Key Lime Tree Information Mexican key lime (Citrus aurantifolia), also known as key lime, bartender’s lime, and West Indian lime, is a moderately sized, evergreen fruit tree. It grows vigorously once you plant it in the ground, reaching heights of 6 1/2 to 13 feet (2 to 4 m.) tall. Mexican key lime trees have fragrant flowers with deep green leaves and the yellow-green limes that are about the size of a golf ball....
Caring for Sick Cyclamen Before you decide something is wrong, remember that the leaves on a healthy cyclamen plant turn yellow and drop off in summer. This is perfectly normal—the plant is just preparing to go dormant. After a summer nap, the leaves regrow. Indoor cyclamen diseases infect plants during the winter growing period. There is no cure for many of these diseases, and the best course of action is to discard them before the disease spreads to other plants....
What is a Snow Sweet Apple? Snow Sweet is a new variety, developed at the University of Minnesota and introduced in 2006. The trees are hardier than most and can be grown as far north as zone 4. They also have above average resistance to fire blight and scab. This is also a later variety, beginning to ripen in mid-September and about two weeks after Honeycrisp. The apples are the real standouts of this new variety....
Companion Planting Cauliflower Before we talk about the specific plants that grow well with cauliflower, let’s look at exactly what companion planting is. As mentioned, companion planting is when two or more species are planted together for their mutual benefit. Sometimes this enables plants to uptake nutrients more efficiently or sometimes certain plants act as natural pest repellents or beneficial insect attractors. Choosing the correct plant to benefit another mimics nature’s symbiotic relationship in the ecosystem....
Chain Cholla Information Chain cholla cactus are most often seen growing in their native ranges in the Sonora Desert. The cactus grows to some 10 feet (3 m.) tall, with whorled stem segments. According to chain cholla information, the last segments on a branch break off pretty easily. Many cacti have spines and the chain cholla cactus is no exception. The spines on this cactus are each bundled in a sheath, the color of straw....
Chitalpa Information Chitalpa trees (x Chitalpa tashkentensis) can grow into 30 foot tall trees (9 m.) or as large, multi-stemmed shrubs. They are deciduous and lose leaves in winter. Their leaves are elliptical, and in terms of shape, they are about at the halfway point between the narrow leaves of desert willow and the heart-shaped foliage of catalpa. The pink chitalpa flowers look like catalpa blossoms but smaller. They are trumpet shaped and grow in erect clusters....
About Zone 7 Flower Bulbs Daffodils, tulips, fritillaria, lilies… the list could go on and on. Whether you prefer dish-sized dahlia or dainty grape hyacinths, there is a color and shape for every gardener. As a zone 7 gardener, you are especially lucky with the wide range of flowers that are hardy in the region. Time your bulb-planting activities correctly. The best times for planting bulbs in zone 7 are in the fall for spring bloomers and in spring for summer flowering varieties....
Choosing Mayhaw Trees Generally, mawhaw trees grow in USDA plant hardiness zones 8 through 10. If you live in a warm climate, consider varieties of mayhaw with low winter chilling requirements. If you’re in a more northerly area, look for hardy types of mayhaw that can tolerate cooler temperatures. Mayhaw Tree Varieties There are two main types of mayhaw, both of which are species of hawthorn – eastern mayhaw (Crataegus aestivalis) and western mayhaw (C....
Wildflowers for Zone 5 Gardens Here is a partial list of cold hardy wildflowers for zone 5. Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) Shooting star (Dodecatheon meadia) Cape marigold (Dimorphotheca sinuata) California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) New England aster (Aster novae-angliae) Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus) Shasta daisy (Chrysanthemum maximum) Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus) Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) Bottle gentian (Gentiana clausa) American blue vervain (Verbena hastata) Penstemon/beard tongue (Penstemon spp.) Turk’s cap lily (Lilium superbum) Scarlet flax (Linum grandiflorum rubrum) Fringed bleeding heart (Dicentra eximia) Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) Rocky mountain bee plant (Cleome serrulata) Swamp sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius) Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) California bluebell/desert bells (Phacelia campanularia) Bigleaf lupine (Lupinus polyphyllus) Bachelor’s button/cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) Scarlet sage (Saliva coccinea) Oriental poppy (Papaver orientale)...
