Saxifragaceae; a hybrid of garden origin.

Germination: Best sown indoors at a temperature of 55-72° and with no cover as light aids in germination. Expect the small seeds to germinate in 20-25 days. Seeds can also be sown outdoors in early spring.

Growth: Transplant when there are at least two sets of true leaves. Space 15-24 inches apart in partial shade. Site in a rich, moist, well-drained soil. Plant out in the spring or fall.

Appearance and Use: This 2-3 foot tall, mounding perennial is best used in shady borders, woodland gardens, or in waterside plantings. Its flowers cut well for fresh use. In mid to late summer, above the green 8-28 inch long, ferny leaves, are borne 6-36 inch, fluffy spikes of white, pink, or red flowers.

Apiaceae, native to Europe.

Germination: Sow indoors at a temperature of 58-62° and at a depth of 4 times the size of the seeds. Expect erratic germination in 14-28 days or longer. Seeds can also be sown outdoors when the ground is still cool in early spring. Outdoors, sow at the same depth as indoors, but expect germination in 1-4 months.

Growth: Transplant when there are at least two sets of true leaves. Site in full sun to partial shade in a fertile, moist, humus-rich soil. As necessary, divide plants in the spring.

Appearance and Use: Grow this clump-forming, upright, 1-3 foot tall by 18 inches wide perennial in a border, woodland garden, or along a stream bank. From the basal rosette of green, deeply lobed leaves arises the flowering stems in early to mid-summer. The flowers are borne in small, 1 inch diameter, pincushion-like umbels. Each flower is papery and colored white or pink with green veining.

Brassicaceae, native to the Mediterranean.

Germination: Best sown indoors, in spring or summer, at alternating temperatures of 55 and 72° and with no cover as light aids in germination. Expect the small seeds to germinate in 10-15 days. Seeds can also be sown outdoors during the early spring.

Growth: Transplant when there are at least two sets of true leaves. Space 6-8 inches apart in full sun. Site in a sandy, well-drained soil. Shear after flowering to promote fresh, new growth.

Appearance and Use: Grow this perennial in a sunny border, rock garden, or on a sunny bank. It is a small, but upright (6-12 inch tall) perennial that is clump forming to 12 inches wide. In April and May masses of tiny, 1/2 inch diameter, pale yellow to gold flowers appear over the 1 1/4 - 3 inch long, gray-green foliage.

Fabaceae, native to eastern North America.

Germination: Nick or file the seed coat to promote faster germination. Sow seeds indoors at alternating temperatures of 68 and 86 degrees and with no cover as light aids in germination. Expect germination in 15-30 days. Seeds can also be sown outdoors when the ground is cool in late fall or early spring, with germination occurring that spring.

Growth: Transplant when there are at least two sets of true leaves. Space 18 inches apart in full sun to part shade. Site in an average, well-drained garden soil. Keep the plants well-watered and stake them if necessary. Deadhead after flowering or refrain from doing so to let the seed pods form.

Appearance and Use: Add this perennial to a border, hillside, or naturalized garden. Its flowers cut well for fresh use. The habit is upright and gently spreading from 2-5 feet tall by 24 inches wide. In May and June spikes of pea-like, 1 1/4 inch, indigo-blue (sometimes flecked with white) flowers appear and are followed by black seed pods. The blue-green leaves are palmate and divided into three, 1 1/2 inch long leaflets.

Begoniaceae, native to the tropics and subtropics.

Germination: Sow seeds indoors at a temperature of 68-75° and with no cover as light aids in germination. Expect the small, dust-like seeds to germinate in 15-20 days. For indoors use, sow the seeds at any time. For outdoor use, sow wax begonias 12 weeks before planting out and tuberous begonias 12-16 weeks before planting out.

Growth: Space wax begonias 8-10 inches apart in part shade to full sun (hybrids can take sun where the temperatures rarely exceed 90°). Site in a rich, well-drained soil. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings. Fertilize frequently. Space tuberous begonias 8-10 inches apart in part shade. Site in a light, rich, moist, but well-drained soil. They prefer climates with cool summers and high humidity. After the first light frost, lift the tubers, wash them, and store in a cool, dark, dry area until replanting in the spring. For conservatory culture of all begonias: provide 65° nights and 70-80° days, allow to dry out between waterings, and fertilize when in growth and when in flower.

