What is a Mexican Hat Plant? Also called the prairie coneflower and thimble-flower, the Mexican hat plant is native to the prairies of the American Midwest, but it has spread throughout and can be grown in most of North America. Its characteristic shape is made up of a tall, leafless stalk that can reach 1.5 to 3 feet (46-91 cm.) in height, ending in a single flower head of a reddish brown to black spiky cone rising above three to seven drooping red, yellow, or red and yellow petals....

Mitraria Coccinea Info Mitraria coccinea is in the Gesneriaceae family of plants. It is a large vine that has copious brilliant blooms from spring well into summer. Try growing Mitraria over a trellis, fence or even sprawling over a stump or other less than appealing item in a colorful mound. This is not a frost hardy plant and should only be grown outdoors in United States Department of Agriculture zones 8 to 11, where it is a perennial....

About Azalea Mulching Before you choose a mulch for azaleas, it’s important to understand the concept of mulch. Mulch is a verb that means placing a layer of material on the top of the soil around plants to hold in moisture and keep down weeds. It’s also a noun referring to the material you can use. Almost anything capable of being layered can work as mulch, including newspaper, pebbles, and chopped dry leaves....

If your lament is “my magnolia tree does not bloom,” take action to help the tree. Read on for information about magnolia blooming problems and what to do to encourage those beautiful flowers. Why a Magnolia Tree Doesn’t Flower Whenever a flowering tree fails to blossom, the first thing to do is to check its hardiness zone. The plant hardiness zone indicates what type of weather your tree will survive....

Reasons for an Avocado Tree with no Fruit There are several reasons for a fruitless avocado. First of all, grafted trees usually begin to produce fruit in three to four years while avocado seedlings (non-grafted) take much longer to produce (7-10 years), if at all. So one reason why an avocado won’t produce fruit is simply because it is not a mature grafted variety. Also, avocados planted in USDA zones 9 through 11 can bear fruit, but if you are in a chillier region, the tree may survive but never set fruit....

Nolana Chilean bell flowers, which resemble morning glory blooms, are available in intense shades of blue, purple, or pink. The underside of the plant’s fleshy leaves excretes salt, which traps moisture and allows the plant to survive in extremely dry desert climates. This low-growing plant is an effective ground cover for difficult areas. How to Grow Chilean Bell Flower Chilean bell flower, which isn’t widely available in nurseries and garden centers, is usually planted by seed....

Read on to learn what November gardening tasks need to be accomplished for your area. Southwest Garden in November The Southwest encompasses areas of desert and mountainous terrain, along with the accompanying temperature and weather swings. This means that Southwest gardening tasks will vary slightly from area to area. That said, a regional to-do list can be compiled and used as a guideline for getting the garden ready for the winter months and following spring....

October Glory Tree Info There are several cultivars of red maple, Acer rubrum, and ‘October Glory’ is a popular one for its spectacular display of fall color. October Glory red maples are also popular because they grow vigorously and easily. If you need a tree that will grow fairly quickly and fill out some space with great color in the fall, this is a good choice. October Glory grows to a height of 40 to 50 feet (12-15 m....

October in the southeast has arrived, bringing autumn blooms and new chores for us in the garden. Regional gardening tasks will vary, depending on your exact location in the southeast. October Garden To-Do List Flower gardeners may take this cooler season to divide and upgrade beds of early spring blooming bulbs. Your entire bed can be shifted around and enlarged with the additional plant material. You may place some in containers for spring displays that are easy to locate indoors and in bare spots outside....

Symptoms of Cotton Root Rot of Okra Symptoms of Texas root rot in okra generally appear during summer and early autumn when soil temperatures have reached at least 82 F. (28 C.). The leaves of a plant infected with cotton root rot of okra turn brown and dry, but usually don’t drop from the plant. When the wilted plant is pulled, the taproot will show severe rot and may be covered by a fuzzy, beige mold....

