AMERICAN GARDENER

Rex begonia is one of those plants that can make an ordinary indoor plant collection look remarkably different. Its appeal comes primarily from its foliage rather than its flowers. Leaves can combine silver, green, burgundy, purple, pink, red, and cream in patterns that resemble brushstrokes, metallic bands, spirals, or intricate mosaics. Their surfaces may also … Read more

Angel wing begonia is one of the most distinctive members of the begonia family. Its large, wing-shaped leaves, upright cane-like stems, and clusters of delicate flowers give it an appearance that is quite different from compact bedding begonias. Depending on the variety, the foliage may be green, silver-spotted, olive, bronze, or marked with contrasting veins, … Read more

Wax begonias are among the most dependable flowering plants for adding long-lasting color to gardens, containers, window boxes, and other ornamental spaces. Their compact growth, fleshy stems, glossy leaves, and clusters of colorful flowers make them easy to recognize and versatile enough for many different planting arrangements. Depending on the variety, the foliage may be … Read more

Begonias are among the most diverse and recognizable ornamental plants in the world. They are admired for their colorful flowers, unusual foliage, varied growth habits, and ability to thrive in different types of landscapes and indoor settings. Some begonias are grown mainly for their flowers, while others are prized for leaves that can display striking … Read more

Azaleas can make a garden look spectacular when they are in bloom. For a few weeks, a healthy plant can become almost completely covered with flowers, leaving little room for the foliage to be seen. Depending on the variety, the blooms may be white, pink, red, purple, orange, or combinations of several colors. Yet azaleas … Read more

Begonias are remarkably versatile flowering plants. They can brighten a shaded garden, fill containers with color, spill from hanging baskets, or provide long-lasting flowers indoors. But begonias are also plants that can punish the wrong watering habits. Give them too much water and their roots may suffer. Give them too little and their leaves can … Read more

Hostas are often described as shade-loving plants, but that description doesn’t tell the whole story. Their real attraction is not only their flowers. It is the foliage—the broad leaves, unusual textures, and changing shades of green, blue, yellow, and cream that can give a garden structure from spring through fall. A healthy hosta can look … Read more

A Practical Guide to Tall, Healthy Blooms Hollyhocks are not subtle flowers. When they are happy, they can send tall flowering stalks several feet into the air, turning an otherwise ordinary garden border into a vertical wall of color. Their large, open flowers appear along the stems one after another, creating a display that can … Read more

Peonies are the kind of flowers that reward gardeners who are willing to think long term. A newly planted peony may look surprisingly unimpressive compared with the spectacular plant you imagined. It may produce only a few leaves, or perhaps no flowers at all during its first season. But underground, the plant is establishing the … Read more