Chalice Vine Information The golden chalice vine is not a delicate plant in any sense of the word. The base stalk is thick as a rope, and can grow over 200 feet (61 m.) long. Every single node on the vine sprouts tendrils and can take root. This makes the long vine stable and the many roots help provide it with necessary nutrients. Golden chalice vine produces dark green, thick leaves....
How to Make Play Gardens for Kids How to make play gardens? There’s really nothing to it! Simply designate a small space just for kids – a few square feet is plenty. If you don’t have a yard, you can make a children’s play garden on your balcony, using a wading pool, a large plastic storage container, or anything that will hold dirt. If you choose to use a plastic container, be sure to drill a few small holes in the bottom; otherwise, your play garden will be a soggy mess every time it rains....
Growing Vines in Zone 9 Zone 9 gardeners are lucky – vines for zone 9 include both temperate species like Clematis terniflora that can tolerate summer heat and subtropical species like Aristolochia elegans that can cope with a few chilly months. In addition to common vines that grow in zone 9, like the familiar English ivy and Virginia creeper, there are many unique zone 9 vine varieties you can try. Many of these vines offer interesting leaf and flower shapes, fragrances, and a multitude of colors that will move your vertical garden beyond the ordinary....
About Water Rooting Plants We can all agree that free plants are the best and what better way to multiply your collection than starting your own plants. You may have a friend or neighbor with a species you desire or just want more of your favorites. Many types of cuttings produce roots growing in water. This is an easy way to grow some species. The old avocado pit suspended in water, or a glass of roots growing in water from a piece of inch plant are common enough sights in a sunny kitchen window....
What is Nertera Coral Bead Plant? Nertera granadensis, otherwise known as coral bead or pincushion bead plant, can be a fussy houseplant which requires a bit of conscientious attention on the growers part. Coral bead plant is a low growing, about 3 inches (8 cm.) ornamental specimen hailing from New Zealand, eastern Australia, southeast Asia, and South America. This semi-tropical plant has a dense growth of tiny dark green leaves, which look remarkably similar to baby’s tears (Soleirolia soleirolii)....
Curly Top of Beet Plants As mentioned, the leaves of the beet plants are stunted and rolled upward when beet curly top disease is present. Also, the veins on the underside of infected leaves become irregularly swollen with bumps. Not only do the leaves of the beet plants become distorted, but the virus affects young roots as well. They become stunted and distorted and often die. The death of these rootlets leads to production of new rootlets developing into a “hairy root” symptom that mimics the symptoms of rhizomania....
What are Damianita Daisies? Damianita daisies are small evergreen shrubs that grow to a foot (30 cm.) or so in height and the same across. Highly aromatic the plant is covered with medium to dark green fine foliage and blooms from spring through September with brilliantly hued yellow blossoms. Damianita Plant Info Damianita daisies (Chrysactinia mexicana) are native to Mexico, Texas and New Mexico. The first syllable of the genus name, “chrys” means golden, which is indicative of the bloom color....
What is Spotted Deadnettle? Spotted deadnettle (Lamium maculatum) grows as a spreading mat of herbaceous stems and leaves. The small leaves are speckled with spots, which earns the plant its name. It is most attractive during cooler periods and may die back when temperatures soar. The plant blooms in late spring from May to June and produces flowers in lavender, pink, purple, and white. Spotted deadnettle ground cover grows about 6 to 12 inches (15-31 cm....
Gutters are made to catch water, but they can be dual-purposed to catch soil and plants. Gutter garden ideas make eye catching planters that may be customized for every taste. To use them to best advantage, hang a rain gutter herb garden just outside your door, where the attractive set up is ready at hand for seasoning dishes. Getting Started with a Gutter Planter Whether you use aluminum, vinyl, or another type of gutter, the choice is up to you....
What are Accessible Gardens? For many people, gardening is a rewarding and therapeutic hobby from which much pleasure is derived. As a gardener grows older or for those with disabilities, it may become a considerable challenge to perform all of the physical tasks required for gardening. Bending over or kneeling are just two of the challenges that an aging gardener may face. A person may also experience an injury or become disabled but still wish to pursue gardening as a hobby....
