Plant Profile: German Iris (Iris Germanica)
Karen Also known as bearded iris and common flag, this herbaceous perennial is native to the eastern Mediterranean and may be a natural hybrid between Iris pallida and Iris variegata. It…
Invasive Plants and Their Native Alternatives: Earleaf Acacia (Acacia auriculiformis)
Earleaf acacia, also known as wattle, is an evergreen tree native to Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea and is currently invasive in the pinelands, scrub, and hammocks of south…
Butterflies in the Garden and How to Attract Them: Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus)
The gray hairstreak is one of the most widely distributed butterflies in the US being absent only from the far North. They prefer open sunny sights such as coastal areas,…
Plants of the Bible: Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera)
The lotus is associated with Job in the Bible and some scholars have identified it as Nelumbo nucifera, the sacred lotus of Egyptian fame. It is an aquatic perennial native…
Using Auxins for Stem Cuttings
Auxins are plant hormones that can stimulate or inhibit growth. The most well-known naturally occurring auxin is indol-3-acetic acid (IAA) . Plants contain varying a mount of IAA and those…
Plant Profile: Bulrush (Cyperus papyrus)
Also known as paper reed and Nile grass, this tender aquatic herbaceous perennial is native to lakes, rivers and swamps of northern Africa, and was cultivated in the Nile Delta…
Plant Combination: Variegated Stonecrop (Sedum alborosceum ‘Mediovariegatum’) and Variegated Iris (Iris pallida) ‘Aureavariegata’
The beautiful variegated foliage of this combination makes a long season statement in the garden. Both plants have creamy white and green foliage creating an echo between the two that…
Plant Profile: Apricot (Prunus armeniaca)
Native to central Asia, this deciduous small tree is a member of the rose family, Rosaceae, that also includes cherry, almond, and lady’s mantle. The trees grow 26-39′ tall and…
Plants of the Bible: Lentil (Lens culinaris aka Lens esculenta)
Lentil is a cool season annual domesticated in the Fertile Cresent and dating back to 7500-6500 BC. The many branched plants grow 12-20″ tall may be erect or spreading. The…
Plant Profile: Mandrake (Mandragora officinarum)
Also called love-apple, mandrake is a very variable herbaceous perennial that is native to the Mediterranean area including Israel and the Levant and some sourses would classsify mandrakes in the…