Gloriosa or glory-lily (Gloriosa rothschildiana) has proved to be one of the noteworthy introductions to American gardens in the first half of the 20th century. Adapting itself, Gloriosa may be grown as a showy flowering bulb for summer gardens in the northern states. Gardeners report success in New York, Michigan, and Wisconsin. How to plant … Read more
Torenia fournieri is a delicate-looking summer annual that produces small, attractive flowers. The plant is native to Asia and part of the Linderniaceae family. There are close to two hundred species in this family, but the torenia is one of the more popular choices. It is typically grown in garden flower beds to add color … Read more
Have you ever grown daffodils in the sod? It is a simple type of gardening that eliminates weeding, watering, fertilizing, spraying, and transplanting. Planted in this manner, they are called naturalized daffodils. Daffodils will grow anywhere in the United States except the extreme South. And you can naturalize daffodils even if you don’t have a … Read more
The cat palm botanically Chamaedorea Cataractarum [kam-ee-DOR-ee-uh, kat-uh-RAK-tar-um] is a palm grown for use indoors and in the landscape. The palm produces an abundance of 4′ feet tall fronds which grow in a cluster. Belonging to the Arecaceae family, the plant is a native of Central America and southeastern Mexico. Displaying cane-like, green foliage, these … Read more
Yucca is a genus of trees and shrubs belonging to the Asparagaceae family. The plants are native to the Caribbean Islands and the Americas. There are 49 documented and accepted species and various subspecies, none of which have any botanical relationship to yuca (single c) or cassava. [1] Yuca is a root vegetable that prefers … Read more
Carex testacea [KAR-eks, test-uh-SEE-uh] is a type of grass with coppery-brown leaves slowly turning orange during the colder seasons. It’s native to New Zealand and belongs to the Carex genus. The genus contains over 2000 species of grass-like plants. It’s also part of the Cyperaceae family, commonly called sedges. The plant has several common names … Read more
Melampodium [mel-am-POE-dee-um] is a genus of flowering plants from the Aster family Asteraceae and sub-family Asteroideae. The bushy plants are summer annuals and perennials, known for their daisy-like flowers. The plants are native to tropical and subtropical climates. They are found in Central America, the Caribbean, South America, and North America in Southwestern United States, California, and Florida. Some … Read more
Corydalis Lutea [kor-ID-ah-liss, LOO-tee-uh] is an easy plant to cultivate featuring a neat mound of ferny green foliage and delicate yellow flowers. This plant belongs to the Pseudofumaria genus and the Papaveraceae (poppy) family of plants. It’s native to the foothills of the Alps in Switzerland and Italy, but commonly grown around the world. The … Read more
Opuntia subulata [oh-PUN-tee-uh, sub-yoo-LAY-tuh], which is a member of the family Cactaceae, is also known by its alternate scientific name, which is Austrocylindropuntia subulata [oss-troh-sil-in-droh-PUN-tee-uh, sub-yoo-LAY-tuh]. This evergreen, perennial, succulent native of the Peruvian Andes also has several common English names, including: It also has several common Spanish names, including: In this article, we discuss … Read more
Nicotiana alata [nih-ko-she-AH-na, a-LAY-tuh] is a lovely annual summer flower with a long bloom and pleasant fragrance, making it a popular choice for garden beds and window boxes. It belongs to the Solanaceae family of flowering plants, commonly called the nightshade family. You may hear it by the following common names: It comes from South … Read more