A Primer of Garden Plants: Choosing and Caring for Every Category

Selecting plants is one of gardening's greatest joys—and biggest challenges, given thousands of options. This primer presents essential information to help you choose and care for plants across categories: trees, shrubs, annuals, perennials, and more. Each group includes a sampler of good choices with photographs.

At-a-Glance Format

Entries begin with botanical name (former names noted). Genus-only headings (e.g., Acer) cover multiple species; genus-species (e.g., Ginkgo biloba) cover single plants. Common names are included unless the botanical name is the common name (e.g., magnolia, zinnia).

Every entry notes climate adaptability (see Climate Zone Map), preferred exposure, and moisture needs. Additional details vary by group: growth rate for trees, climbing method for vines, leaf retention (evergreen, semi-evergreen, deciduous) for many categories. Plants may be evergreen in warm zones, deciduous in cold ones.

This summarized information also appears on section introductions for quick narrowing of choices suited to your garden environment.