No question, coneflowers have changed greatly over the past quarter century. Varieties are now available in many color shades and plants demonstrate improved longevity. Current cultivars grow alot shorter. However, some hybrid forms have been disappointing, barely surviving 1-2 years. When choosing coneflowers, Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) is my #1 favorite for dependability (USDA hardiness […]
Archive for the ‘Summer flowering’ Category
Growing Coneflowers
Posted by Hugh on May 6th, 2020
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Container garden, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering iris, Wildflowers, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Growing ConeflowersGrowing Angel Trumpet (Brugmansia)
Posted by Hugh on April 26th, 2020
Angel trumpet (Brugmansia) is tropical plant native from Venezuela to Peru (USDA hardiness zones 7-b to 10). Plants are surprising hardy outdoors in zone 6-b in protected areas. This beautiful perennial/shrub, grown in tree form, reaches heights of 6-10 feet. It is a member of the Solanaceae family which includes tomato, potato, petunia, nicotiana and other great garden plants. They’re […]
Posted in acidic soil, Angel trumpet (Brugmansia), Attracting Butterflies, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Fruits poisonous, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Poisonous plant, Potting Mix, Propagation (Cuttings), Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), Uncategorized, watering tips, Wind protection, winter hardiness Comments Off on Growing Angel Trumpet (Brugmansia)Wet And Wonderful
Posted by Hugh on April 21st, 2020
Two outstanding summer flowering perennials are Rodgersia (two forms) and Ligularia. Both are grown for their broad foliage and showy flowers. They share one special need: consistent soil moisture through the spring and summer months. Don’t attempt to grow either one of these awesome plants unless their water needs will be satisfied. These plants prefer wet, boggy feet (roots). Rodgersias […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, compost, Container garden, Disease resistant, Farfugium, Fertilizing plants, Landscape ideas, Ligularias, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Rodgersia, Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, watering tips, Wind protection, winter hardiness Comments Off on Wet And WonderfulSix Perennials For Dry Shade
Posted by Hugh on March 6th, 2020
Many of the following perennials tolerate dry shade but flourish in moist, well-drained soil. Each typically displays the richest foliage colors with a couple of hours of direct sunlight a day. All hold up well to dry conditions and are deer and rabbit resistant. Barrenworts (aka Bishop’s cap, Fairy Wings) (Epimedium spp.) represent over 70 […]
Posted in acidic soil, Barrenwort (Epimedium), Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Bugleweed (Ajuga), Container garden, Cranesbill (Geranium), Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Geranium, Ground cover, Hellebores, Landscape ideas, Lenten rose (Hellebore), Liriope, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Sacred Lily (Rohdea), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Uncategorized, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Six Perennials For Dry ShadeRhododendrons You Should Be Growing
Posted by Hugh on March 1st, 2020
“A healthy plant in the right place with proper maintenance” is a rhododendron that has few problems. Rhododendrons and azaleas are acid loving plants meaning plants should be planted in humus-rich slightly acidic soil (pH 5.2 -6.5). If the soil is not well amended, rhododendrons will have trouble surviving long term. Once planted, water during […]
Posted in acidic soil, Azalea (deciduous), Azaleas (evergreen), Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Breeding Plants, Container garden, Evergreen, Flower arrangments, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, plant nutrition, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (layering), Purchasing Plants, Rhododendrons, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Rhododendrons You Should Be Growing‘Sun King’ Aralia Named 2020 Perennial Plant Of The Year
Posted by Hugh on January 1st, 2020
Plants with golden foliage can brighten up almost any drab garden patch. Sun King golden aralia (Aralia cordata ‘Sun King’) is no exception, hardy in USDA hardiness zones 3-9. It is also known as Japanese spikenard and mountain asparagus. Under ideal conditions this thornless, rhizomatous, herbaceous perennial grows rapidly to 3-5 feet tall and as […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Aralia 'Sun King', Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Container garden, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Sun scald, Uncategorized, watering tips, winter hardiness 1 Comment »Wood’s White Aster Are Woodland Favorites
Posted by Hugh on August 26th, 2019
It’s late August and across the Southern Appalachian region White Wood Aster (Eurybia divaricata) are blooming. Their small daisy flowers are often seen blooming in shady woodlands in late summer. They start blooming a week or two later in the New England states and Canada (USDA hardiness zones 3-8). In a natural woodland Wood’s Aster […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aster, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Container garden, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, Native Plant, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, White Wood Aster (Eurybia), Wildflower, winter hardiness Comments Off on Wood’s White Aster Are Woodland FavoritesRose Of Sharon ‘Pillar’ Series –Floral And Architectural Splendor
Posted by Hugh on August 21st, 2019
RRose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus), aka althea, is a popular summer flowering shrub and small tree (USDA hardiness zones ((4)5-8). In northerly areas of the U.S., rose of Sharon may also be cultivated as a sun-loving perennial. The species grows 8-12 feet high and 6 -10 feet wide in full sun and in average garden […]
Posted in acidic soil, Althea (Hibiscus), Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Container garden, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Flower arrangments, Hibiscus syriacus, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Rose Of Sharon ‘Pillar’ Series –Floral And Architectural SplendorSix Perennials To Include In Your Garden
Posted by Hugh on August 16th, 2019
I continue to report to you on plants that perform. I am quick to eliminate plants that don’t live up to expectations.Here are six topnotch perennials you will enjoy in your garden for many years. Arkansas bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii) grows into a 2-3 feet tall arching clump of soft, feathery green leaves. Blue starry flowers […]
Posted in acidic soil, Alliums (onion), Amsonia (blue star), Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Black eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), Butterflies, Coreopsis, Coreopsis 'Gold Standard, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Flowers, Heat Tolerance, Hummingbird, Landscape ideas, Muhly grass, mulching, Native Plant, Perennials, Phlox, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Summer phlox (P. paniculata), watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Six Perennials To Include In Your GardenTall Stonecrops (Sedums)
Posted by Hugh on August 1st, 2019
Stonecrops (Hylotelephium spectabile) are tall clumping sedums. They are frequent seen in their habitat growing on rocks or stony ledges. Also written as Sedum spectabile, many varieties grow 1.5 to 2 feet high. Approximately 33 species of these drought-tolerant herbaceous perennials are found to Asia, Europe and North America (USDA hardiness zones 3-9). Stonecrop make excellent […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting birds, Autumn flowering, Balled and Burlapped (b&b), Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Butterflies, Container garden, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Heat Tolerance, Honey bees, Landscape ideas, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Purchasing Plants, Scale, Sedum (Shrub type), Slugs, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Stonecrop sedums, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Uncategorized, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Tall Stonecrops (Sedums)
