The Language of Flowers: Aspen (Populus tremula)
Karen Aspen is a deciduous tree and belongs to the willow family, Salicaceae, that also includes poplars and cottonwoods. Populus tremula is native Europe and Asia and should not be confused…
Plant Profile: Pine Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia dubia)
This evergreen, clump-forming, perennial grass is native to higher elevations of eastern Arizona, New Mexico, west Texas, and northern Mexico, and belongs to the grass family, Poaceae, that also includes…
The Language of Flowers: Milkweed (Asclepias spp.)
Asclepias is a genus of herbaceous perennials and a member of the dogbane family, Apocynaceae, that also includes blue star (Amsonia), periwinkle (Vinca), and oleander (Nerium). There are over 140…
Plant Profile: Blue Grama (Bouteloua gracilis)
Blue Grama (Bouteloua gracilis) Also called mosquito grass, this warm-season tufted perennial is native to southern and western US where it was the dominant grass in the short grass prairie…
Plant Profile: Soapwort (Yucca glauca aka Y. angustifolia)
Native to dry rocky soils of central US and Canada, this evergreen herbaceous perennial has many common names including beargrass, Great Plains yucca, narrowleaf yucca, and Spanish bayonet. It is…
Herbaceous Perennials for Wall Gardens in Partial Shade
Plants that prefer good drainage are excellent subjects for inclusion in wall gardens especially if they are small so they can be tucked into crevices. The plants soften the look…
Plant Profile: Western Sand Cherry (Prunus besseyi)
This deciduous suckering, spreading shrub is native to the Northern Great Plains from Manitoba to Wyoming and Colorado, east to Minnesota and Kansas where it grows on sandy hills, rocky…
Plant Profile: Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra)
Also known as white sumac, upland sumac, and scarlet sumac, this suckering, deciduous shrub is a member of the cashew family, Anacardiaceae, that also includes smoke tree, mango, and poison…
Plant Profile: Threeleaf Sumac (Rhus trilobata)
Native to the grasslands, shrubland, deserts, and forests of Western US from Washington to California, east to the Dakotas and Texas, this suckering deciduous shrub is known by many names…
Plant Profile: Apache Plume (Fallugia paradoza)
This twiggy, deciduous to semi-evergreen shrub is native to western US from southern California east to Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas where it grows in semidesert foothills, canyons, and arroyos.…