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While both native and non-native fragrant flowers may be a feast for the human senses, only plants endemic to a region supply viable habitat for the pollinators that evolved with them. Sadly, these native varieties are dwindling, as meadows and woodlands succumb to suburban sprawl. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. Instant gardens appear just in time for open house, usually consisting of what I call “builder grade” non-natives....

If you really want to extend your growing season and increase the number of different types of crops you can grow, it’s time to level up with a hotbed. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. That natural heat offers a darn good way to keep plants warmer during the cool months. And if you happen to have horses, chickens, or cattle, or know someone who does, it’s also pretty much free....

It’s a member of the Asteraceae family that contains asters, chrysanthemums, and sunflowers. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. The focus of this article is a vital task for Shasta daisy gardeners: dividing. Dividing involves digging up and splitting one plant into two or more. Read on to find out why, when, and how we do it....

Practically every herb garden has a Thai or sweet variety in it. But if you’re looking for something just a bit different, consider the marvelous ‘Sweet Dani’ basil. ‘Sweet Dani’ is a lemon cultivar that is not just lemon scented and flavored, but incredibly so. The citrus-forward flavor is stronger and slightly sweeter than that of other lemon varieties. It’s also more disease resistant and vigorous than other basils in general....

Those of us who spend a lot of time outdoors, tending our gardens and growing our own produce often have to take steps to protect ourselves from the harsh rays of the sun. But even with the best sun protection, we sometimes still manage to get sunburned. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission....

Juicy or crunchy (depending on the variety and maturity), honey-sweet yet not overpowering, mature Asian pears can be enjoyed right away when you pick them. Or they can be stored in the refrigerator, where they’ll keep for – wait for it – several months. Often round like an apple, some P. pyrifolia cultivars are teardrop-shaped like their European counterparts. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission....

Native to the Mediterranean region, it grows well outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 11, and potted up indoors in all zones. Hybridized, or cross-bred varieties of this species are incredibly popular winter gifts that make up a sizable chunk of the multi-billion-dollar floral industry’s holiday market share, alongside the poinsettia and Christmas cactus. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission....

Learn about the different types of orchids and the basics of how to care for these stunning plants in this comprehensive guide. Orchids may seem mysterious and rare, like the precious jewels of the plant world. But you probably encounter them – at least in their seed form – on a regular basis. It’s quite possible you have some in your pantry or freezer. Maybe you even ate some in your yogurt with breakfast this morning....

We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. These slow-growing succulent perennials are easy to care for, and various versatile and impressive species are available to home gardeners. They range in size from shrubs to trees and many types can be grown in containers. Continue reading to learn everything you need to know about growing yucca, including several recommended selections to grow at home....

Beneath an intriguing, yet inedible, papery husk lies a fruit that, while mimicking the appearance of a green tomato, tastes nothing like a tomato. Tomatillos’ flavor instead is often described as as “citrusy”, “tart,” “sour,” and “tangy.” Some compare the fruit’s taste to that of a Granny Smith apple or a green grape. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission....

What’s not to love about lovage? The entire plant is edible, from root to tip, and it has a bright, fresh flavor that tastes a bit like citrusy celery. It’s also hardy, fuss-free, and reseeds readily without becoming invasive. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. The dark green, frilly leaves make an impressive showing in the garden on plants that can reach six feet tall at maturity....

But the best way to enjoy this nutritious brassica is straight from the garden. Or, if you’re short on growing space, from the container garden. Have you ever tried growing this cruciferous vegetable in containers? We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. Getting Started A member of the Brassicaceae family, broccoli was cultivated in Italy over 2,000 years ago....

The ones who played a different sport every season had the most adaptability, cross-conditioning, and all-around physical awesomeness. Similarly to these athletes, plants that perform well in every season are the most exemplary. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. Even when defoliated during dormancy, the coral pink young growth provides all the splendor you could ask for in the off-season....

Of course, I love the dramatic look of a fiddle-leaf fig, and I’m blown away by an elegant phalaenopsis orchid, but it can be exhausting trying to keep these more finicky types of flora thriving. If you’re like me and you enjoy easy-care houseplants, say hello to Dieffenbachia, also known as dumb cane. If orchids are the high-maintenance beauty queens of indoor gardening, dumb cane is the natural beauty standing in the wings, just out of the spotlight....

Most people actually think of sedges as grasses, but they’re botanically different from one another. Maybe you’ve heard the adage “Sedges have edges, rushes are round, grasses have knees that bend to the ground?” We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. Sedges, rushes, and grasses all belong to the clade Angiospermae. Sedges are botanically classified in the Cyperaceae family, though when some people talk about these plants, they mean “true sedges,” which belong to the Carex genus....

Animals and insects consider these plants to be a tasty delicacy. Insects might also try and use your petunias as a new home to lay eggs. So how do you prevent an infestation and protect your beautiful flowers? We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. Let’s go over the most common pests you might find yourself dealing with, as well as some tips to prevent infestations and overall damage....

Unlike many fruits, watermelons do not continue to get sweeter after harvest, so the timing must be perfect. On a hot summer’s day, you want a perfect slice of sweet, crisp, juicy watermelon. No underripe and green-tasting slices are welcome, and we’re going to pass up any that are overripe and mushy, too. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission....

It’s the traditional Italian herb used to create the very best pesto. This preferred variety has large, sweet leaves, is slow to bolt in extreme heat, and does not become bitter with age. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. The fast-growing plants are frost-tender perennials, commonly grown as annuals. They are ideal for containers or garden beds in any sunny location....

This shrub attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies while providing gardeners with a waterwise option that stays tidy in the landscape. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. Natives tend to be better adapted to local weather extremes and soil conditions, as well as having long-standing relationships with local fauna, making them less prone to disease and pest problems, and requiring less maintenance overall than many non-native species....

It’s just not going to happen. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. Allspice Artemisia Basil Cajeput Catmint Catnip Cedar Chives Cinnamon Citronella Grass Garden Geranium Garlic Cranesbill Geranium Lemon Balm Lime basil Marigold Mint Pennyroyal Pine Rosemary Tarragon Verbena The thing is, with all these plants, you have to crush or burn some part of the plant to get to the substance within that offers the repellant properties....