Cosmos, indigenous to Mexico and South America, are one of the easiest-to-grow flowering annuals. They start blooming in early summer and are at their best in late summer and early autumn. Two most popular species are Cosmos sulphureus and C. bipinnatus. Flower heads are composed of disc and ray flowers. Cosmos is a member of the aster […]
Archive for the ‘Drought tolerant’ Category
Cosmos For Sunny Gardens
Posted by Hugh on May 15th, 2015
Posted in alkaline soil, Attracting birds, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Container garden, Cosmos, deadheading, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Failure to Bloom, Fertilizing plants, Flower arrangments, Flowers, Hummingbird, mulching, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Southern Appalachian Region, Staking, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips 
Comments Off on Cosmos For Sunny GardensFill Flower Gardens & Containers With Sweet Alyssums
Posted by Hugh on May 12th, 2015
Sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima) is one of the easiest annuals to grow. A member of the mustard family (Brassicaeae), it is native in the Mediterranean region and the Canary and Azores Islands (AHS heat zones 3-8). Modern day cultivars possess exceptional heat, humidity, and drought tolerance in summer months once fully established. Alyssums may be utilized in mixed […]
Posted in acidic soil, Alyssum (annual), Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, deadheading, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Fragrant, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Fill Flower Gardens & Containers With Sweet AlyssumsChinese Fringetree Gains In Popularity And Availability
Posted by Hugh on May 9th, 2015
Chinese fringetree (Chionanthus retusus) When in bloom in mid-spring (May), the fringetrees (Chionanthus spp.) definitely will catch your eye. Chinese fringetree (C. retusus), is one of the finest small to medium sized flowering trees, not to be confused with the U.S. native fringetree (C. virginicus) (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). Both produce spectacular white lacy flowers […]
Posted in acidic soil, compact tree, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Flowers, Fragrant, Fringetree (Chionanthus), Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on Chinese Fringetree Gains In Popularity And AvailabilitySiebold Viburnum Makes Wonderful Small Tree
Posted by Hugh on May 3rd, 2015
The genus Viburnum is no stranger to U.S. gardens. Many species and cultivars of viburnums are popular. Siebold viburnum (V. sieboldii) is a large spring flowering species from eastern Asia (USDA hardiness zones 5-7), but is under-planted in today’s gardens. This multi-trunk large shrub to 12 to 15 feet high or 25 […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Drought tolerant, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Viburnum sieboldii, Viburnums, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Siebold Viburnum Makes Wonderful Small TreeAmerican Fringetree – A Spring Flowering Treasure
Posted by Hugh on April 28th, 2015
American fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus) is one of the finest spring flowering trees (USDA hardiness zones 4-9). Individual flower heads are large and billowy, snowy white, and very fragrant in the early evening hours. Flower panicles peak through the large leaves, and are large and showy compared to Chinese fringetree (which I also like). Leaf sizes […]
Posted in acidic soil, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fragrant, Fringetree (Chionanthus), Irrigation, mulching trees, Native Plant, Propagation (Seed), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on American Fringetree – A Spring Flowering TreasureNew ‘Pam’s Mountain Bouquet’ Kousa Dogwood
Posted by Hugh on April 25th, 2015
‘Pam’s Mountain Bouquet’ is a new Chinese dogwood (Cornus kousa) cultivar from the plant scientists from the University of Tennessee Dogwood Working Team (USDA hardiness zones 5-8). Mountain Bouquet is a near-white flowering form whose petal-like bracts fuse into near perfect squares. The cultivar blooms slightly later than other flowering dogwoods, helping to extend dogwood’s […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Chinese (kousa) dogwood, compact tree, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Ornamental fruit, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation(grafting), Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, Winter bark Comments Off on New ‘Pam’s Mountain Bouquet’ Kousa DogwoodJapanese Kerria Beautiful Old-fashioned Shrub
Posted by Hugh on April 23rd, 2015
Japanese Kerria (Kerria japonica) is an old fashioned shrub that never seems to go out of style (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). Some call it the “Yellow Rose of Texas”, although kerria originates from eastern Asia. Its showy yellow buttercup-like flowers bloom in spring, after the forsythias have […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, Bee Favorite, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flowering, Kerria, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter bark, winter hardiness 1 Comment »Many New Beebalm Cultivars Continue to Roll Out
Posted by Hugh on April 21st, 2015
Bee balms, aka bergamots or Oswego tea (Monarda spp.) are native to eastern North America (USDA hardiness zones 4-9). Plants are easy to grow, bloom beautifully, and multiply rapidly. They are treasured for their raging colored flowers and medicinal properties. Numerous bee pollinators as well as butterflies and hummingbirds favor the summer blooms. The native […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Container growing, Deer resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Hummingbird, Monarda (Beebalm), Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Powdery mildew, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Soil drainage, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Many New Beebalm Cultivars Continue to Roll OutWonderful Bellworts For Woodland Gardens
Posted by Hugh on April 18th, 2015
The soft yellow bell-shaped flowers of bellworts (Uvularia spp.), aka merrybells, contribute to spring’s awakening in U.S. woodlands and shade gardens (USDA hardiness zones 3-9). On both U. grandiflora and U. perfoliata, flower stems pierce (pass through) the center of the leaves. A third species, (U. sessilifolia), nicknamed Wild Oats, […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, compost, Drought tolerant, Ground cover, mulching, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Slugs, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Uvularia (bellwort), watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Wonderful Bellworts For Woodland GardensGomphrena (Globe Amaranth) For Summer Easy Color
Posted by Hugh on April 15th, 2015
Gomphrena, aka Globe amaranth, is an annual bedding plant that blooms profusely in the summer heat and sun. Small ball-shaped flowers are clove-like in appearance. Many gardeners tend to ignore them at the garden center for showier flowering annuals. By mid-summer, a peek into your neighbor’s yard may cause to rethink that decision. Gomphrenas […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Butterflies, Container growing, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower arrangments, Flowers, Globe amaranth (Gomphrena), Mites, mulching, Planting tips, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering Comments Off on Gomphrena (Globe Amaranth) For Summer Easy Color
