Buttonbush Plant Info Buttonbush is known by a number of alternate names including button willow, pond dogwood, swampwood, or button wood. The interesting summer blooms, which look like spiky ping pong balls, have earned the plant the monikers of Spanish pincushion, globeflower, honeyball, or little snowball. If you purchase the plant from a nursery, you’ll get what you’re looking for if you refer to the plant by its scientific name – Cephalanthus occidentalis....

Cacao Plant Info Cocoa beans come from cacao trees, which reside in the genus Theobroma and originated millions of years ago in South America, east of the Andes. There are 22 species of Theobroma amongst which T. cacao is the most common. Archaeological evidence suggests that the Mayan people drank cacao as early as 400 B.C. The Aztecs prized the bean as well. Christopher Columbus was the first foreigner to drink chocolate when he sailed to Nicaragua in 1502 but it wasn’t until Hernan Cortes, the leader of a 1519 expedition to the Aztec empire, that chocolate made its way back to Spain....

Do Caladiums Bloom? Big tropical looking foliage, deeply veined leaves, and an array of colors characterize caladiums. These plants in the Araceae family are classed as blooming plants. Do caladiums bloom though? Mature plants do develop a flower-like bud. This is a small spathe, a type of inflorescence found in the Aroid class of plants. The spathe is a far cry from what we usually deem as flowers, lacking petals and most other features of a typical bloom....

Propagation of Calathea Of the same family as the prayer plant, the two are sometimes mistaken at retail. Except for C. crocata, calathea are not grown for their flowers. While these plants are not complicated for most to keep indoors, they do require humidity, regular watering, and must be kept from direct sunlight. If you’ve gotten these requirements right and have a mature plant, you can consider calathea plant propagation. Division in spring or summer is the best type of calathea propagation method....

Good soil and calcium are linked. Just as we need fluids to carry nutrients through our body, so is water needed to carry calcium. Too little water equals a calcium deficiency plant. If water is sufficient and problems still exist, it’s time to ask how to raise calcium in soil. First though, let’s ask the question, WHY is calcium required in garden soil? How Calcium Affects Plants There are many essential minerals in soil, and calcium is one of them....

California Fan Palm Information The California fan palm (Washingtonia filifera) is a tall palm tree native to southern Nevada and California, western Arizona, and the Baja in Mexico. Although its native range is limited, this grand tree will thrive in any dry to semi-dry climate, and even at elevations up to 4,000 feet (1219 m.). It naturally grows near springs and rivers in the desert and will tolerate an occasional frost or snow....

If you have a large property, you might consider growing one of these evergreens. Read on for information on how to get started as well as tips on California red fir care. What Is a California Red Fir? Native to Oregon, Nevada and California, the evergreen known botanically as Abies magnifica is truly magnificent. This conifer grows in the wild to over 200 feet (60 m.) tall with a trunk diameter at breast height of 6....

Can Compost Get Too Hot? If compost is too hot, it can kill beneficial microbes. Overheated compost piles pose no fire danger if they are properly moist but some of the organic properties will be compromised. Excessive temperatures in compost can cause spontaneous combustion, but this is very rare even among overheated compost piles. Properly aerated and moist compost piles, no matter how hot, are not dangerous. Even hot compost bins that are fairly enclosed will not catch fire if they are tumbled and kept moist....

Growing spinach inside is easier than you might think, especially baby varieties. Get some tips on indoor spinach plants and start planning your salad now. Can Spinach Grow Indoors? Spinach is a versatile green that is useful in salads, stews, soups, and stir fries. It is also quite easy to grow from seed. Most seeds will sprout in a week, and they grow rapidly, with leaves ready for use in a month....

Pawpaw Cutting Propagation Pawpaw (Asimina triloba) is a member of the Annonaceae plant family along with the tropical sweetsop, soursop, sugar apple, and cherimoya plants. However, the pawpaw is native to the eastern half of North America. Pawpaws mostly grow in the wild, but they are cultivated on a small scale as well. Pawpaw seeds are quite difficult to germinate because of complex dormancy and moisture requirements. Also, a seedling may not have the same characteristics as its parents in terms of fruit quality and climate adaptation....

