zones 6-10

There are 15-20 popular annuals, biennials, and perennial, in the Asteraceae family, in this genus. They are occur from moist meadows and light woodland in North America. They have branched or unbranched stems, and most have alternate, simple to pinnatifid, occasionally pinnate, prominently veined leaves, toothed toward the tips. Species range in height from 2′ to 10′ feet tall. It produces usually solitary, single or semi double daisy like flowers, often with petals that point down and out, and a prominent conical centers that can be black, brown, or green, held for long periods from summer to autumn. Most are good for cut flowers. Grow in a border, or naturalize in meadow or woodland garden. Most cultivars of R. hirta are grown as annual, and are good for bedding or border.

Grow in moderately fertile, preferably heavy but well drained soil that does not dry out, in full sun or partial shade. Divide in spring or fall.

zones 3-7

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

tolerates drought once established

Oxalis – Shamrock – Wood-sorrel –

There are about 500 specious of fibrous rooted, bulbous, rhizomatous, or tuberous annual and perennials, some of which are invasive weeds, and a few weak stemmed subshrubs, in this genus. They occur in open habitats or in woodland, and widely distributed, with many species from South Africa, and South America. Those grown as ornamental are valued for their palmate, often clover like foliage (some have leaves that fold at night), and for their funnel to cup or bowl shaped, usually pink, white or yellow, 5 petaled flowers, sometimes umbel-like, and usually open only in sunlight, closing in dull weather or at night. Woodland species, such as O. acetosella and O. regana, are suitable for naturalizing in a shady site.Many of the hardy species from Southern Africa and South America, as various cultivars are suitable for a rock garden, raised bed, or trough.

Grow hardy woodland species in full or partial shade. Other hardy species need full sun and well drained, moderately fertile, humus rich soil. Divide in spring.

zones 6-9

There are about 33 evergreen, epiphytic or terrestrial, climbing vines from woodland in tropical Central and South America. They produce alternate leaves are initially simple and ovate to triangular, becoming larger, long stalked, arrow shaped, then 3 to 5 lobed or pedate as the plants mature. Tiny, petalless flowers are borne on spadices surrounded by pale green and cream to purplish green spathes, which often become bright red at fruiting time. They rarely flower in cultivation, and are grown for their foliage. Grow as a houseplant. All parts may cause mild stomach upset if ingested, contact with the milky sap may irritate skin.

Indoors, grow in soilless potting mix, in bright indirect light for green leaved species, or in bright filtered light for variegated ones. When in growth, water freely and apply a balanced liquid fertilizer every 3 or 4 weeks. Water moderately in winter. Support with a moss pole.

Prone to bacterial leaf spot, soft rot, spider mites, mealy bugss, aphids, scale insects, and a variety of fungal diseases.

S. podophyllum ‘White Butterfly’  – Nephthytis triphylla of gardens – Aarrowhead Vine – Goosefoot – This sparsely branched climber found from Mexico to Brazil climbs to 3-6′ feet tall or more.   It is compact and trailing when young, and produces heart shaped leaves, when mature, they are arrow shaped, later pedate, each with 5-11 elliptic leaflets, the largest leaflet 6-16″ long, all are dark green above, sometimes with white centers, paler beneath. In summer, green and greenish white to cream or, more rarely, yellow spathes, 4 ½” long, are borne in groups of 4-11 from the leaf axils.

Zones 14-15

Zones 6-9

Zones 5-9

Zones 5-9

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.