Page 156

How to Care for Your Plants During a Hot Summer

Are you looking for tips on caring for your plants during the upcoming summer weather?

As the temperatures rise, it is time to get your plants ready to take on the summer heat. There are many sun-loving plants that are quite admirably adapted to the elevated temperatures and low water levels, such as succulent and cacti. However, if these plants are used to being inside, they will not be able to manage the elevated temperatures of being outside. Leafy tropical plants are very prone to heat damage and may not recover from the heat.

Although your first reaction to elevated summer temperatures is to panic and run for the water hose, slow down as it might not be the best thing for your plants. Stay tuned to learn more on how to keep your plants healthy during the summer heat.

Signs of Heat Stress in Plants

Most of the stress for plants are either from too much heat or too little water. Therefore, you want to learn to recognize the signs of heat stress, which include the following:

Thinking ahead of time can help you catch stress problems before they arise on your plants. Following are more signs of heat stress and how you can combat them:

Leaf Drop: Many times, plants and flowers drop flowers when they are heat stressed. When this happens, be sure to check the water situation. Water the plants if needed and wait for the heat to abate.
Stop flowering: There are a few plants that stop flowering during extreme heat such as peppers and tomatoes. They will simply lose their leaves, or they may not flower at all until the temperature comes down.
Bolting: Bolting occurs when a plant prematurely grows flower stalks and produces seeds, preventing the plant from bearing a robust harvest. This is also called "running to seed" or "going to seed”.
Blossom End Rot: During extreme heat, tomatoes, peppers, squash, and cucumbers may present black spots on their bottoms. This is usually caused by a calcium deficiency by inconsistent soil moisture. So, the best thing to do for this problem is to water deeply and mulch well.

But be careful not to overwater your plants. Some plants wilt regardless of the amount of water in the soil. Using too much water can lead to fungal diseases. Make sure you provide enough water to maintain the best soil moisture level. If you use mulch in your flower beds, make sure you have a 3-inch layer over the root zones, which insulates them from the heat.

How to Protect Plants from Heat Stress

Use a shade cloth, and bring portable plants into shade
Water in the mornings before hot days
Water deeply (but avoid overwatering)
Remember that potted plants dry out quicker
Measure soil dryness if possible
Sprinkle your plants sparingly
Do not use fertilizer
Avoid pruning/removing damaged foliage
Do not repot your plants during a heat wave
Promote high humidity and keep your plants cool

Water is a vital requirement of all a plant’s biology. Since they are mostly water, keeping the cells hydrated is crucial to maintaining the health and growth of plants. When you water deeply, you encourage the plant to grow sturdier, larger, live longer, and deliver greater yields.

15 Favorite Pink-Flowered Plants for Your Garden

Flamingos and piglets agree: sometimes you just need a little more pink. If that’s your thought when looking at your flowerbed, we have the perfect list for you! Read up on the pink flowers that will really make your garden pop.

Creeping phlox

The Creeping phlox are a group of hardy, flowering plants that will be familiar to many gardeners. With many species bearing showy flowers and being very cold-tolerant (many are naturally found in high alpine environments or at very high latitudes), Creeping phlox are very popular ornamentals, and there are dozens of garden cultivars. Creeping phlox are also noteworthy for being particularly attractive to butterflies – for this reason, they’re often a staple in temperate pollinator gardens.

Bleeding heart

Bleeding heart (Lamprocapnos spectabilis) is a flowering plant related to the poppy. Bleeding heart is native to Siberia, China, Korea, and Japan. This plant is commonly referred to as the Japanese bleeding heart. Bleeding heart is a popular ornamental plant and grows best in moist soils and full sunlight.

Common foxglove

Common foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) is a herbaceous flowering plant naturally found in forests, heaths, and mountain grasslands. Common foxglove produces clusters of purple to white tubular flowers, with numerous dark spots on the inner surface. They are very attractive and commonly cultivated for ornamental purposes.

Japanese meadowsweet

Japanese meadowsweet is considered by many to be an invasive species due to its ability to spread rapidly, creating a dense thicket or hedge. The species traces its roots to Japan, Korea, and China and was introduced in other areas because of its attractive flowers. Use caution when planting to make sure that this shrub can be managed appropriately.

Seaside petunia

Seaside petunia (Calibrachoa parviflora) is a small wildflower species that can grow to be 1 inch tall and 12 inches wide. Seaside petunia is often planted as ground cover because it blooms delicate pinkish lavender, petunia-like blossoms in spring and summer. It is commonly found growing along streams in deserts and wetland areas.

Brazilian jasmine

Mandevilla sanderi, colloquially known as Brazilian jasmine, is an ornamental perennial vine native to South America. Its velvety flowers are most often white, scarlet or pink in color. Brazilian jasmine contains white latex, which is toxic and can have an irritating effect when it comes in contact with skin or eyes.

Pink trumpet tree

The Pink trumpet tree is a striking pink flowering tree. It drops its foliage immediately before bursting into bloom, leaving the gorgeous blossoms as the focal point. This tree is easily pruned to keep its moderate size, and its root system is not aggressive, making it a great tree to plant near patios or driveways to provide shade and beauty.

