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In fact, the name itself derives from the fact that nearly all parts of the plant come in threes– three leaves, three flower petals, three blooming characteristics (upright, nodding, or drooping), and three-sectioned seedpods. Another interesting name for this plant includes wake robin, which is said to be for the timing of its flowering, which usually appears with the arrival of spring robins. Types of Wildflower Trillium With well over 40 trillium species, flower color varies anywhere from white, yellow, and pink to red, maroon, and nearly purple....

Growing Banana Plant Problems Bananas are monocotyledonous herbaceous plants, not trees, of which there are two species– Musa acuminata and Musa balbisiana, native to southeast Asia. Most banana cultivars are hybrids of these two species. Bananas were most likely introduced to the New World by southeast Asians around 200 B.C. and by Portuguese and Spanish explorers in the early 16th century. The majority of bananas are not hardy and are susceptible to even a light freeze....

Creating a Bog Garden Under a Downspout For those with excess runoff, rain gardening is an excellent way to optimize growing space that may have been thought unusable. Many native plant species are specifically adapted for and will thrive in locations that remain wet throughout the growing season. Creating a bog garden under a downspout also allows water to be reabsorbed into the water table more slowly and naturally. Managing the water from a downspout is a great way to reduce water pollution and the impact it can have on the local ecosystem....

Growing Hardy Native Plants for Zone 6 The selection of zone 6 native plants is quite diverse, with everything from bushes and trees to annuals and perennials. Incorporating a variety of these into your garden fosters the ecosystem and local wildlife, and creates biodiversity in the landscape. Because these native plants have spent centuries adapting to local conditions, they require less water, fertilizer, spraying, or mulching than those that are not indigenous to the area....

You will have to be very lucky to find one of these plants for home cultivation. Whatever you do, don’t remove a wild plant! Growing a hart’s tongue fern in the landscape is an attractive notion, but harvesting the native plants will only further deplete their territory and help eradicate them from native environs. Recognizing Hart’s Tongue Fern Plants This fern is remarkably attractive with long, glossy, untoothed evergreen fronds....

Bok Choy Seed Harvest Bok choy is a cool season vegetable like all the cruciforms. However, it is more tolerant of extremes than common cabbage. You can sow in spring or late summer for a fall harvest. Bok choy requires partial shade to prevent bolting. If you allow the plant to bolt, it will form flowers and seed, providing a bok choy seed harvest. The seed is housed in pods that you take when the husks turn brown and dry....

Butternut squash, a type of winter squash, is a flavorful source of complex carbohydrates and fiber. At 80 calories per cup, this naturally sweet treat is a dieter’s delight. It’s also a great source of iron, niacin, potassium, and beta carotene, which is converted in the body to Vitamin A (necessary to healthy vision, skin, and bones). It’s great to know that without canning or freezing, you can store your butternut squash harvest for use through the winter and spring....

So you want to pick some cantaloupe but you’re not quite sure how or when to go about it. If you harvest too soon, you’ll be left with a hard, tasteless, or bitter melon, as the sugars haven’t had sufficient time to develop and fully sweeten. And once they’re picked, they won’t continue to ripen. However, if you harvest your cantaloupe too late, you’ll be stuck with fruit that is soft, watery, and mushy....

When to Harvest Lettuce Harvesting heads of lettuce successfully depends in large part on planting at the proper time for your location. Lettuce is a cool season crop that cannot handle extreme heat, so picking lettuce heads is most successful before temperatures skyrocket in summer. The variety planted will somewhat determine when to harvest lettuce, as will the season of planting. Generally, about 65 days after planting is when to harvest lettuce planted in the fall, while harvesting heads of lettuce from a winter planted crop will take about 100 days....

About Hepatica Wildflowers Hepatica is called liverleaf, liverwort and squirrel cups. The given name of liverleaf hepatica is apparent in the shape of leaves, which resemble a human liver. Native Americans in the Cherokee and Chippewa tribes used this plant to aid in liver disorders. This plant is still harvested for its medicinal values today. The leaves are three-lobed, dark green and are covered with silky, soft hairs. Leaves darken as they grow older and become a bronze color in the winter....

