Blog
How to Use Andrographis (For Health Benefits)
When it comes to preventative health care and holistic remedies, plants continue to shape our perspective on surviving and thriving. Through millennia, our scientific understanding of medicine and treatment has made wild leaps and bounds. All progress is deeply rooted...
New Guinea Is the World’s Richest Island for Plants
A new study has revealed that New Guinea has the most plant diversity of any island in the world. The discovery has been made by a team of experts including Professor Michael Sundue from the University of Vermont (UVM). The results of the study show that New Guinea...
The Beginner’s Guide to Plant Pots
Houseplants are decorations that liven up any indoor or outdoor space. While some plants are able to survive out of the soil, most plants need some type of earthen medium to grow. If you want to grow a plant anywhere but the ground, you’ll need some type of plant pot...
Best Echinacea Uses (And Where to Find It)
Echinacea, also known as coneflower, may be the most widely used herbal plant native to the United States. Even folks who know nothing about herbalism have likely heard of echinacea. Indigenous peoples use echinacea for a variety of illnesses and have for hundreds of...
Most Popular Thank You Flowers
Saying thank you can feel like a big undertaking. Maybe a mentor has helped you blossom in your career or a friend lent you some extra support in a time of need. In any case, giving thank you flowers can be a meaningful way to let someone know that you feel grateful...
An Introduction to Gourmet Mushrooms
Gourmet mushrooms have made their way into cuisines across the globe. Their unorthodox shapes, textures, and tastes make them great to add to dishes and give food that extra kick. Many gourmet mushrooms are grown on small scales, but some can only be harvested from...
You Should Be Excited About Grassland Plants!
Grassland plants don't get enough attention from conservationists, writers, filmmakers, or policymakers. Most people know next to nothing about grasslands, other than the obvious fact that they are grassy. I'm here to show you that grasslands are dynamic places full...
Top Mugwort Uses (and Where to Find It)
Some plants seem to have traveled through time, alongside Homo sapiens every step of the way. Wherever we explore, live our lives, and build societies, some plants are right there too - quietly providing support throughout the generations. Mugwort is one of those...
Nettle Tea Benefits (and How to Brew It)
Between its notorious sting and worldwide range, most people have at least heard of stinging nettle. But nettle’s incredible health benefits truly reel in the plant’s fanbase. Nutritious and simple to prepare, nettle tea is a great way to enjoy everything the plant...
What Is the History of Botany?
Botany boasts one of the richest histories of all the natural sciences. However, few people understand it’s history. What is the history of botany?
A Slightly Obsessive Guide to Raspberry Identification
If you came to this page for an easy answer for identifying the raspberries in your neighborhood, you may want to turn around. Raspberries present botanists with some of the most challenging identification problems in the world. As a layperson, using the simple term...
How to Grow and Use Nasturtium (for Health Benefits)
Even if you didn’t realize it, you’ve probably encountered nasturtium before. While some flowering plants in the garden offer a satisfying visual of color and geometry, nasturtium is as useful as it is beautiful. Learning to recognize, cultivate, and use this plant...
Top 5 Most Beautiful Cactus Flowers
Having become one of the most popular house plants, often because of their purported ease to care for, there’s another reason to appreciate these funky plants. In contrast to their globular shapes and spikey flesh, cactus flowers display an unparalleled beauty. Beyond...
7 Beautiful Flowering Trees and How to Identify Them
Flowering trees are everywhere - on the sidewalk, in your backyard, in parks, and deep in the forest! Flowering trees are types of angiosperms, a group of plants characterized by bearing flowers and fruit. These traits are not shared by gymnosperms, which include...
The 5 Most Famous Botanists in History
Botany is the study of plants - everything from plant anatomy, to ecology, to ethnobotany. By its modern definition, botany is a field that originates from the 18th century. Scientists started to create different classifications of plants and rigid systems by which to...
How to Identify, Remove, and Prevent Aphids on Plants
Aphids on plants are common problems for indoor and outdoor plants alike. These small, pear-shaped bugs particularly like to congregate on new growth. Here’s how to identify, control, and prevent aphids on plants. IDENTIFY NEW PLANTS WITH PLANTSNAP We produced a whole...
