Survey the supermarket and you’ll see a rainbow for the picking. Green fruits are actually immature peppers. The soil should be well-draining and slightly acidic. Credit:Marty Baldwin How and When to Plant Bell Peppers Peppers are a warm-season crop. In many areas, they are one of the last vegetables to be planted in the garden in spring. Wait until nighttime temperatures remain consistently above 50 to 55 degrees range planting transplants in the garden....

This group of perennials produces long-lasting, bell-shaped blossoms, including rare blue-hued flowers. No matter how they’re held, the display of blooms will always be abundant. Bellflowers areamong the most popular blue flowers, a rare hue in the plant world. Credit:Denny Schrock With that in mind, there are some general tips for meeting bellflower care needs. When looking for a place to plant your bellflowers, know that most speciesprefer well-drained soil....

Known mostly as fragrant cut flowers, these annuals are also an eye-catching addition to a garden bed. Bells of Ireland also makes a stunning accent plant in a mixed border or in a container garden. Bells of Ireland are used in fresh and dried arrangements. For fresh arrangements, cut the stems when half of the calyxes have opened. For dried arrangements, wait until all the calyxes have opened before cutting....

Bergenia, a clump-forming perennial primarily grown as a groundcover, can look good all year round. Bergenia is an easy-to-grow,clump-forming perennialprimarily used as a groundcover or as edging for walkways. At maturity, the leaves of bergenia are too leathery for the hungry mammals to munch on. Credit: Doug Hetherington Just be aware that the more sun your bergenia plants receive, the more moisture they may need. This spacing will allow ample airflow for the plants when they reach maturity....

A turfgrass for warm climates, Bermudagrass forms a dense lawn that stands up to traffic and heat. In areas with cool winters, Bermudagrass moves into dormancy in late fall. Bermudagrass requires frequent mowingat least once a week during the summerand grows best with regular moisture. Credit:Kim Cornelison Where to Plant Bermudagrass Plant Bermudagrass where it will receive at least eight hours offull sundaily. Bermudagrass tolerates a variety of soil types, from clay to sand....

Add a splash of bright color to your container gardens and hanging baskets with this easy-to-grow annual. The bidens plant started with simple yellow blooms, but it’s now available in various colors. This tough annual can keep blooming through some genuinely rough conditions. Credit: Denny Schrock Bidens are a good pick for containers, hanging plants, and planter boxes because of their abundant flowers. Dig a holeabout twice the diameter of the nursery container....

Big bluestem has come to represent the North American prairie. Big bluestem is a warm-season grass that greens up during the warmth of late spring. The fall color is representative of the diverse prairie where the range of colors is remarkable. Credit: Ian Adams The three-parted seed heads resemble a turkey foot, making it easy to identify the plant. Where to Plant Big Bluestem Plant big bluestem inUSDA Hardiness Zones3-9....

Black chokeberry is a low-maintenance native shrub with edible berries. The tart black berries of this shrub provide a food source for wildlife. The antioxidant-rich fruit also can be be enjoyed by people, usually in jams and jellies. Credit:Dean Schoeppner Use this guide to grow black chokeberry in your yard. Use it in garden beds, hedges, andwildlife gardensin USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 3 to 8. When planted in a naturalized site, allow the suckers to mature and form a colony....

Theblack locusttree is prized (and despised) for its rapid growth. It can, however, grow much taller (sometimes 90 feet) and spread rapidly in welcoming landscapes. So, be sure to consider the liability of black locust trees before planting. Bob Stefko. These flowers are frequent stopping points for bees and black locust honey is valued for its rich flavor. Black locust trees feature irregular branches with stout thorns and feathery leaves....

Grow your own black-eyed peas to use fresh or dried in Southern fare and other comfort foods. These low-maintenance plants require minimal watering and fertilizer and are good choices forbeginning gardeners. Throughout the season, you’re free to use black-eyed peas in a range of ways. Credit:Denny Schrock Wait until soil temperatures are at least 65F, for best results. Black-eyed peas should be sown about 1.5 inches below the soil line....

An old-fashioned favorite, black-eyed Susan vine is beloved for its cheerful yellow blossoms. Black-eyed Susan vine is a favorite nectar source forbees and butterflies. Pair this cheerful flowering vine with other nectar-rich plants for a grand backyard nectar buffet. Credit: Marty Baldwin Easy-to-grow annuals for bees and butterflies includeageratum,zinnias,cosmos, andnasturtium. Before planting black-eyed Susan vine in a tropical climate, check your local lists of risky and invasive plants. Plant seeds in individual pots of seed-starting mix and cover them with about 1/2 inch of soil....

There are three types of blackberries: trailing, erect, and semi-erect. Erect blackberry is a hardy, stiff-caned plant that may or may not need support depending on the variety. It tends to spread from new canes emerging from the roots. Credit:Kindra Clineff Semi-erect blackberry types have vigorous, thick, and arching canes that emerge from the crown of the plant. They are typically the latest blackberries to fruit in the summer. Blackberry plants have two distinct types of canes: first-year growth called primocanes, and second-year growth called floricanes....

After the flowers fade, shiny blackberry-shape seed pods appear (hence the common name). Where to Plant Blackberry Lily Plant blackberry lilies along walkways andcoastal gardenborders. When planted in poor soil or partial shade, however, they may grow shorter. Credit:Joshua McCullough/Getty Images Its also worth noting that blackberry lilies are rhizomatous perennials that self-seed and spread easily via underground stems. To curtail their spread, consider planting them in a container or raised bed....