Category: Tropical Style

Brunnera (Brunnera macrophylla) — also known as Siberian bugloss,”Jack frost,” brunnera heartleaf or variegated bugloss — is a ground cover plant that grows best in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 3 to 8. Common in shade gardens is a perennial that can grow up to 24 inches wide and Read More

The speckled butter bean is one of 100 named varieties of this lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus), native to South and Central America. “Steak bean” is a Southern term for what are called lima beans in different areas, and they are a familiar part of Southern cuisine. Butter beans that are Read More

Commonly called purpletop verbena, Verbena bonariensis is a herbaceous perennial plant grown for its showy clusters of fragrant blossoms. It grows nicely inside USDA zones 7 to 11, where it’s sometimes added to perennial beds and borders to attract beneficial pollinating insects like bees and butterflies. Like many members of Read More

From the time most houseplants reveal symptoms of neglect, it is already too late to rescue them. Not the peace lily (spathyphyllum). You can revive a totally collapsed peace lily like nothing happened. But that doesn’t mean the plant looks tough and rugged. It blooms with beautiful white bract flowers Read More

Desert gardeners don’t need the calendar to tell them the summer has arrived; all they have to do is step out. While the landscape may be sprinkled with summer-flowering shrubs and perennials, June is the toughest month for plants because of the heat and lack of humidity. Because of this, Read More

Many California chaparral natives possess a distinctly rocky appearance, having evolved to the arid, rocky terrain constituting a lot of the Golden State. The spectacular golden blossoms of California flannel bush (Fremontodendron californicum) evoke a fertile chaparral community whilst requiring almost no water, placing this plant among California’s most prized Read More

Bird’s nest ferns have lower humidity requirements than many ferns, grow best in low or moderate indirect light, and may even tolerate modest pots and dirt that has been allowed to dry out. Place one where its broad, sword-shaped leaves may capture filtered sun for a gorgeous tropical accent in Read More

The wait is over — long days, warm temperatures and moist ground are bringing a riotous symphony of colors, new greenery in the woods and endless activities which have me moving throughout my garden beds wondering how I am going to get the time to tackle everything in my wish Read More

Cucumbers are versatile vegetables that are easy to grow in summertime. They can be eaten raw; additional to lemonade or a mojito; sautéed; pureed into a dressing table, yogurt dip or soup or pickled. And they are successful manufacturers. While they have a tendency to sprawl, their vining habit lets Read More

You may be a little hesitant to add roses to your garden. After all, they’re fussy and disease prone, and require endless spraying and pruning, right? Not Knock Out roses. These roses have been introduced in 2000 to great fanfare and popularity in the gardening world because of their easy Read More