About Powdery Mildew on Onions Powdery mildew on onions is a fungal disease caused by the pathogen Leveillula taurica. While the disease commonly called powdery mildew can affect thousands of different plant varieties, there are actually different pathogens that cause the disease in specific plants. Leveillula taurica is a powdery mildew pathogen that specifically infects plants in the Allium family. This can play an important role in selecting the proper fungicides for onion powdery mildew control....

Can Onions Tolerate Cold Temps? Protecting onion plants from cold isn’t necessary for some parts of the country, but in the north and even temperate west, severe weather is still possible. New onions and frost can cause damage to the tender young stalks and fragile bulbs. The worst thing that usually happens is the bulb freezes and then rots after it thaws. There are ways, however, to give onion cold and frost protection that are quick and easy....

Can You Overwinter Parsnips? Absolutely! Overwintering parsnips is a great idea. Just be sure when overwintering parsnips, that you mulch them heavily. When I say heavily, provide them with 6 to 12 inches (15-31 cm.) of straw or compost mulch. Once they are mulched as such, there is no further parsnip winter care required. The roots will store beautifully until you are ready to use them. If you live in an area that has mild or particularly rainy winters, it is better to dig up the roots in late fall and store them in a cellar or like area, preferably one with 98 to 100% humidity and between 32 and 34 degrees F....

What Causes Papaya Damping Off? Damping off of papaya is a fungal disease that affects the small seedlings of this fruit tree. There are several fungal species that can cause the disease, including Phytophthora parasitica, Pythium aphanidermatum, and ultimum. The youngest papaya tree seedlings are highly susceptible to infection by these species, which may be found naturally in the soil, but those that survive develop resistance as they grow older....

Why Are My Leaves Dry and Paper Like? Below are the most common reasons for papery spots on leaves and how to fix them: Lack of moisture – Papery leaves on plants are often caused by leaf scorch. This is a distinct possibility if the crispy, dry appearance shows up on leaf tips first, then progresses to the entire leaf. This often happens during hot, dry weather when moisture evaporates before the plant can absorb it through the roots....

Types of Peanut Varieties There are four main types of peanut plants grown in the United States: runner peanuts, Virginia peanuts, Spanish peanuts, and Valencia peanuts. While we are all probably familiar with Spanish peanuts, they actually only account for about 4% of the peanut crops grown in the U.S. The most commonly grown type of peanut plants are runner peanuts, which make up about 80% grown. Virginia peanuts account for 15% and Valencia peanuts contribute to only 1% to the U....

How to Propagate Pear Trees from Cuttings Pear trees are native to temperate regions of Europe and hardy to USDA zones 4 to 9. They thrive in full sun and mildly acidic soil with a pH of between 6.0 and 6.5. They have a relatively contained height and are, thus, excellent additions to most home gardens. Most pear tree propagation is done through rootstock grafting, but with the proper care, growing pear trees from a cutting is possible....

While growing peyote is not allowed unless you are a member of the NAC, it is a fascinating plant with attributes worth learning about. There are, however, peyote plant look-a-likes you can grow at home that will satisfy your urge to cultivate this cute little cactus without breaking the law. What is the Peyote Cactus? Peyote cactus is a small plant native to the Rio Grande Valley of Texas and northeastern Mexico....

When to Harvest Eggplants A member of the nightshade family and a relative of tomatoes, the appearance of the skin can direct you to picking an eggplant. Skin should be glossy and thin. Eggplant harvest may begin when the fruits are developed and small, but growing fruits to full size before harvesting eggplants results in more fruit for usage. Harvesting eggplants should occur when the inner flesh is cream colored, fruits are firm and before seeds are visible....

Germinating Peach Pits Although you can plant a peach pit directly in the soil during fall and wait for spring germination nature’s way, you can also store the seed until early winter (Dec/Jan.) and then induce germination with cold treatment or stratification. After soaking the pit in water for about an hour or two, place it in a plastic bag with slightly moist soil. Store this in the refrigerator, away from fruit, in temps between 34 and 42 degrees F....