Growing Flowers

A lot of people confuse the flower of the Heliconia with Bird-of-Paradise since they look very similar. Heliconia, although equally as tropical as its look-alike, is the sole member of its plant...

This easy perennial has many varieties. The National Arboretum grows about 1,000 types and reports there are about 60,000 different types. The plant is so popular that gardeners nationwide have...

A panorama of colors and varieties and subvarieties of poppies exist all over the world, from Mexico to Alaska to China and the Himalayas. Their beauty and medicinal properties make poppies one of...

The Mandevilla, or Mexican Love Vine, is growing in popularity north of the border. Though tropical by nature, the vine can be grown as a house plant in cooler months; enabling you to enjoy the...

Siberian and Dutch irises may confuse novice gardeners due to the fact that both can be purple and neither is bearded (i.e., no fuzzy, fringed appendages). But there are several important differences.

Potted flowers provide a splash of color for the deck, front porch, or anywhere you choose to place them. Buying potted flowers is an easy way to garden, because you don't have to deal with a...

Rose moss (Portulaca grandiflora), a relative of the hardy weed purslane, is a perfect plant for hot and dry conditions. It will tolerate a variety of soils, and its bright flowers are a beautiful...

More commonly known as the spider flower, cleome are graceful, tall plants with bright blooms in shades of purple and pink. Cleome are forgiving plants, drought-tolerant and happy in nearly any...

Growing hibiscus plants from seed can be both a rewarding and inexpensive experience for resourceful individuals. Using discarded 2-liter plastic bottles for terrariums, hibiscus seeds will...

As you develop your landscape, you may choose to add zinnia flowers to your garden. Known for their vast array of bright colors such as orange and red, large blooms and impressive heights, these...

As you watch your beautiful flowers flourish throughout the season, you may want to preserve the seeds for a variety of reasons. Perhaps you want to take advantage of your resources, maybe you...

Dahlias' scientific name is Dahlia pinnata. Dahlias are a native, central Mexico plant that is found growing in volcanic soils. They like full sunlight but will tolerate light shade. Dahlias start...

Daylily plants can provide a splash of color and beauty to any garden. In order to properly care for these plants, you should separate them every three to five years, because overly large daylily...

The Lotus Berthelotii plant is also known as the Parrot's Beak or the Coral Gem because of its beautiful red-orange flowering blossoms. This plant is ideal for growing in a pot indoors, but can...

Wave Petunias and Supertunias are two recent, popular varieties of the petunia--a favorite annual flowering plant. Both types of petunias are vigorous growers that produce fragrant blooms from...

Hummingbird vines have somewhat of a mixed review in the gardening world. They are also known as the trumpet vine because of the shape of the flower. It is similar to the end of a trumpet and...

Lilac trees are known for their beauty and for the rich, sweet scent that their flowers produce. Because they can grow to be anywhere between 6- and 30-feet tall, they make excellent borders and...

Cannas are hardy plants with pink, coral, orange and apricot flowers that will bloom each year until frost. Depending on the variety, cannas can grow to more than 15 feet tall. The foliage is...

Water is good for your plants, but too much will cause those plants to die. How do you know if you are giving them too much water? By looking at your plants and the soil they grow in, you'll be...

Wild violets burst into color in spring and bring continuous blooms throughout the summer with their tiny purple, white, and blue flowers. Transplant bunches of this "weed" to add color to your...

The begonia (Begoniaceae) is a perennial flowering plant with over a thousand different species. Begonias are grown for ornamental purposes thanks to their large white, pink, red or yellow...

Sundew Drosera Capensis is also known as the Cape sundew. It is a carnivorous plant that attracts insects with a sticky sap on its leaves. When the insect is trapped, the sundew wraps small hairs...

Hibiscus come in many varieties with large, colorful flowers in all colors. Some flowers grow up to 12 inches in diameter. They thrive in hardiness zones 8 through 10 and can make a beautiful...

More than 800 different species of flamingo lilies exist throughout the world. Flamingo lilies grow naturally in tropical regions from Mexico to northern Argentina and Uruguay, and it is native to...

