GardenTags Encyclopedia A-Z - Plants starting with "E"

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Eared Lady Fern, Athyrium otophorum var. okanum

Eared Lady Fern is a clump-forming fern, with arching long, pointed light green lacy lance-shaped fronds and with segments that have toothed margins. It has dark purple-red midribs and stalks.

Eared Willow, Salix aurita

Willow trees can be upright, rounded, weeping, or dwarf. The bark varies in colour, depending on the variety, and the leaves are usually sage green on the top and paler on the underside, pointed at each end, and growing alternately along the twigs. In early Spring they bear tiny flowers, and catkins. 'Eared Willow' is a dwarf variety, naturally growing in mountain regions, and often used as cover for game-birds. It has broader leaves than many willows

Early Jasmine, Cestrum fasciculatum var. 'Newellii'

Cestrum are native to warm temperate to tropical regions. They are commonly called jessamines (from "jasmine", due to their fragant flowers). Several species are grown as ornamental plants for their strongly scented flowers. Some are invasive species. 'Newellii' produces an abundance of showy clusters of tubular crimson flowers at the branch tips from spring through autumn. Blooms are followed by reddish purple ornamental berries. Use for a hedge, a bold specimen, or as a container plant.

Early Purple Orchid, Orchis mascula

Orchis mascula is a native wildflower. The purple-pink flowers of this early orchid usually appear at the same time as the bluebell. It can be found in meadows, woodland and often on roadside verges. When it first blooms, it has an attractive fragrance.

Early Stachyurus, Stachyurus praecox

In late winter and early spring, pendant racemes of small, cup-shaped flowers seem to drip from the bare, arching branches, creating a beautiful show. Hardy through most of the UK apart from inland valleys, at altitude and central/northerly locations. May suffer foliage damage and stem dieback in harsh winters in cold gardens. Plant can withstand temperatures down to -10°C

Earth Star 'Black Mystic', Cryptanthus zonatus 'Black Mystic'

Cryptanthus bivittatus, (commonly known as Earth Star) is a small, terrestrial Bromeliad. Growing to a maximum of 20cm high and preferring moderate or diffuse light. It is commonly used in terrariums and novelty planters. Unlike many other bromeliads, they grow in the soil. 'Black Mystic' has nearly-black and white horizontal stripes

Earth Star 'Thriller', Cryptanthus 'Thriller'

Cryptanthus bivittatus, (commonly known as Earth Star) is a small, terrestrial Bromeliad. Growing to a maximum of 20cm high and preferring moderate or diffuse light. It is commonly used in terrariums and novelty planters. Unlike many other bromeliads, they grow in the soil. Cryptanthus 'Thriller' is a cross of 'Ebony Beauty' X roseus. It forms clusters of small, upright growths with wavy, irregularly horizontally striped, green and silver leaves.

Earth Star, Carrion Plant, Stapelia

Stapelias, which are native to South Africa, have succulent stems with four ribs that have toothed edges, and which branch to form clumps. The flowers are large and star-shaped.

East Indian Holly Fern, Arachniodes aristata 'Variegata'

Variegated fern with a streak of yellow down the centre of each mature glossy frond. Grows well sited in conditions similar to woodland.

Easter Cactus, Hatiora gaertneri

The Easter Cactus is a lovely pot plant which comes in a variety of different colours. Hatiora gaertneri is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant for its scarlet flowers. It usually flowers in late Spring.The Easter cactus is thought to be more difficult to grow than the Christmas or Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera).

Easter Cactus 'Apache Spirit', Hatiora gaertneri 'Apache Spirit'

The Easter Cactus is a lovely pot plant which comes in a variety of different colours. Hatiora gaertneri is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant for its white flowers. It usually flowers in late Spring.The Easter cactus is thought to be more difficult to grow than the Christmas or Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera).

Easter Cactus 'Pawnee Spirit', Hatiora gaertneri 'Pawnee Spirit'

Easter Cassia, Senna pendulum var. glabrata

Native to South America, Easter cassia is a vigorous shrub that bears clusters of bright yellow flowers. Easter cassia is a prolific seeder, and its seedlings come up in bushland, disturbed areas and roadsides. As it grows, Easter cassia smothers native vegetation. It is common in many areas of coastal Queensland and northern New South Wales.

Eastern Bee Balm, Monarda bradburiana

Monarda - or Bee Balm, or Bergamot - is a tall, upright growing flowering perennial, with flower heads that consist of many tubular flowers that are a magnet for bees. Leaves are mid green and aromatic. 'Eastern Bee Balm' has pale pink spotted flowers from early Summer

Eastern Bluestar 'Salicifolia', Amsonia tabernaemontana var. salicifolia

'Salicifolia' has dark blue flower buds which open to reveal star-like, steely blue flowers in late spring and summer. The flowers are loosely held, in slightly pendulous clusters on top of tall stems bearing slender, tapering leaves, which turn interesting shades of yellow before dying back in autumn. Suitable for cut flower arrangements.

