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Light This Alocasia does best with several hours of bright, indirect light every day. Avoid direct sunlight which will burn the stingray’s leaves, although short periods of less intense morning or evening sunlight is okay. You can filter harsh direct sunlight using a sheer curtain or window film if necessary. Soil While the Alocasia stingray prefers consistently moist conditions it still requires soil that is well-draining. A soil mix that wicks excess water away while still retaining some moisture is ideal....

Florists love bells of Ireland for its availability and longevity, and you’ll see it used in wedding flower arrangements as often as in St. Patrick’s day bouquets. As a member of the Lamiaceae family, this plant is related to such ornamental and culinary plants as sage (Salvia), catmint (Nepeta), thyme (Thymus), and lavender (Lavandula). Bells of Ireland is generally planted in the spring, from seeds either sown directly into the garden, or from seeds started indoors at least two months before the last expected frost of spring....

If you live in a hot region that mimics the tropical temperatures of its native Mexico and Jamaica, this densely branched plant could appeal. Its small, bright, tubular, and orange-red flowers bloom almost year-round, and the plant is a favorite of butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators. A small subshrub, it rarely grows above 25 inches in height, so some people even choose to keep it as a permanent addition to their houseplant collection....

Creeping fig is an eager climber and is better able to withstand aggressive trimming than finicky species like English ivy. It’s best planted in fall and will grow slowly at first, picking up the pace as it matures. It can eventually reach lengths of up to 15 feet. The milky sap of species in the Ficus genus can cause serious skin inflammation. It’s a good idea to wear gloves when pruning the plant....

The seed pods that follow the silver dollar plant’s flowers are known as “silicles.” They start out green in color, later shedding the shade along with their seeds. The fully dried seed pod that remains (which is actually just a see-through membrane) is off-white in color with a sheen that makes it shine like a coin. These “silver dollars” are papery to the touch and not perfectly round but rather flat and oblong, with a short, needle-like projection that hangs down from the bottom of each seed pod....

Establishing the right watering routine is key for their care. They don’t like soggy soil, but they also shouldn’t be left to dry out completely. Overwatering can damage or even kill the plant. But as long as you get the moisture level right, these cacti typically do not have any serious issues with pests or diseases. Light These cacti need full sun to grow their best, meaning at least six hours of direct sunlight on most days....

Nierembergia is most often planted in the spring from potted nursery plants, or started from seeds indoors in late winter. Seedlings grow slowly at first, but then more quickly once transplanted in the garden. When planted from seeds, it takes about four months to produce flowering plants. Nierembergia is not included on any lists of plants that are toxic to humans or pets, even though it is a member of the Solanaceae (nightshade) family, which includes many toxic species....

Though it does have some specific needs, including careful watering and regular fertilizing, caring for purple passion vine is not terribly complicated or time-consuming. Cared for properly, it will provide years of beauty as an indoor plant. Light This plant does best in partial bright sunlight, filtered sunlight (as through a sheer curtain), or indirect sunlight. A northern exposure window, or a spot hanging next to a window should give it plenty of light, or a spot where it gets morning sun....

This bush and its berries are non-toxic, but consuming large quantities of berries can cause stomach upset in some people. They are, however, of great appeal to birds. When choosing a location, keep in mind that snowball bush viburnum will grow fairly large. Pick a spot that will provide lots of sun and allow for the mature size of the bush. Once established, the shrub will be very easy to maintain—It should be fertilized only once per year and pruning is optional....

Like most herbs, it is simple to grow and can thrive in many conditions, some of them often being less than ideal, and that is great news for you. Light Texas sage grows in all light conditions, from full sun to full shade. Its ability to do this makes it an indispensable addition to a garden allowing a landscape designer to add bright splashes of color in any area and even tie separate areas with different light conditions anda single species of flower, creating a more unified design....

The pumpkin ash is a rare tree that, like other native trees in the genus Fraxinus, has become even more rare in recent years due to the emerald ash borer. It is most commonly found in wet swampy areas, with a habit of growing in deep standing water. The botanical name Fraxinus profunda, or “Deep Seated Ash” comes from this trait. The pumpkin ash can be recognized by the seven to nine leaflets which are often the same color as the white ash on the top, but are a light green with a fine hair on the underside....

The tree is toxic to humans, and toxic to pets. Tricolor beech trees are among the most popular trees in public parks and gardens across North America and Europe. One of the oldest and largest public parks featuring tricolor beech trees is in Brookline, Massachusetts, near Boston. The beech trees at the Longwood Mall were planted prior to the Civil War, making them the oldest stand of this type of beech tree in the country....

The plants are large and leafy with square, hollow stems that are fairly sturdy but might flop under the weight of the pods. Fava beans are not twining climbers like many other bean species. The leaves are rounded and look more like pea leaves than bean foliage. The flowers grow in spiked clusters and are mostly white with dark markings, although they can also be crimson. They mature into thick, waxy pods that can stretch to almost a foot long and contain up to six seeds....

Many gardeners learn to plant gladiolus among other flowers to disguise them until their spectacular bloom period. But there’s another solution—by planting gladiolus in containers, you can place the growing plants wherever you want until they bloom and are ready for you to harvest for cut arrangements. Once cut, you can then either treat them as an annual flower and discard the stems and corms, or let the foliage fade, then dig up and save the corms for replanting next year....

The pomegranate can range from a dwarf shrub of 3 feet to a tree of 20 to 30 feet. The average size of a standard pomegranate shrub is 12 to 16 feet tall with a round shape. In most places, they are deciduous, but in warmer climates, they may be evergreen. They are also attractive ornamentally, with glossy leaves and scarlet red, tube-shaped flowers that are attractive to hummingbirds and other pollinators....

One of the most common cultivars of this species is Ribbon Grass (Phalaris arundinacea var. picta). This is an ornamental grass variety with eye-catching variegated foliage that can work well as a tall, textured, and interesting ground cover. Although ribbon grass flowers, it’s the foliage that makes this plant. The blooms aren’t of any great significance. This cool-season grass grows in the spring and fall but can go dormant during the summer months....

Corral Chaos With your friend’s permission, lend a hand by tackling that pesky junk drawer, etiquette expert Diane Gottsman advised. “Help them sort through all of the rubber bands, paper clips, and papers,” she added, noting that this will make it easier for movers to grab boxes and go on the big day. And if you have extra cardboard boxes that you can spare, bring them, Gottsman said—your friend will appreciate having additional materials on hand....

What Is Black Knot? Black knot is a fungal disease caused by the fungus Apiosporina morbosa (formerly referred to as Dibotryon morbosum). It affects mainly plum and cherry trees in North America. Affected Species The disease has been reported on about two dozen Prunus species. The following species and their cultivars can get black knot: American plum (Prunus americana), European plum (Prunus domestica), Japanese plum (Prunus salicina), sweet cherry (Prunus avium) and Mahaleb cherry (Prunus mahaleb), as well as wild and cultivated species of chokecherries (Prunus virginiana)....

Which Plants Can Get Crown Gall? More than 600 plant species, both herbaceous as well as woody perennials, can get crown gall. It occurs most often in trees, including fruit trees (apple, apricot, cherry, pear, nectarine, peach, plum, and quince), grapes, brambles, willows and other hardwood shade trees, shrubs such as Euonymus, and roses. The damage is most eye-catching in trees because crown gall is a perennial disease, and as the tree grows, the galls grow with it....