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Native Flowering Trees in North Carolina. Gardeners can successfully grow a variety of flowering trees in the North Carolina. Although some non-native species may perform well in the climate, many of these trees are considered invasive. Planting native flowering trees will help to prevent the spread of these invasive species while still providing a showy seasonal display.
Read MoreHow to Care for a Lilac Tree. The early bloomer and a sign of spring in many areas is the lilac. Lilacs are known for their fragrance, beauty, long life span, and for needing little maintenance. Caring for a lilac tree is simple. The tree typically requires tending only once a year. You'll always know if you have a happy lilac because it is not shy about showing its growth. When the tree has no blooms it continues to provide shade and graceful lines in your yard or garden.
Read MoreHow to Propagate Easter Cactus. The Easter cactus blooms from spring to early summer, providing pink or red blooms near the Easter holiday season. These cacti may also bloom a second time in fall if provided with the proper care. Easter cactus has flat, green, fleshy leaves with small spines at the tips. Usually grown as a flowering houseplant, this cactus is usually propagated from stem cuttings. Take cuttings in late spring and early summer, after the Easter cactus has finished flowering for the season. The cuttings quickly root, allowing you to propagate more plants that are ready to bloom in time for the following spring's holiday season.
Read MoreJade Plant Types. Jade plants (Crassula spp.) are succulents native to parts of Africa. Desirable for their ease of care and distinctive, thick leaves, they are often called "money tree" plants and given as gifts. Jade plants thrive in the warm, dry conditions of most homes and are popularly grown as houseplants, according to Clemson University. Most types are slow-growing but can get quite large in their containers. Although jade plants flower occasionally, most of these cultivars are grown for their foliage, not their flowers.
Read MoreDifferent Types of Sweet Corn. Pick and enjoy sweet corn at its peak ripeness, normally around 20 days after the first appearance of silks on the ears. These silks will turn a rust color and tend to wilt just as the corn is becoming ripe. Sweet corn comes in hundreds of varieties and falls into three major types that vary in sweetness. Growing a crop that will suit your individual taste is easy to accomplish.
Read MoreWhite Bugs on Outdoor Plants. The discovery of white bugs on your outdoor plants is certainly reason to be alarmed. Several types of white insects thrive on the leaves of healthy plants, both indoors and outdoors. Aphids, scale, whiteflies and mealy bugs are all very tiny, white bugs that are usually undetected until they have caused the host plant to show drastic signs of deterioration. These bugs will destroy your plants if left untreated.
Read MoreFacts About the Gumball Tree. An attractive, large shade tree, the gumball tree is more widely known as the sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua). Its woody, spiny, rounded fruits are called "gumballs" and cover the ground in fall and winter once they drop from the branches. Grow a gumball tree in abundant sunshine and in a moist, fertile soil that isn't alkaline. It is best grown in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 through 9.
Read MoreHow to Store Broccoli. Before you steam it, drench it in a cheese sauce, or eat it naturally--whatever your choice method of eating broccoli--you must know how to store it. Keep it for a little while or store it for the months ahead. Just pick a good bunch and follow some simple steps to pack it away.
Read MoreThe History of Zinnia Flowers. In their native habitat, stretching from the southern U.S. to Chile, plants of the Zinnia genus are perennials. They are particularly abundant in Mexico. Gardeners in colder areas commonly plant the zinnia as an annual. It has long been a favorite garden plant, desired for its bright flowers colors, which come in every shade except blue. Both single- and double-flowered forms exist, the latter including beehive, dahlia and cactus shapes.
Read MoreHow to Grow a Marsh Mallow Plant. Although the name marshmallow plant (Althaea officinalis) conjures up visions of bushes covered in marshmallows, the marshmallow plant is actually a plant covered in soft, velvety leaves and white to pale pink flowers. It prefers marshlands but can be successfully grown in drier conditions in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 9. Despite the fact that its sap can be made into a consumable marshmallow-like substance, it is grown mostly for decoration.
Read MoreParts of a Flower Filament. Flowers and pollen are essential to the reproductive function of plants. Pollen carries the male sex cells of the plant, which are produced on a structure called the stamen or androecium, often known more descriptively as the filament. The stamen contains a number of different parts that are used to facilitate reproduction.
Read MoreHow Do Plants Get Food and Water?. Plants are unique in that they make most of their food through a process called photosynthesis. Plants make photosynthesis happen with carbon dioxide, water and sunlight. These three ingredients and a natural substance in plants called chlorophyll create a starch that gives a plant the food it needs to grow.
