Our Editors’ Favorite Plants

Zinnias

Senior Food Editor Josh Miller says, “I love zinnias for so many reasons—their bold, vibrant color, the hardiness and drought tolerance, and the way they'll secretly reseed themselves even though they're technically annuals. They're so easy to grow, and bloom from late spring until the first frost bids them farewell. I'll often start them from seed indoors and then transplant them outside when all fear of frost is gone. They're an absolute joy!” 

Learn more about zinnias.

Daylilies

Daylilies are one of Travel and Culture Editor Tara Massouleh McCay’s favorites. “We have a ton of varieties that pop up in our yard every spring and summer and it's always such a pleasant surprise to see them bloom yellow, orange, and white overnight. After seeing the effects this winter's hard freeze had on our new hydrangeas and azaleas, I'm especially thankful for the hardiness and durability of our daylilies that seem to survive anything,” she says. 

Learn more about daylilies.

Camellias

Camellias remind Betsy Cribb Watson, senior homes and features editor, of her family. “My dad cultivates several different types in my parents' backyard, and in the winter, he always picks them and floats them in a bowl on the kitchen counter for my mom to enjoy. It's a much needed dose of happy color during those cold dreary days, and I don't see a camellia without thinking of him,” she says. 

Learn more about camellias.

Peonies

Deputy Editor Lisa Cericola looks forward to peony blooms every year. “They come in so many different sizes and colors and each one is ridiculously gorgeous. My plant produced a single bloom this year, and I treasured every day of its life! I’m hoping I get two flowers next year,” she says. 

Learn more about peonies.

Mint

Assistant Copy Editor Katie Aiken’s favorite herb is mint, a plant that loves to spread and will fill your garden with fragrance. Because of its tendency to roam, gardeners like to plant mint in containers. You have your pick of types, including peppermint, spearmint, and chocolate mint, each of which has its own distinct scent, flavor, and appearance. 

Learn more about easy herbs to grow in your garden.

Tulips

One of Assistant Homes Editor Cameron Beall’s favorite flowers is the tulip. She says, “I've always loved tulips because there are so many different varieties and colors that often look very different. And while you can mostly find stems to buy year round, I love how they signify spring when they pop up all around.” 

Learn more about tulips.

Hydrangeas

Nellah McGough, business manager, loves blue hydrangeas. “I grew up thinking they were tacky, but as I got older, I fell in love with the blue of blooming hydrangeas. There are so few blue flowers in the garden, and these are showy. My grandmother grew blue hydrangeas, and they always remind me of my grandmother, Mama Mae.” 

Learn more about hydrangeas.

Snake Plants

Snake plants are one of Assistant Copy Editor Katherine Polcari’s favorite houseplants because they are so easy to care for. Also known as sansevieria, snake plant is beloved for its low-maintenance reputation, its long-lived house plant bonafides, and its ability to grow to dramatic heights with the right combination of water (less than you might think) and sunlight (bright and indirect). 

Learn more about snake plants.

White Fringe Trees

Kimberly Holland, senior digital food editor, is a fan of Grancy Greybeard, aka white fringe tree. She says, “Followers of my Instagram stories know I've been growing one for a few years now from a wee seedling. They're an Alabama native, and they don't grow very big (usually), which is ideal for my small lot. I don't know if I have a male or female yet—that will take time—but the males are usually a little showier, which I just love talking about with a tree that has such a funny name.”

Learn more about white fringe trees.

Dahlias

Rebecca Baer, senior digital news editor, has an affinity for dahlias. “I love dahlias. If I had a yard or knew how to grow anything, I would want dahlias. They are definitely my must-buy item at the farmer's market when they are in season,” she says. 

Learn more about dahlias.

Yellow Roses

Assistant Food Editor Alana Al-Hatlani loves yellow roses. “I'm not even from Texas,” she says, “but I have always loved how bright and happy they look in your house (and they don't read as 'Valentine's Day' as red ones).” 

Learn more about roses.

Ornamental Cabbages

In addition to the bright blooms of yellow roses, Alana Al-Hatlani, assistant food editor, loves these ornamental plants. She says, “I also love cabbage flowers or 'ornamental cabbages', especially the ones flecked with white, purple, and green. They are kind of an off-beat choice in bouquets, but I used to buy them from the farmers' market back home.” 

Learn more about ornamental cabbages.

Ornamental Purslane

Digital Editor Jenna Sims loves ornamental purslane. “My favorite part of buying purslane is no matter how hot it gets here in Alabama, I know it won't wilt or die. After planting it, I usually ignore mine for most of the summer and it still grows and blooms beautifully. I also travel a good bit during the summer, so I know my plants definitely aren't getting watered every day.The amount of water it gets from summer rain showers is enough to keep it growing and blooming.”

Learn more about purslane.

Chaste Trees

The Grumpy Gardener, a.k.a. Steve Bender, recommends chaste tree, one of his top all-time trees. He says, “Chaste tree is one of my favorites. One of the reasons why is because it's one of the trees that has blue flower spikes. Blue is a very rare color actually in the plant kingdom. Lots of orange flowers, lots of red flowers, yellow flowers, white flowers, purple flowers, but there's not very much that are blue.” The blue-blooming trees go by many names, including Texas lilac tree, Monk's pepper, and chasteberry, as well as the scientific name Vitex agnus-castus.
Learn more about chaste trees.

Lavender

Lavender is one of Travel and Culture Editor Caroline Rogers’s favorite herbs. “I purchased my first pot of lavender at a spring plant sale years ago, and I loved the calming, earthy scent of the foliage and the spiky purple blooms. Lavender thrives in hot weather and plenty of sun, which makes it a great addition to gardens in many corners of the South. It can also survive in pots on the windowsill as long as it gets enough light.”  

Learn more about lavender.