Saltbush

Atriplex
A genus of mostly evergreen shrubs that are native to mostly dry regions around the world. Many species are valuable as cover for wildlife where few other options are available. Many other species are great for hedging.
Many are tolerant of extreme drought, seashore conditions and salty soils. Most can be cut back hardy, responding with dense, vigorous growth. Propagation is from seed or softwood cuttings. Seed should be soaked overnight in water before sowing.

Atriplex barklayana
An evergreen shrub, reaching a maximum size of 1.5 x 4 feet, that is native to Baja California.
The leaves, up to 1 inch in length, are whitish.
Hardy zones 10 to 11.

Atriplex canescens ( Fourwing Saltbush )
A long-lived, fast growing, dense, medium-sized, evergreen shrub, rarely reaching up to 7 x 15 feet, that is a widespread native to dry regions of western North America ( from eastern Washington State to Drumheller, Alberta to central North Dakota; south to northern Mexico including the Baja Peninsula ). A form found at Jericho, Utah is much more tree-like, reaching a maximum size of 15 x 18 feet. Some records include: 3 years - 6.6 x 15 feet; largest on record - trunk diameter of 10 inches. It is very deep rooted, with root known to reach 40 feet in depth though rarely over 20.
The linear leaves, up to 2 x 0.4 inches in size, are gray. It is an important plant for browsing livestock.
The natives made bread from grinding the seeds.
Hardy zones 3 to 8 ( tolerating -40 F ). It is extremely heat tolerant and very tolerant of drought, salt, sand, clay, alkaline soil and brackish water. It requires 8 to 24 inches of average yearly rainfall or equivalent. Plants may take up to 4 years to establish and speed up in growth.

* photo taken by Loren St. John @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

* historic archive photo

'Marana'
A form released by the USDA that is especially well adapted to the Mediterranean climate regions of southern California with average yearly rainfall ranging from 8 to 4o inches. It is otherwise identical to the species.

* Photos courtesy of USDA NRCS.

Atriplex cinerea ( Coast Saltbush )
A dense, evergreen shrub, reaching a maximum size of 5 x 10 feet, that is native to coastal regions of southern Africa and Australia.
The leaves, up to 2 inches in length, are blue-green.
Hardy zones 9 to 10 in full sun on pure sand.

Atriplex halimus
A fast growing, spreading, evergreen shrub, reaching a maximum size of 13 x 10 feet, that is native to salt marshes of southern Europe. Some records include: 5 years - 13 feet.
The oblanceolate leaves, up to 2.5 inches in length, are silvery-white.
The greenish-white flowers are borne on spikes, up to 12 inches in length, during late summer.
Hardy zones 7 to 10.

Atriplex hymenelytra ( Desert Holly )
A shrub, reaching up to 4 feet, that is native to southeastern California to southwest Utah, south to northwestern Mexico.
The leaves, up to 0.3 inches long, are silvery-gray.
It can tolerate temperatures as low as -10 F for short duration but cannot tolerate ground freeze.

* historic archive photo

Atriplex lentiformis ( Big Saltbush )
A moderate growing, deciduous or evergreen shrub, reaching up to 10 x 12 ( rarely over 8 ) feet, that is native to the southwestern U.S. ( from north-central California to central Nevada to southwest Utah; south to Mexico.
The ovate, triangular or oblong leaves are up to 2.5 x 1 inches in size.
The fruits provide valuable food for wildlife.
Tolerant of heat, wind, salt and alkaline soils. It requires 7 to 24 inches of average yearly rainfall.

* USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

* historic archive photo

var 'Breweri'
A fast growing, evergreen shrub, reaching a maximum size of 12 x 15 feet, that is native to coastal California.
The foliage is deeper silvery-green than the species.
Hardy zones 6 to 10 ( tolerating as low as -20 F ). It requires 7 to 24 inches of average yearly rainfall.

'Casa'
An especially drought hardy, attractive form selected by the USDA. Fast growing, dense and upright in habit, reaching up to 12 x 12 feet.
The foliage is silvery-green.
Hardy zones 8b to 10.

* Photo courtesy of USDA NRCS.

Atriplex polycarpa ( Desert Saltbush )
An evergreen shrub, reaching a maximum size of 7 x 6 feet, that is native to the southwestern U.S. ( from central California to central Nevada to southwest Utah; south to Mexico ).
The leaves are up to 0.5 inches in length, are silvery-white.
Hardy zones 7 to 10. It is extremely tolerant of drought and alkaline soils. It is also tolerant of wet soil. It requires an average yearly rainfall of 3.5 to 10 inches.

