Plants of Colonial Williamsburg: Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
Karen 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.…
Plants of the Bible: Common Reed (Phragmites australis aka Phragmites communis)
Native to temperate wetlands world wide, this perennial aquatic grass is a member of the grass family, Poaceae, that also includes corn, rice, and bamboo. It is a vigorous grower…
Plants of the Bible: White Weeping Broom (Retama raetam akd Genista raetam)
This dense deciduous flowering shrub is native to arid regions of northern Africa from the Western Sahara to Sudan, Sicily, the Sinai Peninsula, the Palestine region and Saudi Arabia. It…
Plants of the Bible: Red Sandalwood (Pterocarpus santalinus)
Endemic to the dry deciduous forests in the southern Eastern Ghats in South India, red sandlewood is also know as red sanders, Rakt Chandan, and saunderswood, and is a member…
Plants of Colonial Williamsburg: Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)
Also called scarlet or Virginia strawberry, this herbaceous perennial is a member of the rose family, Rosaceae, that also includes apples, lady’s mantle, and pyracantha. It is native to eastern…
Plants of the Bible: Red Acacia (Vachellia seyal aka Acacia seyal)
Also known as shittah tree, this evergreen tree is native to parts of northern Africa including Senegal, and Egypt where it grows in woodlands, wooded grassland, subtropical and tropical deserts,…
Plants of the Bible: Winter Crocus (Crocus hyemalis)
Native to rocky areas and undergrowth of Israel, Lebanon, Palestine, and Syria, this perennial corm is a member of the iris family, Iridaceae, that also includes gladiolus, crocosmia, and blue-eyed…
Plants of the Bible: Desert Tamarix (Tamarix tetragyna)
Also known as 4-stamen tamarix and salt cedar, this evergreen tree is native to coastal areas of the eastern Mediterrean, Iran and the Arabian Peninsula where it grows in sandy…
Plants of Williamsburg: Horseradish ( Armoracia rusticana aka Cochlearia armoracia)
This herbaceous perennial is a member of the mustard family, Brassicaceae, that also includes broccoli, alyssum, and stock. It’s origin is obscure but it is believed to be native to…
Plants of the Bible: Crocus cancellatus
This perennial corm is native from southern Turkey to southwest Syria but found on rocky hillsides and open woods from North Africa to Palestine and Armenia. It is a member…