Toadlilies (Tricyrtis spp.) are late season flowering perennials in the shade garden. Most perennials have finished blooming as their flower buds are forming. They’re native to moist woodsy environs of India, China and Japan and are Botanical members of the lily (Lilaceae) family (USDA hardiness zones 4-9). When properly sited, toadlilies are long-lived and require […]
Archive for the ‘Flowers’ Category
Toadlilies In The Autumn Garden
Posted by Hugh on September 25th, 2018
Posted in Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Landscape ideas, mulching, Perennials, plant nutrition, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Propagation (layering), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rabbit/deer Protection, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Toadlily (Tricyrtis), watering tips, Wind protection, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Toadlilies In The Autumn GardenOsage Orange As A Landscape Tree
Posted by Hugh on September 20th, 2018
Osage orange (Maclura pomifera) has been declawed and neutered (USDA Zones 5-9). A member of the mulberry family (Moraceae), this tough prairie tree species is native to east Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. It grows fast @ 2 ½ to 3 feet per year. It is also called Bois D’Arc (pronounced “bow-dark”). Osage orange is a […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, alkaline soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Dioecious, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Fencing, Fertilizing plants, Fruits poisonous, Heat Tolerance, Inconspicious, Landscape ideas, Medium sized Tree, Messy Fruits, mulching, Native Plant, Osage Orange (Maclura), plant nutrition, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (layering), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil Conservation, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, Wind protection, winter hardiness Comments Off on Osage Orange As A Landscape TreeSuccess In Growing Franklinia Tree
Posted by Hugh on September 10th, 2018
Franklinia (Franklinia altamaha) is a uniquely different large shrub or small tree. Great plant for the “I can grow anything crowd”. Rated hardy in USDA hardiness zones 5-8, I’ve never seen a landscape quality specimen in zone 5 and find that the tree performs best in zones 6 to 7. Success with growing franklinia hinges on […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, compact tree, compost, Environmental issues, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Flowering, Fragrant, Franklinia, Landscape ideas, Large shrub, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Root rotting, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Transplant problem, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter bark, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Success In Growing Franklinia TreeNot New –Still Top Landscape Performers
Posted by Hugh on September 6th, 2018
A senior gardener knows that many new plant cultivars (varieties) are often no better than what had come before. Many “superstar” shrubs, some released a decade or more ago, are still topnotch performers in many parts of the U.S. Here are six which I continue to recommend highly. ‘Low &Behold® Blue Chip Jr.’ Butterfly Bush is a super compact 18-30 […]
Posted in Abelia, acidic soil, Althea (Hibiscus), Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, Buddleia (Butterfly bush), Butterflies, compost, Cornus sanguinea, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Dogwood shrubs (Cornus), Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Flowering, Hydrangeas, Landscape ideas, mulching, Panicle hydrangea, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Spirea (Spiraea), Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter blooming, winter hardiness Comments Off on Not New –Still Top Landscape Performers‘Henry Eilers’ Coneflower (Rudbeckia)
Posted by Hugh on September 1st, 2018
Called “sweet coneflower” (Rudbeckia subtomentosum), this U.S. Midwest prairie species is a long-lived perennial that grows in a variety of soils (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). Sweet coneflower prefers full or partial sun (6 hours minimum) and a moist well-drained loamy soils. It is highly drought tolerant after its first year in the garden. Established plants emerge in mid-spring as a […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Butterflies, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Fragrant, Landscape ideas, Native Plant, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Powdery mildew, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Henry Eilers’ Coneflower (Rudbeckia)Growing Morning Glories
Posted by Hugh on August 28th, 2018
Morning glory vines (Ipomoea tricolor) add a dash of old fashion charm to today’s gardens. YES! these aggressive vines demand a high degree of attention. Their funnel or tubular-shaped flowers open in the morning and close late in the afternoon. In a single growing season, vines may grow 6 to 12 feet and more (depending on variety). Morning […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, alkaline soil, Annuals, Bees and other pollinators, compost, Container garden, Disease resistant, Failure to Bloom, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Landscape ideas, Morning glory (Ipomoea), mulching, Planting tips, Poisonous or toxic, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Staking, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), Vine, watering tips, Wind protection, winter hardiness Comments Off on Growing Morning GloriesTexas Elephant Ears Study*
Posted by Hugh on August 23rd, 2018
Dr. Jared Barnes and colleagues at Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches, Texas, trialed 46 Colocasia species/cultivars over two years to determine what performed best over a two-year growing period. First of all, Nacogdoches is in east Texas (Zone 8-b) and typifies the upper coastal plain, stretching from there east to South Carolina. Cultivars were […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Colocasia, compost, Container garden, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Foliage plant, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Texas Elephant Ears Study*Ligularias For Moist Sites
Posted by Hugh on August 20th, 2018
Ligularias (ligs) are big leafy perennials whose roots must be kept constantly moist so that plants don’t wilt or “faint”. An established plant may tolerate several days in dry soil, yet the droopy foliage will recover from the water loss each night. Several species are tropical (under the genus Farfugium). Bigleaf ligs (L. dentata) and narrow-spiked ligularias (L. stenocephala), […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, compost, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Garden ecology, Landscape ideas, Ligularias, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Ligularias For Moist SitesFavorites Among The Rose Of Sharon (Althea) Shrubs
Posted by Hugh on August 15th, 2018
Rose of Sharon, aka shrub althea, (Hibiscus syriacus) is a woody hibiscus shrub that is hardy in temperate northern areas of the U.S. (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). This summer flowering shrub is exceptionally easy to grow. At one time, it was a great pass-along shrub that fell out of favor. However, old fashioned varieties frequently reseeded […]
Posted in acidic soil, Althea (Hibiscus), Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, compact shrub, Container garden, container shrub, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Green Privacy Screen, Heat Tolerance, Hibiscus syriacus, Japanese beetles, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (layering), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Favorites Among The Rose Of Sharon (Althea) ShrubsGrowing Castor Bean Plant
Posted by Hugh on August 10th, 2018
Over the years castor bean (Ricinus communis) plants have been a common sight in public gardens. These tall ornamental annuals are cherished for both their colorful flowers and seed capsules, and bold foliage. The species, a botanical member of the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae), is indigenous to the southeastern Mediterranean region, Eastern Africa, and India. Unlike many spurges, the […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, Castor bean, Castor bean (Ricinus), compost, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Fruits poisonous, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Ornamental vegetables, Planting tips, Poisonous or toxic, Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips Comments Off on Growing Castor Bean Plant
