Flower Basics

Four-o'clock flowers are flowers that bloom in the late afternoon and remain open all night. The most common variety of four-o'clock flowers is the Mirabilis jalapa. Mirabilis translates to...

Sedum (also known as stonecrop) is a perennial plant used often in gardens. They are sturdy plants that are easy to grow in well-drained soil. They are capable of living through just about any...

Planting flowers is the simplest way to bring color and beauty to your garden. Perennial flowers bloom annually, and are the most cost-effective way to ensure year after year of flowers in your...

Forcing flowering shrubs means to force (or trick) flowers that typically bloom in the spring to instead bloom much earlier indoors. Most shrubs form their flower buds in the fall before they go...

There is no better way to brighten up your home or office than with a vase of fresh cut flowers. It doesn't matter what season it is, or what the weather might be. When you bring a bouquet of...

Crocus flowers are grown from bulbs rather than seeds. However, gardeners don't have to wait until spring to enjoy their beautiful blooms because crocus flower bulbs can easily be forced to bloom...

Flowers and plants that are native to the Pacific have been admired and valued for centuries. From California to Washington state, all the way up to Alaska, you can find bold, leafy plants and...

Bird of paradise is one of the most attractive, exotic plants available for the at-home gardener. As the name suggests, this plant develops bright orange and purple blooms that resemble a bird in...

Being able to tell which species of roses is in your garden can help you maintain the bush for years to come. Feeding and sunlight are different for each individual species, as are pruning methods...

Pansies' name comes from the French word "pensée," meaning "a thought or reflection." This form of viola plant received the name because each five-petal pansy bloom resembles a human face and...

Daylilies only have one day of bloom per flower. However, there are many flower heads on a plant so that the actual blooming time for the plant lasts about three weeks. There are nearly 60,000...

Hedge roses are rose bushes that have been planted and pruned to make hedges for borders or decorations. Roses are one of the most recognized kinds of flowers in the world. They are prized for...

Most gardeners get great joy out of tending to a plant and enjoying the rewards of the efforts. Peonies offer beautiful color and fragrance, however, certain factors help peonies bloom.

Moon flowers are beautiful greenery during the day, and fragrant flowers at night. They are excellent additions to gardens and attract exotic nighttime creatures like moon moths.

Fresh flowers bring a breath of the garden inside the house. Flowers can be expensive purchased from the florist, grocery store or roadside stand. The variety is limited. And there's the issue...

The cape mallow is an evergreen flowering plant native to South Africa. It is extremely hardy and can be found in landscapes worldwide.

With so many varieties of flowers in the world, the differences between them are at once immediately visible and surprisingly hidden. Flowers are classified based on many different factors, which...

Flowers always seem the brightest in that first golden month of summer, so garden enthusiasts often spend a lot of time and energy preparing their yards for the early part of June.

Forcing flowers to bloom in the dark days of winter is a great way to get an early start on spring. Plan ahead and wait until the bush has had at least six weeks of cold weather so you can be sure...

Parrot tulips, which resemble the namesake tropical birds, are a variation of the classic tulip. These flamboyant flowers, with their notable curled, twisted and wavy petals, stand out in any garden.

Lilacs are a type of flower. Lilacs originated in the Balkans and Eastern Europe, though there are also a number of Asian varieties of the plant. Most lilacs bloom in the spring, with a few summer...

Flowers are not just relegated to summer and warm weather. There are some which flourish in the colder climates, even the dead of winter. There are some which relish the colder weather and, in...

Pansies are popular with gardeners for a very good reason- they are one of the few flowers that will continue to bloom throughout most of the winter! The big, beautiful blooms are very showy and...

Giving and wearing flower, foliage and nut leis are gestures of honor and celebration in traditional Polynesian and Hawaiian cultures. Making beautiful flower leis durable enough for wearing...

Flowers come in all sizes, shapes and colors. Different varieties grow in different seasons and locations. Some require a lot of time and attention while some do well with just a little...

