The wax begonia has it all: a delightful habit, an extended blooming period, striking flowers, and beautifully glossy leaves. Able to grow in a variety of light exposures, Begonia x semperflorens-cultorum is easy to cultivate. And it’ll be even easier after reading our guide, which covers everything you need to know!
A well-mowed lawn starts with a proper mower. But which to choose? In our roundup of the best gas mowers, we go over a handful of excellent models, their features, and what makes them so special. Additionally, we’ll discuss what to consider before buying, along with some general maintenance and safety tips. Read more now.
For pest-resistant blooms that add striking color and a graceful form to the landscape, painted daisy is the perfect perennial. Easy to grow and even easier on the eyes, Tanacetum coccineum has all sorts of gardening applications! In this guide, you’ll learn exactly how to grow and care for these beauties.
Awareness of soil metrics such as pH and macronutrient concentrations can make a huge difference in your gardening efforts. In our roundup of the best soil test kits, we go over 11 of the top options currently available on the market and explain how to make the best selection for you and your plants. Read more now.
For an upright-growing, light green annual with distinctive-looking blooms, how about giving bells of Ireland a shot? This plant is gorgeous and easy to care for, and its appearance sets it apart from practically every other plant. In our guide, you’ll learn exactly how to grow and care for this beautiful specimen.
With its arching fronds and gorgeous foliage, the Boston fern is a great choice for your home. This guide covers everything you need to grow Boston ferns indoors. Whether in a hanging planter or as a centerpiece for your coffee table, the Boston fern will make a delightful addition to your living space. Read more.
Carnivorous plants are fascinating bits of flora, with over 800 known species across multiple taxa. In this article, you’ll learn what carnivorous plants require to thrive, from lighting conditions to irrigation needs. We’ll also go over the basic techniques to cultivate and care for these cool plants. Read more now.
Growing a cornelian cherry is a pretty simple process… And after putting a Cornus mas in the ground, you’ll be rewarded with a gorgeous and durable tree that produces delicious drupes. In our growing guide, you’ll get the rundown on cornelian cherry cultivation and a quick primer on the best varieties. Read more now.
With rosettes of rounded foliage, striking flowers on slender stalks, and adorable lil’ plantlets attached via graceful rhizomes, the strawberry begonia is an instant upgrade to your houseplant lineup. In our guide to growing this plant indoors, we’ll provide all the cultivation info you need. Read more now.
In the right conditions and without the proper precautions, a dogwood tree can become infected by disease, which can reduce the plant’s health and aesthetics. With this guide on Cornus diseases, you’ll learn how to spot the presence of, treat, and even prevent a handful of common diseases that occur in dogwoods.
Barrenworts are drought resistant, tolerant of heavy shade, and they can handle a variety of pests and diseases that easily wreck more vulnerable plants. With striking flowers and gorgeous foliage, Epimedium is well worth planting. Our guide provides all the info you need to grow this ornamental ground cover.
Good things come in small packages, and the seeds of an indigo plant are proof. Within each one lies the potential to cultivate a vibrantly lush, gorgeous landscape shrub that can also yield beautiful blue dye! In our guide to propagating indigo from seed, the ins and outs of the entire process are covered in depth.
Got a dogwood on your hands that’s infested with pests? With a bit of prior knowledge and forethought, any gardener can learn how to keep their Cornus specimens pest-free. This guide provides all the necessary know-how for identifying, managing, and even preventing an assortment of dogwood pest problems. Read more now.
For stunning flowers, lovely lush foliage, and a layered branching effect much like an actual pagoda structure, the pagoda dogwood is the tree for you. In our growing guide, you’ll learn how to propagate this tree, grow and care for it, and even how to protect it from a variety of pests and diseases. Read more now.
Without the proper fertilization, a bird of paradise plant won’t reach its full aesthetic potential. But a gardener who gives their plant the food that it needs will have one handsome specimen on their hands. In our guide, we’ll cover reasons for fertilizing, what you’ll need, and how to get it done. Read more now.
The ability to grow calla lilies in containers offers many different placement possibilities, both in the home and out in the landscape. In our guide to growing species of Zantedeschia in containers we’ll cover the ins and outs of the entire process, from initial selection to cultivation techniques. Read more now.
