Gerbera Daisy
Popular Cut Flowers A staple in the cut flower world, gerbera daisies have sturdy stems that don’t hollow out like other cut flowers. They also have an exceptional vase life, usually lasting up to 10 days. Gerberas come in almost every color. There are different patterns and forms of blooms on the market; some have so many layers of petals that they look like miniature sunflowers. There is variation in center eye color of the bloom with green, cream, or dark brown being most available. Gerbera Daisy Care Must-Knows General care of gerbera daisies is simple, but they can be a little more needy of fertilizer than most annuals. Remove any spent blooms on your gerbera to redirect energy spent on seed production for continuous blooms instead. New Innovations Most gerbera varieties aren’t available as in-ground plants but, rather, as cut flowers. These plants feature long stems and large foliage,…
How to Plant and Grow Geraniums
A classic garden plant, geraniums have been a gardener’s favorite for over a century. The old-fashioned standard for beds, borders, and containers, geraniums are still among the most popular plants today. This garden staple has a little secret: The plant we know as the common annual geranium is actually a Pelargonium. A completely different group of plants has Geranium as its genus name. No matter which geranium types you select for your next container or flower bed, make sure to keep up with deadheading. And don’t forget to feed them! Geranium Overview GENUS NAME Pelargonium COMMON NAME Geranium PLANT TYPE Annual, Houseplant, Perennial LIGHT Sun HEIGHT 6 to 24 inches WIDTH 5 to 24 inches FLOWER COLOR Orange, Pink, Purple, Red, White SEASON FEATURES Fall Bloom, Reblooming, Spring Bloom, Summer Bloom, Winter Bloom SPECIAL FEATURES Good for Containers, Low Maintenance ZONES 10, 11 PROPAGATION Seed, Stem Cuttings PROBLEM SOLVERS Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant…
Garlic
Grow your own garlic for fresh flavors in some of your favorite dishes. Types of Garlic There are three common types of garlic: hardneck (or stiffneck), softneck, and elephant garlic. Hardneck garlic features a single ring of four to 10 cloves around a central stem that sends up a curly flower stalk (called a scape) tipped with showy pinkish-white blossoms. The most cold-hardy of all garlics, hardneck has a milder flavor than softneck garlic. Softneck garlic got its name because the garlic necks stay soft at harvest time and can be braided. The bulb produces 10 to 20 strongly flavored cloves. It’s often sold in supermarkets because it has a long shelf life. Elephant garlic produces a large bulb that typically includes four big cloves. Elephant garlic cloves’ milder flavor resembles that of an onion. Garlic Care Must-Knows Garlic grows best in full sun and fertile, well-drained soil.…
Gardenia
Gardenia Overview DESCRIPTION Gardenias are known—and grown—for their intoxicating sweet fragrance produced by waxy white blossoms. These beautiful evergreen plants boast shiny, emerald green foliage. However, if gardenias are planted in soil that is too alkaline, they are likely to yellow. While people commonly try to grow gardenias as houseplants, they can be finicky as they require high humidity. Even if they are short for this world, they are worth it just to get one good whiff of their intoxicating flowers. GENUS NAME Gardenia augusta COMMON NAME Gardenia PLANT TYPE Houseplant, Shrub LIGHT Part Sun, Shade HEIGHT 3 to 8 feet WIDTH null to 10 feet FLOWER COLOR White, Yellow FOLIAGE COLOR Blue/Green SEASON FEATURES Fall Bloom, Spring Bloom, Summer Bloom, Winter Interest SPECIAL FEATURES Cut Flowers, Fragrance, Good for Containers ZONES 10, 8, 9 PROPAGATION Seed, Stem Cuttings PROBLEM SOLVERS Good For Privacy Colorful Combinations When grown in the…
Fuchsia
While this plant may be a little challenging to grow, it will reward you well with its gorgeous blooms. Colorful Combinations The two different-color sets of petals that make up the intricate blooms of fuchsia actually aren’t petals. Instead, the four outer “petals” are called sepals. These protect the inner parts of the flowers from damage. Once the sepals open, the actual petals are revealed. There are usually four petals inside, often a deep purple color. However, there are now many varieties with petals that swirl and twist to even more interesting shapes and color combinations. Fuchsia Care Must-Knows Fuchsias, as a whole, can be a little temperamental. Many species stop producing flowers in too much heat. In warmer climates, look for heat-tolerant selections so they don’t wither away in the summer heat. One way to help prevent problems during the hottest months is to make sure your plants have shade…
Freesia
