Monday – Saturday: 7 am – 6 pm
Sunday: 8 am – 4 pm
Easter Sunday (4/20): 8 am – 2 pm
Monday – Saturday: 7 am – 6 pm
Sunday: 8 am – 4 pm
Easter Sunday (4/20): 8 am – 2 pm
Having information at your fingertips is empowering. We’re building a collection of plant care guides so you can learn everything you need to know about our plants, readily available for your convenience. Feel free to download the .pdfs to keep at home!
Thuja Arborvitae, aka Red Cedar
Although it is a Latin name meaning “Tree of Life,” Arborvitae is actually the common name for members of the Thuja genus. These fast-growing evergreen trees or dwarf trees have a wide variety of uses in landscaping. Many trees are bred to stop at ideal heights for privacy walls, such as ‘Emerald Green’ or ‘American Pillar.’
Browning needles are normal at center near trunk or at tips during winter. Excessive browning is a sign of stress. Plant 5′ – 10′ apart for a privacy wall with conical varieties.
Azaleas
Azaleas are truly enchanting. These beloved flowering shrubs have been cultivated for so long there are over 10,000 known cultivars derived from nearly 800 different Rhododendron species. Azaleas are the prize jewel of many gardens for their breathtaking fragrant flowers and their adaptability in the garden.
Azaleas have a more shallow & more sensitive root system than other flowering shrubs. Amending the soil & improving drainage before planting will ensure happy, healthy roots with the space to grow. Use flower shape, stamen count, and leaf structure to differentiate from Rhododendrons.
Camellias
Camellias have been cultivated for ornamental gardens in Japan and China for over a thousand years, and in the west for hundreds of years. Their luxurious flowers are truly show-stopping, and they make great hedges too! With enough TLC Camellias can live for decades.
Camellias benefit from regular pruning with very clean shears. Most are bred for their flowers but some are grown for their foliage. One variety in particular, C. sinensis, is Tea – the same plant famously dumped in Boston.
Holly Trees & Holly Shrubs
We usually think of hollies as an evergreen tree with spiny leaves and red berries at Christmas, but there are actually over 500 species of hollies. The trees, shrubs and climbers in this family are easy going once established, and almost all have the same care needs.
Hollies are great for winter interest, since even the deciduous female varieties sport red berries in winter. All holly berries are poisonous to people and pets.
Dianthus, aka Pinks or Carnations
Dianthus, commonly known as Pinks or Carnations, are known for their beautiful, fragrant blooms. These plants come in a variety of colors, including pinks, reds, and whites, and are very easy to care for once established. They are perfect for adding color and fragrance to your garden or home!
A few varieties of Dianthus are self-seeding, so dead-heading is highly recommended to prevent unwanted spread and encourage reblooming. While the leaves are not edible, the petals can sometimes be used for culinary purposes.
Ferns
Ferns are some of the oldest types of plants, with some varieties remaining unchanged for over 150 million years! There are now over 10,000 species of ferns. There are both shade-tolerant outdoor ferns (many are native!), and tropical varieties that love bright indirect light indoors.
Ferns have no flowers or seeds, but propagate via spores. In many cultures’ folklore, they are mystical plants with “flowers” that provide magical effects if found. Their fiddleheads or unfurling young leaves are sometimes edible.
Helleborus, aka Lenten Rose or Christmas Rose
One of the crown jewels of a winter garden, these hardy, deer-resistant drought-tolerant perennials are often named Lenten Rose or Christmas Rose for their pink, white, green, or burgundy rose-like flowers. They appear often in Greek mythology.
All varieties of hellebore are poisonous to people and pets. Many of the colors available at nurseries come from hybrids of H. orientalis crossed with closely related species. Will self-sow.
Basil
Basil is an herb from the mint family that is used in cuisine around the world. The flavors of basil leaves range from sweet to citrusy to licorice. Basil can thrive in containers, making it easy to grow this tender, warm-weather annual either outdoors or indoors. One robust plant can provide over a ½ cup of basil leaves per week!
Stressors, pests, or drought can cause basil to “bolt,” or produce flowers prematurely. Regularly prune away the flowers if you want your basil to maintain its flavor and stay lush with foliage.