The Best Botanical Gardens of Central and South America
The botanical gardens of Central and South America are a great way to enjoy the natural beauty of this region's rainforests. Getting out to enjoy the sun and learn about the local flora is a great way to get to know the area that you’re visiting. Plant lovers will...
How to Identify, Remove, and Treat Poison Ivy
Poison ivy is a well-known plant that’s common in the undergrowth of North America. With characteristic triads of leaves, it seems like it should be easy to identify poison ivy. However, there are several subspecies or varieties of poison ivy that make identification...
The Forager’s Guide to Plant Identification
Late summer and early fall is peak harvest. Driving around the countryside, you’ll see countless roadside stands for berries, then apples, then pumpkins. Foraging for wild food allows you to get the joy of eating ultra-local without waiting around for the farms to...
The Life Cycle of a Plant: Explore a Basic Graphic and a Detailed Explanation
Most kids find that the life cycle of a plant is easiest to understand with a simple graphic. We created an easy guide to the life cycle of a plant specifically for kids. This explanation of the life cycle of a plant is specific to flowering plants - which includes...
The Ultimate Guide to Plant Identification with PlantSnap
A plant identification app makes it easier than ever to learn about the natural world. With a plant identifier app like PlantSnap, you can identify plants in your garden, along a hike, or for classroom activities. PlantSnap is the #1 plant identification app using...
What Is This Flower? A Guide to Learning to Identify Plants
“What is this flower?” You ask, pointing towards a bright pink bud that appeared in your neighbor’s garden. Or perhaps you’re looking at a small blue flower during a hike along a river. Learning plant identification is easier than ever, and it's especially true with...
How to Use PlantSnap as an Educational Tree Identification Tool
Teaching students to identify trees is a great introduction to the natural world -- trees are big, imposing, and easy to find. Trees can also be surprisingly difficult to identify, especially if you have a lot of coniferous (evergreen) trees in your area. An...
What Do Plant Veins and Leaves Actually Do?
When you’re peering at leaves through the lens of your camera, trying to identify a cool new plant in your yard, you might notice some weird lines along the leaves. These lines are called veins, and not just because they look like your veins. Plant veins are actually...
How Plants Get Their Nutrients, and What Nutrients Plants Need to Survive
Plants and animals alike need nutrients to survive. But without mouths, how do plants get the necessary nutrients and energy for life? You might be vaguely aware that plants use their roots to absorb nutrients - and plants need sunlight, right? But how do roots and...
What Are Invasive Plants and Why Are They Bad?
The term “invasive plants” brings to mind a small army of green shoots, marching towards the forest to wreak havoc, a la Fern Gully. If that’s what you think of, you’re not all that far off. Invasive plants are one of the harder aspects of human influence on the world...
Look Out for These 9 Common Garden Pests This Summer
Just as your garden plants are really starting to bloom, you notice black spots on the leaves. Or maybe you find chewed-up petals or a whitish fuzz along your roots. Garden pests are no joke. They can kill your garden very quickly, undoing all of your hard work....
What Do Botanists Do?
When I say botanist, you might think of a white-bearded man scampering around the woods collecting flowers. Maybe you think of a slightly nutty woman a la Professor Sprout in Harry Potter. Or perhaps you just shrug at me. What is a botanist and what do botanists do?...
Why Tree Identification Is Easier Than Ever
Tree identification can be a fun way to learn more about the plants around you. It also can be frustrating and cumbersome thanks to the world’s incredible array of plant species. On top of that, field guides can be a pain to carry around, and aren’t always...
Seed Banks During Drought: How Plants Save During a Recession
California wildflowers build seed banks during drought the same way a prudent employee saves money during a recession. According to a study published in Ecology in March of 2018, California’s wildflowers increased seed production over 200% during the 2012-2015...
Barrel Cactus vs Saguaro Cactus: What’s the Difference?
To those of us new to the desert, it can be hard to tell the difference between a barrel cactus vs saguaro cactus. These large cacti grow across the southwestern United States. Young saguaros can closely resemble barrel cacti, adding to the confusion. Let’s break down...