Christmas cacti hail from the coastal mountains of southeastern Brazil. They belong to the genus Schlumbergera, which includes all the holiday cacti. Their native region receives plentiful rain much of the year, so Christmas cactus is not the classic drought tolerant desert variety. They need a good drenching, but then the soil should be allowed to almost dry out. During flowering they need to be kept moderately moist but take care not to use too much water on Christmas cactus....
Late blooming clematis plants are those that start blooming in mid to late summer, and then continue blooming until the first frost. Keep reading to learn about a few of the best fall blooming clematis. Clematis Plants for Fall Below are some common types of clematis that bloom in autumn: ‘Alba Luxurians’ is a type of fall flowering clematis. This vigorous climber reaches heights of up to 12 feet (4 m....
About Pear Trees for Zone 4 Pear trees suited for zone 4 are those that can withstand winter temperatures between -20 and -30 degrees F. (-28 and -34 C.). Some pear trees are self-fertile, but the majority of them need a pollinating buddy nearby. Some are more compatible than others too, so it’s important to do some research regarding which to plant together if you want a good fruit set. Pear trees can also get quite large, up to 40 feet (12 m....
What is Stratification? In nature, seeds require certain conditions in order to germinate. Seed stratification is the process whereby seed dormancy is broken in order to promote this germination. In order for the stratification of seeds to be successful, it is necessary to mimic the exact conditions that they require when breaking dormancy in nature. Some seeds require a warm and moist treatment, while others require a cool and wet treatment....
Facts About Spiders in the Garden Most spiders live up to two years. Spiders are found all over the world apart from the oceans and Antarctica. Spiders in the garden construct flat webs between plants, even across garden paths, or along window and doorframes. Most of the time, spiders will stay outside in the garden, but sometimes they will make their way into the house as temperatures drop. Some types of spiders like woody or shrub areas and others like to be in sunny spots around tall grass or homes....
About Hibiscus Plant Types There is a huge variety of hibiscus plants with a lot of differing qualities, but they all have certain characteristics in common. These plants produce pretty flowers and come in range of colors, either single or double in form. The flowers on hibiscus varieties only last about one day, but the entire plant blooms for a long season. Thanks to their flowers, all hibiscus plants draw in pollinators, including bees....
Common Types of Viburnum Plants Choosing varieties of viburnum for the garden begins with checking your growing zone. It’s always a good idea to ensure whichever type you choose will thrive in your area. What are the most common viburnum varieties? Here are a few popular types of viburnum plants: Koreanspice – Large, pink clusters of fragrant flowers. 5 to 6 feet (1.5-2 m.) tall, green foliage turns bright red in autumn....
Indoor Conifer Plants By far, the easiest of the coniferous houseplants to grow indoors is the Norfolk Island pine or Araucaria heterophylla. These plants have a minimum temperature requirement of about 45 degrees F. (7 C.). Place your Norfolk Island Pine in a window that has plenty of bright, indirect light at a minimum, but some direct sun indoors is very beneficial. Be sure to provide excellent drainage and avoid excessively dry or excessively wet conditions; otherwise, the lower branches will drop off....
What are Coriander Seeds? Coriander is a seasoning. It is a hard, round little seed that is a light brown color. Coriander seeds are ground and used in breads, Indian and Middle Eastern foods, Latin and Asian cuisine and is also a component of pickling spices. Cilantro seed answers the question, “What is Coriander?” The coriander plant goes to seed if it is planted when summer is in full swing. If you want cilantro for the citrusy leaves, you need to plant it when temperatures are still cool in spring....
Cork Oaks in the Landscape Cork oak trees (Quercus suber) are native to the Western Mediterranean region and are still cultivated there for their bark. These trees are slow-growing giants, eventually maturing to 70 feet (21.5 m.) or taller and equally wide. Woody and upright, cork oaks in the landscape have small, rounded leaves that are gray underneath. According to cork tree information, the leaves stay on the branches all winter long, then fall in spring as the new leaves appear....
Also known as Bible plant, costmary leaves were often used as bookmarks to mark pages of scripture. Additionally, plant historians report that the pungent-smelling leaf was often sniffed surreptitiously to keep church-goers awake and alert during long sermons. Read on to learn more about caring for costmary plants and how to use them. Costmary Growing The costmary herb plant is a hardy herb that tolerates hot summer and cold winters....
