What better way to celebrate Valentine's Day than with a classic bouquet of freshly bloomed roses? Not only are they the most sought-after flower for gift-giving (especially when it comes to romance), they’re practically synonymous with the holiday.
24.01.2024 - 12:49 / finegardening.com
When it comes to sculptural form in the garden, it’s hard to compete with a well-grown agave (Agave spp. and cvs., Zones 7b–11). With sizes ranging from 6-inch rosettes to hulking 12-foot giants, there really is a perfect plant for every garden or container. Most are striking enough in their natural tones of green to blue, but some have raised the bar a bit higher, adding highlights of white and gold to the palette.
Variegation usually appears as a chance mutation among seedlings, or occasionally in new pups or even tissue-cultured plants. How this develops as plants mature can vary a lot, but in monocots like agaves the chlorophyll will usually be reduced in linear patterns along the edges or down the center of the leaves, and sometimes with irregular variations between the surface and deeper leaf tissue. These effects can be striking—and rare, resulting in some astonishing prices. However, some forms have been around for decades and are passed along at reasonable cost with little fanfare, but they are no less useful in the landscape. Here are a few of my favorite variegated agaves that suit a variety of conditions and always add a unique highlight to the garden.
A few basic requirements are shared by all members of this genus.
(Agave americana var. marginata)
Zones: 8–11b
Size: Up to 10 feet tall and 12 feet wide (less in containers)
The leaves on young plants are mostly straight but can develop sinuous curves as the plants mature. This is a spectacular specimen in a location with backlighting. Expect century agave to freely produce pups (young offset plants).
(Agave weberi ‘Arizona Star’)
Zones: 8b–10b
Size: Up to 5 feet tall and 8 feet wide
This is a “friendly” agave with unarmed leaf edges, which is unusual for such
What better way to celebrate Valentine's Day than with a classic bouquet of freshly bloomed roses? Not only are they the most sought-after flower for gift-giving (especially when it comes to romance), they’re practically synonymous with the holiday.
Cyclamen care is not that troublesome if you follow the right set of rules, which we’ll guide you through for the best flowers!
Q: Could you please recommend a good peat-free seed compost? I’ve tried a few over the last few years but haven’t had great results. I’d really like to do the right thing environmentally but am now at the point where I’m sorely tempted to go back to using a conventional peat-based compost. CF County Kerry
Although pollinator populations are diminishing worldwide due to habitat loss, climate change, pesticides, and disease, gardeners can slow this decline through cultivating and maintaining safe environments where winged garden visitors can find sustenance and take shelter. Combining well-chosen trees, shrubs, perennials, and vines to create a varied habitat will attract and support a broad range of bird, mammal, and insect species. Incorporating a strategic array of ground covers into this mix is a great way to maximize the wildlife benefits your garden offers.
Peat is an acidic growing medium, which thanks to its excellent water and nutrient retention is traditionally used in garden composts. With a low pH it’s ideal for growing acid-loving plants such as blueberries, heather and Camellia sinensis, and peat-based composts have been widely used in horticulture – most garden composts contain some peat, and most garden centres still sell plants growing in pots of peat-based compost. However, due to its environmentally damaging effects, from late this year, the sale of peat-based composts in gardens and DIY stores will be banned in the UK. Issues with peat-free composts, such as expense, availability and performance have hindered its take up in the past but thankfully, compost manufacturers have responded to these concerns with research and investment and a broad range of high quality, peat-free composts are now widely available, with some even costing less than their peat-based counterparts.
When you've finally finished putting away your holiday decor for the year, it's totally normal for your home to seem a bit barren. If you're someone who loves the pops of color and life that the holidays bring to your home, you should consider decorating for all four seasons.
23 of the Best Plants for Your Home Office
Using the right kind of soil for your spider plant is important to keep it happy and healthy. While they’re not too fussy, they do prefer a nutrient-rich mix that drains well.
We’ve been to our fair share of local Manchester parks and gardens, that’s for sure! But which do we recommend?
Galanthus x hybridus ‘Robin Hood’ at Thenford Arboretum
<use xlink:href="#trending-icon" xmlns:xlink=«http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink»> Trending Videos <use xlink:href="#close-icon" xmlns:xlink=«http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink»>