The wax plant (Hoya carnosa) is an easy-to-grow flowering climber. Its vigorous twining stems can reach 15 ft or more, and they must be trained on wires, trellis work or on a moss stick. New stems are bare – the leaves which later appear are fleshy and green, or green-and-cream on the variegated wax plant.
Make the most of any fruit tree that you plant. Minarette trees will provide punctuation marks on a patio or roof garden and are excellent for growing on balconies. Citrus fruit, oranges and lemons, make excellent house plants and can be placed outside in summer for their flowers and fruit. If you have the space
Jacaranda is a kind of flowering plants and native to subtropical regions of South and Central America. In many parts of the world, the blooming of this tree is welcomed as a sign of spring. Jacaranda’s size varies from 2 to 30 m tall. The leaves are bipinnate in most species, pinnate or simple in
Parsley is one of the best known herbs in the kitchen and is sprinkled over vegetables as a garnish and added to soups and stews. What most people don’t realize is that parsley is extremely nourishing, containing vitamins C, A, and B; iron, calcium, manganese; phosphorous; and even iron. Its fresh taste enhances dips, spreads,
Hyacinths are a beautiful, scented spring bulbs. They are the most popular of all indoor bulbs. Hyacinthus orientalis (Dutch hyacinth) is the common garden Hyacinth. The leafless flower-stalks bear 30 or more crowded bell-like flowers with a fragrance that can fill a whole room. Roman hyacinths differ in a number of ways – 2 0r
Freesia is a type of about 14 different species and all the Freesia species are of African origin. 12 of the 14 species are native to Cape Province in South Africa and the other two are native to tropical Africa. Freesias are very fragrant and usually come in white or yellow. Growing freesias is relatively
The native home of the Bromeliads is the American jungle, where they dwell among the Orchids in the trees or on the forest floor. Some Bromeliads are grown for the beauty of their foliage and there are others which are admired for the beauty of their flowers. a few, such as popular Aechmea fasciata and
Natural to South Asia and China, the peach is a deciduous tree. The fruit that is born from the tree is a relative of the nectarine clan and consists of fuzzy feeling skins, having been created from the dominant allele. The actual calories in peach are just 36 and the produce is made up of
Broccoli is a hardy, cool weather loving plant that is easy to grow and wonderful to eat making it a favorite of many gardeners. Rich in vitamins A & C, potassium, magnesium, iron, and calcium broccoli is a beneficial vegetable to add to your diet. Because broccoli requires cool temperatures and can even handle a
Mahonia is a small fully hardy perennial evergreen shrub native to China with yellow flowers in late winter and early spring. This plant has everything going for it: an elegant, architectural look, evergreen toughness, some drought tolerance, adaptability to substantial sun or shade, and – best of all – large sprays of the brightest, sunniest
Garrya elliptica makes a remarkably indestructible and attractive evergreen shrub on free-draining soil. It is at its best from midwinter to early spring when it is covered by a mass of dangling grey-green catkins, 15-20 cm (6-8 in) long. If you want even longer catkins, choose ‘James Roof’. Garrya elliptica can also be grown as
Chlorophytum is one of the most popular of all house plants. This popularity is not surpraising – it is quick growing with attractive arching leaves, and in spring ans summer the cascading wiry stems produce small white flowers followed by tiny plantlets. Left on the mother plant, these plantlets grow to give an attractive display,
