Growing Shrubs in Wetlands Wetland shrub plants include those that are native to certain marshy areas and those that simply tolerate wet soil better than others. For the best results in your boggy yard or garden, choose species native to your area. Whether you have a bog, marsh, wetlands area, creek, or just a low-lying area that collects a lot of water, you have to choose plants carefully. Most shrubs will rot and die in marshy ground....

What are Calopogon Orchids? Calopogon, also known as grass pink orchids, is a group of orchids that are native to North America. They produce pink blooms that range from more white to brighter magenta, and that are upside down compared to other orchids. The labellum is at the top instead of the bottom of the flower. These orchids do not have nectar, so they use deception to get pollinators. They mimic flowers that do produce nectar and are able to attract pollinators that way....

What are Cup Moths? The two most common types of cup moths are the mottled cup moth (Doratifera vulnerans) and the painted cup moth (Limacodes longerans). Cup moths usually produce two generations of offspring per year. The adult moths are brownish in color and emerge from their rounded or cup-shaped cocoons in late winter or summer. They soon set to work mating and laying eggs, and the caterpillars hatch in spring and fall....

Purpose of a Cherry Tree Plant Guild Think of creating a cherry tree plant guild as a polyculture technique. It allows you to plan and plant an entire natural, useful landscape using one tree as the focal point. The guild starts with the cherry tree, then encompasses other plant species. You select each additional species for a specific reason that makes it beneficial to the other plants in the guild. Holistically minded gardeners love the concept of cherry tree guilds....

What are Jellyfish Succulents? The arrangement is put together with at least two types of succulents. One type will be a cascading plant that will grow out to resemble jellyfish tentacles. The other type is often echeverias or any type of succulent rosette plant that remains close to the soil. For a jellyfish that can stay outside year-round, use hens and chicks with stonecrop sedums for the tentacles. The jellyfish hanging succulent can be created from any type of succulent (or others) you have on hand if they don’t grow tall....

What Causes Spinach Stress? Spinach has a host of uses and is packed with powerful antioxidants and vitamins. It even has a ton of fiber and protein, making it a perfect ingredient in many cuisines. As an added bonus, it grows quickly from seed to harvest. But what do you do about stressed spinach plants? These cool season greens can suffer from several cultural problems. Managing spinach stress when plants are young is crucial to harvesting a healthy, nutritious crop....

What is a Catalpa Tree? Catalpa trees are 40 to 70 feet (12 to 21.5 m.) tall trees with arching canopies and an average lifespan of 60 years. The deciduous plants are hardy to USDA planting zones 4 to 8 and can tolerate moist soils but are more suited to dry areas. The tree’s leaves are arrow-shaped and glossy bright green. In fall they turn a bright yellow-green before dropping as cold temperatures and chilly winds arrive....

Chilean Myrtle Information Chilean myrtle trees go by many other names. Among these are Arrayan, Palo Colorado, Temu, Collimamul (kellumamul-orange wood), Short Leaf Stopper and its scientific designation, Luma apiculata. It is a lovely, evergreen tree with glossy, green leaves and edible fruits. In its wild habitat, the plant is protected in large forests situated along major water bodies. Trees can reach 60 feet (18 m.) or more in the wild, but in the home landscape, the plants tend to be large shrubs to small trees....

Chinese Money Plant Info What is a Chinese money plant? Also known as lefse plant, missionary plant, and UFO plant, Pilea peperomioides is frequently just called “pilea” for short. It is native to the Yunnan Province of China. As legend has it, in 1946 the Norwegian missionary Agnar Espergren brought the plant back home from China and shared cuttings among his friends. To this day, the Chinese money plant is easiest to find in Scandinavia, where it is very popular....

What is a Gorse Bush? If you ever tumble into a gorse bush, you will never forget it. What is a gorse bush? Gorse is a spiny, evergreen shrub native to the Mediterranean. Gorse was brought into the United States as an ornamental in the 19th Century. Gorse Bush Facts Gorse bush facts suggest that the shrub is a legume, a member of the pea family. Flowering gorse shrubs can grow tall and wide....

