Bolivian begonias (Begonia boliviensis) are tuberous rooted types indigenous to the Andes Mountains in Bolivia and Argentina (USDA hardiness zones 9 to 11). Plants grow rapidly and bloom non-stop from late spring to early fall. No deadheading of spent flowers is necessary. Bright red to orange flowers feature four […]
Archive for the ‘Fertilizing plants’ Category
Sensuous Begonia boliviensis
Posted by Hugh on July 24th, 2015
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering bulbs, Begonia, Begonia boliviensis, Container garden, Container growing, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Hummingbird, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Propagation (Cuttings), Repotting plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Sensuous Begonia boliviensisNew Compact Russian Sages Arriving
Posted by Hugh on July 21st, 2015
Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) is a long-lived easy care summer flowering perennial or sub-shrub. It grows in dry to medium moist, well-drained soil and, first and foremost, in full sun. It holds up to summer’s heat, drought, and humidity (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). The Perennial Plant Association designated Russian Sage as the Perennial Plant of the […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, compact shrub, Container growing, container shrub, deadheading, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Ground cover, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Russian sage (Perovskia), Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, winter hardiness Comments Off on New Compact Russian Sages ArrivingEnjoy Summer Fragrance Of Oriental Lilies
Posted by Hugh on July 18th, 2015
Oriental lilies (Lilium x orientale) grace summer gardens with brightly colored fragrant blooms (USDA hardiness zones 4-9). Long tubular (trumpet) flowers measure 6-8 inches across and come in a limited color choices. From one year to the next, flower numbers increase. Oriental lilies prefer a compost-rich, well-drained soil where they will delight over several summers and in […]
Posted in acidic soil, compost, Container growing, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Fragrant, Lily (Lilium), mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Staking, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Wind protection, winter hardiness Comments Off on Enjoy Summer Fragrance Of Oriental LiliesARS Selects ‘Oso Easy Lemon Zest’ Rose For Award of Excellence
Posted by Hugh on July 13th, 2015
The American Rose Society (ARS) announced at the 2015 National Conference that Proven Winners received the Award of Excellence for its Oso Easy Lemon Zest shrub rose. To receive this honor, a rose must prove its toughness and beauty in six different no-spray trial locations across the U.S.(USDA hardiness zones 5-9). “Oso Easy Lemon Zest rose is a […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Container growing, container shrub, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowering, Flowers, mulching, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Roses, shrub roses, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, winter hardiness Comments Off on ARS Selects ‘Oso Easy Lemon Zest’ Rose For Award of ExcellenceLet Gaura Flutter In Your Garden This Summer
Posted by Hugh on July 12th, 2015
What first catches your eye about perennial gaura (Gaura lindheimeri) is its light airy white (or pink) flowers (USDA hardiness zones 5 -9). Orchid-like blossoms are perched atop long thin stems. A faint breeze makes flowers flutter like a cloud of small butterflies above the dark green foliage. Also called […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Container growing, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Gaura, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Let Gaura Flutter In Your Garden This SummerMy Search Continues For A Hardy Gardenia
Posted by Hugh on July 3rd, 2015
The longer you garden, many plant species keep improving, including their winter hardiness. A few years ago, growing gardenias (Gardenia jasminoides) in a U.S. zone 6 garden was a dream. Today, hardy gardenias are a safe bet in zone 7 or in zone 6 in a protected area of […]
Posted in acidic soil, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Gardenia, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness, winter injury, Winter Protection Comments Off on My Search Continues For A Hardy GardeniaPersian Shield Offers Radiant Foliage Color
Posted by Hugh on June 24th, 2015
The iridescent purple foliage of Persian shield (Strobilanthes dyerianus) radiates in a warm summer garden in the U.S. Here it is treated as an annual (USDA hardiness zones 9-11). Persian shield is native to tropical Myanmar (formerly Burma), where it is a 3-4 feet tall soft-stemmed evergreen shrub or subshrub. In temperate regions it grows […]
Posted in acidic soil, compost, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, mulching, Persian shield (Strobilanthes), plant nutrition, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Staking, Summer heat tolerant, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips Comments Off on Persian Shield Offers Radiant Foliage ColorObedient Plant For Late Summer Blooming
Posted by Hugh on June 21st, 2015
Obedient plant (Physostegia virginiana) is native from the Central to Southern U.S. and northern Mexico (USDA hardiness zones 3-9). It is called “obedient plant” because each tubular flower will, upon being pushed in any one direction, stays in new position. From July to September obedient plant is valued for its late season pink or white […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, compost, deadheading, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Obedient plant (Physotegia), Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Soil drainage, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Obedient Plant For Late Summer BloomingVanilla Strawberry™ Hydrangea
Posted by Hugh on June 18th, 2015
Vanilla Strawberry™ hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata) is a new peegee hydrangea selection introduced from France and it is really catching on with U.S. gardeners (USDA hardiness zones 4-9). This exceptionally cold hardy hydrangea blooms from late June thru early September. Blooms are enormous and stand upright. Following a heavy summer shower, saturated floral trusses temporarily bow down under their sheer weight, but gradually recover. Flower color […]
Posted in acidic soil, acidify soil, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Fertilizing plants, Hydrangeas, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (layering), Pruning, Rabbit/deer Protection, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Vanilla Strawberry™ HydrangeaLots Of Stokes Asters To Pick
Posted by Hugh on June 15th, 2015
Stokes aster (Stokesia laevis) is an underutilized herbaceous perennial. It is indigenous to the southeastern United States (USDA hardiness zones 5-9 and AHS heat zones 4-11). Many attractive cultivars are now available (see below). Most stokes asters produce mostly blue and purple colored floral cultivars, but violet, yellow, white, and blended color forms are also […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Stokesia, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Lots Of Stokes Asters To Pick
