Kousa dogwood is indigenous to eastern Asia (Korea, China, and Japan) (USDA hardiness zones 5 – 8). ‘Wolf Eyes’ Kousa dogwood is an exceptional small landscape tree with variegated leaf color. Tree grows 15 – 20 feet tall and 20 feet wide. Hundreds of cream and green flowers appear in spring. Its narrow leaves are […]
Archive for the ‘Drought tolerant’ Category
Superior ‘Wolf Eyes’ Kousa Dogwood
Posted by Hugh on March 31st, 2026
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Balled and Burlapped (b&b), Bees and other pollinators, Borers, Chinese (kousa) dogwood, compact tree, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flowering, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Pesticide recommendations, Planting tips, Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness 
No Comments »A Look At Pampas Grass
Posted by Hugh on March 19th, 2026
Pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana) is a tough, tall-growing grass that forms dense, substantial clumps (tussocks) featuring arching, finely serrated, narrow green leaves that are topped in fall by huge, feathery, silvery white plumes. First introduced into the U. S. in 1848, this giant ornamental grass is indigenous to southern South America. It has been a […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Flower arrangments, Landscape ideas, Non-native, Ornamental Grasses, Pampas Grasss (Cortaderia), Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Uncategorized, winter hardiness Comments Off on A Look At Pampas GrassBaker’s Dozen Of My Favorite Redbuds
Posted by Hugh on March 14th, 2026
Redbuds (Cercis canadensis) are small flowering landscape tree. Most varieties grow up to 20 to 30 feet tall and 20 to 35 feet wide, but there are a number of compact patio forms. It is generally a small understory tree that is often found growing beneath taller trees. Redbuds may tolerate full sun to part shade, […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Flower Arranging, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Redbud, Small landscape tree, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Baker’s Dozen Of My Favorite Redbuds“Witchhazel” Winter Time
Posted by Hugh on February 9th, 2026
Add flowering and fragrance to your winter garden. Witchhazels (Hamamelis spp.) are prized for their strap-shape petalled flowers which bloom mid- to late winter. Depending on species and cultivar, blooming begins in late January and many possess fragrant blooms. Witchhazels are medium to large deciduous shrubs, typically 12-20 feet tall. Foliage texture is somewhat coarse. […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Caterpillars, Chlorosis (yellowing), Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fragrant, Japanese beetles, Landscape ideas, Leaf/needle spots, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter flowering, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness, Witchhazel (Hamamelis) Comments Off on “Witchhazel” Winter TimeStunning Midwinter Fire Dogwood
Posted by Hugh on January 22nd, 2026
‘Midwinter Fire Bloodtwig dogwood (Cornus sanguinea) is a multi-season deciduous shrub that is native to Europe and western Asia. It is an upright, round-topped, spreading, twiggy, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub that typically matures to 8-15 feet tall and as wide. It is native to northern Europe and northwestern Asia (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). ‘Midwinter Fire’ is […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Cornus sanguinea, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Erosion control, Fall Garden Interest, Flower Arranging, Flower arrangments, Flowering, Flowering shrub, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Ornamental bark, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Propagation (layering), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Wildlife attractant, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Stunning Midwinter Fire DogwoodNew Redbuds From Dr. Dennis Werner
Posted by Hugh on January 7th, 2026
Despite his retirement from NC State University, Dr. Werner, the redbud breeder of varieties like ‘Flamethrower’ and ‘Ruby Falls’, has introduced two more new varieties. Both cultivars are the beginning of the new compact redbud series. The two newest redbud releases from NCSU are ‘Pom Poms’ and ‘Amethyst’ are two new compact redbud trees. (Zone […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Breeding Plants, Cold tolerance, compact tree, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Redbud, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips Comments Off on New Redbuds From Dr. Dennis WernerEarly Risers In The New Year Garden
Posted by Hugh on January 2nd, 2026
Some flowering bulbs, corms, and tubers are early-bloomers. With the start of calendar year January 2026, several days in the 50’s and 60’s have been forecasted. In our garden, flowers of three perennials are beginning to poke through the soil. That’s besides the early daffodils which are always early-risers but hold off blooming until late […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Flower arrangments, Galanthus (snowdrops), Ground cover, Hellebores, Lenten rose (Hellebore), mulching, Non-native, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Winter aconite (Eranthis), Winter flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on Early Risers In The New Year GardenAll About Snake Plants
Posted by Hugh on December 1st, 2025
Snake plants (Dracaena trifasciata) are one of the most popular houseplants and for good reason. It is incredibly drought-tolerant, able to go for weeks without water, and in low and medium lighting conditions. A majority of species are native to Western and Southern Africa and the Asian subcontinent. They are known under a number of […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, Container garden, Disease resistant, Dracaena, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Flower arrangments, Interior (house) Plants, Landscape ideas, Mealy bugs, Mites, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Scale, Snake plant (Sanservieria), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, White flies Comments Off on All About Snake PlantsEastern Prickly Pear Cactus
Posted by Hugh on November 7th, 2025
Prickly pears are a subgroup of Opuntia, identified by their wide, flat, branching pads. They are also called nopal cactus or paddle cactus. Most prickly pear plants are found in warm, dry climates like the Southwestern U.S., although there are some cold-hardy species such as the Eastern prickly pear (O. humifusa). (USDA hardiness zones 4-9). Prickly […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Cactus, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, Mealy bugs, Native Plant, Native Plant, Opuntia spp, Ornamental fruit, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Scale, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus‘Blackhawks’ Grass – 2026 Perennial Pant Of The Year
Posted by Hugh on October 23rd, 2025
Big bluestem grass (Andropogon gerardii) is a tall, native, perennial, warm season grass that is a dominant species in a large part of the Midwestern U.S. (zones 3-9). Its attractive foliage that changes color seasonally, its good architectural height, and its interesting flower/seed heads have caught the eye of plant breeders. ‘Blackhawks’ (PP27,949) was introduced […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Big bluestem 'Blackhawks', Deciduous, Drought tolerant, Erosion control, Fertilizing plants, Landscape ideas, Native Plant, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Blackhawks’ Grass – 2026 Perennial Pant Of The Year
