Flower Basics

Judges pore over flower entries at shows, scrutinizing every detail to separate the elite from those that don't quite measure up. Consider the criteria judges look for when choosing the blue...

Hydrangeas can be a beautiful addition to the garden, especially with their large pink, blue or white blooms, the color of which can change from one season to the next or sometimes during the same...

Petunias are small flowers whose blooms come in all different shades of color. They require some care and attention, especially when it comes to cutting them back. If you let them go too long,...

Yubi summer joy rose is a type of moss rose that makes an excellent ground cover. Growing up to 12 inches high, the plant is easy to care for, requiring only full sun and well draining soil. In...

Honeysuckle is a brilliant yellow flower that vines outward and upward onto trees and fences. It attracts many beautiful butterflies, and the occasional hummingbird. The plant can grow as a lush...

Azaleas have been called the "royalty of the garden." Related to the popular rhododendron, north American azaleas drop their leaves in the fall along with other deciduous plants. Their famous...

The scent of linden flowers brings to mind outdoor markets in the French countryside of Provence. Popular for delicate, star-shaped blooms and strongly sweet perfume, linden flowers are easy to...

Rhododendrons are a beautiful group of flowers that encompass many types and styles. Each different rhododendron requires a specific method of pruning and care. To take your rhododendrons to the...

Citronella geranium plants have been credited with the ability to repel mosquitoes. While this has not been proven, this plant does have a beautiful bloom that looks stunning in flower arrangements.

With its large multicolored, banana-like leaves and showy flowers, cannas are a tropical plant that can create a beautiful focal point in nearly any garden. In warm U.S. climates, cannas are a...

Gardenias are tender tropical shrubs that produce crisp white to creamy white blooms renowned for their rich sweet scent. Gardenia flowers have rather thick and smooth petals that can easily...

Water lilies are beloved by many gardeners all over the world. Their care is usually quite simple and well worth the added pain of storing the more tender types. Knowing the difference between...

Canna lilies are large plants with big, bright flowers. The leaves resemble the leaves from a banana tree, and they are actually in the same family as banana and ginger plants.

Creeping phlox (Phlox subulata) is a charming, low-growing perennial that produces a carpet of flowers in the spring. Creeping phlox grows to only about 6 inches tall, and will form a dense mat...

Daylilies are a perennial flower with bright blooms that appear amidst sword-like leaves throughout the summer. In order to protect daylilies so that they come back each year, it is best to cut...

A rose is a rose, you may think, but this simply isn't true. That beautiful rose growing in your garden may be a Floribunda or Grandiflora. Both are hybrid cultivars, and each has its own distinct...

Petunias are capable of producing an abundance of blooms throughout the growing season. The blooms of the petunia plant are available in single blooms, double blooms, solid, striped, veined,...

A rose is a perennial flowering shrub that has a distinct, recognizable appearance despite its many different colors, shapes and sizes. The Rosaceae family includes 50 to 150 different species of...

The vegetables in your garden may not be the only edible part of your plants. Many vegetable plants have edible flower blooms that you can add to soups, salads or stuff as a delicious side dish....

Daylilies are hardy perennials that will grow in almost any soil and light condition. Daylilies are not true lilies, but their name is appropriate as their blooms resemble lilies and only last for...

When one thinks of cacti, desert, arid and green come to mind. Most people do not realize that a cactus can have a plethora of multihued blooms. Flowers on a cactus are not exceptional in...

Mexico's warm climate is the perfect setting for hundreds of plant species that grow and thrive there. Flowers have always been important to Mexican culture, prized both for their beauty and their...

Named after 18th century German naturalist Traugott Gerber, gerbera daisies are members of the Asteraceae family of flowers. Native to South Africa, these cheerful blooms are grown as annuals in...

The Pocono Mountains in northeastern Pennsylvania are known for their lush foliage, streams and waterfalls. The flowers that thrive there punctuate the natural beauty of the hills and can be...

The most notable dendrobium orchids are Dendrobium phalaneopsis and Dendrobium nobile. Dendrobium phalaneopsis, also called den phal, is an evergreen orchid and is easy to take care of....