A key player in the history of blue-dyed cloth, indigo plants have also left their mark in horticulture as gorgeous spreading shrubs for the landscape. They are tough, versatile, and don’t suffer much from pests and diseases. In this growing guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about growing indigo.
In addition to drawing the attention of stunning hummingbirds and other pollinators with its gorgeous flowers, a hummingbird plant rocks beautiful foliage while packing a tolerance for heat, humidity, and drought. In this guide, you’ll learn how to propagate, grow, and maintain a handsome clump of Dicliptera squarrosa.
Calla lilies can look quite exquisite when they’re properly irrigated. But when they’re given too much or too little water, problems can occur. With this guide to proper Zantedeschia watering, you’ll learn when to water, how to water, and why watering these plants the right way is so important. Read more now.
With an elegantly cascading growth habit and finely cut, feathery foliage, the Japanese weeping maple offers a beautiful twist on an old favorite. In this Acer palmatum var. dissectum guide, we provide all of the cultivation information you need to grow these trees in your own landscape. Read more now.
Gorgeous and adaptable, arborvitae is an evergreen conifer that performs well in many parts of the landscape, whether it’s at center stage, part of a hedge border, or visually supporting other plantings. In this guide, you’ll learn how to propagate, grow, and care for Thuja plants properly. Read more now.
With gorgeous spring, summer, and fall foliage, the coral bark Japanese maple is quite stunning. But even in winter when the branches are devoid of leaves, this tree is very alluring thanks to its juvenile branches that stand out, providing stark contrast in coral pink. Read our growing guide now to learn more!
For a tree that’s gorgeous, easy to care for, and able to withstand or avoid most infestations and infections, behold the kousa dogwood! This plant has everything you could ask for: incredible leaves, stunning blooms, and a wondrous branching habit. Our guide will teach you how to grow and care for these amazing trees.
Shade gardens tend to be foliage-dominant, so some blooms would no doubt make for a splendid addition. Try jack-in-the-pulpit plants! These low-maintenance beauties rarely suffer from pest infestation or disease. Read our guide now to learn everything you need to know to grow your own Jack-in-the-pulpits.
The early bird catches the worm, and the early bloom gets all the attention. For an early-flowering shrub with delightful foliage and an interesting growth habit, witch hazel is the plant for you. In this growing guide, we’ll cover propagation methods, cultivation techniques, and plant health care tips. Read more now.
Too much of a good thing can become a bad thing. Exhibit A: snake plants in the garden. While gorgeous, a snake plant’s aggressive spread under certain conditions can cause problems, both for your garden and the environment. In this guide, you’ll learn how to manage snake plants effectively! Read more now.
If you plant a bulb that’s no longer viable, it won’t grow – that’s the sad truth. But if you’re able to gauge whether or not a bulb is still good beforehand, it’ll save you a lot of time and energy. This guide provides a brief bulb primer, signs of a bad bulb to look for, and tips for keeping bulbs healthy. Read more.
With gorgeous flowers and fascinating foliage, bloodroot deserves a patch of real estate in your garden. Our guide to growing and caring for Sanguinaria canadensis provides all the information you need to cultivate bloodroot. Plus, you’ll discover this plant’s interesting horticultural history as well!
Blue ginger plants display incredible violet blue flowers atop clumps of glossy dark green foliage, and they’re well worth planting in your landscape. In our growing guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know to start cultivating Dichorisandra thyrsiflora, and how to keep it healthy and well-maintained. Read more.
A fern from the Land Down Under, the kangaroo fern embodies the durable beauty of its homeland. In our guide to growing and caring for Phymatosorus diversifolius, we’ll go over what it needs for optimal growth and aesthetics, how to keep it free of health problems, and where to acquire one for yourself.
With their attractive, sticky, and digestive-enzyme-secreting foliage, butterworts savagely consume insects to obtain the essential nutrients that they can’t absorb from the soil. The cherry on top? They make excellent houseplants. With our guide, you’ll be growing Pinguicula plants like a pro in no time. Read more.
Winter damage can really put a dent in a yew’s evergreen status, often causing the foliage to die and turn brown. In this guide, we’ll cover the various forms winter damage can take in these plants, and provide prevention and treatment strategies for dealing with this unwanted condition. Read more now.
