Plant Care Resource Center tree

Plant Care Resource Center

The first time you planted something, chances are, you had to find out what your growing zone was—either by looking on a map or typing in your zip code before getting your shovel out. Or maybe you're familiar with seeing growing zones labeled on a plant tag, where it says something like "3-7" or "8-11." Growing zones—also commonly called hardiness zones— help tell us whether a plant will be happy growing in a specific area.

The first time you see a Cardboard Palm, it captures your imagination because you’ve never seen anything like it! The leaves look like a cross between a fern and a palm tree, but the leaflets are rigid and leathery, like cardboard (where it gets its common name). It’s easy to picture it growing in prehistoric environments next to dinosaurs. As exotic as it is, the Cardboard Palm couldn’t be any easier to grow as an interior plant and makes for a stunning piece of living art.

Hostas are low-maintenance, shade-loving plants that brighten shady garden spots that might be neglected and in need of a refresh. They thrive under tree canopies where other plants may struggle to grow. With over 3,000 varieties of hostas, they will fit any gardenscape and even thrive in containers. The possibilities are endless when adding hostas to your landscape.  

The ZZ plant is sometimes called the Eternity Plant because some believe it can live forever. However, the truth is that it gets this name because of its hardiness and ability to handle neglect. It’s an eye-catching architectural plant that effectively removes toxins from the air while thriving in lower light conditions. This is a great introductory plant for those new to indoor gardening or those wanting to add something unique to their plant collection.

Known as Chrysanthemums or “mums” for short, these beauties are an underrated garden plant! They often play a supporting role in arrangements and holiday decorations, but we think they deserve a more starring role in your garden landscape! With over 20,000 varieties, Mums have an endless variety of shapes and colors with flowers that can be as small as a quarter or as big as a dinner plate. Their natural form is to develop as a multi-branched stem, and depending on the type can grow to about 3’ tall and 2’ wide. 

Beyond the beauty of the Chrysanthemum is also a hardy flower that works hard to keep pests away. The flower heads contain pyrethrin, which is used in insecticides. This makes them great companion plants for other flowers and vegetables because they naturally help prevent pests. 

The variegated leaves on the Spider Plant can brighten any shaded room. It's a great choice over artificial plants for nervous first-time plant owners: it’s easy to grow, thrives in almost any condition, and tolerates neglect! It grows very well with artificial light, so it’s perfect as a natural element in office spaces. As a bonus, the Spider Plant does double duty by cleaning the air and absorbing chemicals like formaldehyde and carbon monoxide.

Featured Videos

For rich pink Ornamental Grass that brightens and delights the landscape, choose the Pink Muhly Grass! Its vivid color and texture show persists from late summer to fall for a long-lasting sea of vibrancy. Planted in groups, along borders and pathways, or as a focal point, it's sure to impress. Watch along to see why we love this Ornamental Grass so much.

Our Dragon Fruit Cactus is an exotic cactus with versatile, tropical appeal. Follow along as our Plant Expert, Meredith, walks us through its delectable, neon pink fruit and large, fragrant flowers that enchant landscapes and containers. You'll want to add it to your garden or patio for refreshing, tantalizing fruit!

Shop the Dragon Fruit Cactus now!

Our larger trees are the ideal landscape solution for creating hedging, edging and privacy in your landscape. Watch as our Plant Expert, Meredith, shows off five of our favorite,FastGrowingTrees Privacy Trees that create an instant landscape upgrade. These varieties offer attractive foliage, texture and color all while providing the privacy you want!

Privacy Trees Featured:

• Emerald Green Arborvitae
• Thuja Green Giant
• Leyland Cypress
• Colorado Blue Spruce
• Cryptomeria Radicans

Watch the full video above, and scroll down for the full transcript!

Achieve tasty, creamy avocados at home with our fun and versatile varieties! Follow along as our Plant Expert, Meredith, walks through a few of our favorite Avocado Trees. These easy-to-grow, container-friendly picks are perfect for decorative appeal and will provide you with a delicious supply of fresh fruit.

Avocados Featured:

• Hass Avocado Tree
• Cold Hardy Avocado Tree
• Condo™ Avocado Tree

Watch the full video above, and scroll down for the full transcript!

Colorful, textured grasses make gorgeous additions to landscapes of all sizes and styles. Explore a few of our most popular Ornamental Grasses at our nursery with our Plant Expert, Meredith. These varieties achieve low-maintenance elegance and long-lasting appeal!

Grasses Featured:

• Purple Fountain Grass
• Karl Foerster Grass
• Miscanthus Gracillimus (Maiden Grass)
• Adagio Maiden Grass

Watch the full video above, and scroll down for the full transcript!

Unique, house plants are just the thing to liven up your homescape! And lucky for you, we've got some totally cool and vibrant varieties for you to check out. Discover distinguishable colors and lush, textured growth as our Plant Expert, Meredith, shows off a few of our favorite variegated house plants! Each one is extra special in its own way.

House Plants Featured:

• Variegated Ficus Triangularis
• Rattlesnake Plant
• Green Chinese Evergreen Plant

Watch the full video above, and scroll down for the full transcript!

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Educational Courses
Access our library of educational courses, including House Plants101, Landscape Design 101, Fruit Trees 101 and Grass Seed 101-andsign up for access to futur courses!