Amwoga Khalwale

Green Velvet boxwood is one of the most popular boxwoods in North America. It forms a full, rounded mound of rich green leaves that hold their color well through cold winters, which is exactly what gardeners in northern regions want from an evergreen shrub. It is widely used for low hedges, foundation plantings and neat, … Read more

Balearic boxwood is a large-leaved Mediterranean boxwood that grows wild on rocky hillsides in Spain, North Africa and nearby islands. It looks like a bolder, glossier version of the common boxwood, with bright green leaves up to about 1.5 inches long. In gardens, it grows into a handsome evergreen shrub or small tree that thrives … Read more

Harland boxwood is a small, heat-loving boxwood from southern China. Its narrow, bright green leaves and upright, vase-shaped form set it apart from the rounded boxwoods common in American gardens. It is especially valued in the southern United States, where many other boxwoods struggle with summer heat and humidity. This compact evergreen is also one … Read more

Littleleaf boxwood is a compact evergreen shrub prized for its tiny leaves and neat, rounded shape. It is one of the most versatile boxwoods, with forms ranging from miniature cushions only a few inches tall to rounded shrubs that make tidy hedges. Its small size and fine texture make it a favorite for edging, containers, … Read more

Korean boxwood is the cold-hardy member of the boxwood family. It brings the neat, small-leaved look of boxwood to northern gardens where many other boxwoods die back in winter. With its low, spreading habit and tolerance of harsh cold, it has become a go-to shrub for hedges and edging in the northern United States and … Read more

Japanese boxwood is a tough, fast-growing evergreen shrub that brings the classic boxwood look to warmer gardens. Its bright green, rounded leaves and dense branches make it a favorite for hedges, foundation plantings and clipped shapes, especially in the southern United States. Where common and English boxwood struggle with summer heat, Japanese boxwood often thrives. … Read more

English boxwood is the slow-growing, cloud-shaped evergreen that lines the paths of historic gardens on both sides of the Atlantic. Its soft, rounded mounds of small green leaves give old estates and courtyards a sense of permanence that few plants can match. In the United States, it is closely tied to colonial gardens in Virginia … Read more

Common boxwood is the classic evergreen shrub of formal gardens. Its small, glossy leaves and dense branches can be clipped into neat hedges, low edging, globes, cones and elaborate topiary, and a well-kept plant can hold its shape for generations. In the United States it is often called American boxwood, even though it is not … Read more

Fruits that grow in the desert have found ways to survive extreme heat, intense sunlight, poor soil and very little rain. Deserts are usually defined as places that receive less than about 10 inches of rain a year, and together they cover roughly a third of Earth’s land surface. Yet these dry landscapes produce some … Read more

Okra varieties range from tall heirloom plants with long, ribbed green pods to compact hybrids, smooth “velvet” types and showy red-podded forms. Okra is grown for its tender young seed pods, which are fried, pickled, grilled and stewed, and which thicken soups such as Louisiana gumbo. It is one of the few vegetables that thrives … Read more