We’re not anti-real plants. Quite the opposite. We have loads of plants, herbs, hanging baskets, flower beds and gardens in and outside our house. However, when it comes to our covered deck, which we use year-around, hanging flowers aren’t an option. All Spring and Summer we had hanging flowers. They looked great but were a …
Quicklist: Types of Ferns Evergreen Ferns Deciduous Herbaceous Semi-Evergreen Boston Fern Staghorn Fern Holly Fern Maidenhair Fern Cinnamon Fern Bird’s Nest Fern Australian Tree Fern Asparagus Fern Ostrich Fern Japanese Painted Fern Royal Fern Blue Star Fern Cretan Brake Fern Polypodium Vulgare Arachniodes Simplicity Asplenium Trichomanes Lady Fern Sunset Fern Kimberly Queen Fern Austral Gem …
Many of us have sensitivities to plants or other airborne particles that can make it difficult to breathe. The pollutants in the air can be anything from dust mites and mold spores to pollen and gases which can be dangerous if you breathe them in. You could purchase air purifiers and humidifiers for your home, …
Everywhere we go, plants surround us. You may not even notice them most of the time because they can blend into the background. They grow in gardens, as part of the landscape, and even on the side of the road. There are many different types of plants grown all around the world. You may not …
As an old saying more or less goes, the only better time to start growing plants than the past is right now. Plants are critical to our survival, and our brains are hardwired to recognize that. Just having a bit of extra green around you can make you feel better while the plant detoxifies the …
Summers can get real hot no matter where you live and nothing beats cooling down with a tall glass of something cool and a strong fan directed at your face. If your summer has been particularly warm recently, you’ll be able to feel what you just read. Sadly, though, our plants don’t have the luxury …
You’re thinking about adding a touch of green to your home by purchasing an indoor ivy houseplant, but you’re not sure where to start. You’ve heard that ivy plants are easy to care for, but you don’t know what the different types look like. When choosing an ivy houseplant, it’s important to consider the amount …
Why Grow Alocasia Plants? You’re obviously here because you’re a bit of a daredevil gardener. You’ve figured out how to keep tomatoes happy, you think the art of bonsai is a cinch, and orchids never really gave you much trouble and you simply do not know what all of the fuss is about! Alocasia care …
While flowering plants are some of the most beautiful plants in the world, many plants only produce flowers for a few months of the year. Thankfully, if you choose the right plants and keep them indoors, you can enjoy flowers all year! Which houseplants bloom year-round? If you’re searching for indoor plants that bloom from …
If you live in year-round humidity like I do then you’re already one step closer to feeling like you’re in the tropics. But tropical houseplants add something extra to your home. Tropical plants are easy to maintain indoors if you know what they need whether that’s sunlight, water, or insects. And according to research, maybe …
Maybe you’re thinking about setting up an indoor garden to liven up your home or to create a relaxing retreat. Whatever your reason is, you want to get some houseplants that won’t succumb to neglect or over-watering. We’ll help you by sharing some of the most robust plants you can add to your space. 1. …
So you’ve successfully reared the baby seedlings that you’ve grown indoors since germination and you’re ready to transplant them into the garden. Or you went the easier route and got some potted plants from the garden center and you’re ready to put those into the ground. Learn how to transplant your plants and make sure …
There are many different species of climbing houseplants, so how do you know which one is best for you? Check out this list of unique vining and climbing houseplants so you can add a luscious aesthetic to your space. 1. Pothos (Scindapsus aureus) The pothos is one of the most prolific climbing houseplants. This luscious …
Bugs are fascinating creatures that love to live outside, but they can also affect the inside of your home, particularly if you have houseplants. There are approximately 91,000 different species of insects living in the United States alone. You may wonder how to deal with an influx of insects munching on your houseplants. While certain …
No great living room is complete without plants. If you haven’t quite figured out how to place your plants in the living room, here is a guide to all of the best plants for the living room, and all of the best, most unique and smart places to arrange them. It’s not always easy to …
Are fake plants a thing of the past, or have millennials revamped them to fit the latest trends in home decor? If you’re hopeless at taking care of real ones, fear not, there are plenty of great options out there, and good reasons to go faux. With the limited time and the huge number of …
Urban garden-agriculture guide In this article, I aim to explore the various types of urban gardens, the ways urban agriculture and gardening can be integrated into our cities, the steps by which we can make it scalable, and the vast benefits it will bring for our communities, environment, and our society. In this manner, I’m …