Appearance and Use: This genus is ubiquitous in bedding plantings, borders, hanging baskets, and as house and conservatory plants. It is divided into three groups: fibrous rooted, rhizomatous rooted, and tuberous rooted. The well-known wax begonias (B. x semperflorens-cultorum) are fibrous rooted. They grow 6-12 inches tall with green, bronze, or mahogany leaves. The flowers are singles or doubles and in shades of pink, red, or white. Rex begonias, with highly ornamental foliage in rich colors and variegated designs, represent the rhizomatous types. The tuberous begonias form 8 inch, hanging clusters of solid or bi-colored, white, yellow, orange, red, or pink flowers.

*Grown as annuals outdoors, but will overwinter in frost-free climates.

Iridaceae, native to China and Japan.

Germination: Sow seeds indoors at alternating temperatures of 68 and 86° and at a depth of 4 times the size of the seeds. Expect germination in 15-30 days. Seeds can also be sown outdoors during the spring or summer, up to two months before first frost.

Growth: Transplant when there are at least two true leaves. Space 6 inches apart in full sun or light shade. Site in a rich, sandy, exceptionally well-drained soil. Keep plants moist during the growing season.

Appearance and Use: Plant it in borders, wildflower gardens, and rock gardens. The flowers cut well for fresh use. The habit is that of an upright clump (12-24 inches tall) that spreads via its rhizomes and has iris-like foliage. In late summer the lily-like, orange with red flowers appear. They are followed by the brown seed pods that open to reveal clusters of large, black seeds that resemble blackberries.

Asteraceae, native to Europe.

Germination: Best sown indoors at a temperature of 68-70° and with no cover as light aids in germination. Expect germination in 10-15 days. Seeds can also be sown outdoors during early spring; in mild areas they can be sown outdoors in late summer.

Growth: Transplant when there are at least two sets of true leaves. Space 6 inches apart in full sun or light shade. Site in a light, rich, fertile, moist, well-drained soil. Keep them well watered and fertilize them monthly. Deadhead the flowers to prevent plants from self sowing around the garden. This plant does best in climates with cool summers; treat it as an annual in Zones 8-10.

Appearance and Use: Grow it in borders, rock gardens, in containers, and as a bedding plant. The plants form 4-6 inch tall by 2-8 inch wide basal rosettes of spoon-shaped leaves. The single or double, white, pink, red, or purple, daisy-like flowers appear in May and June.

Saxifragaceae; native to Afghanistan and the Himalayas.

Germination: For best results, sow indoors at temperatures of 55° F nights and 72° F days. Or sow outdoors, in late fall or early spring for spring germination. Germination takes 15-20 days; plants bloom the second year from sowing.

Growth: In spring or fall, space 12-16 inches apart in well-drained soil in full sun (North) or part shade (South). The plants, thriving in 60° F nights, tolerate deep shade and wide range of soils. Keep the soil evenly moist and feed moderately. No staking is required, but deadhead if the stems become leggy. If planting in fall, allow at least two months for seedlings to become rooted before the cold sets in. Mulch heavily for winter.

Appearance and Use: Ideal for edging, borders, or ground cover, Bergenia displays dark, heart-shaped foliage that is attractive in arrangements. Mounding plants, 12-18 inches tall and 12-24 inches wide, are non-invasive and spread via rhizomes. Coarse, cabbage-like blooms of rose or red arrive in April and May. Glossy, dark green 10- inch foliage is heart-shaped with a leathery texture. As winter arrives, the evergreen plants turn burgundy. New growth arrives in March.

Asteraceae; native to Southern U.S., Mexico, and Guatemala.

Germination: For best results, sow indoors, covering the seed and maintaining a temperature of 68-70° F. Or sow outdoors, in spring, covering the seed. Germination takes 5-10 days; plants bloom three months from sowing.

Growth: In spring, when danger of frost is past, space seedlings 12 inches apart in full sun in well-drained garden soil. Keep the soil evenly moist and feed plants moderately. Best in 70-75° F. days, 60° F nights; tolerates deer, drought, exposure, low fertility, wind and a wide range of soil conditions.

