Plant Profile: European Weeping Beech (Fagus sylvatica ‘Pendula’)
Karen There are few trees that can match the beauty of the European weeping beech. In summer the simple, glossy dark green leaves form a dense canopy from the top of…
Plant Profile: Paperbark Cherry (Prunus serrula)
Also called birchbark cherry, paperbark cherry, cellophane bark cherry or red bark cherry, this deciduous tree is a member of the rose family, Rosaceae, that also includes prunes, lady’s mantle,…
Plant Profile: Strawberry Tree (Arbutus unedo)
Native to the Mediterranean region and western Europe, this broadleaf evergreen shrub or small tree is a member of the heather family, Ericaceae, that also includes rhododendron, blueberry, and mountain…
Plant Profile: Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera)
The bright white trunks with black markings of this cold weather tree are striking and very eye-catching. Used as a specimen tree or grown in clumps it brings a beautiful…
How to Grow Sweet Peas in Warm Climates
I am drawn to sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus) like a magnet; their colors, fluffy petals, and sweet scent never fail to attract me. When I lived in New York State…
Plant Profile: Paperbark Maple (Acer griseum)
This maple is a very special tree that gives year round interest to the garden. Its dark green leaves turn orange to red relatively late in autumn to reveal the…
Plant Profile: Andromeda ‘Mountain Fire’ (Pieris japonica x florabunda ‘Mountain Fire’)
The bright red new growth of this wonderful shrub is a delight in late winter to early spring (and sometimes in summer). The rest of the year the fine textured…
Plant Profile: Rollison Fetterbush (Leucothoe fontanesiana ‘Rollisonii’)
An attractive U.S. woodland native in the mountains from Virginia to Georgia and Tennessee, Rollison Fetterbush is a good shrub for an ericaceous border, a shade garden, or as a…
Plant Profile: Cherry Laurel (Prunus lauroceraus aka P. officinalis)
Native to southeastern Europe and the Middle East this evergreen shrub or small tree is a member of the rose family, Rosaceae, that also includes, apple, lady’s mantle, and pyracantha.…
Plant Profile: Little Rascal Holly (Ilex x ‘Mondo’) male
Little Rascal holly grows in my secret garden; he was an impulse-buy but he was so darn cute I couldn’t resist. He is round and compact with small evergreen leaves…