AMERICAN GARDENER

The chrysanthemum is one of the most celebrated and culturally significant flowering plants in the world, belonging to the genus Chrysanthemum in the family Asteraceae. Its name derives from the Greek words chrysos (gold) and anthos (flower), a fitting tribute to the original golden-yellow hues of wild species found across East Asia. First cultivated in … Read more

Primrose is a charming and widely beloved flowering plant belonging to the genus Primula in the family Primulaceae. The name “primrose” is derived from the Medieval Latin prima rosa, meaning “first rose,” a fitting tribute to the plant’s habit of being among the earliest flowers to bloom in spring. With over 500 recognized species, the … Read more

Gardenia is a genus of flowering plants in the coffee family Rubiaceae, native to the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, Madagascar, and the Pacific Islands. The most widely cultivated species, Gardenia jasminoides (also called Cape Jasmine), is beloved worldwide for its strikingly beautiful white or creamy flowers and its intensely sweet, intoxicating fragrance. … Read more

Ranunculus is a large and diverse genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Ranunculaceae — the buttercup family — encompassing more than 600 species distributed across temperate and cold regions throughout the world. The name derives from the Latin rana, meaning frog, a reference to the tendency of many wild species to grow in … Read more

Gladiolus is a genus of perennial flowering plants belonging to the iris family, Iridaceae, encompassing more than 300 species native primarily to sub-Saharan Africa, with a particularly rich concentration of species in the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa. A smaller number of species are native to the Mediterranean basin, western Asia, and central Europe. … Read more

Delphiniums are among the most majestic and visually commanding flowering plants in the temperate garden, belonging to the genus Delphinium within the family Ranunculaceae — the buttercup family. The genus contains more than 300 species, native primarily to the mountainous regions of the Northern Hemisphere, with significant diversity across Europe, Asia, and North America, as … Read more

Picture: Tuberose growing in the garden Tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa, recently reclassified in some botanical literature as Agave amica) is a perennial flowering plant native to Mexico, where it was cultivated by the Aztecs long before European contact. It belongs to the family Asparagaceae and is grown primarily for its extraordinarily fragrant white flowers, which produce … Read more

Picture: Rhubarb In The Garden Rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum) is a robust, hardy perennial plant belonging to the family Polygonaceae, which also includes sorrel and buckwheat. It originates from the cold, mountainous regions of Central Asia — particularly Siberia and China — where it has been used medicinally for thousands of years. Its culinary use in … Read more

Picture: Calla Lily growing in pots Calla lilies (Zantedeschia spp.) are elegant, sophisticated flowering plants native to southern Africa, particularly South Africa and Lesotho. Despite their common name, they are not true lilies — they belong to the family Araceae, making them relatives of peace lilies, anthuriums, and elephant ears. The genus Zantedeschia contains about … Read more

Picture: Coneflowers growing in the backyard Coneflowers (Echinacea) are among the most magnificent, ecologically valuable, and widely celebrated of all native North American prairie wildflowers, belonging to the daisy family Asteraceae and native to the open grasslands, prairies, dry woodlands, and rocky hillsides of central and eastern North America where they have evolved over millions … Read more