Magic Plants in the Real World
We’re never too old for fairy tales. Folk stories about gingerbread houses, witches cauldrons, glass slippers, and cursed frogs have shaped our imaginations and cultures since humans first gathered around the fire. To this day, they continue to delight, enchant, and...
What Plants to Look for After Wildfires? Wildflowers!
Wildfire seasons are becoming longer and more intense throughout western North America. As climate change continues to make such extreme weather events more common, it is important to know what to expect from land that has previously been burned. And it's not all bad!...
Beyond Giant Hogweed: Plants That Burn or Blister You
Giant hogweed is a pretty terrifying plant that hit the news late in the summer of 2018. It’s an invasive plant and noxious weed, meaning it’s harmful to people. But it’s not the only dangerous plant out there. IDENTIFY NEW PLANTS WITH PLANTSNAP Touching giant hogweed...
How to Identify, Remove, and Treat Poison Oak
Poison oak, or Toxicodendron diversilobum or Toxicodendron pubescens, is another relative of poison ivy and poison sumac. There are two species of poison oak: eastern and western. Both species are common across North America in a variety of habitats, making it a good...
How (and why) to Remove Invasive European Buckthorn
Though Buckthorn is nowhere near as scary as Giant Hogweed, it’s still a serious invasive species that causes all sorts of problems where it grows. Buckthorn is shorthand for the genus Rhamnus, which includes about 110 species of shrubs and small trees. Unfortunately,...
How to Identify, Remove, and Treat Poison Sumac
Poison Sumac, or Toxicodendron vernix, is a common North American plant that causes skin irritation to people. Like its better-known cousin poison ivy, the green leaves of poison sumac sure to put a damper on an otherwise pleasant camping trip or another outdoor...
Pack Your Bookbags: The Best Plant Field Guides
Learning to identify plants, even for full-time students, is no small task. Building a library of the best plant field guides will help you learn to accurately identify plants. While field guides may seem technical and tedious at first, they are integral to building...
How to Identify, Remove, and Prevent Aphids on Plants
Aphids on plants are common problems for indoor and outdoor plants alike. These small, pear-shaped bugs particularly like to congregate on new growth. Here’s how to identify, control, and prevent aphids on plants. IDENTIFY NEW PLANTS WITH PLANTSNAP We produced a whole...
How to Identify, Remove, and Treat Poison Ivy
Poison ivy is a well-known plant that’s common in the undergrowth of North America. With characteristic triads of leaves, it seems like it should be easy to identify poison ivy. However, there are several subspecies or varieties of poison ivy that make identification...
9 Common Edible Plants You Probably Walk Past Every Week
Oh, sure, we all know about apples, blackberries, and dandelions. But what if you want to branch out a bit when foraging? There are all sorts of edible plants common to North America. Chances are, you probably walk past some of these common edible plants every week!...
A Slightly Obsessive Guide to the Blackberries of the World
During a recent hike in Olympic National Park, I saw some strange berries - like blackberries, but pink. Confused, I pointed them out to my boyfriend and he explained they were salmonberries (scroll to "North American Blackberry Species" to see a photo). I definitely...
The Forager’s Guide to Plant Identification
Late summer and early fall is peak harvest. Driving around the countryside, you’ll see countless roadside stands for berries, then apples, then pumpkins. Foraging for wild food allows you to get the joy of eating ultra-local without waiting around for the farms to...
How to Identify Giant Hogweed, the Plant That Can Cause Severe Burns and Blisters
Giant hogweed is a plant that can cause severe burns and blisters. Its pretty looks earned it a spot as an ornamental plant through the 1800s, leading to its spread from its native Eurasia to Europe and North America. Giant hogweed is now a bona fide invasive species,...
12 Camping Activities to Try Next Time You’re on a Trip
Camping is a great way to get in touch with nature, bond with family or teammates, and learn about the natural world. If you don’t have camping activities planned in advance, it’s easy for this relaxing time to turn into boredom. Having a go-to-list of camping...
How Do Some Trees Get So Big?
Anyone who’s ever visited a rainforest in the tropics or the Pacific Northwest will findi it impossible to ignore how tall the trees are. A defining characteristic of a tree is definitely the fact that trees are taller than bushes -- but why are trees tall? Let’s look...
