Plant Profile: California Globe Mallow (Iliamna latibracteata)
Karen Also known as California wild hollyhock, this rare herbaceous perennial is a member of the mallow family, Malvaceae, that also includes okra, cotton, and hibiscus. It is endemic to the…
Invasive Plants and Their Native Alternatives: Common Foxglove (Digitalis purpureae)
Also called lady’s glove, fairy gloves, and fairy bells, this herbaceous biennial or short-lived perennial is native to disturbed sites of Europe and Asia but naturalized in parts of North…
Plants That Attract Beneficial Insects: Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans)
Ajuga reptans is a low growing evergreen herbaceous perennial native to Europe where it grows in woods and poor pasture land. It is a member of the mint family, Labiatae,…
Plant Profile: Illinois Bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoiensis)
Also called prairie mimosa and prickleweed, this herbaceous perennial is a member of the pea family, Fabaceae, that also includes lupines, mimosa, and black locust. It is native to the…
Plant Profile: Lyall’s Angelica (Angelica arguta)
Lyall’s angelica is a herbaceous perennial and a member of the parsley family, Apiaceae, that also includes carrots, celery, and Queen Anne’s lace. It is native to western North America…
Plant Combination: Bee-Balm (Monarda didyma) ‘Cambridge Scarlet’ and Golden Marguerite (Anthemis tinctoria)
A pleasing color combination of red and yellow plus a contrast in flower shape makes this combination a great addition to the sunny border in summer. Golden Marguerite begins to…
Plant Profile: Cowbane (Oxypolis rigidior)
Also called pig-potato and stiff cowbane, this herbaceous perennial is in the parsley family, Apiaceae, that also includes celery, Queen Anne’s lace, and poison hemlock. It is native to eastern…
The Language of Flowers: Michaelmas Daisy aka New York Aster (Aster novi-belgii aka Symphyotrichum novi-belgii )
Michaelmas daisy is a common name referring to at least two asters, one European (Aster mellus)and the other North American (Aster novibelgii). This entry refers to the latter but the…
Invasive Plants and Their Native Alternatives: Fennel (Foenicum vulgare)
Fennel is a herbaceous perennial native to the shores of the Mediterranean but has naturalized in the US where it grows along roadsides, in pastures and in other open sites…
Plant Profile: Hairy Angelica (Angelica venenosa)
Hairy angelica is a herbaceous perennial and a member of the parsley family, Apiaceae, that also includes celery, Queen Anne’s lace, and poison hemlock. It is native to Eastern US…