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About Aucuba japonica Aucuba is not native to North America but does perform well in USDA plant hardiness zones 7 through 9. This ornamental shrub can be used singly as a focal point for the landscape, planted in groups as a hedge, or used in containers when young. Japanese aucuba plants are also sometimes referred to as Japanese laurel because of the similar shiny, waxy leaves. There are many surprising cultivars available, which delight with a host of variances in pigment and texture....

Can You Grow an Avocado in Zone 8? Avocados fall into three categories: Guatemalan, Mexican, and West Indian. Each group is named after the region where the variety originated. Today, there are new hybrid varieties available that have been bred to be more disease resistant or more cold hardy. Depending upon the category, avocados can be grown in USDA zones 8 to 11. The West Indian is the least cold tolerant, hardy only to 33 degrees F....

What is a Bailey Acacia? The acacia tree is native to Australia where it is called a wattle. According to Bailey acacia information, the tree is called the Cootamundra wattle, whose town by the name in South Wales claims it as a native species. Would you like to know how to grow Bailey acacia? It is quite a fascinating plant, good for soil health, as a shade tree, wildlife habitat and food, and for its wood....

When caring for home stands, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the diseases of blackberries and their remedies. A very common problem in certain cultivars is blackberry calico virus (BCV) – a carlavirus, sometimes known as blackberry calico disease. It affects thornless cultivars, as well as wild and standard commercial canes. What is Blackberry Calico Virus? BCV is a widespread virus belonging to the carlavirus group. It seems to be nearly universally present in older plantings of blackberries throughout the Pacific Northwest....

Begonia Propagation Info The three most popular types of garden begonias are the tuberous types, which are large-leafed and sold either growing in pots or as brown tubers for do-it-yourself planting; the rhizomatous, commonly called Rex begonias; and the old fashioned wax, which are known as fibrous-rooted. While professional growers use different methods for begonia propagation for each of these types, we home gardeners are fortunate that all three types can be easily duplicated through begonia cuttings....

What is a Bergamot Orange Tree? The bergamia variety of Citrus aurantium is what is commonly known as bergamot or bergamot orange. Its origins are mysterious but may be a cross between citron or lemon and sour orange. It has been known and cultivated in the Mediterranean for at least a few hundred years. Bergamot is evergreen in warm, dry climates, like the Mediterranean. It can also be grown in tropical regions....

What is Biennial Bearing? The tendency of some fruit trees to bear heavily on alternate years is termed as biennial bearing or alternate bearing. Fruiting is highly reduced in the intervening year. Sometimes an abundant crop is followed by more than one lean year. Fruit setting is closely followed by the initiation process of the next year’s flowering. Heavy bearing of fruit depletes the energy stores of the tree and jeopardizes the flower formation of the coming year, resulting in poor crop yields that year....

Bird of paradise freeze damage can be as mild as winter burnt leaves to stem and trunk freezes, which are more serious. A few tips will help you protect bird of paradise from freezing and can help you learn how to heal bird of paradise plant freeze damage. Read on to learn more. Is Bird of Paradise Cold Hardy? Bird of paradise is hardy to 24 degrees Fahrenheit (-4 C)....

How to Protect a Bleeding Heart During Winter Bleeding heart plants are perennials. Their roots will survive cold winter temperatures, but their foliage and flowers might not. This isn’t usually too much of a problem, as the plants bloom in the spring and early summer, fading and dying back naturally in high summertime. It is because of this, bleeding heart winter care technically starts months before the first fall frost. When the flowers of your bleeding heart plant fade, cut back their stems to an inch or two (2....

Bok Choy Plant Bolt Bok choy (Brassica rapa) is an Asian vegetable that also goes by the names of Chinese white cabbage or Chinese mustard. It’s a member of the mustard family, and therefore, a cool season vegetable that should be grown in the spring or fall. It is a non-heading cabbage with dark green leaves and white leaf stalks and is grown as an annual. Horticulturally, in leafy greens such as bok choy, bolting is the premature growth of a long stalk carrying a flower head, so early flowering bok choy is a sure sign that your bok choy is bolting....

