Plant Profile: Barberry (Berberis temolaica)
Karen Found in Tibet in 1924, this barberry is relatively unknown. It has gracefully arching stems that are whitish gray at first, turning purple to shiny brown as they mature. The…
Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus) for the Garden
Burning bush, a deciduous shrub native to central and northern east Asia, is grown primarily for its outstanding red fall coloration which gives the plant its common name. The species…
Plant Profile: Berberis linearifolia ‘Orange King’
A native of Chile where it grows in woodlands 100-2000 feet above sea level, this vigorous evergreen shrub is upright and stiffly branched. The oval to lance shaped, shiny dark…
Book Review: Woodland Garden
To many gardeners shade implies problems but Beth Chatto sees shade as an advantage. In her book, Woodland Garden, she describes over five hundred plants that she grows in her…
Plant Combination: Castor Bean (Ricinus communis) ‘Carmencita’ and Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia ‘Fiesta del Sol’)
Either one of these annuals are exceptional plants in the garden but when used together they can are spectacular. The caster bean grows quickly into a tall shrub and forms…
Plant Profile: Berberis darwinii
This evergreen shrub is a native of Chile and Argentina. It was discovered by Darwin in Chile in 1835 when he was a naturalist on the Beagle, hence the specific…
Botanical Latin: Potentilla
Potentilla (po ten TILL a) derived from Latin potens, powerful + suffix – illa, little. Potentilla is the genus name for about five hundred plants known for their palmately compound…
Plant Profile: Coral Plant (Berberidopsis corallina)
Coral plant is an evergreen vine found native to forest ravines in Chile. It is now an endangered species due to forest clearance for timber production but is available in…
Book Review: Backyard Blueprints
If you have a small backyard with little charm but also harbor a big desire for a private paradise, consider this very helpful book by David Stevens. In Backyard Blueprints,…
Weeds and Their control: Western Salsify (Tragopogon dubius)
This annual or biennial weed is a native of Eurasia and North Africa but was brought to North America about 1900 and is now common in most of the United…