If you’re planning a garden overhaul, consider these two Korean boxwoods: Wintergreen and/or Winter Gem. These are two really excellent boxwood plants that stay green all year round and smell… Read More
By Rebecca Mathews 1 year ago
Rebecca is a writer at A-Z Animals where her primary focus is on plants and geography. Rebecca has been writing and researching the environment for over 10 years and holds a Master’s Degree from Reading University in Archaeology, which she earned in 2005.
A resident of England’s south coast, Rebecca enjoys rehabilitating injured wildlife and visiting Greek islands to support the stray cat population.
If you’re planning a garden overhaul, consider these two Korean boxwoods: Wintergreen and/or Winter Gem. These are two really excellent boxwood plants that stay green all year round and smell… Read More
By Rebecca Mathews 1 year ago
We all know tasty thyme, it’s one of the most popular herbs in the kitchen and garden, but there are so many species and cultivars it gets a little confusing!… Read More
By Rebecca Mathews 1 year ago
Tropical grasses from South America are a great way to grow lawns on the sandy, sun-soaked south coast, plus they provide excellent pasture and soil erosion protection. There are a… Read More
By Rebecca Mathews 1 year ago
Collard greens and spinach are tasty, healthy plants with an abundance of vitamin-packed leaves, but can you tell the difference? Let's discover how spinach is different from collard greens. What… Read More
By Rebecca Mathews 1 year ago
Arborvitae trees are evergreen conifers used for landscaping and privacy screens. There are lots of species and cultivars to choose from. Techny Arborvitae and Emerald Green are two of the… Read More
By Rebecca Mathews 1 year ago
Degroot’s Spire and Emerald Green Arborvitae are both handsome evergreen conifer trees with rich dense foliage, but there are a few differences between them. Let’s take a closer look at… Read More
By Rebecca Mathews 1 year ago
Woolly thyme and creeping thyme are both ground-covering plants that smell divine and spread out to protect soil from the elements, but there are a few small differences that set… Read More
By Rebecca Mathews 1 year ago
Ivy is a well-known climber with green leafy foliage and tiny flowers that pollinators love. It grows in a huge range of conditions and it's virtually bomb-proof, but not all… Read More
By Rebecca Mathews 1 year ago
Lantana are pretty flowering shrubs with a big hit of summertime color, but there’s a lot of misinformation out there including hot debates about whether lantana is a perennial or… Read More
By Rebecca Mathews 1 year ago
Although asparagus and green beans have a lot of differences, they are both tasty vegetables with health-boosting vitamins and minerals that we should all eat more of. That's about it,… Read More
By Rebecca Mathews 1 year ago
Hibiscus are popular flowering shrubs with a myriad of colored trumpet flowers that pollinators and tortoises love, but why do some die over winter when others don't? Let's find out… Read More
By Rebecca Mathews 1 year ago
Basil is ‘the royal herb’ it’s a legendary antidote to basilisk venom and very tasty in curry and pasta dishes. Have you grown it? It’s a simple herb to grow… Read More
By Rebecca Mathews 1 year ago
Do you love a touch of the tropics in your garden? Let us introduce you to lemongrass. If you haven’t heard of it you can guess what it looks and… Read More
By Rebecca Mathews 1 year ago
Do you love scented plants and the gentle hum of bees? Look no further than citrusy lemon balm. This knockout herb is used in everything from toothpaste to medicine. English… Read More
By Rebecca Mathews 1 year ago
Extinct trees? Is there really such a thing? We know that certain animal species are under threat, but trees are not usually under the spotlight. However, there are certain tree… Read More
By Rebecca Mathews 1 year ago
Clematis are popular climbers that cover fences, walls, and obelisks in a sea of vivid color. There are many cultivars of this pretty and tenacious climber ranging from dinner plate… Read More
By Rebecca Mathews 1 year ago
If you’re looking for a beautiful blue-purple flowering perennial, then you can’t go wrong with catmint or salvia. These two plants are very similar in appearance and growing requirements, but… Read More
By Rebecca Mathews 1 year ago
Thyme is a popular herb and the holidays wouldn’t be the same without its festive aroma. If you want to grow some of your own, it couldn’t be easier. Thyme… Read More
By Rebecca Mathews 1 year ago
Salvias are immensely popular plants with pollinator-friendly flower spikes and aromatic foliage that deters rabbits and deer from the garden, but is salvia a perennial or annual? The answer depends… Read More
By Rebecca Mathews 1 year ago
Celosia is a plant of many species and many names, but they all have one thing in common: vivid and unusual flower heads! Whatever species of celosia you choose to… Read More
By Rebecca Mathews 1 year ago
Dill is a tasty herb with blue-green foliage, hollow stems, and yellow umbel flowers. It’s easy to grow in the majority of USDA zones and zings up casseroles, soups, and… Read More
By Rebecca Mathews 1 year ago
Creeping Jenny. You either love it or hate it! This pretty mat-forming evergreen is a staple around the pond and container edges, but it can get out of hand without… Read More
By Rebecca Mathews 1 year ago
Australia is located in the Pacific Ocean. It's the smallest continent but one of the largest countries and home to many species of animal. However, not all of these animals… Read More
By Rebecca Mathews 1 year ago
Parsley is widely grown. It’s tasty in soups, casseroles, and sandwiches, but if you’re not going to eat much, it’s still a very attractive herb that brings an astonishing pop… Read More
