Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden Blog

Feb 6th, 2021

Tree-of-Heaven: A “Dirty Dozen” Plant

This week we are featuring tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima) as our “Dirty Dozen” plant. While this tree may have been used in folk medicine or even as an insecticide, it is […]

Feb 6th, 2021

Crape Myrtle: Pruning

February is the time of year you may notice stark “stubs” of crape myrtles in parking lots and other areas around town. Often crape myrtle is so harshly pruned only […]

Feb 1st, 2021

Oriental Bittersweet: A “Dirty Dozen” Plant

This week’s Dirty Dozen plant is oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus). Since it is still available in the horticultural trade, we hope that the following information will convince you not to […]

Jan 29th, 2021

Diverse Books for Children: Why it Matters

Diverse Books Did you have a favorite book as a child? Take a moment to think about that book and how you felt connected to it. For me, it was […]

Jan 24th, 2021

Porcelain Berry: A “Dirty Dozen” Plant

This week’s featured member of the “Dirty Dozen” is Ampelopsis glandulosa var. brevipedunculata, commonly known as porcelain berry or amur peppervine. Most horticulture staff agree that this is the most […]

Jan 15th, 2021

Chinese Privet: A “Dirty Dozen” Plant

This week’s featured member of the “Dirty Dozen” is Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense). Though several southern states, including Virginia, have recognized this plant in their invasive species lists or laws, […]

Jan 12th, 2021

Mulberry Weed: A “Dirty Dozen” Plant

This week’s “Dirty Dozen” plant is mulberry weed (Fatoua villosa). In recent years, we have observed this plant creeping into our garden beds at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. So far, […]

Jan 4th, 2021

Japanese Stiltgrass: A “Dirty Dozen” Plant

Last week, we shared that we will be covering the top 12 worst invasive plant species that we encounter at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden — the “Dirty Dozen,” This week, […]

Dec 22nd, 2020

Invasive Plants: The “Dirty Dozen”

Meet the Plants Over the next few weeks, we will be introducing 12 of the most problematic invasive plants that you’ll encounter in Central Virginia. Unfortunately, we also have to […]

Dec 15th, 2020

Christmas Cactus: A Case of Mistaken Identity

My friend Carla knows a lot about plants. Ever since the day her mother found dirt in her diaper, she’s been a gardener. When she told me she couldn’t figure […]

Nov 16th, 2020

Yaupon Holly: The Forgotten Beverage

The yaupon holly shrub looks commonplace. It is not flashy or fancy. It doesn’t even have the prickly leaves we normally associate with hollies. If you walk by it without […]

Nov 6th, 2020

Garden or GardenFest Zoom Backgrounds

What better way to celebrate nature than with a beautiful scene from Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden as your Zoom background at your next work meeting! We all need a bit […]

Nov 2nd, 2020

Native Flowers: The Perfect Addition to your Garden

There are so many stunningly beautiful Virginia native flowers, but some plants can do so much more than just add beauty to the landscape. Here at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, […]

Nov 1st, 2020

See Lights Glow

This year’s Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights is about providing a place for friends and family to see lights glow while relaxing and making memories together. Because safety is the […]

Oct 28th, 2020

Native Grass & Sedges

Grasses and sedges are often overlooked in garden planning but they make a wonderful addition to any garden because aesthetically, they provide great texture, color, and height to gardens in […]