Spider flowers (Cleome x hybrida) are top performing summer flowering annuals. Each year plant breeders introduce compact varieties to beautify flower beds and container gardens. Select among vegetative and seed produced types. Spider flowers ask for weekly watering and full day sunlight (best) to achieve maximum blooming potential. They will grow in a partially shaded beds but bloom less and the plants tend to […]
Archive for the ‘Summer flowering’ Category
Spider Flowers Excel In Summer’s Heat And Humidity
Posted by Hugh on July 21st, 2016
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, compost, Container garden, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Flowers, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spider flower (Cleome), Spring flowering, Staking, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Spider Flowers Excel In Summer’s Heat And HumidityDo Not Call Them “Weeds” Any Longer
Posted by Hugh on July 18th, 2016
Some plants deserve more respect. Over the years several U.S. native species have been tamed or domesticated. Yet, they retain their common name “weed”. Four popular former “weeds” are: butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) ironweed (Vernonia lettermannii ‘Iron Butterfly’), sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale), and Joe-Pye weed (Eupatorium spp.). Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Butterfly weed (Asclepias), Container garden, deadheading, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Eupatorium 'Gateway', Eupatorium rugosum 'Chocolate', Fertilizing plants, Helenium, Ironweed (Vernonia), Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Staking, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Do Not Call Them “Weeds” Any LongerComparing Oriental Lilies To Asiatic Lilies
Posted by Hugh on July 13th, 2016
Both Asiatic and Oriental lilies (Lilium spp.) are popular lilies in U.S. gardens. Hybrid cultivars share traits of both species. Lilies grow in a wide variety of soil types and are not pH sensitive. They flower in full to part partial sun (5 hours minimum of sunlight). Both prefer a well-drained soil and mulch to keep roots […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Bulb Crops, Butterflies, deadheading, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Fragrant, Hummingbird, Lily (Lilium spp.), Lily (Lilium), mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rabbit/deer Protection, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering bulbs, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Comparing Oriental Lilies To Asiatic LiliesSpice Up Dark Garden Spots With Heucherellas
Posted by Hugh on July 10th, 2016
Here come the heucherellas (x Heucherella), also called “foamy bells”. Heucherellas are hybrids that result from crossing two U.S. native genera: foamflower (Tiarella spp.) and coral bell (Heuchera spp.). Terra Nova Nurseries, a wholesale grower in Oregon, were the first to develop these hybrids. They possess the awesome foliage from both species parents. One […]
Posted in acidic soil, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Heucherella (foamy bells), mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Shade Gardening, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Spice Up Dark Garden Spots With HeucherellasNandinas Are Never Old-fashioned
Posted by Hugh on June 25th, 2016
Aka “heavenly bamboo”, nandinas (Nandina domestica) are broadleaf evergreen shrubs with several landscape attributes that include white spring flowers, color changing leathery foliage, and enormous clusters of colorful berry fruits in fall and winter (USDA hardiness zones 6-9). This member of the Barberry family (Berberidaceae) is native to Japan, China […]
Posted in compact shrub, container shrub, Evergreen, Fruits poisonous, Nandina, Ornamental fruit, Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on Nandinas Are Never Old-fashionedButterfly Weed – Long-lived Flowering Perennial That Nourish Monarchs
Posted by Hugh on June 21st, 2016
Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa), aka butterfly weed, is a tuberous rooted perennial native in the Eastern and southern U.S. (USDA hardiness zones 3 to 9). It grows in dry/rocky open woodlands, prairies, farm fields, and along roadsides. Individual plants typically grow as a clump to 1- 3 feet high and 1 ½ feet wide. Unlike many of […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Butterfly weed (Asclepias), Deer resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Milkweeds (Asclepias), Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Poisonous or toxic, Propagation (Seed), root injury, Rust diseases, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, watering tips, Winter Protection Comments Off on Butterfly Weed – Long-lived Flowering Perennial That Nourish MonarchsCelebrate National Pollinator Week
Posted by Hugh on June 19th, 2016
June 20 – 26 is National Pollinator Week. National Pollinator Week is a time to celebrate pollinators and spread the word about what you can do to protect them. Nine years ago the U.S. Senate unanimous approved and designated a week in June as “National Pollinator Week”. National Pollinator Week is […]
Posted in Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Garden ecology, Ground nesting bees, Native Plant, Planting tips, Pollination needs, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Uncategorized, Wildlife attractant Comments Off on Celebrate National Pollinator WeekButtonbush Offers Year-round Interest
Posted by Hugh on June 13th, 2016
Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis), aka Button-willow or Honey Bells, is a medium to large native shrub with many fine landscape attributes. This unique flowering shrub is a favorite in attracting beneficial wildlife. It populates bogs, swamps and pond areas, as well as dry limestone bluffs in the eastern U.S. […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Buttonbush (Cephalanthus), Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Flowering, Fragrant, Heat Tolerance, mulching, Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Poisonous or toxic, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Buttonbush Offers Year-round InterestThree Native Landscape Grasses To Try
Posted by Hugh on June 7th, 2016
These three native grasses are easy to establish in average, dry to medium moist, well-drained soils and in full sun. They tolerate a wide range of soils including dry rocky sites, and are exceptionally drought tolerant. Figure on 1 to 2 years for each to become fully established. Blue Lyme Grass (Leymus arenarus ‘Blue Dune’) is a vigorous spreading cool […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting birds, Autumn flowering, Blue Lyme grass (Leymus), Cold tolerance, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fragrant, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, Mexican Feather Grass (Nassella), Ornamental Grasses, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Sand Dune Protection, Soil Conservation, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Three Native Landscape Grasses To TryRecommendations On Hardy Crape Myrtles
Posted by Hugh on June 4th, 2016
Crape myrtles are dependable trees and shrubs in zones 7 – 10. In northern areas of USDA zone 6, a number of crape myrtle varieties (cultivars) are rated as winter hardy perennials but not develop into a full sized woody tree or shrub described on the plant tag. In northeastern U.S. cities such as Philadelphia, Wilmington or Baltimore, crape myrtles […]
Posted in Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Disease resistant, Environmental issues, Fertilizing plants, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Trees & Shrubs, Winter bark, winter hardiness, winter injury, Winter Protection Comments Off on Recommendations On Hardy Crape Myrtles