Eastern Cottonwood, Populus deltoides

Populus - poplars - are deciduous fast-growing trees that bear male and female catkins before the oval or heart-shaped leaves appear. Female catkins are fluffy seed-bearers that are wind-blown. Some poplars can grow up to 30 m. in height. The trees are useful for screening, but can also be a nuisance because of the vigorous root-system. Eastern Cottonwood is of the largest North American hardwood trees. It has silvery-white smooth, or slightly fissured bark that matures to dark grey and deeply fissured, and with stout grey twigs with triangular leaf-scars.

Eastern Hemlock 'Jeddeloh', Tsuga canadensis 'Jeddeloh'

Tsuga are evergreen coniferous trees or shrubs, with slender needle-like leaves which have a white underside, and which bear small oval cones.'Jeddeloh' is a compact, bushy, evergreen dwarf rounded coniferous shrub with arching branches, with short dark green leaves with two whitish bands on the undersides. The new, young growth is bright green '

Eastern Pasqueflower, Pulsatilla patens syn. Anemone patens

Pulsatilla patens is a clump-forming perennial with slightly hairy fern like leaves and produces lavender violet flowers very early in the Spring. The flowers are followed by silky seeds. This species is originally native to North and Central Europe, to Siberia and Northern China. It requires sharp drainage and dislikes wet.

Eastern Prickley Pear Cactus, Opuntia humifusa

Opuntia humifusa is probaby the most suitable for British conditions, tolerating wetter conditions than most Opuntias. Typically in a cold winter, it shrivels somewhat, its skin crinkling and turning purple but when the warm weather of Spring rolls around again, it regains condition and growth is rapid, sprouting many new cladodes. Opuntia are commonly referred to as 'Prickly Pear' plants and are native to the Americas. Prickly pears typically grow with flat, rounded pads (cladodes) armed with two kinds of spines; large, smooth, fixed spines and small, hairlike prickles called glochids. Opuntia species are the most cold-tolerant of the lowland cacti. Requires porous cactus soil and adequate airflow. Water thoroughly when the soil is dry to the touch. Protect from frost; hardy to 32F.

Eastern Redbud, Cercis Canadensis

Cercis canadensis, commonly called eastern redbud, is a deciduous tree with a rounded crown that typically grows to 10m tall with a slightly larger spread. It sports pea-like rose-purple flowers which bloom on the bare branches in early spring before the foliage emerges.

Eastern Redbud 'Tex Merlot', Cercis canadensis 'Merlot'

Original:Attractive shiny purple heart shaped leaves which and maintain their attractive appearance well into late summer. 'Merlot' has excellent branching and dense growth. Flowering is prolific, and the blooms are reddish-purple. New:Cercis canadensis, commonly called eastern redbud, is a deciduous tree with a rounded crown that typically grows to 10m tall with a slightly larger spread. It sports pea-like rose-purple flowers which bloom on the bare branches in early spring before the foliage emerges.

Eastern Redcedar, Juniperus virginiana

Broadly conical, sometimes columnar, dense, evergreen conifer. The bark is reddish brown, fibrous, and peels off in narrow strips. Juvenile leaves are sharp, spreading needles, while adult leaves are scaled. The seed cones are berry-like and dark purple-blue with a white wax cover. The berry-like vines are attractive to many birds.

Eastern White Pine, Pinus strobus

Pinus strobus are conical in shape but broaden with age to an oval crown. Its needles are soft when young and blue-green. The cones are long and narrow and broaden as they ripen and open out to release the winged seeds. The bark is smooth and dark grey becomes furrowed on mature trees. Cone production peaks every 3 to 5 years.

Eau de Cologne Mint, Mentha x piperita f. citrata

Mint is a perennial herb grown for its leaves which have many culinary uses. Not all Mentha are edible however. Their leaves are generally fragrant when crushed. They can be invasive so plant them where their root systems do not swamp other plants. Eau De Cologne Mint is said to be very useful for keeping flies away indoors (by hanging a bunch in the room). The flowers are pink or white

Ecballium Elaterium, Squirting Cucumber

Cucumber is the common name for a widely cultivated creeping vine bearing cucumiform fruits and is of the same family as melon. The 'Squirting Cucumber' is grown for the novelty value, as the fruits are inedible (in fact they contain a powerful purgative!). The attraction is the that the small cucumber-like fruits, when ripe, squirt out their seeds at the slightest touch to quite a distance - irresistible for small boys! (But take care to protect your - or their - eyes!)

Eccremocarpus scaber, Chilean Glory-flower

Flame-orange and red flowers spring to autumn, sometimes, even into early winter. The plants are not hardy but in mild regions they might survive - dying down in winter and reappearing the following year. In very mild, sheltered areas the foliage can remain all winter. Otherwise they should be treated as annuals.

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