Featured Plants : green

The Zesty Kaffir Lime

barb-nhn — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:30:00 GMT

The Kaffir Lime Tree produces a lime that is a dark green, warty/bumpy fruit with leaves, zest (peel), and juice that's mainly used in Thai cooking; also used in Cambodian, and Indonesian cooking. The green limes grow on a very thorny bush with aromatic and distinctively shaped "double" leaves. These leaves are an essential ingredient for flavoring in many Asian dishes such as soups, curries and fish. Sizes vary, but the average individual leaf is approx 2" long. Lime leaves freeze well.

Being well suited to container growing, this citrus tree, reaching up to 5 feet tall, can be grown outdoors year round in zones 9-10. The Kaffir Lime tree thrives in potted environments and does well when grown on the patio or deck; in colder climates it needs to be brought indoors during winter; very cold sensitive. Its container needs adequate drainage, and this dwarf tree prefers full sun in moist soil. This tree is prone to root rot if kept too wet, so it is best to allow the soil to dry out some between waterings. Fertilize at the beginning of the growing season. No pollinator needed.

If grown indoors, keep near a sunny window. Trees are mildly frost hardy and grow best in areas that receive only short, mild frosts. In most parts of Thailand, the Kaffir Lime is so beloved that almost every person's home in the countryside has at least one tree growing in their yard.

Try The Green Mound Alpine Currant For Early Spring Interest

patti-nhn — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 11:11:00 GMT

The Green Mound Alpine Currant is a compact shrub that will grow from 3 to 4 feet tall and spread from 2 to 3 feet wide. It makes a great small hedge or as a border plant along your fence, driveway, sidewalk or even on its own used to fill in a bare area. Often you will find the Green Mound planted in masses in shady woodland areas. This shrub has all season interest. Early in the spring it will begin to leaf out with beautiful dark green foliage that will last well into summer. It has yellowish green flowers that show off against the dark green foliage. Its foliage is very full and dense and has a mounding shape. It is considered spineless and is deciduous meaning it will lose its leaves in the winter. The branches will add interest during the winter months.

This shrub is very winter hardy from zone 2 to zone 7 so can handle the coldest of temperatures. It does require well drained soil but can adapt to many types of soil. It will need partial sun and is a moderate grower. The Green Mound Alpine Currant is a dioecious shrub which means that if you want the scarlet berries (that are inedible) you will need a male and female plant. This is a male plant so you would need a female to bear fruit. It requires partial sun preferably normal to moist soil. This shrub would do well in many areas including an urban setting. It is very hardy and tough. A low maintenance plant, it would work well for a new gardener.

Technito Arborvitae Makes A Great Evergreen Hedge

patti-nhn — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 11:11:00 GMT

Looking for a tall evergreen bush for a hedge or as a single specimen? The Arborvitae Technito fits that bill. It matures from 5 to 6 feet tall and will spread from 2 to 3 feet wide. It is an evergreen so will continue with its dark green color throughout the winter. It is similar to the Techny variety however the Techny is much bigger at 15 to 20 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide. The dark green color of the Techny and the fact that it does retain its wonderful color into the winter are two of the similarities. The Technito is very dense and does not need much trimming. You will also enjoy the reddish-brown bark that is furrowed adding lots of interest. The foliage has a texture that is medium/fine making it a little softer than some other Arborvitae's can be. This Technito has an attractive pyramidal shape and can be used as a screen for privacy, you would probably want at least two depending on the space you have available.

The Technito requires well-drained soil and it does best in a very fertile soil. The soil should be moist and not left to dry out between watering. Technito does best in sun to light shade and has a slow to moderate growth rate. This is a low-maintenance bush that is hardy from zone 3 to 7. It can handle the cold weather very well. The soft look of this Arborvitae is very pleasing as an accent to your landscape.

