AMERICAN GARDENER

Irises are elegant flowering perennials admired for their striking, sculptural blooms and upright, blade-like foliage. They grow from underground structures that store energy, allowing them to return reliably year after year. Their flowers are often composed of distinct petal arrangements that create a layered, almost architectural appearance in the garden. These plants are known for … Read more

Hydrangeas are deciduous flowering shrubs prized for their large, showy blooms and lush foliage. They are commonly found in gardens and landscapes where they add volume, texture, and seasonal color. Their leaves are typically broad and deep green, creating a dense backdrop that highlights the dramatic flower clusters. One of the most fascinating features of … Read more

Daylilies are hardy, long-lived perennials known for their ability to thrive in a wide range of climates and soil conditions. They grow from fleshy root systems that store nutrients, allowing them to survive periods of drought and bounce back quickly after stress. Their arching, grass-like foliage forms dense clumps that gradually expand over time, making … Read more

Azalea bushes that bloom three times a year are often referred to as reblooming or repeat-flowering varieties. Unlike traditional types that produce a single burst of flowers in spring, these shrubs are bred to cycle through multiple blooming periods—typically in spring, summer, and fall. This extended flowering habit makes them especially valuable in gardens where … Read more

Truly year-round blooming azaleas represent the holy grail of ornamental shrub gardening — the dream of having the spectacular, richly colored flowers of the azalea genus present in the landscape across every season of the year. While no azalea blooms with absolute, uninterrupted continuity through every single week of the calendar year, a select group … Read more

True summer-long blooming azaleas represent one of the most exciting and relatively recent developments in ornamental shrub breeding. Traditional azaleas are celebrated for their spectacular but brief spring flower displays, typically lasting only two to four weeks before the blooms fade entirely until the following year. The introduction of reblooming azalea technology — pioneered most … Read more

Drought-tolerant annual flowers are among the most valuable and practical plants a gardener can choose. As water scarcity becomes an increasingly pressing concern across much of the world, and as summer temperatures continue to rise, the ability to maintain a beautiful, colorful garden with minimal irrigation is more important than ever. Drought-tolerant annuals have evolved … Read more

Deadheading — the practice of removing spent flower heads to encourage continued blooming — is one of the most time-consuming regular tasks in the summer garden. While deadheading undeniably prolongs flowering in many plants, a remarkable selection of annuals, perennials, and shrubs are either self-cleaning — dropping their spent blooms automatically — or bloom so … Read more

Shade gardening with annual flowers is one of the most rewarding and underappreciated areas of horticulture. While the majority of flowering annuals demand full sun to perform at their best, a surprisingly rich and diverse selection of annuals thrive in partial to full shade — producing abundant, colorful bloom in the dappled light beneath trees, … Read more

Hummingbirds are among the most thrilling and sought-after garden visitors in North America. These tiny, jewel-bright birds burn energy at an extraordinary rate — their hearts beat up to 1,200 times per minute — and must consume approximately half their body weight in nectar every single day to survive. They are powerfully attracted to tubular, … Read more