Alexandra Hill 
Delphiniums are flowering plants that belong to the genus Delphinium and are a part of the buttercup family Ranunculaceae. There are over 350 species of delphinium; however, the garden varieties grown today have been heavily bred and cultivated and mostly belong to the groups Delphinium x elatum, Pacific Hybrid (or Pacific Giant), or the Belladonna … Read more
Delphiniums are a group of around 365 plants that belong to the genus Delphinium, and the buttercup family Ranunculaceae. Sometimes mistakenly referred to as larkspurs, delphiniums, although similar, are actually different plants altogether! Plants in this group consist of annuals, biennials, and perennials. The most common delphiniums grown today are part of or derived from … Read more
Lupines, which are also known as lupins, are part of the Lupinus genus which contains over 200 plants. They are native to parts of the Mediterranean and the Western US, and are in the pea family, Fabaceae! They can be grouped as either herbaceous “border lupins” or “tree lupins”. Border lupins can be annuals or … Read more
Lupines, more commonly known as lupins, are a group of around 200 herbaceous and partly woody plants that belong to the genus Lupinus. They are members of the pea family Fabaceae, alongside sweet peas and edible peas! Most wild species are not particularly suited to being grown as ornamentals, however, a large number of hybrid … Read more
Hollyhocks are old garden favorites dating as far back as the 1500s in Britain. They are also known as Alcea rosea and are members of the Malvaceae family alongside other popular plants such as Mallows and Hibiscus! They have a wide USDA range (zones 2-10) and are classified as short-lived perennials or biennials. They are … Read more
Dahlias are wonderful flowering plants that belong to the Asteraceae family! The genus Dahlia contains around 40 species, 6 of which have been bred for cultivation as garden ornamentals and the flower industry. These hugely popular plants are tuberous perennials that will bring color to your garden year after year. Shorter cultivars look particularly impressive … Read more
Alcea rosea is commonly known as hollyhocks and are lovely flowering plants belonging to the genus Alcea. They are part of the Malvaceae family, which also contains Mallows and Hibiscus, and are classified as biennials, or short-lived perennials. However, they readily self-seed so they can persist for years in the garden. Hollyhocks are hugely popular … Read more
Dahlias are part of the genus Dahlia which is within the same family as daisies, the Asteraceae family. There are roughly 40 species in the genus, 6 of which have been extensively bred as garden ornamentals and as cut flowers. Dahlias are originally from mountainous regions in Mexico and Guatemala, where they were first discovered … Read more
Papaveraceae, also known as the Poppy family, contains 44 genera and 825 species. The name “poppy” is given to any flowering plant in this family, but some of the most well-known poppies belong to the genus Papaver. Other notable poppies include the California Poppy which belongs to the genus Eschscholzia and is native to the … Read more
Sweet peas, also called Lathyrus odoratus, are wonderful annual plants that are a top choice among gardeners. The genus Lathyrus contains around 160 species, and is part of the Fabaceae family along with edible peas! They are mostly climbing vines, but some are dwarf varieties that grow as bushy mounds, which makes them perfect for … Read more