Sweet azalea (Rhododendron arborescens), aka smooth azalea, produces fragrant flowers in June. The native deciduous species grows along streams on woodland slopes and moist shrubby balds in the Appalachian Mountains from southern Pennsylvania and eastern Kentucky to North Georgia and Alabama. Here in Tennessee, you may spot this sweetly fragrant white blooms while hiking at […]
Archive for the ‘Spring flowering’ Category
Sweet Azalea
Posted by Hugh on May 15th, 2023
Posted in acidic soil, Azalea (deciduous), Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, compost, Deciduous, Flowering, Flowering shrub, Fragrant, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rabbit/deer Protection, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Sweet azalea (R. arborescens), Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Wind protection, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Sweet AzaleaSix Mini-Shrubs For Small Gardens
Posted by Hugh on May 10th, 2023
Many green thumbers and veteran senior gardeners have opted to grow in small garden beds. Here are six (6) small flowering shrubs that add lots of seasonal color from early spring to late summer. All six are easy to maintain; check the easy-care info at the end. Plants can also be grown in 12 inches […]
Posted in acidic soil, Althea (Hibiscus), Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, Container growing, container shrub, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower arrangments, Flowering, Forsythia, Hummingbird, Hydrangea arborescens, Hydrangeas, Landscape ideas, Lilac (Syringa), mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Non-native, Panicle hydrangea, Planting tips, Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Viburnums, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Six Mini-Shrubs For Small GardensMay Blooming Beauty Bush
Posted by Hugh on May 1st, 2023
Beauty Bush (Kolkwitzia amabilis) is closely related to two other flowering shrubs – Weigela and Diervilla – and belong in the honeysuckle family (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). It is primarily grown for its outstanding spring flowering in May. This deciduous shrub grows 6-10 feet tall with an arching, vase-shaped shrub habit. Beauty Bush is an old-fashioned shrub planted […]
Posted in acidic soil, Beauty Bush (Kolkwitzia), Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Flowering shrub, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on May Blooming Beauty BushFalse Spirea (Sorbaria)
Posted by Hugh on April 27th, 2023
Ural false spirea (Sorbaria sorbifolia) is a vigorous suckering deciduous shrub. It typically grows 5-10 feet tall and wide depending on variety and soil quality. (USDA hardiness zones 2 -7). False spirea has coarse leaf textured foliage that resembles mountain ash (Sorbus sp.), hence the scientific name. It is listed in the rose (Roseacea) family. Jungle-like […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, False spirea (Sorbaria), Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rabbit/deer Protection, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on False Spirea (Sorbaria)Chinese Fringe Flower
Posted by Hugh on April 22nd, 2023
Chinese fringe flower, aka Loropetalum (Loropetalum chinense) is related to witchhazels (Hamamelis spp) and is native to China, Japan, and the Himalayas (USDA 7-10). In the southern U.S., fringe flower is usually evergreen or semi-evergreen, and is deciduous in 6b-7a. For those who garden in areas that occasionally are hit cold winter snaps, plant them […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, compact shrub, Container garden, container shrub, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowering shrub, Fringe flower (loropetalum), Heat Tolerance, Hedges, Landscape ideas, Large shrub, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Chinese Fringe FlowerCrossvine
Posted by Hugh on April 15th, 2023
Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata) is a heavy flowering, vigorously growing vine in the Bignoniaceae (trumpet creeper) botanical family. It is native to the Southeastern and South-Central states including Texas. Once established, this vine stretches 30 to 50 feet high and spreads from 6 – 9 feet wide. A cross section of its stem reveals a marking resembling the […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Crossvine (Bignonia), Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Fall Garden Interest, Fragrant, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Staking, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Vine, Vine, watering tips Comments Off on CrossvineNative Irises
Posted by Hugh on April 9th, 2023
In the World of Iris, U.S. gardeners are highly partial to planting Siberian (Iris sibirica) and German (I. germanica) irises. Currently, in recent years there has been a sway to our native species called “flag irises”. Top of the list is Crested iris (I. cristata), a low-growing, rapidly spreading species that typically 3-6 inches tall. […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Borers, Container garden, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Flower arrangments, Ground cover, Iris, Iris spp. Native, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Wind protection, winter hardiness Comments Off on Native IrisesRed Buckeye – Delightful Small Flowering Tree
Posted by Hugh on April 3rd, 2023
Red buckeye (Aesculus pavia), aka Firecracker Plant, is a southeastern U. S. native that is a large understory shrub or small tree. A member of the Sapindaceae (maple) family, this lovely spring flowering beauty grows 15 to 25 feet tall in 30 years and is a perfect fit in small yards. It is native from […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Hummingbird, Landscape ideas, mulching, mulching trees, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Red buckeye (Aesculus), Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Red Buckeye – Delightful Small Flowering Tree‘Ogon’ Spirea Is A Standout
Posted by Hugh on March 12th, 2023
Spireas (Spiraea spp.) represent a large number of mostly non-native flowering landscape shrubs. Most are not U.S. natives, indigenous to China and Japan. Baby’s breath spirea (S. thunbergii) is also called Thunberg spirea and Breath of Spring spirea. It is a showy, graceful shrub that grows 3 to 5 feet high and wide with many […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, compact shrub, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Flowering, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spirea (Spiraea), Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter blooming, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Ogon’ Spirea Is A StandoutFalse Solomon Seal
Posted by Hugh on March 7th, 2023
False Solomon’s seal (Maianthemum racemosum) is a native woodland plant. It earns its common name because it looks very similar to Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum spp.). Both are in the lily family (Liliaceae) and are often seen growing together and easy to distinguish apart by the placement of the flowers on the plants. Formerly classified Smilacina racemosa, this […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, compost, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, False Solomon’s seal (Maianthemum), Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Solomon's seal, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, winter hardiness Comments Off on False Solomon Seal