Winter-flowering cherry

Winter-flowering cherry (Prunus subhirtella) is a Japanese native tree that is grown ornamentally for its abundant white flowers and drooping or weeping foliage. Highly prized in its native Japan, this tree is a common fixture at religious sites like Shinto and Buddhist shrines and some trees are considered to be sacred. The tree is very long-lived and individuals can live for more than 1,000 years.

Large white petunia

Large white petunia ( Petunia axillaris ) is a flowering herbaceous annual plant of the tobacco family (Solanaceae), native to South America. Because of its hardiness and elegant trumpet-shaped white flowers, it is a familiar garden plant, but still less common in gardens than its descendent – the garden petunia. Garden petunia is a hybrid of Petunia axillaris and Petunia integrifolia.

Catawba rhododendron

The Catawba rhododendron is usually cultivated in North America and Europe as an ornamental plant. The Rhododendron catawbiense generally grows up to 3m tall, but can occasionally reach heights of 5m. In the United States, the Catawba rosebay is often found in the Appalachian Mountains.

Wild leek

The Wild leek is from the onion genus and grows a variety of vegetables, of which the most commonly known are leeks, pearl onions, salad leek, Persian leek, and elephant garlic.

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.

Garden phlox

The Garden phlox is a flowering plant that is native to the United States. The name, phlox, comes from the Latin for “flame,” reflecting its bright colors. Garden phlox flowers can become important food sources for insects and hummingbirds.

Pinkladies

Pinkladies natives to the grasslands in the Central United States but spread outside its native states quickly. Today, it has been naturalized in a total of 28 states in the US and spreading as far south as Chihuahua and Coahuila in Mexico. Pinkladies is commonly used as an ornamental ground cover plant but escaped out from the gardens quickly.

Rose campion

The Rose campion is an important ornamental plant and has received the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. It natives to Asia and Europe and now is widely cultivated. The Latin Silene coronaria stands for used for garlands and is sometimes referred to as Lychnis coronaria in the United Kingdom.

Most Common Epiphyte

Moth orchid

Moth orchid (Phalaenopsis amabilis) is an orchid species that is considered aesthetically pleasing and easy to grow. Moth orchid’s blossoms bloom for several months and bloom multiple times if cared for properly. When kept as a houseplant, Moth orchid should be watered regularly and the roots should not be allowed to dry out. This species grows well in bright, indirect sunlight.

Kandyan dancer orchid

Kandyan dancer orchid (Oncidium sphacelatum) is a perennial orchid that blooms from fall to winter. The colorful, ruffled blooms look like the swirling skirts of dancers. Commonly found growing on trees and rocks in coastal areas and tropical regions. Flowers blossom in long spikes and are yellow with brown accents, offering a stunning display.

Indian staghorn fern

Indian staghorn fern is a species of staghorn fern featuring uniquely shaped fern fronds that form a basket shape. This fern is native to parts of India, Burma, and China.

Turtle shell orchid

The Indian staghorn fern (Rossioglossum ampliatum) is native to Mexico, Central America, and northwestern South America. A Indian staghorn fern should be watered when its potting mix starts to become dry. They require fertilizer and bright, diffused light. They may flower at any time, but the heaviest period is in the fall.

Renanthera orchid

Renanthera orchid , or Renanthera coccinea, gets its scientific name from the Latin and Greek words meaning kidney, which describes the shape of the flower. This orchid is usually red, orange, or yellow and originates in India and Asia.

Foxtail orchid

Foxtail orchid is an epiphyte plant that grows on other plants’ trunks. It’s native to tropical regions of Asia and one of its most distinguishing characteristics, besides its distinctive flower spike that resembles a fluffy foxtail, is its spicy aroma released only during warm evenings.

Champion's diploprora

Champion’s diploprora is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae. It contains two recognized species, native to Asia.

Stiff acampe

They are medium sized plants, epiphytic, with a thick branched and ascending stem. The leaves are uneven, bi-lobed. It has an inflorescence 15 cm long, erect and unbranched, which has several fleshy flowers 2 cm long. It blooms in spring and summer.

Showy medinilla

Showy medinilla (Medinilla magnifica) is a perennial evergreen shrub that can grow to be 4 to 8 feet tall. This species is a tropical plant that grows best in shade and has blue-green foliage. It blooms from April to August, when its huge pink flowers droop from the stems.

Japanese bird's-nest fern

Japanese bird’s-nest fern (Asplenium antiquum) is a decorative fern that will grow from 2 to 3 feet tall in optimum growing conditions. It prefers shade to filtered sun and should be grown indoors or in a covered patio area. A humidity-loving plant, it prefers moist but not wet soil. Native to Asia, it is commonly found growing on tree trunks.

Wilson's phalaenopsis

Wilson’s phalaenopsis are members of the genus, Phalaenopsis wilsonii. These Asian and Australian species often produce large, ornate flowers that have made them among the most popular orchids among gardeners. Though natural Wilson’s phalaenopsis are found almost exclusively in tropical zones, they can adapt to other climates in a garden setting.