Freesia Overview GENUS NAME Freesia ssp. COMMON NAME Freesia PLANT TYPE Bulb, Perennial LIGHT Part Sun, Sun HEIGHT 6 to 12 inches WIDTH 2 to 6 inches FLOWER COLOR Blue, Orange, Pink, Red, White, Yellow FOLIAGE COLOR Blue/Green SEASON FEATURES Fall Bloom, Spring Bloom, Summer Bloom SPECIAL FEATURES Attracts Birds, Fragrance, Good for Containers, Low Maintenance ZONES 10, 9 PROPAGATION Division PROBLEM SOLVERS Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant Perfume the Landscape A petite plant that packs a powerful perfume, freesia’s fragrance is often enjoyed before the blooms are noticed. Rising from an unassuming corm, or underground storage structure, freesia is hardy in Zones 9 and 10 and is regularly grown as an annual plant in cooler regions. Freesia is native to hot, dry regions of South Africa and thrives in similar environments in the garden. In Zones 9 and 10, count on freesia to unfurl its colorful racemes of flowers…
How to Plant and Grow Foxtail Palm
Denny Schrock. The foxtail palm (Wodyetia bifurcata) is an easy-growing tree for frost-free regions (Zone 10–11) that grows fast and produces fronds with a lush, full, feathery look. A well-grown tree can have massive fronds up to 12 feet long. Just take care when placing foxtail palms so that nothing below them is damaged when the fronds die of old age and drop from the tree. It produces clusters of colorful red fruits, which add to its ornamental appeal. It comes in single-trunk and multi-trunk varieties. Foxtail Palm Overview GENUS NAME Wodyetia bifurcata COMMON NAME Foxtail Palm PLANT TYPE Tree LIGHT Sun HEIGHT 20 to 30 feet WIDTH 10 to 15 feet FOLIAGE COLOR Blue/Green SEASON FEATURES Winter Interest SPECIAL FEATURES Attracts Birds, Low Maintenance ZONES 10, 11 PROPAGATION Seed Where to Plant Foxtail Palm Though native to Australia, foxtail palm is well-adapted to growing in USDA zones 10-11 and…
How to Plant and Grow Foxglove
Foxglove (Digitalis spp.) is a classic garden favorite known for its towers of blooms. With many colors to choose from, you’ll have an easy time finding a foxglove to fit your garden. Most foxglove plants are biennials. The first year they’re grown from seed, the plants form a rosette of foliage at ground level with no blooms. In the second year, they send up beautiful spikes of blooms, (which hummingbirds love). If you cut them back immediately after they’re done blooming, you can encourage a second round of blooms. Foxglove plants die when they finish blooming for the season. Make sure to leave a few spent blooms on the plant so they can produce seeds to grow more seedlings the following year. A few foxgloves are true perennials, blooming each year. Many of these come in more subdued colors with smaller blossoms, but they are still lovely additions to the perennial garden.…
How to Plant and Grow Forsythia
Often called a harbinger of spring, forsythia bursts into a vibrant display of bright yellow blooms before any of its foliage emerges. This creates stunning spots of golden color throughout landscapes, breaking up the drab snow-covered ground with a promise of what’s to come. With newer varieties that offer smaller, more manageable sizes, every landscape should have a forsythia to break out of the late winter blahs. Late winter always makes gardeners antsy for spring. You’ve had your first few warm days, and the sun is finally shining, but the weather is still too unsettled to begin much else other than starting seeds indoors. Forsythia relishes this season as if it’s just as antsy to get started as any gardener. This shrub bursts into bloom in late winter, often when the ground is still covered in snow, and little else shows signs of life. With their rich golden blooms, in…
How to Plant and Grow Forget-Me-Not
Forget-me-nots among the few plants that can boast a true blue color. The most commonly found forget-me-not is a sky-blue shade, but it also comes in pale purple, pink, and white. Forget-me-nots bloom in spring and summer in Zones 3-8 and work in informal garden borders and mixed containers. The foliage is deer-resistant and rabbit-resistant and resembles rounded mouse ears. Forget-me-nots attract birds and butterflies to your yard. Forget-Me-Not Overview GENUS NAME Myosotis COMMON NAME Forget-Me-Not PLANT TYPE Perennial LIGHT Part Sun, Sun HEIGHT 4 to 12 inches WIDTH 8 to 12 inches FLOWER COLOR Blue, Pink, White, Yellow FOLIAGE COLOR Blue/Green SEASON FEATURES Spring Bloom, Summer Bloom ZONES 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 PROPAGATION Division, Seed PROBLEM SOLVERS Drought Tolerant, Groundcover, Slope/Erosion Control Where to Plant Forget-Me-Not Forget-me-nots are prolific self-sowers and require consistent deadheading, so plant them where you won’t mind if they spread…