American elm (Ulmus americana) is a medium to large deciduous tree, typically growing to 60-80 feet tall with a vase-shaped, broad-rounded crown. It is native to eastern and central North America. Once widely planted as a street and lawn tree, its populations have been decimated by Dutch elm disease (DED) over the past century. Numerous […]
Archive for the ‘Drought tolerant’ Category
Hardy Cyclamen
Hardy cyclamens are tuberous perennial that bloom according to species. They are native to Europe, around the Mediterranean region and parts of Asia and Africa. Two popular hardy species in U.S. gardens are spring-blooming Cyclamen coum and fall-flowering ivy-leaf Cyclamen hederifolium. Leaves remain evergreen through much of the winter season. Non-hardy florist cyclamens (C. persicum) […]
Native Hypericums
St. John’s Wort (Hypericum spp.) is a genus of about 400 species of annuals, perennials or shrubs which are noted for producing showy bright yellow flowers with a central mass of bright yellow stamens. Hordes of bee species love hypericum flowers. In midsummer, this U.S. native produces yellow flowers with distinctive clusters of puffball of stamens […]
Firecracker Plant (Cuphea)
Planting Cupheas should set off fireworks in your summer flower garden. Cupheas are dependable, low-maintenance flowers that easily cope with the heat and humidity of the South. They’re exceptionally long blooming, attract bees, wasps, butterflies and hummingbirds like magnets, and are versatile enough for container plantings or in-ground beds. (See list below). Currently, the most […]
Tall Growing Daylilies
Tall daylilies (Hemerocallis altissima) are a group of late season fragrant daylilies that are native to southwest China, singled out for their tall 5-6 feet floral spikes. Blooms open in late afternoon and are classified as “nocturnal bloomers”. In spring, this deciduous perennial starts out with 2-feet tall grass-like foliage. In summer they produce tall flower spikes 4 – […]
Gauras For Summer Flower Power
Lots of TN, VA, and KY gardeners don’t know Gauras, a tough beautiful Texas native perennial that performs equally well in our area. After countless trips to Biltmore Estates and the NC Arboretum in Asheville, I have gained an appreciation for its long summer blooming habit. Gaura (Oenothera lindheimeri) is a low-maintenance perennial native to […]
Wild Indigo (Hybrid Baptisias)
Wild indigo, false indigo, or Baptisia (Baptisia spp.) is a long-lived U.S. native perennial (USDA hardiness zones 4-9). Plants are deeply tap-rooted and will reward you for many years of multi-seasonal beauty. They’re sometimes mistaken for Carolina lupine (Thermopsis caroliniana). Modern day cultivars are hybrids of 8 Baptisia species. Top four species are purple (B. australis), lavender […]
Chinese Pistache – Great Yard / Street Tree
Chinese pistache tree (Pistachia chinensis) is a small to medium size 25–40-foot landscape tree, an ideal size for a yard or street tree. Chinese pistache is native to China, Taiwan and the Philippines (USDA hardiness zones 6-9). It is related to the edible pistache nut tree (Pistachia vera). (Botanical family: Anacardiaceae). Foliage consists of pinnate compound, […]
Tall Sedums In Your Garden
Sedums are clumping, perennial succulents in the stonecrop family (Crassulaceae) and are mostly native to China and Korea. Depending on variety, plants discussed in this blog are tall-growing mound forms that grow 1 to 2 feet high and wide. Botanical nomenclature has changed and is a bit confusing. Sedum genus, now Hylotelephium, contains many of the […]

Posted in

