Grape hyacinths are small spring bloomers that are perfect to plant along walkways or in rock gardens.
Maidenhair ferns are small ferns that most of us grow as houseplants. They are a little high maintenance, but worth the effort.
Pole beans are a great addition to a small garden. They produce a plentiful harvest in a small amount of space.
Calamondin orange trees can be grown outdoors in warm climates or indoors in colder ones. The trees bear tiny fruit year-round.
Mina lobata is a spectacular flowering vine that attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.
If you have the space, red hot pokers are eye-catching statement plants that attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. They are deer and rabbit resistant.
Pothos are the perfect houseplant for homes or public areas that have little light. They don't flower, but their variegated leaves add color and interest.
Malabar spinach, although not a true spinach, tastes like it and grows during the heat of the summer when your true spinach has finished.
Calla lilies add tropical flare inside your home or out in your garden.
Butternut squash is a versatile squash that can be prepared many different ways. It grows on long vines that can be planted in hills or grown in rows.
Caladiums are shade plants with large, colorful leaves. They can be grown in your shade garden or indoors as a houseplant.
Brussels sprouts look like little cabbages. They grow best in cool weather and actually taste better after a light frost.
Madonna lilies have graced our gardens for 3,000 years. In addition to history, they will lend height and fragrance to your garden in the spring.
Broccoli is usually grown in the cool weather of spring. After you harvest the main head, smaller side shoots grow for a longer harvest season.
Hyacinths are colorful spring bulbs that are also very fragrant.
Red spider lilies are a great way to add color to your garden in the late summer and early fall. The intensely red flowers look like spiders with their long stamens.
Obedient plants are a native plant that looks like a snapdragon. It is an aggressive spreader so it can take over your garden if you are not careful.
Agapanthus can lend a tropical touch to your landscape. In colder climates, it can be grown indoors as a houseplant.
Japanese painted ferns are small variegated ferns that add color to your shade garden.
Pineapple lilies are easy to grow summer flowering bulbs with flowers that look just like pineapples.
Ostrich ferns are the largest native fern. They make a dramatic backdrop to your shade garden. Take advantage of their rapid spread and use them for erosion control along stream banks.
Nasturtiums are easy to grow, edible and valuable companion plants in your vegetable garden.
Cinnamon ferns are hardy native ferns that grow well in moist shady locations. Their fronds turn yellow in the fall to add color to the landscape.
Pampas grass has spectacular flowers that last through much of the winter.
Serviceberries are native shrubs and small trees that are widespread throughout North America. They are grown both for their lovely spring flowers and for their delicious berries.
Purple fountain grass is usually grown as annual. Its deep red leaves and flowers work well in your garden or even in a container with other flowers.
Tuberous begonias' brightly colored flowers add a pop of color to a shady corner in your yard or patio.
The bright red foliage of Japanese blood grass provides interest year round in your garden even in temperate climates.
With its soft, fuzzy leaves, lamb's ear is perfect for a children's garden. It's low stature makes it suitable as an interesting edging to your garden.
Bunny tail grass is an excellent addition to gardens designed with children in mind. Its soft, fuzzy flowers look like rabbits' tails and beg to be touched.
Canterbury bells are a wonderful addition to your cottage garden. They bloom in the late spring and will readily self-sow.
Zebra grass is an ornamental grass with horizontally variegated leaves which add color to your garden in the spring and the summer. Its airy plumes add more interest in the fall.
Purple coneflowers are a drought tolerant native that are a must in every garden. Not just beautiful, they also attract bees, butterflies and birds.
Northern sea oats are one of the few native grasses that will grow in partial shade. Beware though, it is a prolific self-seeder.
Astilbe will light up your shade garden with its colorful plumes of flowers.
The colorful leaves of coral bells are great way to add color to your shade garden.
Wild ginger is a hardy native plant that is perfect as a groundcover in a shady area or under a tree.
Lady's Slippers are native orchids that are hardy in most of the US. Grow them in a shady corner or under a tree.
Turtlehead flowers look like turtles with their mouths open. They are a woodland plant that needs wet soils.
Solomon's Seal is a native woodland plant that is superbly adapted to grow in your shady garden. Its berries are an important food source for the birds in your backyard.
Toad lilies are a good solution for that soggy shady corner in your landscape. They thrive in wet soil and shade.
Rat tail cacti are often grown in hanging baskets so that their stems can drape over the sides of the container.
