Plant Profile: Illinois Bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoiensis)
Karen Also called prairie mimosa and prickleweed, this herbaceous perennial is a member of the pea family, Fabaceae, that also includes lupines, mimosa, and black locust. It is native to the…
Plant Profile: Cowbane (Oxypolis rigidior)
Also called pig-potato and stiff cowbane, this herbaceous perennial is in the parsley family, Apiaceae, that also includes celery, Queen Anne’s lace, and poison hemlock. It is native to eastern…
The Language of Flowers: Michaelmas Daisy aka New York Aster (Aster novi-belgii aka Symphyotrichum novi-belgii )
Michaelmas daisy is a common name referring to at least two asters, one European (Aster mellus)and the other North American (Aster novibelgii). This entry refers to the latter but the…
Poisonous Plants: Carolina Jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens)
This rapidly growing, climbing or trailing woody vine is evergreen and a member of the logan family, Loganiaceae, a group made up of about thirteen genera many of which are…
Plant Profile: Cow Parsnip (Heracleum maximum)
Cow parsnip is a herbacious biennial and a member of the parsley family, Apiaceae, that also includes celery, carrot, and Queen Anne’s lace. It is native to most of North…
Plant Profile: Quamash (Camassia leichtlinii)
Also called Indian hyacinth, wild hyacinth, camash, and camas, this perennial bulb is a member of the asparagus family, Asparagaceae, that also includes lily of the valley, agave, and hosta.…
Plant Profile: Hairy Angelica (Angelica venenosa)
Hairy angelica is a herbaceous perennial and a member of the parsley family, Apiaceae, that also includes celery, Queen Anne’s lace, and poison hemlock. It is native to Eastern US…
Plant Profile: Common Bracken (Pteridium aquilinum)
Also known as eagle fern, bracken fern is a herbaceous perennial and a member of the Dennstaedtiaceae family that includes 10 genera and 240 species of ferns. It is one…
Plant Profile: American Vetch (Vicia americana)
Also known as purple vetch, American deer vetch, and stiff-leaf vetch, this perennial vine is a member of the pea family, Fabaceae, that also includes lupine, mimosa and black locust.…
Poisonous Plants: False Hellebore (Veratrum viride)
False hellebore, also known as Indian and American hellebore, is a herbaceous perennial and a member of the Melanthiaceae family that also includes Trillium. It is native to eastern and…