Plants for a Plant Zoo : Foxtail Barley (Hordeum jubatum)
Karen Fox, bobcat, or squirrel, you can choose any of these animals as a member of your plant zoo depending on how you see the showy, fluffy seedheads of this cool…
Plant Profile: Leopard Plant (Farfugium japonicum aka Ligularia tussilaginea)
Also known as tractor seat plant, this tender herbaceous perennial is native to moist meadows, stream banks, and coastal areas of Japan and eastern Asia and is a member of…
Plants of the Bible: White Water Lily (Nymphaea alba)
Also known as European white water lily, white water rose, or white nenuphar, this aquatic flowering plant is native to North Africa, temperate and tropical Asia, and Europe where it…
Old Time Recipes for Home Made Wines: French Cider
French cider is usually made from bittersweet to bitter sharp apples, is clear to brilliant, amber in color and has alcohol content of 3-6%. It is low in acidity and…
Plant Profile: Antelope-Horns Milkweed (Asclepius asperula)
Also known as spider milkweed, this clump-forming herbaceous perennials is native to southwestern US and northern Mexico, and belongs to the dogbane family, Apocynaceae, that also includes bluestar, periwinkle, and…
Plants for a Plant Zoo: Elephant Ear (Alocasia macrorrhiza)
For gorgeous foliage and a tropical look even in USDA Zone 4, try growing the tender perennial elephant ear. The gigantic upward pointing leaves are 3-6 feet long and carried…
Plant Profile: Gopher Spurge (Euphorbia lathyris)
Also known as caper spurge, mole plant, paper spurge, and sassy Jack, this herbaceous annual or biennial is native to southern Europe, northwest Africa, and eastward through southwest Asia to…
Plants of the Bible: Christ’s Thorn (Paliurus spina-Christi)
Also known as Jerusalem thorn, garland thorn, or crown of thorns, this deciduous shrub or small tree is native to the Mediterranean region and southwest and central Asia. It is…
Genus: Erigeron (Feabane) for the Garden
Erigeron is a genus of approximately 150 species in the aster family, Asteraceae. It includes annuals, biennials, and perennials and most are native to North America. Although the genus includes…
Plant Profile: Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya)
Native to the tropics of Madagascar, this tender herbaceous perennial or evergreen subshrub is a member of the acanthus family, Acanthaceaea, that also includes bear’s breeches, shrimp plant, and Thunbergia.…