Plant Profile: Crocus cancellatus
Karen This perennial corm is native to areas from southern Turkey to southwest Syria but is found on rocky hillsides and open woods from North Africa to Palestine and Armenia. It…
Plants for a Plant Zoo: Hog Peanut (Amphicarpaea bracteata)
Hog peanut is an unusual vine because it has two kinds of flowers and two kinds of fruits. The upper flowers are produced in 2″ long clusters of 2-15 in…
Plant Profile: Syrian Oregano (Origanum syriacum aka O. maru aka Majorana syriaca)
Also known as bible hyssop, Syrian marjoram, and Lebanese oregano, this tender perennial herb is native to the Middle East and is a member of the deadnettle family, Lamiaceae, that…
Plants of the Bible: Flowering Ash (Fraxinus ornus)
Native to southern Europe and Asia Minor, this deciduous tree is also called manna ash and is a member of the olive family, Oleaceae, that also includes privet, forsythia, and…
Plant Profile: Winter Crocus (Crocus hyemalis)
Native to rocky areas and undergrowth of Israel, Lebanon, Palestine, and Syria, this perennial corm is a member of the iris family, Iridaceae, that also includes gladiolus, crocosmia, and blue-eyed…
Plant Profile: Spotted Golden Thistle (Scolymus maculatus)
Also known as spotted oyster thistle, this annual herb is native to the Mediterranean region including southern Europe, southwest Asia, northern Africa, and the Canary Islands where it grows in…
Plant Profile: Cretan Rock Rose (Cistus creticus)
Also known as hoary rock rose and pink rock rose, this evergreen flowering shrub is a member of the Cistaceae family, a small group of shrubs and semi shrubs that…
Plant Profile: Kotschy’s Crocus (Crocus kotschyanus aka C. zonatus)
Native to parts of Turkey, Syria and Lebanon, this perennial corm is a member of the iris family, Iridaceae, that also includes gladiola, freesia, and crocosmia. Plants produce goblet-shaped pale…
Plants of the Bible: Palestinian Tumbleweed (Anastatica hierochuntica)
Also known as rose of Jericho, Maryam’s flower, flower of St. Mary, St. Mary’s flower, Mary’s flower, and white mustard flower, this annual herb is native to the deserts of…
Plant Profile: Sharon Tulip (Tulipa agenensis aka T. sharonensis)
The Sharon tulip is a perennial bulb and member of the Lily family, Liliaceae, that also includes dog’s tooth violet and fritillaria. It is native to the Middle East where…