Plant Profile: Sweet Box (Sarcococca confusa)
Karen The evergreen shrub is a member of the boxwood family, Buxaceae, and probably native to western China. It grows 3-5′ tall and wide, is densely branched and has glossy leathery,…
Plants of Ancient Pompeii: Cucumus (Cucumber and Melons)
The genus Cucumis is in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, and includes at least two species valued by the ancient Romans for food: cucumber (Cucumis sativus,) and muskmellons (C. melo). Plant…
Plant Profile: Littleleaf Lilac ‘Superba’ (Syringa pubescens subsp microphylla ‘Superba’)
Native to China, this flowering deciduous shrub is a member of the olive family, Oleaceae, that also includes privet, jasmine and forsythia. The shrub is bushy, grows up to 7′…
Old Time Recipes for Home Made Wines: Champagne Cider-2
After consulting the 1909 book Old Time Recipes for Home Made Wines by my paternal grandmother, Helen S. Wright, I am confused about the difference between champagne cider and cider…
Plant Profile: Large Flowered St. John’s Wort (Hypericum kouytchense aka Hypericum patulum ‘Sungold’)
Native to western China, this bushy, rounded, semi-evergreen shrub is a member of the Hypericaceae plant family, best known for the herb, H. perforatum (common St. John’s wort). The plant…
Plants of Ancient Pompeii: Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera)
Date palm is a tender evergreen tree that probably orginated in the Fertile Crescent and has been cultivated since 7,000 BC. It is a member of the palm family, Arecaceae,…
Plant Profile: Night Blooming Phlox (Zaluzianskya ovata)
Native to Lesotho and South Africa, this semi-evergreen tender perennial is a member of the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae, that also includes bacopa, verbascum, and cape fushia. The plant grows 1-2′…
Plant Profile: Doublefile Viburnum (Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum)
Native to China and Japan, this deciduous flowering shrub is a member of the moschatel family, Adoxaceae, that also includes elders. The shrub grows 8-10′ tall and has horizontal branching…
Poisonous Plants: Red Bugbane (Actaea rubra)
This herbaceous perennial is native to shady areas with moist to wet soils of most of North America except the southeast US (from Virginia to Texas). It is a member…
Plants of Ancient Pompei: Strawberry Tree (Arbutus unedo)
Native to the Mediterranean region and western Europe, this broadleaf evergreen shrub or small tree is a member of the heather family, Ericaceae, that also includes rhododendron, blueberry, and mountain…