Ornamental Grasses Hardy to Zone 6 There are hardy ornamental grasses that are suitable for almost every condition in zone 6 landscapes. Two of the most common types of hardy ornamental grass are feather reed grass (Calamagrotis sp.) and maiden grass (Miscanthus sp.). Commonly grown varieties of feather reed grass in zone 6 are: Karl Foerster Overdam Avalanche Eldorado Korean Feather Grass Common Miscanthus varieties include: Japanese Silvergrass Zebra Grass Adagio Morning Light Gracillimus...

Interested in growing coniferous plants for the Pacific Northwest? While conifers native to this region fall into just three botanical families, there are plenty of choices. Pacific Northwest Coniferous Plants The Pacific Northwest is a region that borders the Pacific Ocean on the west, the Rocky Mountains on the east, and from central coastal California and southern Oregon up into the southeast Alaskan coast. Within this region lie several forest zones representative of the area’s annual temperature and rainfall....

Diseases that Discolor Pansy Leaves Powdery mildew– Powdery mildew leads to patches of powdery white or gray blotches on flowers, stems, and foliage and may cause yellow pansy leaves but usually doesn’t kill plants. This is a fungal disease favored by fluctuating temperatures and high humidity, but may also appear when weather is dry. Downy mildew– Downy mildew leaves fuzzy gray blotches and discolored pansy leaves; it tends to be more prevalent on lower leaves....

Parsley Leaf Spot Problems One reason for parsley with leaf spots may be powdery mildew, a fungal disease fostered by low soil moisture along with high humidity. This disease starts on young leaves as blister-like lesions followed by curling leaves. The infected leaves then become covered with white to gray powdery mildew. Severely infected plants may suffer leaf drop, especially with young leaves. Low soil moisture combined with high humidity levels at the plant surface favor this disease....

How to Grow a Pawpaw Tree in a Pot Pawpaw is the largest American fruit, weighing up to a pound (0.5 kg.). Originally native to the eastern United States, the Native Americans spread the fruit west into Kansas and as far south as the Gulf of Mexico. Pawpaw is packed with nutrients. They have almost as much potassium as bananas and three times more Vitamin C than apples, along with plenty of magnesium and iron....

Fortunately, there are many gorgeous perennial plants for California that are low maintenance and drought tolerant. Read on for information on growing perennials for Western states in your California garden. Perennials in Western U.S. Gardens Just ask any gardener, the best perennials in Western U.S. gardens for long term are plants that are easiest to care for. In the end, low maintenance beats almost any ornamental feature. You may adore a particular plant and pay a high price for it in the garden store....

About the Pineapple Lilies Pineapple lilies are in the genus Eucomis and include a wide range of tropical plants native to warm moist regions of the world. A little known fact about pineapple lilies is that they are actually related to asparagus. Both plants are in the Lily family. Pineapple lily plants grow from bulbs. These interesting bulbs start out as a rosette and do not usually start blooming for a year....

If you are looking for a plant that complements your water bill, look no further than Chasmanthe. This drought tolerant bulb produces eye-popping flowers in almost every hue. Keep reading for tips on how to grow Chasmanthe and what winter care might be necessary. About Chasmanthe Flowers Chasmanthe is native to South Africa and one of the true heat seeking plants. In the wild, the plant grows in rocky outcrops....

What is Dormant Grass Seeding? Dormant seeding is the practice of putting down grass seed in late fall or early winter. The idea is that the seeds will remain dormant on the ground, ideally under a layer of snow, and germinate and sprout in spring. Where Dormant Seeding Works Planting grass seed in winter doesn’t work in all locations. The ideal scenario is a lawn that will soon be covered with snow and remain snow-covered for the rest of the season....

Planting Loquat from Seeds Each loquat fruit contains between 1 and 3 seeds. Break the fruit open and wash the flesh away from the seeds. Loquat seed germination might not be possible if you let them dry out, so it’s best to plant them right away. Even if you’re waiting a day or two, store the seeds wrapped in a damp paper towel. It is possible to store them for up to six months in a vented container of moist sawdust or moss at 40 F....

