The lotus flower is a symbol of purity, rebirth and enlightenment. Learn what the lotus means in Buddhism and Hinduism, meanings by color, how a lotus differs from a water lily, and how to plant a lotus tuber in a pond or patio container and care for it through winter.
The forget-me-not flower stands for true love, loyalty and remembrance. Learn the legend behind the name, the history of the flower, the main types of forget-me-nots, and how to sow, grow and control them in your garden.
Water lilies are easier to grow than they look. This guide covers hardy and tropical Nymphaea, the best varieties, planting depth, feeding, dividing, overwintering and growing one in a patio barrel.
How to grow the bird of paradise flower outdoors and in pots, how Strelitzia reginae differs from white bird of paradise, and five proven fixes for a plant that refuses to bloom.
The protea flower is a striking South African bloom and the king protea is the country’s national flower. Learn the main types, what proteas symbolize, and how to grow them in lean, acidic, phosphorus-free soil, plus pruning, cut flower and drying tips.
Angel trumpet flower (Brugmansia) is a tropical shrub with huge, hanging, fragrant blooms. Learn how to grow it in the ground or in pots, prune above the Y, overwinter it, root cuttings and handle this highly toxic plant safely.
Black bat flower (Tacca chantrieri) is a rare tropical plant with near-black, wing-like bracts and long whiskers. Learn the shade, warmth, humidity and soil it needs, how to overwinter it and how to divide the rhizome.
Plan, plant and harvest a cut flower garden: pick a sunny site, build 3 to 4 foot beds, grow focal flowers, fillers and foliage, and cut each bloom at the right stage.
Meet celosia, the heat-loving cockscomb: its three main types, how to grow it from seed, how to dry it and what it means.
How to grow ranunculus from corms: soaking, pre-sprouting, planting by zone, watering, harvesting for the vase and saving corms for next year.