 Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree. Emily Brontë
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Roses for Any Garden
Roses have a reputation for being fussy plants that require special handling. However, there are many roses that thrive with reasonable care and can withstand harsh winters with no special protection. |  |
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How to Grow and Care for Apricots
Apricots are beautiful to look at and wonderful to eat, especially when harvested fresh off the tree. The trees can also be lovely focal points in a yard, with their abundant spring blossoms and attractive foliage. |  |
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Pawpaw: Tropical Flavor from a Hardy Tree
In most regions, it's too cold to grow tropical fruits. However, there's one fruit with a distinctly tropical look and taste that grows in eastern North America and some parts of the West: the pawpaw. |  |
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Now, About that Greenhouse
What do you do in the wintertime to replenish your gardening spirit? Given half a chance, I'll luxuriate in a greenhouse, conservatory, plant-filled atrium, or even a window full of healthy houseplants. |  |
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Dramatic Dieffenbachia
Houseplants are a necessity for gardeners in cool climates; we get desperate for greenery in winter. If I can't schedule a tropical vacation, I buy a tropical houseplant, and my latest favorite is dieffenbachia. |  |
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Star Magnolia -- A Stellar Shrub
There's something especially striking about shrubs and trees that produce flowers before their leaves emerge. The botanical term for such plants is "precocious," calling to mind a delightful, engaging (and perhaps a little defiant) child. |  |
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Crazy About Calamondins
With their glossy foliage and fragrant white flowers, calamondin plants bring more than a little bit of welcome "sunshine" to a winter afternoon. Best of all, they can be grown as houseplants. |  |
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Together with Victory Seed Company Garden Seed Packs for Your Region
Do you want to grow a vegetable garden, but you're not sure what to get? Got a gardener in your life who you want to surprise with an awesome idea? We've done the hard part for you and hand-selected all the best varieties for a full and complete vegetable garden! We have identified 15 different regions of the country (plus one extra region for "urban gardens") and made a special seed pack for each area. Every collection has tomatoes, peppers, squash, kale, lettuce, okra, peas, spinach, broccoli, and much more, all chosen specifically for your area and certain to perform brilliantly for you. For the kids, we also include a fun sunflower variety in each one. All the collections are reasonably priced (under $100 with free shipping) and they are less expensive than if you bought them as individual seed packets. Orders ship within 1 business day. Pop on over to our site and browse our regional seed packs.
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Desert Rose (Adenium obesum)
Plant Habit: Shrub, Cactus/Succulent
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Water Preferences: Mesic, Dry Mesic, Dry
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 10a -1.1 °C (30 °F) to +1.7 °C (35 °F)
Plant Height: Up to 8 to 10 feet
Plant Spread: Up to 3 feet
Leaves: Deciduous, Semi-evergreen
Fruit: Dehiscent
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: Pink, Red
Flower Time: Spring, Summer, Late winter or early spring, Late fall or early winter, Fall
Suitable Locations: Houseplant, Xeriscapic
Resistances: Drought tolerant
Toxicity: Leaves are poisonous, Roots are poisonous, Fruit is poisonous
Pollinators: Bees
Containers: Suitable in 3 gallon or larger, Needs excellent drainage in pots
Awards and Recognitions: RHS AGM
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Clematis (Clematis crispa)
Typical Plant Size: Typically 4 to 6 feet
Pruning Group: Group 3 - Hard pruning recommended in early spring
Bloom Diameter: Very Small - 2 inches or smaller (<5 cm)
Bloom Color (Tepals): Light to Lavender Blue hue
Bloom Shape: Nodding, Bell shape
Preferred Light: Tolerates partial shade, Tolerates full sun
Suitability as Cut Flower: Good cut flower (strong stem, average vase life)
Moisture Requirements: Requires consistently moist soil
Plant Habit: Vine
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Plant Height: 4-6 feet
Plant Spread: 1-2 feet
Leaves: Deciduous
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: Mauve
Flower Time: Spring, Late spring or early summer, Summer, Late summer or early fall, Fall
Uses: Groundcover, Cut Flower
Wildlife Attractant: Birds, Bees
Containers: Suitable in 3 gallon or larger
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Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera truncata)
Plant Habit: Shrub, Cactus/Succulent
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Partial or Dappled Shade
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 10a -1.1 °C (30 °F) to +1.7 °C (35 °F)
Leaves: Other
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: White, Yellow, Orange, Pink, Red, Bi-Color, Other
Flower Time: Fall
Suitable Locations: Houseplant
Uses: Houseplant
Wildlife Attractant: Hummingbirds
Resistances: Humidity tolerant
Pollinators: Birds
Containers: Suitable in 1 gallon, Needs excellent drainage in pots, Prefers to be under-potted, Suitable for hanging baskets
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Princess Flower (Pleroma semidecandrum)
Plant Habit: Shrub, Tree
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 10a -1.1 °C (30 °F) to +1.7 °C (35 °F)
Plant Height: 10 to 20 feet
Leaves: Evergreen, Other
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: Other, Purple
Bloom Size: 4"-5"
Flower Time: Summer, Late summer or early fall, Late fall or early winter, Fall, Other
Suitable Locations: Patio/Ornamental/Small Tree
Uses: Windbreak or Hedge
Resistances: Humidity tolerant
Containers: Needs excellent drainage in pots
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Dragon Tree (Dracaena reflexa var. angustifolia)
Plant Habit: Shrub, Tree
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun, Full Sun to Partial Shade, Partial or Dappled Shade, Partial Shade to Full Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 9b -3.9 °C (25 °F) to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
Plant Height: 5-10 feet; when grown in ideal conditions can reach heights to 20 feet.
Leaves: Unusual foliage color, Evergreen
Flowers: Fragrant, Inconspicuous
Flower Color: White, Other
Bloom Size: Under 1"
Flower Time: Winter
Suitable Locations: Houseplant
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Resistances: Humidity tolerant, Drought tolerant
Containers: Suitable in 3 gallon or larger, Needs excellent drainage in pots
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 Photo by Valery33
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 Photo by LoriMT
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 Photo by Aerith
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 Photo by dexter1468
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 Photo by GigiAdeniumPlumeria
"My grafted desert rose, hand pollinated with Tavee Sap and self pollinated."
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 Photo by Aerith
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 Photo by KGFerg
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 Photo by Zoia
"Voila Francois"
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 Photo by Aerith
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 Photo by Valery33
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Active threads from our forums:
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The numbers from this week:
169 members joined.
2,607 posts written in our forums.
596 photos posted to the plant database.
321 plants added to personal inventory lists.
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 Autumn is springtime in reverse. Terri Guillemets
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