How to Grow and Care for Asparagus Fern
It’s easy to grow this bushy plant both indoors and out. Versatile asparagus fern is an attractive herbaceous perennial that is easy to grow, though not actually a fern. The soft texture of this plant’s small needle-like leaves resembles the foliage of asparagus plants. It’s a good choice for adding airy texture to mixed garden beds. It will produce dainty white blossoms followed by red berries that attract birds. You will more often find asparagus fern growing indoors as a dense, bushy houseplant with lace-like foliage that gracefully arches outward. Asparagus Fern Overview GENUS NAME Asparagus COMMON NAME Asparagus Fern PLANT TYPE Annual, Houseplant, Perennial HEIGHT 1 to 3 feet WIDTH 18 to 36 inches FLOWER COLOR White FOLIAGE COLOR Blue/Green SPECIAL FEATURES Attracts Birds, Good for Containers, Low Maintenance ZONES 10, 11, 9 PROPAGATION Division, Seed Where to Plant Asparagus Fern Asparagus fern is grown as an annual or houseplant in most areas…
Asparagus
This perennial vegetable will provide you with tasty and nutritious spears for several years. Asparagus Overview DESCRIPTION Like most vegetables, homegrown asparagus is rich in nutrients and abounds in flavor. It takes a couple of years to get the plant established enough before you can start harvesting its tasty bright green stems in spring. Once started, the perennial crop can thrive for 10 years or more. GENUS NAME Asparagus officinalis COMMON NAME Asparagus PLANT TYPE Vegetable LIGHT Sun HEIGHT 6 to 12 inches WIDTH 1 to 3 feet ZONES 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 PROPAGATION Division, Seed Male vs. Female There are male and female asparagus plants. Since male plants can be three to five times more productive than female plants, choose a male plant whenever possible. Popular male hybrids include ‘Jersey Giant’, ‘Jersey Supreme’, ‘Jersey Knight’, and ‘Jersey King’. Asparagus Care Must-Knows Asparagus grows best in full sun…
Ash
Ash Overview DESCRIPTION The magnificent shade tree that has it all: tolerance for difficult soils and conditions; spectacular purple, red, orange, or gold fall color; and a stately silhouette. Shapes range from broad-domed to narrow teardrop, but most ash varieties will require a large, open space to become the crowning glory of your landscape. Ashes are good choices for dry or alkaline soils. GENUS NAME Fraxinus COMMON NAME Ash PLANT TYPE Tree LIGHT Sun HEIGHT 20 to 20 feet WIDTH 30 to 50 feet SEASON FEATURES Colorful Fall Foliage SPECIAL FEATURES Attracts Birds ZONES 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 PROPAGATION Grafting, Seed, Stem Cuttings PROBLEM SOLVERS Drought Tolerant, Good For Privacy, Slope/Erosion Control More varieties for Ash Green ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica is a big, vigorous tree with rich, green foliage that turns bright yellow in autumn. It’s native to areas of North America and grows 50 feet tall…
Arugula
Although arugula has been grown since ancient times, only recently has this member of the cabbage family (it looks like lettuce though) gotten the attention it deserves for its bold, peppery flavor. It’s easy to grow, so plan on planting some so you can toss it into your salads and other dishes. Make sure to harvest the leaves while young. (Mature leaves tend to be bitter.) Arugula Overview DESCRIPTION Although arugula has been grown since ancient times, only recently has this member of the cabbage family (it looks like lettuce though) gotten the attention it deserves for its bold, peppery flavor. It’s easy to grow, so plan on planting some so you can toss it into your salads and other dishes. Make sure to harvest the leaves while young. (Mature leaves tend to be bitter.) GENUS NAME Eruca vesicaria sativa COMMON NAME Arugula PLANT TYPE Vegetable LIGHT Part Sun, Sun…
Artichoke
Artichoke Overview DESCRIPTION Artichoke is a bold plant with huge silvery-green leaves that are finely cut and divided, giving them a thistlelike appearance. The plant’s big flower buds (the outer petals end in thorns that soften when cooked) rise above the clumps of foliage. They have been prized by gourmands for decades, making them some of the more expensive vegetables at the grocery store. If you love these buds, too, growing your own artichoke is a great way to save money. Harvest the flower buds before they bloom, then steam or boil them before scooping out the fleshy inner layer of each bract, as well as from the heart at the base of the bracts. This South American plant is a close relative of cardoon, and like cardoon, grows well in large containers, garden beds, and borders. This plant behaves as a perennial in Zones 7 and warmer. In areas…
How to Plant and Grow Artemisia
