Attracting butterflies in gardens is easy to do with the right plants. Keep reading for info on how to attract butterflies to your garden. Butterfly Garden Plants The butterfly garden itself is a spectacular thing to behold as butterflies are attracted to some of the most striking flowers. Some of these common butterfly garden plants include: Zinnia Marigold Rudbeckia Coreopsis Aster Sunflower Liatris Purple coneflower Wonderfully fragrant choices to add to the butterfly garden design include the following:...

Cabbage Plant Info Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) grows well in fertile soil and likes sun or partial shade. Available in a variety of green shades, as well as purple or red, the shapes and textures vary widely. Green cabbage and bok choy have a somewhat smooth leaf, while savoy and napa cabbage leaves are crinkly. There are many different types, so be sure to choose one that’s suitable for your growing region....

Growing Cactus in Cold Climates It is almost an addiction once you have been bitten by the cactus bug. That being said, most of us collectors are stuck growing plants indoors as cold northern temperatures can kill our prized specimens. Interestingly, there are zone 4 cactus plants that can survive the temperatures in winter, which can exceed -30 degrees Fahrenheit (-34 C.) in some areas. The key is to choose cacti for zone 4 that are winter hardy and provide them with a microclimate that can shelter them somewhat....

Croton in the Garden Crotons are thought to be native to Malaysia, India, and some of the South Pacific Islands. There are many species and cultivars, but the plants are most known for their easy maintenance and colorful foliage, often with interesting variegation or speckling. Can you grow a croton outdoors? It depends where your zone is located and what your average low temperatures are per year. Croton is very frost tender and will not survive freezing temperatures....

What Does the Turmeric Plant Look Like? Turmeric plants grow to 3 feet (about 1 m.) high with large, 5 inch (13 cm.) deep green leaves. The blooms are green and white edged with vibrant pink and yellow. Turmeric Benefits Growing turmeric plants are great sources of vitamin C, magnesium, and potassium but the list of turmeric benefits doesn’t stop there. With the cultivation of turmeric dating from 300 B.C. by the Harappan civilization, turmeric has been long found to have a plethora of medicinal benefits....

Can You Kill Weeds with Salt? Although killing weeds with salt may seem strange, it is effective when used cautiously. Salt is inexpensive and readily available. Salt dehydrates plants and disrupts the internal water balance of plant cells. Salt is best used for small-scale gardening where it will be easily diluted by rain or watering, however. If salt is used on a large scale, it can create soil conditions that are not suitable for growing plants for quite some time....

Occasionally, you miss a few or the weather is extreme and you end up with freeze-damaged plants. You can’t always save these damaged individuals but there are some methods on how to treat frozen plants. Can you save a plant that has been frozen? The process works on some but the approach is on a case-by-case basis. You have nothing to lose by treating freeze damage to plants, and you might be surprised with the renewal of one of your garden favorites....

Can You Split a Staghorn Fern? This is a unique type of plant, being both an air plant and a fern. Native to rainforests, this tropical fern doesn’t exactly look like other ferns you may be more familiar with. Splitting staghorns may seem complicated or difficult, but it really isn’t. You can and should divide this fern if it is getting too large for its growing space or if you want to propagate it....

About Moving Mesquite Trees Native to hot, arid areas of North America, South America, Africa, India, and the Middle East, mesquite grows quickly in tough, southwestern exposures where many other trees fail. In fact, the dappled shade provided by some 30 foot (9 m.) tall tree varieties of mesquite can help tender, young plants get established in xeriscape landscapes. Its main drawback is the sharp thorns protecting the tender, young growth of mesquite plants....

What is Chinaberry? Chinaberry is a member of the Mahogany family (Meliaceae) and is also known as “China Tree” and “Pride of India.” So, what is chinaberry tree? Growing chinaberry trees (Melia azedarach) have a dense spreading habitat attaining heights of between 30 to 50 feet tall (9-15 m.) and hardy in USDA zones 7 through 11. Growing chinaberry trees are prized as shade trees in their native habitat and bear pale purple, tube-like blooms with a heavenly scent much like southern magnolia trees....