Magic Plants in the Real World
We’re never too old for fairy tales. Folk stories about gingerbread houses, witches cauldrons, glass slippers, and cursed frogs have shaped our imaginations and cultures since humans first gathered around the fire. To this day, they continue to delight, enchant, and...
18 Plants You Can Grow from Table Scraps (With Instructions)
Composting leftover food is great and all, but what if you could make more food come from your table scraps? This isn’t the stuff of dreams for starving college students - it’s real. You can grow plants from table scraps. It's nice to know where your food comes from...
What Plants to Look for After Wildfires? Wildflowers!
Wildfire seasons are becoming longer and more intense throughout western North America. As climate change continues to make such extreme weather events more common, it is important to know what to expect from land that has previously been burned. And it's not all bad!...
Beyond Giant Hogweed: Plants That Burn or Blister You
Giant hogweed is a pretty terrifying plant that hit the news late in the summer of 2018. It’s an invasive plant and noxious weed, meaning it’s harmful to people. But it’s not the only dangerous plant out there. IDENTIFY NEW PLANTS WITH PLANTSNAP Touching giant hogweed...
Here are 7 Things to Do With Your Extra Garden Veggies: From Pickling to Potlucks
As you’re digging up the 10,000th spud or trimming the millionth cucumber (didn’t you only plant two of those?), you might be wondering what to do with all of your extra veggies. While most gardeners are certainly happier to have surplus produce than to have an empty...
A Guide to Jams, Jellies, and Preserves: From Apples to Peaches
It’s that time of year - pumpkin spice lattes are all over everything, leaves are turning colors, and… you’re drowning in extra fruits and berries that you need to find a way to preserve. Or is that just me? While you might want to make jams or jellies year ‘round (I...
Planning a Last Minute Winter Vegetable Garden
As the summer growing season slows and leaves begin to turn, it’s nice to start thinking about all of the vegetables and greens that you can keep eating fresh all through the winter. Here are some tips to prepare your last minute winter vegetable garden! While the...
Identifying the 27 Most Common Vegetable Plants
In all of the excitement of planting your vegetable garden, you forgot to label the rows of greenery. Now you’re looking at lines of little green seedlings (or a tangled mess of adult plants), and wondering what’s going on in your garden. DOWNLOAD PLANTSNAP Before you...
How (and why) to Remove Invasive European Buckthorn
Though Buckthorn is nowhere near as scary as Giant Hogweed, it’s still a serious invasive species that causes all sorts of problems where it grows. Buckthorn is shorthand for the genus Rhamnus, which includes about 110 species of shrubs and small trees. Unfortunately,...
How to Identify, Remove, and Treat Poison Sumac
Poison Sumac, or Toxicodendron vernix, is a common North American plant that causes skin irritation to people. Like its better-known cousin poison ivy, the green leaves of poison sumac sure to put a damper on an otherwise pleasant camping trip or another outdoor...
Pack Your Bookbags: The Best Plant Field Guides
Learning to identify plants, even for full-time students, is no small task. Building a library of the best plant field guides will help you learn to accurately identify plants. While field guides may seem technical and tedious at first, they are integral to building...
The Best Botanical Gardens in Africa and the Middle East: Jewels in the Desert
Though you might not think of verdant gardens when you think of traveling to Africa and the Middle East, the botanical gardens from Istanbul to Johannesburg are not to be missed! The contrast between the gardens and the desert makes many of these gardens even more...
The Best Botanical Gardens in Asia and Oceania
From Hawaii to India, the best botanical gardens of Asia and Oceania are not to be missed. Full of lush tropical plants and unique aesthetic, these botanical gardens are some of the most verdant in the world. Getting out to enjoy the flowers and plants is a great way...
The Best Botanical Gardens in Europe
From Claude Monet’s gardens to exotic gardens of Monaco, the best botanical gardens in Europe are not to be missed. Spend a bit of time on your next European vacation getting outside and exploring these beautiful gardens. As you prepare to stretch your legs and smell...
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The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.
