Category: Types & Facts

Zinnias are annuals grown from seed, so they won’t return next year and you start fresh each spring. Dahlias grow from tubers and are tender perennials, hardy in zones 8 to 10. In colder climates, you must dig up the tubers and store them over winter. I’m planning my cutting garden for next year right […]

If you want a palm that stays small for good, choose Pygmy Date Palm, Parlor Palm, or Dwarf Palmetto. These three top out at 6 to 10 feet or less, even after years of growth. They won’t turn into a towering tree that crowds your yard or scrapes your roofline. Here’s the problem a lot […]

A tree with red berries is most often American Holly, Winterberry, Hawthorn, Crabapple, Mountain Ash (also called Rowan), or Dogwood. Berry color alone never tells you if a plant is safe or dangerous. Some of these berries are edible. Others are toxic to people or pets. You need to know the exact species before you […]

Watermelon comes in more varieties than most people expect. US growers plant over 50 commercial varieties each year, and they sort into four main groups: Allsweet, Ice-Box, Seedless, and Yellow Flesh. Each group has its own size range, seed type, and flavor style. If you start looking into the different types of watermelon names, you […]

Yellow roses top the list of flowers that symbolize friendship, followed closely by sunflowers, zinnias, and alstroemeria. These blooms share bright, warm colors and a cheerful look that reads as platonic, not romantic. The yellow rose is the most traditional pick, though no single flower has ever been made official by law. Flowers have carried […]

Potato plant leaves are dark green, oval-shaped leaflets that grow in pairs along a central stem. Each full leaf has six to eight leaflets. Healthy leaves stay green and upright during the growing season, then naturally yellow and die back once the tubers below are ready. To figure out what is wrong with your plant, […]

The mother-in-law’s tongue plant (Dracaena trifasciata, once called Sansevieria trifasciata) is a tough, upright succulent from Africa. It has stiff, sword-shaped leaves and barely needs any care. It handles low light and forgotten watering days with ease. In fact, overwatering is almost the only thing that will kill it. Pet Safety Alert: Is mother-in-law’s tongue […]

Yes. True ornamental peppers are edible and safe to eat. They belong to the species Capsicum annuum, the same group that gives us bell peppers and jalapeños, so they are not poisonous. These plants are bred for their looks, not their taste. Growers focus on bright colors and neat, compact shapes rather than flavor. Many […]

The scaredy cat plant (Coleus caninus) is a real plant sold to repel cats, dogs, and rabbits with its smell. Does it work? There’s no real proof either way. The claim is based on gardener stories, not science. Here’s the catch most sellers leave out. This plant doesn’t release its skunk-like smell just by sitting […]

A fruitless mulberry tree is a male cultivar of Morus alba grown for shade instead of fruit. It grows fast, often 10 to 12 feet a year, and can reach 30 to 50 feet tall within a decade. That speed makes it a popular pick for homeowners who want quick backyard shade without waiting years […]