Sugar Crystal Double Tulips Sugar Crystal double tulips Tulipa Zones 3 to 8 Light needs: Full sun to part shade Size: 12 to 16 inches tall Bloom time: Mid to late spring Foliage: Light green and upright Soil: Well-draining If you’re looking for head-turning tulip power, this plant’s double baby pink blooms are it. Look closely at the tulip’s feathery petal edges—they almost appear to have a silver tint to them. Like all tulips, Sugar Crystal likes to be in well-draining soil. These gorgeous, textured blooms are ideal for cut-flower arrangements. While some tulips have floppy foliage, these h ..read more

On springtime or early summer walks through the woods, you might find yourself surrounded by purple flowers and think, “Wow, look at all that lovely phlox!” But do a double take, because you might be seeing a troublesome phlox look-alike. Unfortunately, the object of your admiration could be an invasive species: dame’s rocket. While dame’s rocket and phlox flowers look incredibly similar, you can learn tips and tricks to tell them apart. By learning the difference, you can make sure that what you’re seeing really is phlox—and that you’re not letting an invasive flower take control of your ..read more

How to Grow Balloon Flower Female ruby-throated hummingbird at balloon flower Common name: Balloon flower, Chinese bellflower, Japanese bellflower Scientific name: Platycodon grandiflorus Hardiness zones: 3 to 8 Light needs: Full sun to part shade Watering needs: Supplemental water usually not required once established Preferred soil: Well-draining, moist soil Size: 1 to 2 feet tall, 1 to 1 1/2 feet wide Pollinators: Bees and butterflies Although the Latin botanical names are the best way to talk about flowers, since common names vary so widely, some common names are still a lot of fun and d ..read more

Common Foxglove Plant Care Tips Foxglove in bloom Common name: Common foxglove Scientific name: Digitalis purpurea Hardiness zones: Zones 4 to 9 Light needs: Full sun Water needs: Does best with regular watering and moist soil Size: 1 to 3 feet high Attracts: hummingbirds, bees and butterflies If you’ve ever seen this plant’s otherwordly stalks of tubular purple flowers, you can probably get a sense of why it’s earned a few fairy-tale nicknames, from fairy fingers and ladies’ thimble to fairy bells. Its scientific name, Digitalis purpurea, literally means ‘purple fingers.’ Are Foxglove Plant ..read more

Bougainvillea Care and Growing Tips Ruby-throated hummingbird at bougainvillea flowers Scientific name: Bougainvillea spp. Zones: 9 to 11 or Annual Light needs: Full sun Water needs: Low Soil: Well-drained Size: 2 to 40 feet tall, 6 to 40 feet wide Attracts: Birds, bees, and butterflies This thorny tropical beauty provides brilliant color year-round in the south, and all summer long up north. “These plants are incredibly showy because of the way they flower all along new shoots that can be trellised or left cascading,” explains Tracy Harrison, Nursery Production Planning Manager at Monrovia ..read more

Growing Tips for Hollyhocks Hollyhocks are relatively easy to grow from seed Common name: Hollyhocks Scientific name: Alcea spp. Zones: Zone 3 to 9 or Annual (some varieties are hardy to Zone 2) Light: Full sun Water: Moderate and drought tolerant when established Preferred soil: Rich, well-drained Mature Size: 4 to 8 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide Attracts: bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, birds Hollyhocks are old-fashioned, summer-flowering plants, typical of the “cottage garden” style. Flowers open at the base of the flower stalk and continue up, remaining open for several days. Tall spir ..read more

Why You Should Grow Mexican Sunflower Female ruby-throated hummingbird at a Mexican sunflower Bright and vibrant, a Mexican sunflower spices up gardens both with their colorful blooms and through the wildlife they attract. “Mexican sunflowers are loved as a pollinator favorite, supporting butterflies, hummingbirds and a host of beneficial bugs,” says Tabar Gifford, a master gardener with American Meadows. “They are a low-maintenance choice, great for new gardeners, plus deer and other hungry critters tend to leave them alone.” The blooms of Mexican sunflowers range from red and orange to yello ..read more

How to Grow Cleome (Spider Flower) Cleome, also known as spider flower, thrives in the heat of summer. Scientific name: Cleome spp. Common name: Spider flower Zone: Zone 9 t0 11, or grown as an annual Light: Full sun Size: 2 to 6 feet, depending on the cultivar Pollinators: Hummingbirds, bees and butterflies Native to South America, cleome (also known as spider flower) blooms from summer to frost with large pink, lavender, or white flower heads. Stalks tend to reach 5 to 6 feet, but short cultivars can be grown in containers. Grown as annuals, cleome plants are heat tolerant and adaptable to m ..read more

Mandevilla Care and Growing Tips Mandevilla thrives in heat and sunshine. Scientific name: Mandevilla spp. Common name: Rocktrumpet Zones: 9 to 11 or Annual Light needs: Full sun to part sun Water needs: Moderate Soil: Rich, well-drained Size: 1 to 20 feet tall and wide Attracts: Birds, bees and butterflies This bloom-laden vine is a showstopper wherever it grows, and many summer gardens feature baskets or trellises full of its trailing flowers. The blossoms themselves spread several inches across, with a deep trumpet shape that hides nectar at its base. You’ll find this charmer available in ..read more

With the range of colors, shapes and sizes of roses available, it’s possible to have blooms from May through the fall frost. Here are tips and tricks for planting and growing potted roses. Pick the Right Size Pot for Your Rose Make sure the container is the right size for your rose bush. Laura LeBoutillier of Garden Answer, a popular YouTube channel, says rose tags state the average height and width. For miniature and petite roses, the minimum container size is 12 inches in diameter to allow for enough room for root growth. Insulation from heat and cold is another factor for the 12-inch pot re ..read more