sunset zone 2a

What a pretty shrub for early spring! White forsythia is a multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub native to Korea. It has arching branches that put forth fragrant, four-petaled, white to faintly pink blooms in late winter to mid spring, prior to the emergence of its glossy, dark blue-green foliage.

A location with full to partial sun and moderately fertile soil is best for white forsythia. It makes a nice addition to a mixed shrub border or foundation plantings. Early in the season, before bloomtime,...

It's hard to believe that okra is in the same family as hollyhocks and hibiscus. This tropical annual vegetable originates from Africa and has large edible pods that are a southern favorite eaten fried, stewed with tomatoes or used to thicken gumbo.

Mature plants become quite tall and have a sturdy upright habit. They have big, spiny, palmate, dark green leaves and produce pretty creamy yellow hollyhock-like flowers with burgundy centers. When these heat-loving plants are mature and producing,...

The pretty 'Burgundy' okra has purple stems, dark green leaves and produces lots of burgundy purple fruits. This tropical annual vegetable originates from Africa and has large edible pods that are a southern favorite eaten fried, stewed with tomatoes or used to thicken gumbo.

Mature plants become quite tall and have a sturdy upright habit. They have big, coarse, palmate, dark green leaves and produce pretty creamy yellow hollyhock-like flowers with burgundy centers. When these heat-loving...

It's hard to believe that okra is in the same family as hollyhocks and hibiscus. This tropical annual vegetable originates from Africa and has large edible pods that are a southern favorite eaten fried, stewed with tomatoes or used to thicken gumbo.

Mature plants become quite tall and have a sturdy upright habit. They have big, spiny, palmate, dark green leaves and produce pretty creamy yellow hollyhock-like flowers with burgundy centers. When these heat-loving plants are mature and producing,...

The high yielding 'Clemson Spineless’ okra has spineless leaves and produces lots of green okra pods in summer. This tropical annual vegetable originates from Africa and has large edible pods that are a southern favorite eaten fried, stewed with tomatoes or used to thicken gumbo.

Mature plants become quite tall and have a sturdy upright habit. They have big, coarse, palmate, dark green leaves and produce pretty creamy yellow hollyhock-like flowers with burgundy centers. When these heat-loving...

The high yielding ‘Emerald’ okra produces lots of tender rich green pods in summer. This tropical annual vegetable originates from Africa and has large edible pods that are a southern favorite eaten fried, stewed with tomatoes or used to thicken gumbo.

Mature plants become quite tall and have a sturdy upright habit. They have big, coarse, palmate, dark green leaves and produce pretty creamy yellow hollyhock-like flowers with burgundy centers. When these heat-loving plants are mature and producing,...

It's hard to believe that okra is in the same family as hollyhocks and hibiscus. This tropical annual vegetable originates from Africa and has large edible pods that are a southern favorite eaten fried, stewed with tomatoes or used to thicken gumbo.

Mature plants become quite tall and have a sturdy upright habit. They have big, spiny, palmate, dark green leaves and produce pretty creamy yellow hollyhock-like flowers with burgundy centers. When these heat-loving plants are mature and producing,...

The pale creamy yellow-green okra pods of ‘Silver Queen’ remain tender and flavorful even when big. This heirloom is also said to have exceptional flavor, and the interesting color of the fruits really set this southern selection apart.

It's hard to believe that okra is in the same family as hollyhocks and hibiscus. The tropical annual vegetable originates from Africa and has large edible pods that are a southern favorite eaten fried, stewed with tomatoes or used to thicken gumbo.

Mature...

Hairy foliage and pretty, colorful hibiscus-like flowers make the musk mallow a favorite warm season garden accent. A tender herbaceous perennial from southern Asia that is most often grown as a bedding annual, its flowers occur from summer to frost and are usually bicolored yellow with a purple eye, but variations with pink, orange or red blossoms with a white eye are now common as both named and unnamed garden cultivars, too.

The busky plant with many upright stems will be clothed in coarse-textured...

Hairy foliage and pretty, deep rose-magenta hibiscus-like flowers make the Mischief musk mallow a great selection for gardens and containers. A tender herbaceous perennial from southern Asia that is most often grown as a bedding annual, its ripened seeds smell like musk.

The bushy plant with upright stems will be clothed in coarse-textured foliage that is hairy. Each deep green leaf has three to seven lobes. From early summer onwards, tennis ball-sized flowers occur at stem tips and attract butterflies....