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Calla Lily: Purity, Holiness, Fraternity

Calla lily is a perennial plant of the genus Zantedeschia in the Araceae family, which is native to South Africa. Although it’s called Calla lily, it’s neither Calla nor lily. Calla lily features smooth and elegant floral patterns and rich colors. It is a popular choice for cut flowers and often appears in wedding-day bridal bouquets.

Places of interest

1. Calla Lily Valley in Garrapata State Park, CA

If you want to see the vibrant, wild Calla lily, don’t miss Calla Lily Valley in Garrapata State Park, CA. From the end of January to the middle of April, it is full of breathtaking wild Calla lily. Calla Lily Valley is also perfect for outdoor hiking and picnics. The best time to go is after the rainy season. At that time, the whole valley is green and full of life. If it is sunny, wait until dusk; the golden light before sunset shines on the Calla Lily Valley and gives it a stunning shimmer.

There are also a series of scenic spots around the Calla lily valley. For the next stop, you can hike the beautiful redwoods at Limekiln Falls. Hustle down to Cone Peak for the sunset. Take a dip in the Big Sur River Gorge. Believe me, you will have the time of your life.

Calla Lily Valley in spring, the sea in further distance

2. Calla Lily Field in Zhuzihu, Taiwan

Calla Lily Field is located in Yangming Mountain, Taipei City, Taiwan. It covers an area of 13 hectares and produces more than 80% of Taiwan’s fresh-cut Calla lily flowers. The field of Calla lily blooms from March to May. During this period, the annual Festival of Calla Lily takes place. During the festival, you can take off your shoes and enter the field to pick the Calla lilies you like and take them home. The large clear white sea of Calla lily flowers is also the first choice for many young people to take their wedding photos. In addition to the famous Calla lily, you can also enjoy the mountain full of azalea and cherry blossoms.

Calla Lily Field in the sun

Calla lily, Calla, and sexual signaling

Calla lily is not a native plant in Europe. The earliest record of Calla lily in Europe is in an illustration of the Royal Botanical Garden of Paris in 1664. Before that, the plant known as Calla (Calla palustris) was more common in Europe.

Romans regarded the protuberance in the center of the Calla flower as a symbol of human genitalia, so they connected the Calla with sexual desire and behavior. Egyptians also noticed this, but they took a more conservative approach, linking the Calla flowers to fertility and the birth of children. After the Calla lily became popular in Europe in the 17th century, these associations about sex and fertility were transferred to it because the flowers of the Calla lily are so similar to that of Calla.

Calla palustris, also known as bog Arum, in the wild.

Similarly, in Christian culture, modern references to the Calla lily were originally about Calla. Christians felt the Calla flowers symbolized purity and faith. It was said that the Virgin Mary was pregnant with Jesus after smelling the Calla, and her tomb was later covered with white Calla flowers. However, with the popularity of Calla lily, the protagonist of the story about Calla changed.

The association of Calla lily with sex continued in Victorian England, where society was very conservative and love, sex, and many intimate things were regarded as taboo. In this society, Calla lily took on the role of a messenger. For example, giving a bouquet of Calla lilies symbolized a sexual invitation.

Calla lily in art and film

In the second half of the 19th century, the exotic South African Calla lily was introduced into the United States and began to appear as a theme in American art. After Freud’s sexual interpretation of its flowers, Calla lily has become more popular among artists, and its description has been given new significance.

Calla lily soon became a recurring theme in the works of some painters and photographers, especially Georgia O’Keeffe. O’Keeffe repeatedly depicted Calla lily in a provocative way. In the early 1930s, she became known as “the lady of the lilies”.

Calla Lily with Roses1926 by Georgia O’keeffe

Mysterious but solemn, Calla lily remains many people’s favorite flower. Her pure white and elegant appearance enables her to be used for various occasions, including weddings and funerals. This diversity is perfectly expressed in the movie “Stage Door”, by actress Katharine Hepburn:

“The Calla lilies are in bloom again. Such a strange flower — suitable for any occasion. I carried them on my wedding day, and now I place them here in the memory of something that has died.”

Can I grow a decent Calla lily?

