This colorful, heat-loving annual brings a tropical flair to your containers or flowerbeds. These annuals feature succulent stems and attractive foliage that create the perfect backdrop for large, colorful blooms. There are many foliage variations of New Guineas, ranging from variegated to green with bronze or purple accents. Credit: Justin Hancock The flowers of New Guinea impatiens (Impatiens hawkeri)are like an exaggerated version of standard impatiens flowers. The showy blossoms are composed of five slightly overlapping petals, arranged around a small, button-like center....

It makes a good container plant that can be moved indoors for the winter. New Zealand flax grows in erect clumps. The soil in the planting location must have good drainage. Credit: Frances Litman see to it the location offers ample space. In containers, the size is usually a little more restrained. Dig a hole twice the width of the container and the same height. Credit: Frances Litman Slide the plant out of the container and gently rub the roots to loosen them if they are root-bound....

This compact, mounding plant with lots of cup-shaped flowers is a container favorite. A tender perennial, nierembergia, also known as cupflower, is commonlygrown as an annual. Nierembergia is native to Argentina. The plant is valued for its long bloom period from early summer through early fall. In the landscape, nierembergia looks best in a mass planting. Plant it in rows along the front of beds or borders or plant it in groups in rock gardens....

This elegant annual has delicate-looking flowers but is very easy to grow. Also called love-in-a-mist, nigella is anannual flowernative to Europe. It has delicate, airy foliage that frames its multilayered, soft blue blossoms. Credit: Peter Krumhardt Where to Plant Nigella Choose a location in full sun with well-drained soil that is slightly acidic. The plant is also used for edging or in mass plantings. Individual plants shine as fillers in window boxes or containers....

With its white starry speckles, this gorgeous purple petunia is nothing short of otherworldly. Petunias are valued for their ability to bringlong-lasting colorto your garden or patio in the summer. Petunias are annuals, so they last only one growing season. Credit: Courtesy of @stabilityfarmgreenhouse Once they’re blooming, they’ll continue flowering for months until thefirst fall frost. If you want tostart seeds yourself, there are lots ofplaces to buy seeds online....

A fast-growing habit and winter bark appeal make Ninebark shrubs garden favorites. Ninebark (Physocarpusspp.) is an extremely versatile plant. David Speer. Its fast-growing habit and appealing winter bark make ninebarkshrubs garden favorites. The traditional ninebark foliage color is a deep purple, but new foliage colors include gold and amber. Some varieties even fade from one color to another as they age. Credit: Doug Smith Ninebark flowers are almost an afterthought....

An uncommon yet stunning bloomer, this annual thrives in hot, dry weather. It is not only a stunning bloomer but also easy to grow. The large, open-faced, trumpet-shaped flowers resemble those ofmorning gloriesbut without the drawback of reseeding heavily. Nolana is a member of the nightshade family and thus related to tomatoes, potatoes, and peppers. The most common species in the genus,Nolana paradoxa, is a drought-tolerant desert plant with succulent stems....

Try one of the best ornamental grasses for partial shade. The bobbing flat seedheads ofnorthern sea oatsare distinctive, almost looking like little buff-to-bronze fish. It’s one of thebest ornamental grassesfor partial shade, although it grows well in full sun. The arching seed heads mature to golden bronze and are effective in fresh or dried arrangements. Leave this plant standing in winter if you likeit’s attractive with a dusting of snow....

Get essential tips for growing oakleaf hydrangea, a native shrub with color-changing flowers and eye-catching fall color. The flowers often persist on the stems into winter and make excellent dried pieces for seasonal arrangements. The green leaves develop fall colors ranging from orange to red to purple at the start of autumn. Credit:Robert Cardillo Mature stems have attractive peeling bark that resembles cinnamon sticks. Here’s how to plant and grow an oakleaf hydrangea in your garden....

Obedient plant, a vigorously growing native perennial, blooms from late summer to fall. In fact, it can be an aggressive spreader. The flowers look good in a garden setting and also makegood cut flowers. Credit: Greg Ryan All it needs is full to partial sun and somewhat moist, slightly acidic soil. In terms of soil quality, the plant is highly adaptable. Obedient plant is a must in a pollinator ornative plant gardenthat looks especially good in drifts or mass plantings....

This heat-loving vegetable is as nutritious and versatile as it is ornamental. Traditionally a favorite in the South, okra is growing more popular in home gardens everywhere. Its easy to see why. Okra is a nutritious vegetable thats easy to grow and has ornamental value. Harvest fresh okra from the garden and enjoy it breaded and fried, baked, grilled, or pickled. Choose a location where you havent grown okra in at least the two previous seasons....

This heat-loving, evergreen shrub produces beautiful pink or white flowers in summer. Oleander flowers emerge at the tips of stems for a flush of pink or white. Also, be careful when pruning oleander because the milky sap can cause skin irritation. Credit: Cynthia Haynes Even dried plant parts remain toxic. Where to Plant Oleander Plant oleander in full sun for the best results. It will grow in partial shade, but the shrub may become lanky....

Find out how to grow onions either to enjoy fresh or for storage. Jay Wilde Growing flavorful onions in your garden isn’t too difficult and they don’t need much space. Many gardeners find it easier to work with sets than the small seeds. Credit:Jay Wilde You’ll get a harvestable crop a little sooner from sets, too. However, a packet of seeds is typically cheaper to buy than a similar number of sets....