Spotted zygopetalum

Spotted zygopetalum (Zygopetalum maculatum) is a tropical orchid that is fragrant and beautiful. It is a small-sized orchid with 2 inch wide flowers that are green with purple or brown spots. It has long, leathery leaves and sturdy stems. Thrives in warm climates with high humidity. Needs well-drained potting medium like sphagnum moss or fir chips when growing in containers.

Parrot flower

Parrot flower (Papilionanthe teres) is a species of orchid that is native to southeast Asia. The genus name is derived from the Latin words for “butterfly” and “flower,” in reference to this plant’s beautiful petals that resemble butterfly wings. One variety of this orchid was the pollen parent to Papilionanthe Miss Joaquim, a hybrid cultivar that is the national flower of Singapore.

White nun

White nun (Lycaste virginalis) is an epiphyte orchid that will bloom from November to April. Flowers range in color from all-white to varying shades of pink and lavender. Flowers are 6 inches wide and a mature plant will produce between 6 to 12 flowers during its blooming period. Blooms are long lasting and highly fragrant.

Crucifix orchid

Crucifix orchid (Epidendrum ibaguense) is a species of epiphytic orchid, meaning that it grows only on other plants. Epidendrum ibaguense is found in Trinidad, French Guyana, Venezuela, Colombia, and northern Brazil.

Best Perennial Plant to Grow

China rose

The China rose (Rosa chinensis) is a Southwest China native. The plant has been cultivated for so long that it has become hard to tell the difference between wild and cultivated varieties. With medium-sized clusters of flowers and a long blooming season, it is easy to see why the China rose was chosen as the basis for many rose hybrids.

Virginia creeper

The Virginia creeper is a North American vine from the grape family that has it all – vigorous growth, fragrant flowers, decorative blue-colored berries, and leaves that turn crimson in the fall. Using small forked tendrils with adhesive pads, the Virginia creeper will cling strongly to almost all surfaces. It can grow over entire walls, providing shelter and food for wildlife.

White mulberry

A unique and easy-to-grow edible landscaping plant, the White mulberry is prized for its tasty fruits as well as its exquisite ornamental appeal. Originally native to China, this plant was valued for its role in silk production: silkworms will only eat the leaves of White mulberry trees, making them crucial for the product’s creation. Ultimately, the trees were sold around the world and are used today in different countries that produce silk.

Orange daylily

The Orange daylily is a perennial plant known for its captivating lily-like blooms. Its natural habitats are meadows and forests, but it is also a common garden plant in temperate regions around the world. Each individual flower lasts only a day, but the plant will bloom new ones for weeks. Orange daylily’s young buds and flowers are edible either raw or cooked. As a bonus to vegetarians, the flowers contain more fats than most vegetables.

Red maple

The Red maple is a common North American tree with distinctive red leaves and flower buds. Its sap can be made into maple syrup and the wood is good for furniture. Though non-toxic to humans, the leaves are very toxic to horses. According to the U.S. Forest Service, Red maple is the most common tree in eastern North America.

Crepe myrtle

Crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) is a highly ornamental small tropical tree or shrub, often multi-stemmed. It is native to India, Southeastern Asia, and Japan, and features a characteristic vase-shaped crown and beautifully-ruffled pink blooms that can last from early summer to autumn. It is also a popular nesting shrub for small birds.

Golden pothos

The Golden pothos is a popular flowering house plant that’s commonly seen in Australia, Asia, and the West Indies. It goes by many nicknames, including “devil’s ivy,” because it is so hard to kill, and can grow in the dark. Golden pothos has poisonous sap, so it should be kept away from pets and children.

Bigleaf hydrangea

The Bigleaf hydrangea is a deciduous shrub native to Japan, and is known for its lush, oval, colorful inflorescence. The two types of Hydrangea macrophylla are mopheads – with large, ball-shaped, sterile flower clusters, and lacecapes – with small round fertile flowers in the center, and sterile flowers on the outer side of each inflorescence. Depending on soil pH, blooms can change color from pink to blue.

Callery pear

Callery pear is a species of pear tree native to China and Vietnam. Although the small fruit is unfit for human consumption (but loved by birds), Callery pear is planted as an ornamental tree for its spring blooms and showy autumn colors. The fast-growing cultivar ‘Bradford’ is especially popular in the United States, to the point of becoming an invasive species.

Common lilac

The Common lilac is a sweet-smelling flowering plant with cloudy purple leaves. The scent is so popular that it has found its way into body-care products of all types. It is a member of the olive family. The Common lilac can be found around the world today, but it is native to the Balkan Peninsula and thrives in rocky environments.

Eastern redbud

Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis) is a small understory tree native to North America. In spring or early summer clusters of purple-pink flowers appear on bare branches and sometimes on the trunk. The characteristic seed pod reveals that Eastern redbud belongs to the legume family, which makes it a cousin to peas, and locust trees.

Flaming katy

Flaming katy (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana) originates from Madagascar and has been a popular houseplant since the 1930s. Unlike most other succulents that are grown for their interesting leaves, Kalanchoe blossfeldiana is valued for the colorful flowerheads it produces in autumn and winter. This is the reason it is commonly gifted during holidays, earning it another name – Christmas kalanchoe. It is toxic to pets.

