Species guides
Plants
Species care guides for the most-grown outdoor ornamentals. Every guide cites primary sources from university Extension publications and botanical gardens.
These species guides cover the most-grown outdoor ornamentals — perennials, shrubs, small trees, bulbs. Every guide starts with a hard look at where the plant actually performs (USDA zone, sun, soil, deer pressure), then gets into planting depth, pruning timing, and the failure modes that account for most reader emails.
Most-viewed in plants
Hydrangea Care: Which Species You Have and How to Keep It Blooming
Hydrangea care by species: macrophylla, paniculata, arborescens, quercifolia, petiolaris. Pruning timing, USDA zones, li…
Peony Care: From Bareroot to Thirty-Year Bloom
Peony care: herbaceous vs tree vs Itoh, planting depth, botrytis blight prevention, why peonies fail to bloom, dividing,…
Japanese Maple Care: Cultivar Selection, Light, and the Truth About Leaf Scorch
Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) care: cultivar selection, light requirements by zone, verticillium wilt prevention, leaf …
Rose care: knockout vs hybrid tea vs shrub roses
Knock Out vs hybrid tea vs shrub roses: pruning timing, disease resistance, deer reality, and watering needs by rose typ…
Lavender care: English vs French vs Spanish and the soggy-soil killer
Lavender care: English vs French vs Spanish species zone differences, root rot prevention, soil drainage requirements, p…
Hosta Care: The Shade Staple That Isn't Actually a Shade Plant
Hosta care: light requirements (more nuanced than 'shade'), slug control via iron phosphate, deer-resistance reality, fo…
All plants guides
Species15 Best Shrubs for Privacy Screens, Ranked by Speed and ZoneSpecies15 best [hosta](/plants/hosta-care/) cultivars by leaf color and sizeSpecies20 Plants for a Fragrant GardenSpecies20 Truly Low-Maintenance PerennialsSpeciesAlmond Tree Care in Zones 7-9SpeciesAmerican vs Asian persimmonSpeciesAmerican vs Chinese chestnut tree careSpeciesApple tree care: rootstock, pruning, diseaseSpeciesApricot tree careSpeciesAronia (chokeberry) careSpeciesBackyard orchard planning for small yardsSpeciesBearded Iris Care: Growing Iris germanicaSpeciesBearded vs Siberian vs Japanese irisSpeciesBee Balm Care: Growing Monarda didymaSpeciesBest Cut Flowers for the Home GardenSpeciesBest Evergreens for Small YardsSpeciesBest Garden Plants for Frog and Toad HabitatSpeciesBest Native Shrubs for WildlifeSpeciesBest Perennials and Shrubs for Fall ColorSpeciesBest Plants That Attract Beneficial Predatory InsectsSpeciesBest Plants for Attracting SongbirdsSpeciesBest Plants for Driveway BordersSpeciesBest Plants for Erosion ControlSpeciesBest Plants for Firefly HabitatSpeciesBest Plants for Foundation PlantingSpeciesBest Plants for Poolside (Low-Litter, Salt-Tolerant)SpeciesBest Plants for Spring ColorSpeciesBest Plants for Winter Bird CoverSpeciesBest Plants for Winter InterestSpeciesBest Plants for a Mailbox GardenSpeciesBest Plants for a Pollinator StripSpeciesBest Plants for a Rain GardenSpeciesBest Russian sage cultivarsSpeciesBest Shrubs for Bird NestingSpeciesBest Trees for Fall Color by RegionSpeciesBest Trees for Small Yards (Under 30 ft)SpeciesBest [Japanese maple](/plants/japanese-maple-care/) cultivars by size, color, and leaf shapeSpeciesBest [clematis](/plants/clematis-care/) cultivars by pruning groupSpeciesBest [coneflower](/plants/coneflower-care/) cultivars beyond purpleSpeciesBest [dahlia](/plants/dahlia-care/) cultivars by size and formSpeciesBest [peony](/plants/peony-care/) cultivars: herbaceous, tree, and intersectionalSpeciesBest [rhododendron](/plants/rhododendron-care/) cultivars