Broccoli
Broccoli is a hearty vegetable, rich in vitamin A, C, & K, as well as calcium, folate, and potassium. They are in the same species as collards, kale, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts. These healthy, cold-weather vegetables are easy to grow in your own vegetable garden.
Feed and water broccoli well to encourage the growth of new heads. Harvest in cool morning temperatures. Do not grow B. oleracea in the same soil back to back if possible; it benefits from crop rotation.
Dusty Miller
Also known as Silver Ragwort, Dusty Miller plants are a treat for annual beds and garden arrangements. Their velvety, silvery foliage adds color contrast and texture to any combination of foliage or blooming annuals. They are instantly eye-catching and make your arrangements really pop! They do bloom with small yellow flowers, but the flowers are nowhere near as showy as their lacy, doily-like foliage.
Considered deer and pest resistant, Dusty Miller plants work well in xeriscaping and can thrive with less water and high heat. The botanical name changed recently, so both are listed above.
Ornamental Cabbage & Kale
Brassica oleracea started as a wild leafy plant on seaside cliffs, and 5000 years later it has been cultivated into a huge variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. Ornamental cabbages & kale are the hardiest, perfect for decorating our winter gardens and containers. They love the cold!
Most closely resembles original wild cabbage. Best as ornamental annuals: these are very bitter to the taste. Will shoot up flower stalks in their second year and produce less attractive foliage.
Peppers
Bring the heat! Chili Peppers and milder Bell Peppers are not in the botanical Piperaceae family, but in the Solanaceae family with tomatoes. Pepper varieties are cultivated for flavor & capsaicin levels. The more capsaicin in the fruit, the hotter the chemical burn when consumed by insects, animals, or us. Birds are unaffected.
Capsicum plants produce flowers when they are fully grown or they run out of room, pinch them off if you want more growth. Need pollinators. Can be overwintered for a second-year yield. Capsaicin content is measured in Scoville Heat Units (SHU).
Petunias
Available in nearly every color of the rainbow, petunias are the perfect warm-weather reblooming annual. These showy hybrids are a staple in spring and summer landscaping, ranging from containers to groundcovers and more. You can create any look you want with these versatile trumpet-shaped flowers.
Petunias are in the nightshade family. Don’t allow to go to seed: growth will slow or stop. Not frost tolerant, but need to be planted by mid-spring to be established before summer.
Rosemary
Rosemary is a deliciously fragrant shrub with aromatic needles. The oil from the plant is what flavors cuisine and has other common uses. Rosemary shrubs are drought-tolerant and work well for xeriscaping. Also known as Rosmarinus officinalis, rosemary can represent welcoming, hospitality, or remembrance.
Rosemary shrubs need lots of room to thrive; they do not do well if overcrowded or bound in small containers. They benefit from healthy pruning in mid-summer, sometimes even before flowers are spent.
Tomatoes
This delicious red vegetable is technically a berry! Tomatoes are a staple for vegetable gardens since they are easy to grow from seed and produce lots of delicious fruits for cooking. The different varieties available range from big heirlooms to small grape-sized tomatoes.
Prune the lowest leaves and keep soil warm for best yields. Determinate & indeterminate varieties both benefit from support structures. Susceptible to slugs, aphids, & other pests.
Vinca a.k.a. Periwinkle
The color Periwinkle earns its name from the pretty shade of light purple found in some of these spring bloomers, but other colors are available as annuals. Often enjoyed for their durability, versatility, and fast-spreading ground cover capabilities, gardeners now prefer to use these pretty spring blooms in containers and hanging baskets to help control the spread. That way, you can enjoy this spring classic while protecting native flora!
Vinca major & Vinca minor are both considered invasive in Maryland, but neither have reached Tier 2 on the invasive species list. That means they are still considered manageable to control and should be grown responsibly.
Violas & Pansies
This showy, fragrant, winter-blooming annual is a gardening staple, providing a range of vibrant colors in cold months. Pansies are violas but not all violas are pansies. The large pansy we see most often was developed in 18th century England. Violas communicate remembrance in the language of flowers.
Considered low maintenance. Some violas are perennials, but are so short-lived they are grown mostly as annuals or biennials. Dead-head to extend bloom season.
Aglaonema, aka Chinese Evergreens
Aglaonemas, aka Chinese evergreens, are very versatile: they can brighten areas of low light with color and also thrive in bright indirect light. Their foliage is a cheerful addition to any space, available in lots of different color combinations. They make great beginner plants.