Atriplex semibaccata
A fast growing, evergreen shrub, reaching a maximum size of 2.5 x 7 feet, that is native to Australia.
The smooth to lightly-toothed, oblong leaves, up to 1.5 inches in length, are gray-green.
Hardy zones 7 to 10. It is tolerant of salty, highly alkaline and wet soil. It requires an average yearly rainfall of 8 to 16 inches.

'Corto'
A low groundcover form, reaching just 10 inches in height. It is a USDA introduction. Hardy zones 8b to 10 ( tolerating as low as 15 F ).

* Photo courtesy of USDA NRCS.

Atriplex spinifera
A dense, evergreen shrub, reaching up to 6.5 x 6.5 feet, that is native to California.
The leaves, up to 1 inch in length, are gray.
Hardy zones 7 to 10. It requires an average yearly rainfall of 2 to 6 inches and a soil PH from 7 to 9. It is very salt tolerant and extremely drought tolerant.

Azara

Azara
A genus of evergreen large shrubs to small trees that is native to temperate regions of South America. These attractive landscape plants are often grown in the Pacific Northwest, the British Isles and western France.
They prefer deep, fertile, humus-rich soils with most species preferring a maritime climate with mild winters and summers that are humid but not extremely hot. Propagation is from seed or semi-ripe cuttings taken during summer.

Azara dentata ( Toothed Azara )
An evergreen small tree, reaching a maximum size of 33 x 33 feet, that is native to southern Chile. Some records include: fastest growth rate - 4 ( rarely over 2 ) feet.
The toothed leaves, up to 1.5 x 0.7 inches in size, are glossy deep green.
The golden-yellow flowers are followed by showy, small, yellow fruits.
Hardy zones 8 to 10.

Azara integrifolia ( Golden Spire Azara )
An evergreen small tree, reaching a maximum size of 40 x 20 feet with a trunk diameter of 1 foot, that is native to southern Chile. Some records include: fastest growth rate - 2 feet.
The smooth-edged, rounded leaves, up to 2.2 x 1.5 inches in size, are downy at first, turning glossy deep green.
The abundant, showy, yellow flowers are borne during spring.
They are followed by showy black fruits.
Hardy zones 8 to 10.

'Variegata'
Foliage is boldly-margined in yellow which turns to pink during winter.

Azara lanceolata ( Lanceleaf Azara )
An evergreen small tree, reaching a maximum size of 25 x 20 feet, that is native to southern Chile and Argentina. Some records include: fastest growth rate - 2 feet.
The toothed, lance-shaped leaves, up to 3 x 0.7 inches in size, are glossy deep green.
The abundant, showy, yellow flowers are borne during mid-spring.
They are followed by showy, small, bright purple fruits.
Hardy zones 8 to 10.

Azara microphylla ( Boxleaf Azara )
A very fast growing, small tree, reaching around 25 feet, that is native to southern Chile and Argentina. Some records include: fastest growth rate - 3 feet; 5 years - 7 feet; 10 years - 25 x 12 feet; largest on record - 45 x 27 feet with a trunk diameter of 1.7 inches. One of the largest on record grows in Ireland. It is long-lived, up to 100 years or more.
The toothed, obovate leaves, up to 1.5 ( usually half or less ) inches in length, are very glossy, very deep green. The leaves are borne on ferny frond-like sprays.
The fragrant, dull deep yellow flowers are borne in small clusters during early spring.
They are followed by orange-red berries during late summer into early autumn.
The gray bark has horizontal lenticels, becoming flaky with age.
Hardy zones 8 to 9 ( tolerating 5 F ) in sun or shade on fertile, well drained soil. Very shade tolerant. In the British Isles, it should be grown on a protected site such as along a warm south facing wall.

* historical archive photo

'Cold Hardy Form'
More upright, reaching up to 20 x 6 feet in 10 years.
Hardy north to zone 7 ( tolerating 0 F ).

'Variegata'
Slower growing, reaching up to 14 x 6 feet in 10 years; eventually reaching a maximum height of 34 x 10 ( rarely over 20 ) feet.
The very attractive foliage is boldly edged in golden-yellow.
It is slightly less hardy, tolerating 10 F with partial leaf drop at 15 F.

Azara petiolaris ( Holly Azara )
A moderate growing, evergreen shrub to small tree, reaching a maximum size of 20 x 12 feet that is native to Chile. Some records include: fastest growth rate -2 feet.
The toothed, obovate or rounded leaves, up to 3 x 2 ( rarely over 1.5 x 1.5 ) inches in size, are glossy bright green.
The fragrant, showy, bright yellow flowers are borne in dense clusters during to mid-spring.
The rounded fruits are glossy and black.
Hardy zones 8 to 10 in full sun to partial shade.

