At first glance, the popularity wax myrtle has achieved seems surprising. This native plant, generally a large shrub or small tree, has unremarkable foliage; tiny, inconspicuous flowers; and one-eighth-inch gray, waxy, inedible fruit. In addition, wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera) has a tendency to sucker. So how did this seemingly forgettable plant, native from New Jersey to the West Indies, make its way from swamps and woodlands to thousands of landscapes? Well, wax myrtle tolerates floods, droughts and freezes; grows in sun or light shade; and requires no fertilizer. It can, through occasional pruning, be grown as a shrub or shaped into an attractive tree up to 20 feet tall.

This sturdy species, most useful for screens and shrubbery-border components, is a wonderful wildlife plant that provides food, nesting sites and cover. And the wax myrtle's suckering habit is actually an advantage when the plant is used for screening, due to the periodic generation of root suckers that keeps the lower portions full. Propagate by cuttings, seeds and transplanting suckers.


The health-conscious folks who have been sprouting seeds of lentil, alfalfa, broccoli and wheat are also cultivating micro-greens, which are slightly larger seedlings of greens such as arugula and Greek cress. That's because these tiny delicacies have considerably more flavor than most supermarket fare. To add color, as well as zing, to soups, stews, salads and sandwiches, choose micro-greens of purple radish and ‘Red Army' amaranth. The sprouts and micro-greens mentioned, along with easy-to-use growing kits, are available by visiting www.Gardens Alive.com.


Are droughts, freezes and chinch bugs the primary causes of ratty-looking lawns? No, it's dull mower blades that tug and tear at turf, leaving ragged wounds, rather than clean, sharp cuts that heal rapidly. The mangled, tattered grass blades caused by dull mowers lose excessive moisture, leading to an increased need for irrigation. Ragged grass blades are also much more vulnerable to serious fungal diseases that can destroy lawns. Mower blades can usually be sharpened multiple times before replacement becomes necessary.


A colorful three-inch to six-inch tall groundcover for shaded, protected sites is trailing wishbone flower (Torenia hybrid), a tender perennial cultivar of the annual wishbone flower. With blossoms that can be pink, white or purple, this African and Tropical Asian plant blooms spring through autumn on organically enriched, moist sites shielded from north and northwest winds. On such sites, fertilization is unnecessary, and pests are rarely a problem. Trailing wishbone flower, which may self-sow, can be propagated by seeds and warm-season cuttings.


Alex Pankhurst's "Who Does Your Garden Grow?" is a fascinating and witty look at over 100 plants and the people in whose honor they were named. This 168-page paperback is available by visiting www.MackeyBooks.com.
