Irises are easy-to-grow, tall perennials that ask for little: sun, decent drainage, and patience. Most irises are rhizomatous, meaning they grow from underground modified stems, while some species grow from bulbs, another form of nutrient-storing underground structure. Because they are hardy, bulbs and rhizomes usually stay in the ground through winter, unlike tender plants that […]
Hardy mums are herbaceous perennial fall flowers with daisy-shaped blooms. Unlike florist mums, which are forced for fall display and treated as annuals, hardy mums survive winter in USDA Zones 4 to 9 and come back year after year. They grow best in full sun, well-drained slightly acidic soil, and average humidity, and they reach
When the leaves of your Christmas cactus turn limp and wilted, something in the growing conditions is off. The leaves of the Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera x buckleyi) and its relative, the Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera truncata), should look plump and succulent. The earlier you identify the underlying problem and take corrective action, the better. Before changing
Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica) were barely a problem in the United States until about 1919, when this ravenous native of Japan began a serious invasion, probably after hitchhiking to North America on imported ornamental plants. Today they are a serious nuisance to gardeners and farmers across the continent. Adult beetles chew hundreds of plant species,
Container gardens fail in one of two ways: a single lonely plant in the middle of a big pot, or a jumble of unrelated flowers that never looks intentional. The thrill, fill, and spill method solves both by giving every plant a job. One tall showpiece, a ring of bushy fillers, and a cascade of
Container mums are the workhorse of autumn color, showing up on porches, steps, and entryways the moment the weather turns. With regular watering and frequent deadheading, they can keep blooming for weeks or even months. They do not last forever in containers, though, and knowing when a plant is finished saves money, time, and disappointment.
Winter container plantings can provide welcome greenery or even flowers in the coldest, darkest months of the year, but not every plant is suited to life outdoors in a pot when temperatures drop. The best choices are evergreens, semi-evergreens, and winter bloomers that handle low temperatures, and the difference between a pot that survives and
A coyote sighting in a suburban neighborhood is no longer a rare event. Coyotes adapt easily to living near people, and their range has expanded across North America as cities and suburbs have grown. They are generally shy and do not seek out interaction with humans, but they can become aggressive when cornered or when
Autumn is the busiest season in the garden calendar, and the work done between the first cool nights and the first hard frost decides how much survives winter and how much cleanup waits for spring. Gardeners who finish their beds before the ground freezes protect perennials, improve soil, and store equipment while it is still
Most houseplant shoppers meet dieffenbachia as a single plant: a bushy tropical with broad leaves in some shade of green, white, or cream. The genus behind that plant holds far more variety than the nursery table suggests. Botanists list more than 50 species in Dieffenbachia, and breeders have added dozens of named cultivars on top
