Plant Gardens 101

Maybe you were browsing the pages of a catalog or some magazine and found a beautiful picture of the Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus Sriacus)? Or perhaps you were lucky enough to see a Rose of Sharon in person at a local garden center?

You may be wondering whether these will make a beautiful addition to your home. Getting a little knowledge of these beautiful plants will allow you to make a decision.

Although once somewhat uncommon, the Rose of Sharon has become a widely loved plant. Not your typical rose bush, these are more like shrubs. Other names for Rose of Sharon include althea and shrub althea. Some can grow up to 10 feet tall, while most maintain a height of 5 feet. Sounds like a tree? It looks like a beautiful shrub with blooms of a variety of colors.

The Rose of Sharon makes for a great fence as well. Placed several side by side in a row, they create a natural fence that will enliven any landscape.    (more…)

(plural: stomata)

A microscopic pore, located mainly on the undersides of leaves, through which a plant takes in and releases oxygen, carbon dioxide, water vapor, and other gases.