Lemon verbena should be an herb garden staple for its citrus-scented leaves. Lemon verbena(Aloysia citriodora) is a tender perennial grown as a culinary herb. it’s possible for you to also use lemon verbena leaves tomake herbal teaor cocktails. Credit:Holly Shimizu Grow it as a perennial inUSDA Zones8 through 11 or as an annual in colder climates. Choose a location that receives full sun daily and plant in well-draining soil. you might also plant lemon verbena in containers outside your backdoor for garden-fresh flavor steps from the kitchen....

This vigorous edible plant will brighten up your yard as well as your plate. Lemongrass is a tropical plant native to southeast Asia. In addition to being used in cooking and for herbal tea, lemongrass also serves as an insect-repellent. Peter Krumhardt. In warm climates, it is grown in the garden year-round. Below Zone 9, it is either grown as an annual or planted in containers andoverwintered indoors. While lemongrass is not particularly colorful, it can serve as a wonderful companion plant....

Plant this cool-weather legume to replenish nutrients in your garden soil. Because of their small size and low yield per plant, good idea to plant a large patch. Other good companion plants arepotatoesand cucumbers. Credit:Inahwen / Getty Images In warmer climates, plants are typically grown from fall through winter. Seedlings are resistant to cold temperatures and frost, so planting too early is not usually an issue. By contrast, planting too late may hinder plant growth and reduce yields....

In shady locations, this spring bloomer produces yellow daisy-like flowers. Leopards bane is an exceptional perennial in two respects. In the late spring, the plant produces cheerful yellow daisy-like flowers for several weeks. Some return in the fall and bloom again when grown in ideal conditions. Leopards bane also does well in containers. How and When to Plant Leopards Bane Transplant nursery-grown plants in the spring. Dig a hole about twice the diameter of the pot and about the same depth....

Here’s how to grow lettuce for fresh salads straight from your own garden. Lettuce is suitable for small-space gardens and exceptionally easy to grow in cool weather. Where to Plant Lettuce Lettuce is a mainstay of spring gardens. Credit: Marty Baldwin This vegetable loves cool weather (and usually bolts when warm weather moves in). Choose afull-sunspot with loose, well-draining soil. This annual vegetable is easy togrow in containersand small gardens and containers....

These stunningly colorful plants brighten up any hot weather landscape. Hailing from South Africa,leucadendron encompasses a large group of plants ranging from 4-foot-tall evergreen shrubs to30-foot-tall trees. They’re hardy in Zones 9-11 and have colorful flowers and attractive foliage. Once established, leucadendron plants, also called conebushes, are low-maintenance plants. Select a spot with full sun and well-draining acidic soil. They work well in drought-prone spots and are stunning as specimen plants....

Leucothoe is an undemanding and attractive evergreen shrub that multitasks in the landscape. With graceful arches of bell-shaped flowers and shiny leaves, leucothoe is a prettyand practicaladdition to your garden. It also might be one of the most storied shrubs in your garden. Credit:Denny Schrock Why Leucothoe Is So Popular Storied or not, leucothoe is a garden workhorse. It also looks good in ashade gardenor draped overa wall. The white or cream urn-shaped flower clusters open in late spring and last through early summer....

Licorice plant offers pale hues and soft textures, making it a pleasing backdrop for more brightly colored blossoms. Licorice plant (Helichrysum petiolarespp.) is characterized by its small leaves and thin stems, but its much tougher than it looks. Credit: Peter Krumhardt The trailing plant thrives in hot, humid weather andtolerates drought well. Additionally, its fuzzy, scented foliage prevents pests from bothering the plant. When the plant does bloom, it displays small white flowers....

Ligularia is a large-leafed perennial that loves growing in persistently damp spots. Although known for its foliage, ligularia often blooms golden flowers. With giant, coarse-textured leaves, perennial ligularia is a foliage-heavy addition toshade gardens. Credit: Denny Schrock The plants leaves are sometimes triangular, sometimes kidney-shaped, and tend to be toothed around the edges. As they emerge, the leaves of many ligularia varieties develop a rich burgundy color. No matter their form, the petals of ligularia flowers are always a bright golden color....

These sweetly scented hardy harbingers of spring come in many sizes and flower colors. With sweetly scented pastel blooms andheart-shaped leaves, lilacs stand out in the landscape as welcome harbingers of spring. Lilacs are hardy shrubs that do better in a cooler than hot climate. Credit: Andre Baranowski Dig a holeat least twice the diameter of the nursery container and about 3 inches deeper. Place the root ball in the hole and spread out the roots....

There are several types to choose from, including Asiatic, the enticingly fragrant Oriental, and longiflora hybrids. Each offers an array of colors and forms. Lilies are toxic to cats. Credit: Peter Krumhardt Where to Plant Lily Choose a spot for lilies thatreceives full sunor part shade and haswell-drained soil. Lilies look at home in all areas of the landscape. Plant them near an entryway or patio to enjoy their beauty and fragrance....

Give your landscape the perfect backdrop through the seasons with this shrub’s evergreen leaves. This broadleaf, evergreen shrub is a plant with many names. Commonly known aslily-of-the-valley shrub, it is also occasionally called andromeda or Japanese pieris. Credit: Marilyn Ott Its also an early bloomer, often producing big clusters of flowers in late winter or early spring. The flowers, leaves, and sap of the lily-of-the-valley shrub are considered highly toxic to humansand pets....

This popular edging plant stays green year-round in many climates. The perennial lilyturf(Liriope) is popular as anedging plantor groundcover for good reason. Its dense tufts of almost evergreen, broadly grassy leaves are often striped. Credit: Jay Wilde Stiff stems bear tight spikes of tiny blue or white bells, similar to those ofgrape hyacinth. Its adaptability makes it suitable for nearly any situation. They make an attractive edging to a border or path....