Here are 7 Things to Do With Your Extra Garden Veggies: From Pickling to Potlucks
As you’re digging up the 10,000th spud or trimming the millionth cucumber (didn’t you only plant two of those?), you might be wondering what to do with all of your extra veggies. While most gardeners are certainly happier to have surplus produce than to have an empty...
A Guide to Jams, Jellies, and Preserves: From Apples to Peaches
It’s that time of year - pumpkin spice lattes are all over everything, leaves are turning colors, and… you’re drowning in extra fruits and berries that you need to find a way to preserve. Or is that just me? While you might want to make jams or jellies year ‘round (I...
Planning a Last Minute Winter Vegetable Garden
As the summer growing season slows and leaves begin to turn, it’s nice to start thinking about all of the vegetables and greens that you can keep eating fresh all through the winter. Here are some tips to prepare your last minute winter vegetable garden! While the...
Identifying the 27 Most Common Vegetable Plants
In all of the excitement of planting your vegetable garden, you forgot to label the rows of greenery. Now you’re looking at lines of little green seedlings (or a tangled mess of adult plants), and wondering what’s going on in your garden. DOWNLOAD PLANTSNAP Before you...
How to Identify, Remove, and Prevent Aphids on Plants
Aphids on plants are common problems for indoor and outdoor plants alike. These small, pear-shaped bugs particularly like to congregate on new growth. Here’s how to identify, control, and prevent aphids on plants. IDENTIFY NEW PLANTS WITH PLANTSNAP We produced a whole...
9 Common Edible Plants You Probably Walk Past Every Week
Oh, sure, we all know about apples, blackberries, and dandelions. But what if you want to branch out a bit when foraging? There are all sorts of edible plants common to North America. Chances are, you probably walk past some of these common edible plants every week!...
Use These Plant Photography Tips and Exercises to Showcase Your Garden
As you marvel at the beauty of a flower or the intricacies of a forest, you may wonder how to capture that feeling in a photograph. These plant photography tips will help you take the best photos of plants. You’ll be ready to showcase your garden or share snapshots...
Dog Safe Plants and How to Make a Dog-Friendly Garden
If you love both dogs and gardening, you probably have already asked yourself: are there dog safe plants out there? Given some dog’s propensity to much on leaves and sniff around in the dirt, you might even want to take it a step further: creating a dog-friendly...
What’s Growing in Your Garden? How to ID Plants by Photo
In some ways, identifying plants that grow in your garden is harder than identifying plants out in the wild. Knowing what’s growing in your garden will help you care for it better. Whether you need help because you forgot to label your plants or you purchased a home...
How Plants Get Their Nutrients, and What Nutrients Plants Need to Survive
Plants and animals alike need nutrients to survive. But without mouths, how do plants get the necessary nutrients and energy for life? You might be vaguely aware that plants use their roots to absorb nutrients - and plants need sunlight, right? But how do roots and...
Look Out for These 9 Common Garden Pests This Summer
Just as your garden plants are really starting to bloom, you notice black spots on the leaves. Or maybe you find chewed-up petals or a whitish fuzz along your roots. Garden pests are no joke. They can kill your garden very quickly, undoing all of your hard work....
A Guide to Garden Flower Identification
It’s exciting to watch new shoots pop up in springtime and new blooms emerge. But what is growing in your garden? Maybe you just moved in and have no idea what the last owner planted in your garden. Or perhaps you’re forgetful (like me) and just can’t remember what...
How to Enjoy Botanical Gardens
Botanical gardens can be a beautiful, quiet activity almost any time of year, but it takes a bit of preparation to fully enjoy botanical gardens. Botanical gardens are a great place to learn about flower and tree identification, local sacred plants, and rare plants....
How to Grow a Medicinal Garden
Growing a garden is a fun and rewarding pastime. Cultivating medicinal garden plants takes your backyard dirt patch to a whole new level. Luckily, it’s easy to plan a medicinal garden that’s both lovely and useful. Many common garden plants have medicinal qualities....
How to Find, Use, and Identify Common Sacred Plants
Almost every culture and religion out there make use of sacred plants. People revere these sacred plants for their medicinal qualities, culinary use, healing power, or cultural purposes. Learning about the history and culture of plants is part of the study of...
No Results Found
The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.