Cute, compact, and smelling of faint citrus, the lemon button fern makes for a fantastic addition to your houseplant collection. Although it doesn’t take up much space, this fern definitely needs some TLC. But with our guide to cultivating N. cordifolia ‘Duffii,’ you’ll be flaunting its beautiful frondage in no time!
You may not mind mistletoe hanging overhead at a Christmas party, but you’re likely to be peeved if the invasive kind is hanging on your plants in the landscape. In our guide to managing invasive mistletoe we’ll provide a brief primer on these plants and tips to identify, treat, and prevent an infestation. Read more.
Fertilizing a poinsettia is essential for its long-term health, vigor, and aesthetics, and should become a regular part of your gardening routine. In our guide to feeding Euphorbia pulcherrima plants, we cover when, how, and why to add some fertilizer to their containers, along with everything you’ll need. Read more.
Thankfully, transplanting a poinsettia isn’t too complicated. But that doesn’t mean you should just go wing it. In our guide to transplanting Euphorbia pulcherrima, we cover everything you need to know to put these plants in the ground, move them elsewhere in the garden – or to bring them back inside in cool zones.
The leaves and bracts of a poinsettia are lush, vibrant, and bursting with gorgeous color… when they’re healthy. But when Euphorbia pulcherrima has shriveled-up foliage, the plant loses its overall aesthetic appeal. In this guide, we cover just how to prevent and treat poinsettias with leaves that wilt and shrivel.
With gorgeous hardiness, ease of care, and few disease or pest problems, the Christmas fern is well worth adding to your garden. In this guide, we’ll go over everything you need to know about evergreen Polystichum acrostichoides from propagation to cultivation, so you’ll be well-prepared come holiday time. Read more.
Watering a poinsettia the right way is essential for the plant to look its absolute best and grow robustly without developing any health issues. In this guide we’ll explain how to irrigate poinsettia houseplants throughout the year, along with additional tips to make your efforts even more effective. Read more now.
Snake plants have fantastic foliage, but their flowers are interesting enough to warrant your gardening efforts. In our guide to coaxing a snake plant to bloom, we go in depth on what mother-in-law’s tongue needs in order to flower, the conditions you’ll have to provide, and how to deadhead the flowers after blooming.
The cinnamon fern (Osmundastrum cinnamomeum) has many amazing qualities – gorgeous color, easy care, and a widespread growing range are just a few of the things this plant has going for it. If you want to cultivate one – or more! – in your landscape, this growing guide is just what you’ve been looking for. Read more now.
Disease can strike bok choy quickly and without warning, severely reducing its ability to produce delicious leafy goodness. But for the gardener with the proper know-how, the most common ailments don’t stand a chance. In our guide to bok choy diseases, we’ll cover how to detect, prevent, and manage the key offenders.
Yews are gorgeous, versatile, and have a fascinating history of usage in religion, warfare, and medicine. In order to grow them as beautiful plantings in your garden, you’ll need to know the cultivation conditions that they love and loathe – which is where this guide comes in. All of the know-how you need awaits!
A poinsettia plant can bring some yuletide cheer to your landscape as well as the inside of your home! This guide to cultivating Euphorbia pulcherrima outside will walk you through outdoor-specific care practices, and the necessary protocols for transferring potted poinsettia back indoors for winter in cold regions.
As carnivorous organisms, pitcher plants spend the growing season in harsh environments where other plants would die. Come winter, these plants take a well-deserved break from all that growing via dormancy. In this guide, you’ll learn how to care for a pitcher plant properly during this dormant period. Read more.
There are several common diseases and afflictions that may affect a maple tree and compromise the aesthetic beauty of its bark. In this guide to treating maple bark diseases, we’ll cover the main threats you should keep a sharp lookout for, along with how to treat them and how to prevent them in the first place.
Growing crocuses inside isn’t as simple as cultivating them outdoors. But we’ve whipped up a guide on this topic so you can add a bright pop of floral color to your decor. We’ll cover the necessary “forcing” protocol for stimulating premature blooming, along with how to care for your plants throughout the process.
