Plants of Ancient Pompeii: Downy Oak (Quercus pubescens)
Karen Native to dry, lime-rich soils of southern Europe, parts of central Europe, and southwest Asia, this deciduous tree thrives in submediterranean climates where summers are dry and hot and the…
Plants of Ancient Pompeii: Pomegranate (Punica granatum)
Native to Iran and Iraq, the pomegranate is a deciduous tree or shrub and a member of the loostrife family, Lythraceae, that also includes crepe myrtle, henna, and Cuphea. It…
Plant Profile: Black Cherry (Prunus serotina)
Also called rum cherry, and mountain black cherry, this deciduous tree is native to eastern North America, Pacific Northwest, Mexico, and Central America. It is a member of the rose…
Plants of Ancient Pompeii: Peach (Prunus persica)
A native of China, the peach is a small deciduous short-lived tree in the rose family, Rosaceae, and in the same genus as plums, cherries, almonds, and apricots. Peaches have…
Plants of Ancient Pompeii: Apricot (Prunus armeniaca)
This deciduous small tree is a member of the rose family, Rosaceae, that also includes cherry, almond, and lady’s mantle. It’s origin is uncertain but it was extensively cultivated in…
Plants of the Bible: White Sandalwood (Santalum album)
Also called Indian sandalwood, this semi-parsitic deciduous tree is native to southern India and Southeast Asia where it grows mostly in dry deciduous and scrub forests but can also be…
Plant Profile: Old World Plane Tree (Platanus orientalis)
Native to riparian sites of southeastern Europe to western Asia, this long-lived deciduous tree is also known as oriental plane and is a member of the small Platanaceae family that…
Plant Profile: Christ’s Thorn Jujube (Zizphus spina-christi)
Christ’s thorn jujube is a shrub or small tree native to Africa, the Levant, and southern and western Asia where it grows in a variety of habitats including deserts, semi-desert…
Plants of the Bible: Flowering Ash (Fraxinus ornus)
Native to southern Europe and Asia Minor, this deciduous tree is also called manna ash and is a member of the olive family, Oleaceae, that also includes privet, forsythia, and…
Trees for Watersides
A weeping willow tree planted beside a pond inspired Monet’s picture and still holds the attention of the thousands of tourists who visit Monet’s garden at Giverny. Water features can…