The Node
Woodlander's resource center for plant education, how-to's, garden inspiration, and latest news from Woodlanders.
The Black Gum Chronicles: A Tree of History, Healing, and Beauty
If trees could talk, Nyssa sylvatica—commonly known as the Black Gum or Tupelo—would have quite the tale to spin. This unassuming tree, often overlooked in favor of flashier species like oaks...
The Sentinel of the Swamp: Pond Cypress
In the quiet embrace of southeastern wetlands, Taxodium ascendens, or the pond cypress, rises like a guardian of ancient waters. Its slender, columnar form and feathery green needles evoke a...
The Ecological Importance of Clinopodium georgianum: Protecting Georgia’s Unique Native Plant
“In the South, we have plants as charming as our porch swings and just as resilient as our summers.” Enter Clinopodium georgianum, or Georgia calamint, an unassuming native herb with...
The Enigmatic Camellia crapnelliana: Uncovering Its Origins and Botanical Legacy
As the cooling autumn air settles over the landscape, it becomes the perfect backdrop for Camellia crapnelliana (sometimes spelled capnelliana), a camellia known for its distinct history and unique place...
The Shrimp Plant: Small Shrimp, Big History
Gardening connects us to nature and history through the plants we cultivate. One such plant with a rich past is Justicia brandegeana, commonly known as the shrimp plant. With its...
Hibiscus aculeatus: A Deep Dive into Its Ethnobotanical History
Hibiscus aculeatus, commonly known as the Pineland Hibiscus or Comfortroot, is a plant with a rich ethnobotanical history that stretches across centuries, particularly within the southeastern United States. This species...
The Tale of Callicarpa americana: Beauty, Berries, and Botanical Magic
Stroll through a Southern garden in the fall, and you might spot the bright purple clusters of Callicarpa americana, or American Beautyberry. It’s hard to miss and even harder to...