Autumn olives used to be used extensively until we realized that they were an invasive plant the was taking over the landscape and pushing out important native plants.
Chocolate soldier plants are fuzzy succulents with "chocolate" edging on their leaves.
Bugleweed is a groundcover that can planted in full sun or partial shade. Its colorful foliage and unusual flowers add color to a semi-shady corner of your yard.
Zebra haworthia plants have distinctive white spots on both sides of the leaves. They are popular houseplants, readily available in stores and nurseries.
Purple loosestrife is beautiful but very destructive. It is an invasive species from Europe that forms dense mats which choke out native plants.
Polka dot plants are Madagascar natives whose brightly colored leaves add color and interest both indoors and outdoors.
Purple bell vines are a Mexican native that is grown as an annual. The 10 foot vines are covered with purple flowers that look like bells.
Purple passion plants add color and texture to your indoor space with their fuzzy purple leaves.
Foxtail lilies can add drama to your garden with their 6 - 8 feet tall flowers.
Tiger jaws are small succulents that look like the jaws of a fearsome predator.
Goatsbeard is the perfect solution for that wet area in your yard or use it in a rain garden.
Don't be turned off by its name. Wandering Jew is a colorful easy to grow houseplant.
Resurrection lilies grow their foliage in the spring and their flowers at the end of the summer. They are a nice "surprise" in August.
Burro's Tail is a succulent that drapes over the sides of your containers.
The tubular blossoms of nicotiana add color and texture to your garden.
String of Pearls is an unusual succulent that is most often grown in hanging baskets where it looks like strings of beads hanging from the edge.
Ragweed can be difficult to get rid of once it gets established. Start in the spring before the plants become too large.
Moses in the Cradle is a lovely tropical plant that can be grown outdoors in tropical areas or indoors as a houseplant in colder regions.
Rust is easy to spot but hard to get rid of. Prevention is the best cure.
Lipstick plants are popular houseplants that have flowers that look just like tubes of lipstick.
Autumn crocus look like crocus but blooms in the fall instead of the spring.
Chinese money plant has unique leaves that are round like coins.
Bean leaf beetles can quickly destroy your bean patch. Try these organic methods to get rid of them.
Friendship plants earned their nickname because they are easy to propagate from cuttings so they can be shared with other gardeners.
Canary creeper is a tropical flowering vine whose bright yellow flowers look like canaries flitting among the leaves.
Lithops are small succulent-like plants that thrive on neglect. If you tend to forget to water, lithops are for you.
Silver sage is grown for its large fuzzy leaves that just beg to be touched.
European fan palms add a tropical flare to your home or yard.
Lupines add interest to your garden with unusual leaves and colorful spires of flowers.
Corn plants make an exotic addition to your home.
Gardenias are small trees that are grown for their fragrant flowers. With a little care, you can grow them outdoors in warm climates or indoors as houseplants in colder climates.
Cast iron plant is perfect for those of us with dark homes or shady yards.
Baptisia is an easy to grow native plant that will provide you with multiple seasons of interest. Its lovely pea-like flowers appear in the spring followed in the summer by its interesting seedpods that rattle in the breeze.
ZZ plant is a great plant for people who have trouble growing houseplants. It can grow in almost no light and can go months without watering.
Bindweed is an invasive weed related to morning glories. It is extremely difficult to eliminate because of its deep root system.
Gladioli are tall, elegant flowers that look great at the back of your border or as cut flowers in a flower arrangement.
Tomatillos are used to make the popular salsa verde. They are grown as annuals in northern gardens, similar to tomatoes.
Mandevilla vines are tropical vines with colorful flowers that can be grown in temperate climates either as annuals or grown in containers that are brought indoors during the winter.
Ground cherries are easy to grow and have a variety of uses.
Siberian bugloss, also known as False Forget-Me-Not, is a shade loving perennial that can be grown in wet soils.
Swiss chard is a leafy green that can be grown and harvested from spring until fall.
Wisteria is a flowering bine that can be become invasive. Choose one of the native species so that you can enjoy the beautiful springtime flowers without worrying that it will take over your garden.
Jerusalem artichokes, also known as sunchokes, are a native plant that is grown for its nutritious tuber.
The name passion flower is associated with an entire genus of plants. They are known both for their distinctive flowers and their fruit.
Celeriac is related to celery, but easier to grow and store.
