Sugar Shack™ Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis Sugar Shack™) – Full Sun (6+ hours), Part Sun (4-6 hours), Full Shade (up to 4 hours). 3 to 4 feet tall and wide. cut the size in half and added colorful red fruit and glossy foliage. Add in cool looking, fragrant white flowers and you’ve got a delightful plant […]
Archive for the ‘compost’ Category
Shorter Version Of Six Landscape Shrubs
Posted by Hugh on June 11th, 2021
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Buddleia (Butterfly bush), Butterflies, Buttonbush (Cephalanthus), Chokeberry (Aronia), compact shrub, compost, Container garden, Container growing, container shrub, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Ground cover, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spirea (Spiraea), Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Summersweet (Clethra), Trees & Shrubs, Virginia sweetspire 
Comments Off on Shorter Version Of Six Landscape ShrubsElephant Ears In The Garden
Posted by Hugh on May 11th, 2021
If gardeners want to add some tropical punch to the garden, elephant ears (Colocasia esculenta) and a close botanical cousin (Alocasia) are one of the first plants that I recommend (USDA hardiness zones 7b-10). Also called ornamental taro, plants take off and grow rapidly after spring planting (when all threats of freeze injury have waned). […]
Posted in acidic soil, Alocasia, Annuals, Colocasia, compost, Container garden, Fall Garden Interest, Flower arrangments, Interior (house) Plants, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Poisonous or toxic, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, Wind protection, Winter Protection Comments Off on Elephant Ears In The GardenMountain Laurels – A Native Shrub Many Gardeners Forget To Plant
Posted by Hugh on May 6th, 2021
Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) is a U.S. native broadleaf evergreen shrub (USDA hardiness zone 5 – 7(8)). Whether you are hiking through area woodlands or driving through Biltmore Estates in Asheville, NC, flowering mountain laurels dominate the May-June landscape in Northeast Tennessee or Western North Carolina. Mature shrub sizes range from 5 feet (dwarf cultivars) […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, compost, Container garden, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Flowering, Flowering shrub, Landscape ideas, Mountain laurel (Kalmia), mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Phytophthora ramorum, Planting tips, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Mountain Laurels – A Native Shrub Many Gardeners Forget To PlantNew Compact Anise Hybrid Shrubs
Posted by Hugh on May 1st, 2021
Two new hybrid anise (Illicium) shrubs have been released by the NCSU Mountain Crop Improvement Lab in Mills River, NC. These new star anise shrubs, bred by Dr. Tom Ranney, are hybrids between Illicium floridanum and I. mexicanum. These native evergreen shrubs are low-maintenance and adapt to a wide range of growing conditions (USDA hardiness zones 6b-9a […]
Posted in acidify soil, Anise tree (Illicium), Autumn flowering, Autumn Fruiting, Bees and other pollinators, compact shrub, compost, container shrub, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Evergreens, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on New Compact Anise Hybrid ShrubsALL ABOUT ASTILBES
Posted by Hugh on April 16th, 2021
Astilbes, aka false spireas or false goat’s beard, brighten shady gardens with their colorful blooms in early summer. Their plume-like flowers stand tall above astilbe’s deep green lacy foliage. Flower colors vary from white, pinks, and reds, including lavender and violet. Flowers attract butterflies and other pollinators. Astilbes are generally planted in spring when the soil […]
Posted in acidic soil, Astilbe (false spirea), Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Cold tolerance, compost, Container garden, Disease resistant, Flower arrangments, Landscape ideas, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on ALL ABOUT ASTILBESThree Really Cool Shade Plants
Posted by Hugh on March 16th, 2021
What three wildflowers can handle intense woodland shade. To most gardeners, hostas, Solomon seal, coral bells (Heuchera spp.), brunneras, and ferns are popular favorites. Expand your plant choices with these three shady favorites which are long-lived, low-care gems – Fairy wings (Epimedium spp), bellworts (Uvularia spp.), and shredded umbrella plant (Syneilesis). Fairy wings (Epimedium spp.), aka barrenworts, […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting Butterflies, Barrenwort (Epimedium), Bees and other pollinators, compost, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Heuchera (coralbells), Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Purchasing Plants, Shade Gardening, Slugs, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Syneilesis aconitifolia, Uvularia (bellwort), watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Three Really Cool Shade PlantsLove in A Mist (Nigella)
Posted by Hugh on March 11th, 2021
Love-in-a-mist (Nigella damascena) is a popular cool weather annual. It is also known by several other names including “ragged lady” or “devil in the bush”. Nigella belongs to the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae) and is native to southern Europe, North Africa and southwest Asia. In its natural habitat, nigella is found on neglected, damp patches of […]
Posted in acidic soil, Annuals, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, compost, Container garden, Deciduous, Dioecious, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Landscape ideas, mulching, Nigella (Love-in-a-mist), Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Love in A Mist (Nigella)Growing Crinum Lilies
Posted by Hugh on March 1st, 2021
Crinum Lilies, aka “River lilies”, “Cape Coast lilies”, and “Creole lilies”, are native to Southeast Asia. Crinum lilies are more akin to Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) than true lilies (Lilium). Considered to be an old staple in Southern gardens, crinum lilies are seen growing around old cemeteries, old farmsteads, and in ditches (zones 7-10). Over time long-lasting […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Bulb Crops, compost, Container garden, Crinum lily, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Failure to Bloom, Fertilizing plants, Flower arrangments, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Growing Crinum LiliesGrowing Japanese Maples In Containers
Posted by Hugh on February 25th, 2021
Many slow-growing and compact cultivars of Japanese maples (Acer palmatum) and full moon forms (A. japonicum) grow for 3-5 years in containers. Japanese maples develop a decorative canopy, and their lacey foliage turns yellow, orange and/or red in autumn. Most Japanese maples perform well in partial to full day sunlight, but not in full shade. […]
Posted in acidic soil, compact tree, compost, Container garden, Container growing, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Fullmoon maple, Japanese maple, Landscape ideas, Maples (Acer), mulching, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Shade Gardening, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Wind protection, winter hardiness Comments Off on Growing Japanese Maples In ContainersTips On Growing Fern Leaf Peony
Posted by Hugh on September 26th, 2020
Fernleaf peony (Paeonia tenuifolia), sometimes called “fennel peony”, is recognized principally for its finely dissected foliage. When properly sited and cared for, it is a low maintenance perennial. This uniquely different peony is native in parts of Eastern Europe (USDA hardiness zones 4 – 8). Peonies perform best in well-drained, evenly moist, compost rich soil with […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Bees and other pollinators, compost, Container garden, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Landscape ideas, mulching, Peonies, Peony, Perennials, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Wind protection, winter hardiness 1 Comment »
