This mounding, shrubby perennial with flower spikes similar to snapdragon attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The nectar attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The soft, wooly, gray-green leaves are covered with fine hairs and resemble the leaves oflambs ear. As a member of the mint family, it is a moderate to fast grower and drought-tolerant. In Zones 8-10, Jerusalem sage remains evergreen. It is attractive both as a specimen or mass planting....

This sweet root vegetable tastes a little like an apple. This root vegetable has even made it onto the lunch menu in many schools. Native to Mexico and Central America, jicama has been cultivated for thousands of years. Credit:Bentaboe / Getty Images Jicamagrows exceptionally well in tropical zones, where its long vines can reach upwards of 15 to 20 feet. Outside the tropics and subtropics, jicama is frost tender and must be protected for proper growth and harvest....

This native perennial attracts lots of pollinators to its large flowers. Joe Pye weed is a statement piece in any garden. Hardy in Zones 3-10, it can reach up to 8 feet tall and wide. Credit: Denny Schrock Many species are native to areas alongside streams, ponds, and marshes. Add it in the spring after the last frost. Dig a hole about the same width and depth as the planting container....

Jonquils bear one to five golden-yellow flowers per stem and are usually quite fragrant. Deer and rodents seldom bother them. Plus, they come back year after year and multiply rapidly with little care. What’s not to love? Purchase jonquil bulbs at your local garden center or online from a reputable vendor. Look for large, firm bulbs that have a dry, papery covering. Jonquil Care Tips Jonquil grows best in organically rich, well-drained soil....

This charming plant comes in a range of colors and sizes. Joseph’s coat plants make a wonderful accent in any garden setting and can work well as showy houseplants. With several hundred species available, these plants offer many different leaf shapes, sizes, and textures. Credit: Dean Schoeppner Plant them in full sun for the best and brightest foliage colors. If this is the case for you, give Joseph’s coat a try....

These tough evergreen shrubs come in a variety of shapes and sizes to fit almost any landscape. When deciding what to plant, consider the throw in of juniper foliage that will work for your situation. Since some juniper shrubs grow up to 15 feet tall and even wider, give them lots of room. Credit: Justin Hancock Avoid planting large types close to a house or other structure where they could cause damage as they grow....

Nonstop blooms and extreme drought tolerance make this plant a garden favorite. This semi-woody perennial forms dense clusters of brightly colored flowers from late spring until fall. Jupiter’s beard makes a beautiful cut flower because of its long vase life and prolific blossoms. Credit: Dean Schoeppner Jupiter’s beard blossomsboast a long bloom period. Flowers begin appearing in late spring or early summer, and numerous clusters of tiny flowers bloom until frost....

You’ll have blooms for several weeks with this houseplant. In tropical environments,kalanchoethrives in outdoor garden beds. Flowers blanket some varieties; others sport fuzzy leaves in various shapes and sizes. Credit: Marty Baldwin Kalanchoe bursts into bloom during the gray winter and early spring months. Count on the blooms to last for several weeks. It’s especially striking in the tropics when grown in pots on a patio or porch. Credit: Marty Baldwin...

Find out how to grow kale as a cool-season vegetable in fall or spring. Peter Krumhardt Kale(Brassica oleracea)is a popular vegetable forsalads,fresh-blended smoothies, andsoups. Whether youcook kaleor eat it raw, this cool-weather vegetable tastes similar to cabbage. Credit:Peter Krumhardt However, its loose, upright, wavy-edged leaves dont form a head like cabbage. Although kale is classified as a biennial, hybridization developments mean kale is typically grown as an annual. Occasionally, kale flourishes outside its normal growth habits and sticks around as a short-lived perennial....

This drought-tolerant flowering perennial adds flair to your garden. Only the tip of the bud fully opens as the petals split into six pieces and reflex backward. The inside of the flower is usually greenish-white. Credit: Denny Schrock While the blossoms are quite small, they bloom in large quantities on well-branched stems. Pick a location that is protected from strong winds. In a flower or perennial bed, adjust the location to the size of the variety....

Japanese kerria is a hardy shrub with gracefully arching stems and cheerful, rose-like yellow flowers in the spring. Also known as the Japanese rose, kerria is an old-fashioned shrub making a comeback in the garden. This easy-to-grow shrub isperfect for shrub borders. Credit:Denny Schrock Or you’ve got the option to plant several kerria together for aliving garden screen. How and When to Plant Kerria Plant kerria in the spring. Dig a hole that is twice as wide as the root ball and has the same depth....

Add long-blooming knautia to your naturalized landscape and enjoy the whimsical pincushion-like blooms all summer long. Its wiry stems dance in the wind and are topped with pincushion-like crimson flowers. However, the seedlings are a cinch to remove when they are young. Perry L. Struse. This unfussy plant blooms from early summer into fall, producing months of garden color and bouquet-worthy blossoms. Where to Plant Knautia Knautia needs full sun and well-drained slightly alkaline soil....

Lady ferns add a touch of soft greenery to your shade garden. )are an exception and deserve greater use where they are hardy. While they require ample moisture, theyreexcellent starter fernsfor those looking to bring ferns into their landscape. Credit:Kritsada Panichgul Where to Plant Lady Ferns Unlike many plants, lady ferns are tolerant of shade. Plant lady ferns inUSDA Plant Hardiness Zones4-9 in moist, loamy,well-draining soil. How and When to Plant Lady Ferns For best results, plant lady ferns in late spring....