Difference Between a Miniature Rose and a Miniflora Rose The differences between a miniature rose bush and a miniflora rose bush can be of importance to gardeners. When deciding what size container to use or where in the rose bed or garden to plant them, the size of the rose bush or its “habit” does factor into the decision. One rule I learned early on when starting to grow mini roses is: “Miniature refers to the size of the bloom, not necessarily the size of the bush!...

Lithodora Plant Information Lithodora planted in gardens reaches heights of only 6 to 10 inches (15-25 cm.), but a single plant can eventually spread 24 to 36 inches (61-91 cm.). You can easily grow Lithodora in gardens in USDA plant hardiness zones 6 through 10. In the more southern ranges, the dense covering of narrow, dark green leaves remains green year-round. Lithodora groundcover is a great choice for rock gardens. It also works well in window boxes or containers....

If you select carefully, you can fill your backyard with low maintenance shrubs that do double duty as privacy hedges or wind blocks or offer round-the-year interest. Here are some tips for choosing shrubs for easy landscaping as well as a short list of some of our favorites. Best Easy Shrubs Because so many shrubs can be classified as low maintenance bushes, the “best easy shrubs” have got to offer even more....

How to Make a Hula Hoop Wreath Begin, of course, with a hula hoop. Hoops are available in several sizes, from child-sized to very large. If small hula hoops are bigger than you like, you can also use wooden embroidery hoops. Most hula hoops have a plastic coating. It’s fine to leave the coating in place, but be sure to remove it if you want to paint the hoop because the paint won’t adhere....

What is Mangosteen? A mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) is a truly tropical fruiting tree. It is unknown where mangosteen fruit trees originate, but some conjecture the genesis to be from the Sunda Islands and the Moluccas. Wild trees can be found in Kemaman, Malaya forests. The tree is cultivated in Thailand, Vietnam, Burma, the Philippines and southwestern India. Attempts have been made to cultivate it in the U.S. (in California, Hawaii and Florida), Honduras, Australia, tropical Africa, Jamaica, the West Indies and Puerto Rico with extremely limited results....

Growing Mangrove Trees at Home You’ll find mangrove trees in the wild in shallow, brackish waters of the southern United States. They also grow in riverbeds and wetlands. You can start growing mangrove trees in your backyard if you live in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9-12. If you want an impressive potted plant, consider growing mangroves from seed in containers at home. You’ll have to pick between three different types of mangroves:...

Using the USDA planting zone map for Louisiana is very easy. Just look at the map and locate where you live in Louisiana. Match the color of the place where you live to the legend at the right. This will tell you what the USDA planting zone for Louisiana your garden is in. In 2012, the USDA reevaluated the planting zones on the map. Historically warmer temperatures have shifted the previous zones....

How to Grow a Marble Queen Plant Native to Australia and New Zealand, marble queen plants (Coprosma repens) are suitable for growing in USDA plant hardiness zones 9 and up. They work well as hedges or windbreaks, along borders, or in woodland gardens. This plant tolerates wind and salt spray, making it a great choice for coastal areas. However, the plant may struggle in hot, dry climates. Marble queen plants are often available at nurseries and garden centers in appropriate climates....

Potted Martagon Lily Info Martagon lily is also known as Turk’s cap, and this describes the lovely flowers nicely. They are smaller than Asiatic lilies, but many blossoms can grow on each stem. Although an average martagon lily will have between 12 and 30 lilies per stem, you’ll find some martagon plants with up to 50 flowers on a stem. So a potted martagon lily will require a large, substantial container....

Growing Houseplants for Medicine Healing houseplants can be found in the most common of plant species. Below are five plants that can be grown indoors and used medicinally. One of the most popular medicinal houseplants, aloe vera leaves are handy for soothing minor burns, sunburn, rashes, and other skin conditions, thanks to its generous anti-inflammatory properties. The juice of an aloe plant may even brighten the skin and help prevent wrinkles....

