Blue mist spirea or bluebeard (Caryopteris x clandodensis) is not commonly planted in U.S. landscapes. In mid- to late- summer, pale blue flowers open above the gray-green foliage. Leaves and stems are mildly aromatic to the touch. There are now several good hybrid forms, thanks to plant breeders’ efforts to improve garden performance. Caryopteris (I prefer this name) grows in average soil, […]
Archive for October, 2012
Blue Mist (Caryopteris) Sparkles in Late Summer Garden
Posted by Hugh on October 31st, 2012
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Blue mist (Caryopteris), Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs 
Comments Off on Blue Mist (Caryopteris) Sparkles in Late Summer GardenVariegated Solomon’s Seal Designated 2013 Perennial Plant of the Year
Posted by Hugh on October 30th, 2012
Variegated Solomon’s seal ( Polygonatum odoratum ‘Variegatum’) is one of the finest perennials for the shade or woodland garden. It is the Asian cousin of U.S. native Solomon seal (P. commutatum). Both species are long- lived garden inhabitants. Variegated Solomon’s Seal handles 2-3 hours of direct morning sunlight in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA hardiness zones 6 and […]
Posted in acidic soil, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Ground cover, Perennials, Slugs, Solomon's seal, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, watering tips Comments Off on Variegated Solomon’s Seal Designated 2013 Perennial Plant of the Year‘Autumnalis’ Is Good Flowering Cherry, Perhaps Over-hyped
Posted by Hugh on October 27th, 2012
Autumnalis cherry (Prunus x subhirtella ‘Autumnalis’) is a long-lived, fast growing flowering cherry. This variety of higan cherry grows to medium size, 20-40 feet in height and 15-30 feet in spread. Autumnalis produces a heavy bloom of semi-double pink flowers in spring and again, in sparse numbers in autumn (mid-October) in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA hardiness zones 6 and […]
Posted in Attracting birds, Autumn flowering, Autumnalis flowering cherry, Disease resistant, Flowers, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Uncategorized, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Autumnalis’ Is Good Flowering Cherry, Perhaps Over-hypedTake Redtip Photinia Off Your Planting List
Posted by Hugh on October 24th, 2012
Some 30-40 years ago redtip photinia (Photinia x fraseri) was commonly planted as a broadleaf evergreen hedge in the Southeast U.S. (USDA hardiness zones 6 -8). This dense growing 15 foot tall and wide shrub sports firey red new leaves in spring and summer. The red leaf tint fades to green within a few weeks. Many homeowners desire a fast […]
Posted in acidic soil, Disease prone, Drought tolerant, Green Privacy Screen, Heat Tolerance, Photinia, Privacy Screen, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips Comments Off on Take Redtip Photinia Off Your Planting ListPignut Hickory: What’s In A Name
Posted by Hugh on October 21st, 2012
Pignut hickory (Carya glabra) is a medium to large tree that you may fortunately inherit when purchasing property. Pignut deserves a better name like “smooth bark hickory”. The species is commonly found in upland forests. Pignut hickory prefers fertile well-drained soil and in full sun to partial shade. A young seedling trees start off slowly from a large […]
Posted in Butterflies, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Large Shade trees, Native Plant, Nut Producer, Pignut Hickory (Carya glabra), Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on Pignut Hickory: What’s In A NameMinor Bulbs Get A Jump On Spring
Posted by Hugh on October 18th, 2012
Companion bulbs, often called “minor bulbs”, are early signs that spring is coming. Three of the most reliable are snowdrops, winter aconites and Glory of the snow. They bloom before crocus. Winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) returns with floral beauty less than three months after planting. Plants poke through the ground, grow and flower 3 to 6 inches […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Chionodoxa (Glory of the Snow), Flowering Bulb, Landscape ideas, Perennials, Purchasing Plants, Snowdrops (Galanthus), Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Spring flowering bulbs, Uncategorized, watering tips, Winter aconite (Eranthis), Winter flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on Minor Bulbs Get A Jump On SpringEmerald Ash Borer And Others Are Spreading – Don’t Transport Firewood
Posted by Hugh on October 15th, 2012
Moving firewood across county or state lines may also distribute serious insect pests hundreds of miles. For whatever reasons that the tree(s) were cut down in your yard, insects (including termites) may be hiding inside the logs. They may remain alive for a long time. Over the past decade three serious exotic insect pests have been identified […]
Posted in Elms (Ulmus), Firewood, Green ash (Fraxinus), Insect (Pest) Problems, Invasive plant, Landscape ideas, Native Plant, Pests, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, Walnut Comments Off on Emerald Ash Borer And Others Are Spreading – Don’t Transport FirewoodFull Moon Japanese Maple Is Very Popular
Posted by Hugh on October 13th, 2012
The term “full moon Japanese maple” may be confusing. There are actually three species and cultivars of Asian maples that are referred to as “full moon”. The most popular full moon cultivar planted in the Northeast and Southern Appalachian regions (USDA zones 5 thru 7) is Acer japonicum ‘Acontifolium’. A. j. ‘Acontifolium’ is hardy […]
Posted in acidic soil, Japanese maple, Maples (Acer), Planting tips, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Staking, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter injury, Winter Protection Comments Off on Full Moon Japanese Maple Is Very PopularSeven-Son Flower Is Flowering Again
Posted by Hugh on October 10th, 2012
Back in bloom for a second time in two months! This is my way of describing seven-son flower (Heptacodium miconioides), a small 15-20 foot tree or large shrub from China. Seven-son’s creamy white petals open in late August and finish up in early September. By late September, the petals have fallen, and the small green sepals (calyces) have […]
Posted in Autumn flowering, Drought tolerant, Pruning, Root suckering, Seven son flower (Heptacodium), Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant Comments Off on Seven-Son Flower Is Flowering AgainDon’t Forget The Sassafras
Posted by Hugh on October 7th, 2012
A common woodland tree, sassafras (Sassafras albidum), aka mitten tree, is a small tree which grows 20 to 40 feet tall; some may top out at over 60 feet. Tree spread is two-thirds its height. Sassafras’ mitten shaped leaves, are easy to identify with one, two or no lobes. All three leaf shapes may be […]
Posted in acidic soil, Butterflies, Disease resistant, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Pruning, Root suckering, Sassafras albidum, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Wildlife attractant, winter injury Comments Off on Don’t Forget The Sassafras