It’s not very difficult to grow Calla lily. In warm areas, once the danger of frost has passed you can start planting. In colder areas, it’s best to wait until the soil warms up to at least 65 ℉. Moreover, Calla lily prefers well-drained soil. During the growing season, once a month liquid fertilizer is required, especially for potted Calla lily.

In a warm climate, Calla lily is a perennial plant and needs to be divided once every few years to remain in good blooming condition. Once divided, these plants usually bloom in early summer. Calla lily is typically regarded as an annual plant in cold areas, and new bulbs are planted every spring. Finally, Calla lily is toxic: be careful not to eat it by mistake.

Size: 0.6–1 m (2.0–3.3 ft) tall

Hardiness: Zones 8 to 10

Sunlight: bright, indirect light

Soil: a loose, well-drained potting mix

Bloom Time: Spring and summer

French Rose: Passionate Love, Desire, Humility, and Purity

Originally found growing wild throughout central Asia, Rosa gallica was first cultivated by the Greeks and Romans and was especially popular in medieval gardens. Most modern hybrid roses can trace their ancestry to the old roses bred at Malmaison by Empress Josephine in the late 1700s. French roses are also referred to as apothecary’s rose, crimson damask rose, or Rosa mundi.

Often called the “Queen of Flowers,” roses are a timeless symbol of love and beauty, and are prized for their fragrance. Historically, roses have been associated with nobility and appear as emblems of distinction — such as the Tudor Rose, the emblem of England.

Remarkable Rose Gardens of the World

As one might expect from a flower as adored as the rose, there are countless gardens across the globe dedicated to roses alone. Several stand out and are well worth making a journey if only to bask in the intoxicating perfume of hundreds or even thousands of rose species at once.

Montreal Botanical Garden, Canada — For those interested in the history of rose cultivation, there is no better place to explore than this Montreal treasure. The garden contains over 10,000 rose bushes, illustrating the cultivation of rose varieties from ancient times to the present — including, of course, numerous descendents of Rosa gallica.

Zakir Hussain Rose Garden, Chandigarh, India — This 30-acre rose garden features more than 50,000 rose bushes, showcasing them alongside medicinal plants. The annual rose festival hosted in the garden takes place in late February or early March and is not to be missed.

Elizabeth Park Rose Garden, Hartford, Connecticut — The oldest public rose garden in the United States, this garden has historically served as a test space for hybrids before their commercial release. A collection of mostly modern rose varieties as well as a handful of heritage roses grace 475 flower beds.

Speaking in Flowers: Rose Codes

In a time when open communication about love and desire was forbidden, an encrypted system of communication evolved through flowers, specifically roses. The language of flowers, floriography, is believed to have started in 15th century Persia. It was popularized after 1718, when Lady Mary Wortley wrote a letter describing the “secret language of flowers” she had discovered in Turkey.

A red rose, then as now, symbolized passionate love and desire. Pink roses conveyed a feeling of sweetness, while white roses represented reverence, humility, and purity. A single rose simply states, “I love you,” while two roses were a sign of thanks, unless they were joined, in which case they announced either an engagement or marriage to come. A dozen roses are the ultimate declaration of love.

Roses in Popular Culture & Film

Roses have been used to communicate unspoken moments in written stories and film. In The Little Prince, one of the most popular books ever written, the prince discovers that the rose he has cared for is not the unique creature he imagined. After encountering a rose garden, he realizes that the rose was special because she was his.

In the film American Beauty, a rose variety by the same name initially represents lust and desire, eventually shifting to symbolize superficiality and the hidden threat of thorns lurking behind each bloom.

Uses for French Roses

Today, French roses are most commonly used for culinary purposes in the form of rosewater. Rose hips are incredibly high in vitamin C, and antioxidants and can be used to make tea or jam.

Roses in Everyday Expressions

You may not realize it, but roses are so integrated into our culture that we use them in a multitude of common expressions, with the rose always symbolizing that which is positive or ideal. When things are going well in life, we say that “everything’s coming up roses.” An optimistic person sees the world through “rose-tinted glasses.” And of course, “stop to smell the roses” is a reminder to slow down and appreciate the things that give life meaning. When something goes sour, we might say that “the bloom is off the rose.”

Can I Grow a Beautiful French Rose?

