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Pansy flowers, also called violas, are known for the distinctive "monkey face" markings on their blooms. These flowers do best in mild and cooler climates. The small plants are often treated as annuals as flower borders and in window boxes, small patio pots or flowerbeds. Pansies are a classic fall and winter flower for the southern states in planting zones six through nine. Pansies that receive at least five hours of sunlight daily will produce more blossoms than shaded plants. Caring for Pansies 1 Plant pansy flowers after the last frost in northern areas of the United States (with extremely cold winters and mild summers). Plant pansies before the first frost of fall in southern states (with mild winters and harsher summers). 2 If the pansies will be placed in flowerbeds with full sunlight, plant them 6 inches apart to allow for growth. You can plant pansy flowers closer in hanging baskets and flower boxes. Choose baskets and boxes with good drainage to avoid root rot. ...

Description Plumbago is an evergreen shrub with whip-like semiwoody stems that form a loose, rounded mound 3-10 ft (0.9-3 m)high with a similar spread. Plumbago can be pruned to grow like a vine and scramble over supports, or pruned into a more compact mounded shrub, or left to sprawl with its long, gracefully arching branches. The 2 in (5 cm) oblong leaves are a fresh, light yellowish green color. The sky blue flowers are 1 in (2.5 cm) long tubes expanding into 5 petals spreading about 1 in across. The flowers are borne in rounded terminal clusters 6 in (15 cm) across and look quite a bit like phlox flowers. Plumbago blooms all year long except for the coldest winter months. A white flowered variety ( P. auriculata var.  alba ) is available. The cultivar, 'Royal Cape' has intense cobalt blue flowers. Location Plumbago auriculata  is native to South Africa, and is a popular ornamental in subtropical gardens in Florida, California and similar warm-winter climates...

A ground cover plant is used in place of grass or to cover an area where you want to do minimal maintenance. Groundcovers also help prevent erosion and stabilize raised areas. Landscape groundcover plants are chosen because they are tough, hardy and have a low growth habit. There is a groundcover plant that is suitable for almost any site. Choosing the Right Ground Cover Plant Types As with any other plant, zone hardiness, soil and light conditions will help you determine what to use. You should also think about water requirements and trimming needs, as groundcovers are frequently used in marginal areas or places where you want a nice landscape without a lot of work. If you want to cover the sides of a steep bank in the sun, you will want different plants than someone who's planting around a tree so that the lawn mower doesn't have to get too close. A groundcover for stabilizing that sunny bank needs to grow quickly and survive a dry, hot area. The groundcover under the...

Description Common lantana is a rugged evergreen shrub from the tropics. The species will grow to 6 ft (1.8 m) high and may spread to 8 ft (2.4 m) in width with some varieties able to clamber vinelike up supports to greater heights with the help of support. The leaves are 2-5 in (5-12.7 cm) long by 1-2 in (2.5-5 cm) wide with rounded tooth edges and a textured surface. Stems and leaves are covered with rough hairs and emit an unpleasant aroma when crushed (smells like cat pee). The small flowers are held in clusters (called umbels) that are typically 1-2 in (2.5-5.1 cm) across. In the tropics lantana is a non-stop bloomer. Where it is killed to the ground by frost the lantana blooms in summer and fall. Flower color ranges from white to yellow, orange to red, pink to rose in unlimited combinations, in addition the flowers usually change in color as they age. A lantana may look orange from a distance but the flowerhead is examined at close range it consists of individual white, yellow a...

When a customer buys a palm tree at our nursery, they often ask "How do I plant it?".  The simple answer of "Just dig a hole and put it in" is not the right answer.  This is because there are many factors involved in successfully growing a palm tree.   The process of physically planting a palm tree into the ground is only one of the important steps.  There are other factors that determine success in growing a palm tree in any given locality.  So, I shall present a top to bottom discussion on planting a palm tree and begin before you've even purchased the plant. On arrival and requesting palm trees, the first thing we typically ask these customers is "Where do you live".  This tells us something about their growing conditions. Next, we’ll ask them how cold do they get during the winter. Unfortunately, many people don’t know the answer to this question. Then we’ll ask if the plant will be in full sun, partial sun, or shade. Different species like diffe...