Witch hazel: The name alone evokes everything from a spooky, magical potion to your facial astringent. But what about this tree?

Fragrant, beautiful, and utterly unique, water lilies have long been celebrated and implemented in ceremonies, religious symbolism,...

The botanical term dianthus may not be familiar to many people, but everybody knows the carnation. It's one of the oldest and most...

Barrenwort, Fairy Wings, Bishops Hat. There are plenty of benign names for this plant, but nothing grabs your attention quite like Horny...

Long before Christmas trees and Santa Claus, civilizations around the world used evergreens to adorn their homes each December.

Do you feel the urge to cover every available surface in decorative gourds this time of year? Me, too. Ever wonder why we take things a...

With such a spooky common name and a botanical name (Atropa belladona) fit for a Harry Potter spell, deadly nightshade seems fitting for...

One of the most common and popular trees in the northern hemisphere, the maple is famous for many things — spectacular fall color, the...

While autumn and spring color is reason enough to adore this tree, generations past appreciated it for a more macabre reason...

The name Achilles doesn't conjure up images of delicate wildflowers, but the Trojan hero is the namesake of this flowering perennial.

Tulip-shaped flowers and uniquely shaped leaves aren't all that make this native tree a standout.

In the age of e-books and bookshelves organized by color, it can be hard to remember that early publications were written on tree bark.