DIY Garden Ideas for Hanging Gardens To make a hanging garden, attach old rain gutters to a fence or wall, then plant the gutters with herbs, succulents, or small annuals. Be sure to drill drainage holes in the gutters before planting. Use a drill or nail to make holes in clean paint cans or coffee cans, then decorate the cans with bright spray paint. Attach the cans to a fence with screws....
Euscaphis Information Botanist J. C. Raulston came across the Korean sweetheart tree in 1985 on the Korean Peninsula while participating in a U.S. National Arboretum collection expedition. He was impressed with the attractive seed pods and brought some back to the North Carolina State Arboretum for assessment and evaluation. The Euscaphis is a small tree or tall bush with an open branch structure. It usually grows to between 10 and 20 feet (3-6 m....
False Jabotica Information Blue grape (Myrciaria vexator) is not a true grape in the family Vitaceae but is, instead, a member of the Myrtle genus. Blue grape plants are native to the tropical Americas where they are found at the edges of forests and in pastures along roads. They are also called false jaboticaba because the flavor of the fruit is also similar to that from jaboticaba trees. If you reside in a warm region, try growing false jaboticaba as both a source of delicious fruit and as an elegant tree....
Tiger Jaws Plant Info Tiger Jaws succulents, also known as Shark’s Jaws, are Mesembryanthemums, or Mesembs, and belong to the family Aizoaceae. Mesembs are species that resemble stones or pebbles, although Tiger Jaws succulents look more like small fanged animal jaws. This succulent grows in clumps of stemless, star-shaped rosettes amongst rocks in its native habit. The succulent is a low growing perennial that only reaches about 6 inches (15 cm....
About Firebush Reproduction Firebush is native to Mexico and thrives in the intense heat of that region, growing well in places like southern Texas, Arizona, and California. It is a large shrub or a small tree, depending on how you grow and train it. Firebush is named for its red-orange flowers that bloom profusely in early summer and well into the fall. The shrub does well in the heat and will tolerate drought conditions better than many plants and will grow in any type of soil that drains well....
Graffiti Eggplant Info There are numerous eggplant varieties from which to choose. They run the gamut from Asian and Mediterranean types with differences in size, color, and shape thrown in as further variation. The eggplant, Graffiti, is possibly a hybrid of those native to India. Wherever the plant’s origin, it has been bred to bring out the sweetness and remove any bitterness associated with wild fruit. Many types of eggplant have especially appealing skin....
What are Horse Chestnuts? You may be wondering, What are horse chestnuts? Horse chestnuts (Aesculus hippocastanum) are large flowering trees, similar to buckeyes, with showy, white blooms in spring. These are followed by attractive, spiny, green seedpods from midsummer through fall. In addition to their beautiful flowers and seedpods, horse chestnut trees also exhibit interesting bark with twisted limbs. One note of caution: do not confuse these ornamental tree with other chestnut trees (Castanea genus), which are edible....
Cold Hardy Pear Trees While apple trees may first come to mind when considering fruit to grow in colder climates, they are not the only ones that will adapt. There are pear varieties that definitely won’t make it in colder zones, including most Asian pear varieties. On the other hand, pear tree cold tolerance is possible, and there are some cultivars from Europe and from northern states, like Minnesota, that will work at least in zones 3 and 4:...
About Puschkinia Bulb Planting Because it grows only 4-6 inches (10-15 cm.) tall, Puschkinia can be used as a substitute for a ground cover. Striped squill is also a good choice for planting under deciduous trees, as long as it can access some sunlight, and it is one of those rare plants that can tolerate growing under a black walnut tree. It doesn’t tend to suffer from pest or disease problems and also tolerates deer....
While tropical bushes won’t survive the freezes your garden will experience, hardy shrubs for zone 6 are not rare. You’ll find both deciduous bushes and evergreens among the zone 6 shrubs available. Types of Bushes for Zone 6 When you are growing shrubs in zone 6, you’ll have many options. That means you can afford to figure out in advance what types of bushes for zone 6 would work best in your backyard....
