Tortoise Plant Info Attractive, heart-shaped vines grow from the corky bark of the tortoise plant. The starchy tuber, which is partially buried, grows slowly; however, in time, the tuber can reach heights of more than 3 feet (1 m.) and width of up to 10 feet (3 m.). With proper care, the tortoise plant can live as long as 70 years. Native to South Africa, the tortoise plant is drought-tolerant and does fine in extreme heat....

What is Asian Jasmine? Asiatic jasmine (Trachelospermum asiaticum) is not actually related to jasmine plants, but it does produce white to yellow, fragrant, star-shaped flowers that are similar to jasmine. It is native to Japan and Korea and is hardy in USDA zones 7b through 10, where it grows as an evergreen groundcover. If it is allowed to grow continuously through the winter, it will form a dense leafy groundcover within two years....

What is Chesnok Red Garlic? Those growing Chesnok Red garlic rave about it. It is an exceptional garlic from the Republic of Georgia in the former USSR. Chesnek red garlic bulbs store well and retain their shape and flavor when cooked. The bulb is a very lovely shade of red that presents well. Some gardeners term Chesnok Red garlic bulbs the best all-round garlic available. Each large bulb is wrapped in a purple-striped, papery covering and contains some ten cloves....

Like all potted plants, occasional repotting is necessary to keep the plant healthy and to provide ample growing space for the roots. Fortunately, repotting mandevilla isn’t difficult. Read on to learn how to repot mandevilla in a new pot. When to Repot a Mandevilla Mandevilla should be repotted every year or two, preferably in early spring. However, if you didn’t get around to pruning your mandevilla vine last year, it’s best to wait until fall, then prune and repot at the same time....

Sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) are tender, warm season crops that need a lengthy growing season to develop. These veggies are native to Central and South America and important food crops for many countries there. In the United States, commercial sweet potato production is mainly in the southern states. Both North Carolina and Louisiana are top sweet potato states. Many gardeners throughout the country grow sweet potatoes in home gardens. Sweet potatoes are planted in early spring as soon as the soil warms....

Reasons for No Flowers on Crabapple Trees Age: When a young crabapple isn’t flowering, it may be because the tree still needs a few more years to grow and mature. On the other hand, an old tree may be past its best blooming years. Feeding: Although crabapple trees don’t need a lot of fertilizer, they benefit from one light feeding every spring during the first four or five years. Sprinkle a time-release fertilizer on the ground under the tree, out to about 18 inches (46 cm....

Why Doesn’t My Hellebore Flower? There are a few reasons a hellebore won’t bloom, and most of them can be traced to the way they were treated before they were sold. Hellebores are popular winter and spring blooming plants that are often bought in pots and kept as houseplants. The fact that they are grown and kept in containers means that they frequently become root bound, often before they’re even bought....

Care of Angel Vines Angel vines are native to New Zealand and hardy from zone 8a through 10a. They are frost sensitive and should be grown in a container and brought indoors in colder climates. Luckily, angel vine care in containers is very easy, and many gardeners actually prefer to grow the plant in pots. The vine grows very fast and can reach 15 feet (5 m.) in length, putting out a thick covering of small round leaves....

How Is Anise Good for You? Anise, or aniseed, comes from the plant known as Pimpinella anisum. It is native to the Middle East, grows to about two feet (61 cm.) tall, and produces clusters of small white flowers. This should not be confused with star anise, Illicium verum, an evergreen tree native to China. The seeds of anise have long been used for their licorice flavor in food and drink, but there are also some health benefits....

About Blue Star Juniper Try growing juniper ‘Blue Star’ as either a shrub or a groundcover if you live in an appropriate region. It’s a lovely, little mound of a plant with delightful, starry needles in a shade somewhere on the boundary between blue and green. According to information about Blue Star juniper, these plants thrive in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 8. The foliage is evergreen and the shrubs grow into mounds some 2 to 3 feet (0....

