AMERICAN GARDENER

Avocado (Persea americana) is one of the more challenging fruit trees to graft successfully, owing to its high phenolic content, which causes cut surfaces to oxidize and brown rapidly, and its sensitivity to temperature, humidity, and technique. Despite these challenges, a range of reliable grafting methods have been developed and refined over decades of commercial … Read more

Avocado grafting can be a delicate process that requires careful attention from start to finish. Even when everything appears to be done correctly, the success of the union depends on several underlying factors working together. Small inconsistencies in handling, timing, or plant condition can influence how well the graft develops. The compatibility between the plant … Read more

Grafting avocado trees is both an art and a science, and it sits among the more challenging grafting endeavors in fruit tree cultivation. Unlike citrus, which grafts with relative ease across a broad range of methods and conditions, avocado (Persea americana) is notoriously particular about grafting technique, timing, environmental conditions, and the compatibility between scion … Read more

Grafting a citrus tree is one of the most rewarding skills a gardener or orchardist can master. It allows you to combine the vigor and disease resistance of a proven rootstock with the superior fruit quality of a desired scion variety, producing trees that are stronger, more productive, and more adaptable than those grown on … Read more

Grafting is a horticultural technique used to join parts from two different plants so they grow as a single, unified tree. In citrus cultivation, this practice is especially important because it allows growers to combine desirable traits—such as strong roots and high-quality fruit—into one plant. The lower part, which forms the root system, provides stability … Read more

Hibiscus (Hibiscus spp.) is a genus of over 200 flowering species in the mallow family (Malvaceae), known for their large, showy flowers in bright shades of red, pink, purple, orange and yellow. Among the best known species are tropical hibiscus (H. rosa-sinensis) and perennial hibiscus, (H. moscheutos). The biggest difference between the two is the … Read more

The Chinese Hydrangea, Hydrangea chinensis, is a graceful and botanically fascinating species native to a broad range of habitats across China, Taiwan, Japan, and Southeast Asia, where it grows in moist, shaded forests, along stream banks, and on rocky hillsides at varying elevations. It is a highly variable species across its wide natural range, appearing … Read more

The Limelight Hydrangea, Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’, is a truly outstanding cultivar that has earned its place as one of the most popular and widely planted hydrangeas in the world since its introduction by Dutch nursery Proven Winners around 2002. What immediately sets Limelight apart from the sea of white-flowered paniculata hydrangeas is its remarkable and … Read more

The Climbing Hydrangea, Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris, is one of the most magnificent and useful of all climbing plants, capable of transforming walls, fences, trees, and structures with a breathtaking curtain of lush foliage and elegant white flowers. Native to the forests of Japan, Korea, and Siberia, it is a vigorous, self-clinging vine that attaches … Read more

The Incrediball Hydrangea, Hydrangea arborescens ‘Abetwo’, sold under the trade name Incrediball®, is a supercharged evolution of the classic Annabelle Hydrangea that was introduced to the gardening world around 2010 by Spring Meadow Nursery. Developed specifically to address the one significant weakness of the beloved ‘Annabelle’ — its tendency to flop under the weight of … Read more