Azara serrata ( Sawtooth Azara )
An upright, evergreen small tree, reaching a maximum size of 33 x 33 feet, that is native to southern Chile. Some records include: fastest growth rate - 2 feet.
The sharply-toothed, oblong leaves, up to 3 x 1.3 ( rarely over 2.3 ) inches in size, are glossy deep green.
The abundant, showy, bright golden-yellow flowers are borne on dense, rounded clusters during late spring.
They are followed by showy black fruits.
Hardy zones 8 to 10 in full sun to partial shade.

'Andean Gold'
A very fast growing, small tree, reaching up to 15 feet in 10 years.
Hardy zones 7 to 10

Azara uruguayensis ( Uruguay Azara )
A large, evergreen shrub, reaching up to 12 feet in height, that is native to Uruguay, southern Brazil and Argentina.
The smooth-edged leaves, up to 3.5 x 2 inches in size, are bronze at first, turning to glossy deep green.
The fruits are blue.
Hardy zones 7 to 8b, it prefers hot humid summers unlike most other Azaras and is therefore not hardy in most of England.

Floss Flower

Ageratum houstonianum
An annual, reaching a maximum size of 2.6 x 2 ( rarely over 1.5 ) feet in size, that is native to Central America. It should be avoided in warm humid climates outside its native range where it has invasive potential. In colder climates where it is not invasive, it makes an attractive summer bedding plant. Many of the newer cultivars are dwarf, reaching less than 1 foot in height.
The broadly-ovate leaves, up to 3 inches long, are hairy and bright green.
The bright blue ( white and pink forms exist but are rare ) flowers are borne on dense flattened clusters, up to 4 inches wide, all summer long.
Hardy zones 10 to 12, however used in zone 4 to 9 as summer bedding annuals. It requires full sun ( except in very hot climates where some afternoon shade is appreciated ) and moist, fertile, well drained soil. Excessive overhead watering may contribute to powdery mildew.

* photos taken on Aug 1 2013 in Stratford, Ontario

* photo taken on Aug 15 2014 @ Druid Hill Park, Baltimore, MD

* photo taken on Jul 17 2017 in Gatineau, Quebec

* photo taken on Aug 13 2017 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Aug 14 2024 @ Coventry Gardens, Windsor, ON

'Tall Blue Planet'
Exceptionally vigorous, reaching up to 2 x 2.3 feet

Macbridea

Macbridea caroliniana
A rhizomatous perennial, reaching up to 2 feet in height, that is native to swamp forests on the Atlantic Coastal Plain from North Carolina, south to Georgia. It has become rare in the wild.
The oppositely-arranged leaves are up to 5 inches in length.
Hardy zones 7 to 8 in full sun to partial shade.

Trailing Arbutus

Epigaea repens
A dense, mat-forming, evergreen perennial, reaching up to 4 inches tall, that is native to sandy or rocky woodland in eastern North America ( from Manitoba to Sioux Lookout, Ontario to Lake Nipigon, Ontario to Pagwa, Ontario to Moosonee, Ontario to Newfoundland; south to Iowa to western Kentucky to northwest Florida to Wilmington, North Carolina. It makes a good woodland groundcover where conditions are ideal if planted 10 inches apart. It was rare on the Ohio shore during the 1800s and remains so. In Ontario, it is abundant on the northern shore of Lake Superior, Manitoulin Island and in the central region but has become rare in the south.
The alternately-arranged, leathery, oval leaves are up to 3 ( rarely over 2 ) inches in length. The foliage glossy gray-green to deep green above, hairy bright green below.
The very fragrant, white to pale pink flowers, up to 0.5 inches wide, are borne on clusters of up to 5 during very early spring.
They are followed by a small berry, up to 0.5 inches wide, ripening during late summer.
Hardy zones 3 to 9 in partial shade on moist, very acidic ( preferrably sandy ), well drained soil. It is not salt or drought tolerant.

* historic archive photos

* photos of unknown internet source

Ornamental Yam

Dioscorea

* photo taken on July 1 2015 in Columbia, MD

Dioscorea batatas ( Chinese Yam )
Also called Dioscorea polystachya. A perennial vine, reaching up to 17 feet, that is borne from an underground tuber. It is native to upland and bottomland forests in most of central and eastern China, Korea and Japan. It has also naturalized throughout the southeastern and Mid Atlantic U.S. It is grown as a commercial food crop in eastern Asia.
The 3-lobed leaves are up to 3.5 x 4.5 inches in size.
Hardy zones 4 to 8.

Dioscorea nipponica
A perennial vine, reaching up to 17 feet in height, that is borne from an underground tuber. It is native from eastern Russia; south to central & eastern China, Korea and Japan.
The variable leaves, up to 6 x 5 inches in size, range from broadly-cordate to 3 to 7 palmately-lobed.
Hardy zones 2b to 8.

