Drought Tolerant Plants: Shrubs and Trees Grown for Foliage
Karen Shrubs and trees are versatile and can be an important part of the garden. They can provide structure, define beds, serve as a backdrop or focal point, add color, create…
Plant Profile: English Ivy (Hedera helix)
This evergreen climbing vine is a member of the Aralia family, Araliaceae, that also includes Fatsia and Schefflera. It is native to most of Europe and western Asia where it…
Plant Profile: Persian Ivy (Hedera colchia)
Native to the cloud forests, stream valleys and mountains of the Near and Middle East, this evergreen climbing shrub is a member of ginseng familia, Araliaceae, that also includes Fatsia…
Evergreen Vines for Shady Sites
Shady wall often offer cool moist conditions that sites in full sun do not. Some climbers can tolerate sun, some full shade, but few thrive in all three equally. Most…
Plant Profile: Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria)
This thicket-forming evergreen shrub or small tree is native to sandy woods, dunes, open fields, forest edges, and wet swamps especially in the coastal plain and maritime forests from Virginia…
Plant Profile: Myrtle (Myrtus communis)
This upright evergreen shrub grown in the Mediterranean area since ancient times is especially popular in the coastal gardens of California and hot areas of Arizona. It is bushy, fine-textured,…
Plant Profile: Yew Pine (Podocarpus macrophyllus)
Native to southern Japan and southern and eastern China, this evergreen shrub or small tree is also called Buddhist pine and yew plum pine but is neither a pine nor…
Plant Profile: Creeping Fig (Ficus pumila)
Native to East Asia, this fast-growing woody evergreen vine is a member of the mulberry family, Moraceae, that also includes banyan, osage orange, and rubber plant. It grows up to…
Plant Profile: Sweet Bay (Laurus nobilis)
Also known as bay laural, this aromatic evergreen shrub or small tree is native to the Mediterranean region and a member of the laurel family, Lauraceae, that also includes sassafras,…
Plant Profile: Firethorn (Pyracantha coccinea)
For bright orange colored berries in the garden during the fall and winter you can’t beat firethorn. The berries (actually a fruit related to an apple) can persist into winter…