If you’ve sampled a salsa or jam containing these green wonders – or even a tomatillo mojito – you may have considered adding tomatillo (toh-mah-tee-yo) plants to your garden. Physalis philadelphica A tart gift from Mexico, tomatillos (Physalis philadelphica) are commonly used by chefs and home cooks throughout the United States and around the world to add a piquant va-va-voom to sauces and chutneys. Beneath an intriguing, yet inedible, papery husk lies a fruit that, while mimicking the appearance of a green tomato, tastes nothing like a tomato....

In Spanish, the word for sunflower is girasol, which translates to “a trip around the sun,” or mirasol, which translates to “looks at the sun.” Helianthus annuus One of my favorite summer memories comes from the summer of 2012, when I spent six weeks studying Spanish in Spain with my sister. The school regularly took us on trips to popular and historically significant towns and regions in the country. On one trip to Barcelona from Valencia, we drove past fields of sunflowers....

When it comes to fragrance, snaps will have you analyzing sweet notes of bubblegum, citrus, and a perfume that you can’t quite put your finger on but remember from your childhood. Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus), perennial in USDA Hardiness Zones 7 to 10 and annual in other temperate regions, are one of the most popular garden plants and cut flowers out there, and for good reason. If you like bright colors, they’ve got that covered....

Luckily ‘Integrated Pest Management’ (IPM) offers just that – except in this case, the helping hands come from a perhaps somewhat unlikely place. I’m sure I’m not the only one that has wished that I had a few extra pairs of helping hands in the garden from time to time. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission....

Along with being grateful that there’s a heavy soil carrot option, I’m thankful that this is a standout cultivar. Daucus carota sativus ‘Danvers’ Even though I amend diligently and till mightily, my garden soil is still heavy. It’s amazing I can grow carrots in this dirt, but I can, and I have long-ago growers from Danvers, Massachusetts to thank for that. They introduced the variety originally known as ‘Danvers Half Long’ more than a century ago....

But don’t discount the importance of this grouping just because it’s a motley crew of plants. Roses are one of the most varied flowering plants out there. There are over a hundred species, and thousands of hybrids and cultivars. They come in an endless range of colors, shapes, and sizes, from ones with tiny blossoms that have just a few petals to massive blooms with over a hundred petals each....

Flavors range from bold and spicy to mildly sweet – try growing the bold ones for savory dishes, the sweet ones for baked goods, desserts, and ice cream. Full of flavor and wonderfully aromatic, basil, Ocimum basilicum, is one of the easiest herbs to grow. Its pungent, peppery taste with a hint of licorice makes it popular in a variety of cuisines. This member of the mint, or Lamiaceae family is an annual herb grown for its flavorful leaves....

The variation is due to a 1990s taxonomic reclassification that whittled 600 species of plants down to 180 “true” Asian and European Aster species, recategorized the North American ones, and did nothing to change any of their well-established common names. The Aster genus of flowering plants is one of many in the large Asteraceae family that includes chrysanthemums and daisies. The blooms have a composite structure made up of a central disk of florets surrounded by petal-like rays....

To ensure abundant blossoms and vibrant growth, potted lilacs need large containers and regular maintenance to keep their roots in check, and small-growing or dwarf varieties are recommended for their manageable sizes. A favorite in the spring garden, lilacs (Syringa spp.) have an unmistakable, sweet fragrance and large, beautiful flowers in shades of lavender, pink, purple, and white. One of their most appealing features is that mature shrubs can reach a height of up to 30 feet and spread almost as much, providing a glorious sight and a heady fragrance when in full bloom....

And the colors! Dark pink, light pink, medium pink; lavender, violet, deep purple, red, yellow, white, blue – Mother Nature has been generous to us with her palette of sweet pea flower hues. Lathryrus odoratus A child in a beloved cartoon strip. A mother’s tender nickname for a tiny baby. A character on a TV show popular with young adults. Sweet peas one and all. All named for the lovely vining annual whose legendary beauty makes us desire to apply its nomenclature to those dearest to us....

