‘Arnold Promise’ is a deciduous flowering shrub that is prized for its spidery bright yellow blooms that arrive in late winter or early spring, before the foliage opens. This may well be the first flowering plant of spring, sometimes blooming while snow still blankets the ground. This cultivar has a low branching, vase-shaped growth habit, and 6-inch-long oval-shaped leaves with toothed edges. The foliage turns an attractive yellow-to-orange color in the fall....

While they are related to such better-known plants as shallots, onions and garlic, flowering onions serve ornamental purposes. ‘Ambassador’ is one of the showiest; it adds great purple color and height to the late-spring bulb garden. It is one of the last of the large alliums to flower. How deep to plant allium bulbs is information that is usually provided on the packaging. But if it is not, the general rule of thumb is to plant bulbs two to three times the height of the bulb....

Unlike jasmine shrubs and vines, Asiatic jasmine is a sprawling ground cover—it does not climb much, unlike its close cousin, star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides). The dense evergreen foliage that grows close to the ground makes Asiatic jasmine an ideal cover for bare spots around and underneath shrubs and trees, or for cascading down a wall. That it is also fast-growing adds to its appeal as a ground cover. The only caveat is that Asiatic jasmine is an introduced plant, and because it spreads so vigorously and aggressively, it has the potential to become invasive....

There are seven species of Brugmansia, among them B. arborea, B. suaveolens, B. sanguine (red angel’s trumpet), and those have been hybridized to develop robust cultivars like “Grand Mariner’ and ‘Inca Sun.’ Although it is considered a showpiece in Northern Hemisphere gardens, it is an invasive plant in Australia, New Zealand, Central America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Islands. Brugmansia is best planted in mid-spring when outdoor temperatures no longer drop below 50 degrees at night....

You’ll need to be prepared, however, for them to turn brown more easily, look rather untidy with large seed stalks and heads, and create a more patchy lawn appearance. Because carpetgrass is so fast-growing, weekly mowing is essential during the summer season to keep your garden looking neat. Carpetgrass has a tendency to crowd out other species, so it can assume the role of a weed if it colonizes in an area where you are trying to get other grasses to grow....

Light Choose a location that receives several hours of bright, indirect light for your ficus Audrey, such as a south or west-facing window. This indoor tree can tolerate some direct morning and evening sun, just be sure to avoid extended periods of direct sunlight during the afternoon as it may burn the leaves. Soil Plant your ficus Audrey in a moist but well-draining soil mixture. A combination of indoor potting soil, perlite, and sand is a good option for this tree....

Gardenia can also be planted outdoors in the spring or fall in the southern United States, or along the Pacific Coast. Gardeners typically purchase mature potted specimens for this purpose, so that they will bloom immediately. Should you choose to grow gardenia from seed, expect to wait two to three years before the plant flowers. Do note: Gardenia is toxic to pets and, if ingested, may produce mild diarrhea or vomiting....

The Ficus is part of the Moraceae or Mulberry family and it grows throughout the tropical regions of the world. The ginseng ficus particularly is native to Southeast Asia. It is an interesting-looking plant for a bonsai, with narrow elevated roots that swell into a potbelly trunk and narrows at the branches before spreading out to the crown. Bonsai artists especially focus on the raised roots of these funky little plants to create a certain aesthetic....

Hetz’s Japanese holly does not grow fast and can take several years to mature. The ‘Hetzii’ cultivar usually tops out at around 6 feet. But in some cases, this Japanese holly bush can grow up to 8 feet tall, though you can keep it small with pruning. The best time to plant it is in the spring or fall. Take care when planting, as saponins in the shrub are toxic to people and pets....

Although the foliage grows fairly quickly, these are relatively slow-maturing plants, and seedlings may require three or four years before they begin to bloom. However, potted nursery plants are usually at least two years old before they are sold, and a good healthy one-gallon nursery specimen may provide you with blooms in its first year. If you are buying mail-order bare roots, expect rather slow growth in the first year or two....

