Botanical Latin: Acanthus
Karen Acanthus (uh KAN thuhs) Latin form from Greek akanthos, meaning thorn or prickle Acanthus is used as the name for the family Acanthaceae composed mostly of perennial herbs and shrubs…
Plant Profile: Climbing Monkshood (Aconitum hemslehannum)
The slender stems of this climbing monkshood look especially well scrambling over medium sized shrubs. Indigo-violet flowers are produced in pendulous clusters with about seven flowers per cluster. Each flower…
Plant Profile: Ethiopian Acanthus (Acanthus sennii)
Endemic to the highlands of Ethiopia where it grows in dry forest margins, open hillsides, and along streams and river banks, this herbaceous perennial is rarely seen and is quite…
Ajugas for the Garden
Ajugas, also known as bugleweeds, native to Europe, Asia, and Africa, are low growing, creeing or clump forming members of the mint family, Lamiaceae. Although there are about forty species…
Plant Profile: Prairie Smoke (Geum triflorum)
A native of north America, this rhizomaceous perennial wildflower forms mounds of gray-green fern-like leaves that are pinnately divided into seven to nine narrow toothed leaflets. The plant is soft…
Plant Combination: Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) ‘Magnus’ and Ornamental Oregano (Origanum x ‘Rotkugel)’
Take a popular garden plant like purple coneflower ‘Magnus’ and combine it with a lesser known plant like ornamental oregano and you have a unique combination. These two herbaceous perennials…
Plant Profile: Viola labradorica
Native to moist woodlands in Canada, northern United States and Greenland, Labrador violet does well even in much of the South. It is a low growing herbaceous perennial and spreads…
Genus Adenophora (Ladybells) for the Garden
Ladybells are herbaceous perennials in the bellflower family, Campanulaceae, that also includes balloon flower and lobelia. The genus has about 50 species most of which are native to Asia, some…
Plant Profile: Indian Pink (Spigelia marilandica)
Indian Pink is a clump-forming perennial native to southeastern US and parts of the Midwest where it thrives in moist woodlands. The glossy green leaves are lance-shaped to ovate, one…
Plant Profile: Lamb’s Tail (Chiastophyllum oppositifolium)
Native to limestone outcroppings in shady mountin areas of the Caucasus, this rhizomateous perennial succulent slowly grows to form a low mound of large fleshy ovate leaves with scalloped edges.…