Maiden grass (Miscanthus sinensis) brings height, movement, and winter interest to a yard, with arching blades and silvery plumes that catch the light from late summer through frost. It belongs to the same plant family as many other garden favorites, and its care routine fits the broader pattern of ornamental grasses: full sun, well-drained soil, […]
Caladiums, often called elephant ears, are tropical perennials grown for their striking heart- and arrow-shaped leaves in white, green, red, and pink. In the garden they fill shady beds with color, and indoors they brighten bright rooms as houseplants. Every caladium starts as a tuber, and the plant grows from that underground storage organ into
Jade plants (Crassula ovata) are the longest-lived houseplants most people will ever own. A well-tended specimen can live 70 years, and while it grows slowly at roughly 2 inches per year, a mature plant reaches 3 to 6 feet tall with thick, woody stems and fleshy oval leaves. The succulent is native to South Africa
Cardinal climber (Ipomoea x multifida) is a fast-growing annual vine that earns its common name from scarlet, trumpet-shaped flowers and from the lacy leaves that fan out into narrow lobes. The plant is a hybrid in the morning glory family, a cross between cypress vine and red morning glory, and it wraps its stems around
The Christmas cactus joins Norfolk Island pine and poinsettias as a plant that defines the winter season indoors. Unlike the desert cacti it resembles, this one is a jungle native that wants humidity, steady moisture, and cool nights, and it rewards those conditions with a cascade of tubular flowers from late November through January. Before
Cassava is a woody shrub grown for its starchy, edible roots and for its looks. The plant reaches 12 to 14 feet tall in the tropics, spreads 6 to 10 feet, and carries large, hand-shaped leaves that give a garden real presence. In warm climates it is a staple carbohydrate crop; in cooler ones it
Philodendron birkin is a sought-after cultivar that shows off creamy white or yellow streaks across glossy green leaves. Believed to be either a rare mutation of Philodendron ‘Rojo Congo’ or a hybrid of the cultivars ‘Congo’ and ‘Imperial Green’, it grows on a thick, upright, self-supporting stem that gives it a tree-like silhouette. The plant
Peonies are among the longest-lived flowers a gardener can plant, with established clumps blooming for 50 years or more in the right spot. The genus Paeonia holds about 33 species, mostly herbaceous perennials plus a few woody shrubs, and the plants build thick storage roots that carry them through winter dormancy. Getting the first planting
Topsoil is the uppermost layer of soil in gardens, yards, and fields, usually 2 to 8 inches deep. That thin band does most of the work in a landscape: it delivers nutrients to plant roots, absorbs and holds water, and supports the microorganisms that break down organic matter. When the native soil on a building
Cherokee Purple tomatoes are one of the most widely planted heirloom varieties in American gardens, and the first harvest explains why. The dusky rose skin hides a rich, slightly smoky flavor that beefsteak fans rank at the top of their list, and the vines keep producing large fruits from mid-summer until frost. Cherokee Purple is
