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The first type is Zantedeschia aethiopica. Also known as the arum lily, this species features beautiful, waxy, white to pale pink spathes on tall, sturdy stalks amid large mounds of handsome, dark green foliage. Admired by garden enthusiasts around the world, calla lilies are prized for their highly ornate flowers and lush foliage. Frost-tender perennials, there are two main types commonly cultivated by home gardeners – and there’s a bit of confusion about whether they can overwinter in place....

Certain species of honeysuckle, while lovely in their native habitat, have become invasive nuisances that are wreaking absolute havoc in some areas. Diervilla and Lonicera spp. With its honey-sweet fragrance, colorful blossoms, and graceful vining growth habit, it’s easy to fall in love with honeysuckle. So many people have a cherished memory of sipping the sweet nectar from the flowers, or reveling in the perfumed summer air. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products....

Easy to grow, these plants prefer locations with full sun to part shade and moist soil that is not overly fertile. There are about 80 species from which to choose in a varied color palette that includes orange, red, and yellow. Nasturtiums (Tropaeolum spp.) are edible flowering perennials suited to cultivation in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 11. They may be grown as annuals in all temperate regions. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products....

Cabbage, (Brassica oleracea var. capitata), is a member of the Brassicacae family of cruciferous vegetables and is known for its crisp, round heads. If you’ve planted cabbage and waited patiently for it to mature, it’s disappointing to find that in place of the crisp head that you’d hoped for, you’ve got a lot of leafy greens instead. Why does this happen and what can you do to prevent it? We link to vendors to help you find relevant products....

The world of epiphyllums is a fascinating one – but it can also be somewhat confusing. In this article we’ll disentangle those head-scratching snarls, and provide guidance for every step of growing these extraordinary cacti. Epiphyllum spp. Orchid cacti, or epiphyllums, are forest cacti with long, flat, succulent stems that produce incredible blooms. These long-lived plants are easy to care for, fun to propagate, and stand up well to neglect!...

Little houseplants are often underrated. They can be a boon to those with itty-bitty digs, as well as those with living spaces that look less like a home and more like a tropical jungle already! Nephrolepis cordifolia ‘Duffii’ As a miniature version of Nephrolepis cordifolia, the lemon button fern certainly puts the “fun” in “fun-size.” But I’ll admit that “fun-size” ain’t always the most fun. Exhibit A: fun-size candy bars given out on Halloween, versus the full-size version....

Ornamental peppers are technically edible, but are not considered particularly tasty. Many are also quite high on the Scoville scale, meaning they can be eye-wateringly spicy. See our full guide to growing hot peppers for more information. Splashy, colorful ornamental peppers add dazzling bursts of red, purple, yellow, orange, black, or white to the garden. And many cultivars display upright fruits that change color as they mature. While the species Capsicum annuum includes numerous pepper types that are commonly used in the kitchen, such as C....

The process is much like lifting and storing other rhizomes, like dahlias. Among the most beautiful of cultivated flowers, irises add a touch of refined elegance to the garden with large, intricate flowers in a rainbow of colors that sit atop stately stems in a fan of foliage. They grow from storage roots known as rhizomes, and most varieties have excellent cold hardiness down to Zone 3 – which means they can readily overwinter in situ without damage....

This article will delve into selecting the best plants for winter, but first, we’ll touch on a few general tips to keep in mind. Does the threat of cold weather and the changing of the seasons bring a tear to your eye? Pre-winter blues got you down? Just because it’s turned crisp and cool outside doesn’t mean you need to stop enjoying fresh garden greens. While it is true that many annual crops don’t do well in freezing conditions, there are several cold-hardy greens that can be grown well into those chilly winter months, and even last until spring in more mild climates....

From tall shade trees to compact shrubs, many species provide warm tones of deep amber, fiery flame orange, and bright pumpkin to close out the growing season. The intensity of the autumn colors is typically determined by environmental factors such as the soil they’re planted in and variations in regional air temperatures and hours of sunlight. Wrapping up the growing season with a fabulous display of fall foliage, many trees and shrubs offer an unsurpassed showing of vibrant, colorful leaves – including my favorite color of the season, orange....

