Archive for the ‘acidic soil’ Category

Thujopsis: Semi-Dwarf Evergreen Shrub

Hiba or false arborvitae (Thujopsis dolobrata) is a slow to moderate growing evergreen shrub or tree. It is also called elkhorn cedar and deerhorn cedar, referring to the shape of its scale-like leaves. Tall 50-80 feet tall tree forms arefound in the forests of Japan. This native of Japan and China has a pyramidal form and beautiful dense foliage, similar […]

‘Nellie R. Stevens’ Holly Sets A High Standard

  ‘Nellie R. Stevens’ (‘NRS’) is a tall growing red fruited female holly, a cross between the English (Ilex aquifolium) and Chinese (I. cornuta) hollies. ‘NRS’ comes highly recommended for Southern Appalachian landscapes (USDA zones 6 and 7). Hollies are dioecious, requiring both male and female parents for fruit production. ‘NRS’ holly produces small numbers of seedless parthenocarpic […]

European Beech Prefers Cool Climes

European Beech (Fagus sylvatica) is native to the cool temperate regions of Europe. In the U.S. it is more at home in the Northeast, Upper Midwest,  and Northwest regions (USDA Hardiness  Zones 4 to 7) where summers are cool. European beech grows in full sun and moist, well-drained soils, ranging from mildly acidic to low basic. The tree suffers in […]

For Lovers and Tree Huggers – American Beech

  Mighty as an oak pretty much describes American beech (Fagus grandifolia) as well.  Enjoy all four seasons of American beech: spring/summer dark green leaves, dark tan colored fall foliage, long pointed winter buds, and bluish gray bark. It is a large 50-70 foot woodland tree and tolerates incredible amounts of shade. Slow growing beeches are long-lived and best planted on […]

‘Morgan’ Oriental Arborvitae

Among dwarf conifer collectors, ‘Morgan’ Oriental arborvitae (Platycladus orientalis) has become one of the most sought out evergreens over the past decade. Its oval form and seasonal coloration makes Morgan a standout. It performs well in part sun, but its chartreuse-yellow foliage appears more vibrant in direct sunlight. Its dense foliage grows in vertical layers. Andy Pulte at the […]

Reference Conifer Gardens in the Southeastern U.S.

The American Conifer Society (ACS) supports public conifer gardens around the U.S.  Reference Gardens offer plant professionals and home gardeners an opportunity to evaluate conifers growing in a landscape or garden setting within their geographic region. You can compare the unique foliage colors, shapes, and growth habits which conifers offer. You can select conifer(s) which work as […]

‘Snow Flurry’ Zone 6 Hardy Camellia

‘Snow Flurry’ camellia is a broadleaf evergreen shrub with good plant vigor. It was one of the first zone 6 cold hardy camellias hybridized by Dr. William Ackerman and released by the U.S. National Arboretum in 1986.   Snow Flurry grows into a 4 feet tall by 6 feet wide shrub over a 10 year […]

Alaska Cedar Is Awesome Weeping Evergreen

Over the past decade, gardeners have been planting different evergreen trees in their Southern Appalachian landscapes (USDA zones 6 and 7). One of the newbies is Alaska cedar (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis),  a wonderful medium-sized evergreen tree from the west coast of North America. Alaska cedar matures into a graceful pyramidal tree form. Long pendulous flattened sprays of  bluish green needles drape from […]

‘Duet’ – A New Variegated Beautyberry That Is Stable

                  ‘Duet’ is a variegated leaf cultivar of white fruited Japanese beautyberry (Callicarpa dichotoma ‘Albifructus’). It was discov­ered at Tennessee Technological University in 2000 by Dr. Gary Bach­man and Mr. W. Edgar Davis. ‘Duet’ beautyberry was released jointly by the U.S. National Arboretum and Tennessee Technological University. […]

Fall Color in U.S. Native Azaleas

Finally, Americans are paying closer attention to our wonderful native plants. In the Southern Appalachian region, there are 16  and more species of deciduous azaleas which may be grown here. In addition, there are numerous natural hybrids growing in the mountains. I asked Jay Jackson, owner of Appalchian Native Plants, Inc. in Laurel Bloomery, TN […]