Read MoreHow to Preserve Snapdragons. The tall flower spikes of the snapdragon flower are adorned with many small blooms. They come in a variety of colors including red, yellow and purple, amongst others. Preserving the beauty of snapdragons is easily done by drying the flowers. The dried flowers are then used in vase displays, are framed, or are used in a variety of craft projects such as card making and floral wreaths. Properly drying the snapdragons preserves much of their color and shape so they can continue to lend beauty to their surroundings for many years.
Read MoreWhat Are the Parts of a Rose Plant?. In the hierarchy of flowers, the rose reigns supreme. Greeks described the rose as "the Queen of Flowers," and the wild rose dates back over 40 million years. The many types of roses include tea, floribunda, grandiflora, climbing, polyantha, hybrid perpetual, hybrid tea, French, Damask, moss, cabbage, hybrid musk, alba, Bourbon, Noisette, China, sweetbriar, tree, shrub and miniature roses.
Read MoreTypes of Mint Leaves. Mint foliage, although growing on related plants, varies from tiny, to broad, to red-tinged, with a range of scents and flavors. Identifying mints makes for an interesting botanical pursuit, albeit a daunting one. According to University of California at Davis Extension, more than 600 mint varieties exist. It's helpful to recognize the major plants in the Mentha species, however, as well as to learn which represent the best cooking, medicinal and fragrance mints.
Read MoreEvergreen Dwarf Azaleas. Azaleas are flowering perennials. Most are shrubs, but some grow more like groundcovers. Standard azaleas can grow up to 10 or more feet tall, while dwarf varieties remain quite small and are often sold in containers. Evergreen azaleas do not lose most of their leaves over the winter, unlike deciduous azaleas, which drop their leaves in the fall. Azaleas are a member of the Rhododendron genus, which has over 6,000 species and cultivars, according to the Azalea Society of America.
Read MoreScientific Names for Rose Flowers. Roses are very popular perennial flowers that grow on shrubs or vines. Common names for roses can be very descriptive of the color or appearance, and some roses are even named after famous people. However the scientific name of the genus is Rosa, in the family Rosaceae. Within this category, there are over 100 species with individual scientific names.
Read MoreHow to Transplant Peonies in the Spring. Honestly, the best time to transplant peonies is in September. However, you may successfully transplant peonies in the spring, though you should be aware that plants moved during this season are not likely to produce the abundant flowers or foliage they've produced in the past---or may take a season or two before they start blooming. Remember that peonies need direct sunlight, so observe the new location you've chosen to make sure it receives at least six hours of sunlight per day.
Read MoreHow to Grow Rice Indoors. Rice is the seed, or grain, from a type of grass (Oryza sativa) that is grown as a major food crop around the world. Growing rice requires lots of sunshine and warm temperatures. Growing it indoors allows you to control the growing environment by utilizing grow lights. Rice can be grown in any large container, from a bucket to an aquarium.
Read MoreHow to Prune a Snowball Bush. The snowball bush, a cherished, old fashioned garden shrub that produces fluffy balls of summery white blooms, is a member of the Viburnum genus. Growing to a height and spread of up to 10 feet or more, the snowball bush may be planted as hedge, privacy screen or focal shrub. Although most viburnums with true, full globe shaped florets do not produce fruit, they do offer pretty autumn foliage and bright red, bare canes during the colder months. Pruning at the right time with proper techniques is important for maintaining the shape and health of your snowball bush.
Read MoreShantung Maple Trees in Texas. The Shantung maple is also known as Acer truncatum. In 2003 Texas A&M University listed it as a "Texas Superstar" tree because of its outstanding ability to withstand the Texas sun, drought and high winds. This lovely tree has a dense canopy, whose delicate foliage turns a bright red in the fall. It is a midsized tree that is perfect for metro areas and small yards, growing to an average height of 25 feet and a spread of 20 feet.
Read MoreHow to Plant Lily Tree Bulbs. Lily trees are a relatively recent trademarked form of lily, which are actually Oriental hybrids. These lily trees can reach heights of 6-8 feet, as can many other hybrid Orientals can. However, if you have purchased a lily tree, the most popular cultivars being "Boogie Woogie" and "Satisfaction," there is no need to think that these hybrids need any special care other than that you would normally give any other type of Oriental lily. Planting these bulbs is also no different than how you would plant other types of lilies.
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