Botanical Latin: Hebe
Karen Hebe (HEE bee) Greek hebe meaning youth; named for the Greek goddess of youth Hebe is the name of a genus in the plantain family (Plantaginaceae) and are closely related…
Shakspeare’s Garden: Myrtle
Common myrtle (Myrtus communis) is an evergreen shrub native to the Mediterranean area. It grows up to fifteen feet high but takes well to shearing and so is often kept…
Plant Profile: Parrot’s Beak (Clianthus puniceus)
Also called lobster’s claw, this native of New Zealand’s North Island, is a small bushy evergreen shrub in the legume family (Fabaceae) . The dark green to gray green leaves…
Shakespeare’s Garden: Box (Buxus sempervirens)
Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens), as it is called in America, is a slow growing evergreen shrub or small tree (15-30 feet tall) native to North Africa, western Asia, and Europe where…
Plant Profile: Golden Angel’s Trumpet (Brugmansia aurea)
Native to central Columbia and Ecuador, where it grows on the slopes of the Andes, is an evergreen shrub or small tree. It is considered extinct in the wild but…
Plant Profile: Monroe’s Ragwort (Brachyglottis monroi)
Native to New Zealand and Tasmania, this evergreen shrub forms a compact dome that tolerates the dry windy conditions of its natural maritime habitat on cliffs. The oblong leaves are…
Plant Profile: Berberis linearifolia ‘Orange King’
A native of Chile where it grows in woodlands 100-2000 feet above sea level, this vigorous evergreen shrub is upright and stiffly branched. The oval to lance shaped, shiny dark…
Plant Profile: Berberis darwinii
This evergreen shrub is a native of Chile and Argentina. It was discovered by Darwin in Chile in 1835 when he was a naturalist on the Beagle, hence the specific…
Plant Profile: Bog Rosemary (Andromeda polifolia)
Unrelated to true rosemary, this low growing evergreen shrub is native to cool regions of North America where it is found in wet sites such as bogs and swamps. The…
Plant Profile: Meyer Lemon (Citrus x meyerii)
Meyer lemon is native to China where it is a popular patio and container plant. Brought to the United States in 1908 by Frank Meyer, it is believed to be…