Skip to content
Southern Living Plants Logo
  • About Us
    • History Of The Collection
    • Events
    • Brochure
    • Testimonials
    • Botanical Gardens
    • Why Choose Plants from Southern Living® Plant Collection?
  • The Plants
    • Shrubs
    • Trees
    • Berry Plants & Fruit Trees
    • Annuals and Perennials
    • Groundcovers/Grasses
    • Tropicals
    • Vines
    • New Introductions
  • Where to Buy
    • Find a Retailer
    • Online Retailers
    • Local Landscapers
  • In the Garden
    • Plan Your Garden
    • Inspiration & Projects
    • Planting & Care
  • Connect With Us
    • Request Newsletter
    • Contact Us
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    • Youtube
    • Point of Purchase Order Forms
  • About Us
    • History Of The Collection
    • Events
    • Brochure
    • Testimonials
    • Botanical Gardens
    • Why Choose Plants from Southern Living® Plant Collection?
  • The Plants
    • Shrubs
    • Trees
    • Berry Plants & Fruit Trees
    • Annuals and Perennials
    • Groundcovers/Grasses
    • Tropicals
    • Vines
    • New Introductions
  • Where to Buy
    • Find a Retailer
    • Online Retailers
    • Local Landscapers
  • In the Garden
    • Plan Your Garden
    • Inspiration & Projects
    • Planting & Care
  • Connect With Us
    • Request Newsletter
    • Contact Us
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    • Youtube
    • Point of Purchase Order Forms
Linda Vater and Kim Toscano at Southern Living Landscape Makeover

Expert Advice

  1. Home
  2. Expert Advice
  • By Corrina Stellitano
  • October 12, 2021
Kim Toscano

Kim Toscano

Kimberly Toscano is a freelance writer, gardening expert and traveler with an eye on design. Kimberly blends her formal training in horticulture and entomology with her passion for design to educate and inspire gardeners.

Kim's Latest Articles

Orchid Camellia shrub in full bloom

Spring Pruning (March-April)

Person wearing gardening boots digging holes with shovel and planting shrubs

How to Plant Shrubs for Long-Lasting Landscapes

Lady sitting on front porch in front of boxwoods

Create a Lavish Retreat with Purple Daydream Loropetalum

View More Articles
Steve Bender

Steve Bender

Steve Bender grew up in Lutherville, MD and was exiled to Alabama in 1983 for reasons that remain secret to this day. He loves fried okra and often selects dinner wine based on whether it goes well with fried okra. His mission is to make gardening uplifting, accessible, and inspirational to all. He will no doubt succeed.

Steve's Latest Articles

Jubilation Gardenia in Southern Living Plant Collection brown pot

Ask Grumpy Gardener: What To Do When Your Gardenia Leaves Turn Black

How To Fix Crape Murder

How To Fix Crape Murder

3 varying sized galvanized planters in a raised bricked walled garden bed container Boxwood and red Verbena and footballs

Video: Team Spirit Game Day Garden from Southern Living

View More Articles
Mary Beth Shaddix

Mary Beth Shaddix

Mary Beth Shaddix is an author, consultant, speaker and nature-addict. Constantly wowed by the wonder of nature, she will grow any seed and smell every flower. She shares her enthusiasm for gardening with all who are curious to learn. Her garden adventures can be found in magazines and television shows such as Southern Living, Cooking Light, HGTVGardens.com, PBS and Garden & Gun. She and her husband enjoy growing at their wholesale nursery in central Alabama.

Mary Beth's Latest Articles

Blueberry DownHome Harvest® Bless Your Heart®

Berry Important: Pollination, Chill Hours And Plant Food

Southern Living Plant Collection edibles what when plan slide

Caring for Fruit Plants: What to Do and When

Mary Beth picking fruit from blackberry plants growing on stone wall

Video: Planting Berries and Fruit Trees in the Landscape

View More Articles
Jim Putnam

Jim Putnam

Jim Putnam is host of HortTube, a YouTube gardening channel dedicated
to demystifying gardening for the DoIt-Yourselfer. He has over 3 decades
of experience in various roles in the horticulture industry including landscape
design and installation, plant propagation, nursery production, and garden center
management

Jim's Latest Articles

Symmetrical entryway garden beds made up of Oakland Holly in the back, Jubilation Gardenia in the middle and Red Diamond Loropetalum in the front

Some Other Time, Deer

Jim Putnam in garden surrounded by sun-loving Southern Living plants including Sunshine Ligustrum.

Try These Expert-Approved Plants for Sunny Spots in Your Landscape

Jim Putnam showing shade-loving landscape plant combinations from the Southern Living Plant Collection

Expert-Approved Shade-Loving Southern Living Plant Combos for Your Garden

View More Articles
Linda Vater

Linda Vater

Linda Vater has lived and gardened at her 1935 English Tudor home in historic Oklahoma City for the past 25 years. A self-taught garden designer who obsesses over garden-inspired living, Linda appears weekly on local NBC KFORtv, speaks frequently on all things gardening, and is a firm believer that gardening brings us together.

Linda's Latest Articles

Cottage style house with a garden in front

From the Ground Up: Designing a Garden with Linda Vater

White Wedding® Hydrangeas

Four Season Gardening: Download the Blooming Shrub Guide

illustration of Linda Vater's new cottage garden

The Cottage on the Hill Project with Linda Vater

View More Articles
Find Your Garden Center Button
Buy Plants Online Button
Find Your Growing Area Button
Find Plants For Your Garden Button
Three pots with different plants in them.

Where To Buy
Southern Living Plants

Find a Garden Center Near You
Also of Interest
  • Plan Your Garden
  • Carmen Johnston
  • Erica Glasener
Southern Living Plants Logo
Instagram Facebook-f Pinterest Youtube

Plants

  • Annuals and Perennials
  • Berry Plants & Fruit Trees
  • Groundcovers/Grasses
  • Shrubs
  • Trees
  • Tropicals
  • Vines
  • Annuals and Perennials
  • Berry Plants & Fruit Trees
  • Groundcovers/Grasses
  • Shrubs
  • Trees
  • Tropicals
  • Vines

About Us

  • About Us
  • History Of The Collection
  • Events
  • Botanical Gardens
  • Testimonials
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • History Of The Collection
  • Events
  • Botanical Gardens
  • Testimonials
  • Contact Us

PRO Resources

  • Grower Resources
  • Point of Purchase Order Forms
  • Fact Sheets
  • Image Gallery
  • Re-Wholesaler Locator
  • Wholesalers
  • Grower Resources
  • Point of Purchase Order Forms
  • Fact Sheets
  • Image Gallery
  • Re-Wholesaler Locator
  • Wholesalers
©2025 Southern Living Plant Collection