Wildflowers: Iris Native to the Southwest
Karen Meyers Iris is a genus of 310 species and is in the plant family Iridaceae that also included gladiolus, crocus and freesia. The plants are all perennial and grow from rhizomes…
Plant Profile: Acanthus balcanicus aka A. hungaricus aka A. longifoliius
Karen Endemic to the Balkan peninsula, this herbaceous perennial is a member of the Acanthaceae family that also includes mostly tropical plants such as polka-dot plant and Thunbergia. Plants grow 4-5′…
Plant Profile: Maximilian Sunflower (Helianthus maximiliana)
Native to the Great Plains of central North America, this herbaceous perennial is a member of the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes daisy, yarrow, and lettuce. With a rhizomatous…
Wildflowers: Iris Native to New England
Iris is a genus of 310 species and is in the plant family Iridaceae that also included gladiolus, crocus and freesia. The plants are all perennial and grow from rhizomes…
Plant Profile: Fernleaf Yarrow (Achillea filipendulina) ‘Coronation Gold’
Fernleaf yarrow ‘Coronation Gold’ is a hybrid resulting from a cross between Achillea filipendulina and A. clypeolata and is a member of the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes daisies,…
Plants for a Mary Garden: Baby’s Breath (Gypsophilia paniculata)
Baby’s breath is a relatively new introduction in Mary gardens. It was first introduced to European gardens in the early 19th century as an ornamental plant and was absorbed into…
Plants for a Mary Garden: Cranesbill (Geranium maculata) Our Lady’s Pins
Early European settlers learned about the medicinal use of G. maculata from the indigenous people of North America where the plant was native and they incorporated it into their own…
Wildflowers: Iris Native to the Pacific Coast
Iris is a genus of 310 species and is in the plant family Iridaceae that also included gladiolus, crocus and freesia. The plants are all perennial and grow from rhizomes…
Plant Profile: Spiny Bear’s-Breeches (Acanthus spinosus)
This clump-forming evergreen herbaceous perennial is native to woodlands and scrub of southern Europe from Italy to western Turkey. It is a member of the Acanthaceae family that also includes…
Plants for a Mary Garden: Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum AKA Asperula odorata) Our Lady’s Lace, Our Lady’s Needlework
Sweet woodruff has been valued since the Middle Ages for its medicinal and aromatic properties. It was used to treat various ailments from wounds to heart problems, and to freshen…