It has also earned another name, Table Fern, due to its ability to grow easily indoors. The foliage is fairly delicate so be sure to place it somewhere where you won’t brush up against it too much. Brake ferns can grow up to 2 feet (0.6m) tall and wide in good conditions. There are many cultivars available including Pteris cretica ‘Albolineata’ which has cream colored stripes in the middle of the leaves....

All manner of things can happen to an innocent plant in the average home. Rambunctious children, moved furniture, a cat knocking the plant onto the floor, and other situations can cause broken poinsettia stems. What to do for damaged poinsettias? You have a few choices on poinsettia stem breakage — fix it, compost it or root it. What to Do for Damaged Poinsettias Some poinsettia stem breakage can be temporarily mended....

What is Calico Hearts Succulent? Also known as Adromischus calico hearts, these small succulent plants are prized for their unique color and patterns. While young plants may not show this distinctive pattern, larger specimens range in color from light green to gray with appealing, brownish-red spots or splashes on leaves and leaf margins. Native to South Africa and hardy in USDA growing zones 10-11, this succulent is tender to frost and must be grown indoors in cooler regions....

What is California Late White Garlic? California Late garlic is a silverskin or softneck type of garlic that is later maturing than California Early garlic with a hotter, classic garlic flavor. A prolific grower, California Late garlic tolerates hot spring temperatures and has an excellent shelf life of about 8 to 12 months. It is harvested in the early summer and produces large bulbs with 12 to 16 nice sized cloves that are perfect for roasted garlic or any other use....

Can Dahlias Be Grown as Perennials? Perennials are plants that live for at least three years, while tender perennials won’t survive cold winters. Tender dahlia plants are actually tropical plants and they are perennial only if you live in USDA plant hardiness zone 8 or higher. If your hardiness zone is 7 or below, you have a choice: either grow dahlias as annuals or dig the tubers and store them until spring....

Can You Grow Cyclamen from Seed? Can you grow cyclamen from seed? Yes, you can, but it takes some special treatment. For one thing, cyclamen seeds have a period of “ripeness,” basically the month of July, when it’s best to plant them. You can harvest them yourself or buy ripe seeds from the store. You can also buy dried seeds, but their germination rate won’t be as good. You can get around this somewhat by soaking your dried seeds in water with a tiny splash of dish soap for 24 hours before planting....

Growing Pansies in Winter Whether or not you can successfully grow pansies outdoors in winter depends on your climate and winter temperatures. Areas much further north than zone 6 are tricky and may have winter weather that kills pansies. When the temperature gets down to about 25 degrees F. (-4 C.), flowers and foliage will begin to wilt, or even freeze. If the cold snap doesn’t last too long, and if the plants are established, they’ll come back and give you more blooms....

Root Pruning Before Moving a Quince If your quince tree is outgrowing its location, you may wonder: can you move a quince? Moving a quince that is mature requires some preparation. The first step in transplanting a quince with a mature root system is to do root pruning. Start this process at least two months but up to two years before you start moving a quince. The idea of root pruning is to slice an 18 inch deep (46 cm....

Should You Be Planting Trees Around Power Lines? As mentioned, 25 to 45 feet (8-14 m.) is usually the height utility companies trim tree branches to allow for power lines. If you are planting a new tree in an area beneath power lines, it is suggested that you select a tree or shrub that does not grow taller than 25 feet (8 m.). Most city plots also have 3 to 4 feet (1 m....

Growing Cannas While typically grown as annuals in cooler regions, given the proper conditions canna lilies can color the garden year after year. They like plenty of heat, so place them in full sun. They can also tolerate partial shade. Cannas like moist conditions too, but will tolerate nearly any well-draining soil that is either neutral or slightly acidic. They appreciate bog-like conditions as well. The soil should also be rich in organic matter....