Winter creeper (Euonymus fortunei)

• Evergreen woody vine• Zones 3-17, 28-41• Full sun, partial shade, or full shade• Moderate waterSome forms of winter creeper are compact shrubs - but the ground cover sorts are trailing and vinelike, rooting as the

Gardens in glass

A tiny, intricate bromeliad or cactus just begs to be viewed up close. Thats why each is a perfect candidate for temporary display indoors in a clear glass vase.Shop for plants in 1½- or 2-inch containers at nurseri

Cosmos

Cosmos (C. bipinnatus) must be one of the easiest annuals ever. Sow its seeds once, and pink or white flowers come back year after year from their own seeds.Flowers (mostly singles) start blooming in early summer an

Carpet bugle (Ajuga reptans)

Ground covers• Evergreen perennial• Zones 1-24, 26-45• Full sun or partial shade• Regular waterSpreading quickly by runners, carpet bugle makes a mat to 4 inches high of dark green (or, in some kinds, purple or vari

Shrub roses

Roses are perhaps the most beloved of all flowers, esteemed throughout history for their form, color, and fragrance. Until fairly recently, gardeners tended to focus on hybrid teas, elegant modern roses featuring a

Fresh parsley

Its more than a garnish: The mild, celery-like flavor of parsleys leaves complements just about every savory dish you could prepare.Use it to flavor stock, soups, or stews. Add it to butter before glazing potatoes o

As good as gold

Saffron crocus (Crocus sativus) is highly prized for the scarlet-colored stigmas (parts where pollen germinates) in the center of its lavender flowers. When dried, these threadlike stigmas are commonly known as saff

Sources

Nurseries sell many kinds of annual mums, cosmos, dahlias, marigolds, and sunflowers. The varieties shown in this article came from the following sources:• Connells Dahlias: (253) 531-0292 or www.connells-dahlias.co

Designing with rhodies

When Sir Joseph Hooker was collecting rhododendron seed in the Himalayas 150 years ago, he remarked that above 12,000 feet in Darjeeling, about three-quarters of all plants were rhododendrons. If Hooker were to walk

16 berry worthy plants

BEAUTYBERRY (Callicarpa bodinieri Profusion). Round clusters of amethyst to purple berries remain on bare stems after willowlike leaves turn color and drop. This deciduous shrub grows 6 feet tall (sometimes more) an

What makes it Mediterranean?

CLIMATE, GEOGRAPHY, AND PLANTSMediterranean refers to the countries that rim the Mediterranean Sea ― France, Greece, Italy, Morocco, Spain, Syria, and Turkey ― that enjoy the best-known dry-summer climate. It also r

Help stop native plant pilfering

The theft of native plants from public and private lands is an ongoing problem in the Southwest. Many species of cactus and other plants command high prices from private collectors seeking prize specimens and from h

Mint (Mentha)

Perennials hardy in Zones 1-24, 26-45, mints spread rapidly by underground stems. Spearmint is the preferred mint for cooking; it has shiny bright green leaves and reaches 1½ to 2 feet tall. Peppermint, great for fl

Create a bouquet of hyacinths

Step-by-step:  How to make a bridal bouquetMost gardeners know hyacinths as fragrant Dutch hybrids (H. orientalis), which grow a foot tall and bear fat spikes of tightly packed, waxy blooms in blue, yellow, salmon,

Plants and other amenities

Plants they loveBelow are the top wildlife plants at the Brighams nursery in San Marcos, California.Hummingbird plants• Alstroemeria hybrids. Evergreen perennials. Pink, purple, orange, or white flowers. Peak in spr

Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis)

Also called wild morning glory, bindweed grows in open areas ― usually in loam to heavy clay soil ― throughout the United States. Its 1- to 4-foot-long stems crawl over the ground and twine over and around other pla

Autumn joy

When conditions are rugged, plants must be tough. Such is the case on this steep, south-facing hillside in a Cherry Hills Village, Colorado, backyard. In this richly hued planting flanking a stairway made of dry-sta

Pick the right penstemon

SPECIES FOR AREAS WITH HOT, DRY SUMMERS AND COLD WINTERSBRIGHTLY COLORED FLOWERSThis group includes flashy species that insist on dry conditions and hot summers. They are cold-hardy to at least Sunset climate zone 2

Peony (Paeonia)

• Zones 1-11, 14-16, 32-45• Full sun; partial shade in hot-summer climates• Regular wateringPeony flowers are exquisite: large, showy, silky, single or double, available in colors ranging from white and pale cream t

Amaryllis after the holidays

Striking amaryllis blooms arent just for the holidays. They make great gifts and indoor decorations during the winter when theyve been forced into bloom, but with the right care, these stunning beauties can rebloom