Plants of Ancient Pompeii: Carrot (Daucus carota)
Karen The carrot is a herbaceous biennial in the parsley family, Apiaceae, that also included celery, anise, and parsnip. It is probably native to Persia where it was cultivated for its…
Plant Profile: Algerian Iris (Iris unguicularis aka I. stylosa)
Also known as winter iris, this evergreen herbaceous perennial is native to north Africa, Greece, Turkey and Syria. It is a member of the iris family, Iridaceae, that also includes…
Book Review: The Very Lazy Ladybug
Isobel Finn’s book, The Very Lazy Ladybug, tells the story of a ladybug that likes to sleep all day and all night so never learns to fly. One day the…
Genus: Bottlebrush (Callistemon spp)
Native to Australia, these broadleaf evergreen shrubs or small trees are members of the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, that also includes clove, allspice, and eucalyptus. The common name, bottlebrush, comes from…
Plant Profile: Winter’s Bark (Drimys winteri aka Wintera aromatica)
Also known as canelo, this evergreen large shrub or small tree is native from Tierra del Fuego to Mexico, and is a member of the Winteraceae, a primitive plant family…
Plant Profile: Chinese Paperbush (Edgeworthia chrysantha)
Native to the woodlands of China, this deciduous shrub is a member of the Thymelaeaceae, a plant family that also includes Daphne. It grows up to 6′ tall and wide,…
Plant Profile: Fraser’s Sedge (Carex fraseriana)
Also known as lily leaf sedge, this evergreen herbaceous perennial is endemic to the southern Appalachian mountains and a member the Cyperaceae, a plant family of over 2,000 species that…
Plant Profile: Mountain Pepperbush (Clethra acuminata)
Also known as cinnamon pepperbush, this deciduous shrub or small tree is native to the Appalachian Mountains of the southeastern US. It grows up to 8-20′ tall and has an…
Genus: Abelias for the Garden
Abelia is a genus of about 30 species of deciduous and evergreen shrubs native to eastern Asia and Mexico. It belongs to the honeysuckle family, Caprifoliaceae, that also includes weigela,…
Plant Profile: Japanese Skimmia (Skimmia japonica)
Native to Japan, China, and Southeast Asia, this evergreen shrub is a member of the citrus family, Rutaceae, that also includes rue, curry tree, and boronia. The plant grows up…