Botany for Gardeners: Desmanthus
Karen Desmanthus Des MAN thus: from Greek desmos meaning a bundle and anthos meaning a flower Desmanthus is a genus in the bean family (Leuminosae/Fabaceae) and consists of twenty four species…
Plant Profile: Sweet Pepper bush (Clethra alnifolia)
This suckering deciduous shrub is native to eastern North America where it may form dense colonies in moist to wet areas in woodlands and along the sea coast from Maine…
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 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…
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: Goat’s Beard (Aruncus dioicus)
This shrub-like herbaceous perennial, also known as bride’s feather, is native to North America, and northern Europe and Asia where it grows in moist woodlands. It is a member of…
Birds in the Garden: Plants that Attract the Hummingbird Family (Trochilidae)
There are over 300 species of hummingbirds, all in the New World. Most are found in the topics and subtropics of Brazil and Equador but sixteen species are found in…
Plant Profile: Golden Columbine (Aquilegia chrysantha)
This herbaceous perennial is a native of southwestern United States including parts of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado and Utah were it grows in moist places in sheltered canyons. It…
Plant Profile: Hairy Goldenaster (Heterothece villosa)
Hairy goldaster, is a herbaceous perennial native to North America from Canada to southern California, east to Texas, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. It grows in open sunny dry sites forming clumps…
Plant Profile: Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris)
This herbaceous perennial is native to the Northern Hemisphere where it is found growing in marshes, stream edges, and other wet areas. A member of the buttercup family, marsh marigold…