Plant Profile: Rock Purslane (Calandrinia umbellata)
Karen Rock purslane is a tender perennial usually grown as an annual. Native to western North America it is a member of the Montiaceae family that also includes Lewisia and Claytonia.…
Plant Profile: Creeping Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Prostratus’)
This low growing, spreading evergreen shrub is a cultivar of a plant native to the Mediterranean and a member of the mint family, Lamiaceae, that also includes beebalm, basal, and…
Plant Profile: Indian Blanket (Gaillardia pulchella)
Karen Meyers Also called firewheel and sundance, this hairy annual is native to northern Mexico and southern and central US from Arizona east to Florida, and the Carolinas and north to Nebraska…
Plant Profile: Diascia vigilis
This mat-forming semi-evergreen tender perennial is native to South Africa where it grows along mountain streams and damp edges of forest clearings. It is a member of the figwort family,…
Plant Profile: Bell Agapanthus (Agapanthus campanulatus)
Also known as African bluebell, this deciduous clump-forming perennial is native to South Africa where it grows in the moist soils of grasslands, slopes, valley bottoms and cliffs. It is…
Plant Profile: Alstromeomeria ligtu Hybrids
The Alstromoemeria ligtu hybrids are the result of a cross between closely related genera, A. haemantha and various subpecies of A. ligtu, all tender perennials native to Chile. They grow…
Plants for a Mary Garden: Periwinkle (Vinca minor)
Also called myrtle and the Virgin flower this perennial evergreen vine is a member of the dogbane family, Apocynaceae, that also includes milkweed, oleander, and bluestar. It is native from…
Plant Profile: Stiff Twinspur (Diascia rigescens)
Also called bride’s saddle, this spreading, semi-evergreen, tender perennial is a native of South Africa where it grows in damp places on grassy mountain slopes or in full sun in…
Plant Profile: Parrot Lily (Alstroemeria psittacina aka A. pulchella)
Parrot lily is a clump-forming, tuberous perennial native to southern Brazil, northern Argentina and north-eastern Paraguay. It grows 2-3′ tall and is evergreen in mild climates. The lanceolate leaves are…
Plant Profile: Soap Aloe (Aloe maculata aka A. saponaria)
Also known as zebra aloe, this evergreen succulent perennial is native to southern and eastern South Africa, and south-eastern Botswana and Zimbabwe where it grows in a variety of habitats…