The good news is that this trusty old rose variety is easy to grow and maintain. Tolerant of poor soils and even a little shade, Rosa gallica gives more than she takes, requiring little maintenance.

Purchase a potted specimen and plant it in the fall or spring. To encourage excellent bloom development, apply fertilizer in the late winter or early spring and mulch the base to retain moisture in the soil. Water only moderately during periods with no rain, avoiding overhead watering so that the leaves stay dry.

Remove spent blooms if you want a longer bloom cycle, but leave them on the plant to enjoy ornamental rose hips over the winter months. Prune in early spring to encourage growth. To propagate French roses, take hardwood cuttings in the fall.

Size: 3-5 feet (90cm–150 cm) tall and 3-4 feet (90cm –120cm) wide

Hardiness: USDA Hardiness Zones 3-9

Sunlight: Full sun to partial sun

Soil: Very wide range including chalk, clay, loam, and sand

Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer

Delphinium Elatum: Cheerfulness, Goodwill, Openness

Towering above most ornamental garden plants, the bloom spikes of one plant, delphinium elatum, are as blue as the sky they reach toward. Used in cottage gardens and herbaceous borders, their lush foliage forms attractive mounds when not in bloom.

With blooms ranging from bisque white to deep cobalt blue, delphiniums are celebrated for their rich color and striking texture. Part of the Ranunculeae family, there are over 250 species of delphinium, but the Delphinium elatum variety is the preferred cultivar for showy flower gardens. Also called Bee or Candle Larkspur, Delphinium elatum has been extensively bred for height, hardiness, and large blooms.

The darker center of each flower is referred to as a “bee.” Delphinium flowers are associated with protection and love, as well as reaching for the impossible.

Delphiniums in Mythology and Legend

It is said that the name “delphinium” comes from the ancient Greek word for dolphin delphiníon — δελφίνι — a reference to the individual flower form (especially the bud), which resembles the bottle nose of a dolphin.

But the flower’s Greek origin story is a touch darker. After Achilles was killed in the Battle of Troy, Ajax and Ulysses fought over who would keep his armor. After the armor was given to Ulysses, Ajax took his own life by falling upon his sword. Where his blood touched the earth, delphiniums rose up with his initials A I A inscribed on each petal.

Historic Uses for Delphinium

Native Americans used the deep blue flowers of delphinium to make dye. European settlers to America used the native larkspur blooms for crafting blue ink. However, the use of these flowers goes back to ancient times, when they were used to make a poison for killing pests and lice. Note: All parts of the delphinium plant are toxic, especially the seeds. Make sure that they are not accessible to small children, pets, or grazing animals.

These days, delphiniums are popular as perennial garden plants and lend themselves well to cut flower arrangements. Because their flower stalks have very few leaves, they are well suited for colorful indoor displays, where they can last a week or longer.

Where to See Extraordinary Delphiniums

Many gardens feature the breathtaking blue spikes of larkspur, but few take it to the level of Godinton House and Garden in Kent, England. Their delphinium elatum collection is spectacular to behold in the summer — so much so that they plan annual events around the elatum bloom cycles. The VanDusen Botanical Garden in Vancouver, British Columbia, always has an impressive array of delphiniums displayed among sculptural art.

For a truly special treat, keep an eye on the Royal Horticultural Society Garden Wisley, where a round of delphinium trials will be conducted from 2022 until 2025. It is possible to visit the garden virtually, but if you happen to be around Surrey, England, during this time, don’t miss the chance to see delphiniums performing at their peak in one of the world’s great gardens.

Popular Delphinium Varieties

Though mostly associated with the color blue, Delphinium elatum varieties offer a solid range of colors. The most popular are the following:

Delphinium elatum x ‘Black Knight’ — This deep blue delphinium is the darkest in the family, with a bee that is almost black.
Delphinium elatum x ‘Bluebird’ — A striking hybrid, ‘Bluebird’ stands 4–6 feet tall and features deep blue blooms with a contrasting white bee at the center.
Delphinium elatum ‘Green Twist’ — This creamy white delphinium comes with a twist: The bees and petals have a light green color that sets them apart.
Delphinium elatum ‘Blushing Brides’ — ‘Blushing Brides’ has dusty mauve petals with white and brown bees, with plants reaching up to 6 feet tall.
Delphinium elatum x ‘Olive Poppleton’ — The spikes of this cultivar reach only 4 to 5 feet, but it’s loaded with perfectly cupped semi-double white blooms, making it a highly sought-after delphinium.
Delphinium elatum x ‘Magic Fountains’ — These are a semi-dwarf variety, reaching only 2.5 to 3.5 feet tall, which means the flower spikes generally do not need support. Their stalks are thick, sturdy, and packed with double blooms in a mix of colors.