Springtime is, without a doubt, the season for flowers. From wildflowers to cultivated flowers, the vast majority bloom as the snows melt and before the summer heat. But why do they do it, and are...

Choices and options for arranging flowers are as varied as the flowers themselves. Arrangements can be adapted to personal style, setting, season, event theme and even created to suit a specific...

Flower corsages are given and worn as tokens of celebration, appreciation, acknowledgment and reverence. Corsages are typically worn by women on their wrists, waists or lapels; a smaller version...

If given the right conditions, African violets bloom nearly year round. These beautiful love temperatures between 60-75 degrees F. Outside these temperatures, your African violet will probably...

Gerbera daisies are unique in their graceful, arching architecture. They are also interesting in that they can appear like a modern, stark and graphic bloom but also as a romantic, nostalgic and...

An amaryllis bulb is best planted in a pot that is kept outside to bloom naturally in the fall, as it can handle temperatures as low as 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Find out ways to grow amaryllis both...

If you want flowers that will bloom in late fall and return to bloom in early spring, then pansies are a good choice. Pansies are winter-hardy plants. Pansy flowers form a display of colors...

The month of July is a wonderful month in the garden. It is a month filled with the beauty of all sorts of flowers, so many in fact, you could have a hard time choosing what to plant. With all...

Gerber daisies are native to South Africa and have large, bold flowers that can reach 5 inches across. Gardeners love the Gerber daisy because as a potted plant it can be used in flower...

When we think of flowers or blooms we generally think of beauty and fragrance. However, flowers or blooms have a specific purpose--to reproduce. That makes the factors that cause a flower to bloom...

Wisteria is a rapidly climbing vine that can easily grow beyond its boundaries. Its clusters of lavender, blue and white flowers are the envy of many. This shrub is virtually disease and pest...

This beautiful shade loving plant is quite a bit easier to take care of than you might think. They may look delicate but with the proper care can actually be quite hardy. Another nice thing about...

As the heat of late summer wilts people and plants alike, tomatoes and peppers seem to be the only thing thriving in the garden. Among the drought-resistant zinnias and marigolds, though,...

July can be a scorching-hot month but in many parts of the country the first week or two of this summer month are the gardener's last chance to plant colorful blooms for this year and get a start...

An Easter lily is a plant that will bloom faithfully every summer and a plant that many people mistakenly throw out when the bloom dies. Grow the fragrant Easter lily to 10 feet, and allow it to...

Chrysanthemums, or dendranthema grandiflora, are plants that require sunny locations and can survive as long as they're in bloom. Wait for fall for chrysanthemums to bloom with instructions from a...

Though many plants declare to grow blue flowers, few really do. But one such true blue bloom is the Blue Girl rose. The Blue Girl is a hybrid tea rose. It is actually a silver, lilac-lavender...

Some lilies require bright sunlight, others shade. A good mulch cover during cold winter months is essential to keep the young buds from getting frostbite when they start coming through the soil....

The bird of paradise flower is a striking herbaceous plant that is easily identifiable with its unusual, colorful plumage. It is a popular cut flower and can be ordered from your local florist. It...

This time of the year the first signs of spring fever hits all of us. Easter is a time when we share plants to add color to the table. Most of these plants are forced to bloom way before their...

Did you know you can force spring flowering bulbs to bloom indoors in the winter months? Bulbs are normally planted in the fall, and this is because bulbs need a period of cold temperatures to...

Gardenias are tropical plants with large, white, fragrant flowers. They are extremely popular in the Southern United States, as they thrive in humid environments. Gardenia flowers have very...

When planning your spring garden, consider the whole season. Now would be a good time to lay out a perennial plot that would take your color through all 3 seasons. There are a few perennials that...

Daisies are a harbringer of summer, every garden should have them. Daisies are easy to grow perennials that return every year, expanding in size and number.

If you have French Hydrangeas then you know how beautiful they are when in bloom with their large round flower heads. When pruning flowering shrubs such as these, you need to do it at the right...