for cold and heat toleranceSpeciesBest catmint (Nepeta) cultivarsSpeciesBest crepe myrtle cultivarsSpeciesBest daffodil cultivars by bloom time (early, mid, late)SpeciesBest daylily cultivars by bloom time and colorSpeciesBest disease-resistant rose cultivars (Knock Out, Drift, Earth-Kind)SpeciesBest dogwood cultivars (Cornus)SpeciesBest evergreen and deciduous azaleas by zoneSpeciesBest fire-resistant plants for wildfire zonesSpeciesBest forsythia cultivars by zoneSpeciesBest hardy hibiscus cultivarsSpeciesBest hellebore cultivarsSpeciesBest host plants for monarch caterpillars (milkweed species)SpeciesBest host plants for swallowtail butterfliesSpeciesBest low-pollen plants for allergy sufferersSpeciesBest magnolia cultivars by regionSpeciesBest ninebark cultivarsSpeciesBest non-toxic outdoor plants for cat ownersSpeciesBest non-toxic outdoor plants for dog ownersSpeciesBest perennial vs annual salviasSpeciesBest plants around water featuresSpeciesBest plants for a continuous-bloom bee corridorSpeciesBest plants for a cottage-garden lookSpeciesBest plants for a shaded courtyardSpeciesBest plants for acidic soil (pH below 6.0)SpeciesBest plants for alkaline soil (pH above 7.5)SpeciesBest plants for an asthma-friendly gardenSpeciesBest plants for around a mailboxSpeciesBest plants for balcony gardensSpeciesBest plants for bog and constantly-wet gardensSpeciesBest plants for compacted soilSpeciesBest plants for condo patiosSpeciesBest plants for deck containersSpeciesBest plants for disturbed soil (post-construction)SpeciesBest plants for dry shadeSpeciesBest plants for east-facing morning-sun bedsSpeciesBest plants for feeding songbirds in winterSpeciesBest plants for fire-escape and small-railing gardensSpeciesBest plants for hot south-facing wallsSpeciesBest plants for hot west-facing bedsSpeciesBest plants for living snow fenceSpeciesBest plants for narrow side-yard stripsSpeciesBest plants for noise-buffer screensSpeciesBest plants for north-facing yards (low sun)SpeciesBest plants for rain barrel overflow zonesSpeciesBest plants for rooftop gardens (wind + sun)SpeciesBest plants for saline or coastal soilsSpeciesBest plants for the hellstrip (curb-strip)SpeciesBest plants for tiny yards (under 200 sqft)SpeciesBest plants for under pine trees (acid, dry, root competition)SpeciesBest plants for under power lines (low-growing trees)SpeciesBest plants for vertical garden wallsSpeciesBest plants for wet shadeSpeciesBest plants for windbreak hedgesSpeciesBest plants for window boxes by seasonSpeciesBest redbud cultivars (Cercis)SpeciesBest serviceberry cultivarsSpeciesBest smoke bush (Cotinus) cultivarsSpeciesBest spirea cultivarsSpeciesBest tulip cultivars that come back year after yearSpeciesBest upright vs creeping [sedums](/plants/sedum-care/) for sun gardensSpeciesBest viburnum cultivars by seasonSpeciesBest weigela cultivarsSpeciesBlack Walnut Tree Care (and Juglone Management)SpeciesBlack and very-dark flowersSpeciesBlack-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia) care: the short-lived perennial realitySpeciesBlackberry care: erect vs trailingSpeciesBlue flowering perennials by zone: the 20 bestSpeciesBoxwood Care: Growing Buxus sempervirensSpeciesButterfly bush (Buddleia) care: invasive status by state and how to grow responsiblySpeciesCanna lily care and overwinteringSpeciesCherry tree care: sweet vs sourSpeciesCitrus tree care in zones 9-11SpeciesClematis care: the three pruning groups every gardener confusesSpeciesColumbine Care: Growing Aquilegia SuccessfullySpeciesConeflower (Echinacea) care: deadheading and aster yellows diseaseSpeciesCurrant care: red, black, whiteSpeciesDaffodil