Different Kinds of Marigold Flowers Marigolds come in four different types. These are: African – These marigold flowers tend to be tall French – These tend to be dwarf varieties Triploid – These marigolds are a hybrid between African and French and are multi-colored Single – Have long stems and look like daisies. Some people also refer to Calendulas as Pot Marigolds, but they are not related to the flowers most people know as marigolds....

What is Hairy Bittercress? Hairy bittercress weed (Cardamine hirsuta) is an annual spring or winter pest. The plant springs from a basal rosette and bears 3 to 9 inch (8-23 cm.) long stems. The leaves are alternate and slightly scalloped with the largest at the base of the plant. Tiny white flowers develop at the ends of the stems and then turn into long seedpods. These pods split open explosively when ripe and fling seeds out into the environment....

Cold Hardy Cactus Desert cacti experience tremendous ranges of temperature. During the day temperatures soar over 100 degrees F. (38 C.) but at night the cold can approach freezing. This makes hardy cactus plants one of the most adaptive types in the plant kingdom. Many plants in the group are not only suitable for zone 7 but will thrive in those regions. Hardy cactus plants are found in the mountains of northern Mexico into the western United States....

What is Wood Rot? Wood rot, or wood decay, occurs in trees due to the presence of various types of fungi. The fungi begin to break down the wood within the tree, thus causing it to weaken. While severe cases of rot may be obvious in the form of large downed limbs, damage to infected trees is not always apparent. What Causes Wood Rot? Wood rot begins with damage to the tree....

Hibiscus Losing Leaves Hibiscus plants are generally separated into two groups: tropical or hardy. Many of us in cooler climates still grow tropical hibiscus, but as annuals or houseplants that are moved in and out of the house depending on the weather. Sensitive to cold and environmental change, leaf drop on hibiscus can merely be a sign of stress from this change. A tropical hibiscus that has spent all winter in a toasty, warm home may go through shock when set outside in cooler spring weather....

About Homemade Calendula Oil Uses Calendula is listed by the FDA as one of the safest herbs, safe enough to treat children. Its herbal uses include: first aid for wounds, bug bites, and minor burns skin care treatment (rosacea, eczema, dry skin, acne, etc.) helps alleviate muscle aches, hemorrhoids, ulcers, and menstrual cramps oral care soothes sore throats treats mites in pets Calendula flowers can be used to make a natural makeup remover, hot oil hair treatments, and insect repellents....

Hoverfly Identification Hoverflies are also known as syrphid flies, flower flies, and drone flies. They are prolific pollinators and also feed on insect pests, specifically aphids. They will also feed on other soft-bodied insects such as thrips, scales, and caterpillars. Their name, hoverfly, is due to their unique ability to hover in midair. They can also fly backward, a feat that few other flying insects possess. There are several varieties of syrphid flies, but all reside in the order Diptera....

Like all hydrangeas, popular panicle cultivars like Pee Gee and Limelight are fairly low maintenance in the backyard. However, pruning is recommended to keep them looking tidy and compact. Don’t do it wrong or you may lose all of the flowers for the year. Read on for tips on how to trim a hydrangea tree. Pruning a Hydrangea Tree Panicle hydrangea is a flowering shrub that, left to its own devices, will grow to 25 feet (8 m....

What is a Jicama? Okay, but what is a Jicama? In Spanish “jicama” refers to any edible root. Although sometimes referred to as a yam bean, jicama (Pachyrhizus erosus) is unrelated to the true yam and tastes unlike that tuber. Jicama growing occurs under a climbing legume plant, which has extremely long and large tuberous roots. These tap roots may each get 6 to 8 feet (2 m.) within five months and weigh over 50 pounds with vines reaching lengths of up to 20 feet (6 m....

What to Do in June Gardens Whether a beginning gardener or a seasoned hobbyist, keeping track of gardening chores can be challenging. While online advice can be helpful, information regarding what to do in the garden will vary greatly depending upon your growing zone. Localized growing conditions may add even further confusion. June garden chores, for example, may differ widely across the United States. Northwest June in the Northwest is ideal for continued garden weeding....

