Outdoors, grow in moderately fertile, humus rich, moist but well drained soil in full sun or light, dappled shade.

annual

grow in partial shade to full sun

is slender erect annual whose scent repels insects usually with spotted yellow/orange round flower atop of stem

comes in trays or in 4″ pots

Grow in moderately fertile, well drained soil in full sun. Deadhead to prolong flowering, and water freely during drought. The densely double flowerbeds of the African marigolds tend to rot in wet weather. In containers, use a soil based potting mix, during the growing season, water freely and apply a balanced liquid fertilizer weekly.

There are about 300 species of mostly evergreen, low growing, subshrubs, annuals and biennials, in this genus. They occur in Europe, and Asia with a single species in arctic North America, and few extending to South Africa. Most are plants for the rock garden or edges of garden beds. Much hybridizing has created several different groups of pinks and carnations bred for specific purposes. Border Carnations are annual or perennial plant up to 24″ tall used as the name suggests as well as for cut flowers. Perpetual-flowering Carnations are mainly grown in the open but may be grown under cover to produce unblemished blooms, these are often disbudded leaving only the top bud to develop. American Spray Carnation are treated like perpetuals except that no disbudding is carried out. Malmaison Carnations, now undergoing revival in popularity, are so-called because of their supposed resemblance to the Bourbon rose ‘Souvenir de la Malmaison’, highly perfumed, they are grown in the same way perpetuals but need more care. Other groups of hybrids for the garden and cutting are the Modern Pinks and the Old-fashioned Pinks. Finally comes the Alpine or Rock Pinks bred from alpine species and used mostly in rock gardens. In all hybrid groups there are some cultivars that are sel colored (all the same color), and other that are flecked, picotee, or laced, the latter 2 types having petals narrowly edged with a different color.

Ranging from fully to marginally frost hardy, Dianthus species like a sunny position, protection from strong winds, and well drained, slightly alkaline soil. Stake taller varieties. Prune after flowering.

There are 20, spreading to erect annuals, perennials, and sub shrubs in the Asteraceae family, make up this genus. They naturally occur from scrub and desert grassland, mainly in Mexico, but also in Southwestern USA, and Central and South America. They have opposite, stalkless or almost stalkless, linear to ovate, pale to mid green leaves. Zinnias are cultivated for their solitary, long stemmed, daisy like, terminal flower heads in a wide range of colors and shapes, including white, yellow, orange, chartreuse, red, purple and lilac, some with contrasting eyes. In some, the flower heads resemble formal decorative dahlias ( referred to as “dahlia-flowered”) others resemble cactus flowered dahlias ( referred to as “cactus flowered”). Use in an annual or mixed border, and for cutting. Smaller cultivars are suitable for edging and for window boxes or other containers. They usually attract butterflies.

Grow in fertile, humus rich, well-drained soil in full sun. Deadhead to prolong flowering.

There are about 50 species of robust, rhizomatous herbaceous perennials, in this genus. They occur mainly in forest margins and moist open areas in forest in Asia and tropical North and South America. Cannnas are grown for their large, alternate, paddle shaped leaves, in greens, bronze, or purple, or sometimes white or yellow striped, and are 12-24″ long in most species and cultivars, they are pinnately veined and sheathed at the bases. The racemes or panicles of brightly colored flowers are also attractive, each asymmetric flower having 3 petals joined into a tube at the bases, 3 sepals, and showy stamens in color ranges from red, orange, and yellow, through to apricots, creams, and pinks and bi-colors. Hundreds of hybrids have resulted from complex crosses between various species, they are often grouped under the names C. x generalis and C. x orchioides. Because the distinctions between these hybrid groups have been blurred by further interbreeding, these names have not been used in the descriptions below.

Where not hardy use cannas in summer bedding and lift for winter, or grow in containers or in cool conservatory or greenhouse. In warmer areas, grow in a border.

Outdoors, grow in fertile soil in full sun, water freely in dry spells. Deadhead to promote continued flowering. Where not hardy, plant out in early summer. After autumn frost blackens the foliage, remove the stems and leaves, and lift rhizomes for winter storage, store in barely moist peat or leaf mold in frost free conditions. Divide in spring. Most are suitable for Zones 8-11.

Prone to slugs and snails, spider mites, caterpillars, rust, fungal leaf spots, bacterial blight, bean yellow mosaic, and tomato spotted wilt viruses.

There are about 50 species of robust, rhizomatous herbaceous perennials, in this genus. They occur mainly in forest margins and moist open areas in forest in Asia and tropical North and South America. Cannnas are grown for their large, alternate, paddle shaped leaves, in greens, bronze, or purple, or sometimes white or yellow striped, and are 12-24″ long in most species and cultivars, they are pinnately veined and sheathed at the bases. The racemes or panicles of brightly colored flowers are also attractive, each asymmetric flower having 3 petals joined into a tube at the bases, 3 sepals, and showy stamens in color ranges from red, orange, and yellow, through to apricots, creams, and pinks and bi-colors. Hundreds of hybrids have resulted from complex crosses between various species, they are often grouped under the names C. x generalis and C. x orchioides. Because the distinctions between these hybrid groups have been blurred by further interbreeding, these names have not been used in the descriptions below.

Where not hardy use cannas in summer bedding and lift for winter, or grow in containers or in cool conservatory or greenhouse. In warmer areas, grow in a border.

Outdoors, grow in fertile soil in full sun, water freely in dry spells. Deadhead to promote continued flowering. Where not hardy, plant out in early summer. After autumn frost blackens the foliage, remove the stems and leaves, and lift rhizomes for winter storage, store in barely moist peat or leaf mold in frost free conditions. Divide in spring. Most are suitable for Zones 8-11.

Prone to slugs and snails, spider mites, caterpillars, rust, fungal leaf spots, bacterial blight, bean yellow mosaic, and tomato spotted wilt viruses.

There are about 70 species of large leafed rhizomatous and tuberous perennials typical used as annual tropical plants, in this genus. Found in the wild in tropical forest and Southeastern Asia in open, sunny, or shady usually damp sites by streams and marshes. The heavily veined heart shaped to arrowhead shape can be anywhere from 8-36” long. The leaves can be black, dark violet, bronze, red, or purple with distinctive markings. The flower is obscured by foliage and is not very showy. Some species are edible and others are poisons causing swelling of tongue and throat, if skin comes in contact with sap it may irritate the skin.

Intolerant to frost. If grown indoors grow in mix of equal parts composted bark loam and sand in filtered light. Water freely during growing season and apply a balanced liquid fertilizer every 2-3 weeks. Water moderately in winter.

If grown outdoors grow in moderately fertile humus rich moist but well drained soil in partial shade.