Plant Profile: Beach Strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis)
Karen A native of coastal meadows, bluffs, and dunes in the Northwest from Alaska to California, beach strawberry is a member of the rose family, Rosaceae, that also includes cherries, lady’s…
Plant Profile: Rose Verbena (Glandularia canadensis aka Verbena canadensis)
Rose verbena is a herbaceous perennial and a member of the verbena family, Verbenaceae, that also includes teak and lantana. It is native to open clearings, meadows, fields, glades, waste…
Plant Profile: Eastern Prickly Pear (Opuntia humifusa)
Also called devil’s-tongue and Indian fig, this perennial cactus is native to eastern US from coastal Connecticut to the Florida Keys west to the lower Great Lakes, to the dry…
Plant Profile: Crown Vetch (Securigera varia aka Coronilla varia)
Also called purple vetch, this herbaceous perennial vine is native to Europe, southwest Asia, and northern Africa but was introduced into the US for soil improvement and erosion control in…
Book Review: Groundcover Revolution
In her book Groundcover Revolution, author Kathy Jentz explores the option of replacing the traditional grass lawn with sustainable, eco-friendly alternatives. She begins by pointing out the problems with grass…
Plant Profile: Water Hyssop (Bacopa monniere)
Also called thyme-leafed gratiola, herb of grace, and Indian pennywort, this herbaceous perennial is native to moist to wet places such as on streams, river and pool margins, and in…
Plant Profile: Black Sage (Salvia mellifera)
Native to California, Baja, and Mexico, this semi-deciduous shrub is common in the coastal sage scrub and chaparral of Southern California. It is a member of the deadnettle family, Lamiaceae,…
Plants for a Plant Zoo: Coyote Brush (Baccharis pilularis)
Called fuzzy wuzzy by early pioneers because of its fluffy, tufted seeds, this West Coast native was important to the Indians who used its leaves to reduce swelling and its…
Plants for a Plant Zoo: Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
Native Americans smoked it in ceremonial pipes, modern Americans use it for many things from treating urinary tract problems to skin lightening, but bearberry is most valued as an outstanding…
Genus: Arenaria for the Garden
Arenaria, often known as sandwort, is a genus of over 210 species of flowering plants in the carnation family, Caryophyllaceae, that also includes, pinks, baby’s breath, and chickweed. The genus…