Many different types of pests can wreak havoc on a patch of bok choy in the garden. Need help? This guide covers how to identify, deter, and control several of the most frequent offenders. Once you’ve read and applied the tips and techniques in this guide, these pests won’t stand a chance at harming your pak choi.
Sugar maple trees are gorgeous and bountiful. With beautiful fall color, rock hard lumber, and deliciously sweet sap, sugar maples are well worth the cultivation effort. In our growing guide, we’ll cover propagation methods, growing techniques, and plant health care tips. You’ll be growing sugar maples in no time!
A greenhouse’s internal temperature has to be kept warm enough to keep the plants within alive. In our guide to heating up greenhouses, we’ll cover several different types of heating, along with the basics of keeping a greenhouse warm enough and factors to consider when choosing one or more types of heating.
Cold frames offer versatility and convenience, allowing gardeners to overwinter plants inexpensively. In this guide to overwintering plants in a cold frame we’ll provide all the necessary know-how for getting started, including info on how cold frames work and their benefits, along with placement and assembly tips.
A Japanese maple’s gorgeous foliage and attractive growing habit look all the more beautiful when complementary plantings are incorporated into the nearby landscape. In this guide to Acer palmatum companion plants, we’ll cover 13 of the best options to grow in a Japanese maple’s immediate vicinity. Read more now.
If you’re growing Boston ferns, you might be wondering what to do with them during the winter months. In this guide we go over how to prepare your ferns for winter and what you need to do to care for them – to keep them healthy and looking their best, ready to regrow vigorously come spring. Read more now.
For a simple, inexpensive, and reliable way of propagating Japanese maple trees, look to their seeds. Growing Acer palmatum from seed is an empowering and enjoyable way of acquiring this gorgeous specimen for yourself, and we’ll cover everything you need to know in this propagation guide. Read more now.
With stunning ornamental beauty, durability, and adaptability in the landscape, the Norway maple deserves a spot or two in your landscape. In this growing guide, we’ll cover the ins and outs of cultivating Acer platanoides in your landscape, with topics ranging from propagation and plant health care to general tips.
Boston ivy is known for its toughness, but it could use a helping hand in wintertime. In this guide, you’ll learn how to prepare your Boston ivy for winter, plus we go over the necessary tools and techniques to ensure that your plant survives the dormant season in good health, and emerges in spring ready to grow.
Autumn fern is a gorgeous, tough plant with fronds that emerge with a coppery hue – a welcome change from the typical fern’s green color scheme. In this guide, we’ll show you how to grow and care for these plants at home. From propagation techniques to cultivation tips, no stone will be left unturned! Read more now.
Key lime pie plants are unique succulents with gorgeous foliage and ornamental flexibility. Whether grown as a houseplant or outdoors, this specimen will truly stand out wherever you choose to put it! In our growing guide, we’ll cover propagation methods, cultivation tips, and plant health care techniques. Read more.
Maple trees are beautiful plants, and they look even better when you trim them properly. Luckily, you can easily learn and put this skill into practice. In this guide, we’ll cover why you’d even prune a maple in the first place, what you’ll need, the ideal timing, and proper pruning techniques. Read more now.
Dividing your bird of paradise is a great way to acquire more plants to add to the garden. In this guide, we’ll show you how to go about dividing mature Strelitzia. Reasons for dividing, necessary tools, timing, and techniques are all covered in depth, so the necessary know-how is at your fingertips. Read more now.
As one of the most popular shade tree specimens in the United States, the red maple is a truly stunning plant. It’s also pretty easy to grow, especially with a wee bit of know-how. In our growing guide, we’ll cover just how to cultivate these trees, along with propagation techniques, plant health care, and more.
Unfortunately, the leaves of a bird of paradise can turn yellow at times. In this guide, we’ll go over the causes of yellowing leaves, including disease, pests, and improper nutrition. We’ll also cover techniques and methods for fixing these issues. When equipped with the proper know-how, you have no reason to fear!
Birds of paradise are very attractive to both gardeners and pests. In our guide to Strelitzia pests, you’ll learn how to prevent infestations and manage the pesky bugs already present on your birds of paradise. From pest identification to control protocols, we’ll provide all the know-how you could possibly need.
Birds of paradise are vulnerable to disease, which can hinder their beauty. Luckily, many Strelitzia diseases can be prevented with some simple prevention and control techniques. After reading our guide to keeping birds of paradise healthy, you’ll be ready to cultivate pathogen-free Strelitzia in your garden.
