Drought Tolerant Plants: Annuals and Perennials with Blue, Lavender and Purple Flowers
Karen Water is essential for plant growth but plants vary greatly in their need for it. Since the amount of water on earth is finite but the demand is not, we…
Plant Profile: Swamp Azalea (Rhododendron viscosum)
Also known as clammy azalea, and swamp honeysuckle, this flowering deciduous shrub is native to the wetlands of eastern and southern US and a member of the heath family, Ericaceae,…
Plant Profile: Hydrangea paniculata ‘Tarvida’
Hydrangea paniculata is a deciduous woody shrub growing up to 12′ tall. It is native to eastern and southern China, Japan, Sakhalin, Taiwan, and Kuril Island and belongs to the…
Genus: Illicium for the Garden
Illicium is a genus of 40- 50 species of broadleaf evergreen shrubs and small trees and belong to the the starvine family, Schisandraceae. They are found principally in east and…
Plant Profile: Littleleaf Lilac ‘Superba’ (Syringa pubescens subsp microphylla ‘Superba’)
Native to China, this flowering deciduous shrub is a member of the olive family, Oleaceae, that also includes privet, jasmine and forsythia. The shrub is bushy, grows up to 7′…
Plant Profile: Night Gladiolus (Gladiolus tristis)
Also known as sad-flowered sword lily, marsh Afrikaner, ever-flowering gladiolus and evening flower, this tender perennial is native to southern Africa and is a member of the iris family, Iridaceae,…
Plant Profile: Nippon Daisy (Nipponanthemum nipponicum aka Chrysanthemum nipponicum)
Also called Montauk daisy and Japanese chrysanthemum, this deciduous flowering sub-shrub is native to cliffs and rocky sites in the coastal regions of Japan and is a member of the…
Plant Profile: Dalhia ‘Twynings After Eight’
Dahlias are tender herbaceous perennials native to the cool, moist mountains of Mexico and Central America. They are a member of the aster family, Asteraceae, that also include sunflower yarrow,…
Plant Profile: Corkscrew Willow (Salix matsudana ‘Tortuosa’)
Also known as Hankow willow, curly willow, dragon’s claw willow and globe willow, this multi stemmed deciduous tree is a member of the willow family, Salicaceae, that also includes aspen,…
Book Review: Floret Farm’s Cut Flower Garden
Karen Meyers Floret Farms’ Cut Flower Garden, by florist and flower farmer, Erin Benzakein, provides all the basics for growing, harvesting and arranging flowers year round either for home use or to…