Category: Companion Plants

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener Understanding companion plant strategies helps plan the best gardens without using chemical pesticides to control insects. Potatoes are large plants that benefit significantly from certain companion plants in the gardens. Others only attract and…

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener There are as many ways to landscape around the pool as possible styles and shapes of pools. Formal styles show off the pool as part of your home’s architecture. Whatever your style, you need…

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener California poppy, Eschscholzia californica, are vibrant little flowers that grow in vacant lots and roadsides with no care. California poppies bloom throughout the mountains of Arizona in late Spring to early Summer. These festive…

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener Vibrant blooms on upright stems top this sturdy, compact plant. A fuss-free, cheerful choice for a sunny, easy-care low summer border. Drought tolerant and hardy, with prolific flowering over an exceptionally long season. These…

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener Pentas plants are annual mountain flowers tailor-made for butterflies. The nectar-rich flowers grow in clusters over several seasons in vibrant red, pink, and purple irresistible to butterflies. Clusters of many shallow blooms provide easy…

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener Giant 3″ flowers thrive in extreme March gardens. Large, velvety blooms dazzle with radiant colors of blue, violet, yellow, and variations of stripes that look like smiling faces and love being planted in late…

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener This gorgeous shrub explodes with masses of solar yellow flowers followed by shiny green leaves. Every home should have one for sheer beauty, fall color, and gentle natural care. Forsythias are a genus of…

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener Red Fox Sedge has striking clumps of red foliage fade to flax, giving off a warm glow at sunset. This versatile Sedge thrives in wet areas around fountains and water gardens, yet equally happy…

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener Few Flowers are more elegant in Fall than Watters select varieties of ornamental kale. The subdued fall tones are perfect for containers, beds, and borders. And it’s so easy to grow! These unique Prescott…

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener Good fences make good neighbors, but fences can be downright ugly. This Arizona native vine is specially selected to dress up those miles of stockade fence. A mountain vine with rich green foliage turns…