Appearance and Use: Tickseed is an easy-to-grow, maintenance-free annual for borders, baskets, naturalized areas, containers, beds, or combination plantings. Mounded, bushy plants, sometimes trailing, reach 9-36 inches tall and 16-18 inches wide. From June till frost, daisy-like 1 inch blooms of golden yellow are borne in masses of solitary or clustered flowers. Bright green, 3 inch-long foliage is deeply cut, lacy, and fern-like.

Asteraceae, native to North America.

Germination: Best sown indoors at a temperature of 68-70° and with no cover as light aids in germination. Expect germination in 10-15 days. Seeds can also be sown outdoors when the soil is warm in late spring. Outdoors, sow with barely any cover and look for germination in 12-18 days.

Growth: Transplant when there are at least two sets of true leaves. Site in full sun or partial shade in a fertile, moist, well-drained soil. Divide plants as necessary.

Appearance and Use: This is a great perennial for situating in borders or for naturalizing. Its flowers cut well for fresh use. The habit is upright to 6 feet tall and spreading to 3 feet wide. In late summer and fall, 3/4 inch, white, lilac, or pink, daisy-like flower heads cover the plants. The leaves are green or blue-green, toothed, and an inverted lance to 5 inches long.

Asteraceae, native to Australia.

Germination: Best sown indoors, 4-6 weeks before last frost, at a temperature of 68-70°. Sow with no cover as light aids in germination and expect germination in 10-15 days. Seeds can also be sown outdoors after all danger of frost is past and when the soil is warm in late spring. Outdoors sow with barely any cover and look for germination in 15-20 days.

Growth: Best sown indoors, 4-6 weeks before last frost, at a temperature of 68-70°. Sow with no cover as light aids in germination and expect germination in 10-15 days. Seeds can also be sown outdoors after all danger of frost is past and when the soil is warm in late spring. Outdoors sow with barely any cover and look for germination in 15-20 days.

Appearance and Use: Employ this annual in borders and planters, as edging and a greenhouse plant, and cut the flowers for fresh use. The plants grow 12-18 inches tall by 14 inches wide and have 5 1/2 inch long, feather-like foliage. It will be covered in fragrant, 1 1/2 inch, blue, rose, white, or violet, daisy-like flowers in the summer.

Brassicaceae; native to Europe.

Germination: Sow indoors, covering the seeds with 4 times their thickness in soil, and maintaining 68-70° F during germination, which takes 3-10 days. For early spring color, sow in late winter.

Growth: Space seedlings 12 inches apart in rich, well-drained soil and full sun. Keep the soil evenly moist and fertilize moderately. In zones 8-10, discourage weeds and protect the roots in winter. It is easy to transplant and shows the best color if fertilizer is withheld during the last month of production and is grown cool (60°F). Plants are hardy to 25° F.

Appearance and Use: Decorative, ornamental plants for beds, borders, and edging. Brassica is beautiful in containers. Ornamental Kale can also be eaten or used as a garnish. Plants display thick green leaves held in rosettes 12 inches across with centers of white, rose, or purple in fall and winter.

Solanaceae; native to South America.

Germination: Sow anytime of the year for indoor growth. For outdoor growth, sow indoors 6-8weeks before planting outside, and leave the seed uncovered. Maintain a temperature of 68-70°F during germination, which takes 14-21 days.

Growth: When the danger of frost is past, space seedlings 8-10 inches apart in moderately fertile, well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. Plants prefer morning sun and afternoon shade; they thrive in 60° F nights. Mulch in the summer to keep the roots cool and moist. Before the first frost, dig up the plants, cut them back in frost-free areas and pot them up. Place in sunny window so that they will flower freely all winter. Plants can overwinter in the garden.

Appearance and Use: The velvety, bell-shaped blooms add color to beds, borders, baskets, or greenhouses. Mounded, well-branched plants, 12-18 inches tall and 24 inches wide, sport glossy emerald-green, elliptical-shaped 3-inch foliage. Solitary, star-shaped blooms of blue, purple, or white measure up to 2 inches across.