Light Japanese skimmia is a shade-loving shrub that enjoys locations with part to full shade. A location that receives morning sunlight and dappled afternoon sun is ideal. Too much sunlight can bleach and burn the foliage of a Japanese skimmia so avoid locations that receive harsh, direct sun to ensure the plant stays healthy and attractive. Soil Moist, well-draining, fertile soils are ideal for Japanese skimmia. Loam soil is a great option as it retains water, but drains easily....

Kangaroo paw plants grow fairly quickly and don’t require much maintenance. If you live in USDA hardiness zones 10 to 11, you can plant kangaroo paw in your garden and expect it to come back year after year as a perennial. However, if you live in a cooler climate you’ll either have to bring your kangaroo paw indoors for the winter, or treat your plants as annuals, letting them die at the end of the growing season in the fall and replacing them with new plants the next spring....

What you might not know about luffa is that when they are still young and tender, luffa gourds are actually edible vegetables in the cucumber family that can be eaten raw or cooked. However, the fruit grows so fast, about an inch-and-a-half per day, that it’s difficult to keep up with harvesting them on time so it’s best to grow luffa for sponges and let them grow to about two feet long....

Melampodium is usually planted as a nursery-grown container plant or from seeds sown directly into the garden, as soon as the danger of frost has passed. Like many annuals, it is very fast-growing; even when planted from seed, it reaches flowering maturity within six to eight weeks. The other bit of good news is that melampodium also won’t require a significant amount of pruning or deadheading. This is a low-maintenance plant that will continue to blossom on its own up until the first frost of the year....

While the young shoots, young leaves, and flowers are edible, as well as the cooked, young pods, the mature, hardened beans contain cyanogenic glucoside levels that are toxic to both humans and pets. Plant purple hyacinth bean in the spring when the danger of frost has passed, with consistent evening temperatures of 50 degrees F. Once purple hyacinth bean blooms, your garden will have a continual display of color, as purple bean pods will come along soon after the flowers fade....

This tree has a moderate growth rate of about one to two feet per year. It’s best planted in the early spring or fall. It is a larval host plant for the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly (Papilio glaucus). The stems, leaves, and seeds contain cyanide and are toxic, especially in the process of wilting; they are mildly toxic to humans, and toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. In terms of its care, plan to water your tree throughout the growing season (spring to fall) if rainfall is insufficient....

Pussy willows grow quite fast and will spread quickly, achieving heights as much as 25 feet for some species. Simply sticking a pussy willow branch into the soil will produce a fully developed adult plant in a matter of a few months. Planting is generally done in the spring, but it will succeed during the summer, as well. Willows in general are rather weak and brittle plants, so keeping them well pruned can prevent damage from ice and snow....

The bright green leaves and red berries of Ruscus create vibrant color in winter, making it a desirable landscape plant. It grows well in shady wooded areas and adds a bit of color to the woodland garden. Some varieties are rounded and compact, some erect and a bit taller, while others have a spreading habit. Light Ruscus thrives in full or partial shade, and because it is drought-tolerant, will do well in your dry shade areas....

Light To encourage the most vigorous growth and the best variegation, the white wizard Philodendron should be placed in a location that receives several hours of bright, indirect light. Variegated plants require more light than their non-variegated counterparts since their leaves have less chlorophyll, so while many Philodendron varieties can tolerate low-light conditions, this hybrid is not one of them. At the same time, harsh sunlight can easily damage this plant’s delicate leaves, so avoid direct sun where possible....

Mature plants produce an odd-looking thick flower stalk with star-shaped flowers at the tip of mauve-pink or red. These are not tall plants, except when they stretch out to flower. The flower stalk extends 8 to 12 inches before flowering, then reduces in size once the plant blooms and the mother plant dies. Hens and chicks are not grown for their flowers, but when they do bloom, it is usually during the summer....