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What is a False Cypress? Native to Japan, false cypress is a medium to large evergreen shrub for U.S. zones 4-8 landscapes. In the wild, varieties of false cypress may grow 70 feet tall (21 m.) and 20-30 feet wide (6-9 m.). For the landscape, nurseries tend to only grow dwarf or unique varieties of Chamaecyparis pisifera. The ‘mop’ or thread-leaf cultivars usually have chartreuse to gold colored, pendulous threads of scaly foliage....

What is a Flannel Bush? Flannel bush (Fremontodendron californicum) is a large shrub that can grow up to 20 feet (6 m.) tall and 12 feet (4 m.) wide. This growth comes within five years of planting, if you give it the best conditions. However, flannel bush is also short lived compared to other shrubs. A flowering broadleaf evergreen, flannel bush produces large and sunny yellow blooms in the spring. The leaves give this plant its name and are fuzzy, like flannel....

What is a New Jersey Tea Plant? The New Jersey tea plant (Ceanothus americanus) is native to the continent, though not just to New Jersey. It grows in the wild in prairies, glades and thickets in the eastern and central parts of the United States. A dense and compact bush, the New Jersey tea plant will usually stay shorter than you are, typically growing to 2 to 3 feet (.6-.9 m....

What is a Pressure Bomb? A tree pressure chamber is a tool used to measure the water stress levels in trees. The gadget consists of a small chamber and outer pressure gauge. First, a leaf sample is collected. This is usually done by selecting a leaf and enclosing it in a special envelope. In the early afternoon, when demand for water is at its highest, the leaf is picked from the tree so that measurements can be taken....

What is a Sucker on a Rose Bush? A grafted rose bush consists of the above-ground rose bush you desire and the below-ground rootstock. The above-ground portion is typically not hardy enough to survive in all climatic conditions. Thus, it is grafted (budded) onto another rose that is extremely hardy so that the overall rose bush is capable of surviving in most climates. A truly great idea this was and is!...

How do trees get hurt? There are many different types of tree wounds, each with its own causes. Read on for information about tree wounds, as well as how you can help a wounded tree. What Is a Tree Wound? Exactly what is a tree wound? It is any injury to the tree that breaks the bark. This break can be small, like when someone pounds a nail into a tree trunk, or it can be huge, like when a large branch cracks off in the wind....

What is Ajwain? The traditional Indian herb ajwain (Trachyspermum ammi), which is also called carom, ajowan, and bishop’s weed, is both a culinary and a medicinal plant. It grows quickly and readily, spreading and filling in spaces in beds. The leaves are attractive and ridged, so ajwain can be grown for use in the kitchen, but also for enjoying as a border or as clumps in ornamental beds. The leaves have a fresh herbal taste, reminiscent of thyme....

Japanese Butterbur Information Japanese butterbur is a dramatic plant with sturdy, pencil-size rhizomes, yard-long (0.9 m.) stalks and round leaves that can measure as much as 48 inches (1.2 m.) across, depending on the variety. The stalks are edible and often known as “Fuki.” Spikes of small, sweet-smelling white flowers decorate the plant in late winter, just before the leaves make an appearance in early spring. Growing Japanese Butterbur Growing Japanese butterbur is a decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly, as the plant spreads vigorously and, once established, is extremely difficult to eradicate....

Jerusalem Sage Information What is Jerusalem sage? Jerusalem sage is a shrub that ranges natively from Turkey to Syria. Despite its name, it is actually a close relative of mint. The misnomer comes from the appearance of its leaves, which are pale green and soft, like those of a sage plant. The shrub is evergreen in USDA zones 8 through 11, though it can be treated as a perennial in zones 7, 6 and, sometimes, zone 5....