Can I Grow Delphiniums Successfully?

Despite a reputation for being challenging, delphiniums are hardy plants that need only a little care and attention to become truly magnificent.

Delphiniums grow best with a combination of full sun, good air circulation, and rich, well-drained alkaline soil. Plants should stand at least two feet apart to ensure adequate air circulation. Applying a light dusting of lime once or twice during the growing season and feeding with a well-balanced commercial fertilizer in the spring will ensure strong blooms.

You can start delphiniums from seed in the fall, but for guaranteed success, you should purchase potted plants and transplant into the garden in the spring.

It is almost always necessary to stake the taller delphinium varieties to prevent damage from wind and storms. If you prefer not to stake, plant a dwarf or semi-dwarf variety. Cutting the bloom stem to the ground once the flowers have faded will often result in a second set of blooms in the fall.

Size: 4-6 ft (120-180 cm) tall

Hardiness: USDA Hardiness Zones 3-8

Light Duration: Full sun

Soil: Rich, well-drained soil with a neutral pH or slightly alkaline

Blooming Time: Summer

8 Ornamental Grasses That Like to Grow in Containers

Ornamental grasses are a popular choice for gardeners wanting to add a sense of depth and interest to their outdoor space, but do you know the species that grow best in containers? Check out this list of versatile ornamental grasses that will not only look spectacular in containers, but they’ll also thrive!

African fountain grass

African fountain grass (Cenchrus setaceus) is a grass plant also commonly called crimson fountain grass. It grows throughout East Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Crimson fountain grass is drought tolerant and the existence of it increases the risk of fires. Crimson fountain grass is often considered to be an invasive species.

Lyme grass

The Strandroggen is a perennial herbaceous plant and forms large, gray-green to bluish-gray colored clumps with long underground foothills and many renewal sprouts. These sometimes grow up within the lowest leaf sheaths, but usually break through the leaf sheaths with their buds. The stems are 60 to 120, rarely up to 200 cm high, are upright and bare.

Chinese silver grass 'Morning Light'

Chinese silver grass ‘Morning Light’ is a popular ornamental grass cultivar of Chinese silver grass. Bred to grow in a tighter, vase-shaped, club pattern, it stands out well in gardens. It also has small purplish flowers in summer. This cultivar was named for its characteristic silvery color, reminiscent of hazy morning light.

Low bulrush

Low bulrush (Isolepis cernua) is a sedge found in many regions around the world. It grows in freshwater wetlands, as well as salt marshes. Gardeners use it as a ground cover, as part of a water feature, or in hanging baskets to display its graceful foliage. The plant and its seed contain toxins.

Hakone grass 'Aureola'

Hakone grass ‘Aureola’ is a Japanese Hakone grass with characteristic variegated green and yellow blades. This cultivar is noted for its golden-yellow color that darkens to a deeper orange color in fall. Its name refers to a halo or aura of surrounding brightness since Hakone grass is famed for seeming to glow under the diffuse sunlight of dawn and dusk.

Japanese sweet flag 'Ogon'

Japanese sweet flag ‘Ogon’ is a dwarf cultivar of the Japanese sweet flag. This cultivar is noted for its long narrow, sword-like leaves. The yellow and green stripes on its leaves differentiates this cultivar from its mother plant, whose leaves are solid green. Though variegated, Japanese sweet flag ‘Ogon’ appears yellow at first glance.

Cogongrass

Cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica) grows in pointed, sharp blades. It is highly flammable even when green, but can recolonize an area quickly after a wildfire because the underground rhizomes do not burn. This species is used to thatch roofs in Southeast Asian residences. It’s also used to weave bags and mats.

