Plant Growing Guides
Expert advice for cultivating beautiful flowers, trees, houseplants, and specialty plants in your garden.
Our plant growing guides help gardeners of all skill levels cultivate thriving plants. Whether you’re nurturing delicate spring bulbs or establishing hardy perennials, these comprehensive guides provide the knowledge you need to succeed. For additional expert advice, visit the Royal Horticultural Society.
“Success in gardening comes from understanding each plant’s unique needs — the right soil, the perfect light, and patience to let nature work its magic.”
Each plant growing guide covers essential topics: soil preparation, planting depth, watering schedules, seasonal care, and troubleshooting common problems. Explore more resources at Missouri Botanical Garden.
Flower Growing Guides
Cultivate stunning blooms
From spring bulbs to summer perennials, these plant growing guides help you create a garden full of color.
How to Grow Sunflowers: A Complete Guide
From seed to towering bloom — everything you need to know about growing these cheerful garden favorites.
Read guide CalendulaGrowing Calendula: Tips for a Vibrant and Medicinal Garden
Learn to grow this easy-care flower that offers both beauty and practical herbal benefits.
Read guide AnemoneAnemone Varieties: A Woodland Garden Guide
Discover the diverse world of anemones and how to incorporate them into woodland and cottage gardens.
Read guide RanunculusThe Complete Ranunculus Growing Guide
Master the art of growing these stunning, rose-like blooms that florists prize.
Read guide CrocusGrowing Crocuses: Early Spring Color for Your Garden
Plant these cheerful harbingers of spring for carpets of color when you need them most.
Read guide PoppyHow to Grow Poppies: From Seed to Stunning Blooms
A comprehensive guide to growing these iconic flowers that add drama to any garden.
Read guideTree & Shrub Growing Guides
Establish lasting garden structure
These plant growing guides help you establish trees and shrubs that provide structure and year-round interest.
Growing Juniper: A Complete Care Guide
Hardy and versatile, junipers offer year-round interest with minimal maintenance requirements.
Read guide JuniperThe Complete Guide to Juniper Plants: From Gin Production to Garden Design
Explore the many uses of juniper — from culinary and distilling applications to landscape design.
Read guide CherryCherry Tree Life Cycle: From Blossom to Fruit
Understand the seasonal rhythms of cherry trees and how to care for them throughout the year.
Read guide MapleAcer Tree Uses: From Maple Syrup to Sculpture and Botanical Art
The many uses of the maple tree — syrup, timber, dye, and botanical art — and what makes the Acer genus so ecologically and culturally significant.
Read guideHouseplant Growing Guides
Indoor greenery success
Bring nature indoors with these plant growing guides for popular houseplants.
Specialty Plant Guides
Unusual and fascinating species
Explore plant growing guides for fascinating specialty plants that add intrigue to any collection.
Autumn Mushroom Foraging: What to Look For and When to Go
A seasonal guide to safe mushroom foraging — identifying edible species, understanding habitat, and knowing when autumn conditions are optimal.
Read guide MushroomChanterelle Mushrooms: Secrets of the Forest’s Golden Treasure
Learn about these prized wild mushrooms — where to find them and how to identify them safely.
Read guide CarnivorousPinguicula Plants: Understanding These Fascinating Carnivores
Butterworts are beautiful carnivorous plants that capture prey on their sticky leaves.
Read guideEdible Garden Guides
Grow your own food
Plant growing guides for fruits, herbs, and edibles that combine beauty with practical harvests.
The Benefits of Cherries: Nutrition and Growing Tips
Discover the health benefits of cherries and learn how to grow these delicious fruits.
Read guide HerbsMediterranean Herb Garden: The Kitchen Plants That Built Western Cooking
Grow the essential Mediterranean herbs — rosemary, thyme, oregano, and basil — that form the foundation of countless cuisines.
Read guideWildlife Garden Guides
Support pollinators and wildlife
Create gardens that support butterflies, bees, and other beneficial wildlife with these plant growing guides.
Pollinator Garden Plants: What Bees and Butterflies Actually Need
Beyond pretty flowers — the specific plants that provide nectar, pollen, and host sites that pollinators require throughout their lifecycle.
Read guide Butterfly GardenCreating a Monarch-Friendly Garden
Learn which plants to grow and garden practices to adopt to support monarch butterfly populations.
Read guide BumblebeeThe Life of a Bumblebee: From Hibernating Queen to Summer Colony
Understanding the bumblebee lifecycle helps you provide the right plants at the right times — from early spring nectar to late-season pollen sources.
Read guideContinue Your Exploration
Discover more botanical topics
Find more gardening resources at the RHS Plant Finder and Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder.