Plant Profile: English Ivy (Hedera helix)
Karen This evergreen climbing vine is a member of the Aralia family, Araliaceae, that also includes Fatsia and Schefflera. It is native to most of Europe and western Asia where it…
Plants of the Bible: Aloe (Aloe vera aka Aloe barbadensis)
Best known as aloe vera, this evergreen succulent perennial may be native to the Canary Islands, Madeira, and the Cape Verde Islands or the Arabian Peninsula. Plants grow 2-3′ high…
Edible Mushrooms: Brown Stew Mushroom (Kuehneromyces mutabilis aka Galerina mutabalis)
Also known as sheathed wood tuft and two toned wood tuft, this widespread mushroom grows in dense troops from spring to the first frost on dead wood in Australia, Asia,…
Gardens in Art: Monastic Garden-Il Fior de Virtu
This woodcut of a monastic garden is the title page from a Florentine verison of Il Fior de Virtu (Flower of Virtue) dating from 1491 and drawn up by friar…
Plant Profile: Henna (Lawsonia inermis)
Native to semi-arid and tropical areas of Africa, Asia, and northern Australia, this slender, much branched, evergreen shrub or small tree is also known as mignonette tree and Egyptian privet.…
Plant Profile: Sweet Flag (Acornum calamus)
This aquatic perennial goes by many name including beewort, calamus, flag root, gladdon, myrtle flag, pine root, sea sedge and sweet cane. It is native to Asia and Europe where…
Plants of the Bible: Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus aka Curcurbita citrullus)
Archaeological and artistic evidence suggests that ancient Egyptians enjoyed eating watermelons over 3,500 years ago. A tiny fragment of a watermelon leaf as well as tomb paintings indicate that the…
Plants of Colonial Williamsburg: Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare aka F. officinale)
Fennel is a herbaceous perennial and a member of the carrot family, Apiaceae that also includes parsley, celery, and Queen Anne’s lace. It is native to the Mediterranean region region…
Plant Profile: German Iris (Iris Germanica)
Also known as bearded iris and common flag, this herbaceous perennial is native to the eastern Mediterranean and may be a natural hybrid between Iris pallida and Iris variegata. It…
Invasive Plants and Their Native Alternatives: Earleaf Acacia (Acacia auriculiformis)
Earleaf acacia, also known as wattle, is an evergreen tree native to Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea and is currently invasive in the pinelands, scrub, and hammocks of south…