Shrubs versus trees

Its not always easy to tell the difference between a tree and a shrub, especially since some shrubs can grow large enough to tower over smaller trees. One way to make the distinction (short of consulting a reference

Quack grass (Elytrigia repens)

Common weeds at a glanceAlso known as couch grass or devils grass, quack grass is an aggressive perennial that invades lawns and gardens in most of the country. It can reach 3 feet tall, but it stays much lower in m

Sweet secret for Seattle

I have a plant crush, says Lorene Edwards Forkner, as if confiding a secret passion. The garden designer and owner of Fremont Gardens, a specialty nursery in the Fremont neighborhood, is a sweet pea fanatic.Forkner

Glorious gingkos

Few things draw the eye like butter yellow ginkgo leaves against a blue sky. The fan-shaped leaves, backlit by the sun, appear to glow from within, turning the tree into an incandescent force in the landscape.Then o

Cool-season color pots

Lisa Freed, co-owner of Wells Medina Nursery in Medina, Washington (425/454-1853), has a knack for combining hardy plants in containers that deliver color from fall through winter.She uses 24-inch plastic containers

Training a tall English rose

Clair Martin of Huntington Botanical Gardens uses the following technique ― called pegging ― to save garden space and maximize bloom on medium to tall growers. Its great for corralling mild-climate long-limbs.During

Lambs ears (Stachys byzantina)

• Foliage perennial• Zones 1-24, 29-43• Full Sun or partial shade• Moderate wateringThe soft, thick, woolly white-green foliage of lambs ears is a favorite of many, especially children: its difficult to pass a plant

Southern California: A giant among vines

Aristolochia gigantea is a tropical vine that produces one of the strangest flowers on the planet. Heres a bloom that looks more like a well-marbled steak than a flower; it is pollinated by flies, so it tricks them

Lavender passion in Victoria

Lynda Dowlings love of lavender began 12 years ago when an elderly friend brought her an old, woody Munstead lavender plant shed just dug up because she was moving to a condominium. Her friend believed in my vision

Dogwood (Cornus)

• Deciduous• Climate zones vary• Full sun or partial shade• Regular water• Growth rate: moderateDogwoods offer showy spring bloom and attractive foliage; their good-looking branch structure makes a nice display when

Southwest Gardening: New nemesias

Nemesia is a top-selling spring annual ― and for good reason. Gardeners admire its easygoing nature and extended bloom period (it flowers nearly year-round in mild-winter, cool-summer climates). But until recently,

Old Glory in a basket

Summer flowers come into their bloom peak just in time for the biggest party of the season ― Fourth of July. To dress up an outdoor table for a picnic, you can take advantage of the bounty by setting flowers of patr

Walk-on lawn substitutes

While they wont tolerate as much foot traffic as a lawn, a few low-growing ground covers can take some traffic.Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile, Zones 1-24, 30-43) forms a soft-textured evergreen mat of aromatic leaves

Dahlias

During the 19th century in England, winning dahlias fetched hefty cash prizes in competitions, motivating breeders to produce a steady stream of larger, increasingly exotic varieties.In The English Flower Garden (18

Delphinium

Elegant spires of blue, lavender, mauve, pink, purple, red, or white, up to 8 feet tall, develop above lobed or fanlike leaves. All are perennial (though most are short lived). Provide full sun and regular water.Var

Summer gem

Looking for a real jewel to add to your collection? Consider Eryngium Sapphire Blue, one of the hybrid forms of sea holly. From mid- to late summer, this hardy perennial bears cone-shaped flower heads ringed by stee

A plant lovers paradise

You wont find any highway signs leading to Hortus Botanicus nursery in Fort Bragg: Its located off the beaten path down a gravel road. But word of mouth has put this nursery on the road maps of many passionate garde

Magnolia

• Evergreen or deciduous• Zones vary• Full sun or partial shade• Regular watering• Growth rate: slow to moderateThese magnificent flowering trees and shrubs offer remarkable variety in color, leaf shape, and plant f

Power hybrids

Call it serendipitous: San Diego Horticultural Society member Liz Youngflesh wanted to start a home-based business. Around the same time, Del Mar garden designer Bill Teague discovered amazing alstroemerias at a who

Growing squares

To complement their Santa Monica home, George and Kristen Minardos wanted a kitchen garden with a fresh, contemporary look. Landscape architect Kathleen Fergusons solution was to install a grid of nine concrete squa