Care: Growing Narcissus for Lasting BloomsSpeciesDahlia care: planting tubers, staking, and overwintering by zoneSpeciesDaylily Care: Growing Hemerocallis SuccessfullySpeciesDelphinium care: tall spires, hard rulesSpeciesDianthus care: deadheading and the difference between annual and perennial pinksSpeciesDwarf and semi-dwarf apple treesSpeciesElderberry care (native and ornamental)SpeciesEnglish vs French vs Spanish [lavender](/plants/lavender-care/) — which to grow whereSpeciesEspalier fruit trees: training and pruningSpeciesFast-Growing Shade Trees (And Why Most Are Bad Ideas)SpeciesFig tree care in zones 6-10SpeciesFood forest design: 7-layer principleSpeciesFoxglove Care: Growing Digitalis purpureaSpeciesFragrant plants that don't trigger allergiesSpeciesFruit tree pollination pairs (which need partners)SpeciesFruit tree rootstocks: M9, M26, M111, EMLASpeciesFuchsia care (with hummingbird notes)SpeciesGarden Phlox Care: Growing Phlox paniculataSpeciesGardenia care: pH, iron chlorosis, and the zone 7 winter problemSpeciesGoji berry careSpeciesGooseberry careSpeciesGrape vine care: table vs wineSpeciesHardy Hibiscus Care: Growing Hibiscus moscheutosSpeciesHazelnut Tree Care: Growing Corylus avellana and American HybridsSpeciesHelleborus Care: Growing Lenten Rose SuccessfullySpeciesHeuchera Care: Growing Coral Bells SuccessfullySpeciesHolly Care: Growing Ilex in Your LandscapeSpeciesHoneyberry (Lonicera caerulea) careSpeciesHosta Care: The Shade Staple That Isn't Actually a Shade PlantSpeciesHow to identify a tree from bark aloneSpeciesHow to identify ash trees (and EAB risk)SpeciesHow to identify birch trees: paper, river, yellowSpeciesHow to identify cherry trees (wild and ornamental)SpeciesHow to identify common evergreen shrubsSpeciesHow to identify conifers by overall shapeSpeciesHow to identify elm trees and Dutch elm diseaseSpeciesHow to identify hickory treesSpeciesHow to identify magnolia typesSpeciesHow to identify maple trees by leaf and barkSpeciesHow to identify oak trees: white vs red oak groupSpeciesHow to identify pine trees by needle bundlesSpeciesHow to identify walnut and butternutSpeciesHow to tell dogwood from redbudSpeciesHow to tell spruce from fir from pineSpeciesHydrangea Care: Which Species You Have and How to Keep It BloomingSpeciesImpatiens care (and the downy-mildew workaround)SpeciesJapanese Maple Care: Cultivar Selection, Light, and the Truth About Leaf ScorchSpeciesJohnny jump up (viola) careSpeciesJuneberry (serviceberry) careSpeciesKeystone Native Plants by RegionSpeciesLavender care: English vs French vs Spanish and the soggy-soil killerSpeciesLayered garden design: canopy to groundSpeciesLilac Care: Growing Syringa vulgaris SuccessfullySpeciesLupine Care: Growing Lupinus polyphyllusSpeciesMarigold care: French, African, signetSpeciesMatrix planting: meadow-style perennial designSpeciesMiscanthus Care: Growing Miscanthus sinensisSpeciesMulberry tree careSpeciesNative species vs nativars: the real debateSpeciesNaturalistic planting: ecological group selectionSpeciesNectarine tree careSpeciesOlive tree care in zone 8-10SpeciesOrange flowering perennialsSpeciesOrnamental Allium Care: Growing Allium BulbsSpeciesPawpaw tree care (Asimina triloba)SpeciesPeach tree care: thinning, spray schedule, borersSpeciesPear tree care: European vs AsianSpeciesPecan Tree Care in Zones 6-9SpeciesPeony Care: From Bareroot to Thirty-Year BloomSpeciesPerennial Salvia Care: Complete Growing GuideSpeciesPiet Oudolf-style perennial garden: principlesSpeciesPink flowering shrubs by seasonSpeciesPlants that are safe over septic drain fieldsSpeciesPlants that tolerate black walnut jugloneSpeciesPlum tree