New zealand flax

New zealand flax (Phormium tenax) is an ornamental perennial that offers colorful accents year-round. Its sword-like leaves change color in fall and red or yellow tubular blossoms appear in late spring through early fall attracting hummingbirds. This low-maintenance plant prefers full sun to partial shade and will grow to 3 to 8 feet tall.

13 Plants That Are Tolerant to Drought

We love our gardens, and take pride in our yards, but sometimes life just gets too busy, and we can’t always get out the hose and give our beloved plants a much-needed drink. If this sounds familiar, consider the plants on this list for your next gardening project – they are all resilient enough to go a long time between waterings.

Lace aloe

Lace aloe leaves are emerald green and covered with white dentate bumps. In environments with insufficient light, its leaves will become thin. Lace aloe is superbly adaptable to different environments and is suitable for outdoor planting. Proper shading is needed in the summer or the plant will dry out, turn dark brown, or blacken.

English lavender

The English lavender is a common flowering plant originally native to the Mediterranean region. Today, it is often used in scented products such as candles, oils, perfumes, soaps, and house sprays. The scent also has a deterrent effect against clothing moths.

Jerusalem thorn

Jerusalem thorn (Parkinsonia aculeata) is a plant species that can also be commonly known as palo verde, palo de rayo or Parkinsonia. The common name Jerusalem thorn is a mistranslation of the word girasol, which means turning toward the sun.

Foxglove beardtongue

Foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) is an herbaceous plant related to plantains. Penstemon digitalis means “finger-like” due to the plant’s flowers resemblance to the fingers of a gloved hand. Foxglove beardtongue is easily grown and often cultivated on roadsides for landscaping purposes.

Blueblossom

Blueblossom is an evergreen shrub that is common in the West Coast region of the United States. The flower clusters on this plant are tightly grouped into balls and colors range from purple and white to light blue and dark blue. Ceanothus thyrsiflorus can grow more than 20 ft tall.

Tea-tree

Tea-tree (Leptospermum scoparium) is an upright evergreen shrub that blooms with showy white, pink, or red flowers. The flowers eventually fall off and are replaced by seed capsules. Broom tea-tree wood is regularly used in tool handles and when burnt can imbue meat with a pleasant smoky flavor.

Ivy geranium

Ivy geranium (Pelargonium peltatum) is a flowering perennial plant that grows in rocky, well-drained soils. It was first brought to Europe by the Dutch. Blue dye can be made from its flower petals. The genus name “Pelargonium” means “stork” and was so given because the shape of Ivy geranium’s fruits resemble that of a stork’s beak.

African fountain grass

Tall kangaroo paw

As you might be able to guess from its name, the Tall kangaroo paw is a plant that is native to Australia. These plants can range in color from yellow, orange, red, pink, or purple. Interestingly, the flowers on the Tall kangaroo paw plant vary with the temperature, and are more vibrant in cooler temperatures.

Pencil cactus

Pencil cactus (Euphorbia tirucalli) is a small tree shrub that grows best in warm arid climates and is named for its pencil-sized succulent branches. Pencil cactus is native to black clay soils in Africa and can be poisonous if ingested. It produces a latex compound that can be poisonous and cause blindness.

Sweet potato vine

While most assume that the Sweet potato vine is a potato, it is not considered nightshade. However, sweet potatoes and potatoes both belong to the order of Solanales. Its culinary use is wide and can be fried, baked or boiled.

Trumpet vine

The Trumpet vine is a flowering plant that climbs as it grows. It gets its nickname from its bright flowers, which are shaped like long trumpet bells. The shape matches them well with the hummingbirds that love to visit for the nectar. The Trumpet creeper is originally native to eastern North America.

Pride of madeira

Pride of madeira (Echium candicans) is a flowering perennial herbaceous shrub native to the island of Madeira. Pride of madeira is considered an invasive species in California, New Zealand, and Australia. Pride of madeira is a popular ornamental plant in many places around the world for its drought tolerance and it attracts bees.

12 Flowers That Grow Well With Vegetables

While a vegetable garden may be well-appreciated at harvest time, it doesn’t exactly provide a feast for the eyes. But did you know that you can have both? The plant species on this list make excellent companions to garden vegetables while brightening up your plot, attracting pollinators, and even bringing sweet smells to your yard.

