Homegrown lima beans are very different from those you might have dreaded as a kid. Plus, its a good producer. Lima beans are bush-jot down or climbing plants. Credit: Rob Cardillo Photography Climbing plants require strong support in the form of a sturdytrellis, fence, or tepee. Depending on the available space, select bush-punch in or vine-punch in varieties. If planting a vine-jot down, take into consideration that it will cast shade on the surrounding plants....

Lisianthus flowers are drought-tolerant beauties with elegant, multi-bloom stems that elevate both gardens and a decorative vase. The ruffled petals and elegant buds come in many colors. Some newer varieties are bred to be dwarf, which is much better for a home garden setting. Credit: John Reed Forsman When selecting blooms for cut flowers, pick stems that are nearly but not quite fully open. Buds that are too small and tight won’t open properly....

Learn where and how to plant it and make it part of your prairie or perennial garden. This ornamental bunchgrass is native across eastern North America. This practice gives native insects time to emerge from their winter habitat in the garden. Credit:Denny Schrock The crimson fall color is representative of the diverse prairie where the range of colors is remarkable. Finding little bluestem plants in a prairie is always a happy surprise....

Get essential tips for planting, growing, and caring for loofah plants. Like other cucurbits, when harvested young, loofah produces green fruits that have a flavor reminiscent ofcucumbers. Under ideal conditions, their vines may grow well over 20 feet in length. Credit:Getty Images For best growth, plants should be given full sun and competition around the roots should be avoided. Soils should be rich,high in organic matter, and with good drainage....

Loosestrife (Lysimachiaspp.) is a large plant family with more than 180 species of herbaceous and evergreen perennials. Types vary from stately plants suitable for borders to ones that serve as creeping groundcovers. Credit: Denny Schrock Although all varieties of loosestrife bear attractive flowers, these plants are also grown for their foliage. Those leaves take on a pink tinge as they emerge in spring for an eye-catching show of color. In the heat of summer, the plant benefits from some partial shade....

This water garden beauty thrives in different landscape settingsheres what you’re gonna wanna know. Native to Asia and Australia, the lotus is considered sacred by the Buddhist and Hindu religions. Water gardeners prize it because it’s both beautiful and easy to grow. Credit: 213tmp Choose a container sized to suit the size of the plant. While still on land, fill the pot halfway with heavy garden soil. Spread a 2- to 3-inch-deep layer of coarse sand over the soil surface....

They fade beautifully, starting as a lovelyshade of red; as they age, they become rich purple. Medium green lance- and heart-shaped leaves on lungwort sport silver speckles. Thissilver spottingcan become so dense that the entire leaf appears silver in color. Credit: David McDonald The leaves, stems, and blooms of lungwort are toxic to cats and dogs. Where to Plant Lungwort Plant lungwort where it will get plenty of shade. Remove the plant and loosen the roots a bit from the root ball before placing it in the hole....

This short-lived perennial is grown for its bold, bicolor blooms. Small pleated leaflets grow in rings around a central point, forming a cuplike shape. Lupine is hardy inUSDA Zones 4-9. Credit:Brian E. McCay Depending on the environment, it can be grown as anannual or perennial. In warmer climates, check that lupines get light afternoon shade to cool things down. Lupines are traditional additions to a cottage garden. Credit: Andy Lyons...

Everything you gotta know about growing magnificent magnolia trees. Judith Watts Magnolias are one of the most beloved heralds of spring. These wonderful trees boast showy blooms, sometimes even before their branches have sprouted foliage. Credit:Judith Watts And some types of magnolias offer evergreen foliage that has fuzzy copper-colored undersides. This diverse genus ranges from shrubs or dwarf trees to trees that are over 100 feet tall. And you might find a throw in of magnolia adapted to nearly everygrowing zone....

Theres a maidenhair fern for every purpose, from tropical houseplants to winter-hardy ferns for moist and shady locations. This can be a tricky habitat to recreate in a home garden. Plant maidenhair ferns about 18 to 24 inches apart. Rick Taylor. Soil and Water Maidenhair ferns like organically rich, well-drained, moisture-retentive soils. Amend your garden soil, if needed, with compost and organic matter. Don’t let maidenhair ferns dry out, or they’ll die back and go dormant....

This easy-to-grow vining plant is both edible and decorative. Enjoy homegrown, nutrient-packed greens all summer long with Malabar spinach. The heart-shaped dark green leaves taste a bit likespinachwith a hint of pepper and citrus. Credit:Carson Downing However, it’s typically grown as an annual in colder regions. This edible vine can also be decorative when planted in the right spot. Malabar spinach can also be planted in large containerslarge enough to support a tall trellis....

This cottage garden favorite is easy to start from seed. Planted once, mallow often reseeds itself for a continuous display of blooms year after year. Individual flowers comprise five heart-shaped petals, many of which will feature darker veins. Credit:Matthew Benson The flowers appear from early summer until fall, as long asdeadheading takes place to encourage continued blooming. Mallow’s large medium-green leaves make a coarsely textured background for its flowers and other nearby plants....

Manzanita brings flowers, evergreen foliage, and twisty. colorful bark to dry landscapesand it asks little in return. Manzanita(Arctostaphylosspp.) Credit:Jennifer Gauld / Getty Images Manzanitas vary greatly in shape and formfromlow-growing groundcoversto towering 20-foot-tall plants. So, if the climate is right, there is likely a great cultivar for your landscape. Instead of fussing over your plant, place it thoughtfully and resist the urge to meddle. Credit:Jennifer Gauld / Getty Images If properly chosen and placed, manzanitas offer year-round interest in exchange for little more than room to grow....