Cold Tolerant Annuals It’s important to understand the difference between cold-tolerant annuals and perennials. Annuals get their name because their natural life cycle lasts for just one growing season. They won’t live through winter like cold hardy perennials will. That being said, they will last much longer into the cold season than tender annuals, and may actually thrive in cool weather. If you’re growing cold hardy annual flowers, you can’t go wrong with these annuals that tolerate the cold:...

Common Crepe Myrtle Pests Although there are a number of occasional crepe myrtle insect pests, a few are overwhelmingly common. Knowing how to identify and treat these critters when they appear can help keep your plant healthy and happy for years to come. Here are the top contenders and their warning signs: Crepe myrtle aphids. Of all the possible insects to have on your plants, these are the easiest when it comes to crepe myrtle pest control....

Drift Rose Companion Plants Drift roses were created by crossing ground cover roses with miniature rose bushes. The beautiful colors of the drift roses add a very nice touch to rose beds. Drift roses make great companion plantings in rose beds with some of the leggy shrub rosebushes and Grandiflora, hybrid tea rosebushes, and even at the base of some climbers. While being a great companion plant themselves, there are also some other garden designs using drift roses as the main feature planting....

Can You Grow Hyssop in Pots? Absolutely, growing hyssop in containers is possible. Hyssop is, like many other herbs, very tolerant of a variety of environments. The herb can grow up to 2 feet (60 cm.) if left to its own devices, but it can easily be curtailed by pruning it. Hyssop’s blooms attract beneficial insects and butterflies to the garden as well. About Growing Hyssop Plants in Containers The name hyssop is derived from the Greek word ‘hyssopos’ and the Hebrew word ‘esob,’ meaning “holy herb....

Potted Jacaranda Trees Mature jacaranda trees put on spectacular displays of blue-purple bloom clusters each spring. They are widely planted as an ornamental trees in tropical regions all over the world because of their blooms and ferny, mimosa-like foliage. When the blooms fade, the tree produces seed pods, which can be collected to propagate new jacaranda trees. The seeds germinate easily; however, it can take several years for new jacaranda plants to mature enough to produce blooms....

Succulents are well suited to the confines of a potted environment, even unusual containers, provided that adequate care is given. How to Care for Succulents in Containers When you’re growing succulents in pots, they will need to be watered more often than those growing in the ground. However, since these plants need little watering in the first place, container gardening with succulents is a good choice, especially for those who tend to forget to water....

Growing Tomatoes in Containers It’s easy to grow tomato plants in pots. To get the most from container-grown tomatoes, you need to match the eventual size of your plant tomato plants to the overall size of your tomato planter box. For instance, smaller varieties are well suited to hanging baskets or window boxes, whereas you might want to choose a sturdier planter or 5-gallon (18.9 L) bucket for larger types. Make certain the pot is deep enough to accommodate the plant’s root system....

If you determine the bothersome plant is indeed cinquefoil, you have a difficult problem on your hands. Attack the unwanted visitors as soon as possible. Controlling cinquefoil weeds is easiest while the plants are young – before they get a foothold in your garden. How to Get Rid of Cinquefoil Weeds Organically Control of cinquefoil requires dedication, as the plant grows from long, persistent taproots. Pulling is a good solution if you don’t have a huge number of plants....

Using Shrubs in a Cottage Garden While cottage gardens are trendy these days, original “cottagers” were people with very little money trying to make the most of their small yards. For that reason, they planted a happy blend of shrubs for a garden mixing fruit trees, herbs, veggies, and flowers. Everyone is trying to be more water wise now too. When you are looking for cottage garden bushes, you should also keep that in mind....

What are Crane Flies? Crane flies belong to the order Diptera and are distant relatives to flies and mosquitoes. Regardless of their less than desirable relatives, adult crane flies don’t bite or spread diseases, although crane flies in lawn grass can be problematic. These leggy, flying insects lay their eggs on the lawn; the emerging larva is the stage to fear. Crane fly larvae are long, white, worm-like insects measuring up to 1 ½ inches (3 cm....