Rose of sharon

Hibiscus syriacus is a deciduous shrub with trumpet-shaped pink, lavender, or white flowers. Although it was first collected by Western botanists from Syrian gardens, “Rose of sharon” is native to south-central and southeastern China. Because of its hardiness and prolific blooming, it is cultivated all around the world. It is the national flower of South Korea, mentioned in its national anthem.

Red raspberry

Red raspberry is a perennial forest shrub with elongated, thorny stems. The stems grow rapidly during their first year and bloom in their second year. The plant produces small, aggregate fruit that has a distinct aroma and a sweet-and-sour taste. Raspberry cultivars are hybrids between this Red raspberry (Rubus idaeus) and the American species R. strigosus.

Chinese hibiscus

Chinese hibiscus is a small flowering tree. Its fragrant flowers are well known the world over, leading to many cultivated variants. Chinese hibiscus is the national flower of Malaysia and is featured on Malaysian coins. Although the Latin name, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, means “the rose of China,” it is not related to true roses.

Most Common Succulent

Aloe vera

Aloe vera is an evergreen succulent species native to the Arabian Peninsula. The thick leaves are filled with gooey flesh that stores water for survival in its native desert territories. Aloe vera has become a popular houseplant and is also incorporated into a wide range of cosmetics and skin-care products.

Jade plant

Looking like a miniature fairytale tree, Jade plant is one of the world’s most popular succulents. Native to southern regions of Africa, it is well adapted to the dry warm air of modern homes. It grows slowly but lives for so long that plants get passed from generation to generation. It is toxic to dogs, cats, and horses, and even mildly toxic to humans.

Common houseleek

“Sempervivum” means “always living” in Latin. Adapted to droughts, baking sun, and cold winters of their native south European mountains, the Common houseleek can truly live through almost anything. It has been grown for centuries on roofs of European houses as it was believed to deter lightning strikes. Young houseleeks grow around the mother plant, earning it the alternative name “Hens and Chicks.”

Thanksgiving cactus

Thanksgiving cactus is a flowering plant that blooms around Christmastime. It has bright colors and a large number of flowers, creating a rich and cheerful holiday vibe. Its flowers are terminal on stalk apexes and have a long flowering season of up to 3 months. The flowers are multi-colored, usually purple, white, orange, and bright red. Its stalk is also peculiarly shaped like a crab leg.

Zanzibar gem

The Zanzibar gem is a flowering green plant native to eastern Africa. It also gets the name, emerald palm, because of its bright, glossy color. Today, the Zanzibar gem is grown around the world as a house plant, in part because it is easy to grow and care for. Though this plant is mildly toxic if ingested, its danger level is often overstated.

Elephant bush

Elephant bush (Portulacaria afra) is a succulent native to South Africa, easily recognized by its small, rounded green leaves and crimson stems. This cute semi-evergreen succulent is cultivated as an ornamental, most commonly in xeriscaping, and as a bonsai plant.

Desert rose

Desert rose is widely cultivated as a houseplant or as bonsai for its beautiful flowers. As a succulent plant originating from the Sahara and tropical Africa and Arabia, it requires a minimum temperature of 10 °C to survive. Its sap was used to poisoning arrows in Africa.

Baby sun rose

Baby sun rose (Mesembryanthemum cordifolium) is a succulent species native to South Africa. Baby sun rose is primarily planted for ornamental purposes in gardens and urban spaces. This species is considered fast-growing and is often planted as ground cover in flower boxes and public areas. It can be easily propagated from cuttings and outcompetes weeds when grown in the same area.

Lucky bamboo

Though its name suggests otherwise, the Lucky bamboo is not actually a bamboo plant. It’s a type of tropical water lily that is thought to bring good luck and prosperity to the home or office. This plant is commonly used in Feng Shui, and the correct placement impacts the flow of positive energy.

Pencil tree

Pencil tree (Euphorbia tirucalli) is a small tree shrub that grows best in warm arid climates and is named for its pencil-sized succulent branches. Pencil tree 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.

Queen of the night

Queen of the night is a unique flowering plant. Its flowers are funnel-shaped and have clean white petals and an aromatic scent. Each flower blooms on a single quiet night and fades within hours, making the plant a veritable moonlight beauty.

Barbary fig

Barbary fig (Opuntia ficus-indica) is a flowering cactus native to Mexico. Barbary fig is a widely domesticated species grown for agricultural purposes in arid climates throughout the world. This species is edible and planted widely as a fruit and vegetable crop. Barbary fig is commercially valued as food, animal fodder, an adobe ingredient, and is also planted to control soil erosion.

Ghost plant

Ghost plant (Graptopetalum paraguayense) is a succulent native to the Mexican state of Tamaulipas and commonly grown as a houseplant or a garden plant. It features ornamental trailing rosettes that turn yellow-pink when grown in a sunny spot or greenish-to-bluish-grey in the shade. It is sometimes confused with another succulent, Echeveria.

Paddle plant

Paddle plant (Kalanchoe tetraphylla) is a rare succulent plant species that requires low light to grow. It is considered a hardy succulent species. Paddle plant is native to Madagascar.

Topsy turvy echeveria

This perennial succulent is grown both indoors and out in sunny, dry soils or rock gardens. Pink-and-yellow flowers grow on stalks in the summer. The highly-unusual shape of its leaves is the result of careful selective cultivation that essentially turned the leaves upside-down.

