Plant Profile: Southern Live Oak (Quercus virginiana)
Karen One of the icons of the deep South, the live oak is often shown draped with Spanish moss. Its huge massive size, wide-spreading horizontal branches, and stiff, glossy, leathery leaves…
Plant Profile: Southern Wax Myrtle (Myrica cerifera aka Morella cerifera)
Also called southern bayberry, candleberry, bayberry tree, and tallow shrub, this evergreen shrub or small tree is a native of wetlands in Southeastern United States. It is a member of…
History of Christmas Greens: Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)
Few plants evoke images of the South like southern magnolia. The tall evergreen trees are native from coastal Virginia to Florida and west to Texas and Oklahoma and it is…
Plant Profile: Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria japonica)
One of the outstanding conifers in my garden is Japanese cedar. There are many varieties, including dwarf forms, and each offers something special. For Christmas greens, you can’t beat var.…
Plant Profile: Strawberry Tree (Arbutus unedo)
Native to the Mediterranean region and western Europe, this broadleaf evergreen shrub or small tree is a member of the heather family, Ericaceae, that also includes rhododendron, blueberry, and mountain…
Plant Profile: Nellie Stevens Holly (Ilex x ‘Nellie R. Stevens’)
There are many beautiful hollies that do well in moderate climates but Nellie Stevens is one of the best. It combines a highly desirable conical shape with glossy dark green…