Dioscorea quaternata ( Fourleaf Yam )
A perennial vine, reaching up to 15 feet, that is native to rich woods in eastern North America ( from Nebraska to Minnesota to Wisconsin to Grand Bend, Ontario to Ohio to New Jersey; south to far eastern Texas to northern Florida ). It is also found locally in southern Ontario. A trellis or some kinds of support is required for it to climb.
The cordate, broad-ovate leaves are up to 5 x 4 inches in size. The foliage is bright green at first, turning to dull or glossy deep green. The foliage turns to intense bright yellow during autumn. The leaves are borne in whorls of 4.
The tiny, greenish-yellow flowers are borne on axilliary clusters up to 4 inches in length, during early summer.
Hardy zones 5 to 8 in partial shade on moist, humus-rich, well drained soil.

* photos taken on Oct 21 2014 @ U.S. Botanical Gardens, Washington, DC

* photo taken by Robert H. Mohlenbrock @ USDA SCS. 1991. Southern wetland flora

Dioscorea villosa ( Wild Yam )
A deciduous, tuberous vine, reaching up to 12 feet in height, that is native to moist forests of eastern North America ( from southeast Nebraska to eastern Minnesota to Michigan's Upper Peninsula to southern Ontario to Vermont; south to eastern Texas to far northern Florida ). In the Windsor/Essex County, Ontario regions; it was locally common at Point Pelee, the Lake Erie Islands and the Ohio shoreline during the 1800s. It was also abundant at Detroit during that time.
The alternately-arranged, smooth-edged, broadly-ovate leaves are up to 4 inches in length. The foliage turns to intense bright yellow during autumn.
Hardy zones 4 to 9 in partial to full shade on just about any well drained soil. It is tolerant of floodplain conditions.

Alabama Supplejack

Berchemia scandens
A high climbing deciduous vine, reaching up to 60 feet, that is native to the southeastern U.S. ( from eastern Oklahoma to central Missouri to far southern Illinois to central Kentucky to southeast Maryland; south to central Texas to southern Florida ).
The deeply-veined, elliptical leaves, up to 2.5 inches in length, are glossy bright green.
The smooth gray-green stems can be up to 6 inches wide at the base.
Hardy zones 5 to 10.

Giant Himalayan Lily

Cardiocrinum giganteum
A stately perennial that is native to wooded hillsides in the Himalayas ( from India through southern China; south into northern Burma ).
The huge leaves are up to 2.5 feet in length. The foliage is deep green.
Up to 20 greenish-white, funnel-shaped flowers, up to 6 inches long, may be borne on a spike which may be up to 12 feet high. The highly fragrant flowers are borne over a 2 week period during mid to late summer. It may take up to 4 + years to bloom.
Hardy zones 6 to 9 ( possibly 5 on a protected site where winter snowcover can be expected ) in partial shade on consistently moist, fertile, light, well drained soil that is mulched with leaf compost. While it prefers a maritime climate, it can still yield positive results in more humid summer regions such as the Mid Atlantic U.S. Direct sun will scorch the foliage where summers are hot. In hot summer climates, the Giant Lily may go dormant early during late summer. In regions where late spring frosts occur, it may be good to keep an extra blanket handy to occasionally drape over the plant at night. Cardiocrinums die after flowering though usually leave behind small bulblets at the base of the stem. These can be separated and planted during dormancy. The bulbs need to be planted shallow, preferrably with the top of the bulb even with the soil surface. Established plants intensely dislike root disturbance or being moved. Insect pest and disease problems are rare.

* historic archive photos

Alleghany Brookfoam

Boykinia aconitifolia
A broad-spreading, clumping perennial, reaching up to 2 x 6.5 feet in size, that is native to mountain forests in the eastern U.S. ( from eastern Kentucky to northeast West Virginia; south to northern Alabama to northern Georgia ). It is the sole member of this genus which is part of the larger Saxifrage family.
The palmately-lobed leaves, up to 6 inches wide, are bright green.
The tiny white, up to 0.15 inches wide, are borne on umbels during mid-summer.
Hardy zones 6 to 8 in partial shade on just about any humus-rich, well drained soil.

* photo taken on May 27 2017 @ Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, Vienna, VA

* USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

Cleopatra & Corleone - The House Panthers

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* cats in the hall...Oct 2016

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* cleo in the box

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* not my kitty...this sweet affectionate panther girl befriended me on a jobsite

* this beautiful tuxedo panther girl broke in my truck while I was working

* panther friends...another beautiful panther kitty that strolled through a jobsite

* a feline friend named Bijou