Plant Profile: American Basketflower (Centurea americana)
Karen Also called American starthistle, this annual is native to the southern central US and northeastern Mexico. It is a member of the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes daisy, yarrow,…
Plants of Ancient Pompeii: Opium Poppy (Papaver somniferum)
The opium poppy is a herbaceous annual native to Greece and western Asia and is a member of the poppy family, Papaverceae, that also includes bleeding heart and corydalis. It…
Plant Profile: European Privet (Ligustrum vulgare)
Also called common privet, this semi-evergreen or deciduous shrub is native to central and southern Europe, north Africa, and southwestern Asia. It is a member of the olive family, Oleaceae,…
Plant Profile: Sweet Sultan (Centaurea moschata aka Amberboa moschata)
Native to Asia Minor, this clump-forming cool climate annual is a member of the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes daisy, yarrow, and lettuce. It grows 1-3′ tall and has…
Old Time Recipes for Home Made Wines: Gooseberry Wine 3
In her book, Old Time Recipes for Home Made Wines (published 1909), my paternal grandmother, Helen S. Wright included 8 recipes using gooseberries. Although she did not specify the kind…
Plant Profile: Sweet Pea (Lathyrus odoratus)
Native to Sicily, southern Italy and the Aegean Islands, this bushy annual or climbing annual vine is a member of the legume family, Fabaceae, that also includes peanut, mimosa and…
Poisonous Plants: Corncockle (Agrostemma githago)
Corncockle is an upright annual belonging to the carnation family, Caryophyllaceae, that also includes pinks, baby’s breath, and campion. It is native to Europe where it grows in disturbed sites…
Plant Profile: Croton (Codiaeum variegatum)
Native to open forests and scrub in tropical and subtropical Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia and the islands of the western Pacific Ocean, this tender evergreen shrub is a member of the…
Plants of Pompeii: Onion (Allium cepa)
Native to Asia, the common onion is a biennial or perennial usually grown as an annual It is in the same genus as chives, garlic, and leek, and is the…
Plant Profile: Gloriosa Lily (Gloriosa superba)
Also known as flame lily, climbing lily, creeping lily, glory lily, tiger claw, agnishikha and fire lily, this deciduous perennial vine is native to tropical and southern Africa and temperate…