Most Common Mushroom

Shaggy ink cap

The shaggy ink cap is easily recognizable from its almost cylindrical cap which initially covers most of its stem. The cap is mostly white with shaggy scales, which are more pale brown at the apex. The free gills change rapidly from white to pink, then to black. It is deliquescent. The stipe has a loose ring and measures 10–40 cm high by 1–2.5 cm diameter. Microscopically it lacks pleurocystidia. The spore print is black-brown and the spores measure 10–13 by 6.5–8 µm. The flesh is white and the taste mild.

Common morel

The cap is pale brownish cream, yellow to tan or pale brown to grayish brown. The edges of the ridges are usually not darker than the pits, and somewhat oval in outline, sometimes bluntly cone-shaped with a rounded top or more elongate. Caps are hollow, and attached to the stem at the lower edge, and typically about 2–7 cm broad by 2–10 cm tall. The flesh is brittle. The stem is white to pallid or pale yellow, hollow, and straight or with a club-shaped or bulbous base. It is finely granular overall, somewhat ridged, generally about 2–9 cm long by 2–5 cm thick. In age it may have brownish stains near the base. It has a passing resemblance to the common stinkhorn (Phallus impudicus), for which it is sometimes mistaken. Yellow morels are often found near wooded areas. Giant centipedes make their home inside these morels, so you can identify the morel if you see a centipede inside. Infested morels usually have a hole in the top.

Pearl oyster mushroom

The Pearl oyster mushroom is an edible fungus that has become a common part of many cuisines around the world. It typically grows on deciduous wood, though it can be cultivated on straw as well. Interestingly, Pearl oyster mushroom’s are partially carnivorous: they can trap and consume nematode worms that venture into the gills.

Wine cap stropharia

The Wine cap stropharia can grow to an enormous size—its cap can reach 30 cm in diameter, and thus this woodland mushroom is colloquially known as “Godzilla mushroom.” When young, the cap has a distinctive purplish-red color, but as the Wine cap stropharia matures, the cap becomes more brown and dull. The mushroom is also distinguished by its wrinkled ring.

Hen-of-the-woods

Like the sulphur shelf mushroom, G. frondosa is a perennial fungus that often grows in the same place for a number of years in succession. It occurs most prolifically in the northeastern regions of the United States, but has been found as far west as Idaho. G. frondosa grows from an underground tuber-like structure known as a sclerotium, about the size of a potato. The fruiting body, occurring as large as 100 cm, is a cluster consisting of multiple grayish-brown caps which are often curled or spoon-shaped, with wavy margins and 2–7 cm broad. The undersurface of each cap bears about one to three pores per millimeter, with the tubes rarely deeper than 3 mm. The milky-white stipe (stalk) has a branchy structure and becomes tough as the mushroom matures. In Japan, the maitake can grow to more than 100 lb (45 kg), earning this giant mushroom the title “king of mushrooms”. Maitake is one of the major culinary mushrooms used in Japan, the others being shiitake, shimeji, and enoki. They are used in a wide variety of dishes, often being a key ingredient in nabemono or cooked in foil with butter.

Wood ear

Take one look at the Wood ear (Auricularia auricula-judae) and you’ll understand its common name since it has an uncanny resemblance to the human ear. Wood ear is an edible species of mushroom that is a very popular ingredient in Chinese cuisine.

Lion's mane mushroom

Species of this family commonly have fruitbodies with pegs, spines, or teeth hanging from the hymenium.

Cep

The cap of this mushroom is 7–30 cm broad at maturity. Slightly sticky to touch, it is convex in shape when young and flattens with age. The colour is generally reddish-brown fading to white in areas near the margin, and continues to darken as it matures. The stipe, or stem, is 8–25 cm in height, and up to 7 cm thick—rather large in comparison to the cap; it is club-shaped, or bulges out in the middle. It is finely reticulate on the upper portion, but smooth or irregularly ridged on the lower part.

Black truffle

The round, dark brown fruiting bodies (ascocarps) have a black-brown skin with small pyramidal cusps. They have a strong, aromatic smell and normally reach a size of up to 10 cm. Some may be significantly larger, such as a black truffle found 2012 in Dordogne with a mass of 1.277 kg. Their flesh is initially white, then dark. It is permeated by white veins which turn brown with age. The spores are elliptical and measure about 22–55 µm by 20–35 µm. They are dark brown and covered with large spikes.

Button mushroom

The Button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) is farmed in over 70 countries of the world; however, it has its origins in Europe and North America’s pasture lands. It will only grow on organic matter that is actively decaying and will not initiate the act of decomposition, unlike other mushrooms.

Reishi mushroom

The Reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum) is considered native to regions in both Europe and China. It is also naturalized in the US in California and Utah. It grows only in the presence of decaying hardwood trees and has become the subject of much scientific study. Several similar species are known by the name Reishi mushroom, and misidentification is common.

