Ice Plant (Delosperma cooperi): Origin, Characteristics & Cultivation

Ice plant is a common name for many genera and species but two of the most popular genera known for their brightly colored flowers are the perennials Lampranthus and Delosperma. The name ice plant derives from tiny hairs on the plant’s leaves and stems that reflect light in a way that resembles ice crystals.  Delosperma cooperi, the trailing Iceplant, … Read more

Ajuga (Bugleweed): Origin, Characteristics & Cultuvation

Ajuga reptans is commonly known as bugle, blue bugle, bugleherb, bugleweed, carpetweed, carpet bugleweed, and common bugle, and traditionally however less commonly as St. Lawrence plant. It is an herbaceous flowering plant in the mint family Lamiaceae, native to Europe. It is also a component of purple moor grass and rush pastures, a Biodiversity Action Plan habitat in … Read more

Periwinkle (Vinca minor): Origin, Characteristics & Cultivation

General Information Vinca minor is a species of flowering plant in the dogbane family, native to central and southern Europe, from Portugal and France north to the Netherlands and the Baltic States, east to the Caucasus, and also southwestern Asia in Turkey. Other common names for this plant include small periwinkle, common periwinkle, and sometimes in the United … Read more

Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum): Characteristics & Cultivation

Galium odoratum, also known as Asperula odorata, the sweet woodruff or sweetscented bedstraw, is a flowering perennial plant in the family Rubiaceae, native to much of Europe from Spain and Ireland to Russia, as well as Western Siberia, Turkey, Iran, the Caucasus, China and Japan. It is also sparingly naturalised in scattered locations in the … Read more

Pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis): Characteristics And Cultivation

Pachysandra is a genus of five species of evergreen perennials or subshrubs, belonging to the boxwood family Buxaceae. The species are native to eastern Asia and southeast North America. It spreads via underground rhizomes, forming a dense mat that can suppress weeds. Pachysandra terminalis, commonly known as Japanese spurge or simply Pachysandra is a popular … Read more

Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata): Characteristics & Cultivation

The Boston Fern, scientifically known as Nephrolepis exaltata, is native to tropical and subtropical regions, including parts of Africa, Central and South America, Florida in the United States, and some parts of the Pacific. In its native environments, Boston Ferns are often found in damp, shaded areas like forest floors, near streams, or in other … Read more

28 Types of Peony (Paeonia)

Peonies are native to various regions spanning from Asia, particularly China, where they have been cultivated for over 2,000 years, to Europe and Western North America. The genus Paeonia is most diverse in Asia, especially in China, which is considered one of the primary centers of origin. Some species of peonies are native to Southern … Read more

Lipstick Plant: Origin, Characteristics & Cultivation

The lipstick plant (Aeschynanthus radicans) is a popular tropical houseplant with tubular red flowers that emerge from a darker casing, resembling lipstick. In its native tropical habitat, this is an epiphytic species found growing from tree branches and cracks in rocks. As a houseplant, it can be grown in hanging baskets due to its cascading nature, or … Read more

21 Types of Lipstick Plants (Aeschynanthus spp.) With Pictures

The Aeschynanthus genus belongs to the Gesneriaceae family, which is known for including many popular indoor plants like the African violet. The species within this genus primarily originate from the tropical and subtropical regions of Southeast Asia, including countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines. In the wild, many Aeschynanthus species are epiphytic, meaning … Read more

Spiraea × vanhouttei (Van Houtte’s Spirea)

Spiraea × vanhouttei, commonly known as Van Houtte’s Spirea, is a hybrid spirea that has become one of the most popular ornamental shrubs in landscapes due to its cascading branches, profuse flowering, and ease of care. Botanical Description Cultivation Origin: Uses in Landscaping: Ecological Benefits Cultural Notes Varieties or Similar Cultivars