How to Grow and Care for Ocotillo in the Garden

A horizontal image of an ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens) growing in the Mojave desert pictured on a blue sky background.

Need a pollinator-friendly desert plant that thrives with little to no water, making it ideal for xeriscaping? Learn how to grow ocotillo! Give this unique water-wise shrub a spot with full sun and watch the hummingbirds enjoy the dazzling flowers’ nectar. These are slow growers but they’ll last for generations!

17 of the Most Fragrant Plants to Grow Indoors

A close up horizontal image of a collection of houseplants on wooden shelves.

If you love sweet-smelling flowers and aromatic herbs, why not bring the fragrance of the outdoors into your indoor spaces? In this roundup, we introduce 17 of the most fragrant plants with aromatic flowers or scented foliage, all of which make stunning additions to your houseplant collection. Read more now.

How to Grow Mandrake

A close up horizontal image of the purple flowers and deep green leaves of mandrake (Mandragora) plants pictured in light sunshine.

Learn how to grow and care for Mandragora, the mysterious and bewitching mandrake plant! This is an essential ornamental to cultivate in a magical garden, but it’s important to be aware of the toxic traits of these plants and how to safely cultivate them. Read more to learn what’s required to help your plants thrive.

How to Grow and Care for Joshua Trees

A horizontal image of Joshua trees (Yucca brevifolia) growing in the desert landscape with blue sky in the background.

Learn how to grow and cultivate Yucca brevifolia, the iconic Joshua tree. These stunning slow-growing desert dwellers thrive with little to no water. Give them fast-draining sandy soil, full sun exposure, and ample room to spread, and they’ll be happy! You’ll have a beautiful and resilient landscape for generations.

When and How to Prune Elderberries

A close up horizontal image of an elderberry shrub laden with ripe purple fruits.

Did you know pruning elderberry shrubs will help to produce bigger berries and larger harvests? Since Sambucus is so resilient, it’s easy to trim! Learning how to optimize the harvest of a medicinal plant like elderberry is beneficial for the home gardener who wants to increase their yield of homegrown healing herbs.

How to Make and Use Calendula Oil

A close up horizontal image of a jar of cream with calendula flowers scattered around on a wooden surface.

Learn how to make your own calendula-infused oil and how to use it! This fragrant flower that’s easy to grow is full of healing potential. Get creative with your oil and use it to make facial serums, balms, creams, or even body butter! Read our guide now for full instructions to start making this healing herbal oil.

Agave or Aloe? How to Tell These Plants Apart

A horizontal image of a pathway through a garden flanked on either side by a variety of succulents, including aloe and agave.

Get serious about succulents and learn the difference between agave and aloe. Don’t let their resemblance fool you anymore! After reading about them individually and discovering their notable differences, it’s simple to tell these stunning drought-tolerant plants apart – and they make a fantastic pair in the garden.

How to Grow and Care for Yucca

A horizontal image of yucca plants growing on the side of a rocky hill.

Learn how to grow and care for yucca in your garden or landscape! This drought-tolerant plant thrives in hot climates, making it ideal for water-wise gardens. A stunning succulent that is perfect for xeriscaping and container gardening, yucca is low-maintenance while adding a dramatic statement to any space. Read more.

How to Plant and Grow Goldenseal

A close up horizontal image of a goldenseal plant (Hydrastis canadensis) with a bright red fruit.

Become a medicinal plant conservationist by growing goldenseal in your garden! If you have or can simulate a shady growing space for this woodland perennial, this is a notable herb to include in your cultivation plans. It shines as a medicinal species that is so popular, it’s currently at risk in the wild. Read more.

What’s the Difference Between French and English Lavender?

A close up horizontal image of a field of lavender pictured in evening sunshine fading to soft focus in the background.

Do you know which lavender is best for your garden or landscape? With so many lavenders to choose from, it can be daunting to decide which one to select. Start with learning the key differences between English and French lavender. They’re both aromatic and easy to grow but have different growing habits and needs.

