Tomato plants are a staple in many gardens, but did you know that there are weeds out there that can easily be mistaken for them? From horse nettle to black nightshade, check out these Weeds that Look like Tomato Plants.
24.07.2023 - 12:25 / hgic.clemson.edu
Each year, I look forward to watching the bleak winter landscape begin to come to life as if transitioning from black and white to Technicolor. Yellow is one of the first colors to appear with the flowers of forsythia and our state flower, yellow jessamine. As I was driving to work this week, I noticed a new color emerge amidst the roadside trees.
The spectacular display of lavender is the result of Chinese and Japanese wisteria (Wisteria sinensis and Wisteria floribunda). The pendulous racemes (clusters) of flowers are breathtakingly gorgeous, but their aggressive growth habit overshadows their beauty. These non-native, invasive vines will shade and girdle other plants, even sizable trees. When girdled trees die, the increased sunlight reaching the forest floor allows new wisteria seedlings to grow and flourish.
While still commercially available, do not be tempted to plant Chinese or Japanese wisteria. Though you may keep these aggressive growers under control, there is no guarantee the future property owner will keep the plant from becoming a menace. Instead, choose the native American wisteria (Wisteria frutescens) that offers comparable beauty without the sinister growth habit. It’s true the flowers of American wisteria are a bit less showy, but I think you’ll find they offer just as dramatic an effect without posing an ecological threat. Named for its dark lavender-hued flowers, the selection ‘Amethyst Falls’ is a vigorous climber that is attractive to butterflies and other pollinators and is deer and drought resistant. How great is that?
A plant tag with the plant’s scientific name will help you choose the native American wisteria over its Asian relatives, but some characteristics can help you distinguish them in the
Tomato plants are a staple in many gardens, but did you know that there are weeds out there that can easily be mistaken for them? From horse nettle to black nightshade, check out these Weeds that Look like Tomato Plants.
Can I grow acai berry trees? Often compared to the blueberry for its similar nutritional benefits, acai products made from this trendy superfood have been finding their way onto grocery store shelves. But due to their short shelf life, fresh berries are difficult to purchase outside acai berry growing zones. Learn all about how to grow acai berries at home.
One of the most beautiful and delicious fruits, kiwis are favorites of both children and adults alike. However, like camu camu, these bright green fruits might be most adored by the wellness community, as they're incredibly nutritious. One potential health benefit of kiwi that's been causing some buzz recently? Eating one before bed might help you sleep better—and as it turns out, that might be true.
Red, White and Blue the patriotic colours of the Hydrangea are augmented by pinks and purples like H. Ayeshia above as a variation on those themes. Flowering from mid-summer these shrubs give a magnificent display with very little effort. Did you see Hydrangea maritima on seaside holidays in large displays of sugary pink and sometimes blue.
Some time ago in the pre-Trump era the west lawn at the British Museum showed plants from North Americas landscape. The plants were provided in partnership with Kew but the photographs were mine taken in September. I now wish I had also visited to see and take pictures of earlier spring and summer flowers fro N America.
Afre years of dipping in and out I bought 2 Saintapaulia better known as African Violets (AV) in December 2016 and managed to kill one within months. This 12 month survivor has been in flower continuously ever since. The plant is happy in a 4″ globular ceramic pot which has a sump to water from underneath. Through my unconscious neglect the plant has to wait until the leaves start to flop before I remember to water. They quickly plump up after a drink but after the first death I have made sure the Violet does not stand in water ‘damping off’ the roots.
Grasses are just not limited to meadows anymore, some of them are prized for their aesthetics and grown in containers for their architectural appeal! Moreover, it’s becoming a trend to grow them indoors, which is why we’ve selected 9 Best Ornamental Indoor Grass varieties that you can grow as a houseplant.
In times of this pandemic, it is imperative that you take good care of your health, especially the respiratory system. Exposure to Volatile Organic Compounds (which are 10 times higher indoors than outdoors), Particulate Matter, Polluting Gases like Nitrogen Oxide andRadon, and Contaminants like Asbestos are commonly found inside homes.
Although commonly known as daffodils, the term Narcissus is the correct genus name for these spring blooming bulbs.Narcissus species and hybrids come in a myriad of sizes, colors, and forms, and some are extremely fragrant. While mostly native to the Mediterranean, a few daffodil species originated from China and Asia. These beautiful flowers are symbols of rebirth and new beginnings, and for that reason, they are the March birth flower. A daffodil bouquet given for a tenth wedding anniversary gift is believed to ensure happiness.
Whenever I encounter an introverted gardener, I engage them in conversation with this question: What wisteria do you recommend for my backyard?
While the Christmas tree takes the front-and-center stage during this holiday season, supported by a cast of poinsettias, cyclamens, kalanchoes, Christmas cactuses, and amaryllises, hollies often find themselves relegated to wreaths, garlands, and candle adornments. Years ago, I learned from Fred Galle’s tome, “Hollies: The Genus Ilex” (Timber Press, OR 1997), that hollies were quintessential Christmas symbols extensively used for centuries in holiday wreaths and Christmas decorations. Galle wrote that in London in 1851, 250,000 bunches of English hollies (Ilex aquifolium) were sold and adorned houses, churches, street corners, and marketplaces. In some parts of England, residents retained the holly sprigs until the following year because they believed it would protect their homes from lightning strikes.
In July 2022, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) drew attention to North America’s migrating monarchs by adding them to their ICUN Red List of Threatened Species. In the United States, the more immediate plight of other threatened and endangered species has precluded the monarchs’ inclusion on the Endangered Species List. However, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service acknowledged that their place on this list is “warranted.” They mandated that the monarchs be reviewed annually as a potential candidate for inclusion. These incredible insects migrate 4000 miles every spring and fall and face immense dangers on this epic journey. What simple steps can you take to help monarchs as they travel past your home?