Exotic Edibles
Month-by-month growing information
Bishops Crown Pepper – Capsicum baccatum Origin: Barbados I can’t go a whole year without promoting pepper plants. This time around the honor goes to the pepper with a multitude of names, the Bishops Crown. In fact, it may have…
Fragrant Water Lily: Nymphaea odorata Water Lily mat Origin: North East United States You’ll need a little patience. This month’s featured plant article is going to be more about water gardening in paludariums and less about the actual plant, which…
Chive: Allium schoenoprasum Origin: Unknown, possibly Asia Each spring I’m surprised to find my little pot of chive has survived another long cold winter. Over the years, I’ve done little or no mulching but my trusty chive plant not only…
White Dragonflower:Physostegia virginiana alba Origin: Virginia, USA Want to attract butterflies to your garden? Then why not add White Dragonflowers to your outdoor plantings this spring. An easy care perennial, this attractive plant will produce spikes of unusual snapdragon-like white…
Dwarf Korean Lilac – Syringa meyeri Origin: China In my part of the country, we are finally starting to dig out from underneath the snow. One of the events that signals Spring has officially arrived is the blooming of the…
Orchid Trees – Bauhinia ssp. Origin: India, China, and Madagascar Here’s a genus of plants that are definitely favorites. Bauhinias were named in honor of the brothers Bauhin, who were Swiss botanists of the 16th to 17th century. The common…
Queen’s Tears – Billbergia nutans Origin: Brazil, Argentina, Uraguay This stem-less ephiphytic herb is a member of the bromeliad family like its cousin, Spanish moss that hangs from trees in the South. The epiphyte is a plant that doesn’t grow…
Beetberry – Chenopodium capitatum Origin: Southern Europe Even though there is snow on the ground in many parts of the country, it’s never too early to start thinking about your upcoming garden. And judging from all the catalogues, the seeds…
Passionflower – Passiflora incarnata or nephrodes Origin: Eastern North America and South America This particular Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) is a native perennial vine found growing in sandy thickets, open fields and fence- rows. Like the other members in its family, it…
Japanese Millet – Echinochloa crusgalli var. frumentacea Origin: Asia Known as the “billion dollar grass,” Japanese Millet is a wonderful wildlife plant. It is a favorite duck food and is eaten by 17 species of northeastern waterfowl. Game birds and…
Areca Palm – Chrysalidocarpus lutescens Origin – Madagascar How would you like to grow fresh air in your home? It’s easy. The Areca or Butterfly Palm releases copious amounts of moisture into the air, removes chemical toxins, is tolerant on…
Bird House Gourd – Lagenaria siceraria Origin – The Americas Want to attract Purple Martins or Tree Swallows with some low-income housing? How about making some spiffy bird feeders? If you’re anything like me, you’d much rather invest your dollars…