Rhubarb, Rheum rhabarbarum

Rhubarb is an interesting and unique plant with several intriguing aspects, both culinary and botanical.

Here are some key facts about rhubarb:

Botanical Characteristics: Rhubarb is a perennial plant that belongs to the Polygonaceae family, which also includes buckwheat and sorrel. Its scientific name is Rheum rhabarbarum. The plant features large leaves and long, fibrous stalks that are typically red, though they can also be pink or green.

Edible Parts: Only the stalks of the rhubarb plant are edible. The leaves are poisonous because they contain oxalic acid and other toxins, which can cause severe illness if ingested.

Culinary Uses: Rhubarb is famously known for its tart flavor, which makes it popular in desserts, particularly pies, often combined with strawberries. It's also used in jams, sauces, and compotes. Rhubarb can be prepared in savory dishes as well, often as a complement to fatty meats or in salads.

Growing Season: Rhubarb is a cold season plant, thriving in temperatures that drop below freezing in the winter and rising in the spring. The plant is usually one of the first to sprout in the garden. In many areas, rhubarb season starts in April and can last through June.

Health Benefits: Rhubarb is low in calories and offers several vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, vitamin K, calcium, and potassium. It also contains dietary fiber, which can aid digestion.

Historical Use: Historically, rhubarb was first cultivated for medicinal purposes in ancient China thousands of years ago. It was used as a laxative and to reduce fever. It wasn't until the 18th century in Europe that rhubarb began to be used for culinary purposes.

Varieties: There are several varieties of rhubarb, which vary in color, size, and taste. Some popular varieties include 'Victoria', which has greenish-red stalks and a sweet taste, and 'Canada Red', which has bright red stalks and a robust flavor.

Toxicity and Care: While the stalks are safe to eat,

rhubarb leaves should never be consumed due to their high concentration of oxalic acid,

which can cause kidney stones and other health issues. When harvesting rhubarb, it’s important to remove and discard the leaves immediately.

These aspects make rhubarb a unique addition to gardens and kitchens, offering a blend of utility, flavor, and challenge in cultivation and culinary use.

Lewis' mock-orange, Philadelphus lewisii

Lewis' Mock-Orange, or Philadelphus lewisii, is a deciduous shrub native to western North America, celebrated for its fragrant, white, citrus-like flowers. This plant is not only the state flower of Idaho but also an important species for wildlife, offering thermal and security cover. It can spread both vegetatively and through seeds, forming seedbanks within the top layer of the soil. Remarkably adapted to fire-prone areas, it can resprout from rhizomes and root crowns after being top-killed by fires, making it a resilient addition to landscapes that experience frequent wildfires.

The shrub's versatility extends to human uses as well, with Native American tribes utilizing its hard wood for various tools and its leaves and bark as a mild soap due to their saponin content. The flowers have also been used in perfumes and teas. For gardeners, Lewis' mock-orange is an attractive choice due to its drought tolerance, ability to grow in poor soils, and suitability for xeriscaping. It's known for its dazzling flowers and fruity scent, adding a touch of beauty and fragrance to any garden space.

In the wild, this species can be found from southern British Columbia to central California, and eastward to Idaho and Montana. It exhibits considerable variability in its physical characteristics depending on its habitat, with plants in dryer areas often having smaller, more oval-shaped leaves. The shrub typically grows between 4.5 to 9 feet tall and is favored in gardens for its aromatic white flowers, which resemble orange blossoms and can bloom from May through July. The plant's wood has been used historically for various implements, and its parts that are rich in saponins were traditionally used as a cleansing agent.

Cherokee rose, Rosa laevigata

The Cherokee rose (Rosa laevigata) is a species of rose native to southern China, Taiwan, Laos, and Vietnam. It has been widely introduced in the United States and elsewhere. It is known for its beautiful large, white flowers with golden yellow centers. The petals are broad and rounded, and the plant typically blooms in early spring. The Cherokee rose is also characterized by its glossy, evergreen leaves and its tendency to form thickets with its sprawling, thorny branches.

This rose holds particular significance in the United States, especially in Georgia, where it is designated as the state flower. It is associated with the Cherokee people, one of the Native American tribes that were forcibly relocated during the 1830s from their homelands in the southeastern United States to what is now Oklahoma, in an event known as the "Trail of Tears." The Cherokee rose is said to symbolize both the pain of the forced removal and the resilience of the Cherokee people.

The plant is adaptable to various soil types and conditions but prefers sunny locations. It can be used as a decorative element in gardens and landscapes, often employed as a hedge or a privacy screen due to its dense growth. The Cherokee rose is also valued for its low maintenance requirements and its resistance to pests and diseases, making it a popular choice among gardeners and landscapers.

Colorado blue columbine, Aquilegia coerulea

The Colorado blue columbine, known scientifically as Aquilegia coerulea, is a beautiful and iconic wildflower native to the Rocky Mountains in the United States. Recognized as the state flower of Colorado, this plant is cherished for its striking blue and white blossoms.

The blue columbine grows at high altitudes, typically ranging from 7,000 to 12,000 feet, and flourishes in meadows, woodlands, and areas with well-drained soils. The plant's flowers are notable for their unique shape, featuring a set of blue sepals and white petals with long, distinctive spurs that extend backward.

In addition to its visual appeal, the Colorado blue columbine is an important part of its ecosystem, offering nectar to pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds during its blooming period in late spring to early summer.

While it is a symbol of the Rocky Mountain region's natural beauty, the Colorado blue columbine is also a popular choice for gardeners seeking to add a touch of wildflower elegance to their landscapes. However, it's important to grow and enjoy this plant responsibly, as it's protected in some areas to prevent over-harvesting and ensure its sustainability in the wild.

