AMERICAN GARDENER

Urtica dioica, commonly referred to as common nettle, burn nettle, or simply nettle, is a perennial flowering plant belonging to the Urticaceae family. This species, native to Europe, parts of temperate Asia, and North Africa, has now spread globally. Nettle is categorized into six subspecies, with five of these known for their numerous hollow, stinging … Read more

Crabgrass (Digitaria spp.) is one of the most notorious weeds, particularly for lawn enthusiasts, due to its aggressive growth and ability to take over turfgrass. In other words, they are slender monocotyledonous pasture and forage plants. Crabgrass has a low-growing, sprawling habit with stems that radiate outward from a central point, giving it a crab-like appearance, … Read more

Stellaria media, chickweed, is an annual flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae. It is native to Eurasia and naturalized throughout the world, where it is a weed of waste ground, farmland and gardens. It is sometimes grown as a salad crop or for poultry consumption. The name Stellaria media was published by Domínique Villars in Histoire des plantes du Dauphiné in 1789. It … Read more

Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) also known as little hogweed, or pursley) is a plant that straddles the line between weed and valuable crop. Originally from India and Persia, it has spread globally and is considered a weed in many places, but it’s also cultivated as a vegetable. it is an annual (actually tropical perennial in USDA growing zones 10–11) succulent in the family Portulacaceae. Purslane is a … Read more

Camellia oleifera, also known as the tea oil camellia or huangshan oil camellia, is native to southern China. It has been cultivated in China for over 2,500 years, primarily for its oil-rich seeds. Historically, the oil extracted from its seeds has been used in Chinese cooking, traditional medicine, for lighting lamps, and as a base … Read more

Camellia sinensis, commonly known as the tea plant, is native to East Asia, particularly the area around the juncture of Northeast India, North Burma, Southwest China, and Tibet. Its use in tea production likely started in China around 2737 BC during the reign of Emperor Shennong, according to legend. Common names include tea plant, tea … Read more

Camellia reticulata is native to southwestern China, particularly in Yunnan Province. It has been cultivated in China for centuries, originally for its beautiful flowers. Camellia reticulata was first introduced to the Western world in the early 19th century. However, it wasn’t until the 20th century that it became more widely known and cultivated outside China, … Read more

Camellia sasanqua is native to the southern regions of Japan, including Kyushu, the Ryukyu Islands, and Shikoku. It was introduced to the Western world in 1820 by Captain Richard Rawes, when he brought a variety back to England. Later, in 1869, Dutch traders introduced it to Europe. The plant has been cultivated in Japan for … Read more

Camellia japonica, commonly known as the Japanese camellia, is native to Japan, Korea, and parts of China. It was first introduced to the West in the early 18th century by Georg Joseph Kamel (after whom the genus Camellia is named), although it was Engelbert Kaempfer who first described it from Japan. In Japan, the camellia … Read more

Camellia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Theaceae. They are found in tropical and subtropical areas in eastern and southern Asia, from the Himalayas east to Japan and Indonesia. There are more than 220 described species. Camellias are popular ornamental, tea, and woody-oil plants cultivated worldwide for centuries. Over 26,000 cultivars, with … Read more