Garden Plants A Simple Definition

Four Seasons of Garden Plants

Choose herbs and vegetables that your family will enjoy. Consider growing vegetables that grow well in shade, such as spinach and kale.

By knowing the botanical names of the plants they are able to tell different. Knowing their life cycles can aid you in planning your garden and care for it.

Small Ornamental Trees

Trees can add a sense scale to your garden, and can provide visual interest all year round thanks to their spring flowers leaves, autumn foliage, berries or seed pods. They also can provide shade and privacy for a patio or entryway. Ornamental trees can be used for creating a focal point. They can also be planted in small groups to create a small grove or as part of an ornamental plant and flower border. Smaller ornamental trees can be purchased in pre-pruned tree forms at nurseries or they can be purchased as bare roots and trained as required. Viburnums, winged Euonymus, and late lilacs are all large shrubs which can be cut down to small ornamental trees.

If your garden is situated in a hot, sunny location with well-drained soil blooming ornamental trees are a great option to draw butterflies and other pollinators to the landscape. For example the crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) is a southern favorite with its long bloom period of pinks and purples that last from the summer months to the autumn. The leaves turn yellow to red in autumn and it has attractive exfoliating bark in winter. It is robust in zones 5 to 9.





The heptacodium miconioides or seven-sons tree is a small, white flowers from late summer to early fall. It is tolerant of full sun. Once established, it's a great method to add height to the deck that is too small. It is hardy from USDA zones 5 to 9.

In areas with shade in shadier areas, the golden Irish yew (Chamaecyparis tricarpa) can add a splash of shade to the shady areas of the garden thanks to its blue-green and green leaves. It is slow-growing, takes pruning properly and thrives in full shade or partial shade. The narrow, fastigiate shape of this plant makes it an ideal solution to plant in tight spaces.

Flowering Vines

Flowersing vines can be annuals for one season or perennial plants that offer some color to the landscape over many years. Some of these plants require a sturdy trellis to climb. Others can simply sprawl out on the ground. They tend to grow quickly and fill the vertical spaces in the garden which adds the appearance and interest where there might otherwise be blank space. Vines are available in a broad range of colors and bloom times, with plants suitable for every USDA Hardiness Zone. There are many different types, ranging from woody or clinging vines like English Ivy to herbaceous and non-woody vines like morning glory and nasturtium.

Flowering vines are enhanced by a variety of flowers. The Susan with the black eyes Susan produces a large number of flowers in bright yellow, orange, or white with dark centers. This fast-growing annual is great as a trellis in sun and also in container. It is also a popular choice for hanging baskets, where it can wiggle around supports.

Try clematis if you want something more robust than black-eyed Susan. This perennial is popular and is available in a variety of colors that include shades of pink, yellow white, and apricot. Some clematis, like Duchess Edinburgh and Josephine have large, fragrant flowers which appear in early spring. Others, such as Sweet Autumn, bloom all summer and fall.

Another evergreen, flowering vine is Carolina jessamine (Jasmine wrightii). This native to the southern United States makes a beautiful addition to your garden or container with its golden yellow trumpet-shaped flowers. It will reach towering heights when supported properly and if cut back. This makes it an ideal plant to screen the view or creating a shaded corner in the yard.

Container Plants

Container plants add instant color to a garden without the multi-year commitment of plants grown in ground or raised beds. They also make a fantastic focal point at the entrance to a home. They're also a great way to grow herbs, veggies or flowers close to the eye for easy picking or cooking. Containers can be anything: barrels (even half-barrels of wood) baskets, buckets, baskets, boxes, window troughs, and even bath tubs or urns.

Knowing your plants and giving the proper amount of attention is essential to an effective container garden . The plants in containers dry out faster than those in the soil, and so they require more frequent watering when needed. The morning watering is ideal since it provides enough moisture to withstand the midday heat, and also prevents any dampness on the leaves at night.

Look for trailing plants with bright flowers or fun foliage to fill a container garden. Coleus is a good option for pots. It comes in a variety of varieties of colors and leaf shapes that include dark green and variegated. Geraniums with ivy blooms are another appealing option. It's a classic plant for sunny containers and it self-cleans so you don't have to deadhead it.

If you want a taller potted plant to fill your outdoor space, you should consider the Japanese Pieris. It has stunning red, pink, salmon-pink or creamy white blooms in spring and summer. A pot of this deer-resistant shrub can really make a statement in the sun or shade. Papyrus is also a wonderful filler for large containers and its tufts of brightly colored leaves look lovely hanging over the sides. Another option is golden creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea,' Zones 4-8). It's an excellent trailing plant that looks stunning in containers with more light. The yellow coin-shaped foliage goes well with most shades.

Mid-Sized Trees

There is a place in the garden for flowering trees that don't have to be awe-inspiring heights. These beautiful trees provide interest throughout the year and give visual texture and shape to the garden. They also help bring a garden to life with their vibrant colors, flowers and scents. These trees are small enough to fill in a small garden, in front of the garden or as a focal point.

Crape myrtles are a species of flowering tree are an old-fashioned. Breeders have created various colors, from lilac-purple blooms like Muskogee crape myrtle, and the fantastic hot pinks of Strawberry Dazzle crape myrtle to the rich reds of Dynamite and the stunning white of Natchez crape myrtles. They are fast growing trees that bloom throughout the summer long and can last up to 40 years if given proper care and conditions.

Another beautiful deciduous flowering tree is serviceberry (Melancholia x Lucida). This native tree has beautiful white flowers in the spring, followed by delicious dark berries and finely-toothed leaves. It also offers red and yellow autumn colors and a lighter brown winter bark. Serviceberry grows easily in full sun average soil that is well-drained and drought-resistant once established.

If you are seeking a small evergreen tree, try swamp white oak. This fast-growing and disease-free tree is able to thrive in wetlands where other trees are not as adaptable. It will even tolerate some flooding and is an excellent alternative for areas with flooding where other trees can drown. raised garden beds will eventually grow 50-60 feet with the form of a rounded head. It is a great choice for wet soils and clay. Once established, it is drought-resistant and tolerant of air pollution.

Light Requirements

There are references to "full shade,"" "partial shade," and even "part sun" on plant tags. These terms are often not clearly defined. Typically plants that require full sun must have a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight each day. The sun's rays reach their peak between 10 am and 4 pm, therefore the garden that is full sun should be protected from the brutal afternoon sun.

Some vegetables and fruit can tolerate light shade, but the majority of them require full sunlight. Leafy greens are also affected by shade, however they might take longer to mature and produce.

Partial sun is a term used to describe gardens that get between three and six hours of direct sunshine every day. The remainder of the day the areas are moderately shaded or receive diffused light from the leaves and tree shadows. The east-facing side of your home is the best location for partial shade/partial sun. This will provide cool morning sun and early afternoon shade for the majority of sun-loving plants like azaleas, rhododendrons and macrophylla the hydrangeas.

Full shade describes very dark locations that seldom get direct sunlight. These areas could be covered with tall evergreens or overhanging structures or be enclosed passageways and gardens in between houses. These sites are difficult to grow in due to the competition for moisture with tree roots and an overall lack of light. If you find a flower or plant that doesn't thrive in this kind of shade then move it to a different location and add additional water as required. Shade-loving plants include astilbes golden Hakone Grass, goatsbeard and a variety ferns.