Oak-Leaf-Hydrangea, Hydrangea quercifolia

The Oakleaf Hydrangea is a deciduous shrub that typically grows 6 to 8 feet tall and 6 to 10 feet wide. It is named for its large, lobed leaves that resemble oak leaves. The flowers of the Oakleaf Hydrangea are borne in large, conical panicles. They are white at first, but they mature to pink, rose, or red. The Oakleaf Hydrangea blooms from midsummer to early fall.

The Oakleaf Hydrangea is a relatively low-maintenance shrub that is well-suited for a variety of growing conditions. It prefers partial shade to full sun and moist, well-drained soil. It is tolerant of drought, heat, and cold. The Oakleaf Hydrangea is a popular choice for landscaping because of its beautiful flowers, attractive foliage, and long blooming season. There are also several cultivars of Oakleaf Hydrangea available, which offer a variety of sizes, flower colors, and foliage colors.

Custard Apple, Annona squamosa

Custard apple, known scientifically as Annona squamosa, is a tropical fruit native to the Americas and West Indies but now widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions around the world.

Here are some key facts about this delicious and nutritious fruit:

Appearance and Taste: Custard apple has a unique, heart-shaped appearance with a green, bumpy skin. The flesh inside is creamy and sweet, often likened to custard in texture, hence the name. It contains several dark seeds.

Nutritional Value: This fruit is rich in vitamins and minerals, particularly vitamin C, vitamin A, potassium, and magnesium. It's also a good source of dietary fiber and contains antioxidants that help protect against cellular damage.

Health Benefits: Custard apple is associated with numerous health benefits, including boosting the immune system, anti-inflammatory properties, and potential cancer-fighting properties due to its antioxidant content. Its high fiber content can aid in digestion and help maintain a healthy gut.

Culinary Uses: The sweet, creamy texture of custard apple makes it popular for eating fresh. It's also used in desserts, smoothies, and ice creams. In some cultures, the flesh of custard apple is mixed with milk and sugar to make a refreshing drink.

Cultivation: Custard apple trees prefer tropical climates and are often found in regions with a warm, humid environment. They are relatively low-maintenance trees that can bear fruit within 3 to 4 years of planting.

Varieties: There are several varieties of custard apple, including the sugar-apple, soursop, and cherimoya, each with distinct flavors and appearances. The terms "custard apple" and "sugar-apple" are sometimes used interchangeably in different regions, but they generally refer to different, though related, fruits.

Traditional Medicine: In traditional medicine, different parts of the custard apple plant, such as the leaves, seeds, and fruit, have been used for their medicinal properties, including as a natural remedy for diarrhea, dysentery, and other digestive issues.

Propagation: Custard apple trees are primarily propagated through seeds, but they can also be grafted to ensure the consistency of fruit quality and size. Grafting is a common practice in commercial cultivation.

Challenges in Cultivation: The custard apple tree is susceptible to pests and diseases like mealybugs and fungal infections, which can affect yield and fruit quality. Careful management and preventive measures are essential for a healthy harvest.

Economic Importance: In many tropical countries, custard apple is an important fruit crop that contributes to the local economy. It is marketed locally and, in some cases, exported, providing income for small-scale farmers.

Custard apple's unique taste and nutritional profile make it a favorite among many people around the world, and ongoing research continues to uncover more about its health benefits and potential uses.

Smoke Tree, Cotinus coggygria

The Smoke Tree, also known by its botanical name Cotinus coggygria, is a deciduous ornamental shrub known for its distinctive, smoky plumes and vibrant foliage.

Here are some key facts about the Smoke Tree:

Origins and Habitat: The Smoke Tree is native to a wide region, including southern Europe, central China, and the Himalayas. It thrives in rocky, dry soils and is commonly found in open woodlands and hillsides.

Appearance: The Smoke Tree can grow up to 15 feet tall and wide under ideal conditions. It is most recognized for its billowy, hair-like filaments that grow from the spent flower clusters, giving the plant a smoke-like appearance, especially from a distance.

Foliage: The leaves of the Smoke Tree are simple, round to oval, and can vary in color from green to purple, depending on the variety. In the fall, the foliage often turns to striking shades of yellow, orange, red, or purple.

Flowers and "Smoke": The tree produces small, yellowish flowers in the spring. After the flowers fade, long stalks with fluffy, hair-like structures (the "smoke") emerge, creating a smoky haze around the plant that can last for several weeks.

Varieties: There are several cultivars of the Smoke Tree, with 'Royal Purple' being one of the most popular due to its deep purple leaves and pinkish-purple smoke. 'Golden Spirit' is another variety, known for its golden-yellow leaves.

Care and Maintenance: Smoke Trees prefer full sun but can tolerate partial shade. They are drought-tolerant once established and require minimal maintenance. Pruning is optional but can be done to shape the tree or maintain a desired size.

Uses: Due to its unique appearance and vibrant foliage, the Smoke Tree is often used in landscape design as a focal point, in borders, or as part of a mixed shrubbery.

Hardiness: The Smoke Tree is quite hardy and can tolerate a range of temperatures; it's generally suited for USDA hardiness zones 4 through 8.

Wildlife Attraction: While the tree's flowers are not significantly showy, they can attract bees and other pollinators to the garden.

Toxicity: The Smoke Tree is considered non-toxic, but like many plants, its parts should not be ingested as they can cause discomfort or allergic reactions in some individuals and pets.

The Smoke Tree's unique aesthetic and low-maintenance nature make it a valued addition to many gardens and landscapes.