Edelweiss Grapes, Like The Song, "You'll Be Happy To See Them".

patti-nhn — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 13:16:00 GMT

It's corny I know, but, I had to compare these grapes to the song "Edelweiss" from the old movie "The Sound of Music". The Edelweiss Grapes Vitis 'Edelweiss' are known for their sweet flavor and are often used in dessert wines and white wine making. They are wonderful fresh with their high sugar content that gives them a great flavor without overwhelming you. The Edelweiss grape is a grape that grows in large clusters and are greenish-white in color.

This Edelweiss Grape will mature from 10 to 15 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide. It will do bewt in moist, well-drained soil and full sun. The flowers are greenish in color when they pop out in June. The fruit is ripe in late August and after harvest, in fall, the leaves will have yellow-orange color that is very attractive. Grape vines are also attractive in the winter after the leaves fall off. Grapes need a trellis, arbor, fence or wall to grow on, something that will support the plant and the fruit after it ripens. The Edelweiss is cold hardy from zone 4 to zone 8.

Golden Shadows Pagoda Dogwood

patti-nhn — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 18:36:00 GMT

The Golden Shadows Pagoda Dogwood Tree Cornus alternifolia 'W. Stackman' is an outstanding small dogwood tree. It can get to 6 to 8 feet tall and 6-8 feet wide so will have a somewhat boxy shape. The branches are tiered and display horizontally. Their leaves are broad and lime-green to chartreuse in color. They may also display a golden to yellow edge that is also iridescent.

This would be a great ornamental tree on its own or within a garden of flowering plants, or even some green hostas planted around the trunk of the tree would show up nicely. Dogwoods are very popular trees for their decorative appearance and for their smaller size that will fit in any landscape. They are hardy to zones 3-7 and can grow to their full height in 10 years. Who knows, you might start a scene when all your neighbors will want to know how to get their own!

Roll Out the Red Carpet for Sedum - Elizabeth Red Carpet

patti-nhn — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:44:00 GMT

Sedum Spurium 'Elizabeth Red Carpet' is quite a sight to see. I am used to seeing Sedum used mainly in rock walls or rock gardens. It's a good plant for areas that most things don't like to grow in. It actually likes dry soil, full sun and grows fast. It's red flowers put on a show from May to September and even attracts butterflies and hummingbirds with their bright red color. It makes a good ground cover, border or for edging flower beds and it can even cheer up any bland and boring areas of your landscape. It's foliage is green and it will mature to 3-4 inches tall and can spread to up to 2 feet.

Elizabeth Red Carpet is a perennial and will give you years of joy. It is one of the most colorful Sedums available. It's a very durable plant and has the added plus of being disease resistant. With all of it's wonderful attributes and the options of watching birds, butterflies and hummingbirds, doesn't it make you want to relax in your easy chair nearby and enjoy?

Arborvitae Sherwood Moss

patti-nhn — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 18:04:00 GMT

This is a beautiful evergreen with soft foliage. It's a great border for areas where you want a shorter hedge. The height on these is approximately 4-6 feet and they spread 3-4 feet. They would make a great background for your flower garden as well as an accent to the front of your house. They are very cold hardy and sturdy plants. Their shape is rounded and being an evergreen they need very little care.

Their green coloring and soft foliage remind you of a soft bed of moss. Although this bed is a lot taller than most patches of moss! These are just great looking, fun and hardy shrubs that are so adaptable to however you want to use them. Try them out and prepare to receive complements from your neighbors.

Hosta - Patriot is Great for Beginners

patti-nhn — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 14:00:00 GMT

The Hosta 'Patriot', Hosta fortunei is one of the most durable of the hostas which makes it a good choice if you have never grown hostas. The Patriot is purchased often for its lush mounds of medium green foliage and purple or white flowers. Their leaves are also heart shaped with creamy white edges.

There are a number of varieties of hostas that have different leaf shapes, colors and types of flowers as well as different sizes of mounds. They can be mixed and matched with the Patriot to use as borders or edging or among other flowers. We planted six varieties around our bird bath last year in late summer and they grew heartily.

Hostas need a shady space so they do well under trees or a shady spot in your yard. They also grow well in barrels or good size pots. You don't have to prune them and they will start growing again in the spring. They are very easy care and can be divided in late summer and planted in other areas of your garden.