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Venus Flytraps, Carnivorous Plants and More at Meanplants.com	Trees American Sycamore The American Sycamore, Platanus occidentalis, is a very adaptabe and rugged tree. American Sycamore trees are fast growing, large shade trees with a massive trunk and a have a wide-spreading open crown of large crooked branches. The bark will flake off in irregular thin pieces which give American Sycamore trees an impressive mottled appearance.The American Sycamore has moderate water requirements and exhibits a moderate tolerance to salt and alkali soils. $11.95 More Information!	Ah, the HoneyCrisp Apple Tree. Is there an apple more juicy or sweet then the HoneyCrisp? The HoneyCrisp has gained a true following, especially with children. With it's sweet honey taste and crisp flesh the HoneyCrisp has quickly become one of America's favorite apples. Not only is the HoneyCrisp an absolutely flavorfull apple but the HoneyCrist can last in common storage for 5-6 months (not that your family will let them last that long). The HoneyCrisp apple is an exceptional apple and a hardy apple tree. The Liriope 'Big Blue', Lirope muscari 'Big Blue', also known as Lirope, is a grass-like foliage set with tall spikes of lavender-blue, hyacinth-like blooms in late summer. The Lirope 'Big Blue' is slow spreading and very easy to care for. It is a very versatile ornamental grass that can be used as a groundcover or garden accent or even in a container. Place in location that is well drained. Big Blue adds texture, vibrance and a naturalizing effect to your garden. The Hibiscus 'Plum Crazy', is one of the Fleming's most colorful varieties of Hibiscus. The plum shaded flowers have a 10" bloom with a plant height of 4'. The dark purple, maple-cut leaves make a great contrast. Named by Dave Fleming himself, 'Plum Crazy' took over 20 years to develop and refine the species and one can see why. It is best to plant this Hibiscus in a full sun area and it will tolerate most soil types. Plum Crazy looks wonderful with grasses, as a background plant or with Hibiscus 'Fantasia' and Hibiscus 'Old Yella'. The Hibiscus can been seen in beautiful photographs of Hawaii, but you don't have to live in Hawaii to grow Plum Crazy.

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Choosing the Best Plants for Your Garden

Have you always wanted to learn more about this topic?  Then I'm sure you've come to the right place. This short article will be useful to you as it explains some basic principles in a simple, easy, engaging fashion.  Hope you like it.

Many times we buy plants on impulse then find there is nowhere in the garden that really suits them. Before buying plants carefully examine your garden to see how much sun and shade it gets, whether the soil is well drained or waterlogged and whether your aspect is sheltered or windswept. You'll then be equipped to go and buy the best plants for your situation; shade-loving plants for the sheltered areas, sun-lovers for the warm spots, drought-resistant plants for the parched areas which may be either sunny or shaded, and swamp plants for the poorly-drained parts.

But wait! Test your soil first, to determine the pH level of your soil and what kind of nutrients you need to add, if any. Is the soil acid or alkaline? Most plants prefer soil that is slightly acidic, but there are some that must have alkaline soil to grow.  You can alter the soil\'s pH level, but it\'s much easier to simply plant for the soil you have.

Yes, surprising as it may seem, it really is this simple to find the most valuable information you've been looking for on the topic.  And there's more to come.  Read on.

Now you are ready to plant. Well - almost. Will you plant in groups or singly? If you buy 'one of everything'  your garden may seem rather spotty. Group plantings are organised, harmonious and you can vary the color for interest.

Before planting out, place your chosen plants around the garden bed in their pots to see how they will look. Re-arrange them until you are satisfied. Grouping plants in sets of threes or fives usually looks better than planting in groups of even numbers. Be sure that you have an interesting combination of colors and textures of plants. Tall plants should go to the back, or the centre if your garden will be viewed equally from all sides. Try to keep your plants away from trees. The roots of trees are fiercely competitive and will steal all the nutrients and moisture meant for your flowers.

The right color scheme is one way to maintain the harmony in your garden. Imagine the color of the flowers when they are in bloom. Some colors may clash with others, but can still be planted side-by-side if they have a different blooming season. Foliage color is also important. Many flower plants have silver, grey or purplish foliage that is just as attractive as the flower. This means that they are still attractive well past the blooming season and so have added value.

Writing this article was hard - but fascinating - work.  We spent hours researching this material and crafting it painstakingly into an article that will provide you with useful, valuable, practical information. And the end result was worth all the hard work!  Don't you agree?