Mastering Hostas: Expert Tips for Thriving Plants and Stunning Garden Displays
Discover how to grow and care for hostas, the ultimate shade‑loving perennial. Learn top varieties, planting tips, and design ideas for a beautiful garden.
landscape plants
Convallaria majalis – Lily of the Valley: History, Landscape Use, Invasiveness & Substitutes
Discover the history, landscape uses, invasiveness, and native plant substitutes for Convallaria majelis (Lily of the Valley). Learn how to grow it responsibly, manage its spread, and explore royalty free images for your garden or horticulture blog.
🌿 Buddleja davidii: The Butterfly Loving, Bold Blooming Shrub That Changed Modern Landscaping
Learn about Buddleja davidii—its history, meaning, landscape uses, quirks, pests, diseases, and why this butterfly magnet became one of the most widely planted flowering shrubs since the 1890s.
Salix purpurea ‘Nana’: A Compact, Character‑Rich Shrub for Modern Landscapes
Learn all about Salix purpurea ‘Nana’—a compact, colourful willow perfect for Canadian landscapes. Discover its care needs, how to coppice it, best landscape uses, and potential pests and diseases.
Taxus × media ‘Densiformis’: Why the Dense Yew Is a Canadian Landscape Essential
Explore the history, meaning, care, and landscape uses of Taxus × media ‘Densiformis’—one of the most reliable evergreen shrubs in Canadian horticulture. Learn how to grow it, how to use it, and why this hybrid yew has been a landscape favourite for decades.
Taxus cuspidata ‘Capitata’: A Classic Evergreen With a Deep Canadian Landscape History
Discover the history, care tips, landscape uses, and fun facts about Taxus cuspidata ‘Capitata’ (Upright Japanese Yew). Learn why this hardy evergreen has been a Canadian landscape favourite for over a century—and how to grow it successfully in your own garden.
Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald Gaiety’: History, Landscape Use, Care & Pest Pressures
Discover the history of Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald Gaiety,’ including the origin of the name Fortune, its best landscape uses, care requirements, pest pressures, and recommended companion cultivars. Learn how to grow this versatile variegated evergreen and share your own experiences.
Abies concolor in the Ontario Landscape: A Complete Guide
Abies concolor, or White Fir, brings soft blue‑green needles and a clean citrus fragrance to Ontario landscapes. Hardy to Zone 3 and tolerant of drought once established, it thrives in well‑drained, slightly acidic soils and full sun. Its low pest pressure—limited mainly to issues like adelgids, budworms, and occasional root rot in wet soils—makes it a reliable, underused alternative to blue spruce.
Pinus nigra in Canada: A Hardy but Imperfect Landscape Pine
Although Pinus nigra (Austrian pine) is widely planted across Canada, especially in Ontario, it’s not without issues. I’ve never been its biggest fan, but there’s no denying its usefulness in challenging Canadian landscapes where few conifers tolerate urban stress, road salt, or poor soils. Below is a fresh, Canadian‑context overview of its origins, hardiness, landscape … Read more
Pinus mugo – Why the Mugo Pine Is Overused (and Often Misunderstood)
The Mugo Pine (Pinus mugo) is one of the most overused and misunderstood evergreens in modern landscaping. While tough and naturally compact, it often becomes overgrown and unattractive due to improper care—especially the lack of annual candling. In this post, I explore its alpine origins, the best cultivars, common pests, and why thoughtful selection and maintenance are essential for success.
