How to Plant and Grow Dogwood Tree
These small trees are prized for their early spring flowers and tidy growth habit. PHOTO: BOB STEFKO Available in a wide variety of colors, shapes, and sizes, dogwood trees add structure and color to the landscape for most of the year. The show begins with four-petal blooms from spring into summer, followed by bright red and orange foliage in the fall. Winter brings bright red fruit for a final splash of color. These trees are hardy in Zones 3-8, thriving in moist air and part shade. What many people consider flowers on the dogwood tree are actually bracts (showy structures ranging in color from soft white to deep pink). Dogwood trees’ actual flowers are held in a round cluster at the center of each bract, which stays attached to the branches much longer than real blooms. Dogwood Tree Overview GENUS NAME Cornus COMMON NAME Dogwood Tree PLANT TYPE Shrub, Tree…
How to Plant and Grow Dogwood Shrub
Enjoy the beauty of dogwood trees on a smaller scale. Dogwood shrubs let you enjoy many of the characteristics of dogwood trees on a smaller scale. Several species native to North America produce flowers for local pollinators and berries for wildlife. Shrub dogwoods range from red osier and tatarian dogwood (the winter variety that sports brightly colored stems) to silky dogwood and kousa dogwood, grown for their striking flowers and outstanding fall color. Add dogwood shrubs, hardy in Zones 3-8, to a mixed shrub border or a perennial planting. Dogwood Shrub Overview GENUS NAME Cornus COMMON NAME Dogwood Shrub PLANT TYPE Shrub LIGHT Part Sun, Sun HEIGHT 3 to 15 feet WIDTH 3 to 15 feet FLOWER COLOR White FOLIAGE COLOR Blue/Green SEASON FEATURES Colorful Fall Foliage, Spring Bloom, Summer Bloom, Winter Interest SPECIAL FEATURES Attracts Birds, Good for Containers ZONES 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 PROPAGATION Seed,…
Dill
The aromatic leaves and seeds add a distinctive note to a variety of savory dishes, plus the flowers attract pollinators. Dill Overview DESCRIPTION This aromatic annual plant has feathery foliage used to flavor savory recipes. It’s also sought after by black swallowtail caterpillars as a food source, and its small yellow flowers are excellent for attracting a variety of pollinators. Plant dill alongside vegetables in a traditional vegetable garden or enjoy its scented foliage in a perennial garden or in container plantings. GENUS NAME Anethum graveolens COMMON NAME Dill PLANT TYPE Annual, Herb LIGHT Sun HEIGHT 3 to 8 feet WIDTH 2 to 3 feet FOLIAGE COLOR Chartreuse/Gold SEASON FEATURES Summer Bloom SPECIAL FEATURES Attracts Birds, Fragrance, Good for Containers, Low Maintenance ZONES 10, 11, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 PROPAGATION Seed PROBLEM SOLVERS Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant Dill Care Must-Knows Dill grows best in full sun…
How to Plant and Grow Dieffenbachia
This popular houseplant doesn’t need much care for its lush foliage to look beautiful. PHOTO: BHG / JULI LOPEZ-CASTILLO Dieffenbachia (also known as dumb cane) is a popular houseplant grown for its large, showy leaves. These perennials are generally green with splashes or blotches of creamy white, although cultivars have expanded the palette to include yellow. Hardy in Zones 10-11, this plant can grow quite large in the right tropical setting (6 to 10 feet tall in its native Brazil, for example) but offers smaller sizes, too. As lower leaves naturally drop off over time, the plant’s cane-like stems become visible. It should be noted that the leaves, roots, sap, and stalk of dieffenbachia are all considered toxic to both humans1 and pets2. The leaves, in particular, contain needle-like calcium oxalate crystals and proteolytic enzymes. Avoid handling the plant without gloves and wash your hands after touching it. Dieffenbachia Overview GENUS…
How to Plant and Grow Dianthus
Commonly called “pinks,” colorful dianthus range from tiny to towering. Some even contribute a spicy aroma to your garden with their signature clove-like scent. PHOTO: DENNY SCHROCK Dianthus is the quintessential cottage garden flower. Also called “pinks,” these plants are treasured for their grasslike, blue-green foliage and abundant starry flowers that are often spicily fragrant. Dianthus varieties range from tiny creeping groundcovers to 30-inch tall cut flowers, which are a favorite among florists. Some have large blotches of deep red, while others feature rings of color on the edges of their petals. Many flaunt double blossoms, and some have flowers clustered at the stalk’s tip, giving them the look of a mini bouquet. The meaning of the “pink” moniker is two-fold: The flowers are often pink (though they come in other colors, too), and the edges of the petals have a fringed look, as if someone trimmed them with pinking…
