When the blooms appear, the heady fragrance of a tea olive tree is liable to make you swoon. Key Takeaways What’s that fragrance perfuming the garden air? This species belongs to the genusOsmanthus. Credit: Masao Akiyama / Sebun Photo/Getty Images Osmanthusspecies are drought-tolerant, evergreen shrubs and trees thatthrive in full sunor partial shade. Their calling card is the deeplyfragrant bloomsthat decorate the branches, which appear throughout the year. Plant in the fall so the roots can get well established during winter....

This shrub has long been a charmer in Southern gardens. Key Takeaways Abelia (Abelia spp.) is a graceful shrub that belongs to the Caprifoliaceae or honeysuckle family. The arching shrub’s small, delicate blooms make reliableborders and shrub plantings. Plant the shrubs when the soil is warm in the spring or in early fall. Here’s what else to know about growing and caring for abelia. Newer varieties have a more compact form....

Create a miniature winter garden with ethereal air plantsno soil required! Laurey W. Glenn In the wild, air plants (Tillandsiaspp.) grow on trees and rocks, absorbing moisture and nutrients through their leaves rather than the soil. Credit:Laurey W. Glenn Foliage can be fine-textured or thick and comes in greens, silvers, pinks, and reds. Leaves often blush before small flowers appear. Xeric air plants are usually bluish, silver, or gray-green in color, and sometimes have hairy leaves....

Heres how to care for this beautiful houseplant. Alocasia tends to need more attention, says Justin Hancock, horticulturist with Costa Farms. Some alocasia go dormant if its too cool, too dry, or the light levels are too low. Credit:Getty Images It will drop leaves, causing you to think its dead. Once alocasia starts to go downhill, it happens fast. Thats not something you might say about most houseplants. Justin Hancockis a horticulturalist with tropical plant and houseplant growerCosta Farms....

The best time to plant these slow-growing trees is during their dormancy in winter. Two primary varieties of persimmon are grown in the United States:Diospyros kakiandD. virginiana.The former, also known asJapanese persimmon, is commercially grown predominantly in California. American persimmon is native to the East Coast and is more cold hardy than the Asian variety. This tree can be grown from New York to Florida and as far east as Texas....

From houseplant to home-grown skincare, aloe vera is a rewarding plant to grow. Getty Images Most of us are familiar with aloe vera. It takes three to four years to reach maturity. Credit:Getty Images These traits make aloe vera plants well adapted to growing in dry conditionsincluding life indoors. Aloe vera grows naturally in hot, dry locations, which helps guide plant care. Indoors, rotate plants periodically to promote even growth on all sides of the plant....

Add this spring-blooming cactus to your collection. Getty Images Lilies are a commonEasterplant, adorning homes and churches across the Southeast during the spring. But theres another lesser-known holiday beauty that also blooms around the time of Easter. Credit:Getty Images However, Easter cactus is from a different genus. If you look closely, you’re free to tell it apart from the otherholiday cacti. It does not have sharp spines, making it a good choice around curious kids and pets....

For this reason, it is a popular tree to plant for quick shade. As a bonus, its wood is very valuable. In fact, it’s so valuable that people sometimes steal young empress trees in the dead of night. Credit:seven75 / Getty Images The Japanese also prize it highly as the perfect wood for making sandals. How To Care For Empress Trees Empress trees are incredibly easy to grow. The soil should be more acidic than alkaline and preferably moist, sandy loam....

You may already befamiliar with persimmons. Not only are they easy to grow, but also they’rebeautiful in the landscape. Horses have been known to develop these blockages as well, sokeep persimmons away from petsand livestock. ‘Matsumoto Wase Fuyu’ offers a bounty of crisp, tasty fruit.Credit: Helen Norman Oriental Persimmon Care Compared to mostfruit trees, Oriental persimmons are easy. They don’t require annual thinning or a regular spraying program. They bloom late enough in spring that cold snaps are rarely a problem....

The easy-care flowers look best when grown in large clumps or swaths. Anemones are fast to multiply and some species are considered aggressive. Anemone Care These delicate single- and double-bloom flowers are easy to grow. Credit: Justus de Cuveland/Getty Images The genusAnemoneis comprised of over 200 species, and range in size, shape, and color. Their low maintenance and resistance to deer make them an easy choice for landscapes. Some species are aggressive spreaders, though their shallow roots are easy to dig up....

This easy-to-grow flower will make your heart sing until the first frost. Gardeners in cooler temperatures can have the same results by growing one in a container. It will drop leaves, so light is not a concern during this rest period. Credit: William Dickey But the drama stops with appearancethis is one easy plant to grow. Plant Attributes Angel’s Trumpets Care Angel’s trumpets (Brugmansiasp.) are sun-loving, fast-growing plants. Angel’s trumpet plants need well-drained soil....

You will be surprised by the juicy, sweet flavor of this crisp fruit. The crunchy fruit is wonderful when eaten fresh. Chilling it before eating enhances the delicious flavor. Credit:Douglas Sacha / Getty Images you’ve got the option to also enjoy the texture in salads and stir fries. Historically called “sand pears,” these trees can be found in gardens as far south as Florida. Plant them in early spring or fall in a sunny location....

Asiatic lilies (Lilium Asiatic hybrids) are hybrid lilies developed from several species. They are cold hardy, relatively pest-free, and do not need staking. Each flower has six petals and prominent anthers and stamens. Credit:Yulia Naumenko / Getty Images They bloom at the top of the stems. They have a medium growth rate, and the bulbs can double every year. The plants are toxic to dogs and especially toxic to cats.Deer andrabbits enjoy lilieswith no ill effects....