How Do Plants Attract Pollinators? Wind, water, and animals are all potential vectors for pollination. Wind and water are passive, moving pollen by chance. Animals, on the other hand, are pollinators that move from one plant to another, taking pollen with them. This is a more active and productive form of pollination, but it requires that plants draw in pollinators. They attract bats, bees, butterflies, and other animals through showy flowers and some very specific adaptations....

Lettuce Types for the Garden The five varieties of lettuce that can be grown in the garden include the following: Crisphead or Iceberg Crisphead lettuce, more commonly known as iceberg, has a tight head of crisp leaves. Often found in the local salad bar and a virtual staple in the delicious BLT, it’s actually one of the more difficult lettuce varieties to grow. This lettuce variety is not fond of hot summer temps or water stress and may rot from the inside out....

The arid conditions of a desert pose a problem for the water needs of plants. Using drought tolerant specimens is an excellent way to approach low desert gardening. Gardeners who want a bloom-filled landscape should look to a flower planting guide for the low desert. These are available from local Extension offices and native nurseries. A low desert planting calendar will also advise on when the correct times for planting items like vegetables and bare root plants are....

Types of Acer Maple Trees Maple trees are members of the genus Acer, which includes a lot of variety in size, shape, color, and growth habit. With all of the variations, it’s hard to pinpoint a few obvious features that make a tree a maple. To make maple tree identification a little easier, let’s begin by dividing them into two main groups: hard and soft maples. One distinction between the two maple tree types is the rate of growth....

Identifying Mole Crickets These insects can be recognized by their gray-brown, velvety bodies and wide spade-like front legs, which are well adapted for digging. Adult mole crickets are about an inch to an inch and a quarter (2.5-3 cm.) in length with wings. The nymphs, or immature mole crickets, are similar looking but are smaller and have no wings. Mole Cricket Damage Mole cricket damage usually occurs in warmer climates, especially areas along the coast of the southeastern United States....

About Pawpaw Fruit Trees All types of pawpaw fruit trees require warm to hot summer weather, mild to cold winters and consistent rainfall throughout the year. They thrive in USDA zones 5 to 8 and can be found growing wild from south of New England, north of Florida, and as far west as Nebraska. Pawpaw trees are on the small side for fruit trees, about 15 to 20 feet (5-6 m....

There are several pine trees that will produce reasonably sized seeds for harvesting that will thrive in North American regions. Once you know how to grow pine nuts, you can store seeds for up to a year for your family’s use. How to Grow Pine Nuts Toasted pine nuts in salads, pastas, pesto, and other dishes add a nutty crunch and earthy flavor to any recipe. Pine nut harvesting is an arduous process and adds to the hefty price tag fetched by most producers of the seeds....

Yellow Leaved Plants The following plants provide yellow or gold foliage and used sparingly in the garden can add that extra “wow” factor: Shrubs Aucuba – Aucuba japonica ‘Mr. Goldstrike,’ suitable for growing in USDA plant hardiness zones 7 through 9, is a hardy shrub with green leaves generously speckled with gold flecks. Also consider Aucuba japonica ‘Subaru’ or ‘Lemon Flare.’ Ligustrum – Golden privet (Ligustrum x vicaryi) displays bright yellow leaves which grown in full sun, and yellowish-green leaves in shade....

Starfruit Tree Care Starfruit trees bear yellow fruit, about ¾-inch (2 cm.) long with very waxy skin and five severe ridges. When the fruit is cut crosswise, a resulting perfect five-point star is in evidence. As mentioned above, starfruit trees are native to the subtropics, specifically Sri Lanka and the Moluccas with cultivation evident in southeast Asia and Malaysia for hundreds of years. This fruiting tree in the family Oxalis has minimal hardiness but will survive very light frost and temps into the upper 20’s for brief periods of time....

Problems with Primroses Your first, and most important, step to avoiding primula plant problems is planting them correctly. Many primula disease problems can be avoided by good cultural habits. Primroses do best in your garden if you plant them in a cool section that offers the plants lots of bright light. It is essential to preventing primula disease problems to select a site with excellent drainage, since the primula roots can be damaged in winter when soil is wet or heavy....