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A plant's pistils and stamens can be found within its flowers, which are responsible for reproduction. Plants sexually reproduce, using stamens to provide sperm and pistils to provide eggs. Though some flowers contain both pistils and stamens, and so are hermaphroditic, many plants produce flowers that are either male or female. To get fruit and seeds, a gardener must have both male and female flowers available. Being able to recognize a hermaphroditic flower; a male, stamen-bearing flower; and a pistil-bearing female flower can guide a gardener's planting choices.
Radishes (Raphanus sativus) are edible roots in the Brassicaceae family of plants and are closely related to cabbage, kale and broccoli. They have high nutritional value and find numerous culinary, industrial and cultural uses. Radishes vary in size, color and taste depending on their specific variety. They are easy to grow and typically harvest within 30 days of sowing.
Leafhoppers damage roses and other plants by sucking the sap from the plant, causing wilted leaves and stunted growth. The rose leafhopper feeds on other plants such as apple trees, as well as roses, during the summer, but overwinters exclusively on rose plants. Look for signs of leafhoppers early in the season and control the insects promptly.
Leafhoppers are insects that exist almost everywhere in the world. The number of leafhopper species is larger than all other animal species combined, including birds and mammals. They suck sap from plants, and a severe infestation can result in the death of the tomato (or any) plant if you do not take measures to control this insect.
The Chinese peony (Paeonia lactiflora) is a type of herbaceous peony--its stems aren't woody and die back each fall once frosts occur. According to Dr. Allan Armitage, American perennial plant expert, most modern selections of herbaceous peony are hybrids with the lactiflora species in their lineage.
Russian sage, scientific name Perovskia atriplicifolia, is an herbaceous perennial that generally grows to between 3 and 4 feet tall and 2 to 4 feet wide but can grow to 5 feet tall. This is a woody-based shrubby plant with an upright growth habit. Several varieties of Russian sage are smaller than the original and have slightly different bloom colors. Russian sage is not prone to any serious insect infestations or diseases and is drought-resistant.
When choosing plants for an herbaceous border, the plants' height, width and growth habits. Border plants should be short so as not to block the interior of the flower bed. The mature width and growth habit will play an integral part in how well a plant fits into the garden as well. Plants with a fast-spreading ground-cover growth may not be a good choice for an herbaceous border in a small area, for example.
If you're growing a garden and want to make sure that your flowers and herbs are kept safe from insects, you'll want to know more about the leafhopper's diet. These insects belong to the Cicadellidae family and can be found on every continent in the world.
Peonies are sold as either bare roots or as container-grown plants. Bare-root peonies are planted in the fall, while container-grown peonies are planted in the spring. Both are usually able to withstand severe winters.