White Ratany Info What is Krameria grayi? Also known as chacati, white krameria, crimson beak, and Gray’s kameria, white ratany is a low growing shrub that tends to reach 2 to 3 feet (0.5-1 m.) in height and spread. The leaves are very small, ovate, and gray, and they tend to blend in with the stems of the plant. Much more impressive are the long, branching stems and spines and, of course, the prolific, reddish-purple flowers....

What is Myrtle Spurge? So exactly what is myrtle spurge? It is a species of spurge plant that is a succulent. It also has been called creeping spurge or donkey tail. The myrtle spurge bears yellow flowers, but they are not showy and can be hidden by the bracts. You’ll spot the blue-green succulent style foliage arranged in spirals around the stems. Myrtle spurge plants are native to the Mediterranean, so it’s no surprise that they like sunny locations and well-drained soil....

What is Primo Vantage Cabbage? No matter what type of cabbage you’ve been planting, you might want to take a look at Primo Vantage cabbage. It is a variety that produces big heads of four pounds (2 kg.) or more in short order. Primo Vantage cabbages have round, green heads and short stems. The leaves are juicy, tender, and sweet making them perfect for coleslaw. The cabbage is ready for picking just over 70 days from planting....

What is Tree Topping? Topping a tree is the removal of the top of the central stem of a tree, called the leader, as well as the upper main branches. They are usually sheared off at a uniform height. The result is an unsightly tree with thin, upright branches called water sprouts at the top. Topping a tree seriously affects its health and value in the landscape. Once a tree is topped, it is highly susceptible to disease, decay and insects....

What is Urban Agriculture? Think food only grows in the country? What about agriculture in the city? Such an activity relies on using available space and resources as well as utilizing local citizens to maintain the garden. It can be a small or large space and be as simple as a vacant field with corn to a more complex, highly involved series of gardens like a pea patch. The key to efficient city farming is planning and getting others involved....

How to Keep Plants from Growing too Big Most gardeners actually want their plants to grow big, but there is too much of a good thing on occasion. This is where dividing plants comes into play. Many perennials can be easily divided in the very early winter just after the ground thaws enough to work in, but before the plant is leafing out. Once you have your divisions you need to know what to do with them....

I cannot begin to tell you how many times I have had someone tell me how hard roses are to grow. It just really is not true. There are some things a beginning rose-loving gardener can do that will make it very easy for them to be successful. One of those things is choosing where to plant your rose bush. Tips for Choosing Where to Put a Rose Bed Select a place for your new rose bed first before you order your roses....

About Flowers that Bloom all Summer When thinking about adding more color into the landscape many gardeners opt for annual plants such as pansies or marigolds. But if you really want to stretch your dollar and at the same time elevate the palette of the garden, look no further than perennials that bloom all summer, or at least the majority of the season. Unlike annuals which die after a season, perennial flowers keep giving year after year....

My Peace Lily Keeps Wilting Peace lily is an attractive foliage plant that produces a flower-like spathe, which is a modified leaf that encloses the real flower, a spadix. While these plants are known for their ease of care, occasional issues may arise. One of the most common is droopy leaves on peace lily. Wilting peace lilies can occur due to several conditions. It is important to look for pest and disease issues, but the problem could also be cultural....

Snow in Summer Plant isn’t Blooming Great masses of white blooms on silvery gray foliage are the hallmark of the snow in summer plant. Failure to form flowers might be related to site conditions, lack of nutrients, or simply poor snow in summer plant care. Another common cause of no flowers on snow in summer plant is planting in the incorrect zone. This is an alpine plant that thrives in United States Department of Agriculture zones 3 to 7....

Winterizing hops plants is easy and fast but the small effort will protect the roots and crown and ensure new sprouts in spring. Once you understand how to winter over hop plants, these attractive and useful vines can be yours to use and enjoy season after season. Hops Plants Over Winter Once temperatures get below freezing, hops plant leaves fall off and the vine dies back. In temperate zones, the roots and crown rarely receive a lethal freeze, but it’s best to be safe and protect the growth zone during the cold season....