Lily leaf beetles can quickly destroy your prized lilies and other plants. Fortunately, you can get rid of them safely and organically.
Celery is a biennial vegetable that is grown as an annual. You can grow it for harvest in the spring or the fall.
Datura are flowering plants that are native to Mexico. Their nickname, Devil's Trumpet, refers to their hallucinogenic properties if consumed.
Radicchio is a perennial vegetable that is usually grown as an annual. To achieve the characteristic red coloring, you will need to blanch the heads.
Brugmansia are flowering tropical trees that can be grown in containers and brought indoors so that northern gardeners can enjoy their blossoms year-round.
Pawpaws are a native fruit tree that was cultivated for centuries by Native Americans. The fruit tastes similar to tropical fruits like bananas and papayas.
Bear's breeches are a spectacular addition to your semi-shady garden. Both the flowers and the leaves add an architectural element to your bed.
Tatsoi is an Asia green with a tangy mustard flavor. It is a cool season biennial crop that will grow in partial shade.
Light and airy, verbena bonariensisis perfect in a cottage garden style garden, attracts butterflies and hummingbirds and readily reseeds itself in your garden so you are never without it.
Napa cabbage is a cool season vegetable that is used in kimchi, hot pots, wraps and stir fries.
Dutchman's Breeches is a spring ephemeral and native forest plant so it is perfect for a shade garden where spring bulbs won't grow.
Mizuna is a Japanese vegetable that looks like arugula and has a peppery taste. Use it in stir fries and salads to add spicy flavor.
One of the most spectacular sites in the spring is a woodland filled with the bright blue of Virginia bluebells. You can recreate this seasonal show in your shady or woodland garden.
Bok choy used to be only found in specialty Asian markets but more and more home gardeners are adding this cool season vegetable to their spring and fall crops.
Jack in the Pulpit are perfect for that damp, shady area in your yard.
Purslane, that noxious weed that never seems to go away, is surprisingly nutritious. The stems, leaves and flower buds are all edible.
If you are a native plant lover, set aside a corner of your shady garden for a few trillium. You can choose from the 36 species that grow across the temperate US.
Cucamelons look like tiny watermelons, but they taste like cucumbers with citrus notes.
Sweet william has been beloved by gardeners since Shakespeare's time. Its colorful flowers light up the garden and fill your yard with a wonderful clove scent.
Sorrel is a cool season plant that grows best in the spring and the fall. Its bright lemony taste is a welcome addition to salads.
Four o'clocks have been grown since the time of the Aztecs. The flowers open late in the afternoon and last for one night emitting a fragrance that attracts pollinators.
Cardoon looks like and is related to artichokes but the buds are not eaten. Instead they are grown for their stems which look like celery but taste like artichokes.
Lady's mantle has been a long-time cottage garden favorite. Its fuzzy leaves are deer resistant and hold droplets of water after a rain that sparkle like diamonds in your garden.
Like most gourds, birdhouse gourds are grown for their utility. They can be dried and made into utensils, bowls and even birdhouses.
Columbines are a beloved cottage garden flower. They are hardy plants that freely reseed themselves in your garden providing years of color. Gardeners also love them because they bridge the flowering gap between spring bulbs and summer flowers.
Damping off is the scourge of the greenhouse. Even if you don't have a greenhouse, you may lose your seedlings to this disease. With a little care you can prevent this disease from killing your seedlings.
Blackberry lilies, which are not true lilies, have orange or yellow flowers which produce shiny black seeds that provide color and texture in the fall and early winter.
Scarlet runner beans are related to pole beans. They can be grown purely for their ornamental value or as a crop. The flowers, beans and tubers are all edible.
Black-eyed Susan vines look like black-eyed susans, but they are not related. These vigorous vines bloom all summer.
Hoyas, or wax plants, are flowering tropical vines that have become popular houseplants.
Cardinal climber vines are an interesting addition to any garden. Their long throated red flowers will attract hummingbirds, while their leaves add texture.
If you are a fan of houseplants as décor then staghorn ferns are for you. Mounted on a board, you can hang them on a wall just like a piece of art.
Hyacinth bean vines are edible but they are most often grown for their ornamental value.
Boston ferns are easy care plants that make a statement in your home or in your landscape.
Your Christmas tree can become a valuable gift to local wildlife or an environmental group after the holidays.
