Plants

Agave americana, commonly known as the century plant, maguey, or American aloe, is a flowering plant species belonging to the family Asparagaceae. It is native to Mexico and the United States, specifically Texas. Despite being called “American aloe” in common parlance, Agave americana is not a member of the same family as Aloe, although it falls under the … Read more

All 270 recognized species of the agave are identified by the leathery leaves that swirl around a central core in a rosette formation. The leaves grow from a minimum of 6 to up to 20 inches in length, and the edges are rimmed with teeth. They mature in eight to 10 years and then only … Read more

Nicotine, a naturally occurring alkaloid, is commonly associated with tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum), but it is also found in varying concentrations across many other plants. These plants, many of which belong to the Solanaceae family. Plants With High Nicotine Content Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) The primary source of commercial nicotine, tobacco contains the highest concentration of nicotine … Read more

Winter might seem like a time when nature takes a break, but that doesn’t mean your garden has to be devoid of color. There are several resilient flowers that thrive in the cold months, bringing life and vibrancy to the winter landscape. In the heart of winter, these flowers bloom, adding beauty and interest to … Read more

The most common blue evergreen tree or shrub in the landscape is the Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens). The blue spruce, also commonly known as Colorado spruce or Colorado blue spruce, is a species of spruce tree native to North America in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens) makes … Read more

The Norway spruce (Picea abies) is a coniferous evergreen fir tree native to the mountainous regions of Europe and Asia. The species was first described by Linnaeus in 1753 as Pinus abies, but it was later correctly named Picea abies by H. Karsten in 1881. Norway spruce was first planted in the UK for forestry purposes in the 1800s, … Read more

Baileya multiradiata is a North American species of sun-loving wildflower in the family Asteraceae. Desert Marigold can be found in the Mojave, Sonoran, and Chihuahuan deserts, as well as in Texas. Desert marigold grows twelve inches tall and wide with fuzzy greenish-gray leaves and a compact, mounded shape. While a short-lived plant, it beautifies the landscape … Read more

Joshua trees aren’t actually trees—they’re succulents, a type of plant that stores water. In their dry ecosystems, however, they are considered trees of the desert. Joshua trees were named for the biblical figure Joshua by 19th-century Mormon settlers who felt the outstretched tree limbs guided them along their westward journey. Joshua trees usually have a … Read more

The Austrian pine (Pinus nigra) is also commonly referred to as black pine. This evergreen tree grows best in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 8A. You can recognize the Austrian pine tree by its dark green, and rather long needles. Its shape resembles that of a pyramid — with a typical … Read more

The longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) is a pine species native to the Southeastern United States, found along the coastal plain from East Texas to southern Virginia, extending into northern and central Florida. In this area it is also known as “yellow pine” or “long leaf yellow pine”, although it is properly just one out of a number of species termed yellow pine. The historic range of … Read more