Plant Profile: Colocynth (Citrullus colocynthis)
Karen This evergreen tender perennial vine is native to the sandy arid soils of the Mediterranean Basin and Asia, and goes by many common names including bitter apple, bitter cucumber, desert…
Plant Profile: Pistachio (Pistachia vera)
Native to the Middle East this small deciduous tree is a member of cashew family, Anacardiaceae, that also includes mango, poison ivy, sumac, and smoke tree. With a spreading growth…
Plant Profile: Twisted Acacia (Acacia raddiana aka Vachellia tortilis aka Acacia tortilis)
Also known as umbrella thorn and Israeli babool, this mediium to large tree is native to arid and semi-arid regions of Africa but grows also in the Middle East including…
Plant Profile: Snowdrop Bush (Styrax officinalis)
Native to southern Europe and the Middle East, this deciduous flowering shrub grows on dry rocky slopes, wood, margins and thickets and is a member of a small family, Styracaceae.…
Plant Profile: Horehound (Marrubium vulgare)
Native to southern Europe, central and western Asia, and North Africa, this herbaceous perennial is a member of the mint family, Lamiaceae, that also includes basil, rosemary, and beebalm. Plants…
Plant Profile: Common Flax (Linum usitatissimum)
Native to Central Asia and the Mediterranean, common flax is an annual and a member of the flax family, Linaceae. Plants grow 12-36″ tall and have terete grayish-green branched stems…
Plant Profile: Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera)
Date palm is a tender evergreen tree that probably orginated in the Fertile Crescent and has been cultivated since 7,000 BC. It is a member of the palm family, Arecaceae,…
Plant Profile: English Ivy (Hedera helix)
This evergreen climbing vine is a member of the Aralia family, Araliaceae, that also includes Fatsia and Schefflera. It is native to most of Europe and western Asia where it…
Plant Profile: Henna (Lawsonia inermis)
Native to semi-arid and tropical areas of Africa, Asia, and northern Australia, this slender, much branched, evergreen shrub or small tree is also known as mignonette tree and Egyptian privet.…
Plant Profile: Sweet Flag (Acornum calamus)
This aquatic perennial goes by many name including beewort, calamus, flag root, gladdon, myrtle flag, pine root, sea sedge and sweet cane. It is native to Asia and Europe where…