Crown of thorns is a thorny shrub that is related to poinsettias. Given enough sunlight, it will bloom year round.
Firethorn shrubs have bright orange or red berries that attract birds adding movement and color to the winter landscape.
Resurrection ferns are native plants that can be grown outdoors or indoors as houseplants. Once established, they require no care, not even watering.
If you are looking for a native berry to add to your yard, try raspberries. You can even get them in colors other than red.
Prayer plants are the perfect solution if your home does not get a lot of sunlight. They prefer filtered light. Their leaf colors can add a little pop of color to your interior decor.
Berries are one of the delights of the summer. Growing native blackberries is easy and rewarding.
Shrimp plants earned their name from the color and shape of their flowers bracts. They are grown as landscape plants in the tropics and houseplants in colder climes.
Japanese Anemones are wonderful perennials that bloom in the late summer until the fall filling in the gap between your summer perennials and fall perennials.
Add a little exotic greenery to your landscape or home with a ponytail palm.
Black eyed susans are a native flower that have been hybridized and welcomed into our gardens. They reward you with profusions of flowers year after year.
Peace lilies are tropical plants that grow well as houseplants. They can also help clean up the air indoors.
You can enjoy homegrown figs no matter where you live. Fig trees grow well in containers if they are not hardy in your area.
Rubber plants don't make rubber, but they do make an interesting houseplant.
Mexican bean beetles defoliate the legumes in your garden. Here are some organic ways to keep them from destroying your plants.
Swiss cheese plants make great statement plants in rooms with filtered light.
A backyard blueberry patch can produce berries for up to 20 years.
Sensitive plants are easy to grow and fun for kids. Their unique abiity to close their leaves at a single touch is fascinating for kids and adults alike.
Milkweed is critical to the suvival of monarch butterflies. Do your part to save them by planting this easy to grow native plant.
Umbrella plants offer an unusual leaf shape to your houseplant collection.
Penstemon are hardy native plants that come in different sizes and flower colors making them a versatile plant for your garden.
Garlic mustard is an invasive weed that rapidly crowds out native plants and tree seedlings. It has no natural enemies in North America.
Eggplants are a tropical berry that are grown around the world and used in many cuisines.
Foxgloves are the mainstay of the cottage garden. Use them to brighten up a shady corner.
Hot or sweet or in between, all pepper plants are grown the same. They need a lot of heat and a lot of sunlight.
Tithonia is a great addition to any garden because it is deer resistant. It also works well in butterfly gardens because it is the nectar plant for many butterflies including monarchs.
Chinese lanterns are easy to grow and make great fall decorations. Be careful though, the plants are invasive.
If you like to craft with dried flowers, you need to add celosia to your cutting garden. The flowers come in many bright colors, are easy to dry and retain their colors for months.
Pumpkin on a Stick is popular in dried fall arrangements. In other parts of the world, it is eaten.
Moonflowers are related to morning glories, but bloom in the evening. Their white flowers glow in the moonlight.
Castor beans are an exotic addition to your garden as long as you are mindful of the fact that the seeds are the source for ricin, a well-known poison.
Peonies never seem to go out of style. Their gorgeous flowers have been a staple of cottage gardens for centuries thanks to their ease of cultivation and long lives.
Asparagus beetles can destroy your asparagus patch in a single season. Using a combination of beneficial insects, neem oil and good gardening techniques, you can limit the ravages of these pests.
Primroses are a great choice for a shady garden. They come in many bright colors, guaranteed to light up a shady corner.
A rhubarb patch will grow for ten years, producing 2 to 3 pounds of stalks per plant every year.
Looking for a spring bloomer that is evergreen and deer resistant? Hellebores, also known as Lenten Rose, might be just what you need.
Asparagus is a perennial vegetable that will grow year after year providing you with decades of scrumptious spears every spring.
Tulips come in many colors and sizes. There are early bloomers, mid-season bloomers and late-season bloomers so the show just seems to go on and on.
Skunk cabbage is a native plant, actually two native plants that grow in marshes, bogs and shallow streams. Both emit an odor that smells a lot like skunk which is how they got their name.
When most people think of spring, they think of bright yellow daffodils. Daffodils are easy to grow and last for years.
The bird of paradise plant looks exotic, but it is one of the most popular houseplants. Properly cared for, it will reward you with year-round bloom.
Crocus provide us with the first spring color. Plant them in large groups for the most impact.