The best thing to do with an infected plant is to purge it from your garden, so the disease will not spread. Phytoplasma Aster yellows is a devastating disease that can affect more than 300 plant species. And that only includes broad-leaved plants! Aster yellows also affects grain crops like wheat and barley. Without effective management, the disease can rapidly spiral out of control. Aster yellows is found throughout North America, Europe, and much of the world’s temperate zones....

If you would like more tips on growing this evergreen houseplant, be sure to read our complete guide to growing and caring for Norfolk Island pine. Evergreen Norfolk Island pine trees (Araucaria heterophylla) make festive indoor displays during the holiday season, and are easy-care houseplants when the holidays are over. But don’t wait until after the festivities are over to begin a good watering routine for your conifer – you’ll want to start right away!...

1. Succulent Birdhouse Planter This birdhouse brimming with an assortment of different succulents’ cuttings can be your next idea to get an amazing look at the main door. The DIY tutorial is here! 2. DIY Gold Splatter Succulent Planters Let your creativity run wild with a good splatter paint session on basic succulent planters. Once planted, your succulents will look good like never before. The more of it is here!...

Unlike their close cousins’ Calathea, there aren’t many Types of Stromanthe available. To make it a little easy for you, we have included the best ones in the article! Here are the best types of creeping inch plant you can grow Best Types of Stromanthe Stromanthe stromanthoides, Stromanthe ramosissima, and Stromanthe boliviana are also some of the popular varieties but as they cannot be grown indoors, we have not included them on this list....

There are over 20 zinnia species in the wild. Only a few of these species are commonly grown in gardens, though due to the incredible popularity of these flowers, they have been bred into hundreds of different cultivars and hybrids. Zinnias are truly marvelous flowers, spectacularly colorful annuals that are incredibly easy to grow. And they come in a dizzying array of colors, shapes, and styles that the butterflies will love nearly as much as you do!...

Though similar to other honeysuckle plants in the Caprifoliaceae family, Himalayan honeysuckle offers notable differences in terms of its low-maintenance appeal as well as its visual appearance. Leycesteria formosa Himalayan honeysuckle, Leycesteria formosa, is just as beautiful as all the other types of honeysuckle plants, yet offers its own unique appeal. L. formosa can be grown as a vine or a shrub, and it produces sweet-smelling white flowers that descend from scarlet or purple bracts....

It doesn’t just make for good eating, either. Levisticum officinale There are a few plants out there that don’t have broad popularity and I just can’t understand why. Number one on that list is lovage. What’s not to love about lovage? The entire plant is edible, from root to tip, and it has a bright, fresh flavor that tastes a bit like citrusy celery. It’s also hardy, fuss-free, and reseeds readily without becoming invasive....

It’s almost too exquisite-looking to eat, but eat it we do. It makes a perfect substitute for broccoli or cauliflower in any dish, and its slightly sweet, nutty flavor makes it a favorite among kids. Brassica oleracea var. botrytis ‘Romanesco’ If there was ever a piece of art that accidentally manifested itself as a vegetable, it would be Romanesco broccoli. It’s always tucked next to the broccoli and cauliflower at the grocery store, and every time my young son and I walk by it, we can’t help but stop and stare at its intricate swirls and whorls....

Feel the same way? Read on to learn all about growing your own Greek oregano. Origanum vulgare var. hirtum Greek oregano is perhaps one of the most familiar of the culinary herbs among cooks in North America. I use this spicy and flavorful seasoning in just about everything I cook, and therefore it was one of the very first perennials I planted when I started my garden – I wanted a supply on hand at all times!...

I’m going to cover the pros and cons of replanting Norfolk Island pines as well as some alternate solutions. Perhaps some kind soul bestowed a Norfolk Island pine upon you during the holiday season. And you kept this festive houseplant alive – nice work! Now you are contemplating the task of repotting this lovely living Christmas tree. Fear not, this is not such a grueling task – and you may even want to skip it!...