Plants with golden foliage can brighten up almost any drab garden patch. Sun King golden aralia (Aralia cordata ‘Sun King’), called Japanese spikenard and mountain asparagus, is no exception (USDA hardiness zones 3-9). Under ideal conditions this thornless, rhizomatous, herbaceous perennial starts out slowly to reach 3-5 feet tall and wide in its third summer. […]
Archive for July, 2025
Chartreuse In Summer Shade – ‘Sun King’ Aralia
Posted by Hugh on July 28th, 2025
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, Aralia 'Sun King', Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Slugs, Snails, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Chartreuse In Summer Shade – ‘Sun King’ AraliaNative Hypericums
Posted by Hugh on July 17th, 2025
St. John’s Wort (Hypericum spp.) is a genus of about 400 species of annuals, perennials or shrubs which are noted for producing showy bright yellow flowers with a central mass of bright yellow stamens. Hordes of bee species love hypericum flowers. In midsummer, this U.S. native produces yellow flowers with distinctive clusters of puffball of stamens […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flowering shrub, Ground cover, Japanese beetle, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Non-native, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, St. John's Wort (Hypericum), Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Native HypericumsFirecracker Plant (Cuphea)
Posted by Hugh on July 10th, 2025
Planting Cupheas should set off fireworks in your summer flower garden. Cupheas are dependable, low-maintenance flowers that easily cope with the heat and humidity of the South. They’re exceptionally long blooming, attract bees, wasps, butterflies and hummingbirds like magnets, and are versatile enough for container plantings or in-ground beds. (See list below). Currently, the most […]
Posted in acidic soil, Annuals, Aphids, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, Cupheas, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Flower Arranging, Ground cover, Hummingbird, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Thrips, White flies, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Firecracker Plant (Cuphea)Growing Tropical Hibiscus
Posted by Hugh on July 8th, 2025
Tropical Hibiscus(es) (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) are a non-hardy group from southeast Asia. They require temperatures above 50°F year-round (USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 9–12) and will likely be injured at temps below 35°F. They are evergreen cousins of the very hardy deciduous shrub group —Althea (H. syriacus) and herbaceous perennial favorites like Rose Mallow (H. moscheutos) and […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, Downy mildew, Evergreen, Heat Tolerance, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Hummingbird, Insect (Pest) Problems, Interior (house) Plants, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Powdery mildew, Propagation (Cuttings), Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Scale, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Thrips, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, White flies, Wind protection, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Growing Tropical HibiscusTall Growing Daylilies
Posted by Hugh on July 1st, 2025
Tall daylilies (Hemerocallis altissima) are a group of late season fragrant daylilies that are native to southwest China, singled out for their tall 5-6 feet floral spikes. Blooms open in late afternoon and are classified as “nocturnal bloomers”. In spring, this deciduous perennial starts out with 2-feet tall grass-like foliage. In summer they produce tall flower spikes 4 – […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Daylilies, Deciduous, Drought tolerant, Flower Arranging, Fragrant, Hummingbird, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Staking, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Tall Growing Daylilies