Snow fungus

Fruit bodies are gelatinous, watery white, up to 7.5 cm across (larger in cultivated specimens), and composed of thin but erect, seaweed-like, branching fronds, often crisped at the edges. Microscopically, the hyphae are clamped and occur in a dense gelatinous matrix. Haustorial cells arise on the hyphae, producing filaments that attach to and penetrate the hyphae of the host. The basidia are tremelloid (ellipsoid, with oblique to vertical septa), 10–13 by 6.5–10 μm, sometimes stalked. The basidiospores are ellipsoid, smooth, 5–8 by 4–6 μm, and germinate by hyphal tube or by yeast cells.

Sweet tooth

The orange-, yellow- or tan-colored pileus (cap) is up to 17 cm wide, although specimens measuring 25 cm have been documented. It is generally somewhat irregular in shape (it may be convex or concave at maturity), with a wavy margin that is rolled inward when young. Caps grow in a distorted shape when fruit bodies are closely clustered. The cap surface is generally dry and smooth, although mature specimens may show cracking. Viewed from above, the caps of mature specimens resemble somewhat those of chanterelles.

Matsutake

Matsutake (Tricholoma matsutake) is a scarce and much-loved mushroom highly valued in Japan. The mushroom grows only in certain red pine forests, and due to high demand coupled with the reduction of its natural habitat, it is now a rare and highly expensive delicacy. The mushrooms grow beside trees, forming a symbiotic relationship with the host plant’s root system.

King oyster mushroom

The King oyster mushroom (Pleurotus eryngii) is a massive mushroom, so large that it has the largest growing cap in its genus. It is an edible mushroom widely prized for its flavor, which has been compared to scallops. It can be found wild in the warmer temperate zones of the world, and is also cultivated, growing on straw, for commercial use.

Best Biennial Plant to Grow

Hollyhock

Hollyhock (Alcea rosea) is a stalk-flowering plant known for its height and attractive flowers. It regularly reaches head height or beyond – from 5 to 8 ft tall. The presence of Hollyhock in a garden can also attract butterflies and hummingbirds.

Wild carrot

The Wild carrot is a common flowering plant with light, delicate flowers. Originally native to Europe and Asia, it has also spread to North America and Australia. Studies of historical paintings suggest that the Wild carrot was cultivated in Turkey, Spain, and North Africa for centuries.

Black-eyed susan

The Black-eyed susan is a flowering black and yellow plant with curving leaves. It is culturally important in the Southern U.S., and is often used to attract butterflies to gardens. It long ago spread throughout North America and much of the world. Black-eyed susan is the state flower of Maryland and was important in the history of the University of Southern Mississippi.

Evening-primrose

Evening-primrose is an herbaceous perennial plant recognized by its yellow flowers which open in the evening and close again at sunrise. It is often cultivated as a decorative plant, especially in drought-prone areas. Native Americans cooked Evening-primrose roots as a food source but it’s said that consumption of this plant could cause headaches and diarrhoea.

Common foxglove

Garden lettuce

Garden lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is a hardy annual plant commonly cultivated as a leafy vegetable. The earliest evidence of its cultivation goes all the way back to Ancient Egypt. Its leaves are often used for making salads and they are an excellent source of vitamins K and A.

High mallow

The High mallow is an ornamental plant with a large variety of cultivars. It has historically also been used to create a yellow dye. High mallow seeds are shaped roughly like cheese wheels, leading the seeds (and sometimes the plant itself) being called “cheeses.”

Rose campion

The Rose campion is an important ornamental plant and has received the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. It natives to Asia and Europe and now is widely cultivated. The Latin Silene coronaria stands for used for garlands and is sometimes referred to as *Lychnis coronaria* in the United Kingdom.

Red clover

Red clover is widely cultivated as a fodder plant and green manure because its roots can fix nitrogen and increase the fertility of the soil. The cultivated Red clover is inevitably escaped and is now naturalized globally including the United States and Australia. Its flowers are attractive so it is cultivated as an ornamental plant as well.

Common chicory

Common chicory is used in a variety of culinary applications around the world, most commonly with coffee. It is occasionally also added during the beer-brewing process to inject a coffee-like flavor. The leaves can be boiled or eaten raw in salad or with pasta. Common chicory is also a simple livestock fodder. In European folklore, the small blue flowers could be used to magically open locked doors.

Annual honesty

The Latin name Lunaria annua refers to the lunar shape of the Annual honesty seedpods, however, they are often referred to as Silver Dollars, Chinese Money or Money Plant due to their coin-like appearance.

Beet

The Beet (Beta vulgaris) provides a variety of uses for food products and garden growth. The roots are commonly consumed as nutrient-rich vegetables, the body of the sugar beet is used to make table sugar, and the leaves are harvested as a separate vegetable: chard. In 18th-Century Silesia, an area that is now part of Poland, the first-ever beet sugar extraction plant was created by a royal decree from the king.

Sweet fennel

Sweet fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) is a flowering perennial plant related to carrots. It is native to the Mediterranean region, but is used throughout the world as a flavoring herb. Sweet fennel has a sweet aromatic flavor similar to anise, and is an important ingredient in absinthe. In the wild, it often becomes a noxious weed.

Brompton stock

Brompton stock (Matthiola incana) is a flowering annual plant native to southern Europe. The Brompton stock is commonly grown as an ornamental plant and as a component of cut floral bouquets.

