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Life Cycle of a Corn Plant. An annual, the corn plant (Zea mays) has a relatively short life cycle of only 120 to 150 days. During its lifespan the plant will grow between 3 to 10 feet tall, depending on the variety. A strong root system supports the plant even in windy weather conditions.
Read MoreHow to Protect a Magnolia Tree From Freezing Temperatures. The magnolia tree holds a sentimental place in the heart of America as a tree that is strongly associated with the Old South. Most magnolia tree varieties are tender and susceptible to freezing weather or frost damage. Several new cold-hardy cultivars have been developed that can flourish without protection even in the northern-most regions of the United States. The magnolica grandiflora is easily susceptible to even a minor frost and its leaves will sustain damage.
Read MoreHow to Grow Black Thistle Bird Seed for Birds. Black thistle bird seed is known as Niger, Nyger or Nyjer seed. The plant that produces the seed is not related to a thistle, but the tiny seed resemble the seeds of the thistle plant. The seeds are widely cultivated in Asia and Africa for their oil content, as a livestock feed and for export as a bird seed feed. Nyjer seed from bird seed is heat-treated to prevent germination before export. About 80 percent of the seeds are rendered incapable of germination through this method, but the remaining 20 percent will sprout. The plant produces an abundance of yellow flowers, and each flower head contains 30 to 40 seeds.
Read MoreLife Cycle of Bougainvillea. According to the Texas A&M University's Department of Horticultural Sciences, Admiral Louis de Bougainvillea discovered the vine in 1768 that would soon bear his name. The plant's discovery was made in what is today Brazil. The bougainvillea belongs to the plant family of Nyctaginaceae. It is an evergreen that produces long woody stems with thorns. The plant can be grown as a vine, bush or potted plant. Blossoms appear papery thin in bright colors of pink, purple, red yellow, apricot and white.
Read MoreHow to Repot a Ficus Tree. The ficus tree (Ficus benjamina) is a popular houseplant tree. There are 800 species of the plant available. Many ficus trees thrive for 10 years without being re-potted. Pot size often dictates the tree's size. The larger the tree, the larger the pot. When re-potting a ficus expect the top growth to slow down as the tree focuses on its root system. Once the root system is established in the new pot, the tree will put its energy into top growth. The ficus prefers to have slightly root-bound roots. Re-potting should take place in the spring.
Read MoreThe Toxicity of a Silk Tree Seed Pod. The mimosa or silk tree (Albizia julibrissin) grows to a height of 40 feet. The green fern-like foliage measures up to 20 inches in length and 4 inches in width. During the summer months the tree produces pink and white powder-puff-style flowers. The blossoms' stamens often measure up to 1 inch in length. After flowering, the tree produces a flat seedpod that measures 6 inches in length and contains tiny 1/2-inch-long seeds. The seeds are toxic if consumed.
Read MoreBlack Mold on Bermuda Grass. Black mold (Physarum sp. and Fuligo sp), commonly called slime mold, produces a grayish-black covering over the grass blades of Bermuda grass and other warm-season turfgrass varieties. The fungus causes no lasting damage to the grass but it does render it unsightly. The fungus grows prolifically in the southern United States, where it prefers warm, humid conditions.
Read MoreHow to Fertilize an Elephant Ear. The elephant ear plant (Colocasia esculenta) grows in tropical and subtropical areas. They can be grown in northern regions but the plants will need to be dug up to store or moved indoors in a container during the winter. There are several varieties of elephant ear plants available. The plants grow from large tubers which look similar to a potato. Elephant ears are often considered to be a wetland plant. A few varieties can successfully be grown in water but most species enjoy moist soil without waterlogged roots. The elephant ear is a heavy feeder and requires a regular fertilizing schedule to thrive.
Read MoreHow to Kill Japanese Beetles on Geraniums. The Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica Newman), brought into the United States in 1916 from Japan, has been extremely destructive to the foliage, roots and fruits of numerous North American plants, lawns, shrubs and trees. The geranium is a favorite of the Japanese beetle. However, once they consume geranium foliage and flowers, most Japanese beetles are rendered paralyzed and many die, according to Michigan State University. The geraniol oil produced by geraniums is toxic to the beetles.
Read MoreHow to Keep Armadillos Out of Flower Beds. Armadillos have a voracious appetite for grubs and insects. During the night they dig non-stop in their quest for food. This ongoing search can often lead the armadillo into flower beds. Many gardeners wake up to find their beloved flowers and lawns uprooted from one night of feeding by an armadillo. Armadillos can often take up residence under a house, garage or outbuilding when they feel that the garden is a nighttime smorgasbord. Though they do help keep the insect population under control, evict these long term residents from your property, to protect the flowerbeds and yard form ongoing attack.
Read MoreGround Cover Under Fruit Trees. The ground cover under fruit trees should provide an easy-to-maintain cover that requires little or no mowing. The companion plants can also benefit the fruit trees if they are species that contribute to the soil's nutrient makeup. When choosing ground-cover plants, the gardener should take into consideration the harvest needs of the fruit tree and the irrigation that the ground cover will receive to determine the ideal pairing.
Read MoreThe Life Cycle of a Lima Bean Plant. The Lima bean was first cultivated in Peru in 6000 B.C. The bean is named after the capital of Peru. Numerous varieties exist, in various colors, shapes and sizes. Lima beans are extremely high in protein. Central American Indian tribes used a combination of Lima beans and maize to meet most of their dietary needs. The early world explorers and settlers favored Lima beans because of their ease in drying and transporting.
Read MoreHow to Kill Bees in a Tree. Wild colonies of honey bees commonly nest in old, hollow or rotted-out trees. The bees can easily become a nuisance when spring arrives. The bees will congregate around swimming pools and bird feeders where people may commonly get stung. Many people are allergic to bee stings and can even experience a life-threatening reaction.