Oenothera Biennis We are very pleased to introduce you all to the common evening primrose. Part of the genus oenothera, oenothera biennis (syn. oenothera muricata), is a proud member of the primrose family with a very unique quality. The common name, evening primrose, is very descriptive of this unique quality, which is that this flower …
Actinotus Helianthi Actinotus helianthi, otherwise known as a flannel flower, is a species of flowering plant that is endemic to the bushland of Sydney, Australia. Though they could easily fool you as being members of the daisy family, these fuzzy plants are actually members of the apiaceae family, to which both carrot and parsley also …
Tanacetum Parthenium Tanacetum parthenium – otherwise known as feverfew, featherfew, featherfoil, or bachelor’s button – is a herbaceous perennial plant that is a proud member of the daisy family (asteraceae). It is very often confused with matricaria flower, because of their remarkably similar flower pattern. Feverfew plants are a wonderfully easy to care for ornamental …
Kalanchoe Blossfeldiana I don’t know about you, but I’ve always struggled with caring for succulent plants. When you have a house filled with monsteras and mother of thousands, understanding how much water and light that a succulent needs can be confusing! After writing this article, I feel much more equipped to properly care for a …
Genus Erigeron The genus erigeron is a very large genus of plants that are very closely related to the daisy family and the aster family. Only flower fanatics would really be able to tell the different between them! The erigeron genus is comprised of over 170 flowering plant species with varying growth habits and flower …
Genus Eremurus Members of the genus eremurus are more commonly known under the names of foxtail lily or desert candle. This botanical family consists of very impressive summer perennial flowering plants that bear striking and colorful flower spikes. These plants are well known and appreciated because of their strong resemblance bottle brush plants, only they …
Genus Erica The genus erica is comprised of a baffling 857 flowering plants more commonly known as heathers or heaths. There’s a chance you’ve heard it under the name winter heather or spring heather, to help differentiate it from certain calluna species. The latin term, erica, is translated to broom in english, which is reference …
Genus Euphorbia The genus euphorbia is an absolutely enormous botanical genus that consists of over 2000 members. Though you may not know them by their latin name, euphorbiaceae, you’ve certainly seen members growing in gardens, or sold commercially around Christmas time. The common name for euphorbia species is spurge. “That’s a strange name” you may …
Genus Eustoma The genus eustoma is a very tiny genus that only contains 3 species. The gentian family is comprised of lovely, dainty annual plants that should be grown in areas that experience hot summers. More commonly known as lisianthus, prairie gentian, or Texas bluebell (though there is another flower that holds ownership over that …
Genus Epimedium Members of the genus epimedium are also common referred to as a barrenwort plant, a bishop’s hat, fairy wings, or as horny goat weed. We know what you’re thinking, “horny goat weed? What kind of name is that?” Well, epimedium plants have long been known as an aphrodisiac according to traditional Chinese medicine …
Hyacinthoides Non Scripta The english bluebell is a flower that you won’t quickly forget once you’ve seen it. This early spring bloomer coats the landscape in a carpet of striking blue flowers. It is known as being the favorite garden plant amongst United Kingdom gardening community. Also known as the common bluebell, British bluebell or …
Anethum Graveolens Dill, dill weed, (or dillweed) is an annual herb that is part of the celery botanical family (apiaceae). You’ve hear of dill before, and you’ve probably used it to garnish a lovely borscht soup with sour cream, or you’ve overdone it with garnishing a salmon fillet. This lovely edible herb is the only …
Genus Echium The genus echium is proud to be host to about 70 species of flowering plants that are part of the borage (borageinaceae) botanical family. Many of the known species are endemic (only occur in one area) to luxurious places like the Canary Islands and Madeira Island. Echium plants are a gorgeous herbaceous perennial …
Genus Sambucus The genus sambucus is home to the well known and beloved elder or elderberry plant! Referred to as either a large shrub or as a small tree, this beautiful specimen is a proud member of the adoxaceae botanical family. This wonderful flowering plant thrives both as a cultivated plant, and in the wild. …
Genus Dianella The genus dianella is comprised of around 40 flowering plants in the asphodelaceae botanical family, which are mainly monocots. A monocotyledon is a type of flowering plant that produces stalkless leaves that bear a single seed; some examples of these are most grasses, palm trees or lilies. Dianella is more commonly known as …
Dianthus Barbatus Dianthus barbatus is more commonly known under the name of sweet william. The sweet william is a flowering plant that is a member of the caryophyllaceae botanical family (the carnation plant family). In the well known Language of Flowers, this flowering plant symbolizes gallantry! The genus name, dianthus, comes from a combination of …
Genus Dietes The genus dietes is comprised of only 6 species of flowering plants. This small genus contains only rhizomatous plants that are part of the iris (iridaceae) botanical family. The common names for members of the genus are dependent on the growing regions of the local plant. Some common names are wood iris, fortnight …