Hardy Hibiscus Varieties for Zone 8 Hibiscus are known for the brightly colored, showy blooms that appear all season long. The flowers conjure up images of sandy, white beaches and sunsets in hot, humid locale. Fortunately, even inlanders can enjoy these sultry flowers. The presence of several varieties that are hardy even in regions with sustained freezes means members of the Hibiscus family have a long range. You just need to pick the right hibiscus varieties for zone 8....

High Traffic Landscaping Alternatives to Grass Grass lawns are high maintenance with mowing, watering, fertilizing, and edging, and they are expensive to keep pest and weed-free. If you are looking for a lawn that is practically maintenance-free and inexpensive, there are a few alternatives you can choose from. Before you make any decisions regarding replacing your current lawn there are some things to consider. There are many ways to landscape your yard so it can be functional, low maintenance, and beautiful....

When to Divide Aster Like many perennials, asters benefit from division. One of the things division does is stimulate new roots that will form new shoots. The new growth fills in areas that were becoming sparse, a common complaint in asters that have not been separated. You will need to be careful about when to divide asters, as doing so in the wrong season can affect flower production. Whether you have New England or New York varieties, asters have a long bloom period and lovely, lacy notched foliage....

Does Soil Affect Microclimates? The term microclimate is normally defined as “a smaller area within a general climate zone that has its own unique climate.” Soil is an integral part of the microclimate for the gardener. Does soil affect microclimates, you might ask. It is most often the other way around, as microclimates can affect the soil’s temperature and moisture. The soil in microclimates can also be influenced by vegetation that is growing there, such as trees....

Air Purifying Plant Numbers There was a famous NASA study that was conducted back in 1989 that found that many houseplants are able to remove many toxic and cancer causing volatile organic compounds from our indoor air. Formaldehyde and benzene are two of these compounds. Bill Wolverton, the NASA scientist who conducted this study, provided some insight into the number of plants per room that you would need to help purify indoor air....

For more information about potted lilac, including tips on how to care for dwarf Korean lilac, read on. Growing Potted Lilac Growing a lilac tree in a pot works well in many circumstances, particularly if the lilac tree you choose is a dwarf Korean lilac tree (Syringa meyeri ‘Palibin’). This compact shrub tops out at 4 feet (1 m.) with a somewhat larger spread. It grows well in large containers and is hardy to USDA hardiness zone 3....

Peace lilies (Spathiphyllum spp.) are popular household plants that will bloom if given sufficient light. Proper care of a peace lily, plus following transplant tips, will help prevent a peace lily dying after repotting. How to Fix a Peace Lily Droopy After Repotting If your peace lily wilted after repotting, follow these steps to bring the plant back to health. Transplanting Tips In the future, before transplanting a peace lily or any houseplant, follow these tips to successfully make the transition....

What is Chinese Box Orange Severinia buxifolia is native to southern China, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines, where it can often be found growing in thickets and forests. This member of the citrus family is a slow-growing evergreen shrub with thick, dense foliage. Like most citrus, the box orange has thorns. It produces fragrant white flowers in spring and summer. These are followed by seedy black fruits that rarely exceed half an inch (1 cm....

Growing Hyssop as a Garden Plant Although most hyssop plants are grown in herb gardens, they also have their place in flower gardens as border plants. Hyssop makes a great edging plant when grown in masses as well, but did you know that hyssop plants can also be grown in containers? When you grow hyssop in containers, make sure the pot is large enough to accommodate the large root systems. Hyssop plants prefer to be grown in areas with full sun or partial shade....

When is Lentil Plant Harvest Time? Most varieties of lentils take between 80 and 110 days to reach maturity. After flowering, a short pod will develop. Each pod will contain one or two lens-shaped seeds. The color of the lentil seed is dependent upon the variety, but they can be orange, yellow, green, brown or black. As lentil plants reach maturity, home gardeners will likely find their lentil plants bending toward the ground....