All the Dirt on Gardening

One of False Aloe's names is Rattlesnake Master. Sounds ominous, doesn't it? False Aloe or Polianthes virginica is a perennial for dry, rocky areas. The nondescript flowers are green on six-foot stalks and supposedly have an Easter lily fragrance. 2BNtheWild has photos . And check out the photos at the Vanderbilt site . The USDA plant profile ( here ) says that its plant family is Agavaceae (Century-plant family), the Genus is Manfreda Salisb. – tuberose and the species, Manfreda virginica (L) Salisb. ex Rose  – false aloe, is the only one in the species with a native range that includes Oklahoma. The others are from Texas. The roots were used in a variety of medicines back in Henrietta Herbal's day , 1898. Dropsy, snakebite, worms and diarrhea were some of its applications. They are supposed to grow in partly shady areas with average to rocky soil in zones 4-9 so I started seeds for the rocky spots at the back of the wooded area where the rains have washed away most...