Plant Profile: Giant Sea Holly (Eryngium giganteum)
Karen Giant sea holly is a short lived herbaceous perennial often considered a biennial and is native to the Caucasus and Iran. It is a member of the parsley family, Apiaceae,…
Plant Profile: White Enkianthus aka dodan-tsutsuji (Enkianthus perulatus)
White enkianthus is a compact, deciduous, flowering shrub and a member of the heath family, Ericaceae, that ncludes azaleas, heather, and cranberry. Native to the woodlands of Japan it grows…
Weeds and Their Control: Trailing Blackberry (Rubus ursinus aka R. macrophyllus)
Also called dewberry, trailing blackberry is a deciduous mounding shrub or trailing vine and member of the rose family, Rosaceae, that also includes apple, almond, and lady’s mantle. It is…
Plant Profile: Black-Eyed Cuphea (Cuphea cyanea)
Native to Mexico, this tender evergreen shrub is often grown as an annual. It is a member of the loosestrife family, Lytharaceae, that also includes crepe myrtle, pomegranate and henna.…
Plant Profile: Copperleaf (Acalypha wilkesiana aka Acalypha tricolor)
Also known as Jacob’s coat, this broadleaf evergreen shrub is native to tropical and subtropical areas of New Guinea, Malaya, Fiji and nearby South Pacific islands. It is a member…
Plant Profile: Redbud Hazel (Disanthus cercidifolius)
Native to the woodlands of China and Japan, this slender, branched, deciduous shrub is a member of the witch hazel family, Hamamelidaceae, that also includes loropetalum, fothergill, and persian ironwood.…
Plants That Attract Beneficial Insects: Laceflower (Ammi majus)
Also called false Queen Anne’s lace, bishop’s flower, and bullwort, this annual is native to parts of Europe and the Middle East. It is a member of the carrot family…
Plant Profile: Purple Disc Sunflower (Helianthus atrorubens)
This herbaceous perennial, also known as Appalachian sunflower and hair wood sunflower, is native to southeastern US where it grows in woodlands and disturbed areas such as meadow, fields and…
Genus Columbines (Aquilegia) for the Garden
Aquilegia is a genus of herbaceous perennials in the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae, that also includes monkshood, anemone, and delphinium. It is native to many areas of the Northern Hemisphere including…
Plant Profile: Shrubby Deer Vetch (Lotus rigidus)
Also known as wiry lotus, broom bird’s-foot trefoil, and desert rockpea, this twiggy perennial is a subshrub native to southwestern US and Mexico from Utah and California, south to northwestern…