Banana shrubs despite their name, are not related to banana trees. They are an evergreen shrub which is native to China. This perennial, grown as an ornamental plant, has beautiful, scented, and large blooms in spring. History The banana shrubs were first introduced in China in the late 1700s. They are not native plant, but … Read more
Azaleas are flowering deciduous or evergreen shrubs, with many hundreds of recognized species. Mistakenly referred to as rhododendrons, these plants actually belong to the genus of azaleas. The azalea is a very popular ornamental shrub, due to its long-lasting floral display early in the year. While it’s true that all azaleas are under rhododendron species, … Read more
Harlequin glorybower is a deciduous shrub that produces racemes of showy flowers in the Summer. Despite having beautiful and sweet-smelling flowers, the leaves, if crushed, emit a pungent odor not unlike that of peanut butter. Hence, one of the harlequin glorybower’s common names is – unsurprisingly – peanut butter bush. Native to parts of Asia, … Read more
Griselinia is a small genus of evergreen shrubs that are used for hedging, but can also be grown as small trees. The most popular species is Griselinia littoralis. Most of the species are native to South America, but two, including G. littoralis, are native to New Zealand. Griselinia littorallis is an evergreen shrub often used … Read more
Agapetes (Himalayan Lantern) are exotic, hanging shrubs that will only succeed if grown in a temperate region. There are around 100 species of Himalayan lanterns, most of which are epiphytes. An epiphyte is a plant that grows a large woody basal organ, from which the plant can absorb moisture and some nutrients. Native to the … Read more
This evergreen, flowering shrub belongs to the Baccharis genus of shrubs. This genus is the largest in the daisy (Asteraceae) family, with more than 500 recognized species. Native to parts of the USA, this plant commonly grows in the wild, as a weed. This perennial, also known as the coyote brush, chaparral broom, or bush … Read more
Hebe is a huge genus of fairly low-growing, evergreen shrubs with many cultivars and recognized species. Most are native to coastal or mountain regions in New Zealand, this plant is a popular garden addition. This perennial, which may have burgundy, bronze, green or variegated evergreen foliage, the hebe shrub is grown as an ornamental plant … Read more
The Easter cactus, unlike other so-called holiday cacti, flowers in spring and that’s why it’s called an Easter cactus or spring cactus. There appears to be general confusion about the correct botanical name for this particular plant. Scientific references refer to it as Hatiora gaertneri, Schlumbergera gaertneri or Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri. No wonder people get confused … Read more
All Graptosedum succulents are hybrids by crossing two other succulent species. You may also see them shown as xGraptosedum. The “x” signifies that the plant is a hybrid cross and not a pure species that can be found in a native habitat. In general, Graptosedums are a cross between species from the Graptopetalum genus as … Read more
The Forget-me-not (Scorpion grasses) is a delightful spring flowering plant that is often used in borders or in cottage gardens. This plant is ideal for growing among other early spring flowers such as daffodils and tulips as a colorful ground cover. In general, forget-me-nots will bloom in late spring and early summer with some plant … Read more