Wild indigo, false indigo, or Baptisia (Baptisia spp.) is a long-lived U.S. native perennial (USDA hardiness zones 4-9). Plants are deeply tap-rooted and will reward you for many years of multi-seasonal beauty. They’re sometimes mistaken for Carolina lupine (Thermopsis caroliniana). Modern day cultivars are hybrids of 8 Baptisia species. Top four species are purple (B. australis), lavender […]
Archive for the ‘acidic soil’ Category
Wild Indigo (Hybrid Baptisias)
Posted by Hugh on May 19th, 2025
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Baptisia (wild indigo), Bees and other pollinators, Breeding Plants, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Flower arrangments, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, winter hardiness 
No Comments »Hardy Begonias
Posted by Hugh on May 8th, 2025
Hardy begonia (Begonia grandis) is an herbaceous perennial flowering plant native to Southern China, Japan, and Malaysia. It is a member of the Begonia (Begoniaceae) family (USDA hardiness zones 6-9). From summer into early fall, hardy begonia displays loose arching clusters of bright pink fragrant blooms. It is monoecious, e.g. both male and female flowers are […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, Begonia, Container garden, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Ground cover, Hardy begonia (B. grandis), Hummingbird, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Powdery mildew, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Shade Gardening, Slugs, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection No Comments »Princess Flower (Tibouchina)
Posted by Hugh on May 8th, 2025
Princess Flower, aka glory bush (Tibouchina urvilleana) and the lesser-known T. grandifolia are evergreen tropical shrubs and small trees native to Brazil (zones 9-11). In zone 8 plants often dieback to the ground in winter and come back if winter temps remain above freezing. In the U.S. tibouchinas are primarily treated as garden annuals in […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Heat Tolerance, Hummingbird, Landscape ideas, Light requirement, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Princess flower (Tibouchina), Princess Flower (Tibouchina), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Wind protection No Comments »Chinese Pistache – Great Yard / Street Tree
Posted by Hugh on May 1st, 2025
Chinese pistache tree (Pistachia chinensis) is a small to medium size 25–40-foot landscape tree, an ideal size for a yard or street tree. Chinese pistache is native to China, Taiwan and the Philippines (USDA hardiness zones 6-9). It is related to the edible pistache nut tree (Pistachia vera). (Botanical family: Anacardiaceae). Foliage consists of pinnate compound, […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Chinese pistache (Pistacia), Deciduous, Deer resistant, Dioecious, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, Medium sized Tree, mulching, Non-native, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Street tree, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness No Comments »Mayapples
Posted by Hugh on April 27th, 2025
Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) is a native herbaceous perennial wildflower that forms dense mats. It is an early spring riser in the shade garden (USDA hardiness zones 3-8). Mayapples are exceptionally hardy woodland plants found in most of eastern North America and as far south as the State of Texas. They’re typically found in colonies in open woodlands, […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Ground cover, Landscape ideas, Mayapple (Podophyllum), mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Non-native, Perennials, Planting tips, Poisonous or toxic, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Slugs, Slugs, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, winter hardiness No Comments »Tall Sedums In Your Garden
Posted by Hugh on April 23rd, 2025
Sedums are clumping, perennial succulents in the stonecrop family (Crassulaceae) and are mostly native to China and Korea. Depending on variety, plants discussed in this blog are tall-growing mound forms that grow 1 to 2 feet high and wide. Botanical nomenclature has changed and is a bit confusing. Sedum genus, now Hylotelephium, contains many of the […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Hummingbird, Landscape ideas, Non-native, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Sedum (Shrub type), Soil drainage, Staking, Stonecrop sedums, Stonecrops (Sedum), Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Tall Sedums In Your GardenPlant Empress Tree Along Roadsides
Posted by Hugh on April 14th, 2025
Empress tree (Paulownia tomentosa) is a fast-growing shade tree, in some years adding 4-5 feet of new growth annually. In general, this tree is not recommended for planting in landscapes. This is a weedy and messy tree and is listed as an invasive species in many states. Paulownia eventually to reach heights of 40-50 feet […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Invasive species, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Paulownia (Empress tree), Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Weak branching, Weak wooded, winter hardiness Comments Off on Plant Empress Tree Along RoadsidesOakleaf Hydrangeas
Posted by Hugh on April 11th, 2025
Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) is an upright, broad-rounded, suckering, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub. In the wild oakleafs may grow 20 feet tall, but popular landscape cultivars typically grow 4-8 feet) tall. It is a wonderful shrub with multi-season interest. This Southeastern U.S. native shrub tolerates hot, humid weather and is not as winter hardy as some […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, compact shrub, Container garden, container shrub, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Flowering, Hydrangea, Hydrangeas, Landscape ideas, Large shrub, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Oakleaf hydrangea (H. quercifolia), Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (layering), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Oakleaf HydrangeasPatio Peach
Posted by Hugh on April 7th, 2025
For small garden spaces, including large containers, patio peach (Prunus persica) is a gem. This miniature tree bears long narrow lush green (or reddish) foliage. Site selection is crucial to ward off potential disease and insect problems. In the mood for tasty peach cobbler? Patio peach is a genetic dwarf and may be grown in a large container on […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Borers, Container garden, Deciduous, Dwarf peach, Fertilizing plants, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Ornamental fruit, Peach, Planting tips, Propagation(grafting), Pruning, rabbit damage, Scale, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, Wind protection, winter hardiness Comments Off on Patio PeachFountain Grass
Posted by Hugh on March 24th, 2025
Fountain grasses (P. alopecuroides) are perennial warm season grasses that are native to meadows and open woods of Eastern Asia (mainly China and Japan) and Western Australia. Cultivars hardiness ranges from zone 4 (5) – 10. These ornamental grasses have finely textured deep green foliage and elegant form. Leaves and flower spikes sway in the breeze, […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting birds, Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Environmental Conservation, Fertilizing plants, Fountain grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides)), Landscape ideas, Non-native, Perennials, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Fountain Grass
