Wild indigo or Baptisia (Baptisia spp.) are a wonderful group of U.S. native perennials (USDA hardiness zones 4-9). A few species have remained outside the gardening scene until recent years. Breeders are creating several hybrids that offer a grand color palette and superior plant form. Baptisia, belong to the Pea family, new growth emerges in […]
Archive for the ‘Fertilizing plants’ Category
Loads Of Hybrid Baptisias Available
Posted by Hugh on April 11th, 2020
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Baptisia (wild indigo), Bees and other pollinators, Breeding Plants, Container garden, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Flowering, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Poisonous or toxic, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Uncategorized, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Loads Of Hybrid Baptisias AvailableYellow Flowering Magnolias
Posted by Hugh on April 6th, 2020
Deciduous magnolias (Magnolia spp.) are popular landscape plants because of their bright cheery spring flowers. Breeding efforts back in the 1970’s created a new class of deciduous yellow-flowering magnolias. In 1978, the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens introduced the first, Magnolia ‘Elizabeth’ (creamy white). Yellow magnolias are hybrid crosses between M. acuminata, M. subcordata, M. denudata, among […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Balled and Burlapped (b&b), Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, compost, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Magnolia, Medium sized Tree, mulching, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Yellow Flowering MagnoliasSiberian Wallflowers – Tough Winter Annuals
Posted by Hugh on March 26th, 2020
In areas of the U.S. where winters are mild, Siberian Wallflower (Erysimum cheiri), (formerly Cheiranthus cheiri), is an early flowering favorite in the late winter garden. The species hails from Southern Europe (USDA hardiness zones 7-9). Many books list them as biennials and a few as “tempermental perennials”. Wallflower is a woody-based herbaceous perennial subshrub in the mustard […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Biennial, Failure to Bloom, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Flowers, Landscape ideas, mulching, Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Siberian Wallflower (Cheiranthus), Soil drainage, Spring flowering, Uncategorized, Wallflower (Erysimum), watering tips, Winter flowering Comments Off on Siberian Wallflowers – Tough Winter AnnualsRedbuds With Awesome Summer Foliage
Posted by Hugh on March 16th, 2020
Native redbuds Cercis canadensis) is native to eastern and central North America (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). This small tree is a highly dependable small flowering tree. Redbud is typically a relatively short-lived tree, perhaps 20-30 years at best. Depending on variety, their lavender / pink/ white pea-like flowers emerge in early spring, usually a week […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Balled and Burlapped (b&b), Bees and other pollinators, Breeding Plants, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Redbud, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, winter hardiness Comments Off on Redbuds With Awesome Summer FoliageSmoketrees For Their Multi-Seasonal Appeal
Posted by Hugh on March 11th, 2020
Smoketree or smokebush (Cotinus coggygria) is a large shrub or small tree native from southern Europe to central China (USDA hardiness zones 5-8). Over time it typically matures to 10-15 feet high and wide. Depending on cultivar (see list below), smoketrees have oval leaves tinted in rich purple, gold, or green shades. Generally, they grow […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, compact tree, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower arrangments, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Small landscape tree, Smoketree (Cotinus), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on Smoketrees For Their Multi-Seasonal AppealSix Perennials For Dry Shade
Posted by Hugh on March 6th, 2020
Many of the following perennials tolerate dry shade but flourish in moist, well-drained soil. Each typically displays the richest foliage colors with a couple of hours of direct sunlight a day. All hold up well to dry conditions and are deer and rabbit resistant. Barrenworts (aka Bishop’s cap, Fairy Wings) (Epimedium spp.) represent over 70 […]
Posted in acidic soil, Barrenwort (Epimedium), Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Bugleweed (Ajuga), Container garden, Cranesbill (Geranium), Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Geranium, Ground cover, Hellebores, Landscape ideas, Lenten rose (Hellebore), Liriope, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Sacred Lily (Rohdea), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Uncategorized, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Six Perennials For Dry ShadeCare Of Rhododendrons
Posted by Hugh on January 31st, 2020
In the U.S., two species of rhododendrons, Catawa (Rhododendron catawbiensis) and Rosebay (R. maximum), are plentiful in the Appalachian Mountain region. Their roots feed in part on the rich humus material in the rocky mountain soils. Over time fallen leaves, twigs, and flower parts decay into additional humus. Humus improves soil aeration and drainage, yet […]
Posted in acidic soil, Azalea (deciduous), Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Butterflies, Cold tolerance, compost, Container garden, container shrub, Deer resistant, Drought tolerant, Environmental Conservation, Evergreen, Evergreens, Fertilizing plants, Landscape ideas, Mountain laurel (Kalmia), mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (layering), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rhododendrons, Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter injury Comments Off on Care Of RhododendronsFebruary Blooming Hybrid Witchhazels
Posted by Hugh on January 26th, 2020
Witchhazels (Hamamelis spp.) are somewhat coarse, loosely-branched, medium to large, deciduous shrubs that typically grow 12-20 feet tall. (USDA hardiness zones 5-8). They are particularly noted for their strapped shape, often fragrant, mid- to late winter flowers which appear before the spring leaves emerge. Five cultivars were selected by Mr. Tim Brotzman, an Ohio nurseryman […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Caterpillars, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Flower arrangments, Flowers, Fragrant, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Pollination needs, Privacy Screen, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter flowering, winter hardiness, Witchhazel (Hamamelis) Comments Off on February Blooming Hybrid WitchhazelsTen Stars Of The Winter Landscape
Posted by Hugh on January 21st, 2020
Here are 10 reliable plants that shine in my Tennessee garden (Zone 6-b) during the winter season: Witchhazels (Hamamelis spp.) –two species bloom in winter: (a). Vernal witchhazel (H. vernalis) blooms in mid- to late- January (zones 4-8). (b). Chinese witchhazel hybrids (H. x intermedia) dominate the month of February into March. – deciduous, large […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, compact shrub, Container garden, Container growing, container shrub, Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas), Cornus officinalis, Daphne odora, Disease resistant, Edgeworthia, Fertilizing plants, Flowering, Fragrant, Hellebores, Honeysuckle (Lonicera), Jessamine (Gelsemium), mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Viburnum x bodnantense, Viburnums, Winter blooming, Winter flowering, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness, Wintersweet (Chimonanthus), Witchhazel (Hamamelis) Comments Off on Ten Stars Of The Winter LandscapeZone 6 Hardy Camellias
Posted by Hugh on January 11th, 2020
In the Southern U.S., camellias are treasured for their showy flowers in the fall-winter landscape. Their glossy evergreen foliage looks great all year long. Hardy varieties are now available for zone 6 northern gardens (-10 to 0 °F). This means that gardeners in Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia and most coastal cities in Eastern U.S. can grow […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, Camellia, compost, Container garden, container shrub, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Flowering, Flowering shrub, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Zone 6 Hardy Camellias
