Like other delphiniums, ‘Black Knight’ is usually planted as a potted nursery specimen in spring. It is a fairly fast-growing but relatively short-lived perennial, usually beginning to decline within three or four years. It is relatively easy to grow from seeds, often flowering in the first season if planted indoors in February or March. All parts of the delphinium contain alkaloids that are toxic to humans and pets, causing severe digestive symptoms if eaten....

Daffodils contain phenanthridine alkaloids and calcium oxalate crystals that make them toxic to both humans and animals. Fatalities are possible if large quantities of bulbs are eaten, and severe skin reactions can occur when the bulbs are handled. Daffodils will not bloom more than once in a season, so when you notice the petals fading, allow the foliage to turn yellow and dry up. Do not cut the foliage! It’s important to leave the leaves, as they absorb sunlight that helps feed the bulb for next year’s blooms....

Lavender is best started with small plants planted in the spring with a spacing of one to three feet apart. This plant typically grows to two to three feet tall, with narrow, gray-green leaves (a little over two inches long) on square stems. In warmer climates, the leaves might be evergreen. During the warm growing season, It has a moderately slow growth rate as its woody base gradually expands and new stem growth extends several inches ....

The plant, which is often referred to under his old botanical name, Chenopodium ambrosioides, is a tall, narrow herb with large, soft, oval, notched leaves that grow up to 4 inches long and 1 1/2 inches across. The leaf color ranges from green to yellowish-green or reddish-green. The stems are reddish, cream-colored, or green. The strong smell of the plant comes from tiny glands on the stems and leaves that secrete a highly scented oil....

Fiddle-leaf figs are not especially demanding plants as long as you can get their growing conditions right. When grown as a houseplant, be prepared to rotate your fiddle-leaf fig every few days so a different part faces the source of sunlight. That way, it will grow evenly, rather than lean toward the light. Also, every week or two dust the leaves with a damp cloth. Not only does this make the leaves appear shinier and more appealing, but it also allows more sunlight to hit the leaves for photosynthesis....

Hoya obovata is a unique variety that is identified by its large, deep green oval leaves that often have a silver ‘splash’ pattern. It is typically harder to find than the more common Hoya carnosa but is known for being a faster-growing variety. Its unique appearance makes it sought after by collectors and beginners alike. While they are typically not grown for their blooms (they usually don’t bloom until they are at least two to three years old), hoya flowers are quite stunning and fragrant if you are lucky enough to see them....

Cherry trees are normally planted in the fall, well before frost to give them a chance to establish roots. These are fast-growing (1 to 2 feet per year), but rather short-lived trees. The leaves, stems, and seeds of cherry trees are toxic to pets and humans. These are temperamental plants that are susceptible to a large number of pest and disease issues. Careful care can keep the plant healthy enough to resist many problems, but don’t be surprised if your tree succumbs after 15 to 20 years....

Japanese holly is toxic to humans, dogs, and cats. It is considered invasive in some areas. Once mature, the shrub typically needs watering only during dry spells and feeding once a year but can benefit from the addition of compost and mulch. The plant doesn’t need a lot of pruning unless you’re aiming to train it in a particular shape, such as a curving topiary. Light Japanese holly grows best in full sun to partial shade....

You must protect the colorful fronds for which this foliage plant is grown from exposure to the hot afternoon sun. Such exposure will burn them. Work amendments into the soil before planting to feed your Japanese painted fern and help get it established. Japanese painted ferns spread via rhizomes and may even naturalize over time. Happily, for the gardener who demands low-maintenance plants, this spreading occurs very gradually. But the spreading nature of the plants does allow you to divide them (spring is best) and multiply the number of them available for use elsewhere in your landscaping....

The bloom time varies depending on climate. Warmer climates see blooms appear earlier in the summer. In cold-winter climates, the first blooms arrive in early August and provide color for late summer. The best time to plant is in the spring so the plant has the entire growing season to get established. Note that this plant is toxic to humans and animals. Aside from ensuring consistent moisture, these plants have minimal care requirements....

Mexican sunflowers yield dozens of showy daisy-like blooms with petals in fiery colors of red, orange, or yellow, all with yellow centers. The serrated ovate leaves are dark green on tall, sturdy stems. Plant seeds or seedlings in the spring to enjoy an ongoing display of profuse blooms throughout the summer into fall. These annuals are a welcome addition to the butterfly garden thanks to their nectar-rich shallow blossoms that meet a pollinator’s needs....

Its ferny, feathery leaves droop from graceful narrow branches that grow straight up, forming a many-layered, complex plant. Ming aralia grows slowly just like false aralia but can eventually reach over 6 feet in height with the proper care. While it can be considered an outdoor ornamental shrub in USDA hardiness zones 11 and 12, it’s most commonly cared for indoors, where it can be planted and grown year-round. This plant is mildly toxic to humans and pets....

Native to Espirito Santo, Brazil, this unique plant is coveted for its elongated, sword-like leaves that can reach up to two feet long. Before adding this indoor philodendron to your collection, however, it is important to note that they are toxic to pets and people. The most common issue with is root rot, though it can be avoided with careful watering and airy soil. Spider mites and mealybug may also be a problem....

Despite their common name, spider lilies are not true lilies. They are part of the amaryllis family. And similar to amaryllis plants, spider lilies are dormant from the mid-spring to mid-summer months, but they grow quickly after they sprout. The bulbs are best planted in the late summer or fall. Be careful where you plant because spider lilies are toxic both to people and pets due to the alkaloid lycorine that’s found in the plants....

Light Like most oaks, the water oak demands full sun and will not thrive in any other conditions. Your tree will be happiest if planted in a place that gets at least six hours of direct sunlight a day. Water oak will not tolerate shady conditions at all. Soil Usually found in lowland floodplains and along rivers and streams, the water oak prefers soils mimic its native conditions. It grows best in organically rich, humusy soils that are moist to wet soils....

Winterberry holly leaves are dark green and elliptical, about two to three inches long. Greenish-white flowers appear on female plants in spring, which, if properly pollinated by a male plant, produce a dense crop of bright red berries in the fall. A slow-growing shrub with a rounded upright growth habit, winterberry typically grows 3 to 15 feet tall and readily suckers and spreads to form large thickets. It is generally planted in late summer to early fall, though spring planting is usually successful, as well....

The lemons are bright yellow when mature, have juicy, acidic flesh, and contain few seeds or none at all. Lisbon lemons are often confused with another popular lemon variety—Eureka. Lisbon lemon trees can be planted throughout the year in warm climates and generally reach maturity within three years. If you plan to overwinter them indoors, plant them in the spring after any danger of frost has passed. They can reach up to and over 15 feet when grown outdoors but are more dwarf-like when kept in containers....