drought-tolerant once established. Removing faded flowers will encourage constant blooming.

I saw Hypericum (St. John's Wort) growing in the dunes and blooming during June. I've used this small, herbaceous shrub in a few spots in my garden with great success -- it's pretty and pretty tough.

Of course, there are lots of grasses that I saw dotting the landscapes of the beach homes in South Carolina that will translate well to our climate. If I close my eyes while standing next to some of the Indian Grass (Sorghastrum) in the front yard, I can almost hear the ocean when the breezes blow . . . well, maybe not, but they do remind me of the dune plants like Sea Oats and Salt Hay that I love.

Confusing names

I read an article in an old copy of Horticulture magazine that really puts plant names/plant tag information into layman's terms.

"Why Latin? Latin names are essential for accurate communication as a plant's common name often varies from one area to another -- especially when different countries come into the picture. The language of horticulture, or binomial nomenclature, makes it so everyone around the world can understand the same botanical meaning. The origins of botanical Latin date back to the 1700s, to the work of Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus. The dual-name system he devised is still in use today.

"The genus name groups together closely related plants that have enough in common. This name is always distinguished by a capital letter and is often a name in Latin, Greek or Arabic, or a 'Latinized' version of the person's name who discovered the plant. Example: Echinacea.

"The species is the plant's specific name, or epithet, which always appears after the genus, beginning with a lowercase letter. This part of the name usually is descriptive and tells something about the plant, such as its origin, habitat, composition or use. Example: Echinacea purpurea."

I typically ask my daughter to explain the plant tags -- so I know those four years of Latin aren't wasted.

Currants

Kathleen Cooke writes:

I always enjoy your articles in the Sunday Gazette-Mail, but I thought I ought to let you know about your advice (via Ros Creasy) in the July 3 edition, about planting currants! I'm sorry to tell you that currants, red, black or white, are not allowed to be imported into West Virginia. Gooseberries are also banned, but I know there are people here who have had gooseberry bushes forever! The reason for the ban is the danger of bringing a virus, which would compromise our native pines, I believe. I don't know how long it has been in effect, but I have tried for years to see if they were allowed -- to no effect! I love all currants and gooseberries so if the ban is ever rescinded, I will be first in line to order!

Sorry for the bad news!

Reach Sara Busse at sara.bu...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1249.