Iris Hollandica Iris x hollandica is a hybridized flowering plant species you’re going to want to get to know. It is wonderfully easy to care for, and they can be kept as either an annual plant or perennial plant. Dutch irises sprout flowers that are very similar to orchids, with large floppy petals that can …
Genus Echinops Are you a person who is in search of a plant that looks like a golf ball shaped blue hedgehog at the end of a stem?! Well, look no further because echinops are the only plant that could possibly fit that description. The genus echinops contains about 120 flowering plant species, and they …
Genus Deutzia The genus deutzia is comprised of 60 flowering plants that are all part of the hydrangea botanical family (hydrangeaceae). They produce clusters of beautiful flowers in a similar fashion to the hydrangea plant. Deutzia shrubs are a wonderful choice for a garden plant if you happen to live in an area that is …
Adenium Obesum The desert rose is a beautiful, slow growing succulent that is native to Africa, Madagascar, and certain regions in the Middle East. Part of the botanical family apocynaceae, the desert rose is the only adenium plant of the genus that is used for cultivation. This wonderful succulent is also known under the names …
Decumaria Barbara Decumaria barabara, woodvamp, or climbing hydrangea, is a perennial flowering plant that is a member of the hydrangea botanical family. This high climbing woody vine is an excellent way to keep a touch of green to a winter landscape, as it is an evergreen species! Climbing hydrangeas are native to a very small …
Genus Hemerocallis The daylily (sometimes spelled day lily) is a flowering plant part of the genus hemerocallis, and the asphodelaceae botanical family. Though the daylily is not actually a truly lily, nor part of the liliaceae botanical family. Their flowers look very similar, but daylilies grow from fibrous roots, and true lilies grow from rhizomes. …
Genus Daphne Daphne is a genus of flowering shrubs consisting of between 70 and 95 different species. Part of the thymelaeceae botanical family, plants grow as either deciduous shrubs or evergreen shrubs. These plants are native to places like North Africa, Europe, and Asia, though they have become naturalized in temperate regions all over the …
Cardamine Pratensis Cardamine pratensis is the scientific term for the more commonly know plant, the cuckoo flower. It gets this name because it blooms right around the same time that a cuckoo bird starts to sing in the early spring. It is the county flower of Cheshire! You may have also heard it under the …
Genus Taraxacum There is far more to the common dandelion plant than meets the eye. What most may view as a noxious weed, an unattractive flower, or a nuisance to a perfect grassy lawn, is actually a plant that is highly beneficial to pollinators, a plant that helps increase soil health, and a plant that …
Genus Crocosmia The crocosmia (sometimes called montbretia) is a small genus of flowering plants that are part of the iris botanical family (iridaceae). This easy to grow plant flourishes with brilliant bright red, orange, yellow, or scarlet tubular flowers at the ends of arching stems. The genus name is derived from two greek words; krokos, …
Genus Cotoneaster Cotoneaster plants are members of the genus cotoneaster, and the botanical family rosaceae, or the rose family. This species of flowering plant is very closely related to hawthorns (genus cratageus), firethorns (genus pyracantha), photinias (genus photonias), and rowans (genus sorbus). There are an estimated 300 different cotoneaster species that are currently recognized, and …
Centaurea Cyanus Commonly known as either bachelor’s button (cute) or the cornflower, centaurea cyanus got its common name because it thrives in cornfields all over the world in open sunny fields in dry soil. The nickname “bachelor’s button” comes from an old time-y tradition of young men wearing cornflowers in their shirt button holes to …
Antigonon Leptopus Plants tend to have a multitude of nicknames for the different places that they live in, and antigonon leptopus no exception to that rule. Depending on where you live and who you ask, you may hear it under the name of coralita, Mexican creeper, Mexican coral vine, bee bush, San Miguelito vine, chain …
Genus Heuchera The genus heuchera consists of approximately 37 different species of evergreen perennial plants. Today we will cover the coral bell flower, which is a member of the saxifragaceae botanical family. You may have heard of the coral bell species under the name of alumroot, though their most common name is more indicative of …
Genus Trifolium The common clover, or trefoil, is a member of the genus trifolium that contains over 300 species of flowering plants. This genus is part of the pea legume botanical family, fabaceae. Members of this plant family are native to mostly the northern hemisphere in temperate and subtropical regions. However, they do also occur …
Genus Clarkia The genus clarkia is home to over 40 different classified species of flowering plants. The vast majority of these are native to western North America, and they can be found growing wild along coastlands and in open plains. Clarkia plants are part of the onagraceae botanical family, otherwise known as the evening primrose …