Q: We are landscaping an area around the old Lithia Spring and Sweetwater Park Hotel and would like to feature Biblical plants. Do you know how I could find a list of appropriate plants?

A: It turns out that Professor L.J. Musselman at Old Dominion University has done extensive research on plants mentioned in the Bible and the Koran. His list is too long to publish here but I will list a few he describes. For more information visit his Web site.

The books Plants of the Bible and the Quran  and  Plant World of the Bible are very useful.

Here are some Biblically-mentioned plants that are easy to find and grow in the South:

Aloe Aloe vera
Apple Pyrus malus
Bean Vicia fava
Cane Arundo donax
Cattail Typha domingensis
Coriander Coriandrum sativum
Cotton Gossypium sp.
Dill Anethum graveolens
Garlic Allium sativum
Gourd Citrullus colycinthus
Grape Vitis vinifera
Lily of the valley Convallaria majalis
Mustard Brassica nigra or B. alba
Onion Allium cepa
Papyrus Cyperus papyrus
Pomegranate Punica granatum
Walnut Juglans regia
Willow Salix alba