Ready to get started? I’ll explain everything you need to know to grow vigorous bird of paradise plants in your own garden in Zones 9-12. Strelitzia spp. If you are looking for a plant with large, show-stopping blooms, look no further than the bird of paradise. With its orange, blue, and white flowers that look like a bird in flight, this plant just cannot be ignored. And this South African native will grow happily year-round throughout warmer parts of the US....

Heck, you can even break off a leaf and rub the gel on your skin to soothe burns. So, they’re practical and beautiful – even if it’s true that I probably wouldn’t waste one of those pretty leaves if another salve was handy. Aloe x ‘Christmas Carol’ I’m both frugal and an admirer of a good work ethic, so I find ‘Christmas Carol’ aloe appealing. This member of the Asphodelaceae family provides holiday cheer in season, and is also a beautiful house plant all year long....

The elderberry has so many amazing uses, and I’m excited to see it making a comeback! SAMBUCUS CANADENSIS In the summer, around late August or early September, the ditches in Nebraska are filled with dark, black, and purple berries. These clusters of tiny fruits soon get eaten up by the birds. But before then, I grab as many as I can for baking, making tinctures, and drying into powders. What are these in-demand beauties?...

Your roots may be too small, or they may be oddly shaped or deformed, despite the fact that the leaves may have looked perfectly happy above ground. Growing beets is an exercise in faith. You work for weeks or months to nurture those little seedlings into hopefully vigorous roots. In the end, you’re rewarded with a crop of vibrant veggies that you believed all along were there, even though you couldn’t see them....

We all love wine, don’t we! But did you know that there are also some really helpful Leftover Wines Uses in Garden and Home? No? Don’t worry, we have many for you! Here are some awesome wine bottle uses in the garden Leftover Wines Uses in Garden 1. Kick Start compost Leftover wine is entirely compostable and can help kick-start compost. Pour it on the compost heap before you think of dropping it in the sink....

In this pandemic, gardening is all rage! We bring you some of the most beautiful pictures of Balcony Gardens Around the World that you can take some really good ideas from. Here’s all you need to know about how to make a balcony garden Awesome Balcony Gardens Around the World 1. Scandinavia – Lights, Flowers, and Plants A post shared by Balcony Decor, DIYs, n Plants. (@myapartmentbalcony) 2. Spain – Balcony with Small Coffee Table, Chair, and Plants A post shared by Lorena García (@lorenagarcia87)...

Here’s what’s in store: Vibrant geranium flowers are favorites of home gardeners, adding color to window boxes, borders, and beds. There are three types: the hardy cranesbill (Geranium spp.), the hanging ivy type (Pelargonium peltatum), and the garden geranium (Pelargonium x hortorum). In this brief article, we zero in on how to start new plants by taking stem cuttings from existing ones. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products....

The sun and the warmth feels wonderful when you’re sipping a cocktail under an umbrella, but it loses some of its appeal when you’re standing or kneeling in full exposure for hours at a time. Whenever I am introduced to someone new and the inevitable, “So what do you do for a living?” question pops up, I get to share that I am a gardener and a writer. “Oh!” they exclaim, “It must be great to work outside all the time!...

Looking for Cute and Romantic Indoor Plants for this Valentine’s Day? Discover some names below: Explore the best romantic heart-shaped leaf plant to grow indoors here Cute and Romantic Indoor Plants 1. Moon Cactus Botanical Name: Gymnocalycium mihanovichii This beautiful grafted cactus features colorful ball-shaped tops in bright red, yellow, orange, or pink color with small, sharp spines on curved veins. Here are the best flowering cacti you can grow 2....

Offices can get stressful over a period of time. To take off the stress and add positivity, there are Plants You Can Keep on Your Desk for Good Luck. They also look good and bring in a calm demeanor to space. Have a look at the best plants and flowers for fortune here Plants You Can Keep on Your Desk for Good Luck 1. Jade Plant Botanical Name: Crassula ovata...

These types are generally highly fragrant with massive blossoms like old garden roses have, but they also feature repeat blooms in a wide range of colors, as modern ones do. Most people have heard the term “English rose.” No, not the outdated epithet that refers to a fair-skinned, “classic” beauty from the British Isles. We’re talking about the classically beautiful bushes that you can spot just about everywhere, from award-winning gardens to your neighbor’s yard....

Continue on to learn all you need to know to grow shrubs in containers. There are a number of reasons gardeners choose to plant shrubs in containers. A common one is limited space, but potted plants can also be useful if you are looking to grow species that are not well suited to your climate, or simply want the flexibility to move your plants around. They can also create a nice aesthetic on a patio or deck....

Honestly, the idea of growing sweet corn can be daunting. How tall does it grow? Will it create shade over your entire garden? How is it pollinated? When do you harvest it? Zea mays var. saccharata or Z. mays var. rugosa The first year I moved to Alaska, I threw some sweet corn seeds down in my flower bed halfway through the summer, gave them some water, and blew them a kiss goodbye....

Yet another nickname, hemp tree, stems from the appearance of plant’s leaves, which resemble those of the cannabis plant. Fortunately, the DEA has never beat down my door. Vitex agnus-castus Vitex is one of the most liberally reseeding plants I have ever grown. In an interesting twist, it got a couple of its nicknames – chaste plant and monk’s pepper – from old beliefs that utilizing potions made from the plant’s berries helped maidens remain maidenly, and helped monks adhere to their vows of chastity....

As if its versatility in the kitchen wasn’t enough to recommend it, the plant has also been shown to repel garden nasties like cabbage worms and root knot nematodes. Pimpinella anisum Lots of herbs – such as dill and fennel – have that gorgeous anise-like flavor, but anise is the OG. A member of the Apiaceae family, this plant is usually the source of that anise flavor that we know and love in liqueurs, gum, candy, and baked goods....

Size Arguably the most important aspect of purchasing your outdoor storage unit, size is a key aspect to consider. Outdoor tools, cushions for chairs, and your garden supplies can easily turn into a disorganized mountain of stuff that’s ready to spill over into your yard at any time. But there is a solution to your woes: The deck box. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission....

What went wrong? It’s heartbreaking when your turnip plants look perfectly healthy above ground, but underground, something sinister is happening. You have an image in your mind of the picture-perfect roots that you’re about to dig up, after all those weeks of working and waiting. You can already imagine the earthy aroma as you pull the roasted vegetables out of the oven. But when you lift your prize out of the ground, the darn things are split or rotting!...

Vicia faba, the botanical name for this species, is one of the oldest agricultural crops around. There are three named varieties within the species, as well as various cultivars of each type. Favas are a cool-season crop that produces a harvest of tasty, meaty beans – and they make excellent companion plants! Since there are different kinds of favas available, it can be helpful to know how these various options will work in the garden....

Whatever you happen to call it, this delightful berry (we’ll get into this startling fact in a moment!) grows well in a container. What’s round, pear-shaped, or oblong, and often a rich purple color? If you live in the United States, English-speaking Canada, Australia, or New Zealand, you know it as eggplant (Solanum melongena). Or maybe “guinea squash,” if you live in the southern states. In other English-speaking parts of the world, including Ireland and the UK, you probably call it aubergine instead....

In our croton growing guide, we discuss how to care for plants. And our guide to croton leaf drop addresses the species’ tendency to shed leaves under stress. Tropical garden croton, Codiaeum variegatum, is a striking foliage plant with bold, leathery leaves in shades of yellow, red, and green. Variegation creates a dazzling array of contrasting speckles, blotches, and veining for a unique and showy display. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products....