Plants, Flowers & Herbs

There are banana plants, often mistakenly called banana trees, that can be safely grown as far north as zone 5. Cold hardy bananas that are both ornamental and that yield edible fruit are...

Office plants provide natural beauty in even the dullest of work spaces. By placing small plants on a few desks, or even using small trees to act as dividers in an open floor plan, you can enliven...

A highly popular crop for both home and commercial growers, tomatoes will be hardy and vigorous if they receive good care. Greenhouse growing provides good protection for these cold-sensitive...

From the green and white striped lindenii magnificum to the bright yellow aurea lime zinger to the deep purple Colocasia esculenta (black magic), the colossal leaves of the elephant ear plant add...

Knock Out roses are a disease resistant variety of the rose family, hearty in most climates throughout the U.S. and normally blooms every 5 to 6 weeks. A slow release fertilizer is often recommended.

Keeping your indoor plants healthy can sometimes be a challenge. You have to create friendly conditions that sustain the life of your plants, but sometimes overwatering and darkness can lead to...

Taking stem cuttings is an efficient and inexpensive way to propagate a new plant, and is easy enough for beginning gardeners. With just a few basic tools, you can replicate a plant that you've...

There are hundreds of varieties of both evergreen and deciduous shrubs used as ornamental specimens, hedges, foundation plantings, windbreaks, snow breaks and in soil erosion control. Shrubs come...

Native to Japan, Japanese shrub (Enkianthus perulatus) is an ornamental plant that thrives in United States hardiness zones 6 to 10. It is an upright, bushy shrub that can reach 15 to 18 feet at...

Tango weigela is a newer, hardy variety of weigela that unlike most weigelas, can grow in sub-zero winter temperatures as far north as Maine, Vermont, Minnesota, and even Alaska. It's a striking...

Silver bells, or Ornithogalum nutans, are striking perennial flowers that are native to southern Europe. Silver bells grow up to 9 to 12 inches, with long, fleshy stems and 2-inch wide flowers...

Black walnut trees are beautiful trees that produce a very delicious edible nut. Grown for both hobby and commercial reasons, this tree can be a very valuable specimen. The key for successful...

The black walnut (Juglans nigra) is a highly valued, North American hardwood. The species is very sensitive to soil conditions and grows slowly on poor sites. According to Ohio State University,...

Stevia plants are native to South America, particularly the country of Paraguay. They have the additional names of sweet leaf, sugar leaf or Stevia rebaudiana. This tender perennial is a member of...

Gardening can be very therapeutic for those with a green thumb. It is also a lovely way to accent any front lawn or backyard for a home. With so many varieties or flowers and bulbs available, it...

There are hundreds of varieties of both deciduous and evergreen ornamental shrubs. Shrubs come in pyramidal, round, spreading and topiary forms. Some are wide, tall, compact or low growing. Shrubs...

Fig trees can be a jewel in both home and commercial growing situations. Their branches spread wider than the tree is tall, in most cases, and bear glossy green leaves. The harvest of the fruit is...

Flowers make a lovely addition to any garden. The trick to flowers is keeping them healthy without allowing them to be choked by weeds, which prohibit flower growth and look terrible. Weeds are...

Where did the phrase "stop and smell the flowers" come from? Chances are that it came from the flowers themselves. The reason flowers smell so sweetly is due to the flower's necessity to pollinate...

The ixora shrub (Ixora coccinea) is a compact and dense evergreen shrub that thrives in United States hardiness zones 10 to 11. This delightful but somewhat temperamental shrub is often grown a a...

Pieris japonica, also known as Japanese Pieris, is a member of the Heath family of plants. It's a slow growing, medium-sized shrub with dark green leaves; it can reach around eight to 10 feet tall...

Pollination is an essential survival tool for plants because it ensures the continuation of the species. When flowers are pollinated, it stimulates the process that creates new seeds and...

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) plant hardiness zone 4 has average low winter temperatures that can reach between minus 30 and minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Because of the...

Grape vines have been grown and cultivated for wine since ancient Roman times. They can be grown throughout the world and are appreciated for their subtle scents and the wine they produce. Many...