How to Plant and Grow Delphiniums
This elegant perennial produces spires of blue blooms. Most commonly grown for its beautiful, tall spires of blue blooms, delphiniums have long been planted in perennial gardens. These elegant plants add a strong vertical element. Because some varieties can grow up to 7 feet tall, plant these at the back of a garden border. If blue isn’t your color, you can choose delphiniums in a few other colors, too! Delphiniums are sought after and planted for their blue flowers. These beautiful blues come in a variety of shades and forms. Many feature a white center, which adds a bright contrast to the deep, rich blue. Most delphiniums are in the blue and purple range, but they can also be found in pinks and reds. There are some stunning coral-colored varieties and rare yellow ones. These plants have attractive foliage in a pleasing green, with palm-shaped leaves like a fern. Delphinium plants…
Daylily
Daylilies are a reliable and popular perennial that produces scores of colorful flowers in summer. Daylily Color Combinations What began as a plant with simple yellow or red flowers has changed drastically through years of breeding. Today we see daylily blooms in yellows, oranges, reds, pinks, purples, whites, and peaches, with many different shades and tints. More than just the color palette has expanded over the years, though. There are many different types of blooms, including the long, slender petals of spider-type daylilies and daylilies with ruffled double flowers. Many daylilies also boast a pleasant fragrance, especially varieties that bloom at night. Daylily Care Must-Knows Daylilies are super easy to grow; they can often be found growing along the side of the road (often called “ditch weeds”). With their thick, fleshy roots and vigorous growth habit, daylilies are able to tolerate many different soil conditions. Ideally, they’re planted in well-drained soil with…
How to Plant and Grow Date Palm Tree
This tall tree adds tropical flair to the landscape. Date palm, grown by home gardeners primarily for its decorative fronds, is cultivated as a landscape tree in its hardy Zones 9 to 11 in the United States. Some date palm species, such as Canary Island date palm (Phoenix canariensi), can reach lofty heights of 50 feet or more. A landscape needs plenty of vertical and horizontal space to accommodate a tall tree with an enormous root system that spreads out beneath the tree to anchor it and gather water. Be aware if conditions are just right, and they get a little help from brooks, streams, or birds, some date palms can naturalize to the point of being invasive. Date Palm Tree Overview GENUS NAME Phoenix spp. COMMON NAME Date Palm Tree PLANT TYPE Tree LIGHT Sun HEIGHT 20 to 20 feet WIDTH 20 to 40 feet ZONES 10, 11, 9 PROPAGATION…
Dahlia
The elegant flowers of this plant come in a huge variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. Colorful Combinations Dahlias bloom nonstop summer until frost in a rainbow of colors. As cut flowers, they will last several days, making them excellent for homegrown bouquets. A few of the most exciting flower types include the cactus form with its needlelike petals and the ball (or pompom) types that have small, spherical blossoms. Dinner plate dahlias have enormous blooms that can measure nearly a foot across. And some cultivars have burgundy foliage that provides a pretty backdrop for the showy flowers. How to Plant and Grow Baby’s Breath Dahlia Care Must-Knows Dahlias grow equally well in the ground or containers. If you purchase them as bare-root tubers, start them indoors early in the spring for a head start on the growing season. To do this: Plant the tubers in a pot of well-drained potting…
How to Plant and Grow Cumin
Learn how to grow this popular spice both indoors and out Cumin is a popular culinary herb that is enjoyed mainly in Indian, Asian, and Mexican cuisines. Native to North Africa and Southwestern Asia, this annual plant is known for its seeds that provide a warm, slightly bitter flavor in curries, chilis, cheese, meats, and couscous. In some cultures, the crescent-shaped seeds are used like salt and pepper — sprinkled on prepared meals to add extra flavor and texture. The essential oil in the seeds is extracted and exported to the international market. Cumin is most often used as a spice and it’s one of the essential ingredients of curry powder. It also has many other uses in the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, perfumery and soap industries. Each plant looks like a miniature version of dill and fennel, with similar soft, threadlike foliage. Cumin Overview GENUS NAME Cuminum cyminum COMMON NAME Cumin PLANT TYPE Annual, Herb LIGHT…