care: European vs JapaneseSpeciesPomegranate tree care in zone 7-10SpeciesPurple garden flowers: identification guide with photosSpeciesQuince tree careSpeciesRaspberry care: summer-bearing vs everbearingSpeciesRed flowering perennialsSpeciesRhododendron care: acidic soil, drainage, and azalea lacebugSpeciesRose care: knockout vs hybrid tea vs shrub rosesSpeciesSedum and stonecrop care: zone hardiness and the Autumn Joy crown rot trapSpeciesSnapdragon care and cool-season plantingSpeciesSwitchgrass Care: Growing Panicum virgatumSpeciesThe 10 best hydrangea cultivars by type (mophead, paniculata, oakleaf)SpeciesTrees with purple flowersSpeciesTrees with red flowersSpeciesTrees with yellow flowersSpeciesTulip care: why most tulips don't come back, and the species that doSpeciesTypes of azaleas: evergreen vs deciduous, native vs AsianSpeciesTypes of clematis by pruning groupSpeciesTypes of dahlias by flower formSpeciesTypes of daylilies: tetraploid vs diploid, miniature to largeSpeciesTypes of hostas by size and leaf colorSpeciesTypes of irises: bearded, Siberian, Japanese, LouisianaSpeciesTypes of peonies: herbaceous, tree, intersectionalSpeciesTypes of roses: hybrid tea to shrub to climberSpeciesViburnum Care: Growing Viburnum ShrubsSpeciesWhite garden flowers and the moon garden traditionSpeciesWisteria care: the right cultivar makes everything easierSpeciesYarrow Care: Growing Achillea millefoliumSpeciesZinnia care: the most foolproof annual
Recently added species guides
Begonia Care: How to Keep Yours Blooming Outdoors
Everything you need to keep outdoor Begonia × tuberhybrida and wax begonias blooming from transplant to frost — sun tole…
Geranium Care: Annual Pelargoniums vs Hardy Cranesbills
The word
Petunia Care: Deadheading, Watering, and Why Yours Got Leggy
Why Petunia × hybrida plants go leggy by July and how to cut them back for a second flush — plus watering, fertilizing, …
Sunflower Care: Single-Stem and Branching Types
Growing Helianthus annuus from seed to harvest — single-stem cut-flower varieties vs. branching landscape types, support…
Marigold Care: French, African, and Signet Types
French, African, and signet marigolds — Tagetes patula, T. erecta, and T. tenuifolia — are among the lowest-maintenance …
Azalea Care: Acidic Soil, Filtered Light, and Why Yours Has Yellow Leaves
Deciduous vs. evergreen azaleas, Rhododendron species by cold hardiness, why yellow leaves almost always mean pH problem…
Milkweed Care: Native Asclepias for Monarch Habitat
Native Asclepias species — common, swamp, butterflyweed, and tropical milkweed — for monarch habitat, with species selec…
Crepe Myrtle Care: Pruning Without Crepe Murder
Lagerstroemia indica care from planting to winter — which zones support it, why
Zinnia Care: Cut-Flower Annuals for Long Bloom
Zinnia elegans and Z. angustifolia for continuous cut flowers — direct sowing vs. transplanting, deadheading frequency, …
Camellia Care: Japonica vs Sasanqua and Cold Hardiness
Camellia japonica vs. C. sasanqua — cold hardiness differences, bloom timing, acidic soil requirements, and why camellia…
Astilbe Care: Shade Perennials with Plume Flowers
Growing Astilbe × arendsii and related species in shade gardens — bloom timing by variety, moisture requirements, dividi…
Pansy Care: Cool-Season Color from Fall through Spring
Viola × wittrockiana for cool-season color from fall through spring — planting windows, how they survive winter freezes,…
Bleeding Heart Care: Dicentra for Shade and Spring Bloom
Growing Lamprocapnos spectabilis (formerly Dicentra spectabilis) for spring shade-garden bloom — why it goes dormant by …
Poppy Care: Annual and Perennial Papaver Species
