These edible, very bitter gourds have been a really interesting addition to the HDG Vegetable Test Garden. With wild 2021 weather, I was not confident these would make their debut this year. Fortunately they did, and they were a hit! Improper Seed Starting: My first attempt at germinating seeds was …
A review of Lemon Balm Eucalyptus in the HDG Test Garden, a 2 acre site devoted to testing plants in Houston, Texas.
Today let’s talk about a flowering plant that is native to the tropical Americas. The Purple Training Lantana and New Gold Lantana, or Lantana montevidensis and Lantana x ‘New Gold’ respectively, are outstanding examples of the Lantana family. The Purple Training flourishes in USDA Zones 8-10, while the New Gold …
Caesalpinia pulcherrima, more often known as Pride of Barbados (sometimes referred to as Bird of Paradise, although this common name belongs to another plant), is a favorite medium to large, tropical shrub for Texas landscapes. You can expect this fast-growing plant to reach 4 to 8 feet tall and around …
Do you ever want more function in your landscape than just something nice to look at? Don’t worry, you aren’t alone and we have something for you! Say hello to the Celeste Fig tree; Also known as Ficus carica ‘Celeste’. This handy little tree grows up to 7’-10’ tall and …
Searching for a large, exotic feature to your tropical landscape? A great addition is Split-Leaf Philodendron, or Philodendron bipinnatifidum, which sports huge, palm-like, dark green-lobed leaves. Reaching 12-15′ in height and with a potentially matching width, this seemingly tropical and moisture loving plant actually prefers well drained fertile soils with …
Solanum tuberosum, more commonly referred to as Garden Potato, is a cool season vegetable hardy in zones 1 to 7, or most of the continental United States. Potatoes produce best when planted in early spring with warm days and cools nights. Potato is a common culinary vegetable but is often …
Whether you are looking to make an outdoor place an outdoor room or renovate an indoor space, the rules of design really don’t change. Designers are challenged with site constraints whether we are designing a small space or 30 acres. I always ask my clients many questions to help translate …
HDG Landscape Design was fortunate enough to be selected as the first and only Texas designer for DIY Yardcrasher’s Houston episode. The California crew and host soon realized things really are bigger in Texas after receiving lots of donated resources from generous local companies including Tomball’s beloved nursery, The Arbor …
Do you require a show stopper to set your yard apart from your neighbors? Variegated ginger’s striking, yellow and green striped form provides a perfect tropical look you’ve been searching for in your landscape. These unique plants will quickly fill in an area of your landscape, but be careful that …