Plants, Flowers & Herbs

Calla lily flowers, while technically not lilies or even callas, are beautiful flowers that have been popular for centuries. Although misclassified by scientists, they keep the name of "calla...

Lavender vera is known more commonly as English lavender. It is a perennial herb native to the Mediterranean. A bushy plant, lavender vera is hardy in zones 5 to 9. This evergreen, with its...

Violets are members of the viola species of flowers that includes sweet violets (Viola odorata), horned violets (Viola cornuta) and Johnny-jump-ups (Viola tricolor). Violets may be either compact ...

Chia, also called Salvia columbariae, is an annual flower that grows about 20 inches tall. The leaves are low to the ground, and they shoot out a stem that produces a round mass of spiky-looking...

The Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) is also called shrub althaea, and is a deciduous shrub or small tree that is popular in garden landscapes because of its long bloom time. Rose of Sharon has...

There are about 250 known species of clematis. Clematis is a flowering, climbing vine that belongs to the buttercup family. Clematis plants are typically hardy in zones 3 to 5 and 7 to 8. They...

Peonies are a perennial shrub flower that blooms in early summer. The flowers represent prosperity, peace and happiness. They come in red, white and pink blooms with pink being the most popular...

Gunnera Manicata often called Dinosaur Food or Giant Rhubarb in many parts of the world. This huge leafy perennial grows to heights of ten feet. Each leaf of the plant measures six feet across....

Hand saws should be employed when cutting branches too large to fit into the bite of lopping shears. Using a too-small pruning tool may tear the branch, as well as produce aesthetically...

Hostas are an extremely popular leafy perennial, grown for their beautiful leaves. Most varieties (cultivars) are hardy from USDA growth zones 3 to 9. There are over 5,000 cultivars of hosta,...

Black-eyed Susans provide hardy, colorful flowers that brighten up any garden and make attractive cut-flower bouquets. With a scientific name of Rudbeckia, Black-eyed Susans also are known as...

Variegated shrubs showcase a variety of colors within their foliage. Valued by gardeners for the interesting textures and colors, their leaves often display more than one color naturally scattered...

Trailing fuchsia is an elegant plant with colorful, delicate blooms that will cascade gracefully over the edges of a hanging basket or patio container. Trailing fuchsia prefers cool, summer...

Rhododendrons are lovely plants with enchanting blooms that range from dark red to lavender. The plants are able to survive and bloom for many years. Unfortunately, the lovely plant is prone to...

Red banana plants produce small, red-skinned fruits that taste quite sweet. The foliage appears lush and tropical. The plant spreads and grows from underground rhizomes, and growth tends to be...

The holly, or Ilex genus, of fruiting trees and shrubs can be propagated successfully by seeds collected from their red or white berries. They are, however, most often grown from rooted cuttings,...

Fuchsias produce almost otherworldly shaped blooms in deep purples and pinks. These exotic flowers require a lot of fertilizer and are therefore classified as "heavy feeders." The fertilizer is...

Common names for Amaryllis belladonna include Amaryllis Belladonna Lily, August Lily, Naked Lady and Belladonna lily. Amaryllis Belladonna Lilies bloom in August. The highly fragrant flowers range...

The Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) is a carnivorous plant native to the wetlands of North Carolina. Venus flytraps have leaves that trap and digest insects. These plants typically stay healthy...

Known for their bright colors and unique growth patterns, tulips are a popular flower choice for brightening up a home or office. As with all other flowers, tulips require a specific type of care...

Hyacinths are bell-shaped spring flowers that grow on tall spikes. Though they bloom year after year with first bulbs, the number of flowers decreases gradually. They should preferably be replaced...

Whether you are starting seedlings for a garden or just want to grow some herbs for the kitchen, the soil you use plays an important role in creating thriving plants. Using soil directly from the...

Lilies (Lilium) grow from bulbs, which have overlapping, fleshy scales that provide no real protection for the bulb. Lily bulbs suffer damage or die when not properly cared for. The proper care of...

Dianthus, or pinks as they are commonly known, enjoy full sun and well drained soil and in return provide the gardener with a pleasant show of bright blooms through the summer season and beyond....

Lace cap hydrangeas belong to the oak leaf or Hortensia quercifolia genus of hydrangea shrubs. They produce flowers in white pink and blue that have a large central pincushion of tightly spaced...

