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Facts About Agave. Agave is a genus of more than 200 recognized species that occur from Canada to the arid Southwest United States down south through Mexico to Central America. Most species grow in the desert regions of the United States and Mexico. They are closely related to the Yucca plants.
Read MoreUse of Water Hyacinth As Fertilizer. Water hyacinth, scientific name Eichornia crassipes, is an invasive aquatic that thrives in tropical and subtropical areas where it has become a major pest. Many cool-climate gardeners grow it as an annual in garden ponds and tub-water gardens. Getting it to grow successfully usually isn't a problem. But eradicating it or getting rid of extra plants usually is.
Read More10 Different Fruit Bearing Plants. Planting fruit in your garden and around your home can be very rewarding when you bite into a fresh tree-ripened fruit. When deciding which type of fruit to grow, select plants from a local nursery that will work well for your area's specific micro climate. Often a fruit-producing bush or tree is grafted onto a rootstock that has been selected specifically for your area. Keep in mind that many types of fruit need to be pollinated by another, similar variety of the same fruit to successfully produce.
Read MoreDifferent Methods of Watering Plants in a Nursery. When deciding the best method of watering plants in a nursery, consider many variables including the number of plants that are being grown, type of plants, labor costs, setup expenses, maintenance and water-use efficiency. Often it is best to mix and match various types of watering systems according to the needs of individual species of plants that are being grown and their requirements.
Read MorePlants That Do Well Under Indoor Fluorescent Lights. Many types of tropical plants can be grown indoors under fluorescent lights, although some flowering plants may require extra care to bloom. The distance between the fluorescent tube and the top of the plant varies with the species and the amount of artificial and natural light already in the room. If the plants are too close or touching the tubes, then they will burn. If they are too far away, then not enough light will reach the plant.
Read MoreEvergreens That Can Be Grown in Containers. Evergreen shrubs and trees make excellent container plants for a deck or patio. Usually small or dwarf varieties are chosen for containers so they don't become too big to be managed. Container evergreens can be used as accent plants for container gardens or as a centerpiece in a pot full of annual flowers. Two similar and well-manicured container shrubs on either side of a door or window can look stunning.
Read MoreTypes of Evergreen Trees in New Zealand. New Zealand has a rich and diverse collection of native plants that occur only on this island group. New Zealand encompasses a range of climates, from the north's lush, subtropical forest to the south's alpine regions. This has lead to a diversity of trees, many of which are evergreen.
Read MoreAfrican Hardwood Tree Types. Most people think of the broad leaf forests of North America and Europe when they think of hardwoods, but there are a number of hardwood trees native to the warmer climates of Africa. A hardwood essentially is any wood from a flowering tree that usually is characterized by broad leaves and is sometimes deciduous. In contrast, softwood trees would be conifers such as pines and firs.
Read MoreHow to Mount a Staghorn Fern. Staghorn ferns grow as epiphytes directly on living trees and on rocks without soil in tropical climates. They can be successfully grown on wood or other types of mounts with only the slightest amount of organic matter. Mounting is easy. If the fern's roots can stay in contact with the mount long enough, it will eventually attach to it and no longer need to be tied down.
Read MoreAbout Epiphyllum Diseases. Eepiphyllums, also known as Christmas or orchid cacti, are a common decorative plant found in garden stores and are noted for their bright colored flowers. They are easy to grow and relatively disease and pest free. Any infections should be treated early to prevent damage and halt the spread of the infection to other plants.
Read MoreParasite Plants of Florida. Parasitic plants are plants that have developed the ability to directly use the nutrients produced by other plants. They attach themselves to the branches, trunk or roots of a host. Some types have the ability to produce their own nutrients as well with photosynthesis. Florida is home to many different species that attack the local pine forests as well as some agricultural crops.
Read MorePlants That Have Floating Seeds. Plants have adapted many different ways to spread seeds around their ecosystem in order to reproduce and out compete other plants that grow within the same conditions. for plants that live in or next to bodies of water, floating is a typical method for seed dispersal. Some seeds have the ability to float for hundreds or thousands of miles in search of new places to grow.
