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 Sages for ages With about 1000 species, salvias comprise the largest genus in the mint family. Let's see just a few of them. You can sing the rainbow song to this group of flowering plants: "Red and yellow and pink and green, purple and orange and blue, not even indigo." The large range of colors, shapes and sizes of salvias make them one of the most versatile and interesting flowering perennials to grow. There are all shades of pink, red, blue and purple and orange, apricot, white, indigo, yellow, lemon and two-tone flowers. Some varieties can grow up to 4 m tall, while others are almost terrestrial. Salvias are very easy to grow, as well as drought tolerant and frequent frosts once established. Some flowers year-round in frost-free areas. Due to the breadth of these categories, If you plan carefully, salvias will bloom every month of the year. 1. 'Indigo Spires' (S. longispicata × farinacea)  Its distinctive feature is the brilliant bright-blue flo

Shrubs for Small Spaces Freshen up your front yard with these short, stylish shrubs—all under 5 feet tall, our expert picks for tallest small shrubs! You have a very small space, maybe just a patio, but you still want to grow shrubs. Or maybe you have a nice-sized yard, but it's filled to the max. Or maybe you prefer small shrubs because they look so cute! It doesn't matter what your story is: almost everyone can find a use for a small bush. Use our top picks as your guide to the best miniature shrubs for small spaces. 1. Raspberry Sundae Deuce Unlike other Teutsia varieties that grow 6 feet or more, this compact, rounded cultivar grows 3 to 4 feet tall and wide. It has arching stems and large panicles of purple-pink flowers that attract bees and butterflies from mid-spring to mid-summer. 2. Midnight Wine Shine Weikela The beloved midnight vine shrub gets a makeover with this selection. Enjoy its dark, shiny leaves and watch for hummingbirds at the tubular pink flo

1. Shade and dry This is a difficult garden area that involves establishing plants and Only a certain number of people survive without water. Growing tips Before planting, dig a deep hole filled with compost and soak the root ball of the plant thoroughly. Water weekly until new plants grow. Under deciduous trees, plant spring-blooming bulbs such as cyclamen, anemones, snowdrops and narcissi. Create a ground cover of foliage to retain moisture. In spring and hot weather, soak the ground thoroughly every ten days - this encourages deep root penetration, whereas irrigation. Produces small and often weak, shallow-rooted plants. If planting in terracotta pots, line them with plastic to retain moisture in the heat, and add moisture-retaining gel granules to the compost. Dig in organic matter to retain soil moisture and mulch heavily with a thick layer of bark chippings in spring. 2. Heavy wet clay Easy to recognize as sticky and lumpy when wet Drains poorly, but rocks hard and c

Fill your garden with colorful butterfly flowers. It's common sense - the more butterfly flowers you have in your garden, the more butterflies you'll see. If you have a large yard, it can be difficult to figure out how to fill the space without breaking the bank. The answer? Butterfly flowers growing from seeds! Butterflies love the abundance of nectar flowers that are easy to start from seed. Many are free to self-sow, meaning these flowers will return year after year at no cost to you. In addition to the options we've compiled below, native wildflowers are a great way to attract butterflies on a budget. Contact your local county extension office for a list of wildflowers found in your area. A note: use caution in "wildflower mixes". They often include species that are not suitable for all regions. 1. Marigold This ancient garden standby deserves more attention in the butterfly garden. Choose varieties with fully double flowers for their ability to h

Foundation-Friendly Plants When your beds are next to your house, fill them with a unique, but not overwhelming, item. Designing the plantings around your home can be a tricky task for many gardeners. These plants are often seen up close and personal by visitors and the UPS guy, so they deserve to be an inviting feature in your home. But with a commanding house behind these beds, there are many areas where gardeners can go wrong. Classic mistakes include cramming all the plants around the front door (so the door can't be seen), a narrow bed that's only wide enough for one row of shrubs, or a red oak planted 4 feet from the foundation that grows into your gutters. At any time. The most important aspect of your basement beds is to choose plants that will make an impact but won't take up space. You should include structural plants that create the structure and architecture of the space, but it's also important to include statement plants to weave the tapestry