Bird of paradise blooms are magnificent! In our guide to deadheading a bird of paradise, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know in order to remove spent Strelitzia blooms and keep plants looking their best. Reasons for deadheading, essential tools, timing, and techniques are all covered here. Read more now.
For a rare beauty with pollinator-attracting blooms and stunning evergreen foliage, you can’t go wrong with bush anemone. From propagation methods to cultivation tips and plant health care practices, no stone is left unturned. Read our guide and you’ll have the know-how you need to grow these plants yourself.
The peacock flower is a tropical plant that’s as pretty as it is versatile. With drought tolerance and attractiveness to pollinators, this woody specimen will stand out in your garden wherever you choose to put it. In our growing guide, we’ll explore the ins and outs of cultivating the peacock flower.
Bird of paradise is an elegant plant to have in the garden, so learn how to keep it that way in our Strelitzia pruning guide. We’ll go over the reasons for pruning, the necessary pruning tools, proper timing for pruning, and the techniques that you can use to keep your birds of paradise looking fresh.
Struggling to pick out a Euonymus for your landscape? No worries, we’ve got you covered! In this guide, we’ll go over some of the top species and what they have to offer gardeners. From USDA Hardiness Zone recommendations to ornamental descriptions, you’ll learn about 11 of the best picks for the garden. Read more now.
Boston ivy is a durable, gorgeous, and adaptable vine that grows on brick and mortar surfaces with ease and style. With both ornamental and practical uses, nearly everyone can find a use for it in the garden. A plant rich in fall color and botanical history, this is definitely a worthy addition to your landscape.
Euonymus plants are versatile, gorgeous specimens that only require a moderate amount of work to keep them looking sharp. Specimens, accents, hedges, vines… these guys can meet many different landscape needs. In this guide, we’ll go over just how to properly care for Euonymus plants, from propagation to cultivation.
Despite an invasive reputation, honeysuckle plants are beautiful specimens worth adding to the garden. They are hardy, vigorous growers that will provide beautiful blooms and attract pollinators to your landscape. From the alpine honeysuckle to the woodbine honeysuckle, we’ll cover primo varieties most worth planting.
The nasturtium is a plant worth protecting, so learn about the diseases it’s prone to and how to defend against them. From bacterial leaf spot to impatiens necrotic spot virus, you will be armed with the knowledge to prevent, diagnose, and stop the spread of common diseases to keep your nasturtiums healthy. Read more.
Firebush (Hamelia patens) is a drought-tolerant, disease-resistant shrub with flame-colored flowers that attract a variety of pollinators. It’s a tropical beauty and very easy to care for. In this guide, you’ll learn the basics of firebush planting and cultivation, along with how to keep it healthy. Read more now.
The heart fern is a gorgeous specimen to add to your houseplant collection. With glossy, cordate leaves and a compact growth habit, it’ll stand out wherever you choose to put it. It’s even been used to treat cancer and diabetes in Asia. With some TLC and these handy growing tips, you can grow your own heart fern!
With a fascinating history of cultivation in China and Japan, heavenly bamboo is a tough-as-nails, yet gorgeous plant that can be grown for year-round visual interest. It’s adaptable to a wide range of exposure conditions and soil types, and possesses significant resistance to pests and pathogens. Read more.
Apple mint is a beautiful, low-maintenance herb that’s simple to cultivate, and it rewards your efforts with savory leaves for use in many delicious dishes. It attracts pollinators, grows very aggressively, and it even comes in a variegated cultivar! Learn how to grow your own apple mint at home in this guide. Read more.
Hickory trees are amazing plants – they grow delicious nuts, they’re visually stunning, and the strong, flexible wood of hickories is used to make many products we use daily. Ever wanted one in your backyard? Well, look no further! With this guide, cultivating hickory trees of your very own will be easy as (pecan) pie.
Growing your own pinto beans is a low-stress, nutritious means of becoming more self-sufficient as a gardener! Whether you aim to live off the grid, or you just want access to some on-the-house ingredients for making bean burritos, the pinto bean is the legume that’ll get you there. Learn how to grow them in this guide.