You can reinvigorate your flowering maple or abutilon as it is known botanically, with a combination of bright sunlight, careful pruning, watering and fertilizing. A relation of the hibiscus,...

A contorted fig tree -- also called a weeping fig tree -- is a popular indoor tree because of its manageable size and elegant appearance. Another benefit of a contorted fig tree is its "hands-off"...

The hoya plant, scientifically known as Hoya carnosa, is also referred to as Grandmother's Wax Plant. The name is a testament not only to the waxy look of the hoya's leaves and pinkish-white...

The Chinese lantern plant originated in Africa, but is commonly cultivated throughout the world. Scientists refer to the Chinese lantern plant as Sandersonia aurantiaca; "aurantiaca" refers to the...

Camellia bushes require a lot of care and maintenance to grow and bloom successfully. The plant is fragile. If they are not taken care of properly, they become susceptible to many pests and diseases.

Crystal palace lobelia is a blue or violet-blue flowering annual that is a cultivar of the campanula genus. Its blooms form spring through the fall and the foliage turns a bronze-green in the...

There are many reasons you might want to pot your fruit trees: portability, lack of sunny yard space, chilly climates. Growing fruit trees in containers allows growers in colder climates the...

The purple leaf plum is a flowering plum tree that produces small fruits not suitable for human consumption. This tree can be grown in hardiness zones 4 to 9 in a full sun environment. The purple...

The use of tropicals as houseplants is an excellent way to add splendor and color to your home. Tropical houseplants can be low-growing shrubs or large trees, with all shapes and sizes in between....

Every gardener knows that even if you do everything right, at some point you will have to fight for your garden. Damaging agents can come in the form of beetles, aphids, slugs, snails and fungi,...

The speckled croton is an exotic plant with pointed green leaves speckled with yellow spots. Native to Southeast Asia, the plant is known for its resilience and toughness, but will only thrive in...

Propagating a peach tree takes time and effort to do it right and grow a strong tree. "Propagation" refers to the different methods for growing a plant, either from a seedling or a grafted tree....

The Knockout Rose is a popular landscape shrub that provides continuous bloom and color throughout the growing season, from spring to frost. The shrub is a hardy, easy-to-care for rose bush and...

Colorado ornamental grasses are prized for their low maintenance requirements and year-round architectural form, texture and sound in the garden. When initially planted, ornamental grasses will...

Sunflowers are tall annuals with bright yellow flowers that resemble large daisies. They are hardy plants that are easy to grow and maintain in all sorts of soil conditions as long as they are...

Vine crops, including squash, depend heavily upon steady watering and soil rich in nitrogen for green leaves. Over- or under-watering, nitrogen-depleted earth, transplant shock and bacterial...

Daylilies grow vigorously, and many new types bloom repeatedly all summer until frost. They multiply rapidly. When your daylily bed becomes crowded, divide the crowns and transplant them to other...

Found in households since the Victorian era, potted mother-in-laws tongue plants are also known as snake plants and sword plants. With dramatic, sword-shaped leaves, this low-maintenance plant...

Snapdragons are colorful flowers that bloom in early spring and late fall. The snapdragon gets its name from the uniquely shaped flower bloom that creates a dragon head shape when squeezed....

Poinsettias serve as a great gift during the holiday season. These native Mexican plants bloom during the wintertime and display bright leaves ranging from scarlet red to a delicate cream color....

Imperial blue cape plumbago, (Plumbago auriculata) is a vigorously growing evergreen perennial. Also known as cape leadwort, cape plumbago and skyflower, this shrub exhibits vinelike tendencies....

Making a planter for strawberry plants exclusively has an advantage over planting them in the ground. In a tiered container, strawberry plants do not have to compete with other plants. This also...

The lupine is a legume that produces seeds high in protein, which poultry, calves, lambs and swine can graze on. Different varieties of the plant also make attractive flowers in yellow, blue and...

The cotton plant is very important to each of us as it is used in almost every aspect of our daily lives. Cotton is found in our clothing, linens, furniture, mattresses, vehicles and much more.

Fun facts: the huckleberry is the state fruit of Idaho, and the blueberry is botanically not a true berry. While the two words are sometimes used interchangeably, huckleberries and blueberries are...