Clear Answers for Common Questions

Planting spring flowers is a great way to brighten up a yard at the end of winter. When choosing flowers that will bloom in early spring, there are both annual and perennial options. Some may be better suited to your needs than others, but luckily, there are hundreds of choices ...

Marigolds are bright, colorful flowers that are native to Mexico, although they are cultivated all over the world. In addition to looking attractive, the flowers are also edible, and have natural pesticidal properties that allow them to resist insect infestation. Some gardeners take advantage of this property to garden organically ...

Nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus) are cheerful yellow, orange, and sometimes red flowers that grow on large creeping vines which will readily overtake any available surface. Found growing all over the world, nasturtiums are naturally pest resistant and delicious: the leaves and flowers of the plant can be eaten, and have a ...

Primroses are showy ornamental flowers which can be found growing in gardens and in the wild on every continent except Antarctica, although they thrive in the cool temperate zones of the Northern Hemisphere in particular. There are a number of primrose varieties, but the most famous is probably Primula vulgaris ...

Hydrangeas are large flowering bushes native to the Northern Hemisphere. There are around 23 species in the Hydrangea genus, with around five in common domestic cultivation. The most common species used in gardens is Hydrangea macrophylla, also called French or Bigleaf Hydrangea. When most people think of hydrangeas, they visualize ...

Freesias are South African bulbs which produce distinctively scented flowers. They grow outdoors in USDA Zones seven through 11, and they can also be forced indoors in cooler climates, or during the winter, when people may want a bit of color in their homes. Freesias are also very popular with ...

Snap dragons are showy annual flowers which enjoy full to partial sun and mild weather. The flowering plants are also spelled as snapdragons in some regions. However you spell it, the snap dragon is an unusual looking flower, and some varieties can be literally snapped, making a popping sound and ...

Cosmos are showy annual flowers which are relatively easy to grow, as well as drought tolerant. The flowering plants are native to Mexico, and prefer warm, sunny growing spots in USDA zones three though 10. When planted in an area they like, cosmos will flourish, sometimes growing to immense heights ...

Hops are the flowers of the Humulus lupulus plant, a member of the hemp family. Humulus lupulus grow on both coasts of the US, and in Europe. Hops are an essential ingredient in beer because they contain slightly to very bitter essential oils that help to give beer, ale and ...

Baby's breath is a term used to refer to annual flowers in the genus Gypsophila, all of which are characterized by highly branched stems and small white to pink flowers. The lacy appearance of the flowers make baby's breath a popular filler in dried and fresh bouquets, and ...

Goldenrod is an umbrella term for a large number of plants in the genus Solidago, which all have characteristic sprays of golden flowers in various configurations. In addition, all have toothed to irregularly oval shaped leaves. While this plant grows wild as a weed all over the northern hemisphere, it ...

Alyssum is a hardy flowering annual plant which is frequently used in landscaping, especially in Mediterranean regions. Some varieties of the Alyssum genus have distinctive scents which gardeners find quite pleasing, and the fast growing flowers are often planted in large blocks to provide scent and color. Alyssum thrives in ...

Mandevilla is vine and a climbing plant that prospers best outdoors in warm climates. There are a number of different mandevilla varieties that may exhibit stunning trumpet-like flowers in pink, white, or yellow. Henry Mandeville, a British diplomat with a penchant for gardening, was honored with the mandevilla vine ...

A Gerbera daisy is a flowering plant in the sunflower family, Asteraceae. The Gerbera daisy is a popular choice of ornamental flower because of its vibrant colors and long blooming period in temperate weather. Gerbera daisies are also well suited to use as cut flowers, since they can last for ...

Orange blossoms are the flowers of the orange tree, also known as Citrus sinensis. These incredibly aromatic flowers have had an important cultural significance in many communities around the world for centuries, and they are also used in the preparation of some foods. Many florists sell these blossoms when they ...

Chrysanthemums are a genus of plants that flower. They were first cultivated in China and thought of as an herb by the Chinese. They also have played an important symbolic role in Japanese history, where it was probably first introduced in the 8th century. The chrysanthemum inspired the Japanese seal ...

The term “daffodil” is used to describe all of the flowering bulbs in the very diverse genus Narcissus, although some people mistakenly refer specifically to yellow daffodils as daffodils. These colorful flowers are native to Northern Europe, where they have been cultivated for centuries, and they are widely exported, especially ...

Moonflowers are night blooming vines in the morning glory family. Their name is a reference to the fact that they bloom at night, rather than a suggestion that they originate on the moon. These annuals are very popular in moonlight gardens, gardens specifically designed to be viewed at night, and ...

Delphinium is a genus of flowering plant native throughout the Northern hemisphere and in parts of Africa. It features stems covered in flowers that bloom from the late spring throughout the summer and may be blue, red, purple, yellow, or white. There are about 250 different species of delphinium in ...

Larkspur is the common name for plants in the genus Delphinium, which has hundreds of unique species that can be found throughout the Northern Hemisphere and in parts of Africa as well. Numerous cultivars have been domesticated for gardens throughout the world, and larkspur is particularly associated with old fashioned ...

Jonquils are flowering bulbs in the Amaryllis family. They are closely related to daffodils, and in some parts of the world, people may refer generically to all daffodils as jonquils, although this usage is not appreciated by professional horticultural organizations. Many people are fond of jonquils because they are typically ...

Poppies are tall plants with showy, decorative flowers in the Papaver genus, along with several related genera, and they can be found growing on almost every continent on Earth. The most famous variety of this flower is probably Papaver somniferum, the opium poppy. The striking flowers of other Papaver species ...

There are hundreds of varieties of flowers found on the Hawaiian Islands, including a wide variety of orchids, anthurium, and protea. Of these, a number have become representative of the islands — some through their widespread use in leis, others because of their bright colors and exotic shapes, evocative of the ...

Cornflowers are annual plants which are famous for the intensely rich blue color of their blossoms. These plants are native to Eurasia, but they are widely cultivated in the Northern Hemisphere, and a number of specialty cultivars have been produced, with flowers in colors like white, pink, and purple in ...

Lilacs are highly aromatic ornamental flowers which are particularly prized in old fashioned gardens. Many cultivars are also highly drought tolerant, making them excellent additions to low water gardens since they have rich green foliage in addition to their famous flowers. When lilacs are grown in conditions which they like ...

Orchids are a beautiful and exotic family of flower. There are many types of orchids, which are categorized by their physical characteristics into genera. People who grow orchids for a hobby or to make a living are often very passionate about doing so, and they have spread that enthusiasm to ...

The titan arum (Amorphophallus titanum) is a plant with the largest flowering structure in the world. Its inflorescence is made up of many tiny flowers on a spadix, surrounded by a spathe, both types of spikes, making it resemble the related calla lily in shape. Titan arum can reach nearly ...

Many people enjoy the scent of fresh flowers, either in a garden or arranged in a vase. But what is it about flowers that cause them to give off such an attractive aroma? Actually, the reasons why flowers smell good tracks back to good old-fashioned plant biology. Just as ...

The best type of flowers for flower arrangements varies depending upon the style and purpose of the arrangement. Some of the most common flower arrangements in the West are bouquets given as gifts, centerpieces, and wreaths, and all of these may be used for different occasions for which different types ...