Carolina allspice, also known as spice bush, is a member of the Calycanthus genus of flowering shrubs. This non-invasive plant is native to the south-eastern part of the United States. It is a commonly grown garden plant.  This perennial shrub, also known as the sweet shrub, is not the plant that produces allspice.  The spice … Read more

Candlestick bush or Senna alata, grows as a small perennial tree or shrub with flowers that are bright yellow, upright racemes, that look like a candlestick.  Native to parts of the tropics,  this plant commonly grows in diverse habitats. It will thrive at elevations of around 1200 m in its native tropics (e.g. South America, … Read more

Cleyera is a genus of shrubs with about 20 recognized species. Native to China and Japan, and naturalized in Mexico and Central America, this plant is tender and evergreen. This slow-growing perennial shrub is as much grown for its attractive, colorful foliage as for its fragrant Spring flowers and late summer berries. History The Cleyera … Read more

Chuparosa, or Justicia californica is a species of flowering shrub with many recognized common names.  Native to California, Arizona, and Mexico, this plant commonly grows in deserts and attracts huge flocks of hummingbirds.  This perennial, also known as the hummingbird bush, is grown both as an ornamental plant  for a desert garden and as a … Read more

Cherry Laurel, or Prunus laurocerasus, is a species of evergreen shrub with many recognized variants of the common name.  Native to countries that border the Back Sea, from southwestern Asia to southeastern Europe, this plant grows either as a large, spreading shrub or as a medium-sized tree.  This perennial also known as the common or … Read more

Frangula californica, or Coffeeberry is a species of flowering and fruiting shrub in the buckthorn family. Native to southern parts of North America, the coffeeberry has edible fruits.  This perennial plant is also known as the Californian coffeeberry or Californian buckthorn.  History The name “coffeeberry” arises from the similarity of the plant’s fruit to that … Read more

Ceanothus is a genus of over 50 shrubs and small trees. Its fragrant flowers are a pretty and unusual blue color. It is native to and grows wild in North West America. This evergreen perennial bush, also known as the soap bush or buckbrush, is grown as an ornamental plant. It isn’t a lilac. History … Read more

Boronia is a large genus of shrubs with many recognized species. Mostly these plants, which are in the citrus family, are native to Australia.  Some species are sweetly fragrant and are popular garden plants. There are some varieties that have a less pleasant fragrance, such as the pink boronia. This perennial shrub sometimes grows as … Read more

Caryopteris is a genus of blue-flowering, deciduous shrubs that is native to eastern Asia, but one species is generally grown in gardens. Known as blue mist shrub, C.x clandonensis, is a plant with brilliant blue flowers. This hybrid is not native to any area. History Several varieties of Caryopteris grew in ornamental gardens but in … Read more

Beautyberry is a genus of small trees and shrubs that is native to Asia, Australia, Madagascar, and the Americas.  Callicarpa americana is a perennial plant commonly known as the American beautyberry, gets its name from its fantastic display of fuchsia-colored, autumn berries.  This perennial deciduous shrub has an elegant shape, with graceful arching branches, and … Read more