Helianthus debilis, commonly called beach sunflower or dune sunflower, is a fast-growing groundcover for hot, sunny sites. It produces small yellow sunflower-like blooms above spreading green foliage. Once established, it handles drought, wind, poor sandy soil and salt spray better than many common garden flowers. The plant is especially useful in coastal landscapes, but it…
Jasminum grandiflorum is grown for one main reason: its flowers. The white, star-shaped blooms open from pink-tinged buds and release a rich jasmine scent through summer and early autumn. In a warm, sheltered garden, a mature plant can cover a large wall, pergola or fence. This is not a compact shrub. Jasminum grandiflorum is a…
The name “white jasmine” is used for several plants. This guide covers Jasminum officinale, commonly called common jasmine, poet’s jasmine or summer jasmine. It is a fast-growing climbing plant with fragrant white flowers. Given enough support, it can cover a wall, fence, arch or pergola. It is usually deciduous in cooler climates but may remain…
Rosa persica is one of the most unusual wild roses in cultivation. Instead of the layered blooms and divided leaves associated with most garden roses, it produces small, single yellow flowers and simple grey-green leaves. Each flower has a dark red patch at the base of its petals. This central “eye” is the feature that…
Calatheas are grown for their foliage. Their leaves come in shades of green, cream, silver, pink, burgundy, and purple, often marked with stripes, feathered patterns, or bold patches. They also move throughout the day. Many varieties lift or fold their leaves in the evening and lower them again when daylight returns. This movement has earned…
Self-watering pots work best for plants that prefer steady moisture. They are useful for ferns, leafy herbs, tropical houseplants, salad greens, and thirsty container vegetables. They are usually a poor choice for cacti, succulents, snake plants, rosemary, lavender, and other plants that need their soil to dry between waterings. Choosing the right plant matters more…
Noisette roses are old-fashioned climbing roses known for repeat blooms, sweet fragrance, and genuine disease resistance, three traits that are hard to find together in one rose. This guide covers where they came from, how to identify one, and exactly how to plant, train, and prune them so they climb and rebloom the way they’re…
Bonica 82 is one of the most widely planted shrub roses in the world, prized for blooming from late spring straight through to frost with almost no disease problems. Here’s its real history, along with exactly how to grow, prune, and troubleshoot it. What Is the Bonica 82 Rose? Bonica 82, registered as ‘MEIdomonac’ and…
The cabbage rose is one of the most famous fragrance roses in history, the source of the “Rose de Mai” absolute still used in high-end perfumes today. This guide covers where it came from, how to grow and prune it correctly, and its real uses beyond the garden. What Is a Cabbage Rose? Cabbage rose,…
Christmas cactus is one of the easiest houseplants to keep alive for decades, and one of the most commonly mistimed when it comes to getting it to bloom for the holidays. This guide covers what it needs day to day, and exactly how to trigger that bloom on schedule. What Is a Christmas Cactus? The…
The Areca Palm (Dypsis lutescens) is one of the easiest tropical palms to keep indoors, and one of the more effective houseplants for adding humidity and filtering common indoor air toxins. Here’s exactly what it needs to thrive, and how to fix it when something goes wrong. What Is an Areca Palm? Areca Palm’s scientific…
Clivias are one of the few flowering plants that genuinely thrive in shade, tolerate neglect, and reward you with a dramatic bloom once a year. This guide covers what they need to grow, how to propagate them, and how to fix the most common problems, from yellow leaves to a plant that refuses to bloom….