Let’s explore the world of spinescent plants, which are popular subjects for many gardeners, and specimens that some prefer to avoid. These are plants that have developed sharp structures to protect ...

The crown of thorns plant, named for the wreath of spines Christ was forced to wear during his crucifixion, has come a long way in a few decades. We’ve gone from a single red-flowered species ...

A walk in the early evening took me past a neighbor’s home with a couple of containers on the west-facing porch. They were filled with healthy-looking plants in full bloom. My wise neighbor had filled ...

A Virginia conservation group is calling out Japanese barberry, a thorny ornamental shrub that is still being sold at nurseries and big-box stores even as landowners spend years trying to rip it out ...