Blazing star (Liatris spp.) is a popular summer flowering perennial. Also called gayfeather, it belongs in the aster family. This tall, upright, clump-forming perennial is found in moist meadows and at the edge of a marsh. (USDA hardiness zones 3-9). Liatris makes an excellent addition to a rain garden. Its distinctively reddish-purple flower spikes win […]
Archive for the ‘Summer flowering’ Category
Blazing Star– Electric Summer Flowering Perennial
Posted by Hugh on June 27th, 2014
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Blazing star (Liatris), Butterflies, deadheading, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Rabbit/deer Protection, Soil drainage, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Blazing Star– Electric Summer Flowering PerennialGladiolas Are Wonderful Cutflowers
Posted by Hugh on June 21st, 2014
Across most regions of the U.S., planting gladiola corms (they’re not really “bulbs”) begins a week before the probable frost-free date has passed in the spring. Stagger individual plantings every 2-3 weeks through mid- July. Many people opt to grow them as cutflowers for their homes. Purchase large or premium sized corms that measure 1 […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, compost, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Gladiolus, Insect (Pest) Problems, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Thrips, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Gladiolas Are Wonderful Cutflowers‘Going Bananas’ Daylily Blooms Continuously
Posted by Hugh on June 15th, 2014
‘Going Bananas’ is an extended-blooming daylily. This diploid cultivar flowers a three month long continuous blooming cycle (rather than stopping and starting again) from early summer into fall. Each bloom stays open longer, at least 16 hours per day. Each trumpet-shaped flower opens wider, a new genetic trait in daylilies. Going Bananas features slightly fragrant, […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, compost, Container growing, Daylilies, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Ground cover, mulching, Perennials, Propagation (dividing), Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on ‘Going Bananas’ Daylily Blooms Continuously‘Stella D’Oro’- First And Last Daylily To Bloom
Posted by Hugh on June 13th, 2014
For over a quarter of a century, wherever daylilies (Hemerocallus spp.) grow, you will find the very popular gold-flowered ‘Stella d’Oro’ daylily (USDA hardiness zones 2-9). It’s one of a few daylilies that blooms 3 out of 4 seasons. Its small size makes it an ideal choice as a ground cover. This short clump growing […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Daylilies, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Ground cover, mulching, Perennials, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Stella D’Oro’- First And Last Daylily To Bloom‘Hyperion’ Daylily Still Popular 90 Years Later
Posted by Hugh on June 11th, 2014
‘Hyperion’, a mid-season June-July bloomer, was designated the 2011 Award of Merit winner by the British Horticultural Society. That’s not bad for a daylily (Hemerocallus spp.) variety that was introduced in 1924. It’s still very popular among gardeners and garden designers. You see it everywhere, planted in shopping mall parking lots or along NC highways. […]
Posted in Butterflies, Daylilies, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Hummingbird, mulching, Perennials, Propagation (dividing), Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Hyperion’ Daylily Still Popular 90 Years LaterHow To Grow Milkweeds
Posted by Hugh on June 2nd, 2014
Milkweeds, aka butterfly weed (Asclepias spp.), are the favorite food of the Monarch butterfly. Farmers and most gardeners rate them as a noxious weeds. They’re commonly spotted growing along roadsides or in unplowed ground (USDA hardiness zones 3-9). Milkweeds average 3 feet in height, but may vary from 2-6 feet depending on species. Most species […]
Posted in acidic soil, Butterflies, Butterfly weed (Asclepias), Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Hummingbird, Native Plant, Planting tips, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Wildflowers Comments Off on How To Grow MilkweedsAllium ‘Millennium’ Outstanding Summer Blooming Ground Cover
Posted by Hugh on May 26th, 2014
Allium ‘Millennium’ is a rhizomatous type allium (onion) introduced by plant breeder Mark McDonough over a decade ago (USDA hardiness zones 5-8). In nursery catalogs it is sometimes listed Allium nutans‘Millennium’. Fleshy strap-like 12-inch long glossy green foliage emits a slight oniony smell when crushed. ‘Millennium’ is a rhizomatous (clump growing) long-lived perennial. Individual plants […]
Posted in acidic soil, Alliums (onion), Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Flowers, Ground cover, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Allium ‘Millennium’ Outstanding Summer Blooming Ground CoverJapanese Tree Lilac Is Excellent Late Flowering Form
Posted by Hugh on May 21st, 2014
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 […]
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 FormPreventing Powdery Mildew Disease On Summer Plants
Posted by Hugh on May 18th, 2014
Powdery mildews are serious fungal leaf diseases infecting many garden plants. Each one is host specific. The powdery mildew that attacks summer phlox does not infect zinnias or pumpkin vines. Powdery mildew disease on crape myrtles does not attack lilacs or roses. In recent years new powdery mildew diseases have popped up on dogwoods and […]
Posted in Crabapple, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Disease prone, Disease resistant, Dogwood (Cornus), Garden Problems, Irrigation, Lilac (Syringa), Monarda (Beebalm), Peony, Perennials, Phlox, Powdery Mildew, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Zinnia Comments Off on Preventing Powdery Mildew Disease On Summer PlantsRooguchi 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 Ramble
