Hollyhocks (Alcea rosea) are old-fashioned perennials (and biennials) which are currently finding a new audience. There are numerous cultivars differing in plant height from 5 to 9 feet and spread of 1 to 3 feet. Flowers come in single and double forms and in many color shades. Hollyhocks are hardy to USDA hardiness zone 4. […]
Archive for the ‘Disease resistant’ Category
Hollyhock Rust Prevention Tips
Posted by Hugh on July 19th, 2012
Posted in Disease prone, Disease resistant, Flowers, Hollyhock (Alcea), Japanese beetles, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering 
Comments Off on Hollyhock Rust Prevention Tips‘Brigadoon’ Hypericum Wakes Up a Garden Bed
Posted by Hugh on July 13th, 2012
The bright chartreuse (almost golden) foliage Brigadoon St. John’s wort (Hypericum calycinum ‘Brigadoon’) can brighten up almost any dull garden spot. This Euro-Asian ground cover thrives in any well-drained soil under full to partial sunlight (USDA zones 4-7). Full sun may burn the summer foliage in zone 7. ‘Brigadoon’ grows 12 to 16 inches tall and spreads […]
Posted in Butterflies, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Planting tips, Pruning, Root suckering, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, St. John's Wort (Hypericum), Summer flowering Comments Off on ‘Brigadoon’ Hypericum Wakes Up a Garden BedVintage ‘Strawberry Candy’ A Sensational Daylily Performer
Posted by Hugh on June 26th, 2012
Some vintage daylily varieties are timeless performers. Strawberry Candy daylily (Hemerocallis x ‘Strawberry Candy’) is a daylily classic, one of the first to open in June in Southern Appalachian gardens (USDA hardiness zones 6 and 7). Its grass-like foliage is semi-evergreen here. The 4- inch diameter flowers open strawberry pink with a prominent rose red eye […]
Posted in Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Daylilies, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Hummingbird, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, watering tips Comments Off on Vintage ‘Strawberry Candy’ A Sensational Daylily Performer‘Red Volunteer’ – Outstanding Veteran Red-flowering Daylily
Posted by Hugh on June 24th, 2012
In the gardening world new does not always mean better. Red Volunteer daylily (Hemerocallis x ‘Red Volunteer’) is not new, introduced by Oakes Daylily Nursery, near Knoxville, TN in 1984. Daylily catalogs describe it as a “candle red self with a golden yellow throat”. It is a mid-season bloomer and the foliage is semi-evergreen. The […]
Posted in Daylilies, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, watering tips Comments Off on ‘Red Volunteer’ – Outstanding Veteran Red-flowering DaylilyNo Scorch ‘Verdoni’ Dwarf Hinoki Cypress
Posted by Hugh on June 22nd, 2012
For a small urban garden many dwarf evergreen conifers are a good fit. There are so many to choose from and Verdon hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Verdoni’) is one of the finest. Its fan shaped gold-edged green foliage will light up almost any garden locale. It makes a great garden companion with short growing perennials, […]
Posted in acidic soil, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, DWARF CONIFERS, Evergreen, Heat Tolerance, plant nutrition, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Verdon hinoki cypress, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on No Scorch ‘Verdoni’ Dwarf Hinoki CypressTorenia (Wishbone Flower) Blooms In Part Shade
Posted by Hugh on June 14th, 2012
The list of summer flowering annuals for shady spots in the garden is not long. Garden impatiens (Impatiens x wallerana) is the first choice, seconded by begonias (Begonia x semperflorens-cultorum). Today, wishbone flower (T. fournieri) is now available. Torenia blooms from spring to frost. It is best grown in a moist, organically rich, well-drained soil and […]
Posted in acidic soil, Disease resistant, Flowers, mulching, Planting tips, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Torenia (wishbone flw.), watering tips Comments Off on Torenia (Wishbone Flower) Blooms In Part ShadePowdery Mildew: The Bane of Beebalm
Posted by Hugh on June 9th, 2012
Beebalm (Monarda spp.) is one of our great native perennials and herbs. Native Americans used beebalm as a tea, brewing it for colds, minor bronchial and digestive complaints, and also as a poultice to soothe insect stings. During the Boston Tea Party, rebellious colonists utilized beebalm as a tea substitute, calling it “Oswego tea”. […]
Posted in Bee Favorite, Butterflies, deadheading, Disease prone, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Heat Tolerance, Herbs, Hummingbird, Monarda (Beebalm), Native Plant, Planting tips, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on Powdery Mildew: The Bane of Beebalm‘Lady Francis’ Ivy Wakes Up A Shady Patch
Posted by Hugh on June 6th, 2012
On a recently trip to the Ohio State University Horticultural Gardens in Columbus, I discovered ‘Lady Frances’, a relatively tame miniature ivy. The American Ivy Society classifies Hedera helix ‘Lady Frances’ as non-invasive, and it received the first “Ivy of the Year” award in 2001. It grows slowly and works as a ground cover or topiary […]
Posted in Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Ground cover, Interior (house) Plants, Ivy (Hedera), Planting tips, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Uncategorized, Vine, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Lady Francis’ Ivy Wakes Up A Shady PatchDwarf Southern Magnolia Cultivars
Posted by Hugh on June 1st, 2012
Small 5-6 Year Old ‘Little Gem’ Magnolia Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) is remarkably hardy in USDA zone 6. This evergreen magnolia prefers a moist well-drained, slightly acidic soil, and planted in a partial to full sun location. It is a long-lived large 70-80 feet tall tree, best suited to large commercial and residential properties, golf […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Butterflies, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Heat Tolerance, Magnolia grandiflora, Medium sized Tree, Native Plant, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant Comments Off on Dwarf Southern Magnolia CultivarsAdd Hardy Begonia To Your Shade Garden
Posted by Hugh on May 28th, 2012
Hardy begonia (Begonia grandis) is the only species of begonia which is winter hardy in USDA zones 6-9 (zone 5 with protection). This shade-loving perennial grows 18 -24 inches high and wide, and displays a well-branched mounding habit. Foliage is medium to olive green above and reddish green with red veining beneath. Leaf shape is […]
Posted in compost, Disease resistant, Hardy begonia (B. grandis), mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Shade Gardening, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Uncategorized, watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Add Hardy Begonia To Your Shade Garden
