Bittersweet — Bittersweet is a semi-woody herbaceous perennial vine, which scrambles over other plants, capable of reaching a height of 4 m where suitable support is available, but more often 1-2 m high. The leaves are 4-12 cm long, roughly arrowhead-shaped, and often lobed at the base. The flowers are in loose clusters of 3-20, (1-1.5 cm) across, star-shaped, with …

Bitterroot — The bitterroot (Lewisia rediviva Pursch) is a small, low, pink flower with yellow center. It is the state flower of Montana in the United States. The plant is a low-growing perennial plant with a fleshy taproot and a simple or branched base. The flower stems are leafless, 1-3 cm tall, bearing at the tip a whorl of 5-6 …

Bindweed — The Convolvulaceae, known commonly as the bindweed or morning glory family, is a group of about 60 genera and more than 1,650 species of mostly herbaceous vines, but also trees, shrubs and herbs. They can easily be recognized by their funnel-shaped radially symmetrical flowers. These have 5 sepals, a corolla of 5 united petals and 5 stamens. The …

BellFlower — It is a southern European biennial, found in Eurasian woodlands and meadows. The plant grows to a height of 6-12 in. (15-30 cm). It has a herbaceous, smooth-textured, shiny/glossy-textured foliage. The genus includes about 300 species and several subspecies. The plant is cultivated for its bell shaped flowers. The plant is of considerable horticultural importance. There is hardly …

Belladonna — Deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna), also known as belladonna, dwale, Banewort, Devil’s Cherries, Naughty Man’s Cherries, Divale, Black Cherry, Devil’s Herb, Great Morel, and Dwayberry, is a well-known perennial herbaceous plant, with leaves and berries that are highly toxic and hallucinogenic. It is in the nightshade family (Solanaceae), which it shares with potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants, jimsonweed, tobacco, goji, and …

Begonia — Begonia is a genus in the flowering plant family Begoniaceae. The only other member of the family Begoniaceae is Hillebrandia, a genus with a single species in the Hawaiian Islands. The genus Symbegonia is now included in Begonia. “Begonia” is the common name as well as the generic name for all members of the genus. With ca. 1500+ …

Bedstraw — Galium is a large genus of annual and perennial herbaceous plants in the family Rubiaceae, with about 400 species occurring in the temperate zones of both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Most species are known as bedstraw. The Field Madder (Sherardia arvensis) is a close relative and may be confused with a tiny bedstraw. Asperula ise also a …

Beauty Bush — Beauty bush, Kolkwitzia amabilis, is a hardy deciduous shrub in the honeysuckle family, Caprifoliaceae. It is native to China and grows up to 4.5 m (15 ft) high in temperate regions. Leaves are ovate, up to 7.5 cm (3 in) long. Both the young leaves and branches are hairy when young. Its bell-shaped flowers are soft pink …

Beardtongue — Beard-tongue (Penstemon) is a large genus of North American and East Asian plants traditionally placed in the Scrophulariaceae family. Due to new genetic research it has now been placed in the vastly expanded family Plantaginaceae. They have opposite leaves, partly tube-shaped and two-lipped flowers and seed capsules. The most distinctive feature of the genus is the prominent staminode, …

Balloonflower — The balloonflower, Platycodon grandiflorus is a species of perennial flowering plant of the family Campanulaceae and the only member of the genus Platycodon. These species are commonly referred to as platycodon, Chinese bellflower, sometimes also Japanese bellflower, common balloon flower, or simply balloon flower. It is native to East Asia (China, East Siberia, Japan, and Korea) and bears …