Cosmos: How to Plant, Grow, and Care for These Airy Annuals

Linda Daggett Cosmos are beloved annuals grown for their showy, delicate flowers. Blooms may be bowl-shaped or open cups atop long, graceful stems. Easy to grow, they excel in borders, containers, and cutting gardens, w

Coneflowers (Echinacea): Planting, Growing, and Care Guide

Coneflowers are bright, resilient perennials valued both for garden beauty and herbal uses. These easy-care, relatively drought-tolerant plants make excellent cut flowers. Their signature daisy-like blooms feature promi

Cannas: How to Plant, Grow, and Care for These Tropical Showstoppers

Cannas rank among the most flamboyant summer bulbs, their tropical American heritage on full display in ruffled spikes that taper to refined buds. These perennials offer an astonishing range of colors, immense paddle-sh

Black-Eyed Susans: Complete Guide to Planting, Growing, and Caring for Rudbeckia

Black-eyed Susan in our yard with a tiny bee on it. Sue Day Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta) are native North American wildflowers that have become garden favorites across the continent. These cheerful blooms blanket

Growing Astilbe: Shade-Loving Perennial for Feathery Blooms

Astilbe is a perennial with showy flower plumes atop glossy, fern-like foliage. Flower clusters: 6 inches to 2 feet. Height: 6 inches to 5 feet by type. Perfect for shady areas needing color! Planting Light to moderate

Growing Asters: Late-Season Perennial Flowers for Color and Pollinators

Asters are daisy-like perennials with starry flower heads. Delightful late summer/autumn color when other blooms fade. Height: 8 inches to 8 feet by type. Fit almost any garden—borders, rock gardens, wildflower gardens.

Growing Thyme: Low-Growing Perennial Herb for Gardens and Kitchen

Thyme is a small perennial shrub with many branches, light purple/pink flowers. Aromatic, pleasant, pungent, clover flavor. 50+ varieties for cooking/gardening. English thyme most common in cooking. Planting Seeds: slo

Growing Tarragon: French Tarragon for Culinary Excellence

Tarragon is a perennial herb with long, light green leaves and tiny greenish/yellowish-white flowers. For cooking: French tarragon. Russian tarragon resembles French but is coarser, less flavorful. Planting French tarr

Growing Sage: Hardy Perennial Herb for Stuffing and Seasoning

Sage is a hardy perennial with soft, grayish-green leaves. Flowers: purple, pink, blue, or white. Common sage = classic stuffing herb. Planting Seeds work, but cuttings from established plant yield best quality. Indoor

Growing Rosemary: Evergreen Shrub for Culinary and Ornamental Use

Rosemary is a perennial evergreen shrub with blue flowers. Pungent, distinctive, sweet resinous flavor. Ideal for rock gardens or dry wall tops. Used for poultry, lamb, stews, soups. Planting Head start: seeds/cuttings

Growing Parsley: Biennial Herb for Garnish, Flavor, and Nutrition

Parsley is a biennial with bright green, featherlike leaves, related to dill. Used in soups, sauces, salads—reduces salt need in soups. Perfect garnish, rich in iron and vitamins A and C. Planting Head start: seeds in

Growing Oregano: Hardy Perennial Herb for Italian Cooking

Oregano is a perennial with rose-purple/white flowers, thyme-like taste. Zesty, strong—staple in Italian dishes. Hardy, good ground cover. Planting Full, strong sun for strong flavor; some plant later for assured warmt

Growing Mint: Vigorous Perennial Herb for Kitchen and Garden

Mint is a perennial with fragrant, toothed leaves and tiny purple/pink/white flowers. Fruity, aromatic taste. If any man can name … all the varieties of mint, he must know how many fish swim in the Indian Ocean. – Walaf

Growing Dill: Easy Annual Herb for Pickling and Beneficial Insects

Dill is an annual, self-seeding plant with feathery green leaves. Common in soups, stews, pickling. Easy to grow and attracts beneficial insects (wasps, predatory insects). Planting Sow ¼ inch deep, 18 inches apart in

Growing Cilantro and Coriander: Dual-Purpose Herb for Leaves and Seeds

Coriander/cilantro is a fast-growing, aromatic herb for cool spring/fall weather. Flavors many recipes; entire plant edible. Leaves = cilantro; seeds = coriander. Planting Spring after last frost or fall. Southwest: fa

Growing Chives: Perennial Herb for Flavor and Flowers

Chives are a perennial onion-family member with beautiful purple flowers. Cool-season, cold-tolerant, planted early spring. Mindful planting: flowers left to ripen scatter seeds and take over. But easy to dig and reloca

Growing Basil: Planting, Care, and Harvest for Fresh Herbs All Summer

Basil is a leafy, fragrant annual with bushy habit. Most common: sweet basil. Others: purple basil (less sweet), lemon basil (citrus), Thai basil (licorice). Easy to grow, perfect for Italian dishes, but summer-only—pla

Growing Watermelon: Planting, Care, and Harvest for Sweet Summer Fruit

Everyone loves juicy watermelon in summer. Native to Africa, melons need warmth (80°F days) and a long season. Cooler climates succeed by starting seeds indoors and choosing short-season varieties. Maturity: 70–90 days.

Growing Strawberries: Complete Guide for Home Gardens

Sweet, juicy berries straight from the plant are unbeatable. Supermarket berries turn tart and grainy because natural sugar converts to starch immediately after picking. Homegrown is worth the effort—and easy with full

Growing Rhubarb: Perennial Vegetable for Pies, Jams, and More

Rhubarb is a perennial vegetable used as a fruit in desserts and jams. Only stalks are edible—rich, tart flavor. Leaves are poisonous—never ingest. Easy to grow but needs cool weather. Planting Eliminate all perennial