Black Titi (Cyrilla racemiflora), aka Swamp cyrilla is an evergreen, semi-evergreen or tardily deciduous tree that is native to Southeastern U.S. and indigenous in coastal areas from Virginia south into Texas. (USDA hardiness zones 5-11). Young plants are shrubby but eventually develop into a small tree with contorted stems, smooth, cinnamon-colored young bark and flaky mature […]
Archive for June, 2026
Discovering Native Swamp Titi Tree
Posted by Hugh on June 29th, 2026
Posted in acidic soil, Black Titi (Cyrilla), Butterflies, Disease resistant, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness 
No Comments »Alternative Choices For Bradford Pears
Posted by Hugh on June 24th, 2026
A number of U.S. states have designated the Bradford Pear (Pyrus calleryana) as an invasive tree species. This once popular small to medium-sized tree blooms in mid- to late-March. Introduced by the USDA in the 1960’s, following extensive 40+ year breeding trials, it became extremely popular across the country. Note that Callery pear is actually […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Bradford Pear, Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana), Deciduous, Fall Garden Interest, Flowering, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, Medium sized Tree, mulching, Non-native, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness No Comments »These Flowering Annuals Beat The Summer Heat
Posted by Hugh on June 15th, 2026
Many garden annuals shrivel up in the summer heat. Below is a listing of many floral beauties that Beat the Heat of Summer. They keep your garden alive with color all through the summer’s dog days and into fall. They’re tolerant of the high day and night temperatures as well as being moderately drought tolerant. […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Container garden, Cupheas, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evolvulus, Fall Garden Interest, Fan flower (Scaevola), Flower Arranging, Flower arrangments, Flowers, Landscape ideas, Lantana, Mexican sunflower (Tithonia), mulching, Native Plant, Non-native, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Salvia, Scaevola, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spider flower (Cleome), Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips No Comments »‘Axminster Gold’ Comfrey
Posted by Hugh on June 7th, 2026
Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) is an aggressive grower and herbal member of the Borage family (Boraginaceae). For several centuries it has been grown for its medicinal herbal value with purported healing properties for treating joint pains and wounds. Leaves are poisonous if ingested and can cause skin irritation. Plant grows up to 5 feet tall and […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, Bees and other pollinators, Comfrey (Symphytum), deadheading, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Flower Arranging, Fruits poisonous, Heat Tolerance, Herb, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Perennials, Planting tips, Powdery mildew, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Slugs, Snails, Soil drainage, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Axminster Gold’ ComfreyJapanese Stewartia
Posted by Hugh on June 1st, 2026
Underplanted in U.S. gardens are stewartias (Stewartia spp.) and the most popular is the lovely Japanese stewartia (S. pseudocamellia). This small 20-30 foot small slow-growing tree or multi-trunked shrub is indigenous to Japan and Korea. Specimens in the wild can reach 50-60 feet in height. In U.S. gardens, it typically matures in landscapes to 20-40 […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Fall Garden Interest, Flowering, Landscape ideas, Non-native, Purchasing Plants, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Stewartia pseudocamellia, Summer flowering, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on Japanese Stewartia
