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Trees and Shrubs: Most Popular Articles

These articles are the most popular over the last month.
How to Make Scented Pine Cones
Scented pine cones add a wonderful fragrance to the home. While cinnamon is the most common choice, you can use any kind of essential oil. Use these directions to make your own scented pine cones.
ChoosingTreesShrubs
Trees and shrubs can evoke many memories and emotions. Whether you remember the joy of picking nectarines, the heady aroma of blooming lilacs, or a swing in a majestic oak, trees and shrubs affect us all. With careful consideration of the following steps, you can choose the right ones for your location and avoid frustrations and financial losses.
Grow Your Own Aphrodisiacs
In the mood for love? You don't need any expensive, artificial potions to have a good time. Here are 10 trees and shrubs you can grow to use as natural aphrodisiacs.
Angel's Trumpet
The show-stopping hanging trumpet-shaped flowers of angel's trumpet make this a delight for any garden. It is tropical and grows best in gardens in Zone 9-11, but it certainly can be used as a container plant and brought inside when cool. Angel's trumpet can be either a shrub or a small tree. Be careful - it's poisonous!
Banana Tree
Banana trees are one of the common trees that come to mind when dreaming of the tropics. However, did you know that it's not really a tree? It is actually the world's largest herb. Still, due to its size, it is commonly thought of as a banana tree. No matter what size your yard, there is a banana tree to fit it. While this grows best in the warmer climates, there are cold-hardy varieties and otherwise they make good houseplants with enough light and water.
Jacaranda
The jacaranda tree is a tropical beauty with its clusters of fragrant, purple, trumpet-shaped blooms. It makes an excellent shade or street tree.
Pomegranate - Punica Granatum
Pomegranate shrubs are one of the easiest fruits to keep, since they are usually not affected by many pests or diseases. The fruits are full of antioxidants and thought to have many health benefits.
Purple Smoke Bush
Purple smoke bush is often used as a garden specimen due to the purple-pink plumes and the purple leaves on some cultivars. It is highly drought tolerant.
Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar
Growing facts about weeping blue atlas cedar
Glitter Pine Cone Ornaments
You can make simple glitter pine cone ornaments for your Christmas tree. This is a great pine cone craft to do with children.
Tulip Tree
Tulip tree is named for the flowers and leaves that resemble tulips. It grows rapidly, and is useful as a large shade tree.
Purple Leaf Sand Cherry
Purple leaf sand cherry can either be a shrub or a small tree. It is often chosen for its purple foliage.
Guava
Guava is one of the most commonly cultivated fruits in the world
Purple Leaf Plum
Purple leaf plum is a small deciduous tree commonly planted for its deep reddish-purple leaves and white/pale pink flowers that are among the first to appear in spring. Although it is short lived, it is fast growing and great for use as a specimen or shade tree.
Oval Tree Shape
Another possibility is an oval tree shape.
Scented Pine Cones With Glue
Scented pine cones can be an easy and fun craft to do with your children, especially if you use glue and spices.
12 Birch Trees and Shrubs
Birch trees belong to the genus Betula. Their beautiful bark and leaves make them a common choice for the landscape. This list features 12 birch trees and shrubs.
Weeping Willow
Weeping willow is probably the most well known of the weeping trees. Great for use as a focal point and in areas that are moist. They love water, so do not plant them near sewer or water lines, or there may be problems.
Banana
The banana is one of the most common fruits grown in the world.
Make Pine Cone Bird Feeders
Pine cone bird feeders are a good way to invite feathered friends to your backyard. This is easy enough for even young children to help create.
40 Pine Trees
Pine trees belong to the genus Pinus. These are evergreen conifers that can be found throughout the world.
Tri Color Beech
Tri Color Beech is a striking tree that you won't soon forget. It is often used as a specimen tree due to its variegated leaves that may come in many shades of green, pink, and white. They later turn copper in the fall.
Japanese Maple
The Japanese maple is a small tree that will fit into almost any yard. They are prized for their striking leaves. Japanese maple trees are often used for bonsai and in Japanese gardens.
Mango
The mango is likely the most popular fruit in the world
Rose Apple
Rose apples are red and bell-shaped with white flesh
Princess Flower - T.urvilleana
A native of Brazil, princess flower (Tibouchina urvilleana) is a glorious addition to tropical and sub-tropical gardens. Its large purple flowers and soft hairy leaves add interest and a burst of color to any landscape. Also can be used as an indoor container plant in cooler regions, if full light and warmth is provided.
Colorado Blue Spruce
Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens) makes a distinctive Christmas tree with its blue needles.
Vase Tree Shape
Eastern redbud has a vase shape.
