Trailing lantana, also known as weeping lantana, is a flowering shrub with a vine-like growth habit that produces clusters of small blossoms in purple or white. In frost-free regions it blooms year-round, and in cooler climates it flowers steadily from spring through fall. It grows best in full sun with warm temperatures, consistent watering, and […]
Emerald green arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis ’Smaragd’) is one of the most widely planted evergreens in North American landscapes. The cultivar earns its name from the glossy emerald tone of its flat, spray-like foliage, the same color family that interior designers reach for when they want a calm green room; green dining room design leans on
Cat owners who collect orchids get good news from the poison control lists: the popular Phalaenopsis genus, along with most other orchids, is not considered toxic to cats or dogs. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals lists the moth orchid as nontoxic, and no orchid species carries a documented record of
Beets are one of the easiest root crops to grow and one of the easiest to harvest at the wrong moment. Pick them at golf ball size, roughly one inch across, and they come out of the ground tender and sweet. Leave them in warm soil for weeks past maturity and the roots turn tough,
Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) earns a place in most herb gardens for its fragrant needles, blue flowers, and steady growth. It is an evergreen shrub, and like other woody perennials it needs repeated pruning to stay compact, bushy, and productive. Cut above a leaf node and the plant responds with two new stems from that point,
A California lilac (Ceanothus) delivers one of the boldest flower shows a dry-climate garden can offer: dense clusters of blue, pink, or white blooms that hold for weeks and pull in bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The genus contains roughly fifty flowering, drought-tolerant shrub species, most of them evergreen, and the plants ask for almost nothing
Spiders work their way indoors as temperatures drop, drawn by warmth and the insects that gather there. Most homeowners reach for a spray can, but a quieter option sits on the windowsill: strongly scented plants that spiders avoid. Fourteen species, mint, lavender, and basil among them, release volatile oils that discourage spiders from crossing into
Moringa (Moringa oleifera) is a fast-growing tropical tree native to India and Bangladesh, valued for its edible leaves, pods, and seeds as much as for the dappled shade it throws across a yard. Established trees tolerate drought and can add up to 20 feet of height in a single year, which makes moringa one of
July is not too late to plant. Many vegetables and herbs sown in midsummer grow to maturity before the first frost, and the harvest extends well into fall. The key is choosing species with short days to maturity and matching them to your region’s frost calendar. While tomatoes and squash are usually out of reach
When you buy trees, shrubs, flowers, or vegetable plants, the sunlight requirement is usually printed on the tag, label, or seed packet. You will see terms such as full sun, full sun to partial shade, partial shade (or part shade), dappled sun, and full shade. Each label describes a measurable range of light, and a
