Plant Profile: Black Sage (Salvia mellifera)
Karen 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…
Plant Profile: Orange Fleabane (Erigeron aurantiacus)
Native to the mountains of Kazakhstan and Xinjian in central Asia, this clump-forming, herbaceous perennial is a member of the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes daisy, yarrow, and lettuce.…
Plant Profile: Moss Sandwort (Arenaria verna)
Also called Scotch moss, this evergreen herbaceous perennial is not a moss or even closely related to mosses. It is a member of the carnation family, Caryophyllaceae, that also includes,…
Genus: Erigeron (Feabane) for the Garden
Erigeron is a genus of approximately 150 species in the aster family, Asteraceae. It includes annuals, biennials, and perennials and most are native to North America. Although the genus includes…
Plant Profile: Pine Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia dubia)
This evergreen, clump-forming, perennial grass is native to higher elevations of eastern Arizona, New Mexico, west Texas, and northern Mexico, and belongs to the grass family, Poaceae, that also includes…
Plant Profile: Burning Bush (Kochia scoparia tricophylla aka Brassia scoparia tricophylla)
Also known as summer cypress, this this half-hardy annual often grown as a shrub is native to central and southern Europe and Asia and was introduced into the US in…
Evergreen Perennials for Dry Shade
Dry shade is one of the most difficult sites for growing plants. Whether it is on a hill side, under the eves of a house, or under trees where roots…