Written by Mary P., Rutgers Master Gardener of Somerset County Ilex verticillata, commonly known as winterberry, is a deciduous, clumping, multi- stemmed holly native to eastern North America. It is noted for its berries, has an upright-rounded shape and usually grows 6 – 12’ tall and wide. It is adaptable to light and heavy soils but prefers […]
Written by Mary P., Rutgers Master Gardener of Somerset County Conifers are about 300 million years old. They grow in many different climates on all the continents except Antarctica. There are over 600 species of conifers, all woody – mostly trees, but some are shrubs. The most common growth form is a single erect trunk […]
Written by Mary P., Rutgers Master Gardener of Somerset County Lindera benzoin is not a fussy plant and is noted for its adaptability. It can grow in sun to full shade, acidic or slightly alkaline pH, clay, loam or sandy soil. It prefers moist loamy soil in partial shade. In all cases, moist, well drained […]
Written by Mary P., Somerset County Rutgers Master Gardener Sorghastrum nutans, commonly called Indiangrass, yellow Indiangrass or Indian grass, is one of the dominant grasses of the tallgrass American prairie that stretches from the east coast to the Rocky Mountains, Arizona and Utah. It is a perennial bunch grass with upright form that grows in […]
Written by Mousumi P., Somerset County Rutgers Master Gardener With its vibrant colors of reds, whites, and even pinks and peaches, Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) aptly comes from the Greek word amarysso meaning “to sparkle”. Although Amaryllis are usually thought of as a winter or holiday flower, this commercially popular bulb is a hybrid originating in the […]
Writted by Debbie C. Somerset County Rutgers Master Gardener Who doesn’t cheer at the sight of the iconic red berries and evergreen branches of Holly during the December holidays? Over 480 species populate the genus Ilex yet the term “Holly” traditionally references English Holly (Ilex aquifolium), a Christmas decoration brought to the United States with […]
Written by Debbie C., Somerset County Rutgers Master Gardener Solidago species, commonly known as goldenrod, signal the changing of seasons from summer to autumn. A short-day, herbaceous, perennial in the Composite or Asteraceae family, different Solidago species bloom from July through October. Often challenging as a group to identify down to species, the golden yellow […]
Written by Laura H., Somerset County Rutgers Master Gardener Walking in a park, I often study tree bark and, not infrequently, find it patched with lichen. What is lichen, actually? Well, it can be tricky to classify, as lichen is composed of two or more different species which inhabit one organism. Typically, a fungus is […]
Written by Mimi J, Somerset County Rutgers Master Gardener Although its appearance and fragrance remind many of us of summer, invasive honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) can cause ecological harm. Being a vine, it can both form a mat on the forest floor and climb up trees and shrubs. Its robust growth can shade out native understory […]
