AMERICAN GARDENER

Flowers with three-letter names are genuinely rare in the English language, largely because most flower names have evolved from longer Latin, Greek, or regional terms that don’t lend themselves to such brevity. The few that do exist tend to be either informal shortenings of longer names or terms borrowed from other languages. This scarcity makes … Read more

Mandevilla plants are stunning, fast-growing tropical vines and compact shrubs celebrated worldwide for their large, trumpet-shaped flowers in vivid shades of red, pink, white, and yellow that bloom with extraordinary generosity throughout the warm months of the year. Native to the tropical and subtropical regions of Central and South America, with the greatest species diversity … Read more

Hardy hibiscus plants are among the most spectacular flowering perennials available to gardeners in temperate climates. Unlike their tropical cousins, which require warm, frost-free conditions year-round, hardy hibiscus varieties are built to withstand cold winters, dying back to the ground and returning with vigorous new growth each spring. They are celebrated for producing some of … Read more

The Yoshino Cherry (Prunus × yedoensis), also known as the Tokyo Cherry Blossom or the Japanese Flowering Cherry, is a hybrid cherry tree. It is one of the most popular and widely planted cherry cultivars in temperate regions around the world today. The Yoshino cherry tree’s history can be traced back to the Edo period … Read more

Kansas sits at the heart of the Great Plains, offering a wide and dynamic growing environment shaped by hot summers, cold winters, unpredictable spring storms, and periods of drought. The state spans multiple hardiness zones, ranging from zone 5b in the northwest to zone 7a in the southeast, giving gardeners a broad palette of vegetables … Read more

The climate of New Mexico is generally classified as arid to semi-arid, with plenty of sunshine throughout the year. The state experiences hot summers, especially in lower elevations, while winters can be cool to cold, particularly in higher mountainous areas. Rainfall is relatively low and often comes in short bursts, mainly during late summer thunderstorms … Read more

Red soil is commonly found in warm, tropical and subtropical regions, where long periods of weathering have broken down rocks into fine particles. Its distinctive reddish color comes from iron oxides, which form when iron in the soil reacts with oxygen. This type of soil is often well-drained and loose, making it easy to work … Read more

Red soil, known scientifically as Laterite or Alfisol, is found extensively across tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, South Asia, South America, and parts of Australia. It is generally well-drained, slightly acidic, and lower in organic matter and nutrients than black cotton soil, but its loose, friable texture and good aeration make it surprisingly versatile … Read more

Black cotton soil, known scientifically as Vertisol, is a dark, heavy, expansive clay soil found widely across parts of Africa, India, Australia, and other tropical and subtropical regions. It swells dramatically when wet and shrinks and cracks deeply when dry, creating challenging but mineral-rich conditions. With the right plant selection, it can support a remarkable … Read more

The fishbone cactus (Epiphyllum anguliger) is a forest cactus native to Mexico. Unlike the typical desert cactus most people picture, it grows on trees in humid rainforests, absorbing moisture from the air and its surroundings. Its stems are flat and wavy, with deep notches along the edges that look like the bones of a fish … Read more