Blue Tit Plum Tree Info Blue Tit plums are a self-fertile (self-fruitful) variety of dark plums. Simply, self-fertile fruit trees are able to be planted as standalone plants in the garden. Unlike some other cultivars, this means that it will not be required to plant an additional variety of plum tree to ensure pollination of the plum crop. This makes them ideal candidates for smaller yards and beginner fruit growers. These yellow-fleshed plums are sweet and great for use in both baking and for fresh eating....

When to Harvest Poppy Seeds Who among us hasn’t had a wonderful lemon or almond poppy seed muffin? The delicate seeds impart a rich flavor and gentle crunch that adds unique dimension to baked goods. Poppies have a bad reputation as part of the opium trade, but for gardeners, they are simply lovely papery blooms in brilliant colors. These easy-to-grow plants are also simple to propagate from seed. Poppies generally flower in late spring to early summer....

Exceptional Houseplant Trees Here is a variety of indoor trees that you can grow. Some will be appropriate for lower light and some need higher light. There are appropriate indoor tree varieties for many different conditions. Fiddle Leaf Fig – You can’t look anywhere these days without finding a fiddle leaf fig (Ficus lyrata). These can grow in a variety of light conditions ranging from bright indirect light to pretty sunny conditions....

What is a Potato Bush? The potato bush plant (Lycianthes rantonnetii), a native of Argentina and Paraguay, is best suited to the frost-free climates found in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 and higher. A member of the Solanum family, it is closely related to potatoes, tomatoes, and eggplants, but you should never eat it because it is poisonous. Common names for this plant include blue potato bush, Paraguay nightshade, and blue solanum shrub....

Balcony Planter Ideas Nearly endless balcony planter ideas can be found online in blog articles and social media posts. However, determining which balcony containers are ideal for your specific needs can sometimes feel quite difficult. When choosing pots for balcony gardening, gardeners first need to consider the growing conditions in their space. This includes characteristics like amount of sunlight, rainfall, and wind exposure. The size of your balcony will also be an important factor in the selection of containers....

How to Grow Astilbe in Pots If you want to grow one plant, start with a container with a width of at least 16 inches and a depth of about 12 inches (30 cm.). If you want to grow more than one astilbe, look for a larger container. Fill the container with a good quality commercial potting mix, or create your own with a combination of organic material such as peat, compost, composted bark chips, perlite or sand....

Potted blanket flowers are just one example of a versatile and easy-to-grow plant for containers that is sure to delight throughout the summer season. About Potted Blanket Flowers Blanket flowers, which are hardy to USDA growing zones 3 through 9, are most commonly referred to as a native wildflower. They are a natural choice for those wishing to attract beneficial insects and pollinators to the garden. The bright, cheery, red-orange blooms also make them an ideal candidate for use in the cut-flower garden....

Although the plant is easy to grow, saffron is the most expensive of all spices. To obtain saffron, the stigmas must be handpicked, contributing to the preciousness of this spice. Crocus plants can be grown in the garden or you can put this crocus bulb in containers. Growing Saffron Crocus Flowers in the Garden Growing saffron outdoors requires soil that drains well and a sunny or partly sunny location. Plant the crocus bulbs about 3 inches (8 cm....

Five Easy Garden Ideas Make a Plan Before you jump into designing your garden, make a plan. Take a look around and decide where you want the garden. For those new to gardening it is best to start small, which might be a small shade, perennial, or even container garden. Site your garden accordingly but also considering who will see it. For instance is the purpose of the garden to beautify the front of the home or do you want to add color to a different area or do you want to cover up an unsightly rocky hillside?...

Yew Winter Damage Winter damage can and does affect yews, generally presenting as browning of the foliage. Yew winter damage is the result of rapidly changing temperatures during the winter. It is also caused by bright sunshine and inadequate water reserves in the yew’s root system. You usually see the first symptoms of winter injury to yews in late winter or early spring. With winter burn on yews, you will notice that the browning is most pronounced on the south and west sides of the plants....