Red-twig or red osier dogwood (Cornus stolonifera) is a native shrub (USDA hardiness zones 2-7). It reaches 8 to 10 feet in height and roots sucker prolifically. It can become a chore keeping it contained in small garden spaces. Arctic Fire™ is a superior cultivar identified by its fiery red stems and compact growth habit. Expect […]
Archive for the ‘Spring flowering’ Category
Arctic Fire™ Dogwood Brightens Up Winter Landscape
Posted by Hugh on December 19th, 2016
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, compact shrub, Container growing, container shrub, Cornus stolonifera, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Flower arrangments, Flowers, Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Root suckering, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter bark, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Arctic Fire™ Dogwood Brightens Up Winter LandscapePhotoperiodism – Short Day/Long Day Plants
Posted by Hugh on December 7th, 2016
“Photoperiodism” or daylength is responsible for triggering flowering in numerous plants. Some examples of short day plants are poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima), fall mums (Dendranthemum spp.), asters (Symphyotrichum spp.), Thanksgiving (Schlumbergera truncata), Christmas (S. bridgesii) cacti, Kalanchoes (Kalanchoe spp.) and Salvias (Salvia spp.). “Photoperiodism” is the amount of light and darkness a plant is exposed to. The […]
Posted in acidic soil, Anemone, Aster, Autumn flowering, Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera), Chrysanthemum, Environmental issues, Fertilizing plants, Flowering house plant, Kalanchoe, Perennials, Petunias, Photoperiod (Daylength), Planting tips, Poinsettia, Potting Mix, Propagation (Cuttings), Purchasing Plants, Roses, Salvia, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Strawberries, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Sunflowers, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, Winter flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on Photoperiodism – Short Day/Long Day PlantsAnnouncing AAS Ornamental Winners For 2017
Posted by Hugh on November 23rd, 2016
All American Selection (AAS) has named six Ornamental winners for 2017. Some include some new color breakthough in the series that you already know as well as some newbies. Dianthus ‘Supra Pink’ (Hem Genetics) is an easy-to-grow interspecific dianthus for three-seasons (spring, summer, fall) of garden color. Its mottled, frilly pink flowers stand up to summer’s heat and […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, compost, Container garden, Dianthus (Pinks), Disease resistant, Flowers, Geranium, Heat Tolerance, mulching, Native Plant, Penstemon, Perennials, Periwinkle (annual vinca), Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Star zinnia, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Verbena, winter hardiness, Zinnia Comments Off on Announcing AAS Ornamental Winners For 2017Polar Express Sunbelt Rose Big Winner At 2016 Biltmore Gardens Rose Trial
Posted by Hugh on October 29th, 2016
If you grow roses in the U.S. Mid-South region, the historic Biltmore Gardens in Asheville, NC is key source for discovering what varieties you should be growing. Recently, a jury of world rose experts selected the winning roses in the 2016 Biltmore International Rose Trials. Since 2011, Biltmore’s historic Rose Garden has been home to the trials in which more […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, climbing roses, compost, Container garden, deadheading, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Floribunda roses, Fragrant, Hybrid teas, mulching, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Roses, shrub roses, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Polar Express Sunbelt Rose Big Winner At 2016 Biltmore Gardens Rose Trial‘Midwinter Fire’ Dogwood Brightens Up The Winter Landscape
Posted by Hugh on October 21st, 2016
Bloodtwig dogwood (Cornus sanguinea), indigenous to Europe and Asia, is an upright branched, round-topped, spreading deciduous shrub (USDA hardiness zones 5 to 7). In the wild the species matures to 8-15 feet in height and spread. Its common name “bloodtwig” is misleading. Winter wood on 1-2 year old branches is not red. Instead, winter stems turn […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, compact shrub, Cornus sanguinea, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, mulching, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (layering), Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Midwinter Fire’ Dogwood Brightens Up The Winter LandscapeMapleleaf Viburnum For Woodland Areas
Posted by Hugh on September 27th, 2016
The genus Viburnum is a rich source of over 150 species of great flowering shrubs worldwide. Many viburnums are native to North America including mapleleaf viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium). This totally underutilized deciduous viburnum is a great choice to plant in shrub borders, foundation, or hedging, as well as to naturalize in an open woodland area (zone 3-8). Shrub grows 4 – […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, compact shrub, compact tree, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Mapleleaf viburnum, mulching, Native Plant, Planting tips, Pruning, Rabbit/deer Protection, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, Viburnums, winter hardiness Comments Off on Mapleleaf Viburnum For Woodland AreasFive Landscape Plants On The Gardeners’ Taboo List
Posted by Hugh on September 24th, 2016
To many people, maintaining a garden or landscape means a lot of hard work. Sometimes the weeds outgrow what you have planted. Some landscape plants promise a lot of beauty but deliver nothing but problems. Some trees are weak wooded, prone to pests or diseases, and outgrow their space. Some produce smelly odorous flowers. I urge […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, Bees and other pollinators, Bradford Pear, container shrub, Disease prone, Drought tolerant, Environmental issues, Fragrant, Honeysuckle (Lonicera), Invasive plant, Leyland cypress, Messy Fruits, Photinia, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Russian olive (Eleaegnus), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Five Landscape Plants On The Gardeners’ Taboo ListFritillarias – Very Different Spring Flowering Bulb
Posted by Hugh on September 15th, 2016
Crown imperial (Fritillaria imperialis), aka fritillaria, is an impressive spring flowering bulb that is native of Southwestern Asia to the Himalayas (USDA hardiness zones 5-8). In late April to May, large drooping orange, red, or yellow bell-shaped flowers are topped by a small pineapple-like tufts of leaf-like bracts. The leafy fringe on top resembles a […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Bulb Crops, Container garden, Disease prone, Drought tolerant, Flowering Bulb, Flowers, Fritillaria, Landscape ideas, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), root injury, Root rotting, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Spring flowering bulbs, Staking, Summer heat tolerant, Virus diseases, watering tips, Wind protection, winter hardiness Comments Off on Fritillarias – Very Different Spring Flowering BulbSome Zone 7 Camellias Survive In Zone 6 As Well
Posted by Hugh on September 10th, 2016
A short list of early blooming Sasanqua camellias possess the ability to do grow well in zone 6 areas. In my opinion, the zone 7 cultivar ‘Shishigashira’ steps to the head of the class. It is a November bloomer that has proven to be exceptionally cold hardy dwarf variety. The good folks at Cam Too, a camellia […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Camellia, compact shrub, compost, container shrub, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Heat Tolerance, mulching, Planting tips, Powdery mildew, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter flowering, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness, winter injury, Winter Protection Comments Off on Some Zone 7 Camellias Survive In Zone 6 As WellPest Alert: Viburnum Leaf Beetle May Be Invading
Posted by Hugh on August 30th, 2016
Viburnum Leaf Beetle is gradually coming to the Southeastern U.S. It was first found in upstate New York in 1996. This pest has been on the move, eating its way through native viburnums from upstate New York to northern Pennsylvania to western Maryland. It feeds only on viburnum species. Preferred species include native arrowwood viburnum (V. dentatum), […]
Posted in Bee Favorite, Garden ecology, Native Plant, Pesticide recommendations, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, Viburnum beetles, Viburnums Comments Off on Pest Alert: Viburnum Leaf Beetle May Be Invading
