Plants of Colonial Williamsburg: Rue (Ruta graveolens)
Karen Also called herb of grace, rue is an evergreen mounding subshrub and a member of the Rutaceae family that also includes oranges, limes, and skimmia. It is native to the…
Plants of the Bible: Mediterranean Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens)
Native to the eastern Mediterranean region including parts of North Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, this evergreen coniferous tree is also known as Italian cypress, Tuscan cypress, Persian cypress,…
Plants of the Bible: White Water Lily (Nymphaea alba)
Also known as European white water lily, white water rose, or white nenuphar, this aquatic flowering plant is native to North Africa, temperate and tropical Asia, and Europe where it…
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 of the Bible: Eastern Prickly Juniper (Juniperus deltoides aka J. oxycedrus)
Native to dry rocky areas of the mountains in Syria, Lebanon, Antilebanons, Galilee, Gilead, and Bashan, this coniferous evergreen is the eastern form of J. oxycedrus which some authorities consider…
Plants of the Bible: English Walnut (Juglans regia)
Also called the Persian walnut, this deciduous tree is native to the area from southeastern Europe to China and belongs to the Juglandaceae plant family that also includes pecan and…
Plants of the Bible: Yellow Flag (Iris pseudacornus)
Also called water flag, this herbaceous perennial is a beardless rhizomatous iris native to the wetlands of Europe, western Asia and northwest Africa where it forms large colonies. It is…
Plants of Colonial Willimasburg: Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium aka Chrysanthemum parthenium aka Pyrethrum parthenium aka Matricaria parthenium )
Feverfew is a bushy, aromatic biennial or short-lived perennial and a member of the aster family, Asteracea, that also includes sunflower, yarrow, and lettuce. It is native to the Balkans…
Plants of the Bible: Tarthuth aka Juniper Roots (Cynomorium coccineum)
Also known as Maltese fungus, Maltese mushroom, desert thumb, red thumb, and tarthuth, this perennial plant is not a fungus or even closely related to fungi. It is a flowering…
Plants of the Bible: 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…