Marcus Hartwell

Regional Gardening Researcher & Plant Compatibility Writer

I'm a lifelong gardener who's spent the past decade helping friends and neighbors figure out what actually grows in their backyards. After moving around the country for work—from Georgia to Colorado to New England—I realized the same beautiful plants people admire don't thrive everywhere. Now I focus on cutting through the guesswork. I maintain observation gardens in three different climate zones, keep detailed notes on what succeeds and what fails, and love connecting gardeners with realistic plant choices for their region. When I'm not digging in soil, I'm tending my small orchard and photographing flowering plants across the seasons.