Make My Soil More Acidic
Some trees and shrubs require acidic soil pH or they will develop iron chlorosis. While it is easier to work with plants adapted to your current soil pH, there are methods you can use to make your soil more acidic.
Weeping Tree Shape
A good choice for specimens are trees with a weeping shape, where the branches droop.
Witch Hazel - H. Virginiana
Most people are familiar with witch hazel because of its use in skin care as an astringent. It is a large shrub that is noteworthy for being one of the last species to flower. Witch hazel also adds winter interest with leaves that turn yellow in the fall, and is moderately drought tolerant.
Perfect Flower
Perfect Flower - Tree and Shrub Glossary - Definition of Perfect Flower
Columnar Tree Shape
Columnar trees have a very narrow, upright shape.
Custard Apple
The name custard apple is used for several related fruits.
Paper Bark Birch
Paper bark birch is a lovely medium-sized deciduous tree native to northern North America. The most distinctive characteristic of this tree is the white peeling bark.
Tree and Shrub Differences
As you look at the trees and shrubs around you, you may begin to wonder about the differences between the two. When is a plant a tree or shrub? At what size is it a shrub? A tree?
Rose of Sharon
Rose of Sharon will help bring a bit of tropical beauty to more temperate climates. The blooms that arrive later in the summer will help revive your garden after the flurry of spring flowers.
Pepino Melon
Pepino is related to tomatoes, potatoes, peppers and tamarillo.
Dawn Redwood
Dawn Redwood is a curious tree. It is one of only a few deciduous conifers. Dawn redwood is a large, fast growing tree, so make sure it will fit in your location.
Guanabana
Guanabana is also called soursop. It is related to the cherimoya, custard apple, and sweetsop.
Pomegranate
The pomegranate is known for its nutritional and medicinal properties.
Pyramidal Tree Shape
Evergreens, among other trees, often have a pyramidal tree shape.
Round Tree Shape
Strawberry tree has a round shape.
Fig Tree
The fig tree is one of the oldest cultivated fruit trees - over 5000 years.
Black Sapote
Black sapote is also called "chocolate pudding fruit" because of its taste and appearance
10 Trees For Hummingbirds
These ten trees will help attract hummingbirds to your garden. These inquisitive little birds zip around from flower to flower in search of nectar.
World Hardiness Zones
Use these maps from around the world to determine what USDA zone your country falls under.
Find Your USDA Zone
One of the most important steps in choosing plants is making sure it is suited to your climate. Find your USDA zone using these state maps. You can then choose plants that are suggested for that USDA zone. Just click on the picture to see the full size map.
Star Apple
Star apples have a core that looks like a star when cut
Persian Lime
The Persian lime (Citrus latifolia) is also known as the Tahiti lime.
Tree and Shrub Catalogs
Why should you order from a catalog instead of just heading over to your local nursery? Selection. Many nurseries are only able to stock a certain number of varieties of trees and shrubs due to the cost of retail space. Tree and shrub catalogs open a whole new world of choices.
Ginkgo Biloba
Ginkgo biloba is sometimes called a "fossil tree" since it is the last of its kind, with no close relatives. It works well in the urban landscape because of its high tolerance to a wide variety of conditions.
Brazilian Cherry
The Brazilian cherry is grown almost exclusively in the Americas.
Hardy Banana Trees
If you ask people to name tropical plants, banana trees would be near the top of the list. However, there are cold hardy banana trees that are able to grow in cooler zones than usual. While the leaves will be damaged or destroyed by freezing weather, the roots will survive and grow new shoots the following spring. The following list highlights some of the common hardy banana trees available.
Sweetsop
Sweetsop is also called the sugar apple.
Plantain
The plantain is much starchier than the standard banana and is used in cooking.
Salak
Salak is also known as the "snake fruit" because of the appearance of its skin
Jackfruit
The jackfruit is the largest edible tree fruit in the world
Can You Grow Apples From Seeds
Can you grow apples from seeds? The short answer is yes. The more important question is whether you would want to grow apples from seeds.
Fall Tree Care
The gardening season isn't over once fall arrives, especially when it comes to trees. It's an excellent time to plant trees. Many fruits and nuts are ripening now. It's also important to start preparing for winter.
Bearberry
Bearberry is a small evergreen shrub often used as a groundcover. It is an excellent choice to provide winter interest with the tiny leaves that turn bronze in the fall, and the small red berries that last until spring. Bearberry is also useful for drought and salt-tolerant landscapes.
Fastigiate Tree Shape
Fastigiate trees, as noted in the previous slide, are very similar to columnar trees. However, fastigiate trees are usually composed of multiple trunks, and are created through nursery selection instead of being natural mutations.