Plant this perennial next to your brighter blooms as an accent plant. Grown primarily for its silver foliage, artemisia is a wonderful accent plant in many settings. Artemisias come in numerous different foliage shapes, sizes, and heights. A few well-known artemisias are ‘Silver Mound’ and the herb tarragon. Use these plants to add texture and subtle color to gardens, containers, and borders. Artemesias are also extremely versatile and drought tolerant. You may also know artemisia by one of its common names, wormwood. Many species of artemisia are prized for the various chemical compounds they produce, giving them a distinctive scent when crushed. One species, in particular, Artemisia absinthium, was once used to make the liquor absinthe but has since been removed from absinthe recipes due to potential health hazards. It should be noted that some varieties of artemisia (such as tarragon) could be toxic to dogs, cats, and horses1. Artemisia is also…
Arrowhead
Arrowhead Overview DESCRIPTION Arrowhead, which earned its name because of its arrow-shape leaves, is a no-fuss water garden plant that adds a lush, tropical feel to ponds, pools, and water features. Several species are available, many of which are native to areas of North America. They all bear attractive three-petal flowers throughout summer and are largely carefree once established. Check carefully when you buy: Some species are considered invasive and have naturalized in streams, ponds, and other waterways. Several types of arrowhead plant form starchy tubers (similar to small potatoes) that can be harvested and eaten by humans. Birds and other creatures also eat these tubers, making the plant a valuable choice for attracting wildlife. GENUS NAME Sagittaria spp. COMMON NAME Arrowhead PLANT TYPE Water Plant LIGHT Sun HEIGHT 1 to 3 feet WIDTH 1 to 3 feet FLOWER COLOR White FOLIAGE COLOR Blue/Green SEASON FEATURES Reblooming, Summer Bloom SPECIAL…
Arborvitae
The Tree of Life Native to North America, these rugged evergreen trees are often found growing in places where little else might. When early French settlers reached North America, they learned from Native Americans that these plants could be used to treat scurvy, a disease caused by vitamin C deficiency, from which many of the sailors were suffering. Young foliage happens to be high in this nutrient, and it led it to the plant being named arborvitae, which translates to “tree of life.” Be extremely cautious, though—it’s harmful if used in excess, due to the neurotoxic compounds in the plant. These trees have also been used as food (in small amounts), lumber, and for their cleaning properties. Arborvitae Care Arborvitaes grow best in consistently moist, almost swampy soils. While they love full sun, they can also manage in part shade. Their biggest downfall is drought conditions, especially during and leading up to winter.…
Angelica
Angelica Overview DESCRIPTION Angelica is a tall, hardy biennial herb with dramatic stalks that can be candied and used on cakes or cookies. The first year, the plant produces beautiful frilly green foliage. The second year, angelica sends up flower stalks and then produces seeds. The flowers and foliage make a dramatic back-of-the-border accent in perennial beds. The celery-flavor stems may be eaten raw or candied for use in baking. Use the dried root in tea. Plants might self-sow, but plant new angelica each year to ensure a constant supply. Grow it in full sun or dappled shade in rich, organic soil. GENUS NAME Angelica COMMON NAME Angelica PLANT TYPE Herb, Perennial LIGHT Part Sun, Sun HEIGHT 3 to 8 feet WIDTH null to 3 feet FLOWER COLOR Blue, Green, Pink, Purple, White SEASON FEATURES Summer Bloom SPECIAL FEATURES Cut Flowers, Fragrance ZONES 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 PROPAGATION Division,…
Angel’s Trumpet
Spectacular blooms and intoxicating fragrance make this plant a favorite. PHOTO: BHG / EVGENIYA VLASOVA A showstopping shrub that transforms any space into a tropical getaway, angel’s trumpet boasts huge, pendulous blooms that perfume the air after sunset. With its unique trumpet-shaped flowers and quick-growing nature, this aromatic beauty offers a multitude of reasons to give it a try in your garden. Angel’s trumpet hues are as varied as the plants themselves—saturated oranges, soft yellows, bright pinks, and crisp whites round out the spectrum of colors. If the stunning visual appeal of angel’s trumpet isn’t enough to make you fall head over heels, try planting it indoors near your favorite nighttime hangout spot. You’ll fall in love with the intoxicating fragrance that wafts from these beauties after sunset. Try it as a fragrant houseplant, too! All parts of the angel’s trumpet plant are toxic.1 Take care when planting or touching it, and…