The shiny, shapely leaves of this beautiful shrub will add texture to your Southern garden. Southern Living/Evgeniya Vlasova Key Takeaways The eye-catching, easy-to-grow mahonia shrubs (Mahoniaspp. remind many people of holly (Ilex), though they’re closely related to barberry (Berberis). Credit:Southern Living/Evgeniya Vlasova Handsome, spiny leaves are divided into leaflets that change colors with the seasons. Inlate winteror spring, showy yellow flowers bloom from dense, rounded, or spike-like clusters. Blooms are followed by berrylike blue, blue-black, or red fruit that attracts birds....

That’s just one of the reasons people love Mexican petunia. Mexican petunia is not a real petunia, but its flower looks like one. One accepted botanical name isRuellia brittoniana, but you’ll also see it calledR. Credit:Getty Images However, taxonomists have begun to use the nameR. The flowers grow in the shape of trumpets and can either bloom individually or in clusters. Plant in spring after the last frost. Credit:Achisatha Khamsuwan / Getty Images...

In a warm climate, this hybrid tree produces sweet, juicy, and delicious Meyer lemons year-round. The rind is thin and soft, with a color that ranges from yellowish-orange to orange. Meyer lemons were discovered by plant explorer Frank N. Meyer in China in 1908. Credit:Hector Sanchez Meyer lemon trees are considered fast-growing, adding 12 to 14 inches per year. Their natural shrub-like growth makes pruning and maintaining the plant easier than other fruit trees....

However, these plants can grow 8 feet wide and up to 15 feet tall. Like its larger lookalike, mini monsteras have similar eye-catching slits and smooth, bright, and shiny leaves. Despite the uncanny resemblance, this smaller version of the larger plant is only a distant relative. Credit: Getty Images It is a great option for those looking for a smallvining plant. All parts of the mini monstera are toxic to pets and humans....

You don’t have to be an orchid aficionado to grow these colorful, long-lasting orchids in your home. Don’t be intimidated by their exotic appearancemoth orchids need very little to thrive as houseplants. Moth orchids are great for new gardeners because they are some of the easiest orchids to grow. Group a collection of moth orchids in matching pots for maximum impact.Credit: Ralph Anderson We’ll take you through the basics of caring for moth orchids....

Enjoy this backyard vineyard fruit native to the south. Late-summer days bring vines filled with muscadines, their perfume sweetening the air. Lucky for Greg, he has all four. Muscadines have lots of names—they are also called scuppernongs, bullis, and even swamp grapes.Credit: Helen Norman However, these backyard vines might be delicious for people, but they areharmful to pets. Also, in certain conditions, this plant can be an invasive species. They also prefer deep, fertile, well-drained soil with a slightly acidic pH....

Fittonia is a tropical beauty with dramatically contrasting foliage that needs humidity and moisture to thrive. This plant get its name from the dramatically contrasting foliage. The deep green leaves are veined with pink, white, or red, resembling a veined nervous system. Credit: Zen Rial/Getty Images In balmy tropical conditions, nerve plants grow as creeping groundcovers in shady areas with filtered light. Outside its native habitat, it’s usually grown as a houseplant....

Its light green leaves resemble butterfly wings. Other varieties go quiet for the winter season. The showy trees grow quickly and need a wide area to grow in to accommodate their large canopy. Credit:Southern Living/Valerie de Leon They don’t tolerate cold and thrive in sun and heat. While they can take shade, full sun produces more flowers in brighter colors. Plant in moist, well-drained soil in early spring to establish the plant before summer temperatures rise....

Hybrid tea roses (Rosa ‘Osiria’) are known for their two-toned, dramatic petals. It’s anything but generic. Plant Attributes Osiria Rose Care The Osiria rose grows in various climates. Credit: Getty Images When adding one to your garden, start with good soil that drains well. With this rose, things can develop slowly, so don’t get discouraged. When planting, plenty of direct sunlight is ideal. More sun spells more flowers. However, you also want the location to protect from wind and rainthe heads will droop on weak stems....

Flower arrangers and crafters love the silvery, plume-like flowers, both fresh and dried. In fall, it makes appearances in centerpieces,seasonal wreaths, and even wedding bouquets. Plant pampas grass in late spring after the threat of frost has passed. Credit:Majority World/Getty Images In the South, people frequently plant it at the beach where it bends gracefully in the salt breeze. It thrives in hot, sunny conditions and tolerates drought. Plant Attributes Pampas Grass Care Plant pampas grass in a sunny area with well-draining soil....

The easiest hydrangea to grow loves the summer swelter. Key Takeaways Some hydrangeas burn to a crisp in August sun. Others die of thirst. Credit: Steve Bender Still others won’t bloom ifyou prune themin fall, winter, or spring. This pop in is easy, easy, easy to grow in USDA Zones 3 to 9A. That’s a big chunk of country. Credit: Jacky Parker Photography/Getty Images I highly recommend this fuss-free shrub, but there are many other selections....

Paper bush (Edgeworthia chrysantha) is a winter garden star. Here it thrives in gardens in moderate to mild climates. This deciduousshrub features showy bloomsthat last four to six weeks and emerge from equally beautiful silver flower buds. Credit:magicflute002/Getty Images Paper bush is a sweet-smelling plant with minimal upkeep. Plant it in fall in most of the South or in spring at the northern edge of its range. Ahead, discover how to grow and care for paper bush....

Learn how to plant, care for, and force the bulbs of your paperwhites. They’re great gifts for the holidays or all year long. Ralph Anderson Key Takeaways Around the holidays, staying busy is a given. Credit:Ralph Anderson Luckily, adding paperwhites (Narcissus tazetta) to a table or your yard is surprisingly simple. He and his wife, Becky, own Brent and Becky’s Bulbs in Gloucester, Virginia. All parts of the plant are toxic to pets and to people, but the bulbs are especially so....