Easter lily bulbs are different from other flower bulbs. Though the Easter lily does not require special soil Ph levels and will grow in most any type of well drained soil, the bulbs of the Easter...

Peonies are one of the most popular plants found in yards throughout the northern half of the United States. They produce large, lush flowers every spring around Memorial Day, making them a great...

Zinnias are one of the most popular flowers in summer borders and flower gardens. They are easy to grow and maintain, come in many colors, and are more inexpensive than many annuals because they...

The dahlia is a type of perennial flower found growing throughout North America. Dahlias are typically grown for ornamental purposes, favored for their large, round flowers that come in a range of...

The tickseed plant (Coreopsis) is a type of flowering herb found throughout the Americas. The flowers are commonly seen growing wild in fields and prairies. Some gardeners choose to plant the...

Honeysuckle, or Lonicera, is a type of flowering plant that comes in climbing vine and ornamental shrub varieties, both evergreen and deciduous. In fact, there are more than 180 types of...

Asiatic lilies are beautiful flowers that embrace many bold colors. The Asiatic lily is one of the most popular varieties for its simplistic growing pattern, widely loved oranges, pinks and...

From autumn to late spring, camellias add color to your landscape. They can be grown in almost any climate, but are not drought-tolerant. Their bright blooms and lush foliage require a good deal...

Typically an annual plant, verbena grace gardens with their colorful blooms, from the warmth of spring right up until fall. Whether they are planted as seeds or plants, in hanging baskets or...

Gerbera daisies are a beautiful addition to one's garden. The bright colors and soft fragrances make beautiful bouquets that can be displayed indoors as well. However, like other flowers,...

Mums also known as chrysanthemums (Chrysanthemum morifolium) come in an array of colors and liven up the decor of your home. Mums, as they are commonly referred to, grow very well indoors. You can...

Container gardens open the world of gardening to everyone. Selecting flowers that will thrive in containers is getting easier all the time. Even the geranium is now available in zonal, ivy and...

Not everyone has a green thumb. Fortunately, you can grow your plants and flowers fast, and everyone will think that you have been gardening for years. There are some basic essentials that flowers...

Busy Lizzy is another name for impatiens, a popular, prolifically blooming annual. Direct-seeded into the garden, it grows into a compact, bushy plant that remains in bloom throughout the growing...

According to Dr. Leonard Perry of the University of Vermont, geraniums are an attractive and versatile flower with over 250 species. (See Reference 1 below.)

Many flowering plants do well in hot, sunny conditions, but not all are the right shape and size for hanging baskets. Read on for tips on choosing sun- and heat-tolerant flowering plants that are...

Portulaca, also known as a moss rose, is a flowering annual. Because they bloom all summer long, they are prized by the home gardener for use in borders, containers and any other spot that needs a...

Miniature violets are a smaller version of the standard sized African violets. These popular houseplants grow to only 6 inches in diameter. Their care is similar to that of the larger standard...

Lilies have been grown in gardens since their cultivation in Asia Minor during the second millennium BCE. Because of their pleasant fragrance and appearance, lilies are popular as cut flowers in...

Hydrangeas are famous for prolific flower clusters, so it is particularly disappointing if they don't bloom. Under the proper conditions and with appropriate care, this can be prevented.

Bare root flowers are those are sold without soil. The lack of soil makes the flowers easier to transport, but because their roots are exposed, they need to be planted or put in water immediately.

Its invasive habit has made purslane (portulaca oleracea) the bane of many a gardener's existence. This creeping succulent with bright yellow flowers deserves a better reputation. High in...

Bearded iris naturally become overcrowded and will die unless they are separated every two to four years. Without division the iris will expand until there are too many flowers in one small area,...

Some modern plant varieties are hybrids. They are special cultivars bred for desirable qualities like color. Some colors do not exist in certain species of plants, so scientists force them by...

Irises of all varieties are elegant and a pleasure to grow. Compared to other varieties, they are simple to care for and propagate year after year. Lucky gardeners will swear that an iris "tossed...

Azaleas are a subgenus of flowering shrubs commonly grown for their colorful ornamental flowers. There are over 10,000 different cultivars of azaleas, including hardy azaleas that can survive cold...