Shakespeare’s Garden: Aconitum
Karen Also known as wolfsbane and monkshood, Shakespeare’s Aconitum is probably the perennial A. napellus, one of 100 species of Aconitum, a genus in the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae. A. nepallus is…
Shakespeare’s Garden: Aspen
Shakespeare’s aspen was probably Populus tremula a native of the cool areas of Europe, Asia and North Africa and should not be confused with the aspen of North America, Populus…
Shakespeare’s Garden: Ash
The ash tree of Shakespeare is probably the European ash, Fraxinus excelsior. It is native to most of Europe and southwestern Asia but grows in parts of the US, Canada,…
Shakespeare’s Garden: Crowflowers
The crowflower of Shakespeare has been various identified as ragged robin ( Lychnis flos-cuculi), buttercup (Ranunculur spp), and common bluebell or scilla (Hyacinthoides nonscripta) but ragged robin is the most…
Shakespeare’s Garden: Cypress
The Mediterranean cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) is an evergreen conifer tree native to southern Europe and western Asia, including Persia where a 4000 year old tree still grows. The dark gray-green…
Shakespeare’s Garden: Cuckoo Buds and Flowers
There is some controversy over what flower Shakespeare meaning by cuckoo buds/flowers but the best choices appear to be buttercup or cowslip. They are both yellow and may be weedy.…
Shakespeare’s Garden: Nutmeg
Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) is a small evergreen tree growing up to 43 feet native to Blanda islands that are part of the Moluccas, or Spice islands, of Indonesia. It has…
Shakespeare’s Garden: Narcissus
Narcissus is a genus in the amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae) and also includes plants known as daffodils and jonquils. The narcissus that Shakespeare is referring to is probably Narciss pseudonarissus also…
Shakspeare’s Garden: Myrtle
Common myrtle (Myrtus communis) is an evergreen shrub native to the Mediterranean area. It grows up to fifteen feet high but takes well to shearing and so is often kept…
Shakespeare’s Garden: Onion
The common onion (Allium cepa) is in the same genus as chives, garlic, and leeks and the same species as shallots. Onion is native to Asia but is grown throughout…