Camellias can be planted from container-grown nursery plants at almost anytime except during the hottest summer months. They are slow-growing but exceptionally long-lived plants. In favorable conditions, camellia is an easy-to-care-for plant that requires pruning only to remove dead branches. However, some gardeners may find them susceptible to a variety of pest and insect problems, which are more serious for shrubs that are neglected or in poor health. Light Camellias thrive in part shade, or in locations that see dappled sunlight for the entire day, such as in the understory beneath tall airy trees....

When to Plant In cold climates, it’s best to start seeds indoors approximately four to six weeks prior to your projected last spring frost date. Then, transplant seedlings outdoors once the soil temperature is above 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Likewise, if you live in a warm climate, you can simply plant seeds outdoors once the soil is above 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Selecting a Planting Site Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil for your cantaloupe....

Well-developed potted peonies from the nursery are planted in the spring, but bare-root plants, often ordered from online retailers, are typically planted in the fall. Chinese peony is a slow-growing plant that can take as long as three years to become mature enough to bloom, but you’ll be rewarded for your patience with a long-lived plant—they may survive 100 years or more. Peonies contain a toxic substance, paeonol, that can cause gastrointestinal distress if ingested by pets....

The plant is toxic to humans, and toxic to pets. Light While this shrub can grow in full sun, coast leucothoe prefers partial shade. Full sun and hot temperatures can dry out the leaves and flowers, so if you do plant this in a partial sun location, morning sun is preferable to afternoon sun. Soil Coast leucothoe does best in a humus-rich, loamy, organic, lime-free soil that is slightly acidic, but can tolerate soils from neutral to fairly acidic....

Container gardening is always an option to control the plants, and they make charming potted companions for minor bulbs like grape hyacinths or Dutch iris. The unique red, white, and pink rounded flowers with a yellow eye bloom in the spring to early summer above a basal rosette of spoon-shape leaves and tend to be fast-growing. If growing them from seed, plant them indoors six to eight weeks before the last frost....

Learn more about whether you can offer the right growing conditions to allow exotic-looking fuchsias to thrive indoors. However, the dry air created by central heating and air conditioning systems is not this moisture-loving plant’s friend—it can prevent flowering, and the buds that do develop will rapidly wilt and drop. You’ll have to ensure they’re in a position where they get enough bright but indirect light and shelter from draughts—plus, the correct humidity levels are vital for success....

Incrediball hydrangea plants can be used in the landscape in a number of ways. These shrubs have broad rounded, sharply toothed, dark green leaves and are attractive enough to be used singly as specimen plants. Some gardeners choose to grow them en masse along a property line to form a border, while others include them in foundation plantings. Their shade-tolerance makes them suitable for woodland gardens, although they produce larger flower heads in full sun than in partial shade....

The leaves have a sandpaper-like texture. Although many dislike the sharp, citrusy smell of this plant, the aroma of their foliage qualifies them as fragrant plants. The flower’s nectar attracts several species of butterflies including the spicebush swallowtail. This fast-growing plant can be planted any time as a perennial or in the spring as an annual. Lantana is toxic to animals. Light Lantana plants like full sun. The plant should receive at least six hours (or more) of direct sunlight every day....

Mexican orange is typically planted as a container-grown nursery plant in spring or fall. It is a fast-growing plant that can grow as much as two feet per year, but it accepts frequent pruning if you want to keep it more compact. This plant doesn’t require pruning to maintain its health, but it also does not mind regular pruning to shape it and keep it compact. Light A full sun to partial shade location is recommended for Mexican orange, but it will survive in full shade, as well....

When grown indoors, pot a nerve plant in a peaty commercial potting mix. The plant needs to be kept constantly moist with a high level of ambient humidity provided by frequent misting or by placing the pot in a tray filled with pebbles and water. Light As a tropical plant that naturally grows in the humid, bright shade of tropical forests, this plant prefers similar conditions when grown as a houseplant....

Purple leaf sand cherry is a hybrid of Prunus cerasifera (purple leaf plum), a species from Asia, and and Prunus pumila (sand cherry), a species from North America. You can expect the purple leaf sand cherry to bloom each spring after the foliage emerges. The light pink and white flowers are soon replaced by black or purple fruits come midsummer. Though unremarkable to humans, the fruits are an important source of food for many birds, including robins and cardinals, as well as the occasional coyote....

In spring and summer, this is simply a foliage plant. But, by fall, cone-like structures (strobiles) develop. The attraction of the leaves is primarily their color and secondarily their shape. It is the new leaves that are golden. Older foliage fades in summer to chartreuse or light green. Many of the leaves are deeply cut into three lobes. The leaves bear teeth along their margins. To help summer shandy climb—they climb by twining—you can train it up a post with twist-ties....

Growing erect in form, plants grow 1 to 3 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide. This herbaceous perennial has broadleaf evergreen foliage that is finely textured. Leaves measure 1 to 5 inches across, toothed and deeply cut, with the longer leaves at the plant’s base. Flowers bloom from May to August, the flattened yellow center disk resembling the eye of an ox. Each flower measures 1 to 3 inches in diameter and has seven to 20 petals....

Zebra grass belongs to the Poaceae family of plants, making it a true grass. Its botanical name comes from the Greek mischos (meaning “stalk”) and the Greek anthos (meaning “flower”). Sinensis indicates the plant originated in China. The cultivar name ‘Zebrinus’ alludes to the stripes on the plant’s leaves, which are reminiscent of a zebra’s stripes. Zebra grass has a moderate to fast growth rate and can be planted in spring or fall....

Next time you choose to bring an orchid home with you, consider freeing it from the confines of its pot, and grow it mounted instead, as it would traditionally be in its tropical habitat. Not only will it add tons of visual interest to your home or yard, but it will be easier to care for (and more likely to thrive) thanks to the elimination of some pot-centric issues (like wet feet or root rot)....

Choosing a Container The first consideration when growing a magnolia in a container is the container itself. If the container will only be a temporary home for the tree before you plant it in the ground, then you can select one that’s just slightly larger than the tree’s root ball. But if you intend to keep your tree in a pot permanently, you’ll want to plant your sapling in a pot that is several times larger than the tree’s root ball....

Rutabagas are in the mustard family and are a cross between turnips and cabbage. Since they grow well in cool weather and can be harvested into winter, they tend to be popular in northern countries. Another name for them is Swedish turnips or swedes. Rutabagas are large oval or slightly elongated bulbs with firm yellow flesh. The leaves of rutabaga plants, which are edible, are similar to turnip leaves but are thicker, like cabbage or kale leaves....

Most veronica plants are perennials, however, a few varieties grow as annuals. They are known to attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees. Some varieties are considered invasive in certain states. Be sure to check for any restrictions at your location before planting veronica. It’s best to plant veronica in the early spring or early fall. This enables the plant to establish during a time of moderate temperatures before harsh heat or cold arrives....

It’s the spathe that contains skunk cabbage’s flowers. The flowers attract pollinators with their skunky smell. Yes, believe it or not, something actually likes this odor and is drawn to it. Skunk cabbage blooms early (it is a harbinger of spring), and its pollinators are a different cast of characters from the pollinators more familiar to us who are drawn to sweet-smelling nectar. Once you become acquainted with the disproportionately large leaf of bloodroot, you’ll never forget it....