1. Rusty File Cabinet Learn how an old painted file cabinet was transformed into a rusted planter from the steps given at Hometalk. 2. Rusted Can Planters Scratch the surface of the tin cans to remove the paint coat. In the second step, spray with hydrogen peroxide and sprinkle salt over them. Visit Mixed Kreations to learn more. 3. Rusty Wagon Planter Visit First Thyme Mom to find how this old rusty wagon became an unusual wagon planter....

If you’re hoping to make ivy a part of your interior decor, this guide can help. Hedera helix There is something so charming about English ivy, with its winding, trailing growth habit and instantly recognizable leaves. As lovely as it is outdoors, it is just as delightful indoors as well. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission....

I suppose part of my personal fascination with these plants is due to the fact they won’t survive in my cold growing zone, so I can’t have one in my own landscape. Japanese maples always catch my eye. The foliage, the colors, the stature – everything about them is unique and they make beautiful additions to the garden. So it’s extra disappointing when they’re plagued by pests. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products....

Cultivation and History Hyacinthoides non-scripta, also known as English or common bluebell, fairy flower, harebell, bell bottle, crow leek, or wild hyacinth, is native to western Europe. Hyacinthoides non-scripta English or common bluebells are the flowering perennial bulbs you can find carpeting woodlands with layers of blue in Europe in the springtime. They’re steeped in folklore and history. These classic spring bloomers are suitable for cultivation in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 to 8, and will transform any shady garden into a sea of sky-rivalling color....

Like other thymes, Thymus citriodorus requires full sun conditions and is easily grown in average, dry, well-draining soils. Thymus citriodorus Lemon thyme boasts cheerful chartreuse-tinged foliage and a delicate citrus aroma. As one of the most flavorful culinary thymes, this lemony-earthy herb accentuates the natural flavors in fish and poultry, and makes for a beautiful addition to your herb garden. Not only does this plant offer gastronomical intrigue, it also appeals to beneficial insects and pollinators....

It thrives in a full sun location with organically-rich, well-draining soil that is slightly acidic – with an ideal pH of 6.5. In other zones, it is grown as an annual. The Canna genus is the only genus belonging to the Cannaceae family of plants. It contains over 30 species. Often called canna lilies, they are neither lilies nor lily relatives, but share the same monocot structure – petals in multiples of three are one characteristic of this form....

Vines are handy for trellis or lattice arbors, to trace up trees, or to decorate a mailbox. For many, the thought of planting a native vine in their landscape or garden is preferential due to their easy maintenance. If you are considering a native vine, then these profiles should give you a few choices to pick from. Ampelaster carolinianus (Climbing Aster) This fragrant vine may get invasive, so take care to keep an eye on it as it grows....

In our guide to growing blueberries we cover cultivation instructions and how to care for your plants. In this article, we zero in on how and when to fertilize your blueberry bushes. Blueberries are one of those easy-to-grow garden plants whose fruit provides you with incredible nutrition – and tasty treats! If you fertilize them correctly in the spring you can expect buckets of vitamin-packed berries in the summer, between June and August....

That’s at least three months, often four, of frost-free growing time the plant needs. A light frost can kill the vines that support the fruit. While this won’t kill them, they won’t ripen anymore after a vine-killing frost. Is there anything more autumnal than walking into your garden, the scent of turning leaves in the air, to pick a pumpkin for Halloween? I think not. And that’s why, this year, I decided to grow three different cultivars in my garden....

Dark green and lush with sturdy foliage, if you live in a warm climate zone or you’re looking for a new addition to your indoor garden, this plant is for you. Cycas revoluta For an impressive dose of prehistoric drama, consider sago palm. The Cycad genus in the Cycadaceae family includes over 100 species, with the most common being Cycas revoluta or the king sago, the main focus of this article....