Hydrangeas for Zone 7 When choosing zone 7 hydrangeas for the landscape, consider the following varieties: Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia), zones 5 to 9, common cultivars include: ‘PeeWee,’ dwarf variety, white blooms fading to pink, foliage turns red and purple in autumn ‘Snow Queen,’ deep pink blooms, foliage turns dark red to bronze in autumn ‘Harmony,’ white blooms ‘Alice,’ rich pink blooms, foliage turns burgundy in autumn Bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla), zones 6 to 9, two flower types: Mophead and Lacecaps, cultivars and bloom colors include:...

Common Variegated Houseplants The addition of houseplants serves a number of purposes. Even an all green houseplant brings the outdoors into the living space. Plants can add height, drama, depth, and all around interest to an otherwise uninspired living area. Variegated plants take it one step further. Even the most common variegated houseplants such as Dieffenbachia, Pothos, prayer plant, and snake plant add a “wow” factor when incorporated into your home décor....

Signs of Black Rot on Sweet Potato Dark, dry, bruise-like lesions on sweet potato may be a symptom of a common disease of Ipomoea. The disease can also affect such plants as cacao, taro, cassava, coffee, and mango. The fungus essentially breaks down the outer vascular layer of the root, rarely infecting the interior of the tuber. Sweet potatoes with black rot are essentially animal fodder or garbage once infected. Small round spots that appear to be slightly sunken are the initial symptoms of the disease....

Blackberry Bush Viruses Causes Blackberries Not Fruiting If your blackberry plant looks healthy and blooms, but grows misshapen fruit or even no fruit at all, chances are that your blackberry plants are affected by one of many blackberry viruses. Some of these viruses include: Blackberry Calico Blackberry/Raspberry Tobacco Streak Raspberry Bushy Dwarf Black Raspberry Streak Unfortunately, most of these blackberry diseases will show almost no outward signs of infection on the blackberry plant other than to decrease the number of blackberry fruit found on the plant....

Growing Yucca Flowers Yucca plants are members of the Agave family and include over 40 different types of shrubby perennials that grow in North America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Yuccas are slow growing evergreen plants with sword-like leaves. All yucca flowers are bell-shaped and sit on top of tall stems. Yuccas are very easy to grow and can be put in containers or planted in the ground in well-drained soil. Yuccas are drought resistant and can survive for many months without water....

Care of Blueberries in Winter Specific care of blueberries in winter is usually not necessary, as fully dormant blueberry plants are generally very cold hardy, and rarely suffer any severe blueberry winter damage. There’s the caveat, however, the plants must be fully dormant and Mother Nature doesn’t always cooperate and allow the gradual cold hardening necessary to prevent potential winter damage of blueberry plants. Also, a sudden return to warm temps after a period of cold, especially in warmer climates, can cause injury to the berries if they begin to bloom early followed by a sudden cold snap....

What is a Bogbean? A wildflower that needs excessive moisture to exist, you’ll find the bogbean plant (Menyanthes trifoliata) blooming in areas where most flowers would die from overly wet soil. It is an aquatic, rhizomatous perennial plant, returning year after year with white flowers that are enticingly beautiful. Look for it in its damp, native habitat near ponds, bogs, and woodland soil that remains moist from spring rainfall. It may also grow in shallow water....

Let’s take a look at how to care for the remarkable sago palm bonsai. How to Grow a Miniature Sago Palm The stiff, palm-like leaves emerge from a swollen base, or caudex. These plants are very tough and can survive in a temperature range of 15-110 F. (-4 to 43 C.). Ideally, it is best if you can keep the minimum temperature above 50 F. (10 C.). In addition to tolerating a wide range of temperatures, it can also tolerate a large range of light conditions....

If you decide to try to use fruit trees as bonsai, remember that they’ll require more maintenance than full-size fruit trees. Read on for some bonsai tree growing tips and information on the best fruit trees for bonsai. Fruit Trees as Bonsai You can plant an apple tree right in your backyard, but not a bonsai apple tree. Bonsai trees are grown in containers with a good root space and sufficient nutrients to flourish....