Read MoreBugs That Live in Pine Trees. Pine trees offer evergreen color during harsh winter months. Grown nationwide, pine trees are popular landscape specimens and used widely in hedge plantings. They also work well planted along structures. Pine trees require very little care; many never need pruning, and a few varieties grow at a fast rate. However, watch for bugs that often threaten the health of these trees.
Read MoreHow to Get Rid of Moles & Voles Around Fruit Trees. Moles destroy fruit trees by digging trenches around the trees root system. Moles do not feed on the trees or fruit but prefer to subsist off insects. Voles damage fruit trees and kill young fruit trees by feeding off the roots and bark of the tree. They also eat the fruit and destroy it. Voles will commonly girdle a young tree by consuming the bark all the way around the tree, killing it. Both moles and voles can be controlled by trapping.
Read MoreDrooping Rhododendrons. Rhododendrons can be planted along foundations, as a hedge, mixed in a landscape theme or as a single-specimen planting. The shrubs adore acidic, rich soil and often flourish in woodland settings. They can even be found growing in the arctic and north temperate zones. Flowers come in a wide variety of pinks, purples, reds and white. Rhododendrons are an evergreen bush, which means it sports leaves throughout the year. The shrub is remarkably hardy in the right growing conditions. Many gardeners worry when their prized rhododendron droops, but the cause can often be figured out and the solutions are relatively easy to prevent this common problem.
Read MoreSpring Mum Plants. Springtime chrysanthemums are commonly called mums. Mums are planted in the spring for the ideal summer and fall flower production. Plants produce a wide range of blossom colors such as yellow, pink, red, lavender and brilliant orange. Care must be taken to carefully pinch the plant's new shoots in May and June to avoid summertime legginess. Pinching makes a bushy plant that will produce ample fall blossoms.
Read MoreHow to Transplant Maple Trees. The maple tree is one of the most widely grown landscape trees in America. The trees are treasured for their flowers, shade capacity and their breathtaking fall foliage. The sugar maple is grown for its production of maple sap, which is the number-one ingredient in maple syrup production and also widely used in candies. According to the Massachusetts Maple Production Association, there are thousands of species of maple trees around the world. In North America, there are 13 native species of maple trees that flourish in the wild. A large maple tree can prove difficult to transplant, but smaller-sized maples of less than 6 feet in height can be transplanted with success in the spring.
Read MoreHow to Transplant a Mock Orange. The mock orange shrub (Philadelphus virginalis) produces lovely, fragrant white flowers in the late summer to early fall. The fragrance is often described as being very orange in nature. Flowers can be either double or single, depending on the variety of mock orange. Most flowers measure approximately 2 inches across. The mock orange can grow from 4 to 8 feet tall; one species reaches 20 feet. Transplantation of the mock orange should take place during the shrub's dormancy from November to early March.
Read MoreThe Life Cycle of Cocoa Bean Plant. The cocoa bean tree (Theobroma cacao) flourishes in regions of the world around the equator. The tree requires ample rain production, humidity and high year-round heat. They require ongoing protection from the sun and wind, according to the World Cocoa Foundation. Fruit production begins when the tree reaches 5 years old. Pod production peaks at 10 years and continues until the tree reaches 40.
Read MoreHow to Care for a Lipstick Palm. The lipstick palm (Cyrtostachys renda), commonly called sealing wax palm, grows to a height of 20 feet. The leaf sheath and crown of the lipstick palm frond is a brilliant red, and each frond leaf is a feathery green. During the summer months, the tree has long panicles of whitish-green flowers followed by small, oval black fruit. Native to Indonesia, Borneo and Sumatra, the palm requires a tropical location to flourish. It grows best in USDA hardiness zones 11 to 12. The tree does not tolerate temperatures that dip below 55 degrees Fahrenheit, and prefers a location with high humidity. The seeds are difficult to start, and often take up to a year to germinate.
Read MoreHow to Grow Night Blooming Jasmine in Florida. Night blooming jasmine, also called jessamine (Cestrum nocturnum), forms a shrub-like appearance with long stems that spread 12 feet and often in vine-like fashion. A tropical shrub, night blooming jasmine blossoms several times throughout the year. Tiny white flowers adorn the stems of the shrub. They have a heavy, sweet fragrance in the summer evenings when the blossoms open. After flowering, the shrub produces tiny white berries. The plant is native to Florida and grows in abundance across the state with ease.
Read MoreMarigolds As a Pest Control. Marigolds grow approximately 6 inches tall in a mounded shape. They are considered a tender annual with a strong susceptibility to cold. Flowers appear in yellow, red, orange, maroon and cream depending on the variety. The foliage is fine and feather-like in appearance. Marigolds require very little care once planted. They have been used in the garden as a successful pest repellent for centuries.
Read MoreTamarack Planting. The tamarack tree (Larix laricina)--known as eastern larch, American larch and Alaskan larch--grows approximately 95 feet in height. The wood harvested from the tree is highly valued as pulpwood, fuel wood and for poles, posts or rough lumber products. The tree grows across the northern reaches of America from Newfoundland, through the Yukon Territory and into Alaska.
Read MoreLifespan of a Magnolia Tree. Fossils of the magnolia tree (Magnolia grandiflora) can be traced back 20 million years. The tree has changed very little over time. The magnolia can easily attain a height of 80 feet with a 40-foot spread. There are about 30 species of magnolia trees, and numerous cultivars are available to fit any gardener's needs. The cultivars are bred specifically for an abundance of flower blossoms each spring. The majority of magnolias are evergreen, but a few deciduous varieties are available.
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