Detailed plant profiles with growing tips for weekend gardeners. Browse by category or search for a specific plant to find zone-specific planting advice, care instructions, and troubleshooting help.
Cardinal flower is a striking native perennial prized for its tall spikes of vivid red blooms that light up damp garden beds in summer. It is especially loved by hummingbirds and fits beautifully into rain gardens, pond edges, and partially shaded borders. Despite its dramatic look, it is quite manageable for beginners when given consistently moist soil.
Tree aeonium is a striking succulent shrub grown for its branching stems topped with bold rosettes of fleshy leaves. It brings strong architectural shape to containers, rock gardens, and dry borders, especially in mild coastal climates. Easy to grow with the right drainage, it is a great choice for gardeners who want low-maintenance color and texture.
Common zinnia is a cheerful, fast-growing annual prized for its bold, daisy-like flowers in a wide range of bright colors. It is one of the easiest flowers for beginners, thriving in sunny beds, borders, and cutting gardens through the heat of summer. Zinnias also attract butterflies and make excellent long-lasting cut flowers.
Prickly pear is a bold, architectural cactus grown for its paddle-shaped stems, colorful flowers, and edible fruits and pads. It thrives in hot, sunny gardens where many other plants struggle, making it a favorite for water-wise landscapes. For home gardeners, it offers both ornamental appeal and a harvest of tender nopales and sweet tuna fruits.
Sourwood is a graceful native tree prized for its drooping clusters of white summer flowers and brilliant red fall color. It is especially loved by pollinators and is famous as a source of premium sourwood honey. For home gardeners, it makes an elegant specimen tree for acidic, well-drained soils.
Mexican hat is a cheerful native wildflower known for its distinctive sombrero-shaped blooms in warm shades of yellow and reddish brown. It brings a relaxed prairie look to sunny beds, borders, and meadow plantings while attracting bees and butterflies. Once established, it is a dependable perennial for gardeners who want long-lasting color with relatively little fuss.
Flowering dogwood is a beloved small native tree grown for its showy white spring bracts, red fall fruit, and rich autumn color. It fits beautifully into home landscapes as a specimen tree, woodland edge planting, or wildlife-friendly accent. With the right siting and steady moisture, it rewards gardeners with year-round beauty.
Tarragon is a classic culinary herb prized for its narrow, aromatic leaves and distinctive anise-like flavor. French tarragon is the preferred garden and kitchen form, especially for sauces, vinegars, and egg dishes. This easy perennial does best in sunny spots with sharp drainage and rewards gardeners with repeated harvests through the growing season.
Ethiopian mustard is a fast-growing brassica grown for its nutritious leafy greens and, in some regions, for oilseed production. It has a bold, mustard-like flavor and performs especially well in cool weather, making it a useful crop for spring and fall gardens. Home gardeners appreciate its vigor, productivity, and versatility in the kitchen.
Bluestar is a dependable native perennial grown for its clusters of soft, star-shaped blue flowers and its fine-textured foliage. It brings long-lasting garden value, blooming in spring and often turning a rich golden yellow in fall. Easy to grow and adaptable, it fits beautifully into borders, pollinator gardens, and naturalistic plantings.
Green-and-gold is a cheerful native perennial ground cover prized for its bright yellow, starry flowers and tidy green foliage. It spreads gently to form a low carpet, making it a lovely choice for woodland edges, shaded borders, and naturalistic plantings. Easy to grow and beginner-friendly, it brings long-lasting color to spots where many flowering plants struggle.
Mustard greens are fast-growing brassicas grown for their peppery leaves, tender stems, and sometimes their flavorful seeds. They bring bold taste and lush texture to cool-season gardens, with many forms ranging from frilly leaf types to broad, smooth-leaved varieties. Easy to grow from seed, they are a great choice for beginner gardeners who want quick harvests and productive beds.
Weekend Plant