Annual and perennial Papaver species need different soil prep and deadheading strategies — this guide covers both, plus …
Cosmos Care: Easy Annual Cut Flowers That Self-Sow
Annual Cosmos bipinnatus and C. sulphureus are among the easiest cut flowers to grow from seed, but they bloom later and…
Forsythia Care: First-Yellow-of-Spring Shrub
Bright yellow flowers on bare stems in late winter make Forsythia × intermedia the first shrub most gardeners notice eac…
Primrose Care: Cool-Season Color for Shade Gardens
English and polyantha Primula species are cool-season perennials that peak in early spring and fade in heat — this guide…
Aster Care: Fall-Blooming Perennials for Pollinators
Native Symphyotrichum asters bring pollinators and color to the fall garden from August through October — this guide cov…
Jasmine Care: Outdoor Hardy and Tropical Types
Outdoor jasmine includes both hardy shrub species and tender tropical vines — cold hardiness varies by 20 zones across t…
Hollyhock Care: Biennials That Reach Seven Feet
Alcea rosea hollyhocks are biennial or short-lived perennials that self-sow prolifically — this guide covers the two-yea…
Magnolia Care: Deciduous and Evergreen Species Compared
Deciduous and evergreen Magnolia species span zones 4–10 and have different pruning timing, transplant sensitivity, and …
Pine Tree Care: Eastern White, Mugo, and Austrian for Landscapes
Eastern white, mugo, and Austrian pine cover zones 2–9 but have very different landscape roles and disease profiles — th…
Juniper Care: Groundcover and Upright Forms
Groundcover and upright Juniperus species are among the most drought-tolerant and site-adaptable landscape plants availa…
Spirea Care: Spring and Summer Blooming Cultivars
Spring-blooming and summer-blooming Spiraea cultivars have very different pruning windows — cutting at the wrong time re…
Dogwood Care: Flowering Cornus Florida and Kousa Compared
Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) and Kousa dogwood (C. kousa) are two different trees with opposite bloom sequences, d…
Hydrangea Paniculata Care: The Coldest-Hardy Hydrangea
Hydrangea paniculata is the hardiest and most sun-tolerant hydrangea species — zone 3 cold, new-wood blooming, and cone-…
Hydrangea Arborescens Care: Annabelle and Smooth Hydrangea
Smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens) is the only native hydrangea with a zone 3 range, new-wood blooming, and the en…
Oakleaf Hydrangea Care: Hydrangea Quercifolia for Native Gardens
Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) is the only native hydrangea with four-season interest — spring flowers, summe…
Hydrangea Macrophylla Care: Bigleaf, Mophead, and Lacecap
Bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) is the species behind blue and pink mopheads — it's also the most demanding, b…
Oak Tree Care: Long-Lived Natives for Landscapes
Native Quercus oaks are the highest-wildlife-value landscape trees available in North America, supporting over 500 cater…
Willow Tree Care: Weeping, Pussy, and Corkscrew Forms
Weeping, pussy, and corkscrew willows are fast-growing trees with aggressive root systems that seek water — this guide c…
Privet Care: Fast Hedge Shrub With Real Tradeoffs
Privet (Ligustrum spp.) makes a fast, dense hedge in zones 4–10, but most species are invasive across the eastern U.S. —…
Yew Care: Evergreen Hedges and Foundation Plants
Yew (Taxus spp.) is the most shade-tolerant evergreen hedge in zones 4–7 and responds well to shearing — but the entire …
Pieris Care: Andromeda for Acidic Woodland Beds
Japanese andromeda (Pieris japonica) is a four-season broadleaf evergreen for acidic woodland beds — its early spring fl…