During St. Louis summers the fluffy white or pink flowers of panicle hydrangeas are easy to spot in many home landscapes. Panicle hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata) are native to Japan, China, and eastern Russia where they grow on sparsely wooded mountain slopes and valleys. In the wild they can reach up to 15 feet tall with…
The Garden’s Sustainability Staff Maintain Significant Achievements During COVID-19 Despite the current pandemic, the EarthWays Center has been resilient as ever when sharing sustainable solutions with the St. Louis region. All programs and projects continued, and staff learned many new systems to maintain virtual contact while working remotely. This period of remote work has allowed the Garden’s sustainability division to…
The warmth of the July sun sets off a frenzy of growth as plants reach for the peak of their potential. The delicate greens of spring and early summer deepen, and plants that were small and humble just weeks ago now overwhelm the landscape with explosive color. Midsummer in St. Louis is not unlike weather…
Herb gardens are popular with many home gardeners because they can be grown with little space and yield crops that can be used in many favorite recipes. Many chefs prefer the taste of fresh herbs over dried products you purchase at the store. Some popular herbs to grow in your garden include basil, rosemary, chives,…
Throughout the world, closures and lockdowns aimed to stop the spread of COVID-19 have disrupted many people’s lives and work. As a global institution, the Missouri Botanical Garden does research around the world, making travel restrictions a major hindrance. The “stay at home” order means staff has lost access to the Garden’s herbarium and labs,…
Just before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down travel, Jim Miller, Senior Vice President of Science & Research at the Missouri Botanical Garden, was in Madagascar, searching for a plant that scientists had not seen in the wild since 1965. Bourreria angustifolia is a small tree or shrub with “willow-like” leaves and orange fruits the size and…
A discovery by Missouri Botanical Garden staff in Madagascar has resulted in the description of a new species of carnivorous plant, the spider sundew.
Perhaps the most magical part of summer nights is watching fireflies blink light up the twilight sky. Fireflies, or lightning bugs, are the only flying, bioluminescent insects found in Missouri. The glowing bugs are actually beetles that spend most of their lives as larvae living in soil, leaf litter, and under rotting logs. Gardens can…
Dr. Armand RandrianasoloCurator at the William L. Brown Center Many botanists’ careers are the realization of a lifelong goal, born in a childhood exploring the natural world and followed by a series of carefully-planned steps to attain that goal. Armand Randrianasolo did spend much of his time outdoors during his childhood in Vatomandry, Madagascar, but…
Throughout the world, closures and lockdowns aimed to stop the spread of COVID-19 have disrupted many people’s lives and work. As a global institution, the Missouri Botanical Garden does research around the world, making travel restrictions a major hindrance. The “stay at home” order means staff has lost access to the Garden’s herbarium and labs,…
The summer sun brings about the peak of several showy plant collections at the Missouri Botanical Garden — including lilies and daylilies— while hostas and hydrangeas flourish in the cooling shade. June also marks the peak of the spectacular iris collection along the zigzag bridge in the Japanese Garden. Take a virtual stroll through the…
Every year since 1998, the Missouri Botanical Garden has partnered with other regional horticultural institutions to select Plants of Merit, which are easy to grow, noninvasive, ornamentally attractive, less susceptible to common problems like insects or diseases, and reasonably available to purchase. Last year, to provide a full picture of what works and what doesn’t…