Mesquite Tree Info Mesquite trees came about in the Pleistocene era along with such giant herbivores as mammoths, mastodons, and ground sloths. These animals ate the pods of the mesquite tree and dispersed them. After their extermination, water and weather were left to scarify the seeds, disperse, and germinate them, but survive they did. The mesquite is now one of the most common trees of the southwestern United States and into parts of Mexico....

What is Microclover? Microclover is a clover plant, which means it belongs to the genus of plants called Trifolium. Like all other clovers, microclover is a legume. This means it fixes nitrogen, taking nitrogen from the air, and, with the assistance of bacteria in root nodules, converts it into a form that is usable by plants. Growing a microclover lawn, one that has a mix of grass and clover, adds nitrogen to the soil and reduces the need for fertilizer....

About the USDA Minnesota Plant Map While there are many trees, shrubs and flowers that can survive a chilly Minnesota winter, it is useful to know exactly which ones these are before you purchase your plants. The Minnesota USDA plant hardiness map provides information based on average winter low temperature data collected over a 30-year time period. The USDA plant hardiness map for 2012 indicates that Minnesota growing zones include 3a and 3b in the northerly regions, 4a in the middle of the state and 4b in the south....

Ideas for a Moon Garden Creating a garden in the night is easy, and once completed, it will provide hours of relaxing nighttime enjoyment. When designing this type of garden, consider its location carefully. Having a place to sit and take in the view and scents is one of the most important aspects of the moon garden. Therefore, you may want to consider designing the garden around a patio or deck....

Citronella Plant Info This plant is commonly found under a number of names, such as citronella plant, mosquito plant geranium, citrosa geranium, and Pelargonium citrosum. Though many of its names leave the impression that it contains citronella, which is a common ingredient in insect repellent, the plant is actually a variety of scented geranium that simply produces a citronella-like scent when the leaves are crushed. The mosquito plant geranium came about from taking specific genes of two other plants – Chinese citronella grass and African geranium....

My Flowers are Falling Over Some tall flowers develop sturdy stems and a bushy growth habit when you cut them back. Unfortunately, bachelor’s buttons don’t fall into that category. All you accomplish with a mid-season cut is a loss of flowers with little time left to produce new ones. Bachelor’s button stems loaded with flowers in full bloom tend to flop over just when the flowers are at their best. It’s a good idea to plan in advance for the likelihood that they will eventually fall....

Why Won’t My Guava Bloom? As with many plants, guavas wait to bloom until they detect that conditions are right for their offspring to develop and succeed. Otherwise, why waste the effort that goes into producing seeds? No blossoms on guava usually points to an environmental problem, rather than a pest or disease, but you still have no blossoms on guava! Here are some common factors to consider: Plant age. Fruit plants need several years to mature before they can bear....

About Erosion and Native Plants Using native plants in the landscape provides a visual “tie-in” to the surrounding flora. They’re more adaptable than imported species and have the ability to thrive once they mature without much human intervention. Whether you have a hillside, slope along a waterway or a previously eroded space, native plants can help preserve the soil and maintain the land. Erosion can occur from wind, gravity, water and even over-use....

Native Garden Weed Control As a gardener, weeds are the bane of one’s existence. Other maintenance tasks pale in comparison to dealing with interlopers in carefully planned beds. Luckily, there are steps you can take to at least minimize the weeds in your landscape and prevent these competitive pests from spoiling the appearance of the garden and the health of your plants. Proper preparation of the area in which you plant your natives is important – not only soil prep but also removal of existing weeds, especially perennial varieties....

Herbs for North African cuisine aren’t easy to find in most supermarkets but, fortunately, growing a North African herb garden of your own isn’t that difficult. Read on to learn how to grow North African herbs. About North African Herbs and Spices North African cooks depend on complex blends, some containing more than 20 different North African herbs and spices, often mixed with various oils or ground nuts. A few of the most popular, and their major ingredients, include:...