The Language of Flowers: Bird’s Foot Trefoil (Lotus spp.)
Karen There are several species of bird’s foot trefoil, the most common of which is common bird’s foot trefoil, Lotus corniculatus. It is a herbaceous perennial and member of the pea…
Plant Profile: Death Camus (Toxicoscordion venenosus aka Zigadenus venenosus)
Also known as black snakeroot, this herbaceous perennial bulb is a member of the bunchflower family, Melanthiaceae, that also includes trillium and false hellebores. It is native to western North…
Plant Profile: Striped Cobra Lily (Arisaema candidissimum)
Also called striped Jack-in-the pulpit, this herbaceous perennial is a member of the arum family, Araceae, that also includes skunk cabbage, calla lily, and elephant ear. It is native to…
Plant Profile: Hoary Vervain (Verbena stricta)
Hoary vervain is a herbaceous perennial and a member of the vervain family, Verbanaceae, that also includes lantanas, verbena, and sandpaper vines. It is native to the Midwest, the Great…
Plant Profile: Mexican Columbine (Aquilegia skinneri)
Mexican columbine is a clump forming perennial native to Mexico and New Mexico. It is a member of the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae, that also includes anemone, delphinium, and monkshood. The…
Plant Profile: Coast Rock Cress (Arabis blepharophylla)
Also known as rose rock cress, this evergreen herbaceous perennial is a member of the mustard family, Brassicaceae, that also includes alyssum, cabbage, and broccoli. It is endemic to California…
Plant Profile: Japanese Spirea (Spirea japonica)
Also known as Japanese meadowsweet, Japanese spirea is native to riparian areas, bogs, and other wetland habitats in Japan, China, and Korea but was introduced into North America as an…
Plant Profile: Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica)
Common buckthorn is a suckering deciduous shrub or small tree growing up to 25’ tall and a member of the buckthorn family Rhamnaceae that also includes wild lilacs (Ceanothus) It…
Plant Profile: Green Columbine (Aquilegia viridiflora)
Green columbine is a mound-forming herbaceous perennial native to China, Japan, Mongolia, and Siberia where it grows in forests, grassy slopes, valleys and wet places. It is a member of…
Plant Profile: Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium)
Also known as absinthe, this wood-based subshrub is native to Mediterranean Europe, temperate regions of Asia, and northern Africa where it grows in dry open areas, often on rocky slopes.…