Gardeners are always on the lookout for pests that can eat and destroy outdoor plants and flowers. The most common pests that can infect elephant ear plants are mites, mealy bugs and aphids....

Euonymus fortunei, or purple wintercreeper, is a versatile evergreen ground cover that will do well in sun or shade, and is often planted in difficult areas such under trees and on slopes. Tiny...

The peat moss used in gardening is actually decomposed sphagnum moss. Peat moss retains moisture without becoming soggy. It is also sterile so does not harbor plant diseases, which makes it well...

The lupine bean is the most widely eaten type of Lupini bean. According to Purdue University, the white lupine bean was used to enrich crop soil more than 2,000 years ago by the ancient Egyptians....

You love gardening. What you don't love is organizing the many seeds you have for your garden. You buy seeds when they are on sale and sometimes you forget what you have at home. One way to...

Aeroponics is a highly controlled growing process with natural origins. One natural example is tropical orchids, which dangle from trees and grow in the air without any other medium. Their...

Although we don't always think of sedum as a plant that should be cut back, longer varieties of sedum can become long and unwieldy. Their weight can cause them to flop over, making them look flat...

Whether it is the spring or fall, worms are never welcome on any tree. The poplar tree is not immune to their infestations. Most of the time, it is easy to rid the tree of worms without the use of...

Wood bugs have many names like pill bugs, roly-polys and woodlice, but they all refer to the same oval, segmented insect that may inhabit your flower pots. Although these bugs are not harmful to...

If you have a friend or family member with a decorative tree that makes you envious, ask her if you can take a cutting and grow a tree of your own. Most decorative trees, including deciduous trees...

Basil is an aromatic herb used in cooking and crafts. There are various kinds of basil, but the one used in Italian cooking is sweet basil or Mediterranean basil.

The Saharan highlands are famous for some species of trees such as Joshua tree, doum palm tree, Soaptree, ponderosa pine, yucca tree, date palm and bojum tree. Sahara trees are known to have thick...

The saucer magnolia, or Magnolia x soulangiana, is a fast growing magnolia tree that can reach up to 25 feet tall. The lovely fragrant blossoms are white with a pink interior and open in late...

Worldwide, rice is one of the leading dietary grains. Paddy rice is rice that is grown with controlled irrigation. Most of our rice comes from large-scale commercial operations; however, more and...

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...

Irish moss, also known as Scotch Moss or Sagina subulata, is not a true moss but rather a low-growing groundcover that forms dense, bright green mats of foliage. Irish moss is especially popular...

Having flowers delivered to a friend or loved one is a warm gesture. Few gifts can lift the spirit, inspire a smile and brighten a room like a bouquet of beautiful blooms. But there is a way to...

Identifying a plant may seem like a daunting task. However, if you break the plant down into more manageable pieces you will begin to notice small features that can help you make a positive...

The elderberry is a deciduous fruit-producing shrub found growing in the wild and also cultivated for home berry production. Elderberry shrubs produce clusters of small black-purple berries used...

The most important factor in achieving a beautiful lawn and garden is the condition of the soil. A rich, deep green color and lots of vigorous growth are the signs of a healthy tree, shrub or...

There's nothing quite like a floating flower centerpiece for a special occasion. A flower floats when the sunken portion of the flower weighs as much as the water it displaces. Although some wide,...

Geraniums are as beloved for their fragrance as they are for their attractive, often velvety leaves and colorful blooms. Many geraniums have a pleasant, rose-like odor that emanates from the...

Each state in the Union has a designated state flower or state floral emblem, typically voted on and ultimately approved by their state legislature. In most cases, the flower or emblem has a...

Knock Out roses are a popular variety, as they bloom excessively and require only basic care. They were introduced in 2000 and have since become the most widely sold rose variety in North America.

The silver lace vine is a fast-growing, flowering vine that thrives in the United States in hardiness zones 4 to 7. The vines can be expected to grow up to 15 feet in a single season and need to...

Some gardeners know arboricola capella as a dwarf umbrella tree. Arboricola capella is happy to grow outside in warm regions that never fall below freezing. In colder regions, arboricola capella...