Dry sites
Drought-tolerant plants
Plants that settle in and handle dry periods with less supplemental water.
View drought-tolerant plants →Growing guides
Find the right plant
for the real conditions.
Start with the sun, soil, moisture and wildlife you actually have. Explore our resource topics and ask our staff for help choosing plants.
Local knowledge for Kentucky gardens
Good questions deserve good answers.
We refer customers to University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension for soil analysis, complex plant questions and other local services. We also share their newsletters to help you keep growing.
Wet sites
Plants for wet soil
Choices for low areas, rain gardens and places that stay damp.
View plants for wet soil →Wildlife
Deer-resistant plants
A practical starting list for gardens under browsing pressure.
View deer-resistant plants →Soil
Plants for heavy clay
Tough selections better suited to dense regional soils.
View plants for heavy clay →Pollinators
Plants that attract butterflies
Nectar and host plants that make gardens more welcoming to butterflies.
View plants that attract butterflies →Pollinators
Plants that attract hummingbirds
Flowering plants with the color and form hummingbirds seek.
View plants that attract hummingbirds →Cut garden
Plants good for cutting
Blooms and foliage worth bringing indoors for arrangements.
View plants good for cutting →Design
Red or purple foliage
Bold foliage choices for contrast and long-lasting color.
View red or purple foliage →Tough sites
Salt-tolerant plants
Stronger options for roadsides, walks and winter salt exposure.
View salt-tolerant plants →Plant health
Boxwood damage guide
How to recognize common winter and environmental damage on boxwood.
View boxwood damage guide →Plant care basics
A healthy start matters.
Planting
Match the plant to the site, dig no deeper than the root ball, loosen circling roots and water thoroughly after planting.
Watering new plants
New plants need consistent moisture while roots establish. Check the soil itself. Rainfall and surface appearance can be misleading.
Mulching
Use a moderate layer over the root zone and keep mulch away from stems and trunks. Avoid piling it into a “volcano.”
Winter and weather damage
Cold, wind, salt and rapid temperature changes can injure foliage and stems. Wait for the proper season before pruning out questionable wood.