Read MorePlants That Can Withstand Salt Water. Salt water is very rough on most plants. Not very many plants have adapted a way to deal with it. The ones that have, however, have become very successful; often they are one of the only plants that can live in their ecological niche. Salt water marshes, estuaries and mangrove forests are a vital habitat for many of the exotic coral reefs around the world. They provide the nursery for many types of fish and invertebrates.
Read MoreFacts About Coconut Trees. Coconut trees instantly transform an area into a tropical-looking setting. These tall palms exist all over the warmer areas of the world, where they are used for landscape plants and along roads. Many wild populations grow naturally along the ocean shores. In addition to their beauty, these trees are one of the most important agricultural crops in the world.
Read MoreTypes of Portulaca. Portulaca species are small succulent flowering plants, many of which are very tolerant of harsh conditions. Some grow as annuals and reseed themselves every year, which allows them to survive in even the coldest climates. Other types are native to tropical island climates and are able to survive the intense tropical sun as well as salt spray. One type, the moss rose, is now a commonly used annual garden plant in all climate zones.
Read MoreParts of a Palm Tree That Are Useful. Palm trees are very useful plants. Some species, like the coconut palm, has been named one of the 10 most useful plants in the world, according to Purdue University. All parts can be used for something. An amazing array of foods and products that we use every day have elements derived from palm tree parts. Palms are one of the most important agricultural crops in tropical areas that provide food year round.
Read MorePoisonous Plants With Thorns. In the continuing struggle to survive, many plants have developed adaptations to cope with predation. One of these tactics is to produce sharp thorns. This deters large grazing animals from stripping all of the foliage. Another method of protection is for a plant to produce chemicals that either kill or deter an animal or insect from eating that plant. Plants that have both toxic chemicals and thorns are equipped to handle many different threats.
Read MoreTypes of Eucalyptus Trees. There are more than 700 different types of eucalyptus, most of which are native to Australia, with a few species occurring in New Zealand and scattered in the south east Asian Islands just north of Australia. Eucalyptus are often called gum trees because they secrete sap prolifically from wounds on the trunk and branches. Most eucalyptus trees have large, deeply-penetrating root structures to cope with the long dry season in many areas of Australia.
Read MoreStaghorn Ferns Facts. Staghorn ferns are members of the genus Platycerium. They make a nice houseplant and are relatively easy to care for. They can be grown year-round outdoors in areas protected from frost and freezing. In their natural habitat they can be seen growing high up in the crowns of trees.
Read MoreHeritage Birch Tree Information. The heritage river birch (scientific name Betula nigra "Heritage") is the most popular and widely grown type of river birch tree. The distinctive bark is the main feature of the tree and sets it apart from other river birches. It is also disease-resistant and tolerates warm temperatures better than other river birch cultivars.
Read MoreCarnivorous Plants in Florida. Florida is home to more species of carnivorous plants than any other state in the United States. Many grow only in Florida like the colorful pitcher plants. Carnivorous plants have adapted ways to combat poor boggy soils that do not offer much nutrition. They trap and digest insects then use the nutrients to supplement what the soil can not provide. Many areas in Florida provide a perfect habitat for these plants with open fields and boggy wetlands.
Read MoreFacts About the Plant Kingdom. Plants surround us every day and are the dominant source of all of the oxygen that we breathe. They provide us and other animals with food and many of the other products, such as wood, that we use on our day-to-day life. Although they are not the largest kingdom of living organisms, they are the most important. Without plants, all other life would be virtually impossible.
Read MorePlants That Grow on Land & in Water. Many plants have adapted the ability to survive on dry land as well as in the water. Often this adaptability is what is needed for a species to gain a competitive advantage over other species by growing where the others cannot. These plants are a vital resource for aquatic ecosystems by providing organic matter and shelter for fish, birds invertebrates and small animals. Some species aerate poor soil, helping other species gain a foothold.
Read MoreHow to Plant Mangrove. The red mangrove, scientific name Rhizophora mangle, is a tropical plant that is critical for coastal erosion control. They create dense forests that provide a habitat for small fish and other animals. Red mangrove seeds germinate while still attached to the tree and sprout a modified root called a propagule. This propagule is a sapling waiting to sprout as soon as the conditions are right. Propagules can be transported a great distance or stored for up to a year. Mangroves make nice houseplants and can be used in both fresh and saltwater aquariums.
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