Common mullein

Common mullein (Verbascum thapsus) has been cultivated by farmers and gardeners since colonial times. This herb has a thick stem and leaves covered with a layer of “fur” that feels like flannel. Today, it grows wild in many areas of the U.S., including roadsides and vacant lots. Flowers of Common mullein are occasionally brewed into a tea.

Best Annual Plant to Grow

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.

Large white petunia

Large white petunia (Petunia axillaris ) is a flowering herbaceous annual plant of the tobacco family (Solanaceae), native to South America. Because of its hardiness and elegant trumpet-shaped white flowers, it is a familiar garden plant, but still less common in gardens than its descendent – the garden petunia. Garden petunia is a hybrid of Petunia axillaris and Petunia integrifolia.

Field pumpkin

Field pumpkin are most commonly seen as decorations throughout the autumn and during the Halloween holiday, when they are carved and used as traditional jack-o’-lanterns. While the taste of Field pumpkin flesh may not be ideal, eating the seeds after toasting them with a bit of salt can be a delicious treat!

Plumed cockscomb

The Plumed-cockscomb is a bright plant with recognizable red, pink, or purple flowers. It grows best in warm, tropical environments. Occasionally, Plumed-cockscomb is used as an ingredient in soap. In China and India, however, the plant is considered a pesky weed that reduces biodiversity.

Cucumber

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) is a creeping vine native to South Asia. It has a long history of cultivation – mentions of its use are found in various ancient scripts, including the Bible, Epic of Gilgamesh and Pliny the Elder’s “Natural History“. Today, Cucumber is one of the most widely cultivated vegetable species in the world.

China aster

The China aster is best known for its bright flowers, which can be purple, pink, red, or white. It is native to China and Korea, making the origin of the common name, China aster quite obvious. The plants are relatively susceptible to diseases, so gardeners must watch them closely.

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.

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 Mexican marigold add bright colors, but it is also known to repel insects, rabbits, and deer thanks to its toxic latex.

Marijuana

Marijuana (Cannabis sativa) has a very long history of cultivation for various purposes. Marijuana can be used for manufacturing industrial fiber, hemp oil, and food (seeds) in medicine and pharmacy as a recreational drug, and as an entheogen among other applications. Each plant is either male or female, with only the females producing useful amounts of oil.

Pot marigold

The Pot marigold is a herbaceous perennial plant often recognized by its thick, orange-yellow blooms with numerous petals. Flowers of the Common 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.

Winter squash

Cucurbita maxima, commonly known as Winter squash, is an annual, herbaceous plant native to South America. It is widely used for various culinary purposes. Winter squash has a lot of cultivars, which are very diverse in terms of fruit color, size, and shape. Pumpkin is the most popular cultivar of this plant.

Common bean

Common bean is one of the most widely produced cash crops in the world, with 23.6 million tons grown in 2016. China is the largest producer of the Common bean, accounting for 79% of the market share. While the Common bean is known as a staple food source, the leaves can be used to trap bedbugs and the beans are widely used in a type of fortune-telling called “favomancy”.

Garden cosmos

Moss rose

Moss rose (Portulaca grandiflora) is an ornamental flowering succulent native to South America. It is usually cultivated in annual flowerbeds and as a container plant. Different cultivars have been selected for achieving variation in color, shape and petal number of the flowers.

Cornflower

Centaurea cyanus is known by several names, like cornflower and bachelor’s button. This flower has a beautiful blue color that was a favorite of famed Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer. Today it is a Crayola crayon color as well as an HTML color name. The color is defined as a medium to light blue that contains very little green.

Most Common Nonvascular

Pincushion moss

Pincushion moss (Leucobryum glaucum) is a moss species also commonly referred to as a pin cushion moss, for its appearance. Pincushion moss is native to North America and Europe and is often cultivated as an ornamental moss.

Silvergreen bryum moss

Silvergreen bryum moss (Bryum argenteum) is a moss species found on all global continents, even Antarctica. Silvergreen bryum moss is also referred to as silvery thread moss. It is often spread on the soles of people’s shoes or on the feet of animals.

Delicate fern moss

Delicate fern moss (Thuidium delicatulum) is a delicate moss that resembles an assortment of tiny ferns. Delicate fern moss carpets the ground and grows on surfaces like branches, rocks, logs or damp soil. Birds use it for nesting material and it provides protective cover for small animals. It grows in partial sun to shade and varies in color from light to dark green.

Toothed plagiomnium moss

Toothed plagiomnium moss (Plagiomnium cuspidatum) is commonly found growing in wet meadows, rich peatlands and forests. Grows best in cool climates, partial sun to light shade in moist, well-drained soil. The foliage of this fern-looking moss is often used by birds and salamanders for nesting material.

Star moss

Star moss, or Syntrichia ruralis, is a unique moss that grows on rocks and ledges. When dry, it appears reddish and shrunken. When Star moss gets wet, the leaves turn a lush green and begin to spread out.

Common liverwort

Common liverwort (Marchantia polymorpha) Is a subtropical ground covering plant with forked branches that will grow to 4 inches long. It does not produce flowers nor seeds. Considered a weed in gardens and lawns, it forms a dense carpet over the ground and reproduces by spores. It is fire tolerant and has been useful in woodland restoration projects to help deter ground erosion.

