Plant Profile: Toad Lily (Tricyrtis hirta)
Karen Native to moist shady sites in central and southern Japan, this herbaceous perennial is a member of the the lily family, Liliaceae, that also includes tulips, dog tooth violet, and…
Plants of the Bible: Christ’s Thorn Jujube (Zizphus spina-christi)
Christ’s thorn jujube is a shrub or small tree native to Africa, the Levant, and southern and western Asia where it grows in a variety of habitats including deserts, semi-desert…
Plants of Colonial Williamsburg: Oregano aka Wild Marjoram (Origanum vulgare)
This aromatic perennial herb is native from the Mediterranean to central Asia but has naturalized in the eastern US. It is a member of the mint family, Lamiaceae, that also…
Plants for a Plant Zoo: Ponytail Grass (Stipa tenuissima aka Nasellela tenuissima)
Also known as Mexican feathergrass, finestem needle grass, fineleaved nassella and Argentine needle-grass this perennial grass adds beauty and charm to the garden with its delicate silvery green thread like…
Plant Profile: Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus)
Also known as swamp cabbage, clumpfoot cabbage, foetid pothos and polecat weed, this herbaceous perennial is native to wetlands and moist slopes of eastern North America. It is a member…
Plants of the Bible: Roccella tinctoria
Roccella tinctoria is a fruticose perennial lichen found mostly on rocks, boulders, and cliffs along the coasts of the Mediterranean and Macronesia. It is light brown or greenish brown and…
Weeds and Their Control: White Campion (Lychnis alba aka Silene alba)
Also known as white cockle, and evening lychnis, white campion is a biennial or short lived perennial in the pink family (Caryophyllaceae) that also includes carnations, baby’s breath, and chickweed.…
Plant Profile: Tall Kangaroo Paw (Anigozanthos flavidus)
Endemic to southwestern Australia, this tender herbaceous perennial is a member of the bloodwort family, Haemodoraceae, a plant family found primarily in the Southern Hemisphere. The plants grow from a…
Plants for a Plant Zoo: Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
The bright red flowers of this North American herbaceous perennial will light up dark, moist areas of the garden for 4-6 weeks from late summer into fall . The plants…
Plant Profile: White Sandalwood (Santalum album)
Also called Indian sandalwood, this semi-parsitic deciduous tree is native to southern India and Southeast Asia where it grows mostly in dry deciduous and scrub forests but can also be…