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Charlotte ScottAllium vegetables form one of the most widely used groups of culinary plants in the world, valued for their pungent, savory flavor and the distinctive sulfur compounds that give onions, garlic, and their relatives their characteristic bite. The genus these vegetables belong to is enormous, containing well over 1,000 recognized species, though only about a … Read more
Allium, commonly known as ornamental onion, is a genus of perennial bulbous plants prized for their striking globe-shaped flower heads and strong vertical presence in the garden. The genus is enormous, containing more than 700 recognized species, ranging from towering ornamental types to the culinary alliums grown in kitchen gardens worldwide, including garlic, chives, shallots, … Read more
Bird of paradise is one of the most dramatic flowering plants grown in tropical and subtropical gardens, named for blooms that closely resemble the head and crest of an exotic bird in flight. The name is actually shared by two entirely unrelated plant groups, one a small genus of just 5 species native to South … Read more
Canna lily is one of the boldest, most tropical-looking flowering plants grown in temperate gardens, prized as much for its broad, paddle-shaped foliage as for its vivid, showy blooms. Despite the common name, canna lilies are not true lilies at all, belonging instead to their own distinct plant family more closely related to bananas, heliconias, … Read more
Gladiolus, often affectionately shortened to “glads,” is a genus of perennial flowering plants prized for its tall, sword-like foliage and dramatic, densely packed flower spikes. The genus includes roughly 300 recognized species, the vast majority native to southern and central Africa, along with hundreds of additional cultivated hybrid varieties developed over more than a century … Read more
Plumeria is one of the most fragrant flowering trees grown in tropical and subtropical gardens, best known for producing the blooms traditionally used in Hawaiian leis. A single plumeria cultivar can produce anywhere from 50 to 200 flowers per cluster over the course of several months, with the exact count varying significantly depending on the … Read more
Calla lilies are among the most recognizable flowering plants grown for both garden display and the cut flower trade, prized for their sleek, trumpet-shaped blooms and smooth, unbroken lines. Despite the common name, calla lilies are not true lilies at all, belonging instead to a separate plant family native to southern Africa that includes roughly … Read more
Clematis is one of the most versatile flowering vines grown in home gardens, with the genus containing more than 300 recognized species and several hundred additional named hybrids developed through more than a century of breeding. A single well-established clematis vine can produce over 100 blooms in a single flowering flush, and some repeat-blooming cultivars … Read more
Hellebores are among the earliest flowering perennials in the garden, often blooming while snow is still on the ground and continuing their display for as long as 8 to 10 weeks before fading. The genus includes roughly 20 recognized species, but decades of hybridizing have expanded that number into the hundreds when named cultivars and … Read more
Freesias are among the most fragrant flowering bulbs grown in gardens and greenhouses today, prized for a sweet scent so distinctive that it remains a leading note in perfumes, candles, and lotions worldwide. A single freesia stem typically produces between 6 and 10 individual blooms arranged in a one-sided row along a gently arching flower … Read more