Japanese tree lilac (Syringa reticulata) is a late flowering lilac, often 2-3 weeks later than the popular common and hybrid shrub lilacs (USDA hardiness zone 3-7). Tree lilac is tall growing, often 20-25 feet tall with a 15-25 foot spread. It forms a nice small multi-trunked street tree. Tree lilac is the last of the […]
Archive for the ‘Spring flowering’ Category
Japanese Tree Lilac Is Excellent Late Flowering Form
Posted by Hugh on May 21st, 2014
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fragrant, Lilac (Syringa), Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Street tree, Summer flowering, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter bark, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Japanese Tree Lilac Is Excellent Late Flowering FormSweetbay Magnolia
Posted by Hugh on May 15th, 2014
Sweetbay, aka laurel magnolia, (Magnolia virginiana) is a U.S. native tree. This small to medium-sized native species often 20-30 feet tall and 15-20 feet wide as a large shrub or multi-stemmed small tree. Finding a 50-60 feet sweetbay near by a lake or pond near where you live is not unusual (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Fragrant, Heat Tolerance, Magnolia virginiana, Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Sweetbay MagnoliaRooguchi Clematis: Let It Ramble
Posted by Hugh on May 12th, 2014
Combine two popular garden trends: climbing vines and vertical gardening. Vines may grow on a trellis or allow them to weave through an existing shrub or tree. In a small garden this can be a space saver. In the world of clematis, the cultivar Rooguchi, aka Roguchi, (Clematis integrifolia x C. reticulata) has become increasingly […]
Posted in Clematis 'Rooguchi', Heat Tolerance, mulching, Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Staking, Summer flowering, watering tips Comments Off on Rooguchi Clematis: Let It RambleRoseshell Azalea Thrives In Cool Mountain Woodlands
Posted by Hugh on May 9th, 2014
Roseshell azalea (Rhododendron prinophyllum, formerly R. roseum) is native from New England, a number of Midwestern states, south to Texas. In its natural habitat it is commonly grows on wooded, north-facing slopes, shaded ravines, or nearby a cool mountain stream. The plants are not stoloniferous. Roseshell azalea grows best in organically rich, acidic, well-drained, and […]
Posted in acidic soil, Azalea (deciduous), compost, mulching, Native Plant, Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Roseshell Azalea Thrives In Cool Mountain Woodlands‘Summer Gold’ Kousa Dogwood
Posted by Hugh on April 27th, 2014
Get ready to alter your mindset with ‘Summer Gold’ Chinese (kousa) dogwood (Cornus kousa) (USDA hardiness zones 5-8). Its diminutive size, 8 to 10 feet high and 4 to 5 feet wide, makes it a great fit for a small city garden. Branching is distinctly upright, which partially accounts for its narrow space needs. ‘Summer […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, Chinese (kousa) dogwood, compact tree, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Dogwood (Cornus), Ornamental fruit, Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, watering tips, Winter bark, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Summer Gold’ Kousa DogwoodDon’t Shy Away From Annual Vincas (Periwinkles)
Posted by Hugh on April 23rd, 2014
Annual vinca or periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus) is a summer flowering annual popular in Southern and Midwest gardens (USDA hardiness zones 9-11). When summer’s heat and humidity soars, vincas look their best and bloom the heaviest. Vincas sparkle in containers, in flower beds, or in front borders around building foundations. Transplants are set out in mid-spring […]
Posted in acidic soil, Butterflies, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Flowers, Heat Tolerance, mulching, Periwinkle (annual vinca), plant nutrition, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on Don’t Shy Away From Annual Vincas (Periwinkles)‘Miss Kim’ Lilac Tackles Southeast U.S. Heat and Humidity
Posted by Hugh on April 17th, 2014
When northerners move south, they insist on growing lilacs (Syringa spp.). Southern U.S. heat and humidity often take their toll on these lovely fragrant and colorful spring flowering shrubs (USDA hardiness zones 3-8). One very popular and exceptionally reliable lilac is ‘Miss Kim’ lilac (S. pubescens ssp. patula ‘Miss Kim’). A cultivar of Manchurian lilac, […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Butterflies, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Fragrant, Hummingbird, Lilac (Syringa), Planting tips, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on ‘Miss Kim’ Lilac Tackles Southeast U.S. Heat and HumidityJoin The Brunnera Revolution
Posted by Hugh on April 10th, 2014
Over the past decade heartleaf brunnera (Brunnera macrophylla), aka Siberian Bugloss and Alkanet, has become a popular spring flowering perennial in U.S. and Canadian gardens (USDA plant hardiness zones 3 – 8). Native to Russia brunnera need little care when properly sited. Sprays of tiny blue-petalled /yellow centered forget-me-not flowers explode into a blue haze […]
Posted in acidic soil, Brunnera 'Jack Frost', compost, Flowers, Ground cover, mulching, Nematodes, Perennials, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Join The Brunnera RevolutionThree Beautiful Ornamental Crabapples
Posted by Hugh on April 4th, 2014
Crabapples (Malus spp.) get a bad rap! Many gardeners associated them with the old diseased and pest prone varieties planted a half-century ago. Modern cultivars make nice small ornamental trees. The new cultivars exhibit exceptional resistance to five serious diseases of crabapples: apple scab, fire blight, cedar-apple rust, leaf spot and powdery mildew. Three of […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, compact tree, Crabapple, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Ornamental fruit, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Weeping habit, winter hardiness Comments Off on Three Beautiful Ornamental CrabapplesAttracting Monarch Butterflies To Your Garden
Posted by Hugh on April 1st, 2014
From Canada to Mexico, gardeners are called upon to halt the decline of the Monarch butterfly populations across North America. The best way you can help is to fill your garden with Monarch’s favorite flowering nectar plants and milkweeds (Asclepias spp.). Plants should be sited in open full sun and moist well-drained soil. Avoid spraying […]
Posted in Aster, Black eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), Buddleia (Butterfly bush), Butterflies, Cosmos, Drought tolerant, Eupatorium 'Gateway', Eupatorium rugosum 'Chocolate', Flowers, Heat Tolerance, Lantana, Liatris, Marigold, Milkweeds (Asclepias), Monarda (Beebalm), Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Star zinnia, Stonecrop sedums, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Zinnia Comments Off on Attracting Monarch Butterflies To Your Garden
