Plants are named through a hierarchical system that starts with genus and species, but the story does not end there. Once a plant is identified down to the species level, it can be divided further into cultivars and varieties, two terms that describe distinct ways a plant can deviate from the species standard. Those deviations […]
The holiday season has passed and the amaryllis bulb you bought for its winter bloom never produced a flower. Before you toss it and swear off the plant, know that a missed bloom is usually fixable and the bulb can be reset for next year. Amaryllis plants come from Central and South America, where they
Mulch does four jobs at once: it holds moisture in the soil, suppresses weeds that cannot sprout without light, protects tree roots from heat and cold, and gives planting beds a finished edge. Each job depends on timing and depth. Spread too early in spring, mulch slows the ground from warming. Spread too deep, it
Even a home with little natural light can hold plants, including succulents. Several species grow without bright light; they may not flourish or grow as readily as they would in partial or bright light, but they get by. Most succulents are drought-tolerant, so they do not need frequent watering, which makes them forgiving houseplants once
Dried flowers carry the color of a garden or the memory of a special occasion long after fresh blooms fade, and how long they last depends almost entirely on storage. Whether the stems come from a cutting bed, a farmers market stall, or a wedding bouquet, the same rules apply: keep the plant material fully
Chia seeds have gained popularity for their nutritional benefits, and the plants that produce them are easier to grow than most gardeners expect. Chia is an annual herb that grows freely in warm zones and is native to Mexico and Guatemala. The plants are known for assertive growth and, in some cases, aggressive spread, yet
Potato plants are grown for the edible tubers that develop underground, so the first cluster of flowers above the soil line can take a gardener by surprise. Those blooms are a normal part of the plant’s lifecycle, and depending on the variety they arrive in a range of colors and shapes. Whether you should pinch
Olive trees have been grown and harvested for more than 6,000 years, valued for both their fruit and the oil pressed from it. Not every olive tree produces a crop, though: fruitless cultivars flower but stay essentially sterile, so they are grown strictly for ornament. Fruiting varieties need full sun, tolerate occasional cold snaps, and
Home gardeners wait all summer for the first sweet corn harvest, but sweet corn is only one of several types worth growing. Corn, also called maize, is a versatile crop: some kinds are eaten fresh, others popped, ground into meal, fed to livestock, or dried for decoration. Each type differs in kernel texture, sugar content,
Shade is not a problem to fix; it is a condition to design for. North-facing beds, the ground under a mature maple, and the strip between two houses all receive far less sunlight than the open lawn, yet each can support a full season of color. The key is choosing plants that evolved for low
