Genus Acalypha for the Garden
Karen The genus Acalypha is in the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae, that also includes pointsettia, caster oil plant, and crotons. There are 450 species in the genus including perennial herbs, shrubs and…
Plant Profile: Moss Sandwort (Arenaria verna)
Also called Scotch moss, this evergreen herbaceous perennial is not a moss or even closely related to mosses. It is a member of the carnation family, Caryophyllaceae, that also includes,…
Plants for a Plant Zoo: Beebalm aka Bergamot (Monarda didyma)
Grow beebalm and introduce children to wildlife, butterflies and American history. Also known as oswego tea, this clump-forming herbaceous perennial is native to eastern North America from Maine to northern…
Plant Profile: Tufted Erysimum (Erysimum pumilium)
Native to the European Alps, this evergreen herbaceous perennial is a member of the mustard family, Brassicaceae, that also includes cabbage, alyssum, and stock. The tufted compact plants grow 1-6″…
Plants of the Bible: Plant Profile: Eelgrass (Zostera marina)
Also known as seawrack and tapegrass, eelgrass is a submerged perennial native to shallow marine environments from subtropical to subpolar regions of North America and Eurasia. It is a member…
Weeds and Their Control: Common Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare)
Common tansy is a herbaceous perennial and a member of the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes daisy, yarrow, and lettuce. It is native to Europe and Asia but was…
Plant Profile: Mountain Sandwort (Arenaria montana)
Native to the mountainous regions of southwestern Europe from the Pyrenees to Portugal, this evergreen herbaceous perennial is a member of the carnation family, Caryophyllaceae, that also includes, pinks, baby’s…
Plants for a Plant Zoo: Leopard Plant (Farfugium japonicum aka Ligularia tussilaginea)
For a real WOW factor in a shady moist area, the leopard plant, Farfugium japonicum, is sure to please. There are many plants with the common name, leopard plant, so…
Plant Profile: Alpine Wallflower aka Kotschy Erysimum (Erysimum kotschyanum)
Native to Asia Minor, this evergreen herbaceous perennial is a member of the mustard family, Brassicaceae, that also includes cabbage, broccoli, and alyssum. The plant forms a tuft of foliage…
Plants of the Bible: White Weeping Broom (Retama raetam akd Genista raetam)
This dense deciduous flowering shrub is native to arid regions of northern Africa from the Western Sahara to Sudan, Sicily, the Sinai Peninsula, the Palestine region and Saudi Arabia. It…