The native plant research team at Mt Cuba Center in Hockessin, DE has recently published the results of a 3-year Carex (sedge) study in which they evaluated 70 species and cultivars. The study included a number of under-planted Carex species and varieties. One grouping was grown in full sun and a second planting was tested […]
Archive for the ‘Fall Garden Interest’ Category
2023 Carex Evaluation From Mt Cuba
Posted by Hugh on July 18th, 2023
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Ground cover, Landscape ideas, Lawn Care, Native Plant, Native Plant, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Sedge (Carex), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on 2023 Carex Evaluation From Mt CubaColorful Bugleweed As A Groundcover
Posted by Hugh on June 29th, 2023
Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans), aka “carpetweed” and “carpet bugle”, is a fast-growing evergreen perennial ground cover in the Lamiaceae (mint) family. The species name “reptans” means creeping. It is native to Europe, northern Africa, and southwestern Asia. Cultivars are hardy in USDA hardiness zones 3-9 (unless otherwise noted). Most bugleweed cultivars demonstrate aggressive plant vigor that helps to […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, Bees and other pollinators, Bugleweed (Ajuga), Bumble bees, Butterflies, Container garden, deadheading, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Ground cover, Hummingbird, Invasive plant, Landscape ideas, Non-native, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, rabbit damage, Root rotting, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Weed control, Weeds, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Colorful Bugleweed As A GroundcoverAmerican Beautyberry
Posted by Hugh on May 28th, 2023
American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) is a deciduous shrub native to open meadows, fence rows, or woodlands in the southeastern U.S. and northern Mexico (Zones 6-11). This vigorous shrub grows to 4-8 feet high and wide and belongs in the Lamiaceae (mint) family. American beautyberry, also called French mulberry, has an open growth habit and arching […]
Posted in acidic soil, Beautyberry (Callicarpa spp.), Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, compact shrub, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Fall Garden Interest, Flower Arranging, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Wildlife attractant Comments Off on American BeautyberryFalse Spirea (Sorbaria)
Posted by Hugh on April 27th, 2023
Ural false spirea (Sorbaria sorbifolia) is a vigorous suckering deciduous shrub. It typically grows 5-10 feet tall and wide depending on variety and soil quality. (USDA hardiness zones 2 -7). False spirea has coarse leaf textured foliage that resembles mountain ash (Sorbus sp.), hence the scientific name. It is listed in the rose (Roseacea) family. Jungle-like […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, False spirea (Sorbaria), Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rabbit/deer Protection, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on False Spirea (Sorbaria)Crossvine
Posted by Hugh on April 15th, 2023
Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata) is a heavy flowering, vigorously growing vine in the Bignoniaceae (trumpet creeper) botanical family. It is native to the Southeastern and South-Central states including Texas. Once established, this vine stretches 30 to 50 feet high and spreads from 6 – 9 feet wide. A cross section of its stem reveals a marking resembling the […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Crossvine (Bignonia), Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Fall Garden Interest, Fragrant, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Staking, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Vine, Vine, watering tips Comments Off on CrossvineRain Lilies
Posted by Hugh on March 29th, 2023
Rain Lilies (Zephyranthes), aka Zephyr lily, fairy lily, Atamasco lily, et al. are small perennial bulbs that are native to the southeastern United States, Central and South America (USDA hardiness zones 7-10). In the U.S., these bulbous members of the Amaryllis Family (Amaryllidaceae) grow in low woods and wet meadows. Rain lilies bloom from spring to […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, Bulb Crops, Butterflies, Container garden, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Flower arrangments, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Non-native, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Rain lilies (Zephyranthes), Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Rain LiliesStop The Chop
Posted by Hugh on March 24th, 2023
Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) is a species of small, beautiful tree native to Asia, and are popular in Southern U.S. gardens (USDA hardiness zones 6-9). Before planting a tree or shrub form, do your homework first. So many landscapes wind up with severe and senseless pruning. Crape myrtles wind up with weak shoots and poor […]
Posted in acidic soil, compact shrub, compact tree, Container growing, container shrub, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Crape myrtle aphid, Crape myrtle bark scale, Crapemyrtle (Lagerstroemia), Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Flowering shrub, Landscape ideas, Large shrub, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Street tree, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Stop The Chop‘Ogon’ Spirea Is A Standout
Posted by Hugh on March 12th, 2023
Spireas (Spiraea spp.) represent a large number of mostly non-native flowering landscape shrubs. Most are not U.S. natives, indigenous to China and Japan. Baby’s breath spirea (S. thunbergii) is also called Thunberg spirea and Breath of Spring spirea. It is a showy, graceful shrub that grows 3 to 5 feet high and wide with many […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, compact shrub, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Flowering, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spirea (Spiraea), Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter blooming, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Ogon’ Spirea Is A StandoutAll About Flowering Quinces
Posted by Hugh on February 22nd, 2023
Flowering Quince (Chaenomeles speciosa) is a deciduous shrub in the Rose (Rosaceae) family and related to apple and pear (Zones 5-9). It is native to China and is relatively easy to grow. Plant quince in moist, well-drained soil; it flowers best in full sun but is moderately shade tolerant. Feed quince shrubs annually in early […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Chlorosis (yellowing), Container growing, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Flowering, Flowering quince (Chaenomeles), Flowering shrub, Fruits & Vegetables, Heat Tolerance, Japanese beetle, Landscape ideas, Large shrub, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Quince, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on All About Flowering QuincesVarieties Of Crape Myrtles
Posted by Hugh on February 18th, 2023
Crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia x indica) are small flowering trees and shrubs that are native to Asia and have naturalized in the Deep South of the U.S. Back in the 1970’s thru the 1990’s, plant breeders at the U.S. National Arboretum released 35 winter hardy varieties, named after North American Indian tribes. They varied in sizes […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, compact shrub, container shrub, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Crape myrtle aphid, Crape myrtle bark scale, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Flowering shrub, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter bark, Winter Garden Interest Comments Off on Varieties Of Crape Myrtles
