KarensGardenTips.com » Plant Profiles: How To Grow

Plant Profile: Chinese Ground Orchid (Bletilla striata)

Karen — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:00:50 +0000

Read 'Plant Profile: Chinese Ground Orchid (Bletilla striata)' at http://www.KarensGardenTips.com.

Read 'Plant Profile: Chinese Ground Orchid (Bletilla striata)' at http://www.KarensGardenTips.com. Not all orchids are persnickety prima donnas and this one is definitely not. A native of Japan, China, Korea, and Burma, this hardy, terrestrial orchid was introduced into to England in the late 18th century and thence into North America where it grows well in [...]

Plant Profile: Devil’s Walking Stick (Aralia spinosa)

Karen — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:00:01 +0000

Read 'Plant Profile: Devil’s Walking Stick (Aralia spinosa)' at http://www.KarensGardenTips.com.

With common names like Devil’s walking stick, and Hercules’ club this plant is bound to attract attention. It is a deciduous small tree or shrub with spines on its trunks, stems, petioles, and leaflets. Growing in open woods, edges of meadows, and along roadsides it [...]

Plant Profile: Seckle Pear (Pyrus communis)

Karen — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:00:51 +0000

Read 'Plant Profile: Seckle Pear (Pyrus communis)' at http://www.KarensGardenTips.com.

Seckle pears are a great dessert treat if you can find them. They are not easy to locate but are unusual and well worth a search. The fruits are borne on semi-dwarf trees and are small (bite-size), and very sweet, leading to the name “sugar pear’. [...]

Plant Profile: White Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus)

Karen — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:00:16 +0000

Read 'Plant Profile: White Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus)' at http://www.KarensGardenTips.com.

This native of woodland edges, stream banks, and roadsides from Massachusetts, Kentucky, and Missouri south to Florida and west to Texas, is a small deciduous shrub or tree with a spectacular bloom in late spring. Growing 12-35 feet tall, usually 20 feet, the fringetree may be [...]

Plant Profile: Rock Soapwort (Saponaria ocymoides)

Karen — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Read 'Plant Profile: Rock Soapwort (Saponaria ocymoides)' at http://www.KarensGardenTips.com.

Read 'Plant Profile: Rock Soapwort (Saponaria ocymoides)' at http://www.KarensGardenTips.com. A native of the European Alps, rock soapwort is a low growing plant that scrambles over rocks and trails over walls. It’s semi-evergreen foliage forms dense mats and can be used in rock gardens or between stepping stones to advantage. This easy to grow plant is [...]

Plant Profile: Winged Sumac (Rhus copallinum)

Karen — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:00:33 +0000

Read 'Plant Profile: Winged Sumac (Rhus copallinum)' at http://www.KarensGardenTips.com.

Native to Eastern United States, winged sumac is a tough small tree that is found on forest edges, old fields, meadows and roadsides. It grows quickly and suckers form colonies that are appealing when in bloom or fruit. The tiny greenish cream colored flowers are borne [...]

Plant Profile: Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea hybrids)

Karen — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 10:00:58 +0000

Read 'Plant Profile: Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea hybrids)' at http://www.KarensGardenTips.com.

There are few homes near my southern California garden that do not have at least one bouganvillea vine blooming most of the year. The bright colors can be garish but the look well in the bright sun and are a welcome sight when other plants start to [...]

Plant Profile: Maple-Leaf Viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium)

Karen — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 10:00:14 +0000

Read 'Plant Profile: Maple-Leaf Viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium)' at http://www.KarensGardenTips.com.

Growing in mixed mesic forests, and wooded ravines, this native of Eastern United States is a medium sized deciduous shrub that does well in both full sun and partial shade, tolerating more shade than most viburnums. Although it prefers moist, well-well drained soil it is moderately [...]

Plant Profile: Carpathian Harebell (Campanula carpatica)

Karen — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 10:00:24 +0000

Read 'Plant Profile: Carpathian Harebell (Campanula carpatica)' at http://www.KarensGardenTips.com.

The tidy mounds of wavy heart-shaped leaves covered with flowers make an ideal edge for the border. The first flush of flowers in mid summer is followed by a short rest with a renewed flush of flowers in fall. The starry open-faced flowers are produced singly [...]

Plant Profile: Wood Vamp (Decumaria Barbara)

Karen — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 10:00:48 +0000

Read 'Plant Profile: Wood Vamp (Decumaria Barbara)' at http://www.KarensGardenTips.com.

Found in low woods, swamps, and pond margins, this native of Southeastern United States from New York to Florida and west to Louisiana, wood vamp is a woody semi-evergreen vine with smooth shiny dark green leaves and creamy white flowers in late spring and early summer. [...]