Trees & Plants

Description: Kilimanjaro Mountain is known for its unique ability to attract isolated, mutated, and rare species of plants, animals, insects, and fungi that are almost impossible to find anywhere else. It is worth pointing out that Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa's highest mountain and the world's tallest freestanding mountain at 5,895 meters in elevation. A few of the exclusive plant species...

ALDERS, Alnus species Alders belong to the birch family Betulaceae and belong to the genus Alnus. Around 35 monoecious species of trees and shrubs are found in this genus. The leaves of alders are alternate, simple, serrated, and deciduous with a few exceptions. Usually, before leaves appear, the flower buds develop into catkins with elongated males and females on one...

Monkey Tail Cactus Monkey Tail Cactus (Hildewintera colademononis) is an attractive, and low-maintenance plant that might be just what you need to add to your collection. The striking appearance and ease of care of this South American native make it one of the most popular plants in its region. The monkey tail cactus grows in tropical regions in the Andes...

Begonia pavonina, also known as the Peacock Begonia, is a species of plant in the family Begoniaceae. It is native to the montane forests of peninsular Malaysia, where it grows in the dim understory. In the darkened depths of the forest, the leaves of Begonia pavonina shimmer with an iridescent blue glow. Specialized chloroplasts create this eye-catching color as a...

Bleeding Tooth Fungus (Hydnellum Peckii) is a type of mushroom that is commonly found in North America, Europe, and Asia. It is known for its distinctive bright red color, which is due to the presence of heme compounds in its tissue. The red sap produced by the Bleeding Tooth Fungus is a result of excess moisture generated through respiration...

WHITEBEAMS, Sorbus species Deciduous, Zone 5-6, H6-7 History and origin: There are many species of Sorbus in the family, including the rowans and whitebeams. Whitebeams are mainly small trees from open landscapes in Europe and Asia. Description: Trees that grow to a height of 10 m (33 ft), and sometimes larger to 15 m (50 ft). Rowans have compound leaves, whereas whitebeams have simple...

Ginkgo or Maidenhair Tree Benefits: the long history of Ginkgo biloba shows it is one of the favorite trees. Ginkgo is a slow-growing large perennial tree that can live to a hardy old age. Ginkgo biloba trees grow to heights of 30 meters (98 ft) with trunk diameters of up to 3 meters (9.8 ft). It is also known...

The albino redwood tree (Sequoia sempervirens) is a rare and unique form of the coast redwood tree. Due to their lack of chlorophyll, albino redwoods have white or yellowish needles and bark. A green pigment is known as chlorophyll aids plants in the process of photosynthesis. Albino redwoods cannot survive without chlorophyll. The albino redwood is an intriguing and fascinating...

There are certain species of olive tree, which has an incredibly long life span. A certain elegance can be found in olive plants due to their steadfastness and understatement. Their longevity has allowed them to witness changes in people, seasons, and historical events. The trunk of the tree displays the impressive age, which has suffered countless catastrophic climates. The experiences...

Stevia rebaudiana No plant offers as much sweetness as stevia, and no plant produces as safe a sugar substitute for diabetics as Stevia rebaudiana. Stevia syrup is nothing short of fabulous, unlike the fresh and dried leaves. Stevia flowers are preserved in honey by Brazilian visitors to the Herbal Center gardens as a winter medicine. The origins of Stevia can...

A beginner garden wants to know, what is Succulent plant. Well, the succulents have moved in and out of American gardens and homes on the tides of popularity. They are dramatic, exciting, and always interesting. A succulent garden can be a beautiful landscape specimen that blends perfectly with contemporary architecture, a beautiful house plant that requires almost no maintenance,...

Description: The purslane plant (Portulaca oleracea) is a very common weed in moist, sandy soils. However, French gardeners have developed specific varieties for salads. It is also known as parsley or little hogweed. According to scientists, Native Americans had already eaten the plant, and their seeds spread to other tribes. Currently, it is unknown how it reached the United States....

In Puglia, Italy, there is a strange old olive tree that is thought to be at least 1500 years old, and possibly as old as 4000 years. This olive tree is known as "The Thinking Tree," which is unmistakably one of nature's ways of giving us something new to marvel at. It is believed that the thinking tree is...

The ancient plants known as Giant Groundsels (Dendrosenecio kilimanjari) are located atop Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. They arose at altitudes above 14,000 feet around a million years ago, where they acquired the capacity to withstand extremely low temperatures. It was formerly known as Senecio kilimanjari; however, a recent reclassification in the Asteraceae family caused some species that were formerly...

Being a true nature lover, have you ever heard about the Japanese daisugi technique to prune upper branches for future generations? For more than 700 years, the Japanese have produced wood without cutting down trees.' Trees and nature are fundamental to the Shinto religion, which holds that spirits dwell in trees over a hundred years old. The 'Daisugi' technique...

The "Sisters," or the olive trees of Noah, are located in the Lebanon town of Bechealeh. It is thought to be among the world's oldest olive trees. Historians estimate that these trees are approximately 5,000 to 6,000 years old and have Biblical roots. The 16 olive trees are hidden away and have withstood 6,000 years of political turmoil, plagues, diseases,...

Yes, blue puya (Puya berteroniana) is a real plant! This incredible bromeliad is endemic to Chile. This South American plant is a natural hybrid in the genus Puya of the pineapple family (Bromeliaceae). Approximately 200 species make up this family, which includes the tallest bromeliad, P. gigas (P. raimondi), which is indigenous to northern South America. Certain plants flourish...