bestgardening.com Gardener's Botany

Why 'Gardener's Botany'?
Because understanding how plants work makes gardening so much easier- and more interesting.

Autumn Leaf Changes - Why?

Why Leaves Change Colour and Fall in Autumn
Dramatic colour changes and leaf shedding. It happens each autumn, but why and how does that amazing change in leaf colour occur?

'Cos it's cold out there! Leaf colour change and shedding are part of preparing for winter dormancy.

Why plants climb
Climbers have evolved as plants pushed upwards through the forest or shrubby undergrowth towards the light.

Techniques for climbing differ, but all climbers strive to reach the light where few other plants can compete with them. Find out how plants climb

More Garden Botany

How Plants Cope with Dry Climates

Low rainfall forces plants to be water efficient

Water is essential to plant life. Even plants that live in arid deserts need moisture and have developed sophisticated techniques to capture and retain moisture.

How Plants Cope with Winter Cold

Plants have a number of defences for cold, adapting in ways that enable them to survive from season to season. Understanding these helps us to carry our plants through the cold months.

New Zealand plant names and explanations

Botanical Names Explained
It's a complex world out there and the botanists don't seem to make it any easier! And there is nothing more confusing than listening to streams of apparently meaningless gobbledy-gook. Botanical names, however, give us clues about plants, their relatives, their cultural needs and they are well worth learning.

Plants have names, just like people

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Last revised 05 Mar '03