Genus Dianthus for the Garden
Karen Dianthus is a genus in the carnation family, Caryophyllaceae, and includes sweet william and pinks. Most of the species are annuals , biennials, or herbaceous perennials and are native to…
Plant Profile: Strawberry Foxglove (Digitalis x mertonensis)
Strawberry foxglove is a short-lived herbaceous perennial and member of the plantian family, Plantaginaceae, that also includes snapdragon, turtlehead, and Veronica. It is a tetraploid hybrid resulting from a cross…
Book Review: Infinite Succulents
Succulents are familiar plants to many gardeners but to author Rachael Cohen they have the potential of being living art. In her book, Infinite Succulents, Cohen shows readers that succulents…
Genus Astilbes for the Garden
Also called false spirea, Astilbe is a genus of herbaceous perennials and members of the saxifrage family, Saxifrageceae, that also includes coralbells (heuchera), Bergenia, and Tiarella. Most astilbes are native…
Plant Profile: Winter-Blooming Bergenia (Bergenia crassifolia)
Known by many names including leather leaf bergenia, this herbaceous perennial is a member of the Saxifracaceae family that also includes astilbe, foam flower (Tiarella), and coral bells (Heuchera). It…
Plant Profile: Beach Naupaka (Scaevola sericea var. taccada)
Also known as beach cabbage and sea lettuce, beach naupaka is a dense, spreading evergreen shrub growing 3-10’ tall and native to beaches and tropical coastal habitats such as salt…
Poisonous Plants: Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis)
Lily of the valley is a herbaceous perennial and a member of the asparagus family, Asparagaceae, that also includes scilla, yucca, and hosta. It is native to Europe, except the…
Plant Profile: Rose Bride’s Dream
Long, pointed pale pink buds are held singly on strong long stems and open slowly to large flowers up to 5” across with 25-30 light pink petals that mature to…
Botanical Latin: Convallaria
Convallaria (kon val AIR ee a)from the Latin word convallis meaning valley + the suffix aria meaning a place containing In Song of Solomon 2.1 of the Vulgate Bible the…
Plant Profile: Arizona Cypress (Cupressus arizonica aka C. glabra)
Arizona cypress is a coniferous evergreen tree native to western US from Texas west to Utah and California, south to central Mexico where it grows in woodland edges, clearings, and…