Plants for a Mary Garden: Yellow Bedstraw (Galium verum) Lady’s Bedstraw
Karen Meyers The link between Galium verum and Mary arises out of early customs and legend. The dried stems and flowers of the plant were used to stuff mattresses especially for women…
Plant Profile: Cape Scabiosa (Scabiosa africana)
Karen A rare plant suitable only for West Coast gardens, this evergreen herbaceous perennial is native to the fynbos of South Africa and a member of the honeysuckle family, Caprifoliaceae, that…
Plant Profile: Carmel Daisy (Scabiosa prolifera)
Native to the woodlands and shrublands of the eastern Mediterranean area, this annual is a member of the honeysuckle family, Caprifoliaceae, that also includes weigelia, Centranthus, and valerian. Plants grow…
Plant Profile: Common Daisy (Bellis perennis)
Also known as lawn daisy and English daisy, this herbaceous perennial is a member of the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes chrysanthemum, dandelion, and lettuce. It is native to…
Plant Profile: Cream Scabiosa (Scabiosa ochroleuca)
Native to southern Europe and Asia Minor, this short-lived herbaceous perennial is a member of the honeysuckle family, Caprifoliaceae, that also includes weigelia, Centranthus, and valerian. Plants grow 2-3′ tall…
Plant Profile: Caucasian Pincushion Flower(Scabiosa caucasica)
Native to Caucasus, north eastern Turkey, and northern Iran, thisherbaceous perennial is a member of the honeysuckle family, Caprifoliaceae, that also includes weigelia, Centranthus, and valerian. The plant grows up…
Plant Profile: Golden-Eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium californicum)
This tender semi-evergreen herbaceous perennial is native to moist soils around ponds, bogs, marshes, and other moist sites along the Pacific coast from central California to southern British Columbia. It…
Plant Profile: Narrow-Leaved Blue-Eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium)
Native to moist meadows and woodlands of North America, this semi-evergreen herbaceous perennial is not a grass but is in the iris family, Iridaceae, that also includes gladiolus, crocus and…
Book Review: Plants That Eat Meat
Plants that Eat Meat, by Keisha Jones, introduces young readers to carnivorous plants and the methods they use to obtain prey. Written for children 1-9 years old in grades 3-4,…
Plant Profile: Grassleaf Scabiosa (Scabiosa graminifolia)
Native to rocky slopes in southern Europe, this evergreen perennial is a member of the honeysuckle family, Caprifoliaceae, that also includes weigelia, Centranthus, and valerian. Plants grow up to 18″…