Sweet alyssum

Lobularia maritima, commonly known as Sweet alyssum, is an annual flowering plant that grows very low and has a tendency to spread its branches over the soil, creating a mat. That is why this lovely ornamental is an excellent choice for a groundcover or a bedding plant.

Common sunflower

The Common sunflower is recognizable for its bright flower on a very tall stem. It is often grown in gardens. These flowers have been important in culture: they were worshipped by the ancient Inca people, and today, they represent eco-friendly movements. The artist Vincent Van Gogh made a famous series of paintings about Common sunflowers. Wild versions of the plant branch out to many flower heads, but domesticated plants typically only have one.

English lavender

Nasturtium

The Garden nasturtium is often associated with the “Elizabeth Linnaeus Phenomenon”, an optical illusion that makes the contrasting orange flowers and green foliage appear to flash brightly as it shakes in the wind. Garden nasturtium is cultivated as an ornamental plant. The disc-shaped leaves and seed pods are edible, usually getting used as garnishes and dressings.

California poppy

The California poppy is native to the United States and Mexico and is the state flower of California since 1903. April 6 is considered to be California Poppy Day and is a common sight on-road and landmark signs in California.

Common zinnia

The Common zinnia is a popular garden plant. It thrives in relatively dry conditions with good airflow. Garden varieties come in many colors, usually having been hybridized from different wild varieties. Common zinnias are considered an allergy-safe pollen-producing flower.

Lemon beebalm

Lemon beebalm (Monarda citriodora) is a winter annual that will grow from 1 to 2 feet tall. It has unusual, tuft-like flower heads with blossoms that range in color from lavender to pink. It blooms from May to July, attracting butterflies and bees. If watered regularly, it will continue to bloom through the end of summer. It is easy to grow in full sun or partial shade. It spreads quickly.

Sweet pea

Sweet pea is a staple of flowering climbers and has been since the Victorian era. The Sweet pea, which uses tendrils to climb when correct supports are available, grows to a height of 40 in – 80 in. The highly fragrant flowers are purple when found in the wild, but domesticated cultivars can be found in nearly every color.

Pot marigold

The Pot marigold is a herbaceous perennial plant often recognized by its thick, orange-yellow blooms with numerous petals. Flowers of the Pot marigold have a long history of table use. They are often served in salads or as a decoration. The flowers can also be made into a similarly-colored dye for foods, textiles, or cosmetic products.

Borage

Common borage is often used to make soup, sauces, pasta filling, and a flavoring for pickles in Germany, Spain, Greece, and Italy. It is also occasionally used as a drink garnish and is an ingredient in some gins. Common borage flowers can also be made into blue or pink dyes.

Garden cosmos

Garden cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus) is a herbaceous annual plant often cultivated as an ornamental in temperate regions. Due to its self-sowing ability, Garden cosmos can grow on the same spot for several years, even though it is an annual. Not surprisingly, this quality also made it an invasive species in certain areas of the world.

Mexican marigold

Mexican marigold is a common garden plant with bright orange or red flowers. Its use in decorative and ceremonial gardens dates back to ancient Aztec civilizations. Not only does African marigold add bright colors, but it is also known to repel insects, rabbits, and deer thanks to its toxic latex.

Garden Use – Review Guide

Garden Use – Review Guide

Writing Guide:

https://article.picturethisai.com/writing-guide/

What’s This Content for?

In this section, we will tell the readers why and how the garden plants are used. A list of garden plants will be given, and you are selected to explain briefly that why they are considered to be ornamental and how people often use them in their gardens.

We hope these creative contents are simple, focused, and specific. Highlighting characteristic traits of these plants.

Basic Requirements

1. Word Count: around 50 words (for Japanese and Korean, around 100 characters; for Chinese around 80 characters).

If the plant is very popular or versatile, it is OK to go slightly longer for this section. While if it is rarely used, a bit shorter is acceptable (but still the content should be more than 30 words).

Reject the entries that did not match the lower limit.

