Genus: Illicium for the Garden
Karen Illicium is a genus of 40- 50 species of broadleaf evergreen shrubs and small trees and belong to the the starvine family, Schisandraceae. They are found principally in east and…
Poisonous Plants: Black Henbane (Hyoscyamus niger)
Also known as stinking nightshade, this herbaceous annual or biennial is native to rocky arid areas of Europe and Asia and is a member of the nightshade family, Solanaceae, that…
Plants of Ancient Pompeii: Oleander (Nerium oleander)
Oleander is an evergreen shrub or small tree and a member of the dogbane family, Apocynaceae, that also includes blue star (Amsonia), periwinkle (Vinca), and milkweed (Ascelpius). Its native range…
Plant Profile: Indian Tobacco (Lobelia inflata)
Also known as puke weed, this herbaceous annual or biennial is native to eastern North America from southeastern Canada, south to Alabama and west to Kansas, where it grows in…
Plant Profile: Moonseed (Menispermum canadense)
Also known as yellow parilla, this twining woody perennial vine is native to thickets, moist woods, and stream banks of eastern North America, from southern Canada to northern Florida, and…
Plant Profile: Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus aka S. rivularis)
Also known as waxberry, this deciduous flowering shrub is a member of the honeysuckle family, Caprifoliaceae, that also includes weigelia, scabiosa, and abelia. It is native to North America where…
Plant Profile: Bitter melon (Momordica charantia)
Known by many names including bitter apple, bitter gourd, bitter squash, and balsam-pear, this herbaceous tropical to subtropical, annual vine is native to Africa and Asia and is widely grown…
Plant Profile: Poison Oak (Toxicodendron quercifolium aka T. pubescens, aka Rhus quercifolium)
Also known as eastern poison oak and Atlantic poisonous oak, this deciduous shrub is native to central and eastern US where it grows in the dry and sandy areas of…
Plant Profile: Oregon Manroot (Marah oreganus aka Echinocystis oregana)
Also known as coastal manroot and western wild cucumber, this perennial trailing or climbing vine is native to the streams, washes, and open areas from Canada to northern California west…
Plant Profile: Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans aka Rhus radicans)
Poison ivy is a woody perennial shrub or climbing vine native to eastern, and mid-western United States where it grows well in shaded areas and is especially common along the…