Even for challenging conditions, you normally have the option of many perennials. To get a shady deck which receives the brunt of the wind, you will have to choose hardy perennials. Some will develop in containers on the deck, though…
Alternanthera plants (Alternanthera spp.) Reward gardeners. Two types are widely available: one that’s generally called Joseph’s jacket is approximately 1 foot tall (Alternanthera ficoidea) and comes from cultivars with multi-colored leaves, while the other, sometimes called calico plant (Alternanthera dentata),…
Pumpkin “chukking” and physics demonstrations apart, pumpkins (Cucurbita pepo) typically don’t explode unless they’re carelessly dropped from great heights. They do tend to split with some force under certain conditions because of their growth habits. Heavier “giant” pumpkins (Cucurbita maxima)…
Topiaries are trained to form specific shapes, like balls, squares, hearts or cones. Plants like rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) make great topiaries since they have small, closely positioned leaves and respond well to trimming. To get a tabletop Christmas tree, consider…
Cushion spurge (Euphorbia polychrome) is a herbaceous perennial flower that is a portion of the Euphorbiaceae family, the same family as the Christmas poinsettia. It’s hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 8. Growing from 1 1/2…
It may be another matter entirely to develop the type of delicate, evenly colored lawn of your dreams while it’s easy to develop grass. Weather may compound the problem by making grass brownish or patchy. Whether you are planting a…
If you’re tired of seeing the exact same old temperate gardens in the magazines, then allow this trip of six botanical gardens from Florida to Arizona function as breath of fresh air. I’ll show you what works about the gardens…
This highly adaptable and underused native should be a workhorse in many every sun-loving backyard. As a result of the introduction of recent cultivars, the ninebark now sports numerous leaves colors, develops large into a dramatic backdrop or more compact…
Forests, if Tolkien’s Lothlórien or even the forests behind the schoolyard, maintain a magical unequaled. They envelop amicably, protect from view and shield from heat. Forests reveal themselves only slowly: The prospect of a fresh sight beyond the following group…
Sourwood is a outstanding yet underutilized tree for its smaller landscape. The layers of midgreen foliage resemble a froth of petticoats, especially when studded with drooping clusters of white flowers in July. The interest does not end there — that…