2. Focus on the Field: please focus on gardening and landscaping. Do not mention any related or unrelated information, e.g.: original distribution, environments favored, hardiness zone, care tips, etc. These pieces of information will be talked about in other sections.

Reject the entries that’s irrelevant to the field.

General information, like original distribution, environments favored, hardiness zone, care tips, etc. are NOT suggested to be discussed in this section.
Houseplant use is often considered as a branch of garden use, but in our system, the utility in gardens and houses are operated separately. There’s another parallel section that will discuss the plant’s usage as a houseplant. It is OK to mention it could be planted indoors, but further discussion is NOT allowed.
If you can not find any literal “garden use” of the plant, please leave the box blank and tell us in the comments. Then we will revise our name list timely. In this case, remember to check the “No reliable source found” option.

3. Information Covered: contents are supposed to cover two related aspects: (1) why they are used in gardens and (2) the most popular ways that they are used in gardens.

3.1. Why– the advantages of the plants:

The showy appearance
The interesting seasons
The adaptability to the garden

3.2. How– their common use in gardens:

The role they often played in garden landscaping (as specimen trees, as edgings, as ground covers, etc.)
Often used in which style of gardens (rock gardens, Japanese gardens, cottage gardens, etc.).
Common ways they are planted (under large trees, beside brick walkways, potted, etc.)
Other utilities (deer resist, wind-breaking, etc.)

Reject the entries missing either 3.1. or 3.2.

4. Check the Sensitive Expressions

4.1 Non-toxic

Reject the contents with no supporting link attached.
Reject the contents that their supporting link is not reliable.
Reject the contents if only you can find any information on the internet that claims that it is toxic.
Reject the contents with no supporting link attached.
Reject the contents that their supporting link is not reliable.
Reject the contents if only you can find any information on the internet that claims that it is toxic.

4.2 Edible

Any expression related to eating should be considered as a piece of “Edible information”. Including but not limited to declare one plant can be a source of food, can make a salad, can make tea, work as an ingredient of wine/spirit/beer/cocktail, grown as a crop or a spice, its taste (is sweet, bitter, salty) without declaring it’s toxic. Of course, simply declaring some plant is edible is a piece of “edible information” too.
Reject the contents with no sales link from a large local or international commerce website. Unless it is a daily vegetable/fruit.
Reject the contents that their supporting link pointed to medical or other usages instead of eating.

4.3 Medical

Reject any expressions on indications and efficacy as a medicine.
Reject any medicinal description unless it is historical or has cultural significance. (Note: indications and efficacy are still not allowed in cultural and historical use.)

5. Check the Political or Legal Issues

5.1 Plagiarism: Reject

5.2 Politics, pornography, religion or racial discrimination, drugs, etc.: Reject

5.3 Marijuana, tobacco, etc. any positive description of their usage as an addict: Reject. E.g., Nicotiana tabacum is: a source of cigarettes (nurture, OK), a source of premium Cuban cigars (“premium” has a positive meaning, reject), a great experimental material in molecular biology (positive, but not as an addict, OK).

5.4 Alcohol: writers could state that tequila is made from blue agave, but are Not Allowed to introduce how “good” tequila is.

6. Check the Usage of System Placeholders

If the writer failed to use the placeholders systematically, Reject the workspace.

Special Attentions

Local information in your country is highly recommended
Use common names instead of Latin names whenever possible
Italicize any Latin words (other than placeholders) that appear (e.g., genus names, etc.)
If you believe that the common name of the writing target is wrong (including singular or plural form), please Report it in the link below and we will change it in time.

Examples

Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus) [71 words]

_COMMON_NAME_ produces fragrant blooms with fluffy double petals. The flowering season lasts nearly the whole summer. Depending on the breeds, _COMMON_NAME_ comes from an array of different colors and different heights and branching habits. You can always find a proper breed to fit your need in the garden, from a specimen flower in your rock garden to an edging flower. It adapts well for potting and wildly used as a cut flower.

Palm Sedge (Carex phyllocephala) [50 words]

_COMMON_NAME_ is a deer resist plant prized for its evergreen foliage. Its leaves clustered in small whorls at the top part of its upright stems, resembling miniature palms. It is a perfect specimen plant or ground cover under the woodland garden and works well as a border in shade too.