Plant Profile: St. Mary’s Thistle (Silybum marianum)
Karen Known by many names including holy thistle, milk thistle and our Lady’s thistle, this annual or biennial is a member of the aster family, Asteraceae, tht also includes daisy, sunflower,…
Plants of the Bible: Myrtle (Myrtus communis)
This upright evergreen shrub grown in the Mediterranean area since ancient times is a member of the Myrtaceae family that also includes clove and eucalyptus. It grows up to 30′…
Plant Profile: Common Bird’s-Foot Trefold (Lotus corniculatus)
Also known as eggs and bacon and birdsfoot deervetch this herbaceous perennial is native to the grasslands of Eurasia and North Africa but has naturalized in the US and is…
Invasive Plants and Their Native Alternatives: Japanese Wisteria (Wisteria floribunda)
Japanese wisteria is a deciduous flowering vine native to Japan but was introduced into the US in the 1830s and has become invasive from new Jersey to Indiana, south to…
Plant Profile: Sandarac Gum Tree (Tetraclinis articulata aka Callistris quadrivalis aka Thuja articulata)
Also called citrus wood by the ancient Romans, this evergreen shrub or small tree is native to the Atlas Mountains of North Africa and is a member of the cypress…
Plants of the Bible: Calamus (Acornus calamus)
This aquatic perennial goes by many name including beewort, flag root, gladdon, myrtle flag, sweet flag, pine root, sea sedge and sweet cane. It is native to Asia and Europe…
Edible Mushrooms: Slippery Jack (Suillus luteus)
Native to Euraisa, slippery jack has been introduced to North America as well as other elsewhere in the world and is found growing in clumps under conifers, especially pines, where…
Plant Profile: Common St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)
Also called goatweed or Klamath weed, this herbaceous perennial is native to Europe, western Asian and North Africa where it occurs in a wide variety of habitats including pastures, meadows,…
Herbs for a Medieval Physic Garden: Cumin (Cuminum cyminum)
Cumin is a herbaceous annual native to the eastern Mediterranean east to India and has been known from ancient Egyptian times. Although there have been many claims about the medicinal…
Plant Profile: Sugar Cane (Saccharum officinarum)
Native to tropical southeast Asia, this tender perennial grass is a member of the Poaceae/Gramineae family that also includes corn, wheat, rice, and bamboo. The plants from a network of…