History of Vegetables: Cardoon (Cynara cardunculus)
Karen If you have ever seen a cardoon it was probably a garden specimen planted because of the architectural quality it provides. The recorded history of the cardoon goes back to…
Plants of the Bible: Common Grape (Vitis vinifera)
Also called European grape, this deciduous woody vine is native to the riversides and damp wood in the Mediterranean region including central Europe, southwestern Asia, and north Africa, and was…
Plants of the Bible: Eaglewood (Aquilaria agallocha aka A. malaccensis)
Also known as agarwood, this large evergreen tree is native to Northeast India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and parts of Southeast where it grows as an undercanopy tree mainly in the plains…
Plants of the Bible: Ferula galbaniflua aka F. glummosa
Native to the mountains of Iran and Turkmenistan, this herbaceous perennial is a member of the parsley family, Apiaceae, that also includes carrots, celery, and poison hemlock. Growing from a…
Plants of Williamsburg: Summer Savory (Satureja hortensis)
Summer savory is an annual and a member of the mint family , Lamiaceae, that also includes rosemary and thyme, and beebalm. It is native to southern Europe and the…
Plants of the Bible: Common Rush (Juncus effusus)
Also known as soft rush and mat rush, this herbaceous perennial is a member of the rush family, Juncaceae, that includes plants resembling sedges and grasses. Common rush is native…
Plants of the Bible: Plant Profile: Syrian Marjoram (Origanum syriacum aka O. maru aka Majorana syriaca)
Also known as bible hyssop, Syrian oregano, and Lebanese oregano, this tender perennial herb is native to the Middle East and is a member of the deadnettle family, Lamiaceae, that…
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…
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.…