There are so many fine redbuds (Cercis spp.) which are hardy in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7) and elsewhere. Through research and breeding efforts at the JC Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh, NC, Southeast U.S. gardeners can grow several more cultivars of our native Eastern redbud (C. canadensis and subspecies texensis) and […]
Archive for the ‘Flowers’ Category
Evaluating The Weeping Redbuds
Posted by Hugh on March 21st, 2012
Posted in acidic soil, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Redbud, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, Weeping habit, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Evaluating The Weeping RedbudsProtect Fruit Trees and Bee Population
Posted by Hugh on March 19th, 2012
Cedar rust infection spot Warm weather in early spring means scab, cedar apple rust and powdery mildew diseases are upon the new leaves as they start to emerge. Preventative spraying for leaf diseases will result in management of additional fungi diseases through the growing season. Fungicides are protectants and not cure-alls. A light rain shower (as […]
Posted in apple orchard, Apple tree, apple varieties, Disease prone, Disease resistant, Fruits & Vegetables, Insect (Pest) Problems, Pear (Pyrus spp.), Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Uncategorized Comments Off on Protect Fruit Trees and Bee PopulationDon’t Let’em Sucker
Posted by Hugh on March 18th, 2012
Some grafted and budded shrubs and trees develop a bad habit to sending up shoots (suckering) from its rootsystem. This creates an untidy appearance around the base of shrubs and trees. Far worse, the root suckers may compete for domination over the cultivar graft. They may rob photosynthate, water and nutrients from the grafted plant. Eventually, the grafted portion may die. Gardeners select grafted plants for a number […]
Posted in Apple tree, Disease prone, Dwarf rootstocks, Insect (Pest) Problems, Pear (Pyrus spp.), Root suckering, rose virus, Roses, Uncategorized, Virus diseases Comments Off on Don’t Let’em Sucker‘Goshiki’ Osmanthus Brightens Up Any Garden Spot
Posted by Hugh on March 13th, 2012
Holly Tea Olive (Osmanthus spp.) comprises a number of evergreen shrubs from Japan which are winter hardy in USDA zone 7- 9. ‘Goshiki’ (O. heterophyllus ‘Goshiki’) is a hardier compact evergreen shrub, which grows very slowly at 3-4 inches per year. It is long-lived, maturing to 5- 6 feet in height and 5 to 7 […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Osmanthus 'Goshiki', Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant Comments Off on ‘Goshiki’ Osmanthus Brightens Up Any Garden SpotEfforts To Solve Japanese Barberry Invasive Problem
Posted by Hugh on March 11th, 2012
Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii) is a very popular landscape shrub. Japanese barberry is indigenous to Eastern Europe and Asia and is commonly planted in USDA hardiness zones 4-8. There is justified concern over the invasive nature of Japanese barberry. A number of states have declared most barberry species (Berberis spp.) to be invasive and have […]
Posted in acidic soil, Barberry (Berberis), Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Invasive plant, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on Efforts To Solve Japanese Barberry Invasive ProblemAwaken Overwintering Tropical Plants
Posted by Hugh on March 5th, 2012
If you live in USDA zones 6 and 7, early March is usually the proper time to re-awaken containers of tender tropicals stored in your garage or moved in to join your house plants last fall. Likely, they’ve already begun to sprout. Specifically, angel trumpets (Brugmansia spp.), elephant ears (Colocasia spp. and Alocasia spp.), cannas […]
Posted in Angel trumpet (Brugmansia), Banana (Ensete spp.), Banana (Musa spp.), Canna lily, Canna lily, Colocasia, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Pruning, Repotting plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), Uncategorized Comments Off on Awaken Overwintering Tropical PlantsThe Right Rhododendron for the Right Location
Posted by Hugh on March 2nd, 2012
Rhododendrons (Rhododendron catawbiense) were born in the cool of the North Carolina and Tennessee mountains. Hundreds of lovely hybrids have been bred by dedicated plantsmen. Winter hardiness is rarely an issue, but rhododendrons are challenged by summer heat and disease problems in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA hardiness zones 6 and 7). Your most important decision is […]
Posted in acidic soil, acidify soil, compost, Disease prone, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, plant nutrition, Rhododendrons, root injury, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness, winter injury Comments Off on The Right Rhododendron for the Right LocationRedbuds With Very Few Messy Seed Pods
Posted by Hugh on February 27th, 2012
A few years back my church pastor complained about the ugly load of seed pods covering the redbud branches (Cercis canadensis) on the property in the fall. My suggestion to avoid messy seed pods is to plant seedless redbud cultivars. A number of native redbud (C. canadensis) cultivars produce few to no seed pods. Let’s start with the cultivars ‘Ace of Hearts’ and sister seedling ‘Little […]
Posted in acidic soil, Disease resistant, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Redbud, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on Redbuds With Very Few Messy Seed Pods‘Quasimodo’ Vernal Witchhazel
Posted by Hugh on February 7th, 2012
Vernal witchhazel (H. vernalis) is a dense growing 8-12 foot native shrub which blooms in mid-winter in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7). It is winter hardy to zone 4. Small ½ inch wide yellow to red flowers, flushed red at the base, emit a pleasant witchhazel aroma in February. Often, it is the […]
Posted in acidic soil, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Southern Appalachian Region, Uncategorized, Winter flowering, Witchhazel (Hamamelis) Comments Off on ‘Quasimodo’ Vernal WitchhazelKey Points Whether To Grow Peaches
Posted by Hugh on February 6th, 2012
Peaches grow in other places besides Georgia, USA. A decade long period of mild winters in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7) have increased gardener confidence about growing peaches. Peaches (Prunus persica) tend to flower in early spring when the threat of spring frosts is still high. In many years spring frost may kill 80% of […]
Posted in Dwarf rootstocks, Fruits & Vegetables, Peach, Planting tips, Pollination needs, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Key Points Whether To Grow Peaches