Small blooms are a premium in gardens where there is little space. Whether tall and pendulous or low-sitting and stout, tiny flowers are a welcome addition to provide detail, fragrance and...

Believed to be present from the dawn of time, magnolia trees bear blooms that transport the beholder back in time to days of ancient beauty and tough flora that was made to survive. Through years...

Hydrangeas are known for their beautiful blooms and are an excellent addition to any landscape. Gardeners also enjoy hydrangea blooms in their fall dried-flower arrangements. The blooms can be...

Proper care of your hydrangea for the winter season is important to ensure the quantity and beauty of the hydrangea blooms during the summer. It will take a little bit of work but it is worth the...

Yellow flowers are often associated with friendship and joy. They are often used to symbolize new beginnings. Their warm, cheerful appearance brightens up any bouquet. If you are looking for...

The only thing wrong with receiving a big bouquet of your favorite fresh flowers is knowing you'll enjoy them for so short a time. After briefly gracing your home with color and elegance, they'll...

African flowers are made up of blooms that thrive in warmer climates, such as the Bush Lily, Calla Lily, African Daisy and irises. You can plant African flowers outdoors if you live in a warm...

Hydrangeas are unique summer plants that produce large blooms that range from pale pink to deep dark purple. Although they are a fabulous addition to any landscape, they are rather pricey plants....

Many people think that orchids are difficult to grow, but they are very easy to grow and maintain if you know the secret!

Dendrobium is one of the larger families of orchids with more than 1,000 known varietals. Dendrobium orchids throw long arching spikes of flowers from a thickened and segmented main trunk from...

With dramatic flower stalks and attractive gray-green leaves, hollyhocks are a cottage garden favorite. Hollyhocks are a biennial, meaning they grow foliage the first year, go dormant over the...

A huge genus with numerous species, the hydrangea is known for its rare chameleon quality of pink, blue and white color spectrum shifts dependent on the balance of pH in the soil. Pruning is an...

Growing peonies from the seed is done by collecting the blooms as soon as they turn to seed, placing them in moist soil in a plastic bag and keeping them in the refrigerator for the winter....

Flowers brighten a dinner table, a guest room or a living area. Most of us have to "make do" with blooms from our own garden or the local grocery store's produce department. When arranging our own...

Gladioli are summer-flowering plants that are fairly easy to grow. The long flower spikes of gladioli make them a great choice for indoor cut-flower arrangements. The blooms come in many colors...

Perennials are the mainstay of the garden because they are long-lived permanent inhabitants, requiring little attention to provide annual blooms. A long lifespan is just one characteristic that...

The bird of paradise plant (Strelitzia reginae) has a beautiful and distinct appearance and makes an attractive houseplant. It is native to South Africa and is related to the banana. Being a...

Nicotiana, also called a flowering tobacco plant, has highly fragrant pink, rose, white and red flowers. These star-like 2-inch blooms have five large petals. The plants grow to a height of 24...

Geraniums are tough plants. Dormant geraniums can survive the winter and come back better than ever. When they "catch up" in the summer, they are very strong stemmed and average about 16...

The Oriental Stargazer lily is an eye-catching and dramatic member of the Lilium family and blooms in summer, notably August, in the United States. Like other true lilies, the Oriental Stargazer...

Petunias are a beautiful addition to your patio or flower garden all through the growing season because they love the sun. Petunias’ wide range of colors make them ideal for patriotic floral...

Calibrachoa is a fast-growing, compact annual that works well in hanging baskets and window boxes because of their trailing branches. They also look great as garden borders. A very heat- and...

Gerberas are annual flowering plants native to South Africa. They are also known as gerbera daisies and love the outdoors and lots of light. Gerberas are popular among florists for their bold...

These easy-to-grow flowers come in both perennial and annual varieties. One time referred to as a "common cornfield weed," poppies are anything but a weed. Although poppies do grow as wildflowers...

Deadheading flowers is the process of removing spent blooms from the plant. Deadheading carnations encourages flowering plants to rebloom, as the process of removing the bloom frees up the plant's...