Anthuriums are colorful flowering plants that can be grown as houseplants because they prefer low light.
Add this American native to your landscape for its colorful berries which also serve as an important food source for both birds and animals during the winter.
Snowberries are a native shrub that has berries that last throughout the winter. The berries are an important food source for the birds.
Norfolk Island Pines make wonderful houseplants. They can survive in low light conditions. During the holidays, they can be decorated like a Christmas tree.
Rather than a cut tree that will die after the holidays and be discarded, a living Christmas tree that is planted in your yard after the holidays beautifies your landscape and is full of holiday memories.
If you choose your Christmas tree carefully and keep it well watered, it should last the entire holiday season.
Air plants are unique plants that can grow without soil. This means that you can display them any way that you want to suit your decor or your mood.
Venus flytraps are a native plant that grows in semi-tropical wetlands. You can mimic their native habitat by growing them indoors in a terrarium.
Bat flowers look exotic, but they are relatively easy to grow. Just mimic their native tropical forests, giving them heat, humidity and shade.
You can grow your own spectacular corpse flower provided you have enough space and enough patience.
Weeping figs are tropical trees that make wonderful houseplants because they prefer the low light often found in our homes.
Beautyberry, also known as Callicarpa, are shrubs that sport purple berries in the winter that add color to your landscape and are an important food source for birds. These shrubs are drought tolerant and not bothered by disease or insects.
Cabbages are a cool season crop that comes in different sizes and colors. It's easy to find one that suits your needs and your garden size.
Liriope can be used as a ground cover or an edging. Its lavender flowers add color to your garden in the late summer and early fall.
Beets are a cool season plant that are planted in the spring and the fall. All parts of the plants are edible.
Cardinal flowers are native plants that are easy to grow, deer resistant, and attract hummingbirds.
New York ironweed is a native plant that we have welcomed into our gardens. It's height makes it an attractive back of the border plant while its flowers are magnets for butterflies.
Blossom end rot is a common problem, especially in tomatoes. Prevent it from happening in your garden by properly amending your soil to ensure the correct amount of calcium and making sure that your garden is watered consistently throughout the growing season.
Spittlebugs are usually just a minor nuisance in your garden. If you have a large infestation, the insects are not difficult to get rid of and you can even prevent them from re-infesting your yard.
Earwigs aren’t the worst insect nuisance that you have to deal with in your home and garden, but they are definitely one of the most scary looking ones. Keep your home and yard earwig free using these simple steps.
Portulaca, also known as moss rose, is a colorful annual that is drought tolerant, salt tolerant and can be used in your garden or in containers.
Leaf miners are a major problem in broad leaf plants. Use a combination of manual preventions and barriers to keep them out of your garden.
Morning glory vines are easy to grow. Their cheerful flowers greet the sun (and you) each morning and then close in the afternoon.
Neem oil is a safe, gentle, natural solution for personal, household and garden use.
Lilacs are an easy-care, long-lived plant with colorful fragrant flowers.
Snowdrops sometimes appear before the snow has melted. They are easy to grow and multiply every year.
Daikon radishes are large, mildly favored radishes that can be eaten raw, cooked or pickled. They are as easy to grow as their smaller, red cousins.
An infestation of cutworms can destroy a garden very quickly. You can get rid of them by tilling, putting up barriers, handpicking or inviting their predators into your garden.
Pansies are versatile cool-season flowers. They can be grown in containers, as borders or as a ground cover. Pansies thrive in the shade providing much-needed color in a shady corner of your yard.
Scale insects are tiny but dangerous. They can literally suck the life out of your plants.
Pussy willows are a native plant that are important for wildlife. They are easy to grow, and the branches can be preserved for use in arrangements.
Spider mites are tiny terrors. They reproduce quickly and suck the life out of your plants. Fortunately, getting rid of them is not difficult.
Edamame is a type of soy bean that is harvested before it is ripe. The beans are an important source of nutrients for vegans.
Black spot is the scourge of the rose garden. Here are a few suggestions for preventing it from infecting your roses.
Radishes are fast and easy to grow. Sow seed every two weeks in the spring and the fall for continuous harvest.
Vermicomposting is a good substitute for composting outdoors. Using a small bin, some newspaper or cardboard, red wiggler worms and a little patience, you can make nutritious compost for your garden.
Lettuce comes in many varieties with differing shapes and uses. It is best grown in the cool weather of spring and fall.