Christmas roses (Helleborus niger), aka Christmas roses, are early winter flowering lenten roses. They bloom around Christmas time if winter temps are generally still mild. Based on the severity of winter temps, start of bloom date will vary considerably between H. niger and the more popular Helleborus x hybridus (H. x orientalis). (USDA hardiness zones […]
Archive for the ‘Garden Maintenance’ Category
Christmas Rose
Posted by Hugh on December 22nd, 2024
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Aphids, Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, Christmas rose (H. niger), Cold tolerance, Container garden, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Flower arrangments, Fruits poisonous, Ground cover, Honey bees, Landscape ideas, Leaf/needle spots, Lenten rose (Hellebore), Non-native, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, root injury, Shade Gardening, Slugs, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Wind protection, Winter flowering, winter hardiness 
No Comments »Thermonasty – What Is It?
Posted by Hugh on December 16th, 2024
How cold did it get overnight? Perhaps you should check out your rhododendrons outside. The leaves of some rhododendron species (Rhododendron spp.) and Redneck Rhody (Daphniphyllum macropodum) droop down and/or curl up during really cold nights. Plant scientists believe that this reaction may be a plant’s way of reducing water loss through stomata cells on […]
Posted in Cold tolerance, Daphniphyllum macrophyllum, Evergreen, Landscape ideas, Native Plant, Non-native, Rhododendrons, Rosebay Rhododendron (R. Maximum), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Thermonasty, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Wind protection, winter hardiness, Winter Protection No Comments »Russian arborvitae (Microbiota)
Posted by Hugh on December 1st, 2024
Russian arborvitae, aka Siberian cypress (Microbiota decussata), is a conifer ground cover that originates from frigid Siberia; it is exceptionally cold hardy to -40° F (USDA hardiness zones 2-7). Microbiota prospers in the cooler parts of the Mid-South (Kentucky, East Tennessee, Virginia, and Western North Carolina). Growth rate is slow to medium. This amazing groundcover shows […]
Winter-blooming Snowdrops
Posted by Hugh on November 26th, 2024
Snowdrop (Galanthus spp.) are grown in both cold and moderate winters. In the U.S. snowdrops thrive where winters are cool (USDA hardiness zones 3-8). There are about 19 species of Galanthus – in the amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae). They’re native to the cool woodland and mountainous regions of southern Europe and Asia Minor. They tend to struggle in […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Galanthus (snowdrops), Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Snowdrops (Galanthus), Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering bulbs, watering tips, Winter flowering, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness No Comments »Summer Snowflakes (Leucojum)
Posted by Hugh on November 21st, 2024
Summer snowflakes originate from Europe and northern Africa and are carefree spring-blooming bulbs. They belong to the Amaryllis (Amaryllidaceae) botanical family and are critter proof. (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). Flowers and foliage are similar to snowdrops, but snowflakes grow twice as tall and bloom about 2-3 months later, usually just after most daffodils. Pure white, […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Flower Arranging, Flowering Bulb, Fragrant, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Perennials, Planting tips, Purchasing Plants, Snowflake (Leucojum), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer snowflake (Leucojum), watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Summer Snowflakes (Leucojum)Container Design – List Of Spillers
Posted by Hugh on November 11th, 2024
Spiller plants are species that trail over the edge of the pot with a cascading growth habit. Combined with erect-growing “thriller” plants as the focal point in container gardens, spillers bring texture, color, and visual interest to the rest of the pot. Trailing plants provide a “full look”, draping over edges of hanging baskets and […]
Posted in acidic soil, Alyssum (annual), Annuals, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, Begonia, Bergenia (pigsqueak), Bidens (Beggarstick), Bishop's weed (Aegopodium), Calibrachoa (Million bells), Catharanthus (Vinca), Container garden, Creeing jenny (Lysimachia), Cupheas, Disease resistant, Fall Garden Interest, Flowers, Helichrysum (Licorice plant), Hummingbird, Landscape ideas, Native Plant, Non-native, Planting tips, Plectranthus, Scaevola, Sedum, Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Container Design – List Of SpillersNative Sedum (Three-leaved Stonecrop)
Posted by Hugh on November 2nd, 2024
Three leaved Stonecrop (Sedum ternatum), aka mountain stonecrop, whorled stonecrop), is a small, spreading, Eastern U.S. perennial (USDA hardiness zone 4 to 8). In its natural habitat, this native sedum is found in damp sites along stream banks, bluff bases and stony ledges. Stonecrops are in the Crassulaceae family. Mountain stonecrop grows 2-6 inches high […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Botrytis disease, Container garden, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Ground cover, Landscape ideas, Native Plant, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Sedum, Sedum (Groundcover types), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Stonecrops (Sedum), winter hardiness Comments Off on Native Sedum (Three-leaved Stonecrop)Temple of Bloom® Seven Son Flower
Posted by Hugh on October 21st, 2024
Few woody plants can matched for year-round beauty of Seven son flower. Temple of Bloom® is an outstanding selection from Proven Winners™ (PW) is a beautiful, easy to grow this deciduous small tree or large shrub. It grows 10 -20 feet tall and 6-10 feet wide. In spring, the handsome leaves emerge, each sporting dramatically deep […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Fragrant, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Seven son flower (Heptacodium), Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest Comments Off on Temple of Bloom® Seven Son FlowerTriggering Holiday Cactus To Bloom
Posted by Hugh on October 12th, 2024
Thanksgiving and Christmas cacti are not desert plants. They’re indigenous to the tropical rain forest environment in South America. Holiday cacti thrive in bright indirect sunlight along with other house plants. Set them near an east-facing window when indoors over fall and winter or shaded under trees outdoors in the spring and summer months. Indoors, […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera), Fall Garden Interest, Mealy bugs, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Soil drainage, Thanksgiving cactus, watering tips, Winter flowering, Winter Garden Interest Comments Off on Triggering Holiday Cactus To BloomToad Lilies Shine In The Autumn Garden
Posted by Hugh on October 3rd, 2024
Toad lilies (Tricyrtis spp.) are late season flowering perennials in the shade garden. Most summer perennials have finished blooming as their flower buds are just forming. They’re native to moist woodsy environs of eastern Asia and are botanical members of the lily (Liliaceae) family (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). When properly sited, toad lilies are long-lived […]
Posted in acidic soil, Anthracnose, Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Flower arrangments, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Slugs, Snails, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Toadlily (Tricyrtis), watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Toad Lilies Shine In The Autumn Garden