Barrel Cactus vs Saguaro Cactus: What’s the Difference?
To those of us new to the desert, it can be hard to tell the difference between a barrel cactus vs saguaro cactus. These large cacti grow across the southwestern United States. Young saguaros can closely resemble barrel cacti, adding to the confusion. Let’s break down...
Magic Plants in the Real World
We’re never too old for fairy tales. Folk stories about gingerbread houses, witches cauldrons, glass slippers, and cursed frogs have shaped our imaginations and cultures since humans first gathered around the fire. To this day, they continue to delight, enchant, and...
What Plants to Look for After Wildfires? Wildflowers!
Wildfire seasons are becoming longer and more intense throughout western North America. As climate change continues to make such extreme weather events more common, it is important to know what to expect from land that has previously been burned. And it's not all bad!...
Beyond Giant Hogweed: Plants That Burn or Blister You
Giant hogweed is a pretty terrifying plant that hit the news late in the summer of 2018. It’s an invasive plant and noxious weed, meaning it’s harmful to people. But it’s not the only dangerous plant out there. IDENTIFY NEW PLANTS WITH PLANTSNAP Touching giant hogweed...
How to Identify, Remove, and Treat Poison Oak
Poison oak, or Toxicodendron diversilobum or Toxicodendron pubescens, is another relative of poison ivy and poison sumac. There are two species of poison oak: eastern and western. Both species are common across North America in a variety of habitats, making it a good...
How (and why) to Remove Invasive European Buckthorn
Though Buckthorn is nowhere near as scary as Giant Hogweed, it’s still a serious invasive species that causes all sorts of problems where it grows. Buckthorn is shorthand for the genus Rhamnus, which includes about 110 species of shrubs and small trees. Unfortunately,...
How to Identify, Remove, and Treat Poison Sumac
Poison Sumac, or Toxicodendron vernix, is a common North American plant that causes skin irritation to people. Like its better-known cousin poison ivy, the green leaves of poison sumac sure to put a damper on an otherwise pleasant camping trip or another outdoor...
Pack Your Bookbags: The Best Plant Field Guides
Learning to identify plants, even for full-time students, is no small task. Building a library of the best plant field guides will help you learn to accurately identify plants. While field guides may seem technical and tedious at first, they are integral to building...
How to Identify, Remove, and Prevent Aphids on Plants
Aphids on plants are common problems for indoor and outdoor plants alike. These small, pear-shaped bugs particularly like to congregate on new growth. Here’s how to identify, control, and prevent aphids on plants. IDENTIFY NEW PLANTS WITH PLANTSNAP We produced a whole...
How to Identify, Remove, and Treat Poison Ivy
Poison ivy is a well-known plant that’s common in the undergrowth of North America. With characteristic triads of leaves, it seems like it should be easy to identify poison ivy. However, there are several subspecies or varieties of poison ivy that make identification...
9 Common Edible Plants You Probably Walk Past Every Week
Oh, sure, we all know about apples, blackberries, and dandelions. But what if you want to branch out a bit when foraging? There are all sorts of edible plants common to North America. Chances are, you probably walk past some of these common edible plants every week!...
A Slightly Obsessive Guide to the Blackberries of the World
During a recent hike in Olympic National Park, I saw some strange berries - like blackberries, but pink. Confused, I pointed them out to my boyfriend and he explained they were salmonberries (scroll to "North American Blackberry Species" to see a photo). I definitely...
The Forager’s Guide to Plant Identification
Late summer and early fall is peak harvest. Driving around the countryside, you’ll see countless roadside stands for berries, then apples, then pumpkins. Foraging for wild food allows you to get the joy of eating ultra-local without waiting around for the farms to...
How to Identify Giant Hogweed, the Plant That Can Cause Severe Burns and Blisters
Giant hogweed is a plant that can cause severe burns and blisters. Its pretty looks earned it a spot as an ornamental plant through the 1800s, leading to its spread from its native Eurasia to Europe and North America. Giant hogweed is now a bona fide invasive species,...
12 Camping Activities to Try Next Time You’re on a Trip
Camping is a great way to get in touch with nature, bond with family or teammates, and learn about the natural world. If you don’t have camping activities planned in advance, it’s easy for this relaxing time to turn into boredom. Having a go-to-list of camping...