How to Make Lemon Verbena Tea (And Why You Should)

A close up horizontal image of a cup of tea set on a wooden surface with a sprig of lemon verbena leaves to the right of the frame.

Lemon verbena is a delicious herb that offers a multitude of uses! The abundant and aromatic plant provides plentiful harvests during the summertime and the leaves make a delightfully uplifting herbal infusion that can be enjoyed hot or cold. Make a cup for yourself or a pitcher to share! Read more now.

How to Plant and Grow California Poppies

A horizontal image of bright orange California poppies (Eschscholzia californica) growing wild pictured in bright sunshine on a blue sky background.

Welcome California poppies into your garden and watch a dazzling wildflower super bloom grow in your very own yard! These resilient flowers thrive in poor soil with little water and care while attracting pollinators that are beneficial to the local ecosystem. Learn how to plant and grow your own in this guide. Read more.

The Benefits of Lemon Balm Tea and How to Make the Perfect Infusion

A close up horizontal image of a glass of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) tea next to a bunch of the herb both fresh and dried set on a yellow surface.

Lemon balm is an abundant aromatic herb that offers a multitude of healing benefits! The easy-to-grow herb provides plentiful harvests during summertime and the aerial parts make a delicious and calming herbal infusion that can be prepared hot or cold. Make a cup for yourself or a larger pitcher to share with friends!

Common Uses of Calendula (Pot Marigold) Flowers

A close up horizontal image of pot marigold (calendula) flowers picked from the garden and set on a wooden surface.

Get creative with calendula flowers! You’ll be inspired to use this healing herb when you read our guide, with tips for making infused oils and teas as well as medicinal tinctures and salves. This vibrant flower is the perfect plant for those just starting on their herbalism path who want to grow their own botanicals.

How to Grow and Care for Grapevines

A close up horizontal image of ripe grapes growing on the vine in the garden pictured in light filtered sunshine.

Imagine enjoying fresh grapes from the vine or drinking wine made from the fruit you grew. There are numerous delicious varieties to select from that will surely suit your garden and your taste buds. Make your dreams of homegrown grapes come true and learn how to grow grapevines in this guide. Read more now.

How to Grow California Coffeeberry

A close up horizontal image of little orange berries of the California coffeeberry (Frangula californica) pictured in bright sunshine.

California coffeeberry is the ideal species for wildlife gardens! Birds will appreciate your consideration when you grow this beauty in your landscape, and you’ll be able to watch them from your yard. This fast-growing perennial shrub is a drought-tolerant flowering native plant that’s perfect for spaces big and small.

How to Plant and Grow Sesame

A close up horizontal image of a bee feeding from a white sesame flower pictured in bright sunshine.

Spice up your garden by growing sesame seeds and be inspired by one of the most ancient edible seeds in cultivation! Many are familiar with sesame seeds but have never grown the plant. Read more now to learn how to easily cultivate this drought-tolerant, heat-loving, pollinator-friendly annual herb at home.

How to Grow and Care for Bidens (Tickseed Sunflowers)

A close up horizontal image of bright yellow and orange bicolored Bidens flowers growing in a container.

Bidens are the perfect addition to a pollinator-friendly flower garden. Once established, they are drought-tolerant, making them an excellent choice for climate-conscious landscapes. Plant them in a container, bed, or hanging basket for cascading flowers in bright colors. Learn how to plant and grow Bidens in this guide.

How to Grow and Care for Hollyhocks

A close up horizontal image of a stand of bright hollyhocks pictured on a blue sky background in bright sunshine.

Growing hollyhocks is rewarding for people and pollinators. They offer a beautiful spectrum of picturesque petals, making them a must-have for any floral garden! And you only need to plant them once to see them return for years to come, via self-sowing or seed saving. Learn how to grow and care for your own hollyhocks.