In this article you will learn how to cultivate and care for macadamia in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 11. Macadamia integrifolia and Macadamia tetraphylla The smooth-shelled Queensland nut, M. integrifolia, and the rough-shelled nut, M. tetraphylla, are two types of macadamia native to Australia. They are members of the large Proteaceae family that includes exotic protea flowers. This majestic tree provides ample shade, spring blossoms, and nuts that contain deliciously smooth, sweet kernels that fetch a king’s ransom in the grocery store....

If you’ve typically grown turnips in the past for the roots, you’re in for a real treat. The greens can be sweet and tender or slightly bitter and dense, and you can eat them both raw and cooked. Brassica rapa var. rapa There are a few plants out there that rescue me from the end-of-summer blues. You know, that feeling that comes around when you know the growing season is coming to a close and the thrill of harvesting fresh veggies from the garden is ending....

These vines don’t encircle structures like wisteria or adhere to surfaces like ivy. Instead, they’re leaf-climbers that use a slender leaf stem to hook around thin objects, anchoring the vine for vertical growth. Gorgeous flowering clematis vines exhibit great versatility. Suitable in several garden settings, they’re widely used as ground covers, container plants, scramblers, and spillers. Some have a bushy nature, but most are born to climb and love to scale the heights!...

So why do you sometimes see unruly, inelegant climbing roses? Neglect may be the cause, or a simple lack of knowledge on the part of the gardener. A healthy, well-trained climbing rose in full bloom is one of the most magnificent things to behold in the garden. Not only can these plants hide a myriad of ugly things (wire fencing, a run-down wall, the ugly side of a house…), they transform the area into a fairy-tale filled with color and fragrance....

If you’re growing passionflowers, you can grow passion fruit. But that doesn’t mean you won’t run into trouble now and then. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve met who don’t realize that passionflower is the same plant that produces passion fruit. Many growers are perfectly happy to produce the magnificent blossoms and then just move on. But the vast majority of Passiflora species produce edible fruits – though some are more flavorful than others....

While you can’t straighten a carrot out once it gets wonky, you can learn how to prevent deformities and produce a nice straight root crop in your next growing season. Are your homegrown carrots forked, branching, twisted, or knobby? While they may make for amusing photos, these deformed vegetables can make food preparation a challenge – try turning a twisted carrot into carrot sticks! These odd-shaped vegetables can also be a sign of serious garden problems....

In this article, I’ll cover how to cultivate borage, a versatile herb that may be grown as an ornamental, an ingredient for herbal and culinary use, or as a cover crop. Borago officinalis Borago officinalis, commonly known as borage or starflower, is one of a host of herbs with origins in the Mediterranean region. It’s a member of the Boraginaceae family of plants, which includes forget-me-not and heliotrope. Naturalized in the United States, it grows in a wild and weedy fashion, sporting its signature blue star blossoms as well as fuzzy leaves, stems, and drooping buds....

Callistemon spp. Bottlebrush plants are popular for their colorful bristly blooms that continue all through the summer. Hummingbirds certainly seem to love them! And with many different species and cultivars to choose from ranging from dwarf shrubs to large trees, you won’t have any trouble finding a bottlebrush that fits your needs. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission....

Crape myrtle trees (Lagerstroemia) are to the southern United States what ivy is to university towers. Imperative. Expected. Greatly appreciated, and… lovely. Though not as ubiquitous as they are the Southeast, the crape myrtle’s range also extends to the Southwest and up the west coast, where they are also revered for their great beauty. Heralding summer’s arrival, crape myrtles erupt in May, June, or July with profuse clusters of delicate flowers in a myriad of colors, including white, various shades of pink, purple, yellow, and even red....

But you probably guessed that already, which is why you’re here. This guide aims to help you figure out what’s causing the problem so you can fix it and bring back those beautiful blossoms. Passionflowers produce some pretty exceptional blossoms. I mean, it’s right there in the name – we don’t call them “passionleaves,” for good reason. Your vines want to bloom. That’s how they reproduce. If your passionflowers aren’t giving you that big, impressive display that you know and love, something’s wrong....

These peppers are popular for a reason. The good amount of heat they offer doesn’t overpower their pleasant grassy flavor, and the juicy flesh is the perfect thing for salsas and sauces. Capsicum annuum ‘Serrano’ Looking for more heat than jalapenos offer, but you don’t want a pepper so spicy it will melt your tastebuds? Hello, serrano! We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission....

There are a few key factors that go into determining the optimal start time for growing tomatoes. It can be confusing to try to figure out the right time to start tomatoes. If you wait too long to plant them you may not have enough time in the season to harvest a full crop. But on the other hand, if you start them too early you might risk stunting or even killing the plants....

It’s easy and convenient, and this article will teach you how to do it. Here’s what we’ll cover: Broccoli is the one vegetable I have loved my entire life. As a kid, I ate it raw. Now I adore it lightly sautéed with teriyaki chicken so that it turns bright green, slightly tender, and soaks in the sauce for a delicious flair. But the best way to enjoy this nutritious brassica is straight from the garden....

Not only is it a simple plant to grow and maintain, it has a variety of delicious uses beyond the bland and mushy examples often served by cafeterias. Spinacia oleracea Spinach has gotten a bad rap over the years for being a pungent vegetable that kids would rather toss than digest. However, I’ve watched my six kids eagerly devour theirs at every meal, and I can tell you with certainty that this is one vegetable you need to be growing fresh in your garden....

Let’s learn more! Tanacetum parthenium To many in the herbal medicine community, feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) is known as a natural headache remedy. But in the gardening community, this shrubby herb is appreciated as an attractive landscape plant. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. Continue on to learn all about growing feverfew in your garden....

Suitable for cultivation in USDA Hardiness Zones 4-9, they bloom in midsummer and are a favorite for cottage gardens or perennial borders. Leucanthemum x superbum Shasta daisies occupy a quiet corner of my mind. I remember the glow of white flower petals in my parents’ garden at night, reflecting the moonlight as we roasted hotdogs on bonfires and hunted for fireflies. Daisies as a group are garden favorites. The Shasta variety is no exception, and not only for its big bloomed, beautiful looks....

Before long, their enormous leaves shaded out my carrots, shallots, rhubarb, and more. The rhubarb leaves grew to be twice the size of my face in their quest for a droplet of sunlight. I’m here to make a confession: when I first started gardening, I planted four broccoli seedlings in a container, I grossly underestimated how big they would get. They started from such tiny seeds. How could they possibly grow to be so enormous and strong?...

Read on for a health-focused look at why you should love tomatoes, and add more to your diet. Tomatoes are a versatile ingredient, and when they’re perfectly ripe, they are exceptionally delicious. If I close my eyes, I can almost taste a sun-ripened tomato freshly picked from my parents’ garden. Whether you enjoy them juicy and fresh, or prefer them in the form of ketchup or homemade sauce, I think we can all agree that they’re superb....

Here’s What to Do When Lucky Bamboo Turns Yellow and how to take care of it in the right way to nurture it back to its green glory! Check out our article on lucky bamboo care tips here What Causes Lucky Bamboo to Turn Yellow Two of the most common problems that cause the plant to turn yellow are too much exposure to direct sunlight and heavily-fluoridated or too salty tap water....

Whether you’re interested in purchasing just one of these houseplants, thinking of starting a hoya collection, or planning to expand the collection you already have, this guide will help you deepen your understanding, love, and appreciation for these beautiful plants. Hoyas are fantastic houseplants with foliage that comes in many shapes, sizes, colors, and textures – in fact, there is so much variety that it can be hard to know which one to choose!...