Pagoda dogwood (Cornus alternifolia), aka alternate leaf dogwood, is a small deciduous tree or large multi-stemmed shrub. It typically grows 15-25 feet tall and spreads slightly wider than tall. It exhibits a very distinctive layered horizontal branching. Small creamy white non-bracted flowers appear as flattened cymes in mid to late spring, about 3-4 weeks after […]
Archive for the ‘Flowers’ Category
U.S. Native Pagoda Dogwood Wonderful Woodsy Tree
Posted by Hugh on April 11th, 2013
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Butterflies, Cornus alternifolia, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Dogwood (Cornus), Native Plant, Planting tips, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on U.S. Native Pagoda Dogwood Wonderful Woodsy TreeHardy or Not– Grow Agapanthus
Posted by Hugh on April 8th, 2013
Lily-of-the-Nile (Agapanthus praecox orientalis) is native to South Africa (USDA Zones 8–11), and is not reliably hardy in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zone 6 and 7). However, many gardeners are successfully growing it as a “tender perennial”. Agapanthus grows in an outdoor flower bed or in a container. The ball shaped light blue or white […]
Posted in acidic soil, Agapanthus (Lily of-the Nile), deadheading, Heat Tolerance, Mite susceptible, Mites, Perennials, Planting tips, Repotting plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Uncategorized, watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Hardy or Not– Grow AgapanthusSilverbell Tree Are Great Additions To Your Garden
Posted by Hugh on April 6th, 2013
Carolina silverbells (Halesia spp.) bloom as the last bracts of flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) have fallen. Clusters of white or pale pink bell-shaped flowers open along the branches. Flowers appear first and medium green leaves emerge a few days later. Silverbells vary tremendously in the wild. Some grow large shrub-like, or as small multi-trunked trees […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Silverbell (Halesia), Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips Comments Off on Silverbell Tree Are Great Additions To Your GardenCoastal Azalea Copes With Heavy Clay Soils
Posted by Hugh on April 4th, 2013
Coastal Azalea (Rhododendron atlanticum) is a deciduous native azalea that grows along coastal plains of the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast U. S. Their white 1 to 1 ½ inch tubular flowers appear about the time that lilac petals are beginning to fading. Flowers are snowy white with a pinkish blush, and emit a distinctly clove fragrance. Blooms open a few days before […]
Posted in acidic soil, Coastal azalea, Native Plant, Rhododendrons, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on Coastal Azalea Copes With Heavy Clay Soils‘Appalachian Spring’ Dogwood Highly Disease Resistant
Posted by Hugh on April 1st, 2013
This may be old news, but definitely worth repeating. Twenty five years ago a dreaded dogwood disease threatened to eliminate our beautiful spring flowering tree from our gardens. Appalachian Spring flowering dogwood (Cornus florida ‘Appalachian Spring’) was found at the Camp David Presidential Retreat atop Catoctin Mountain in Maryland. Currently, Appalachian Spring is the only dogwood cultivar […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Dogwood (Cornus), Dogwood borer, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, mulching, Ornamental fruit, plant nutrition, Spring flowering, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Appalachian Spring’ Dogwood Highly Disease ResistantGolden Hakone Grass Is Worth The Extra Care
Posted by Hugh on March 29th, 2013
Awaken dark zones in your shade garden with this wonderful golden treasure from Japan. Golden hakonegrass (Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’) grows 12-18 inches tall and 18-24 inches wide in a cascading mound form. Very thin green stripes (veins) line the mid-rib of the ½ inch wide golden leaf blades. Tiny, relatively ininsignificant, floral spikes (inflorescences) appear for […]
Posted in acidic soil, Deer resistant, Ground cover, Hakone grass, Ornamental Grasses, Perennials, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, watering tips Comments Off on Golden Hakone Grass Is Worth The Extra CareSomething New to Grow – Esperanza, Yellow Bells
Posted by Hugh on March 22nd, 2013
Esperanza or Yellow Bells (Tecoma stans) is a 6 foot tall perennial shrub that grows in South Texas and Mexico (USDA zones 8-10). Esperanza means “hope” and it is destine to become a popular flowering annual in more U.S. Southeastern gardens. It demands a well drained soil […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Esperanza (Tecoma), Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Planting tips, Repotting plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on Something New to Grow – Esperanza, Yellow BellsFall Color Calendar For Red Maple
Posted by Hugh on March 20th, 2013
Red maple (Acer rubrum) is commonly planted as a 40-60 feet tall street or shade tree (USDA hardiness zones 3-9). Tiny red flowers burst open early, often in early March throughout the Southern Appalachian region (USDA hardiness zones 6 and 7). Flowers give way to reddish double winged samaras. Its glossy dark green 3-5 lobed […]
Posted in acidic soil, Heat Tolerance, Large Shade trees, Maples (Acer), Native Plant, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on Fall Color Calendar For Red MapleLittle Girl Magnolias Avoid Early Spring Frosts
Posted by Hugh on March 17th, 2013
The early flowering deciduous magnolias, namely star (Magnolia stellata) and tulip (M. soulangeana) magnolias, are often susceptible to late winter-early spring frosts. In the 1980’s the U.S. National Arboretum released the series of 8 shrub-type cultivars called the “Little Girl Magnolias”. They were crosses between M. liliiflora and M. stellata. Over ten years these deciduous […]
Posted in acidic soil, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Garden Maintenance, Magnolia liliiflora, Magnolia stellata, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (layering), Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on Little Girl Magnolias Avoid Early Spring FrostsVirginia Bluebells – An Early Spring Wildflower
Posted by Hugh on March 15th, 2013
In early spring Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica) is an ephemeral woodland wildflower. In early April their lovely presence is to be enjoyed for a short 8-10 week period. Clusters of pinkish-blue nodding buds burst forth into soft pastel blue flowers. Gradually, the bell -shaped flowers age to pale pink hues. The lovely blue flowers are […]
Posted in acidic soil, Butterflies, Hummingbird, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Shade Gardening, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Spring flowering bulbs, Virginia bluebell (Mertensia), watering tips Comments Off on Virginia Bluebells – An Early Spring Wildflower