By Rebecca Mathews 1 year ago
Oregano is an ornamental aromatic herb that gives a deep, rich taste to pasta and casserole dishes. It's very popular in Italian cuisine and widely grown worldwide, but is oregano… Read More
By Rebecca Mathews 1 year ago
The fossil record indicates there were at least 71 bird species on the Hawaiian Islands, but today there are only 21 and 11 of these species are endangered. Have you… Read More
By Rebecca Mathews 1 year ago
Key Points: Mandevilla is a beautifully fragrant and brightly colored climbing vine from tropical and subtropical regions of Brazil, Mexico, and the West Indies. Mandevilla is naturally perennial and in… Read More
By Rebecca Mathews 1 year ago
Milkweed is a wildflower that’s essential to the monarch butterfly lifecycle and a nectar-rich source of food for our pollinators, however it is toxic and considered a weed by many.… Read More
By Rebecca Mathews 1 year ago
Citronella is the beloved scent of bug haters! This pretty plant is known for its ability to keep annoying mosquitoes away from your BBQ, but is citronella annual or perennial?… Read More
By Rebecca Mathews 1 year ago
Chamomile is perhaps best known for soothing teas and soaps that treat eczema, but did you know chamomile is a plant that looks just like a daisy? It’s very easy… Read More
By Rebecca Mathews 1 year ago
Reptiles are one of the most successful species to live on planet earth. They lived alongside the dinosaurs millions of years ago and survived the extinction-level event that wiped out… Read More
By Rebecca Mathews 1 year ago
Extinct giant moose and other massive prehistoric deer were truly a force of nature. From enormous Irish elk to the heavyweight broad-antlered deer, these prehistoric Cervidae roamed the planet for… Read More
By Rebecca Mathews 1 year ago
Animals that were almost extinct and came back are dubbed 'Lazarus animals' after the biblical character Lazarus, a man who rose from the dead. Lazarus species are amazing. They've survived… Read More
By Rebecca Mathews 1 year ago
Have you ever wondered about all the extinct animals that have lived on Earth and why they're no longer around? If so, read on and look at our list of… Read More
By Rebecca Mathews 1 year ago
From saber-tooth tigers to woolly mammoths and dire wolves, extinct Ice Age animals are fascinating creatures that capture our imaginations. It’s hard to imagine humans once lived alongside such huge… Read More
By Rebecca Mathews 1 year ago
Mammoths lived on the earth for millions of years, but they started to die out 10,000 years ago, finally going extinct 4,000 years ago. Their close relative, the African elephant,… Read More
By Rebecca Mathews 1 year ago
Around 10,000 years ago, a whole host of megafauna animals became extinct at the end of the last ice age. They included giant sloths, dire wolves, mastodons, woolly mammoths, and… Read More
By Rebecca Mathews 1 year ago
The Chinese River Dolphin is the first marine mammal to have likely gone extinct at the hands of humans. Extinction isn't a new concept. It's happened for millions of years. The most… Read More
By Rebecca Mathews 1 year ago
Key Points Coleus is a perennial and an annual that can be classified as a herb or succulent as well. It is native to tropical and sub-tropical environments. This plant… Read More
By Rebecca Mathews 1 year ago
Goats are hooved animals that eat a wide variety of foods and survive in some pretty tough environments. 10,000 years ago goats were domesticated alongside sheep for their milk and… Read More
By Rebecca Mathews 1 year ago
Isopods are essential to our planet’s ecosystem and although they are small, they are certainly mighty! Detritivore isopods eat decomposing organic matter which includes fallen leaves, fruits, decaying plants, animal… Read More
By Rebecca Mathews 1 year ago
In the ancient world of dinosaurs there were fast, flesh-eating carnivores, enormous long-necked herbivores, and ‘I’ll eat anything’ omnivores all vying for resources. Let’s take a look at these extinct… Read More
By Rebecca Mathews 1 year ago
When we think about dangerous extinct animals, it's usually the T-Rex that springs to mind. No doubt about it, the T-Rex was a dangerous and formidable predator, but there were… Read More
By Rebecca Mathews 1 year ago
Are you daydreaming about catching the largest fish you’ve ever seen? Well, you’re in good company because most anglers can’t wait to land a record-breaker. If you’re itching to get… Read More
By Rebecca Mathews 1 year ago
Lavender is a very popular shrub with a knockout relaxing scent. Humans have used this aromatic plant for thousands of years as ornamental garden shrubs, food, and medicine. It’s still… Read More
By Rebecca Mathews 1 year ago
Sage is a delicious and attractive herb. It’s used worldwide to flavor dishes (it goes especially well in Thanksgiving stuffing!) but it’s also an attractive low-growing garden plant for sunny… Read More
By Rebecca Mathews 1 year ago
Mint is one of the most popular scents and tastes on the planet and it’s all due to the mint plant. From toothpaste to ice cream, tea, and cleaning products,… Read More
By Rebecca Mathews 1 year ago
Dipladenia is a pretty flowering vine that’s best known as rock trumpet due to its brightly colored trumpet-shaped flowers. It’s a common sight across Central and South America, but is… Read More
By Rebecca Mathews 1 year ago
Verbena is a pretty flowering plant that fills a garden border or a container with summer color. It’s a very popular plant, and there are many cultivars to choose from.… Read More
By Rebecca Mathews 1 year ago
Key Points: There are over 500 species of primates including monkeys, apes, lorises, lemurs, and chimpanzees. Neanderthals are an extinct subspecies of humans who inhabited Eurasia and went extinct 40,000… Read More
By Rebecca Mathews 1 year ago