Kimberley queen ferns (Nephrolepis obliterata), also called sword ferns, are lush evergreen plants with large, arching, sword-shaped fronds that grow upright and bushy rather than drooping like a Boston fern. They grow fast, adapt to indoor or outdoor life, and tolerate more sun and drier air than most ferns, which makes them one of the […]
Million bells (Calibrachoa x hybrida), also called mini petunia, is a perennial flowering plant that most gardeners grow as an annual, blooming nonstop from spring to frost with no deadheading required. The plants form trailing mounds covered in hundreds of small, petunia-shaped flowers in yellow, orange, purple, red, white, and pink, and they are a
Monstera lechleriana is a tropical aroid from Central and South America that has earned a following among houseplant collectors for its large, fenestrated leaves and vining habit. Indoors it reaches 8 to 10 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide when given room to climb, which makes it a statement plant for bright rooms.
Purple ranks among the most requested colors in perennial borders, and the palette explains why: blooms range from pale lavender to deep blue-purple, so there is a shade to suit nearly any garden scheme. Perennials earn their keep by returning year after year, which makes them a sound investment for homeowners who want color without
Do deer eat hydrangeas? Yes, and the question is usually asked after the fact, when the blooms are gone and only chewed stems remain. Deer favor hydrangea leaves and flower buds because they are soft and full of moisture, two qualities that make the shrub a favorite in the garden and a target in the
Mulch earns its place in the garden by holding soil moisture, moderating soil temperature, and smothering weeds, but none of that matters if the next storm carries it into the lawn. Watching freshly laid mulch wash down the driveway after one heavy rain is one of the more frustrating gardening setbacks, and it happens for
Colorful shrubs carry a yard between the spring bulb show and the fall tree color, and the best planting plans deliver something to look at in every season. A shrub earns its place with spring flowers, summer foliage, autumn berries, or evergreen structure that holds through winter. Selection starts with the site: light, soil, and
Sunflowers follow a predictable countdown from seed to flower. Most varieties need 80 to 120 days to reach full bloom, and the window between the first open flower and the last spent head can stretch from early summer into late autumn when you plant the right mix. The single biggest lever you control is the
Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) is a flowering broadleaf evergreen shrub with a multistemmed growth habit, native to the eastern United States from New England south to the Florida panhandle and west to southern Indiana down to Louisiana. Its elliptical, glossy deep-green leaves resemble those of rhododendrons, and its gnarled stems hold interest in every season.
Every property has a problem spot where water collects: a low corner of the yard, the shadowed side of the house, or the strip between the driveway and the fence. Marsh mallow (Althaea officinalis) turns one of those wet zones into a showpiece. This tall perennial carries hibiscus-like flowers from midsummer into fall, and its
