See All Ornamentals and Floriculture

Some plant varieties are compact with strong stems and do not require support to hold them upright, however, plants with heavy flowers or tall stems will require some assistance.

A certain amount of maintenance is needed to keep a garden looking its best. This minimal effort may mean the difference between a garden that is mediocre and one that evokes many compliments.

Propagating plants means to create new plants by both sexual (seeds) and asexual (vegetative) means.

Managing weeds in cut flowers often requires different approaches depending on the specific weed, specific flower or woody stem, time of year and level of weed infestation.

There is some basic care needed to keep your perennials in their best form and to come back year after year.

Plants may be known by different common names, and one name may refer to various plants within several species. Use the scientific or botanical name to properly identify plant material.

When is the right time to repot your growing houseplant into a larger container? How do you choose a container and potting mix? What are the steps in this process?

Walnuts and hickories produce the chemical juglone (5 hydroxy-1,4- napthoquinone), which is exuded from all parts of the plant.

Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis) is a small, graceful tree native to the eastern and central United States.

Juniper and minute cypress scales are pests of junipers, cedars, cypresses, false cypress, incense cedar, and related trees and shrubs in landscapes and nurseries.

Mimosa webworms feed on the leaves of Persian silk trees and honey locust trees, especially thornless varieties.

Western conifer seed bugs feed on conifer seeds and cones. They can be a nuisance to homeowners when they move indoors to overwinter in the fall.

Arthropods, including plant pests and biocontrol agents, are often difficult to identify with the naked eye.

Hydrangeas are one of the most popular flowering shrubs for many reasons.

Parrotia persica, also known as Persian ironwood, is native to a relatively small region of northern Iran and Azerbaijan, near the southern edge of the Caspian Sea.

Lacebark pine, Pinus bungeana, is native to eastern and central China.

Creeping buttercup is a stoloniferous plant that spreads through thin turf, forming patches in lawns and parks.

Bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare) is a biennial that, true to its name, has notable spines. This plant is much different than Canada thistle.

Sandy Feather, extension educator in Allegheny county, has prepared this list of trees, shrubs, annuals and perennials that don't just survive but will thrive in our long, hot summers.

American yellowwood, Cladrastis kentukea, is a great shade tree and a lovely flowering tree.

Picturesque may be the first word that comes to mind when describing the Japanese white pine, Pinus parviflora.

Beneficial insects are those that consume or parasitize insect pests.

Japanese honeysuckle is an invasive, non-native climbing vine.

Annual fleabane, also called daisy fleabane, is a common and fast-growing broadleaf weed found in Pennsylvania lawns and other low maintenance turf areas. Its common name comes from folklore claiming dried plant material will repel fleas.

Wild onion (Allium canadense) and wild garlic (Allium vineale) are perennial plants that can be a weed in turfgrass and landscape beds.