Plant Profile: Silverleaf Sunflower (Helianthus argophyllus)
Karen This annual sunflower is native to Texas where it grows in sandy areas near the seacoast. It is a member of the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes daisy, yarrow,…
Plant Profile: Eastern Prickly Pear (Opuntia humifusa)
Also called devil’s-tongue and Indian fig, this perennial cactus is native to eastern US from coastal Connecticut to the Florida Keys west to the lower Great Lakes, to the dry…
Plant Profile: Edelweiss (Leontopodium alpinum)
This clump forming herbaceous perennial is native to the rocky limestone soils of alpine areas in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, France and Italy. It is a member of the aster family,…
Plant Profile: Dotted Gayfeather (Liatris punctata)
Also known as dotted blazingstar and narrow-leaves blazingstar, this herbaceous perennial is native to the central plains of the US from Canada to northern Mexico. It is a member of…
Plant Profile: Crown Vetch (Securigera varia aka Coronilla varia)
Also called purple vetch, this herbaceous perennial vine is native to Europe, southwest Asia, and northern Africa but was introduced into the US for soil improvement and erosion control in…
Plant Profile: Golden Tickseed (Coreopsis tinctoria)
Known by several names including golden coreopsis, plains coreopsis, and calliopsis, this annual is native to much of the US especially the Great Plains and South where it grows in…
Plant Profile: Hopi Blanketflower (Gaillardia pinnatifolia)
Also known as red dome blanketflower this herbaceous perennial is a native of northern Mexico, south-central and southwestern US where it grows on mesas, in grasslands, open forests and disturbed…
Plants of Ancient Pompeii: Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas)
Also known as common poppy, field poppy, and Flanders poppy, this annual wildflower is native from Africa to temperate and tropical Asia and Europe, and is a member of the…
Drought Tolerant Plants: Annuals and Perennials with Blue, Lavender and Purple Flowers
Water is essential for plant growth but plants vary greatly in their need for it. Since the amount of water on earth is finite but the demand is not, we…
Plant Profile: Fraser’s Sedge (Carex fraseriana)
Also known as lily leaf sedge, this evergreen herbaceous perennial is endemic to the southern Appalachian mountains and a member the Cyperaceae, a plant family of over 2,000 species that…