
Check back often for fresh tips & inspiration — don’t forget to share your favorites with friends! —
Check back often for fresh tips & inspiration — don’t forget to share your favorites with friends! —
Plant Specialists Blog
Welcome to the Plant Specialists Blog – your premier destination for expert insights on revitalizing urban landscapes into verdant, flourishing environments. From sophisticated garden designs and tailored planters to custom pergolas, we provide a wealth of tips, innovative ideas, and exclusive glimpses into our projects throughout New York City. With over 53 years of experience in greening New York, our team of horticulturists and designers shares practical tips, creative ideas, and the latest trends to help you cultivate your own green oasis. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, explore our articles to enhance your gardening journey
Chlorosis Indicators
The word chlorosis is derived from the Greek - kloros - meaning "greenish-yellow".This condition is when leaves produce insufficient chlorophyll. Because the pigment chlorophyll is what makes leaves green - chlorotic leaves look pale, yellow, or yellow-white. Many time the inter-venal tissue is also lighter than the rest of the leaf. This color contrast is a clear indicator of chlorosis.
TUBEROSE - Grandmas Favorite Fragrance
Now renamed Agave amica, this native of Mexico has an abundantly intoxicating fragrance. Cultivated by the Aztecs for centuries. They called it “omixochitl” - “bone flower”, probably due to its whiteness.An herbaceous tender ornamental, it produces from its tuberous rootstock a rosette of long, narrow, semi-succulent foliage. It’s related to asparagus and belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family.
The Rhododendrons
Rhododendron is a very large genus – NO KIDDING - about 1,024 species!They are in the heather family (Ericaceae) - either evergreen or deciduous. Most are native to eastern Asia and the Himalayan region. Because of their spectacular flowers they are grown in every corner of the planet !Their name comes from the words RED TREE - referring to its flowers. These can be scented or not and actually occur in a wide range of colors—white, yellow, pink, scarlet, purple, and blue.Ranging in habit from evergreen to deciduous as well as low-growing ground covers to tall trees. Some are mat like dwarfs only 4 inches high, while others are trees in excess of 40 feet.Leaves are thick and leathery and are evergreen in all but the azalea species, some of which are deciduous.