Aglaonemas are generally slow-growing, so the size they are when you bring them home is where they will stay for a while. More light typically brings out more vibrant colors.
Anthuriums, aka Flamingo Lilies
Also known as Flamingo Lily or Flamingo Flower, these showy cousins of peace lilies make great easy-care houseplants. A. andraeanum is the most popular variety: once their spathes bloom with bright red bracts, they can stay in bloom for a very long time. You can have red flowers in your home all the time!
While these plants are considered low-maintenance, you’ll get the best color and lasting blooms if you find the indirect light, breathable soil & high humidity they love.
Cacti
Cacti are one of the most diverse families of plants in the plant kingdom, including species in nearly every shape and size imaginable. They perform photosynthesis in their stems, where they can hold gallons of water inside. Many make great houseplants that need very little water.
Many cacti grown indoors are prized for their stunning, fragrant flowers. Their roots are typically very shallow. Susceptible to scale, mealybugs & other pests.
Calathea
Calathea are in the Maranta family, affectionately nicknamed “Prayer Plants” for the way they move. A happy Calathea will be in a different position every time you look at its bright foliage. They’re pet-safe too!
Many Calatheas are now in the genus Goeppertia, but still referred to as Calathea. Their foliage moves in search of light via nycinasty, bending from their joints (aka pulvini). Pet-safe.
Dieffenbachia, a.k.a. Dumb Cane Plants
Dieffenbachia, aka Dumb Cane or Leopard Lily, are prized for their showy foliage and how easy they are to care for. Differences in variegation make each variety unique. They are an indoor plant that can truly brighten up a dark corner and still thrive!
While many houseplants are listed as toxic, these plants are especially so. The name Dumb Cane comes from a severe numbing effect. Any people or pets who have ingested any part of the plant should seek medical attention.
Tropical Ferns for Indoors
Ferns are some of the oldest types of plants, with some varieties remaining unchanged for over 150 million years! There are now over 10,000 species of ferns. There are both shade-tolerant outdoor ferns and tropical varieties that love bright indirect light indoors.
Ferns have no flowers or seeds, but propagate via spores. This has earned them a place in many cultures’ folklore as mystical plants with “flowers” that provide magical effects if found.
Hoya, aka Wax Plant or Wax Flower
Also known as Wax Plants, some believe there are over 700 different species of this attractive, easy-care plant. Often grown indoors, plant a hoya in a hanging basket or terra cotta pot for instant “shelfie” appeal.
Some varieties, like H. curtsii, need more water & humidity than others. Pay attention to leaf health to determine water needs between various hoya types.
Monsteras
Most Monsteras are known for their iconic “cut outs,” or fenestrations. These unique leaves evolved to let heavy tropical rainfall move through easily, preventing damage. They also make it easier for leaves to grow huge and reach more light. Monsteras are perfect in a pot on their own or climbing up a moss pole. They are easy to care for and perfect for beginner plant parents.
Many Philodendrons or Rhaphidora plants are mistaken as Monsteras. Thankfully, they usually like the same care.
Pothos
The name Pothos is both its own genus and the common name for many vining plants with similar leaf shapes and growth patterns to Epipremnum aureum. They are prized for their beautiful trailing foliage that can “thrive on neglect,” withstanding periods of low light or drought. All pothos are a great choice for beginner plant parents.
Pothos was one of the plants included in the original clean air experiments done by NASA. They do clean the air around them of toxins, but in very small quantities.
Snake Plants
The ultimate beginner plant, these striking drought-tolerant plants are perfect for low light corners with their iconic columnar shape. If you find mixed results when researching the botanical names of various snake plant species, that is because Sansevieria was moved into the genus Dracaena in 2017.
Snake plants have earned lots of common names, but the common name “Bow String Hemp” is from the bow strings made from their strong fibers.
ZZ Plants
Zamioculcas zamiifolia is the only species in its genus, and has only been circulating as a popular indoor plant for the past 40 years or so. ZZ Plants are fantastic for decorating low-light areas in your home, and they do not need to be watered often. They make a great beginner plant!
ZZs are so drought-tolerant because of their succulent rhizomes, as well as the high water content in their leaves. They love warm air and need temperatures to stay above 55°F.
