The weeping fig tree (Ficus benjamina), also known as Benjamin fig tree or simply ficus tree, is a very popular and easy-to-care-for houseplant. Of all the species in the genus Ficus, this one is the best for indoor cultivation. Learn how to care for a weeping fig indoors in this blog. Containerized ficus trees […]
Banana plants aren’t actually trees: They do not have woody trunks. Technically, banana plants are herbaceous perennials, albeit the largest flowering herbs in the world. Some varieties get over twenty feet tall. Learn how to prune a banana tree and why it is important to do so in this blog post. Left to itself, a banana […]
Plants need a nearly constant supply of water. (They also need sunlight, carbon dioxide, and oxygen, but these are available almost everywhere.) Gardeners all across the world need to be mindful of drought tolerant landscaping depending on your location. In the United States, places like Florida, California, and Texas occasionally go through periods of drought with […]
Pecan trees get very large – more than 80 feet tall, with a spread of 50 feet wide or more. They are not suitable for the small backyard. But, if you have the room, a pecan tree is well worth having, and a welcome legacy for those who come behind you. Find out how many […]
We all love the amazing colors that many deciduous trees and shrubs take on in autumn before they drop their leaves. Not to be outdone, some winter blooming shrubs and trees provide noteworthy texture, architectural structure, and more color in the leafless wintertime, too. Attractive bark, colorful stems, berries that remain into winter, and interesting […]
When flowers are past their prime, they turn their attention to producing fruits and seeds. Producing fruits and developing seeds takes energy that might otherwise be used to make more flowers, foliage, or roots. Many gardeners ask us what is deadheading? The act of deadheading flowers is removing spent flower blossoms so that the plant […]
Flowers must be pollinated if they are to produce fruits and seeds. (See Perfect Plants’ blog: Sex, Flowers, Pollinators, and Pollinizers.) This blog will tell you the best plants for bees that are perennials, annuals or trees to encourage pollination. 80% of all flowering plants depend upon animals such as butterflies, birds, bats, or bees, to […]
Tropical plants are those that grow naturally in tropical climates: Climates where the average temperature varies little month to month, and is always above 64°F (18°C); where frost never occurs, and humidity is high; where there is a greater difference between average day and night temperatures than there is between average summer and winter temperatures. Tropical climates tend to have just two recognizable seasons: Wet and not-so-wet. Tropical rain forest climates occur in lower elevations north and south of […]
Most fig trees are hardy only in USDA zones 7 and higher, but you don’t have to move down South to have one. There are ways to grow your own fresh figs, even up North! Start by selecting the most cold-hardy varieties. Among the best are Celeste Fig, Brown Turkey Fig, Ventura, and the most […]
It happens to all gardeners eventually: A favorite perennial or shrub is in the wrong place, and needs to be moved. Transplanting azaleas is no different. If it’s an azalea, you’re in luck because azaleas have shallow roots, are easy to dig up, and recover quickly from the stress of moving. Even mature azaleas can be […]
The pecan tree (Carya illinoinensis) is a large hardwood tree native to the mixed forests and bottomland hardwood swamps along large rivers from the Mississippi westward into East Texas and Mexico. They can get 70-100 feet tall and spread as much as 70 feet wide across. Pecans are widely grown commercially and in the home […]
Want to get that tropical look in your yard? Learn how to plant a palm tree. Best Time to Plant Palm Trees Mature palm trees with well-developed trunks can be dug and transplanted from the field. Young palms cannot. The roots of young palm trees are not sufficiently developed, so they are typically planted from […]