The world of cotoneasters (Cotoneaster spp.) is primarily an assortment of medium to tall growing shrubs. Cotoneaster ‘Tom Thumb’ (syn. C. ‘Little Gem’) is very different. Its diminutive size fits into those small spots such as a rock garden or among dwarf conifers. Its dark green shiny foliage creates a textural contrast with many annuals […]
Archive for the ‘Drought tolerant’ Category
‘Tom Thumb’ Cotoneaster Perfect For Small Spaces
Posted by Hugh on June 22nd, 2013
Posted in acidic soil, compact shrub, Cotoneaster, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Ground cover, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs 
Comments Off on ‘Tom Thumb’ Cotoneaster Perfect For Small SpacesEnjoy Night-blooming Evening Primrose By Flashlight and I-Phone
Posted by Hugh on June 21st, 2013
There are over 100 species of evening primroses (Oenothera spp.) worldwide, several native to the U.S. The night-blooming evening primrose (O. glazioviana) is a great reason to plan more parties. Invite friends and neighbors, including children of all ages, although you may keep them up past their normal bedtime hour. This night blooming hardy biennial […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Butterflies, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evening primrose (Oenothera), Fragrant, Hummingbird, Perennials, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on Enjoy Night-blooming Evening Primrose By Flashlight and I-PhoneSummer Chocolate™ Mimosa Tree Worth A Try
Posted by Hugh on June 12th, 2013
Mimosa tree (Albizia julibrissin) is treasured as a four month landscape tree for its tropical-like foliage and flowering. This small deciduous tree grows 20 to 25 feet tall and its horizontal branching reaches out widely. Mimosa leafs out in late May with lush green, tropical-looking pinnately compound foliage and growth is very rapid. From mid-June […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, alkaline soil, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Disease prone, Drought tolerant, Fragrant, Heat Tolerance, Hummingbird, Landscape ideas, plant nutrition, Pruning, Soil Conservation, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on Summer Chocolate™ Mimosa Tree Worth A TryAustralian Fanflower A Hot Choice in U.S. Southern Gardens
Posted by Hugh on May 12th, 2013
Fanflower (Scaevola aemula) is a relatively new annual bedding plant choice. This Australian native thrives in tough environmental conditions, including the hot, humid summers in the Southern U.S. Fanflower grows well in hanging baskets, containers or garden beds. It grows in average, moderately acidic, well-drained soil and prefers full or partial sunny areas in the […]
Posted in acidic soil, Butterflies, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fan flower (Scaevola), Flowers, Heat Tolerance, Hummingbird, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant Comments Off on Australian Fanflower A Hot Choice in U.S. Southern GardensFloral Fragrance Of Native Fringetree Fills The Spring Air
Posted by Hugh on May 10th, 2013
Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus) is treasured for its billowy masses of fragrant white flowers in the spring. It commonly grows as a large 15-20 foot tall shrub, but can be easily trained into a 20-25 foot multi-stemmed small tree. Most gardeners call this native “fringe tree” or fringetree. Regionally, it goes by a number of colloquial […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn Fruiting, Bee Favorite, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fringetree (Chionanthus), Native Plant, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on Floral Fragrance Of Native Fringetree Fills The Spring AirCool Blooming Osteospermums
Posted by Hugh on April 11th, 2013
Osteospermums (Osteospermum x hybrida ) are members of the daisy (Asteraceae) family, commonly called African Daisy, Blue-eyed Daisy, or Cape Daisy. Osteos are cool season annuals that excel in northern and less so in southern U.S. gardens. Osteos bloom more profusely in full sun, but want some cooling relief during the summers. Osteos have always […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Failure to Bloom, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Osteospermum, Planting tips, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on Cool Blooming OsteospermumsSilverbell Tree Are Great Additions To Your Garden
Posted by Hugh on April 6th, 2013
Carolina silverbells (Halesia spp.) bloom as the last bracts of flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) have fallen. Clusters of white or pale pink bell-shaped flowers open along the branches. Flowers appear first and medium green leaves emerge a few days later. Silverbells vary tremendously in the wild. Some grow large shrub-like, or as small multi-trunked trees […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Silverbell (Halesia), Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips Comments Off on Silverbell Tree Are Great Additions To Your Garden‘Appalachian Spring’ Dogwood Highly Disease Resistant
Posted by Hugh on April 1st, 2013
This may be old news, but definitely worth repeating. Twenty five years ago a dreaded dogwood disease threatened to eliminate our beautiful spring flowering tree from our gardens. Appalachian Spring flowering dogwood (Cornus florida ‘Appalachian Spring’) was found at the Camp David Presidential Retreat atop Catoctin Mountain in Maryland. Currently, Appalachian Spring is the only dogwood cultivar […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Dogwood (Cornus), Dogwood borer, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, mulching, Ornamental fruit, plant nutrition, Spring flowering, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Appalachian Spring’ Dogwood Highly Disease ResistantTiger Eyes® Sumac Far Less Aggressive
Posted by Hugh on March 25th, 2013
I’m uneasy to recommend our native invasive sumac in a home landscape, but Tiger Eyes sumac (Rhus typhina ‘Bailtiger’), known as Tiger Eyes®, is far less aggressive (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). Its brightly colored cut-leaf foliage will definitely catch your attention in the summer. Leaves turn maroon-red in the autumn. This small deciduous tree or […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, alkaline soil, container shrub, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Sumac (Rhus), Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter bark, winter hardiness Comments Off on Tiger Eyes® Sumac Far Less AggressiveSomething New to Grow – Esperanza, Yellow Bells
Posted by Hugh on March 22nd, 2013
Esperanza or Yellow Bells (Tecoma stans) is a 6 foot tall perennial shrub that grows in South Texas and Mexico (USDA zones 8-10). Esperanza means “hope” and it is destine to become a popular flowering annual in more U.S. Southeastern gardens. It demands a well drained soil […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Esperanza (Tecoma), Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Planting tips, Repotting plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on Something New to Grow – Esperanza, Yellow Bells