Miracle Fruit
Miracle Fruit is popular for the way it makes sour foods taste sweet
Mandarin Orange
Mandarin orange (Citrus reticulata) has three classes of varieties : Mandarin, Tangerine, and Satsuma.
Mamey
The orange pulp of the mamey has a strong, pleasant smell and tastes like apricots or berries.
Kei Apple
Kei apple is an African fruit that is a great source of Vitamin C
Marang
The marang is related to the breadfruit and jackfruit.
Northern Pin Oak
Quercus ellipsoidalis is known as the Northern pin oak.
Grosella
The grosella fruits are generally too sour to eat, but can be cooked
Jaboticaba
The jaboticaba is eaten fresh or made into jellies, jams, and juices
Longan
Longan is also called dragon's eye because of the white pulp and single black seed.
Mangosteen
Mangosteen is called the "Queen of Fruits"
Pineapple
The pineapple, up to 12" long, is what is called a multiple or compound fruit.
Passion Fruit
Passion Fruit has two varieties - purple and yellow. The yellow variety is called lilikoi in Hawaii.
Pistachio Nut
Pistachio nuts are related to the mango, cashew, and poison ivy. In botany, they are considered to be a drupe, not a nut.
Concolor Fir
The concolor fir (Abies concolor) is chosen as a Christmas tree for its shape, color, aroma and long needle retention.
Natal Plum
The natal plum can be made into jams and jellies.
Papaya
Papaya comes in 2 kinds - Hawaiian and Mexican.
Noni
Noni fruit is said to have many medicinal benefits
Finger Bananas
Finger bananas are about the size of your thumb and sweeter than standard bananas.
Monstera
Monstera has a flavor described as a combination of banana, pineapple and mango.
Tamarillo
Tamarillo is known as the tree tomato - what you will get if you order one from those ads
Scarlet Oak
Quercus coccinea is known as the scarlet oak.
Acerola
Acerola is a good source of Vitamin C
Loquat
Loquats grow in clusters of 4-30 fruits.
Planting BareRoot TreeSeedling
After you've used the steps from the illustration to correctly plant your bare root tree seedling, you want to make sure it will flourish. Make sure you water correctly, protect from animals, and watch for diseases, insects or poor nutrition.
Kiwi Fruit
Kiwi fruit are a good source of nutrients, being high in Vitamins A,C,and E
Santol
The santol is eaten fresh, candied, or made into alcohol.
Date Palm
Dates can be eaten fresh or made into pastes, juices and syrups
Lychee
Lychee has a red skin that is easily removed, revealing white pulp inside.
Healthy Tree Signs
Here are some good indicators if your tree is in good health.
Jujube
Jujube can have a taste similar to apples or dates, depending on how ripe they are
Ugli Fruit
The Ugli fruit is the brand name for a Jamaican tangelo hybrid said to have been a cross between the bitter orange, grapefruit and tangerine.
Lemon
One of the most familiar citrus fruits of all is the lemon (Citrus limon).
Bilimbi
Bilimbi is closely related to carambola, the star fruit.
Bitter Orange
Bitter orange (Citrus aurantium) may also be known as sour orange or Seville orange.
Rambutan
Rambutans are red and covered in soft, hairy spines
Eastern Redcedar
Eastern Redcedar (Juniperus virginiana) are usually found at "cut your own Christmas tree farms".
Cherimoya
Cherimoya was named by Mark Twain as "the most delicious fruit known to men."
Sapodilla
Sapodilla tastes like a mix of brown sugar and root beer
Mysore Raspberry
Mysore raspberry is a tropical raspberry that is able to grow in higher heats than the common raspberry.
Set Up A Watering System
One of the essential keys to tree and shrub health is ensuring they get the water they need. You can make it easier for yourself if you install a watering system in your yard.
Pecan Nut
Pecan nuts are related to walnuts and hickory nuts.
Native Irish Trees and Shrubs
Ireland is a magical place, and it's not just because of the leprechauns and four-leaf clovers. There are many delightful trees and shrubs that are Irish natives. These websites will teach you more about the flora of Ireland.
Feijoa
Feijoa is also known as pineapple guava
Black Walnut
Black walnut trees are commonly found in the Eastern United States. They are widely used for food and lumber, and make stately shade trees. Black walnut is an alleopathic tree - it produces juglone, a chemical that is toxic for many plants.
Ackee
The ackee is said to have a flavor that is a little like eggs and nuts
Fuchsia
Fuchsia berries are edible and used in jams
Citrus Fruit
Citrus fruit comes in many different shapes and sizes
Coffee Tree
Coffee trees produce the second largest commodity product in the world.