What’s So Great About the Jasmine Flower?
Jasmine has been cultivated and prized by humans for millennia. The showy plant is famous for its beautiful white flowers and rich fragrance. Many people have heard of the flower, or maybe even have a friend named Jasmine. But, not many people know of the importance...
How to Stock Your Pantry by Drying Herbs
Though picking fresh herbs for each meal is ideal, that's not always possible. The winter will spell the demise for much all of your annual herb garden. Even perennial herbs will stop growing fresh, fragrant leaves. Though you can grow many herbs indoors, this...
How To Use the Aloe Vera Plant
Have you ever spent too much time in the sun, only to find yourself as red as a lobster the next day? The discomfort of a bad sunburn can last days and might be one of the worst setbacks to enjoying a relaxing weekend at the beach. Luckily for us, there’s a plant that...
Why Do People Love The Jade Plant?
The jade plant, otherwise known as Cassula Ovata, is a popular succulent shrub native to South Africa. In their native habitat or other similarly arid environments, they can grow to up to 10 feet tall. Similar to cactus and aloe plants, jade has evolved to...
8 Edible Flowers That Taste Great In Salads
Whatever time of year it is, we can’t help but think fondly of warm sunshine, fresh produce, and summertime salads. Before we know it, flowers will be blooming along the boulevards and bursting out of buckets at your local farmer’s market, ready to be added to a...
Tips to Grow an Indoor Herb Garden
I hate having to throw out fresh culinary herbs that have started to wilt and die. Unfortunately, dried herbs just don’t have the same aromatic flavor. The best way to make sure you always have fresh herbs available is to grow them yourself! A mint plant in your...
What Plant Makes Tequila and Mezcal?
The bartender plops a little glass of clear liquid in front of me, accompanied by a small plate of salt, candied fruits, fried crickets, and limes. It's Dia de Los Muertos in Mexico, which means it's time to drink a little (or a lot). But what was the clear drink in...
What’s So Special About the Hibiscus Flower?
The hibiscus flower is one of the most recognizable flowers due to its color, size, and overall beauty. Keep in mind that hibiscus is an entire genus of plants, and there are actually over 300 species! Of all the different species of hibiscus, they are mostly found in...
Top 7 Mosquito Repellent Plants
Looking forward to spring and summer, it’s time to start thinking about the downsides of warmer weather… mosquitos. As much of a downer as these biting bugs can be, they’re a fact of life for warmer months. But did you know that there are mosquito repellent plants?...
5 Edible Desert Plants
The desert may not be the first place you would go looking for wild food. It actually has far more to offer than meets the eye.
Best Plants to Give as Christmas Gifts
As we all turn our gaze towards the holidays, it’s fun to start thinking about gifts for our loved ones. Since plants can help stave off seasonal depression and improve air quality, they are a great Christmas gift. But what are the best plants to give as Christmas...
Everything You Need to Know About Acacia Trees
First things first, what is an acacia tree? When you hear the word Acacia, do you think of umbrella-shaped trees in the African Savanna? Or maybe shrubs in the dry American Southwest? Or even the Australian outback? Acacias are a group of trees and shrubs with over...
11 Edible Mushrooms in the U.S. (And How to Tell They’re Not Toxic Lookalikes)
Mushroom hunting is a rewarding way to get outside and learn more about nature. There are many different edible mushrooms in the United States, including tasty chanterelles and morels. Mushroom hunting can also be quite dangerous - many mushrooms are very similar in...
Everything You Need to Know About Reishi Mushrooms
Reishi mushrooms have long been used as medicine. Also known as the Ling Zhi mushroom, these fungi grow on the sides of trees. In the wild, reishi mushrooms prefer to grow at the base of maple or hemlock trees. IDENTIFY NEW PLANTS WITH PLANTSNAP These mushrooms are...
5 Houseplants That Produce the Most Oxygen
Houseplants can change your home’s atmosphere in more ways than one! Choosing houseplants that produce the most oxygen can greatly help improve your indoor air quality. We all rely on plants to create breathable air. Our lungs breathe the oxygen that plants produce...