Cleome, commonly called spider flowers, earns its nickname from the long stamens that radiate from each bloom head like thin legs. These tall, airy annuals bring height, color, and steady pollinator traffic to sunny borders, and they keep flowering from early summer until frost. Young plants look scraggly, then transform into dramatic back-of-bed performers once […]
A bright yellow, frothy mass spreading across fresh mulch makes most homeowners assume something died in the flower bed. The organism behind the alarm is Fuligo septica, better known as dog vomit slime mold, and it is neither mold nor fungus. It is a protist, a single-celled organism in the same branch of life as
Aglaonema, better known as Chinese evergreen, is one of the most adaptable tropical houseplants for low-light interiors. This member of the Araceae family grows glossy, patterned leaves in pink, red, cream, and silver combinations, and it tolerates the neglect that kills fussier plants. Native to the shaded forest floors of Southeast Asia, including Thailand and
Ranunculus flowers deliver the layered, rose-like petals that florists charge a premium for, in colors that run from butter yellow to deep burgundy, pink, orange, and white. The plants grow from claw-like corms, bloom from early spring into early summer, and are forgiving enough for home gardens when the basics are right. They need full
Fungal infections are one of the most common reasons houseplants fail indoors. Pathogens such as powdery mildew, anthracnose, and botrytis arrive through open windows, contaminated potting soil, or infected cuttings, and they spread fast in the still, humid air of a heated room. Sodium bicarbonate, the plain baking soda in most kitchen cabinets, is a
Helicopter seeds, properly called samaras, are winged fruits that spin as they fall and ride the wind to new ground. Unlike heavy apples or cherries, samaras are light enough to travel hundreds of feet from the parent tree, which is why a single maple can seed an entire block of flowerbeds. For homeowners, samara trees
Rubber plants (Ficus elastica) earn their place in living rooms with glossy, paddle-shaped leaves and a growth rate that can carry them past six feet indoors. They tolerate average home conditions better than many tropical houseplants, which makes them a common first plant for anyone learning to keep foliage alive. The bright, indirect light they
Ground wasps, including yellow jackets and hornets, do real work in the yard. They pollinate flowers and hunt the caterpillars and flies that damage garden plants, yet they turn dangerous the moment a nest is disturbed. Most people find the colony the hard way, by mowing over a hidden entrance or weeding too close to
Moss rose (Portulaca grandiflora) is a low, spreading annual succulent that covers hot, dry beds with color from early summer to the first frost. The fleshy leaves store water, the stems hug the ground, and the blooms open wide in full sun in shades of pink, red, orange, yellow, and white. The plant asks for
Ornamental grasses earn their place in a yard with movement, texture, and a long season of color that keeps going after the flowers fade. The blades sway in the wind, catch low winter light, and anchor borders built around native or drought-tolerant planting. The maintenance bill is small: one reliable cutback each year keeps the
