Darrow’s Blueberry (Vaccinium darrowii) is both a beautiful and edible edition to your garden! This time of year, the red, blue, purple, and green foliage plus the oncoming fruit crop really stand out. In shadier environments leaf color will ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables
While junipers can be a nice feature in the landscape, many that would be commonly used up north just do not do well in our Southwest Florida climate in regard to pest and environment pressures. The native juniper, the red cedar is a ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes
I wanted to write once more about the ylang-ylang tree as I saw some in the area during early fall that spurred my memory. Fragrance in the garden can be subtle or sometimes overwhelming, but always memorable. When I lived in the West ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes
With the holiday season fast approaching, many folks are reaching for store-bought decorations. But what if your yard could supply some of the festiveness this season? You can turn your landscape trimmings into creative DIY ideas, turning what ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension
Although not native to Florida, the Loquat or Japanese plum is adapted to North Florida conditions. Unlike its relatives, apple, peach, and pear, the loquat is an evergreen tree providing a tropical look with attractive dark green leaves. Flowers ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables
As our office is near a new development, a great deal of landscape plants are being installed. One that I noticed which is being planted here, as well as elsewhere in the County, is the Japanese blueberry tree. It is originally from ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes
I’ve got a Nagi feeling about this… Natural and Horticultural History Human desires can be capricious and plants can fall in and out of vogue. Somewhat surprisingly, things as long-lived as landscape trees have different levels of merit ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Forests, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
As soon as I start my walk in the Exploration Gardens, I smell the delightful scent of the banana shrub. I can’t figure out why this plant isn’t used more in landscapes because it has so many good qualities. This evergreen shrub is both ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture
A: The term evergreen is a loosely used term by the general public, which generally means a tree retains its leaves year-round. Deciduous refers to those trees that drop all or most of their leaves when the temperatures drop and the amount of ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes
This densely-foliated, wide pyramidal, columnar or oval evergreen grows fairly quickly, ultimately reaching heights up to 40 feet with a 25-foot spread. Some individual plants grow wider than tall as they grow older. Some botanists do not make ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes