Plant Profile: Lemon Grass (Cymbopogon citratus)
Karen Lemon grass is an evergreen, clump-forming perennial native to southern India and Sri Lanka where it grows in dry stony areas. The bulbous lower leaf section of the plant is…
Plant Profile: Crucifixion Thorn (Colletia hystrix)
Crucifixion thorn is a deciduous large shrub or small tree native to Chili and Argentina where it grows in poor dry soils. It belongs to the buckthorn family ( Rhamnaceae…
Plant Profile: Tree Dahlia (Dahlia imperialis)
This super large herbaceous perennial is native to Mexico, Central America, and Colombia where it grows in the upper elevations of the mountains. It has a tuberous root system which…
Plant Profile: Sweet Pepper bush (Clethra alnifolia)
This suckering deciduous shrub is native to eastern North America where it may form dense colonies in moist to wet areas in woodlands and along the sea coast from Maine…
Plant Profile: Riverside Windflower (Anemone rivularis)
This herbaceous, clump-forming perennial is native to Kashmir, northern India, Tibet, and southwest China. It belongs to buttercup family, Ranunculaceae, that also includes delphinium, clematis, and hellebore. It grows up…
Plant Profile: Autumn Crocus ( Colchicum speciosum)
Although the common name suggests a relationship to the spring blooming crocus, they are two very separate kinds of plants and are not even in the same botanical family. The…
Plant Profile: Shieldleaf (Astilboides tabularis aka Rogeresia tabularis)
This clump-forming perennial is native to northern China and Korea where it grows in moist shady areas. It has large bright peltate leaves up to three feet across that are…
Plant Profile: Crimson Bottlebrush (Callistemon citrinus aka Melaleuca citrina)
Native to Australia, this broadleaf evergreen shrub is a member of the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, that also includes clove, allspice, and eucalyptus. Plants grow up to 18′ tall and have…
Plant Profile: Judas Tree (Cercis siliquastrum)
This deciduous small understory tree also is native to the the woodlands of southern Europe and western Asia and is believed to be native to Palestine. It is also called…
Plant Profile: Knapweed (Centaurea macrocephala)
Also known as hardheads, this vigorous perennial is native to the Caucasus and a member of the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes daisy, yarrow, and lettuce. A relative of…