Types of

Bee balm is a North American native perennial in the mint family, grown for shaggy, tubular flower heads that draw hummingbirds, butterflies, and bumble bees from midsummer into fall. Found naturally in woodlands, meadows, and floodplains, it was named for Nicolás Monardes, a 16th-century Spanish physician, and its common name comes from an old use … Read more

Spruce trees belong to the genus Picea, a group of evergreen conifers recognized by their stiff, four-sided needles attached singly to small, persistent, peg-like structures on the twig, a distinctive feature that separates spruce from fir and most other conifers at a glance. The genus name comes from the ancient Latin word for pitch, originally … Read more

A rabbit-proof garden doesn’t actually exist, and according to Colorado State University Extension, no list of resistant plants is foolproof, since a genuinely hungry animal will eat just about anything, including plants that are technically poisonous. What does exist is a reliable pattern: rabbits consistently avoid plants that are very aromatic, covered in prickles or … Read more

Trees that grow well in California benefit from one of the most ecologically diverse states in the country, spanning fog-shrouded redwood forests along the northern coast, snow-capped Sierra Nevada peaks exceeding 14,000 feet, scorching desert basins in the southeast, and a long, mild Mediterranean-climate coastline that supports an extraordinary range of both native and introduced … Read more

Hollyhocks are among the most iconic cottage garden flowers, instantly recognizable for their towering flower spikes that can rise well above head height, lined with large, papery blooms from the base of the stalk nearly to the tip. Belonging to the genus Alcea, hollyhocks are native to Southwestern and Central Asia, particularly the regions spanning … Read more

Palm trees belong to the plant family Arecaceae, a group of flowering plants known for their tall trunks and distinctive crowns of large leaves called fronds. This family includes more than 2,500 species spread across many genera. Most palms grow in warm regions of the world, especially in tropical and subtropical climates where temperatures remain … Read more

A pear behaves nothing like an apple once it’s off the tree, and treating it the same way is the fastest route to a mealy, disappointing piece of fruit. According to Oregon State University Extension, pears should be picked when mature in size but not yet fully ripe, since fruit picked too soon will shrivel … Read more

Mimosa trees are among the most recognizable ornamental trees in the world, prized for their feathery, fern-like foliage and their fluffy, silk-thread blossoms that seem to glow in shades of pink, cream, and yellow. Native primarily to Asia, these trees have spread across warm and temperate regions worldwide, thriving in more than 70 countries as … Read more

Calla lilies are among the most recognizable flowering plants grown for both garden display and the cut flower trade, prized for their sleek, trumpet-shaped blooms and smooth, unbroken lines. Despite the common name, calla lilies are not true lilies at all, belonging instead to a separate plant family native to southern Africa that includes roughly … Read more

Ginger is one of the most important, widely cultivated, and commercially significant spice and medicinal plants in the world, prized for over 5,000 years across Asian, Middle Eastern, and African cultures for its extraordinary combination of pungent, warming, aromatic flavor and a remarkable range of documented health benefits. Native to southeastern Asia — most likely … Read more