Plant (Partner) of the Month: Ectomycorrhizal Fungi A belowground partner essential to plant life This month’s feature highlights not a plant, but the fungal symbionts that make many of our plants possible. Ectomycorrhizal fungi form intimate partnerships with tree roots, [...]

Scientific name: Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle Common names: tree of heaven Family: Simaroubaceae Life form: Perennial flowering small tree or large shrub Bloom time: Early summer with clusters of small yellow flowers appearing on a 20-inch-long stem Fruit: Tan to [...]

Scientific name: Purshia stansburiana (Torr.) Henrard, formerly a variety of Purshia mexicana (D.Don) S.L.Welsh Common names: Stansbury cliffrose, quininebush Family: Rosaceae (rose) Life form: Perennial flowering small tree or large shrub Article by Jen Callaway Purshia stansburiana, common name cliffrose, [...]

Scientific name: Marrubium vulgare L., Marrubium rotundifolium Boiss. Common names: white horehound, mastranzo, silver edged horehound Family: Lamiaceae (mint) Life form: Herbaceous perennial Range: Europe, North Africa, Canary Islands, Asia Occurrence in New Mexico: Exotic Article by Eva Maria Räpple [...]

July 2025 Article by Peggy Rudberg In July of 2024 work began at the Santa Fe Botanical Garden to create a garden honoring David Salman. Salman led the transformation of horticulture in our western landscapes to native, xeric and [...]

Scientific name: Jamesia americana Torr. & A. Gray Common names: waxflower, cliffbush Family: Hydrangeaceae Article by Noah Gapsis, SFBG Horticulturist On the sheer cliffs and shaded, rocky slopes of our southern Rocky Mountains, one of the most attractive native shrubs [...]

Scientific name: Shepherdia argentea (Pursh) Nutt. Common names: Silver buffaloberry, buffaloberry, bull berry, thorny buffaloberry Family: Elaeagnaceae (Oleaster family) Life Form: Deciduous, dioecious, nitrogen-fixing shrub growing from 6-20 feet tall Bloom Time: March Distribution: Native to Western Canada and [...]

Scientific name: Vauquelinia californica (Torr.) Sarg. Common name: wild crabapple Family: Rosaceae (rose) Life form: Perennial, small tree/large shrub Bloom time:  May-July Article by Eva Maria Räpple Vauquelinia is a genus of broadleaf evergreen shrubs or small trees native to [...]

Scientific name: Peraphyllum ramosissimum  Common name: wild crabapple Family: Rosaceae (rose) Article by Noah Gapsis, SFBG Horticulture Assistant Before this summer, a widespread but seldom-seen wild crab apple was not to be found at our Garden; but, as of [...]

Scientific name: Salvia rosmarinus 'Arp' Common name: 'Arp' rosemary, 'Arp' rosmarinus, romero 'Arp' Family: Lamiaceae (Mint) Hardiness: USDA Zone 6 (-10 to 0 °F) Life form: Shrub/sub-shrub Article by Eva Maria Räpple Rosemary is native to the Mediterranean region, southern [...]

Scientific name: Prunus armeniaca Common name: apricot Family: Roseace (rose) Life form: Herbaceous perennial plants or annual plants (depending on species) Article by Linda Churchill, Director of Horticulture Disclaimer: Apricot is this author’s favorite tree (and fruit). Along with the [...]