Plant Profile: Common Ladybells (Adenophora confusa)
Karen Native to China, this herbaceous perennial is a member of the bellflower family, Companulaceae, that also includes lobelia and balloon flower. The plants grow 2-2.5′ tall and have fleshy roots…
Plants for a Plant Zoo: Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae)
The unique orange and blue flowers of bird of paradise never fail to catch the eye and add a touch of the exotic to the surroundings. From spring to fall…
Plant Profile: Orange Fleabane (Erigeron aurantiacus)
Native to the mountains of Kazakhstan and Xinjian in central Asia, this clump-forming, herbaceous perennial is a member of the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes daisy, yarrow, and lettuce.…
Plants of the Bible: Spotted Golden Thistle (Scolymus maculatus)
Also known as spotted oyster thistle, this annual herb is native of the Mediterranean region including southern Europe, southwest Asia, northern Africa, and the Canary Islands where it grows in…
Invasive Plants and Their Native Alternatives: European Alder (Alunus glutinosa)
European alder , also called black alder, is a small to medium sized deciduous tree native to Europe, northern Africa and western Asia where it grows in wet areas along…
Plant Profile: Downy Amsonia (Amsonia ciliata aka A. angustifolia)
A native of southeastern United States, this herbaceous perennial is a member of the dogbane family, Apocynaceae, that also includes perwinkle, oleander, and milkweed. The plant grows 1-3′ tall and…
Plants for a Plant Zoo: Kangaroo Paw (Anigozanthos spp)
The small appealing flower buds of the kangaroo paw plant are a must for the plant zoo! The best part is that there are many different colors of “paws” and…
Plant Profile: Dwarf Chenille Plant (Acalypha pendula)
Also called kitten-tail, red hot cat’s tail, and strawberry firetail, this evergreen herbaceous perennial is native to Dominican Republic, Cuba and Haiti and is a member of the spurge family,…
Plants of the Bible: Kotschy’s Crocus (Crocus kotschyanus aka C. zonatus)
Native to parts of Turkey, Syria and Lebanon, this perennial corm is a member of the iris family, Iridaceae, that also includes gladiol a,freesia, and crocosmia. Plants produce goblet-shaped pale…
Plants of Colonial Williamsburg: Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
This evergreen shrub is native to the dry rocky hills of the Mediterranean area and is a member of the mint family, Lamiaceae, that also includes beebalm, basal, and lavender.…