Garlic (Allium sativum) was first cultivated over 5,000 years ago in regions of modern-day Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Ancient trade routes introduced it to the Mediterranean, Africa, and eventually the Americas. The ancient Egyptians believed it boosted...
Flowering vines can sense vibrations from nearby supports and grow toward them — a remarkable adaptation that makes them peerless problem-solvers in the garden. While trees and shrubs demand extensive root systems and thick trunks, vines invest their energy in...
What’s a Juniper, exactly? It’s the evergreen plant that comes after Mayiper and just before Julyiper. Dad jokes aside, this popular and versatile ornamental takes many forms — ground covers, shrubs, and trees. The foliage can be shades of green,...
The peace lily prefers Bach. The cactus craves heavy metal, the spider plant grooves on classic rock, and the Dieffenbachia digs Brubeck. We’re being facetious, of course. We know that plants respond to music, but we haven’t determined their playlists —...
Does the name evoke images of steamy tropical romance? It shouldn’t. “Passion” refers to the Passion of Christ. 17th-century Spanish missionaries in South America saw the flowers as symbols of the crucifixion and named the plant accordingly. Passion...
You can’t see them. You don’t pay them. They work for free. Are we talking about nocturnal elves? Only if you’re a fairytale cobbler. In the garden, soil microbes are your champion workers and BFFs. They keep your plants healthy, boost soil...