Irregular Tree Shape
Sometimes trees have no exact shape. This is called an irregular tree shape.
Dragon Fruit
Dragon fruit flesh can be bright white or deep magenta.
Durian
Durian is known as the "king of fruits"
Leyland Cypress
Leyland cypress (x Cupressocyparis leylandii) is an especially popular Christmas tree in the Southeastern states, and can be found at "cut your own Christmas tree" farms.
Tamarind
Tamarind is usually used as a flavoring for drinks and desserts.
Orange Jasmine
Filling the air with a sweet smell like orange blossoms, orange jasmine is a welcome addition to any garden. The white flowers are very attractive to bees, and the fruits are favored by birds.
Fall Shrub Care
Fall is the time to prepare shrubs for the upcoming winter. You can also plant now, using the cool temperatures and rainfall to your advantage.
Cork Oak
Quercus suber is known as cork oak.
Carambola
The carambola also called "star fruit" due to its shape.
Cashew Apple
The cashew apple is not a true fruit. The actual fruit is the gray nut on top.
Winter Tree Care
Winter is a time of rest and renewal for your trees. There are still tasks you can do during this time.
Harvesting Fruit
The best part of growing fruit trees is, of course, harvesting the fruit! Learn when you can generally expect to harvest the different types of fruits with this handy time line. The exact times will vary depending on the variety you choose and your climate.
Monoecious
Monoecious - Tree and Shrub Glossary - Definition of Monoecious
Orange
Citrus sinensis is the common, or sweet, orange.
Citron
Citron (Citrus medica) is one of the older kinds of citrus fruits. It is often candied and used in desserts. The citron is mostly rind with little or no juice.
Grapefruit
The grapefruit is believed by most botanists to be a cross between a pummelo and a sweet orange. The pulp may come in shades of white, pink or red.
Tangelo
The tangelo (Citrus paradisi × Citrus reticulata) is a cross between a mandarin orange and a pummelo or grapefruit.
Blood Orange
The blood orange is a variety of the sweet orange(Citrus sinensis).
Imperfect Flower
Imperfect Flower - Tree and Shrub Glossary - Definition of Imperfect Flower
Watering Trees in Autumn
There's a chill creeping into the air. The leaves are changing colors. Winter is just around the corner. Now is the time to think about properly watering your trees in autumn to help ensure against damage in the winter.
Canaan Fir
Canaan fir (Abies balsamea var. phanerolepis) is a Christmas tree that is similar to Fraser fir and balsam fir.
Breadfruit
The breadfruit is a staple of the Polynesian diet.
Eastern White Pine
Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) is a good Christmas tree for people with allergies, since it has little scent.
Difference - Shrubs and Bushes
Have you ever wondered what the difference is between shrubs and bushes? Surprisingly, the answer is "Not much."
Carob
Carob is a tropical fruit that is often used as a substitute for chocolate
Cacao
Cacao is the source of a favorite food for many - chocolate.
Key Lime
Key lime is a famous variety of the lime (Citrus aurantifolia)that may also be called Mexican lime, or West Indian lime.
Lenticel
Tree and Shrub Glossary - Definition of Lenticel
Texas Live Oak
Texas live oak is a native tree in the United States.
Paperbark Cherry
Paperbark cherry is best known for its stunning bark. The dark coppery peeling bark is actually a plastic film! It works quite well for winter interest.
Start Your Own Compost
Compost is one of the easiest (and cheapest!) ways to amend your soil. Simply put, compost is organic matter decayed by the sun and soil microorganisms. This material can be used to improve soil structure, add nutrients, promote healthy soil microorganisms, assist in soil temperature regulation, and improve soil pH.
Plants vs. Zombies Walkthrough
If you tire of defending your house for a moment in Plants vs. Zombies, try Zen Garden Mode.
Douglas Fir
The Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) is still one of the most popular choices for Christmas trees.
Dripline
Tree and Shrub Glossary - Definition of Dripline
Recycle Your Christmas Tree
One of the main objections to real Christmas trees is that they are thrown away after the first use. Some people who want a real tree choose to buy a living one in a container. However, this will not work for everyone. Here are 5 ways you can recycle your Christmas tree once you are ready to take it down.
Acai
Acai juice and pulp is becoming a popular ingredients in health and diet products.
Canyon Live Oak
Canyon live oak (Quercus chrysolepis) is also known as gold cup oak and maul oak.
Scotch Pine
The Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris) is likely the most common species used for Christmas trees, according to the National Christmas Tree Association.
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