Botanical Latin: Pedata
Karen Ped A ta from Latin pes, pedis meaing foot The term is used to describe plant structures, often leaves, that are divided so that they resemble a bird’s foot, with…
Plant Profile: Grayleaf Cranebill (Geranium cinereum)
Also called ashy cranebill, this semi-evergreen herbaceous perennial is native to the Pyrennes. It is a member of the Geraniaceae family that also includes the common bedding plant called geranium…
Plant Profile: Caucasian Comfrey (Symphytum caucasicum)
This coarse herbaceous perennial is native to the Caucasus Mountains where it grows in waste places, along roadsides, in scrub, and along streams. It is a member of the boarage…
Plant Profile: Alpine Pink (Dianthus alpinus)
Alpine pink is a short lived, herbaceous perennial native to to the Alps of eastern Austria. It is a member of the carnation family, Caryophyllaceae, that also includes baby’s breath,…
Plant Profile: Wallich Spurge (Euphorbia wallichii)
Wallich spurge is a clump forming herbaceous perennial native the Himalayas. It is a member of the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae, that also includes poinsettia, caster-oil plant, and cassava. The lanceolate…
Garden Plants for Flower Arrangements: Red-Hot Poker (Kniphofia uvaria)
Also called torch lily, this herbaceous perennial is native to South Africa where it grows on damp slopes as marshy areas. Stiff, semi-evergreen, grey-green leaves up to 36” inches long…
Buphthalmum for the Garden
Buphthalmum are a genus in the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes goldenrod, daisies and lettuce. It includes two cultivated species, both clump-forming herbaceous perennials native to southeastern Europe. Their…
Plant Profile: Musk Mallow (Malva moschata)
Musk mallow is a short-lived herbaceous perennial native to Europe, southwestern Asia, and northwestern Africa where it is found growing on dry fertile soils. It has naturalized elsewhere and grows…
Plant Profile: Italian Aster (Aster amellus)
Also known as European Michaelmas daisy, this herbaceous perennial belongs to the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes daisy, yarrow, and lettuce. It is native to Europe and western Asia…
Plant Combination: Armenian Cranesbill (Geranium psilostemon) and Star of Persia (Allium cristophii)
Two shades of purple make this a striking combination border during late spring and early summer. Armenian cranesbill produces dark magenta-purple cupshaped flowers with black centers on a large loose…