Temperate
Plants evolved in regions with distinct seasons and at least some freezing temperatures. They exhibit dormancy or other mechanisms to survive winter chills. Use this tag for species adaptable to USDA Zones ~4–8.
Arbor Vitae: In Search of the Tree of Life
The “tree of life,” or arbor vitaæ, has long been surrounded by mystery and debate over its true identity. This story traces how the St. Lawrence Iroquois used the tree’s medicinal properties to aid French explorers and explores the evidence behind its botanical identification.
tree, conifer, ornamental, temperateBoxwood: A Plant That Took Over the Garden World
Boxwood, once overlooked, rose to prominence as a popular ornamental plant but now faces serious threat from a destructive fungal disease. This story traces its journey to garden fame and highlights the urgency of protecting it from boxwood blight.
shrub, ornamental, temperateCryptomeria japonica: Climate Change, Cultivation, and Culture
Cryptomeria japonica, or sugi, is Japan’s national tree and has long held cultural and symbolic importance in the country’s landscape. This story traces how sugi’s role is evolving today as Japan grapples with the environmental and social impacts of aging monoculture forests.
tree, conifer, ornamental, temperateWild Yam: The Rhizome of the Pill
Wild yam (Dioscorea villosa), once key to the development of the birth control pill, has a complex history shaped by Indigenous knowledge and commercial science. This story revisits how the plant was studied and represented, challenging traditional botanical illustrations to reflect its deeper cultural and medicinal significance.
root, medicinal, vine, temperateDittany: Women’s Herbs and Reproductive Control
Used for over 2,000 years, dittany has been closely tied to women’s health, especially around menstruation and childbirth. This story explores how historical herbals and recipes reflect women’s knowledge and agency in using this medicinal plant across time.
herb, spice, medicinal, temperateCercidiphyllum japonicum: The Katsura at Dumbarton Oaks
The katsura tree at Dumbarton Oaks, with its sweeping branches and ancient roots, has stood since before the estate was purchased in 1920. This story traces the species’ long history—from prehistoric times to its poetic and horticultural significance in Japan and North America—revealing how it came to grace this Washington, D.C. garden.
tree, ornamental, temperate, cold-hardyMaize: Sacred Plant, Global Commodity
In 2014, mass protests erupted in Guatemala against the so-called “Monsanto Law,” which restricted the reuse of patented seeds like genetically modified maize. This story explores how the law threatened centuries-old cultural and spiritual ties to maize, highlighting the deep-rooted tensions between traditional knowledge and corporate control.
grain, staple, temperateMint: The Ubiquity of a Commercial Crop
Mint is a globally widespread plant with thousands of varieties, woven into daily life through food, medicine, and products. This story uncovers mint’s overlooked role in botanical history, from naming challenges to its impact on medicine and global plant exchange.
herb, medicinal, temperatePecan: Beyond Thanksgiving Pie to Indigenous Reciprocity
Whether you say PEE-can or puh-KAHN, the pecan’s story goes far beyond pie—it’s a centuries-old staple first cultivated by Native Americans, who formed reciprocal relationships with the tree. This story explores how pecans shaped migration, trade, and diets, and how modern cultivation risks disrupting that delicate balance.
nut, tree, temperatePelargonium: By Any Other Name Would Smell as Sweet?
Charles Dickens adored the scarlet “geranium,” but the plant he loved was actually a pelargonium—long mistaken for its namesake. This story untangles their identities and reveals the pelargonium’s distinct history and influence across science, industry, and culture.
shrub, herb, ornamental, temperatePeony: Pretty and Powerful
Peonies are prized today for their stunning blooms, but they also have a rich medicinal legacy spanning over 2,000 years in Europe and Asia. This story uncovers lesser-known episodes in peony’s history, including its use in healing remedies like a “miraculous” infant convulsion powder.
flower, ornamental, temperateSunflower: Knowledge, Myth, and Meaning
The sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is instantly recognizable and widely celebrated in art and imagery, often overshadowing the plant itself. This story traces the sunflower’s cultural and visual history, revealing how its striking form helped shape myths, meanings, and botanical understanding over time.
flower, oilseed, ornamental, temperateVenus Flytrap: Queen of the Carnivorous Plants
The Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula), once dubbed a “miracle of nature” by Linnaeus, has fascinated botanists and poets alike for centuries with its carnivorous adaptations. This story traces its discovery, scientific acclaim, and the cultural intrigue it inspired, revealing how this small plant captured the imagination of naturalists across continents and eras.
carnivorous, ornamental, wetland, temperateWatermelon: Stereotypes of Race and Class
Though now beloved for its sweet red flesh, watermelon was historically a pale, sometimes bitter fruit valued for its rind, medicinal uses, and hydration. This story explores how Citrullus lanatus evolved over time and became entangled with cultural stereotypes, revealing its complex global and social history.
fruit, tropical, temperate
