We encounter glorious specimens in ubiquitous bank and shopping mall plantings, we marvel at lush archetypes on tropical isles whilst on vacation, and we regard forlorn examples in the corners of our doctor's office. We adore them. We despise them—yet we attempt to maintain them time and time again. They are the gods and monsters of the indoor gardening world—they are the figs, the rubber trees, the genus Ficus. Read Gods and Monsters: The Genus Ficus
Plants & Gardens Blog
Plant Choices
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HouseplantsPlant Choices
Gods and Monsters: The Genus Ficus
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HouseplantsPlant Choices
Palms in the Parlor
Of all the members of the plant kingdom suitable for use as houseplants, none evoke a feeling of the tropics like the palms. With their large, architectural leaves and strong outlines, palms can help create an indoor Garden of Eden wherever you live. Read Palms in the Parlor
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Pollinators and BirdsPlant Choices
Zinnias—If You Plant Them, Butterflies Will Come
These cheerful annuals are enjoying renewed popularity as more and more colorful, compact, and disease-resistant varieties appear on seed racks. Read Zinnias—If You Plant Them, Butterflies Will Come
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Native FloraPlant Choices
Wildflower Fever!—A Selection of Unusual Natives
Nowadays, I fill my garden with beautiful wildflowers. Besides increasing biodiversity in and of themselves by augmenting the shrinking populations and gene pools of native species, they provide a valuable source of food for insects and birds. Read Wildflower Fever!—A Selection of Unusual Natives
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Growing FoodPlant Choices
Growing Chile Peppers
You can grow chile peppers just about anywhere in the United States and southern Canada, as long as you prepare your soil, nurture your seedlings properly, and provide the plants with their basic needs. Read Growing Chile Peppers
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HouseplantsPlant Choices
Aspidistra—An Alluring and Enduring Favorite
Aspidistra can endure temperatures as low as 23 degrees Fahrenheit and as high as 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Aspidistra can survive extreme levels of urban pollution and dust, as well as light levels as low as 25 footcandles. Finally, as if attuned to the contingencies of modern living, they are forgiving of our inauspicious watering habits. Read Aspidistra—An Alluring and Enduring Favorite
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Pollinators and BirdsNative FloraPlant Choices
Cardinal Flower—Spectacular Scarlet Blossoms That Hummingbirds Adore
In the early fall, as you approach the edge of a woodland stream or the banks of a secluded pond, you may glimpse a flash of red. This spark of scarlet is from what may be the most brilliant of our native blossoms, the cardinal flower. Read Cardinal Flower—Spectacular Scarlet Blossoms That Hummingbirds Adore
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Plant Choices
Using Vines in the Garden
It's often said that vines are the best friends of a passionate gardener with a small urban lot. And it's true: There's no better way to splash color and texture around a postage-stamp property than by collecting plants that grow skyward rather than sideways. But this doesn't begin to give vines their due, for there are no more versatile creatures in plantdom. Read Using Vines in the Garden
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Plant Choices
Flowering Vines 101
North America is the home of horizontal gardeners. A few trees and shrubs may creep into our landscapes, but our sight usually is directed down and straight ahead, making it easy for us to forget plants that grow up rather than hug the ground. Making it easy to forget flowering vines. Read Flowering Vines 101
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Plant ChoicesUrban Gardening
Growing Vines Successfully
Vines are a diverse group of plants. Most are easy to grow and require little care; however, a basic knowledge of their cultural needs is important for success in your garden. Read Growing Vines Successfully