Rosebay Rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum) grows in dense woodland shade along cool mountain streams and on moist, rocky slopes. This Southern Appalachian native is extremely winter hardy to -15° to -20° F. It is a late-season bloomer reaching its peak around late June. Rosebay grows large, 15 to 20 feet in height. On some sites it […]
Archive for the ‘Flowers’ Category
Rosebay Rhododendron for Cool Shady Landscapes
Posted by Hugh on June 24th, 2011
Posted in acidic soil, acidify soil, Attracting birds, compost, mulching, Rhododendrons, Shade Gardening, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, watering evergreens 
Comments Off on Rosebay Rhododendron for Cool Shady LandscapesFlaming ‘Fireball’ Hibiscus Quite A Summer Show
Posted by Hugh on June 18th, 2011
‘Fireball’ hibiscus (Hibiscus x moscheutos ‘Fireball’) is a vigorous hardy perennial with burgundy tinted cutleaf foliage and huge 10-12 inch clear red flowers from mid-summer to late summer. Plant height is 4 – 5 feet and 2 – 3 feet in width. A strikingly beautiful plant, ‘Fireball’ thrives on heat and humidity. It wants full […]
Posted in compost, Flowers, Hardy hibiscus, Hibiscus moscheutos, Perennials, plant nutrition, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, watering tips Comments Off on Flaming ‘Fireball’ Hibiscus Quite A Summer ShowSummer Pruning of Oakleaf and Bigleaf Hydrangeas
Posted by Hugh on June 15th, 2011
Bigleaf or “mophead” hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla) tend to get tall and leggy, and outgrow their garden space. Our native oakleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea quercifolia) are pruned as blooms quality declines. Remove or “deadhead” all withered or faded flowers. Main pruning time for these two species is from mid-June thru mid-August. Mopheads may rebloom if they had […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Flower arrangments, Garden Maintenance, Hydrangea, Hydrangeas, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Oakleaf hydrangea (H. quercifolia), Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (layering), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized Comments Off on Summer Pruning of Oakleaf and Bigleaf HydrangeasLeather Flower Clematis- Hot Pink Summer Flowering Vine
Posted by Hugh on June 11th, 2011
Leather flower (Clematis glaucophylla) is native to moist woodlands in the Southeastern U.S. This lovely flowering vine is covered with one inch hot pink flowers tipped in yellow. The solitary, 1- inch bell shaped flowers are on 6- inch long stalks which reach out for support. It is called “leather flower” because the petals are […]
Posted in Attracting birds, Clematis glaucophylla, Native Plant, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Vine Comments Off on Leather Flower Clematis- Hot Pink Summer Flowering VineCalliope™ Dark Red Geranium- One of the Best
Posted by Hugh on June 4th, 2011
Garden performance is very important. Calliope™ Dark Red geraniums have it!! Calliope geraniums are interspecific hybrids with zonal-type leaves and huge vibrant red flowers. Plant breeders crossed ivy geraniums (the kind commonly used as hanging baskets) and zonal geraniums (found growing in pots, window boxes, and as bedding plants). Calliope is a vigorous grower with a mounding to semi-trailing […]
Posted in Autumn flowering, deadheading, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Geranium, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Uncategorized, watering tips Comments Off on Calliope™ Dark Red Geranium- One of the BestStewartia- A Tree for All Seasons
Posted by Hugh on June 1st, 2011
Japanese stewartia (Stewartia pseudocamellia) is a truly beautiful 20-30 foot small tree or multi-trunked shrub. Stewartia may be finicky to grow, but a great plant nonetheless. Although rarely seen in U.S. gardens, Japanese stewartia is the most commonly grown of the six stewartia species. All are winter hardy in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 […]
Posted in acidic soil, compost, Disease resistant, Flowers, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Stewartia pseudocamellia, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering iris, winter hardiness Comments Off on Stewartia- A Tree for All SeasonsWild Epaulette Tree Can Be Tamed
Posted by Hugh on May 26th, 2011
Epaulette tree (Pterostyrax hispida) is a small flowering tree which quickly grows to a mature height of 20—25 feet. Winter hardiness here in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7) is no problem. A newly planted tree grows an average of 15-18 inches per year and blooms early. Epaulette prospers in a moist well-drained […]
Posted in Disease resistant, Epaulette tree (Pterostyrax hispida), Flowers, Pruning, Root suckering, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on Wild Epaulette Tree Can Be TamedIs Paulownia Invasive?
Posted by Hugh on May 24th, 2011
Paulownia or Empress tree (Paulownia tomentosa) is a medium to large 30-50 foot tree. It is extremely fast growing, brittle wooded tree, as much as 4 feet per year. Across the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7), the large pale violet flowers of paulownia are easily visible in May, perched on branch tips. Its […]
Posted in Invasive plant, Paulownia (Empress tree), Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering Comments Off on Is Paulownia Invasive?Yellowwood Not Every Year Bloomer
Posted by Hugh on May 22nd, 2011
American yellowwood (Cladrastis kentukea) is a medium-sized flowering tree. In the month of May, a beautiful yellowwood tree is in bloom somewhere in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zone 6 and 7). The 1- 1 1/2 inch white pea blossoms comprise the 8-14 inch long wisteria-like panicles which drape from branch and twig tips. Yellowwood may bloom 2 to 3 consecutive years […]
Posted in acidic soil, Failure to Bloom, Flowers, Medium sized Tree, Native Plant, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, Yellowwood Comments Off on Yellowwood Not Every Year BloomerSummer Wine™: The Taming of The Ninebark
Posted by Hugh on May 19th, 2011
Over the past 25 years our native Eastern ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) has been reborn. Its overly vigorous nature has been tamed. Latest up is Summer Wine™ ninebark with small, deeply cut, wine burgundy leaves, quite different from the medium green foliage of old-fashioned ninebarks. Summer Wine is a more compact (5-6 feet in height and width) grower. Grow ninebark in […]
Posted in compact shrub, container shrub, Ninebark, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Summer Wine™: The Taming of The Ninebark
