Plants for a Plant Zoo: Toad Flax (Linaria vulgaris)
Karen Toad flax might not be the star of the show in any garden but it adds a lot of charm even growing in lean dry soil. True, it is a…
Plant Profile: Tatarian orachea (Atriplex tatarica)
Native to saline and alkaline deserts of Middle and western Central Asia, Asia Minor, North Africa, and Eastern Europe, this annual shrub is a member of the amaranth family, Amaranthaceae,…
Plant Profile: Common Horsetail (Equisetum arvense)
Also known as scouring rush, this is a herbaceous perennial that bears spores rather than seeds and is more closely related to ferns than to seed bearing or flowering plants.…
Weeds and Their Control: Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius)
Scotch broom is a deciduous flowering shrub and member of the pea family, Fabaceae that also includes alfalfa, mimosa, and black locust. It is native to northern Africa and western…
Plant Profile: Camel Thorn (Alhagi maurorum)
Also known as Caspian manna and Persian manna plant, this deciduous shrub is indigenous to temperate and tropical Eurasia and the Middle East where it grows in both wetlands and…
Plant Profile: Common Reed (Phragmites australis aka P. communis)
Native to temperate wetlands world wide, this perennial aquatic grass is a member of the grass family, Poaceae, that also includes corn, rice, and bamboo. It is a vigorous grower…
Plant Profile: Chameleon Plant (Houttuynia cordata)
Native to Southeast Asia, this herbaceous perennial is known by many names including fish mint, rainbow plant, heart leaf and Chinese lizard tail. A member of the lizard-tail family, Saururaceae,…
Plant Profile: Parrot Feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum)
This emergent perennial aquatic plant is native to the Amazon River and is a member of the water milfoil family, Haloragaceae. The plants have wood stems that grow over 5′…
Weeds and Their Control: Kudzu (pueraria lobata)
Kudzu is a deciduous woody vine and a member of the legume family, Fabiaceae, that also includes peas, beans, and lupines. It is native to Japan and was introduced into…
Invasive Plants and Their Native Alternatives: European Alder (Alunus glutinosa)
European alder , also called black alder, is a small to medium sized deciduous tree native to Europe, northern Africa and western Asia where it grows in wet areas along…