Here in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7) rhododendrons can be challenging. Of critical importance is to choose a good garden spot and to plant a hardy cultivar. Over the past 25 years ‘Janet Blair’ has been one of the most reliable varieties in my Northeast Tennessee garden. ‘Janet Blair’ bears medium-sized […]
Archive for the ‘acidic soil’ Category
‘Janet Blair’ Rhododendron
Posted by Hugh on May 13th, 2011
Posted in acidic soil, compost, deadheading, mulching, plant nutrition, Rhododendrons, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, water garden maintenance, winter hardiness, Winter Protection 
Comments Off on ‘Janet Blair’ RhododendronGrowing Azaleas in Outdoor Containers Year-Around
Posted by Hugh on May 10th, 2011
In the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7), if you desire to grow azaleas in above ground containers year around, you must select winter hardy cultivars. Two of the best for containers are ‘Elsie Lee’ (2½- inch wide semi-double light lavender blooms) and ‘Herbert’ (1 ¾- inch wide bright purple with dark blotch). […]
Posted in acidic soil, Azaleas (evergreen), Container growing, mulching, plant nutrition, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on Growing Azaleas in Outdoor Containers Year-AroundStop Ignoring Enkianthus
Posted by Hugh on May 7th, 2011
From the photo, looks like a pieris? No, it’s redveined enkianthus (Enkianthus campanulatus) and its brightly colored bell-shaped flowers are attention getters in the early May garden. Lovely cream yellow to orangy red bell shaped flowers are faintly red veined. The bell shaped blooms exude a slight scent, one that you may like or not. From the start, growth rate […]
Posted in acidic soil, compost, Enkianthus, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips Comments Off on Stop Ignoring EnkianthusWolfeyes Chinese Dogwood
Posted by Hugh on April 20th, 2011
Chinese dogwood (Cornus kousa), a favored spring-flowering tree, reaches 20-25 feet in height and blooms two weeks subsequent to our native flowering dogwood (C. florida). The ‘Wolf Eyes’ cultivar forms a compact tree or large shrub, standing 8–10 feet tall and nearly twice as wide. lowly reaches 10 to 20 ft. tall and wide; largest […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Chinese (kousa) dogwood, compact tree, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Landscape ideas, Light requirement, mulching, Non-native, Propagation(grafting), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Wolfeyes Chinese Dogwood‘Misty Blue’ Doll’s Eye Will Catch Your Eye
Posted by Hugh on March 22nd, 2011
White baneberry or doll’s eye (Actaea pachypoda) is a strikingly beautiful native perennial. The cultivar ‘Misty Blue’ was first discovered at Mt. Cuba Center in Greenville, Delaware. The bluish-green foliage is multi-stemmed and finely cut from mid-spring thru the summer months. Grow it in a moist shade garden environment. Lovely fringed white flowers appear in April. In the fall clusters of white “doll’s eye” berry fruits sit atop brightly red […]
Posted in acidic soil, Baneberry (Actaea), compost, Garden Maintenance, Native Plant, Perennials, Southern Appalachian Region, watering tips Comments Off on ‘Misty Blue’ Doll’s Eye Will Catch Your EyePulmonarias: Wonderful In The Shade Garden
Posted by Hugh on March 6th, 2011
Although my multi-year addiction for hostas has never waned, I remain equally passionate about the lungworts (Pulmonaria spp.). Lungwort is also called Bethlehem sage and Jerusalem sage. Their uniquely splotched or variegated foliage wakes up a dark patch in any shade garden. Lungworts are planted as ground covers and for color accents. In early spring (March), lungworts send up […]
Posted in acidic soil, Container garden, Ground cover, Landscape ideas, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pulmonaria, Purchasing Plants, Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Sun scald, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Pulmonarias: Wonderful In The Shade GardenWinter Jasmine Rising
Posted by Hugh on March 1st, 2011
Is the worst of winter behind us? Winter jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum) is often confused with forsythia shrubs which bloom 3-4 weeks later in the spring. This hardy winter blooming vine from China frequently blooms in late February and March when daytime temperatures climb into the mid-50s for a week or more. Evening chilling temps down into the […]
Opening Show in February- The Witchhazels
Posted by Hugh on February 15th, 2011
First, not to confuse you, our North American native witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana) blooms in the fall. Our native vernal witchhazel (H. vernalis) has been flowering for the past few weeks. In February, the showiest witchhazels are opening now – species from China, Korea and Japan. Two of the very best are a Chinese species/cultivar called […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Chinese witchhazel, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowering, Garden Maintenance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, Wildlife attractant, Winter flowering, winter hardiness 
Tags: Alberta spruce, Chinese witchhazel Comments Off on Opening Show in February- The WitchhazelsLacebark pine- an investment in the future
Posted by Hugh on December 13th, 2010
Many rare and unusual garden plants are introduced into a garden as a thoughtful gift. Lacebark pine (Pinus bungeana) is an arboreal aristocrat which a few gardeners are privileged to own. Lacebark is a lovely 3- needle pine with exquisite exfoliating bark which becomes more attractive each succeeding year. The lacebark feature begins after 8-10 years, but it’s […]
Posted in acidic soil, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, DWARF CONIFERS, Evergreen, Evergreens, Fertilizing plants, mulching, Pines (Pinus spp.), Planting tips, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, watering tips, Winter bark, winter hardiness 2 Comments »Doghobble for Shady Landscape Areas
Posted by Hugh on November 11th, 2010
Drooping doghobble or fetterbush (Leucothoe fontanesiana) is native to woodland areas in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7). Doghobble is a tall ground cover, averaging 3 – 4 feet in height. The long gently arching evergreen branches display a rambling nature, best reined in with hand pruning as needed. White fragrant flowers, […]