Brown or Yellowing Boxwood Shrubs Here are some common causes of a boxwood turning yellow or brown: Winter Damage. If you live in a place that experiences freezing temperatures in the winter, your boxwood may have been damaged by excessive snow, ice, and cold– or even winter burn. The cold-nipped tissues can take many months to become obvious, so if the yellow leaves are appearing in the spring, try not to panic unless they continue to spread....

Romans of long ago used fir trees and live branches as decoration for the New Year. They believed hanging boughs of greenery protected them from evil spirits and demons. Many also used holly for indoor decorations. The first person known to bring a Christmas tree inside in Germany was the 16th century preacher, Martin Luther. Christians believed evergreens were a “sign of everlasting life with God.” Trees were decorated for a time with fresh fruit, pretzels and paper flowers....

Bladder Fern Information Bulblet bladder fern (Cystopteris bulbifera) is named for the tiny, green, bladder-like structures on the underside of some leaves. These are potential reproductive structures that eventually fall off and produce new ferns. The fern is a rock-loving species found in limestone or sandstone formations. As part of the home garden, they add lacy-leaved elegance and low maintenance greenery to the shadier spots in the landscape. Bladder fern plants reproduce semi-vegetatively but also develop spores which fuel the development of the bulblets....

Types of Butterfly Bushes for Cool Climates If you live somewhere that gets winter frost and temperatures get into “minus” territory, you can still plant selected butterfly bush types. Although butterfly bushes are evergreen in warmer climes, in cool areas they die back in fall, then regrow rapidly in spring. Pick from among the cold-hardy types of butterfly bushes according to the height that pleases you. You can also choose different butterfly bushes by flower color; blossom hues range from dark purple through pink to white....

How to Care for a Camellia Plant Camellias have a reputation as being demanding and picky plants, but much depends on how they are planted. If you take the time to plant this shrub appropriately, your camellia plant maintenance will be significantly reduced. Camellias require acidic soil that drains well. Test the soil first to be sure the pH is between 6 and 6.5 before you begin installing the plant. While you are digging, work in several inches (8 cm....

Using up organic odds and ends in a compost pile will result in some lovely, rich medium. It is a great way to reduce waste and return nutrients back to your soil. Can you compost straw? It is the basis of mushroom compost and will also turn your mixture into a nicely textured soil. Can I Compost Straw? Most of us are aware of the basics of compost making, but can you compost straw?...

What is Carbon? All living things are carbon based. Carbon atoms bond with other atoms to form chains such as proteins, fats, and carbohydrates which in turn, provides other living things with nourishment. The role then of carbon in plants is called the carbon cycle. How Do Plants Use Carbon? Plants use carbon dioxide during photosynthesis, the process whereby the plant converts the energy from the sun into a chemical carbohydrate molecule....

English Stonecrop Plants If you are looking for a plant that you don’t have to baby, spreads over time to form a lovely, low carpet, and produces pink starry flowers, look no further than English stonecrop (Sedum anglicum). These plants are in the Crassulaceae family of succulents. English stone crop establishes easily from bare root and requires little extra care to root and grow. These minimal care plants have even been used in living roofs, composed of hardy, tolerant plants that insulate and provide durable protection....

What is Tree Spinach? Chaya spinach is a leafy green vegetable in the genus Cnidoscolus consisting of over 40 species, of which only chayamansa refers to chaya spinach tree. A member of the Euphorbiaceae family, growing spinach tree provides nutritious leaves and shoots for years and is prized as a necessary and important food through the Pacific Rim and along the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico, where is grows naturally in thickets and the open forest....

Although black medic is considered a common weed, it does have certain herbal uses. Read on to learn more about this interesting herb. Black Medic Herbal Uses and Warnings Black medic extract reportedly has antibacterial qualities and may be effective as a mild laxative. However, it may increase blood clotting and shouldn’t be used by people who use blood thinning medications. Black medic should also be avoided by children, the elderly, and pregnant women....

How to Plant Fennel in Containers Can you grow fennel in pots? Yes, as long as the pots are big enough. For one thing, fennel produces a long taproot that needs plenty of depth. For another thing, you grow extra tender fennel bulbs by “earthing up.” This means that as the bulbs get bigger, you pile more soil around them to protect them from the sun. If you’re growing bulb fennel in pots, this means you have to leave several inches of room between the soil and the rim of the container when you sow....