AMERICAN GARDENER

Date fruits, often simply called dates, are the fruit of the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera), a tree native to the Middle East and North Africa, where it has been cultivated for thousands of years. Dates have been a staple food in the Middle East since ancient times, with evidence of their cultivation dating back to … Read more

Plumeria also known as frangipani is a genus of flowering plants in the subfamily Rauvolfioideae, of the family Apocynaceae. Most species are decidous shrubs or small trees. The species are native to the Neotropical realm (in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean, and as far south as Brazil and as far north as Florida in the United States), but are often grown as cosmopolitan ornamentals in tropical regions, especially in Hawaii, as well as hot desert climates in the Arabian Peninsula with … Read more

Poinsettias are native to Central America, specifically the southern regions of Mexico. The plant was highly valued by the Aztecs, who called it Cuetlaxochitl. They used the vibrant red bracts to create dye and the sap for medicinal purposes. The poinsettia’s association with Christmas began in the 16th century, in Mexico, where a legend tells … Read more

The poinsettia is a commercially important flowering plant species of the diverse spurge family Euphorbiaceae. Indigenous to Mexico and Central America, the poinsettia was first described by Europeans in 1834. It is particularly well known for its red and green foliage and is widely used in Christmas floral displays. It derives its common English name … Read more

Phlox as a genus is a genus of 68 species of perennial and annual plants in the family Polemoniaceae. They are found mostly in North America (one in Siberia) in diverse habitats from alpine tundra to open woodland and prairie.  Phlox plants can be perennial, annual, or biennial. The perennial varieties, which are the most common in gardens, form clumps that spread over time. They can … Read more

Zinnia is a genus of plants of the tribe Heliantheae within the family Asteraceae. They are native to scrub and dry grassland in an area stretching from the Southwestern United States to South America, with a centre of diversity in Mexico. Members of the genus are notable for their solitary long-stemmed 12 petal flowers that … Read more

Heptapleurum actinophyllum is a tree in the family Araliaceae. It is native to tropical rainforests and gallery forests in northern and northeastern Queensland coasts and the Northern Territory of Australia, as well as New Guinea and Java. Common names include Australian umbrella tree, Queensland umbrella tree, octopus tree and amate. This small tree is commonly grown indoors, but survives outdoors … Read more

Freesia is a genus of herbaceous perennial flowering plants in the family Iridaceae, first described as a genus in 1866 by Christian Friedrich Ecklon (1886) and named after the German botanist and medical practitioner, Friedrich Freese (1795–1876). It is native to the eastern side of southern Africa, from Kenya south to South Africa, most species being found in Cape Provinces. The plants usually called “freesias” in horticulture and floristry … Read more