Tortula moss

Another name for Tortula moss (Tortula muralis) is wall screw-moss. It’s a species that’s found from one end of the globe to another. Like all mosses, Tortula moss can be used as an air quality indicator. That’s because what the moss absorbs from its surroundings is an excellent indicator of atmospheric air pollution.

Hypnum moss

Brocade moss (Hypnum imponens) gets its name from the fact that it looks a bit like emerald embroidery. You’ll find it forming sprawling mats on old decaying logs. It’s one of many so-called “feather mosses,” so-named for their feathery appearance.

American climacium moss

American climacium moss (Climacium americanum) is native to North America. Its common name reflects the tree-like appearance of its small, branching leaves. This moss is resilient and can survive in both wet and dry conditions. It, along with other varieties of moss, are used as a nesting material by both the Four-Toed Salamander and the American Robin.

Great scented liverwort

Often found on damp rock structures, Great scented liverwort prefers to grow where it has constant moisture without being soggy. It gets its common name for its faint odor of urine, which occurs because it soaks up nitrogen and sulfur from its habitat.

Knights plume moss

Knights plume moss (Ptilium crista-castrensis), sometimes known as ostrich-plume feathermoss, is a forest moss that gets its name from its feathery shape. It is a common natural ground cover in boreal forests throughout Canada and northern Europe.

Common apple-moss

Common apple-moss (Bartramia pomiformis) is a type of moss with thin-toothed leaves that curl if they become dry. Tufts of the moss grow spherical capsules on stalks that extend past the leaves. Common apple-moss prefers humid, shaded environments amid rock crags or along riverbanks.

Dicranoweisia moss

Dicranoweisia cirrata is a medium-sized species of moss. It grows in the form of relatively rounded turfs and is not very choosy when it comes to the habitat. It can be found on decomposing wood, live or dead tree trunks, fences, and also rocks.

Purple-margined liverwort

Purple-margined liverwort is a monotypic genus.

Horn calcareous moss

A very common moss, the Horn calcareous moss forms dense, soft tufts there were once used traditionally as a stuffing for mattresses. It grows in wet habitats, with constantly open spores that absorb water. It provides a habitat for numerous insects, frogs, and fungi.

Most Common Shrub

China rose

Crepe myrtle

Bigleaf hydrangea

Common lilac

Rose of sharon

Chinese hibiscus

Dwarf umbrella tree

Dwarf umbrella tree ( Schefflera arboricola ) is an evergreen, multi-stemmed shrub native to China. It is commonly grown as a houseplant or a garden plant in milder climates for its decorative palmately compound leaves. The leaves contain calcium oxalates, which damage internal organs when ingested. It shouldn’t be confused with the Australian umbrella tree, Schefflera actinophylla.

Japanese maple

There is no plant that symbolizes the traditional Japanese garden better than the Japanese maple ( Acer palmatum ). This small deciduous tree or a shrub native to East Asia can grow up to around 10 m, but it is often kept smaller. Japanese maple is loved for its artistic-quality canopy with brilliant red autumn leaves. It is also commonly grown as a bonsai.

Chinese peony

Chinese peony is a perennial herbaceous bushy plant native to central and eastern Asia. It is highly regarded for its lush, white, pink, or crimson rose-like flowers, with pronounced yellow stamens. White Chinese peony was first introduced to England in the mid-18th century, and today there are several hundred cultivars common in temperate gardens around the world.

Corn plant

Corn plant (Dracaena fragrans) is an evergreen, slow-growing perennial shrub native to tropical Africa. Also, it is a classic houseplant, grown in Europe since the 1800s. Its glossy green foliage that resembles corn leaves grow on top of a thick cane, which is why the plant is sometimes called “false palm tree.”

Heavenly bamboo

Despite its name, Heavenly bamboo is not actually bamboo at all but a semi-evergreen shrub. It gains its name because a casual observer may mistake it for actual bamboo. The bright red berries are a key distinguishing feature of this plant. They should be avoided, however, since they are toxic to most animals and humans alike.

Japanese camellia

The Japanese camellia is a bright flower that thrives in temperate climates. Native to Japan, it has since spread around the world and is even the official state flower of the U.S. state of Alabama. In China, the Japanese camellia is considered a symbol of luck, and is a staple of many New Year celebrations.

Common lantana

The Common lantana is a flowering plant that grows best in tropical environments. It spread outside the Americas when the Dutch brought it to Europe. The plant is generally regarded as an unwanted weed that reduces biodiversity. Additionally, it is toxic to livestock and harms the output of farmland.

Garden croton

The Garden croton is a showy tropical display that does well indoors or in warm climates. Known for its attractive foliage, this plant can have both to color and structural variations in its leaves. Leaf colors can include orange, yellow, scarlet, white, and green, and many times all are present on one plant.

Laurustinus

Laurustinus (Viburnum tinus) is a flowering shrub native to the Mediterranean region. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant and it often adorns winter gardens. When little else is growing during cold days of winter, Laurustinus produces numerous clusters of tiny white flowers.