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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Bird’s nest spruce (Picea abies nidiformis) is a cultivar of the Norway spruce. This species of dwarf evergreen is a conifer that is native to Europe. It is a plant commonly grown to provide evergreen ground cover. This perennial is useful in gardens as it is slow-growing, evergreen and dwarf in height. History Norway spruce … Read more
For a tough plant that will offer a long period of brightly-colored, large yellow flowers, the Euryops chrysanthemoides or African bush daisy is an excellent choice. Being a perennial, it will come back year after year, and will survive in places where nothing else will! History The African bush daisy has been reclassified by botanists … Read more