Calibrachoa is a very beautiful flower that bears hundreds of small bell-shaped flowers often used as a cascading flower for suspended pots and overhangs. Its trailing habit makes it perfect for use in hanging baskets, containers or as a small area ground cover. They prefer to be grown in moist but well-drained, organically rich soil in full sun. They do…
The columbine plant (Aquilegia) is an easy-to-grow perennial that offers seasonal interest throughout much of the year. It blooms in a variety of colors during spring, which emerge from its attractive dark green foliage that turns maroon-colored in fall. The bell-shaped flowers are also a favorite to hummingbirds and may be used in cut-flower arrangements as well. Aquilegia (common names:…
Dianthus usually comes in a number of varieties and produce fragrant with notched petals.They popularly appear in pink, purple and white. Best grown in spring making your garden/balcony pleasant and eye-catching. The dianthus, carnation radiates a sweet and exotic odour, which provides gardens and balconies with unique flair. Dianthus is a genus of about 300 species of flowering plants in…
Fan flower (Scaevola aemula) is an excellent summer annual to grow in hanging baskets, window boxes, containers, or as a bedding plant. Scaevola is best grown in full sun to part shade and does well in hot, dry summers. It prefers medium, well-drained soil that is kept evenly moist, but not wet. Allow the soil to dry out slightly before…
Forsythia plants are deciduous shrubs. In some species the yellow four-petaled flowers, borne along the stems, appear before the leaves in early spring. The simple narrow leaves occasionally have three parts and are borne oppositely along the pithy or hollow stems. The fruit is usually a capsule. A true sign of spring, forsythia is one of the first shrubs to bloom, providing a burst of color when…
The 4 O'clock flower, Mirabilis jalapa earned its name because the flowers open around late afternoon each day, and the blooms close and die come morning. Because four o'clock plants bloom in the late afternoon and evening, it's best to plant them where you’re sure to see them and catch a whiff of their fragrance, such as around a patio.…
Fuchsias are one of the mainstays of the summer garden. They produce masses of delightful, pendant, bell-like flowers for months on end, from early June to the first severe frosts of autumn. Fuchsia usually grows in the form of shrub that can reach from 8 inches to more than 13 feet in height, depending on the variety. Fruit of fuchsia…
Growing hollyhocks (Alcea rosea) in the garden is a goal of many gardeners who remember these impressive flowers from their youth. Hollyhocks add drama and height, making an impressive backdrop to shorter perennials. Alcea is a genus of about 60 species of flowering plants in the mallow family Malvaceae, commonly known as the hollyhocks. They are native to Asia and…
Hyacinth is a popular fall planted bulb for cheerful, fragrant spring blooms. These flowers help to drive away winter glooms. The inedible bulbs contain oxalic acid and can cause skin irritation. The intensely fragrant flowers are usually blue but may be pink, white, or other colours in cultivated varieties. Hyacinthus is a small genus of bulbous, spring-blooming perennials.They are fragrant flowering plants in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily…
The bright green foliage forms a tight growing, mat that covers itself in early to mid-spring with a carpet of bright pink flowers. The ice plant can be propagated by division, cuttings, or seeds. If propagating by division, it is best to divide the plants in the spring. Cuttings can be taken anytime in the spring, summer, or fall. When…