Pussy willow is the name given to several small willow species in the Salix genus whose furry catkins appear in early spring, before most other plants wake up. The name most often refers to Salix discolor, a North American native deciduous shrub, though the European species S. caprea and S. cinerea are also sold as […]
Birds do not appear in a yard by luck. They follow food, water, shelter, and safety, and the yards that supply all four hold more species across the seasons. The same thinking that helps contractors build a progressive workforce applies here: understand what the birds you want actually need, then design conditions that keep them
The bleeding heart (Lamprocapnos spectabilis, formerly Dicentra spectabilis) earns its name from the puffy, heart-shaped pink blossoms that open in spring. Beneath each heart, a white petal tipped with a red streak extends like a drop of blood, and the long, arching stems give the whole plant a cascading silhouette. Native to Asia, it reaches
Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus) are perennials that most gardeners grow as annuals because they bloom their best in cool weather. The common name comes from the shape of the individual flowers, which open like the snout of a dragon when you pinch the base. In spring and fall beds the intensely saturated colors stand out against
The pink princess philodendron (Philodendron erubescens ‘pink princess’) is a houseplant that collectors prize for deep green, heart-shaped leaves splashed with bubblegum pink. The variegation is what makes the plant special, and it is also what makes care interesting: the pink sections of each leaf contain less chlorophyll, so the plant needs more light than
The polka dot plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya), also called the freckle face plant, is a tropical perennial known for leaves dotted with contrasting spots. Green leaves splashed with pink are the classic look, but varieties with red, white, or purple spotting exist as well. The plant stays small, typically 12 to 24 inches tall and wide,
Orchids (Orchidaceae) form one of the largest plant families on Earth, with more than 25,000 species and tens of thousands of hybrids. The familiar houseplant genera include Phalaenopsis, the moth orchid; Cattleya, the corsage orchid; Dendrobium; and Cymbidium, the boat orchid. Their reputation for being difficult comes from a few specific needs, not from general
Areca palms (Dypsis lutescens) are tall, clumping palms with smooth trunks that resemble bamboo canes and narrow fronds that arch like feather dusters. They grow about half a foot per year indoors and top out near 8 feet, which makes them a manageable statement plant for living rooms, offices, and entryways. The species is low-maintenance
Lantana (Lantana camara) is a fast-growing, vining flowering shrub that fills beds, borders, and hanging baskets with rounded clusters of small, brightly colored flowers. The blooms open in yellow, orange, white, red, pink, and purple, often with several colors on a single cluster, and they keep coming from spring through fall, or year-round where winters
The desert rose (Adenium obesum) is a slow-growing succulent that adds only about 12 inches of height per year, yet it earns attention far out of proportion to its pace. Its thick, swollen trunk stores water like a cactus, while thin, delicate leaves and deep pink trumpet-shaped flowers give it a bonsai-like character few houseplants
