Plants of Ancient Pompeii: Bitter Vetch (Vicia ervilia)
Karen Bitter vetch is an annual and a member of the legume family, Fabaceae, that also includes pea, lupine, and mimosa. Archaeological evidence suggests that the earliest domestication of the plant…
Plant Profile: Japanese Witch Hazel (Hamamelis japonica)
Native to mountainous areas of Japan, this deciduous shrub or small tree is a member of the witch hazel family, Hamamelidaceae, that also includes loropetalum, fothergill, and winter hazel. The…
Book Review: The Vegetable Garden Problem Solver Handbook
in her book, The Vegetable Garden Problem Solver Handbook, author Susan Mulvihill, offers a guide to meeting the challenges that gardeners face when growing vegetables. The problems may be caused…
Weeds and Their Control: Japanese Knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum aka Fallopia japonica aka Reynoutria japonica)
Also known as Asian knotweed, fleeceflower, crimson beauty, and Mexican bamboo, this herbaceous perennial is a member of the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae, that also includes rhubarb and dock. Although it…
Plant Profile: Veitch’s Winter Hazel (Corylopsis veitchiana)
This deciduous shrub or small tree is native to mountainous areas of central China and is a member of the witch hazel family, Hamamelidaceae, that also includes lorpetalum and fothergill.…
Plants of Ancient Pompeii: Chestnut (Castanea sativa)
Also called sweet chestnut, Spanish chestnut, and European chestnut, this deciduous tree is native to mountainous woods in southern Europe and Asia Minor and is a member of the beech…
Plant Profile: Delavayi Summersweet (Clethra delavayi)
This deciduous shrub or small tree is native to western China and is a member of the small plant family Cletheracae that is distantly related to azaleas. The plant grows…
Book Review: The Flowerpot Forager
In his book, The Flowerpot Forager, author Stuart Ovenden’s introduces the topic of growing wild plants in pots for culinary use and then gives plant profiles and recipes for 30…
Weeds and Their Control: Florida Betony (Stachys floridana)
Also known as Florida hedgenettle, and rattlesnake weed, this cool season herbaceous perennial is probably native to Florida but in the 40s and 50s spread throughout the southeastern US from…
Plant Profile: Chinese Winter Hazel (Corylopsis platypetala)
Native to South-Central and Southeast China, this deciduous shrub is a member of the witch hazel family, Hamamelidaceae, that also includes fothergill and loropetalum. Although it grows 8-10 feet in…