Cranesbills (Geranium spp.) comprise a large genus of super hardy herbaceous perennials. (USDA hardiness zones 5-8). These are not your annual geraniums which is the genus Pelargonium. They grow happily in partial sun to full shade and in moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil. Cranesbills tolerate full sun in cool northerly areas. Plants may produce fewer flowers in […]
Archive for the ‘Fall Garden Interest’ Category
Cranesbills (Hardy Geraniums)
Posted by Hugh on February 19th, 2024
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, Cranesbill (Geranium), deadheading, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Ground cover, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Non-native, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips 
Comments Off on Cranesbills (Hardy Geraniums)Christmas Fern
Posted by Hugh on January 31st, 2024
Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) is an evergreen native fern that grows tough as nails. This native fern, also called the Christmas dagger fern, is indigenous to much of eastern North America; it grows in every U.S. state east of the Rocky Mountains (USDA hardiness zones 3 – 9). This durable fern has long been associated […]
Posted in acidic soil, Christmas fern, Container garden, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Fall Garden Interest, Ferns, Flower Arranging, Ground cover, Landscape ideas, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Christmas FernRattlesnake Master
Posted by Hugh on October 31st, 2023
Rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium) is mostly at home in a hot sunny prairie environment in the Southeast and Midwest (USDA hardiness 3-8). Its spiny nature gives it a desert spiny yucca-like appearance. Some Indian groups were known to brew the plant’s roots as an antidote to rattlesnake venom. Some native peoples also used the dried […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Flower Arranging, Landscape ideas, Native Plant, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Rattlesnake master (Eryngium), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Rattlesnake MasterThree Salvias To Try
Posted by Hugh on September 16th, 2023
Back in early spring you may have planted several kinds of salvias (sages). The arrival of the cool autumn weather turns up the flower power of sages. They’re members of the mint family and the leaves emit a mild anise scent when crushed. Looking ahead to summer of 2024, here are three salvias that you […]
Posted in acidic soil, Annuals, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Blue anise sage (S. guaranitica), Butterflies, Container garden, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Flower Arranging, Flower arrangments, Heat Tolerance, Honey bees, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Non-native, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Sage (Salvia), Salvia, Salvia leucantha, Salvia oxyphora, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Texas Sage (Salvia), Wind protection Comments Off on Three Salvias To TrySummer Blooming Trees
Posted by Hugh on July 30th, 2023
Other than crape myrtles, few trees bloom in July and August. Here are four exceptions: Chaste tree, Sourwood, Golden Raintree, and Franklinia. Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus-castus) is a 10-15 feet tall, vase-shaped, deciduous shrub or a small 15-20 feet tree. The species is native from southern Europe and Asia. It is often mistaken as a purple-flowering […]
Posted in Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Fall Garden Interest, Fragrant, Franklinia, Golden Raintree, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Sourwood (Oxydendrum), Southern Appalachian Region, Street tree, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Vitex (Chaste tree), watering tips Comments Off on Summer Blooming TreesVintage Large-Growing Oakleaf Hydrangeas
Posted by Hugh on July 24th, 2023
Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) is an upright, broad-rounded, suckering, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub that typically grows 4-6 feet (less frequently to 8 feet) tall. It is a wonderful flowering shrub with multi-season interest. It is native to the Southeastern U.S. and tolerates hot, humid weather. Oakleaf hydrangeas aren’t quite as cold-hardy as other hydrangea species (USDA […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Fall Garden Interest, Flower Arranging, Flowering, Flowering shrub, Fragrant, Hydrangeas, Landscape ideas, Large shrub, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Oakleaf hydrangea (H. quercifolia), Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (layering), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering hydrangeas, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Vintage Large-Growing Oakleaf Hydrangeas2023 Carex Evaluation From Mt Cuba
Posted by Hugh on July 18th, 2023
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 […]
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)
