Our native golden St. John’s wort (Hypericum frondosum) deserves more planting space in U. S. gardens (USDA hardiness zones 5-8). ‘Sunburst’ is the leading cultivar and exhibits superior traits over the species. Golden St. John’s wort forms a small, dense growing deciduous shrub, noted for its showy golden yellow flowers and attractive blue-green foliage. Sunburst grows more compact […]
Archive for the ‘Spring flowering’ Category
‘Sunburst’ Golden St. John’s Wort
Posted by Hugh on July 16th, 2012
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Butterflies, compact shrub, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreens, Flowering, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, St. John's Wort (Hypericum), Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Winter bark 
Comments Off on ‘Sunburst’ Golden St. John’s Wort‘Brigadoon’ Hypericum Wakes Up a Garden Bed
Posted by Hugh on July 13th, 2012
The bright chartreuse (almost golden) foliage Brigadoon St. John’s wort (Hypericum calycinum ‘Brigadoon’) can brighten up almost any dull garden spot. This Euro-Asian ground cover thrives in any well-drained soil under full to partial sunlight (USDA zones 4-7). Full sun may burn the summer foliage in zone 7. ‘Brigadoon’ grows 12 to 16 inches tall and spreads […]
Posted in Butterflies, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Planting tips, Pruning, Root suckering, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, St. John's Wort (Hypericum), Summer flowering Comments Off on ‘Brigadoon’ Hypericum Wakes Up a Garden BedVintage ‘Strawberry Candy’ A Sensational Daylily Performer
Posted by Hugh on June 26th, 2012
Some vintage daylily varieties are timeless performers. Strawberry Candy daylily (Hemerocallis x ‘Strawberry Candy’) is a daylily classic, one of the first to open in June in Southern Appalachian gardens (USDA hardiness zones 6 and 7). Its grass-like foliage is semi-evergreen here. The 4- inch diameter flowers open strawberry pink with a prominent rose red eye […]
Posted in Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Daylilies, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Hummingbird, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, watering tips Comments Off on Vintage ‘Strawberry Candy’ A Sensational Daylily Performer‘Red Volunteer’ – Outstanding Veteran Red-flowering Daylily
Posted by Hugh on June 24th, 2012
In the gardening world new does not always mean better. Red Volunteer daylily (Hemerocallis x ‘Red Volunteer’) is not new, introduced by Oakes Daylily Nursery, near Knoxville, TN in 1984. Daylily catalogs describe it as a “candle red self with a golden yellow throat”. It is a mid-season bloomer and the foliage is semi-evergreen. The […]
Posted in Daylilies, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, watering tips Comments Off on ‘Red Volunteer’ – Outstanding Veteran Red-flowering Daylily‘Color Guard’ Yucca Hold Gold Variegation
Posted by Hugh on June 19th, 2012
Architecturally, yucca (Yucca filamentosa), aka Adam’s needle or Spanish bayonet, makes a strong landscape statement. Yucca is often difficult to fit with with other shrubs, except perhaps other xerophytic plants. Yucca is frequently used in an arid-looking or in a courtyard setting in gravel mulch. Yucca prospers in full sun and a well-drained soil. This […]
Posted in Drought tolerant, Evergreens, Native Plant, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, winter hardiness, Yucca Comments Off on ‘Color Guard’ Yucca Hold Gold VariegationTorenia (Wishbone Flower) Blooms In Part Shade
Posted by Hugh on June 14th, 2012
The list of summer flowering annuals for shady spots in the garden is not long. Garden impatiens (Impatiens x wallerana) is the first choice, seconded by begonias (Begonia x semperflorens-cultorum). Today, wishbone flower (T. fournieri) is now available. Torenia blooms from spring to frost. It is best grown in a moist, organically rich, well-drained soil and […]
Posted in acidic soil, Disease resistant, Flowers, mulching, Planting tips, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Torenia (wishbone flw.), watering tips Comments Off on Torenia (Wishbone Flower) Blooms In Part ShadePowdery Mildew: The Bane of Beebalm
Posted by Hugh on June 9th, 2012
Beebalm (Monarda spp.) is one of our great native perennials and herbs. Native Americans used beebalm as a tea, brewing it for colds, minor bronchial and digestive complaints, and also as a poultice to soothe insect stings. During the Boston Tea Party, rebellious colonists utilized beebalm as a tea substitute, calling it “Oswego tea”. […]
Posted in Bee Favorite, Butterflies, deadheading, Disease prone, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Heat Tolerance, Herbs, Hummingbird, Monarda (Beebalm), Native Plant, Planting tips, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on Powdery Mildew: The Bane of BeebalmDwarf Southern Magnolia Cultivars
Posted by Hugh on June 1st, 2012
Small 5-6 Year Old ‘Little Gem’ Magnolia Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) is remarkably hardy in USDA zone 6. This evergreen magnolia prefers a moist well-drained, slightly acidic soil, and planted in a partial to full sun location. It is a long-lived large 70-80 feet tall tree, best suited to large commercial and residential properties, golf […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Butterflies, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Heat Tolerance, Magnolia grandiflora, Medium sized Tree, Native Plant, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant Comments Off on Dwarf Southern Magnolia Cultivars‘Helene Von Stein’ Lamb’s Ear Is More Behaved
Posted by Hugh on May 30th, 2012
Stachys byzantina is a dense gray woolly perennial ground cover, which earns it the common name “lamb’s ear”. ‘Helene Von Stein’ is the single best cultivar, displaying larger leaves, and is more heat and humidity tolerant. Sometimes listed as ‘Big Ears’, it rarely produces flowers which may tarnish its lovely silvery gray foliage appearance. Lamb’s ear grows […]
Posted in Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Lamb's ears (Stachys), Perennials, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, watering tips Comments Off on ‘Helene Von Stein’ Lamb’s Ear Is More BehavedFavorite Mountain Laurel Cultivars
Posted by Hugh on May 17th, 2012
Shopping for mountain laurels is like sampling sweets at a candy shoppe or ice cream parlour. There are so many great choices. Most plants grow 4-5 feet tall and wide. Most have plant foliage which is lustrous, dark green and leaf spot resistant. All cultivars need minimal pruning and fertilizing once a year. In great […]
Posted in acidic soil, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Mountain laurel (Kalmia), Native Plant, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on Favorite Mountain Laurel Cultivars