Loganiaceae; native to China.

Germination: Sow indoors in early spring for fall flowering, or sow outdoors anytime in late spring or summer, up to two months before first fall frost. Cover seeds with 4 times their height in soil and maintain a temperature of 68-70° F during germination, which takes 15-20 days.

Growth: Plant outdoors in sun or light shade in average, well-drained soil. Butterfly Bush blooms the first year if started early, and tolerates heat, humidity, drought, and a wide variety of soil conditions. Mulch in winter to protect the roots. Prune back to 10 inches each spring before new growth to encourage more blooming and a bushier habit.

Appearance and Use: An easy-to-grow source of summer-to-fall color with quick growth, it is ideal as a hedge, screen, or specimen. Buddleia is deciduous and shrub-like, growing up to 14 feet tall. Tapered bloom spikes, up to 12 inches long, arise from summer into fall in shades of white, lilac, pink, red, or yellow, sometimes bi-colored. Butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds love the sweet honey scent of the blooms. Dark green foliage, 8 inches long, is lance-shaped and coarse with a felted underside.

Cactaceae; native to the Americas.

Germination: Start indoors any time of the year, maintaining a temperature of 70-75° F during germination. Leave smaller seed types uncovered; cover the larger types 4 times their thickness in soil. Keep the soil on the dry side. Germination is erratic and can take anywhere from 5 days to several months.

Growth: Cacti are divided into two types - desert and jungle. Varieties grown from seed are generally desert types requiring direct sunlight, porous sandy soil, and low humidity. Water sparingly and feed lightly (once a month during the growing season). When grown indoors, Cactus requires a bright, sunny window or 14-16 hours of artificial light.

Appearance and Use: Many distinctive and unusual genera and species for container growth are included in the well-known group. Depending on the species, Cacti can take many forms - climbing, columnar, round, upright, flat, or creeping. Reaching 2-12 inches tall and 2-8 inches wide, most varieties bloom in spring with 1/4- to 1-inch flowers in a wide range of shapes and colors. The flat types have fleshy stems. Many are leafless, but some have blue, green, or silver foliage. Many have scales, spines, or bristles.

Scrophulariaceae; native to Chili and Peru.

Germination: For best results, sow indoors in fall for winter and spring bloom. Do not cover the very fine seeds, because they need light to germinate. Maintaining a temperature of 55-60° F during germination which takes 10-15 days. Plants bloom 4 1/2 months from sowing.

Growth: Plant seedlings even with the soil line in high quality potting soil and place in partial shade. Water sparingly. For best performance, grow plants in 4 1/2-to 5- inch pots at 50° F nights, 70° F days. After potting, budding can be initiated with 5 weeks of 50-55° F nights. Grow this "anytime" hybrid year-round at 60° F nights (except in July and August when it is too hot).

Appearance and Use: With unique, pocket-like blooms C. crenatiflora makes a beautiful and unusual houseplant or greenhouse specimen. Soft, pouch-like flowers are borne from late January to April in spotted or solid shades of yellow, orange, brown, and red. An excellent plant for winter blooming indoors, C. crenatiflora grows 5-10 inches tall and 7-8 inches wide.

Asteraceae; native to southen Europe.

Germination: Sow outdoors in spring in any climate. Or, in cool climates, sow indoors in spring for summer use; in warm climates, sow indoors in summer for fall and winter use. Cover the seed with 4 times its thickness in soil and maintaining a temperature of 68-70° F. Germination takes 10-14 days.

Growth: Space seedlings 12-15 inches apart in rich, well-drained soil enriched with organic matter. Plants thrive in sunny, cool climates and should be kept evenly moist and fertilized moderately. To encourage a spring-blooming plant to re-bloom in fall, cut back to a third of its size and fertilize during summer. If growing Calendula in a greenhouse, sow in January for spring blooms or in mid-August for mid-winter blooms. For best performance, grow 40-45° F nights.

Appearance and Use: Long-lasting daisy-like blooms for cutting are borne on an easy-to-grow plant used for edging, borders, containers, and greenhouses. Some blooms may have medicinal value. Upright, busy plants reach 8-24 inches tall and 8-12 inches wide. Daisy-like 3-5 inch blooms of orange, yellow, or apricot arise from early summer till frost, in single or double-flowered forms. Oblong dark green foliage, 4-6 inches long, has a sticky texture.