What is a Nanking Cherry? Nanking cherry (Prunus tomentosa) is a central Asian species of bush cherry tree native to China, Japan, and the Himalayas. They were introduced into the U.S. in 1882 and are winter hardy in USDA zones 3 to 6. The Nanking cherry is a fast-growing species that sets fruit within two years. Without pruning, a Nanking bush cherry tree can reach heights of 15 feet (4.5 m....

We may forget about the many benefits of herbal poultices, simple herbal treatments used for various discomforts since ancient times. Homemade poultices are useful and they’re surprisingly easy to make. Take a look at the following information and learn the basics of how to make a poultice. What is a Poultice? A poultice is simply a way to apply herbal matter directly to the skin. Typically, the herbs are mixed with water or oil and applied much like a paste....

What is a Spikenard Plant? Spikenard shrub information tells you that this is a native plant, growing in the wild in many states in the eastern part of the country. You’ll find several varieties, including California spikenard (Aralia californica), Japanese spikenard (Aralia cordata) and American spikenard (Aralia racemosa). The plants grow to the height of shrubs, some rising to six feet (1.8 m.) tall. However, they are really perennials, dying back in fall to resprout again from the roots in spring....

Toddy Palm Tree Info The toddy palm is native to India and southern Pakistan, where it grows both wild and cultivated. It thrives in hot, low wastelands. The toddy palm gets its name from the popular Indian drink called toddy that is made of its fermented sap. The sap is very sweet and is ingested in both alcoholic and non-alcoholic forms. It will start to ferment just a few hours after it’s harvested, so to keep it non-alcoholic, it’s often mixed with lime juice....

What is a Zelkova Tree? If you read zelkova tree information, you’ll find that Japanese zelkova (Zelkova serrata) is one of the best large shade trees available in commerce. A native of Japan, Taiwan and eastern China, Japanese zelkova wins gardeners’ hearts with its graceful shape, dense foliage and attractive bark. It also makes a good substitute for American elm, as it is resistant to Dutch elm disease. Japanese Zelkova Tree Facts According to Japanese zelkova tree facts, the trees are vase-shaped and grow rapidly....

What is an Inchworm? The name inchworm refers to the larvae of moths in the Geometridae family. Derived from the way in which it moves, its namesake may be somewhat misleading. Although referred to as a “worm,” the larvae of these moths are actually caterpillars. The larvae feed on the leaves of various plants such as apple, oak, mulberry, and elm trees. Are Inchworms Bad? While the presence of a few caterpillars is usually not a cause for concern, severe infestations may be much more alarming....

What is Bush Basil? Basil comes in so many varieties that it can be hard to choose just one or two for a limited space. Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) is fairly common, a tall herb with large, glossy green leaves. Bush basil (Ocimum minimum), sometimes called dwarf basil, only grows to about 6 inches tall (15 cm.) and is compact and bushy with smaller leaves. While both are annual plants, bush basil may survive the winter in milder climates....

Dragon’s Eye Plant Info If you are a gardener who is interested in unique plant specimens and has an adventurous palate, the dragon’s eye tree (Dimocarpus longan) may be of interest. Its name derives from the shelled fruit, which is said to resemble an eyeball. This fruiting tree is a less sweet substitute for the infamous lychee nut. The fruit is easily separated from the aril, just as in lychee, and it is a common food crop that is preserved frozen, canned, or dried, and also marketed fresh....

What is Lemon Basil? Fans of basil rejoice. Growing lemon basil provides devotees with a tangy, nose happy flavor and scent that is excellent in many international and regional cuisines. It is also a pretty plant that adds dimension and texture to the kitchen garden. As an added bonus, lemon basil care is simple, straightforward, and easy. Picture silver tinged leaves on an erect, bushy plant with heavenly aroma and the lemon basil plant is the paintbrush to that picture....

Mycorrhizal Activity The word “mycorrhiza” comes from the words myco, meaning fungus, and rhiza, meaning plant. The name is a good description of the mutually beneficial relationship between the two organisms. Here are a few of the advantages the plant receives from mycorrhizal activity: Increased resistance to drought Enhanced ability to absorb nutrients Better stress resistance Better seedling growth Cuttings that form a strong root structure Quick transplant establishment and growth...