Plants for a Plant Zoo: Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae)
Karen The unique orange and blue flowers of bird of paradise never fail to catch the eye and add a touch of the exotic to the surroundings. From spring to fall…
Plant Profile: Downy Amsonia (Amsonia ciliata aka A. angustifolia)
A native of southeastern United States, this herbaceous perennial is a member of the dogbane family, Apocynaceae, that also includes perwinkle, oleander, and milkweed. The plant grows 1-3′ tall and…
Plant Profile: Alpine Wallflower aka Kotschy Erysimum (Erysimum kotschyanum)
Native to Asia Minor, this evergreen herbaceous perennial is a member of the mustard family, Brassicaceae, that also includes cabbage, broccoli, and alyssum. The plant forms a tuft of foliage…
Plant Profile: Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae)
Indigenous to South Africa, this tender evergreen herbaceous perennial is a member of the Strelitziaceae, a small family closely related to bananas. The plant grows from a rhizome and forms…
Plant Profile: Foxtail Lily (Eremurus robustus)
Also known as giant desert candle, this perennial bulb is native to central Asia and is a member of the Asphodelaceae family that also includes daylily (Hemerocallis), red hot poker…
Plant Profile: Hens and Chicks (Sepervivum tectorum)
Native to the mountains of southern Europe and western Asia, this evergreen succulent perennial is a member of the stonecrop family, Crassulaceae, that also includes jade plant, kalenchoe, and Echeveria.…
Plant Profile: Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya)
Native to the tropics of Madagascar, this tender herbaceous perennial or evergreen subshrub is a member of the acanthus family, Acanthaceaea, that also includes bear’s breeches, shrimp plant, and Thunbergia.…
Plant Profile: Tall Kangaroo Paw (Anigozanthos flavidus)
Endemic to southwestern Australia, this tender herbaceous perennial is a member of the bloodwort family, Haemodoraceae, a plant family found primarily in the Southern Hemisphere. The plants grow from a…
Plants for a Plant Zoo: Tiger Lily (Lilium lancifolium aka L. tigrinum)
This vigorous, easy to grow, perennial lily from Asia captures the eye with its large tumpet-shaped flowers produced in profusion in mid summer. The 5″ wide flowers are orange with…
Plant Profile: Common Hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis)
Native to rocky regions of southwestern Asia, including parts of Turkey, northwestern Syria, Lebanon and northern Israel, the common hyacinth become known as the Dutch hyacinth when it was introduced…