Growing Pindo Palm in a Pot If you’re looking for a tropical pinnate palm, pindo might be your plant. Pindo’s graceful curving branches are attractive, and the plant requires little care. Pindos are evergreen trees that thrive in USDA plant hardiness zones 10 through 11. The flowers are exceptional – yellow or red and grow long flower clusters. These flowers develop into sweet, edible fruit that taste a little like apricots....

Growing Seeds from Oranges It’s no surprise that you can grow orange trees from seeds inside the fruit. Every other fruit grows that way, so why not oranges? Anyone who has ever peeled and eaten an orange knows that the fruit can have a dozen seeds in it, or even more. The bigger news is that most seeds from oranges can grow into plants; you can even grow store bought orange seeds....

About Homestead 24 Tomato Plants Fruits of Homestead 24 tomato plants are firm textured, about 6-8 oz. (170 to 230 g.), and dark red with a globe shape. Typically, they mature in 70-80 days. Homestead 24 is an excellent tomato for growing in southern coastal areas, as they perform well in high heat and humidity. The heirloom plant is open pollinated, resistant to cracks and fusarium wilt. Those who grow this tomato plant regularly say it performs as a semi-determinate specimen, providing firm fruits following the main harvest and not dying back quickly as most determinate tomatoes do....

What are Loblolly Pine Trees? The loblolly pine is more than just a pretty face. It’s an important timber tree and a prime choice for wind and privacy screens. This pine is also important to wildlife, providing food and habitat. The loblolly’s native range runs across the American southeast. Its straight trunk can soar to 100 feet (31 m.) or more in the wild, with a diameter up to 4 feet (2 m....

All morning glory plants produce attractive funnel-shaped blossoms of various shades like white, red, blue, purple, and yellow with heart-shaped leaves. Blooming usually occurs anywhere from May through September, opening in the morning and closing in the afternoon. Most types are annual, though in some warmer regions they will come back yearly or may re-seed themselves in almost any zone they grow in. How to Grow Morning Glory Flowers Growing morning glories is easy....

About Pimento Sweet Peppers Pimento peppers are small, sweet, heart-shaped peppers that ripen to red in color. They only get to be about 1 ½ inches (4 cm.) across and are very mild with a Scoville heat rating of less than 500 units. Pimento stuffed green olives and pimento cheese are two very familiar packaged products found at the grocers that use this type of sweet pepper. Depending on the variety, plants may become large and bear hundreds of fruit, or they may be smaller, perfect for container gardening....

Growing White Flowering Rosemary Although white flowering rosemary tolerates partial shade, it thrives in full sunlight. This drought-tolerant Mediterranean plant needs light, well-drained soil. Add fertilizer such as a water-soluble fertilizer, a balanced, slow-release fertilizer, or fish emulsion at planting time. Allow at least 18 to 24 inches (46-61 cm.) between plants, as rosemary needs adequate air circulation to remain healthy and disease free. Caring for White Rosemary Water white flowering rosemary when the top of the soil feels dry to the touch....

Carolina Reaper Hot Pepper Fans of hot, spicy food should try growing Carolina Reaper. It is considered the hottest pepper by the Guinness Book of World Records, although there is a rumored contender by the name of Dragon’s Breath. Even if Carolina Reaper isn’t the record holder anymore, it is still plenty spicy enough to cause contact burns, chili burn, and should be used with caution. The Carolina Reaper is a cross between the well-known ghost pepper and red habanero....

What is Carpetweed? Carpetweed (Mollugo verticillata) is a broadleaf annual weed commonly found in lawns and gardens. The plant forms a low-growing mat, and each plant can spread up to two feet. The prostrate branches lie close to the ground so that they are not affected by mowing. You can achieve carpetweed control by pulling the weeds when the infestation is light and the area is small. Otherwise, use herbicides to eradicate the weed....

Collecting Cattail Seeds Saving cattail seeds and planting them where you want these fabulous plants helps create a wild animal sanctuary and waterfowl habitat. It is quite easy to do and an excellent way to replant a devastated marsh or waterway. A single cattail can contain up to 25,000 seeds, which can go a long way to repopulating a native species. Some tips on how to plant cattail seeds once you have harvested them, can speed you on the way to a useful and beautiful stand of these one-time native foods....