Other: The petals may be used to produce a gentile antiseptic for cuts and abrasions or for soothing chapped skin.

Asteraceae; native to China.

Germination: Sow outdoors after all danger of frost is past, or sow indoors 6-8 weeks before planting outside. Sow indoors in fall and winter for greenhouse flowers in late winter and spring. Cover the seed with 4 times their thickness in soil and maintain a temperature within the medium of 70° F during germination which takes 10-14 days. Blooms appear 3-4 months from sowing.

Growth: In spring after danger of frost is past, space 6-15 inches apart in full sun in a rich, well-drained soil. Keep the soil evenly moist and feed the plants moderately but keep the nitrogen levels low to deter disease. For more continuous bloom, plant in succession at 2 week intervals, as Asters stop blooming after they are cut. In the greenhouse, grow on with cool (60° F) nights in full sun with a rich, porous soil kept evenly moist. Mulch Asters in summer to keep the soil moist and to protect their roots from drying out. Many of the newer varieties are resistant to wilt.

Appearance and Use: Single or double blooms, ideal for cutting, are borne on this annual for borders, beds, or greenhouse growth. Dwarf varieties make excellent container plants. Single or double-flowering annuals are 6-36 inches tall and 6-18 inches wide, with blooms of blue, white, lavender, purple, yellow, pink, or red on long cutting stems over basal foliage. The flowers, borne midsummer to frost, have a wide range of size, shape and color including daisy, pompom, chrysanthemum, and shaggy. Dark green foliage, 3 inches in length, is oval-shaped and coarsely toothed.

Ericaceae; native of northern Europe.

Germination: Sow outdoors in late fall for early spring germination, or sow indoors. Fresh seeds will germinate in 30-35 days if a temperature within the medium of 55-70° F is maintained. Seeds may benefit from being placed in a moistened medium in the refrigerator for 4 weeks, followed by germination as above. Heather blooms the second year from sowing.

Growth: In spring, space 12 inches apart in full sun in an acid, infertile, highly organic soil that is well-drained. Keep the soil evenly moist and feed once in spring. Shear in early spring and mulch the plants to help them retain moisture. These evergreen plants require no staking and tolerate wind and partial shade.

Appearance and Use: These attractive evergreen shrubs for edging, foundation planting, borders, slopes, and rock gardens are also ideal for containers or as a holiday potted plant. Upright plants 12-36 inches tall and 12-18 inches wide, range from dense and woody at their bases to more sparse and free-growing. Late summer brings 10- inch spikes of pink, purple, or white blooms. Scale-like, 1/2- to 1- inch foliage can be green, yellow, bronze, and variegated. In fall, the leaves turn bronze, red, yellow, or silver depending upon the cultivar.

Theaceae; native to Asia.

Germination: Soak seeds of C. sasanqua in warm water for 24 hours before sowing. Maintain a temperature within the medium of 70-75° during germination which takes 1-2 months. Prior to sowing C. sinensis, soak seeds for 48 hours and then place them in a moist medium in the freezer for 3 weeks. Germination will then take 2 months or more with a temperature within the medium of 70-75°. Camellia can be sown outdoors in fall.

Growth: Plant outdoors in warm climates in light shade and a rich, acid, well drained sandy soil. Keep evenly moist and mulch 2 inches deep. Indoors, grow with cool (55°) nights, keep soil evenly moist, and give 3-4 hours of sun a day.

Appearance and Use: C. sasanqua is used as a foundation planting, pot plant, cut flower, and greenhouse specimen. This shrub has broad evergreen leaves and an open habit, growing to 20 feet tall. Hardy zones 7-8, it’s fragrant pink or white, single or semi-double flowers appear in fall. C. sinensis is grown as a shrub in warm climates or as a house plant or in the greenhouse elsewhere. The leathery, toothed leaves of this tender evergreen shrub are used in making tea. C. sinensis can grow to 30 feet, is hardy to zone 8, and has fragrant, white or pink flowers in clusters of 2-5.