Blooms on high

Few trees can beat flowering cherries for their beauty, especially in early spring. Thats when a froth of pink or white blooms cloaks their branches, scenting the air around them with a delicate fragrance. But there

Alice du Pont (Mandevilla)

• Evergreen• Zones 21-25; may grow as a root-hardy perennial in zone 26, 27• Full sun or partial shade• Regular watering• Climbs by: twiningIf it were grown exclusively outdoors, this lovely vine would be found in o

How to grow hibiscus

OUTDOORSWhile standard hibiscus plants prefer full sun, these hybrids will take a little shade--filtered light with at least one hour of direct sun is optimal.Water plants generously while the weather is warm and th

Cannas bold beauty

Sporting intensely dark foliage, Tropicanna Black makes its showy debut in nurseries this month. The colorful canna, which has rich chocolate brown foliage, sends up vibrant scarlet flowers from spring into fall. Le

Planting and tending

Plant annuals in the early morning or late afternoon when temperatures are cool, following guidelines below. To keep them blooming, cut or pinch off spent flowers.Soil prep. Spread a 2-in. layer of compost and a few

Irises galore in Phoenix

Every April since 1965, Bobbie and Don Shepard have invited the public to visit their Phoenix nursery, Shepard Iris Garden, to see 2 1/2 acres of blooming irises. Among the nearly 200 varieties of bearded iris varie

The many faces of ivy

Whether trailing along a bookshelf, spilling out of a hanging basket, or covering the soil around a potted palm, ivy is one of the easiest, most successful plants.It reacts to too much shade by sending out a tendril

Saving the California oaks

I was an Acorn. Our school was named after the oaks that carpeted my Northern California valley before the ranchers cut them down to plant fruit trees, and our yearbook was called La Encina, Spanish for live oak. It

The right rosemary for you

Rosmarinus officinalis should be a simple plant to explain. Its easy enough to describe: an evergreen shrub native to the Mediterranean with dark green, needlelike leaves that have a resinous aroma. From late winter

Own-root roses

You might assume the roses in your garden are growing from their own roots. Chances are, though, theyre hitching a ride on Dr. Huey, a sturdier rootstock. When the world fell in love with hybrid teas in the 1940s, g

Roses for hot climates

SHRUB ROSESAmber Queen (golden amber)Angel Face (lavender)Apricot Nectar (soft apricot)Belle Story (soft pink and yellow)Cathedral (apricot)Cherish (orange pink)Circus (yellow with pink, orange, and red)Europeana (c

Rambling rose

A house eater is how rosarian Ray Reddell describes Bobbie James. The cream-colored, small-flowered rose, shown here on an arbor in Nambe, New Mexico, is one of the most beautiful (ramblers) when in full, majestic b

Summers favorite herb

Basil smells like summer. Take a deep whiff of its distinctive spicy-sweet scent and you can almost taste the juicy tomato slices waiting on your plate for a few flavor-filled leaves. No wonder basil is among our fa

Basil (Ocimum basilicum)

Sometimes referred to as the king of herbs (the name is derived from basileus, which is Greek for king), basil has fragrant, bright green leaves on 6-inch- to 2-foot-tall plants. Annual. All zones.BEST CULINARY VARI

Ice plant

Ground covers• Evergreen perennial• Zones vary• Full sun• Moderate to little waterIncluded under the common name ice plant are a number of succulent perennials. All have thick, juicy foliage, often with a powdery gr

Hollyhock (Alcea)

These tall (5 to 9 feet) plants from the Mediterranean region have rough, roundish heart-shaped leaves and 3- to 6-inch-wide single, semidouble, or double flowers that appear in early to midsummer. Theyre favored fo

Chocolate Vine, Fiveleaf Akebia (Akebia quinata)

• Evergreen, semievergreen, or deciduous• Zones 3-24, 29-41• Full sun or partial shade• Regular watering• Climbs by: twiningGardeners choose chocolate vine for the lush yet delicate look it brings to the landscape.

Asian hybrid lilacs flaunt rich color, fragrance

American gardeners are familiar with the legendary scent of the common lilac ( Syringa vulgaris). But other members of the lilac clan, including most of the Asian relations and their hybrids, have luscious fragrance

Basil (Ocimum)

This fragrant annual needs warm weather to grow well. Plants typically reach 1½ to 2 feet tall. Besides varieties with large green leaves, youll find purple basils and dwarf or small-leafed sorts. You can start from

Pruning annuals and perennials

You can keep nonwoody annuals and perennials flowering by using two simple techniques.Pinching or nipping off growing tips makes a plant bushier. Use your thumb and forefinger to pinch back annuals that often get le