How to Plant Boxwoods in Containers Plant your boxwood shrubs in containers that are fast draining and big. You want your pot to be as wide as the plant is tall, and even wider if you can manage it. Boxwoods have wide-reaching, shallow roots. Also, any plant that stays outside through the winter winds is going to fare better if it’s closer to the ground. Plant your boxwood in fertile potting mix and water thoroughly....

Can You Grow Amsonia in a Container? Can you grow amsonia in a container? Yes, indeed, you can. Container-grown amsonia can light up your home or patio. Amsonia brings with it all of the benefits that come with being a native plant. It is easy to grow, low-maintenance, and drought tolerant. In fact, amsonia thrives happily despite entire seasons of neglect. Amsonia plants are known for their willow-like foliage, with small, narrow leaves that turn canary yellow in autumn....

What is Griffonia Simplicifolia? Griffonia simplicifolia plants don’t take your breath away, to say the least. When you look at the large, climbing plant, you might not long to have any in your garden. Hailing from tropical west Africa, these plants have stout stems. They grow to a height of 10 feet (3 m.) tall, climbing supports with their short woody tendrils. Griffonia plants produce green flowers and, later, black seed pods....

Can You Grow Parsnips in Pots? Generally speaking, almost anything can be container-grown. I say almost anything. In the case of container-grown parsnips, a few criteria need to be met. After all, since the plant is grown for its long roots, it would seem you would need an awfully deep pot. Parsnip roots can grow from 8-12 inches (20.5-30.5 cm.) in length and 1 ½-2 inches (4-5 cm.) across. Therefore, containers for parsnips should be about 2-3 times the length of the mature parsnip....

About Clivia Lilies Clivia lilies (Clivia miniata) are also called bush lilies and kaffir lilies, although the latter name is not very popular, as it’s considered a derogatory and insulting word. Native to South Africa and part of the Amaryllis family, this plant does not tolerate frost. It grows in clumps and is a perennial that reaches heights of about 30 inches (76 cm.) when in flower. Clivia produces long, broad, evergreen leaves and pretty, lily-like flowers that are trumpet-shaped and that cluster together....

Reasons for Companion Planting an Herb Garden Companion planting with herbs offers numerous benefits. For example, companion planting with herbs can discourage pests, which often occurs when you plant companion herbs that exude an aroma that pests find unpleasant. On the other hand, some herbs that grow well together can actually attract beneficial insects or draw unwanted pests away from more susceptible herbs. Some herbs can even increase the essential oils in companion herbs....

Lavender Plant Companions Lavender is very particular in its growing requirements. It needs full sun, little water, and little to no fertilizer. It’s usually happiest if left alone. This means that if you place it next to a plant that prefers more attention, one of them is going to suffer. Some good plants to grow with lavender which share similar needs are: Echinacea Aster Sedum Wild indigo Baby’s breath Drought tolerant roses...

Keep reading to learn more about container gardening in cold weather. Container Gardening in Cold Weather Fall container gardening requires some knowledge as to what can survive. There are two groups of plants that can fare well in fall container gardening: hardy perennials and hardy annuals. Hardy perennials include: Ivy Lambs ear Spruce Juniper These may stay evergreen all through the winter. Hardy annuals will probably die eventually, but can last well into the autumn, and include:...

How to Prune a Trumpet Vine It takes two or three years for a trumpet vine to develop a strong framework of branches. To accomplish this, you’ll want to start pruning trumpet vines the year after you plant them. Since trumpet vine blooms in midsummer on current year’s growth, severe fall pruning won’t limit the vine’s flowers the next summer. In fact, pruning trumpet vines properly encourages the plants to produce more flowers every summer....

What Does Deadheading Bird of Paradise Flowers Mean? Deadheading bird of paradise flowers simply refers to removing bird of paradise blooms that are dead. These dead blooms are often referred to as spent blooms and are dead, wilting blooms that are generally brown in color. This encourages new and bigger blooms, not to mention the fact that this process keeps the plant visually appealing. How to Deadhead Bird of Paradise Flowers If you are going to grow bird of paradise flowers, then you must know how to deadhead them....