Pomegranate trees (Punica granatum) cherished for their delicious fruits and easy maintenance in warm climates. These trees, native to the Middle East (Iran, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and northern India), take about 3-6 years to begin producing their unique edible red fruits, which are filled with sweet, edible seeds. Juice from the fruits is sweetly delicious […]
Archive for the ‘Heat Tolerance’ Category
Growing Pomegranates
Posted by Hugh on October 9th, 2026
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Flower Arranging, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Pomegranate (Punica), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs 
No Comments »Update On Perennial Ironweeds
Posted by Hugh on October 2nd, 2026
U.S. native ironweeds (Vernonia spp.) develop a broad visual swath from the mid-Atlantic to the Midwest and from Minnesota south to Texas. Vernonia spp. is in the aster or daisy family (Asteraceae). Their abundant purple-hued flowers brighten the autumn landscape from late summer into autumn. Ironweeds serve as an important food source for pollinators. Scores […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Flower arrangments, Garden ecology, Heat Tolerance, Ironweed (Vernonia), Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Perennials, Powdery mildew, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Rust diseases, Soil drainage, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant No Comments »Gold And Silver Chrysanthemums
Posted by Hugh on August 3rd, 2026
Gold and Silver chrysanthemum (Ajania pacifica) is a shrubby herbaceous flowering perennial in the aster family (Asteraceae). This groundcover is native to central and eastern Asia. It is a mound-forming, rhizomatous perennial that is grown for its attractive variegated foliage from spring thru autumn. This groundcover is used seen more in Southeast gardens. Its dense […]
Posted in acidic soil, Ajania pacifica, Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, Chrysanthemum, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Perennials, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Summer heat tolerant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Gold And Silver ChrysanthemumsDiscovering Native Swamp Titi Tree
Posted by Hugh on June 29th, 2026
Black Titi (Cyrilla racemiflora), aka Swamp cyrilla is an evergreen, semi-evergreen or tardily deciduous tree that is native to Southeastern U.S. and indigenous in coastal areas from Virginia south into Texas. (USDA hardiness zones 5-11). Young plants are shrubby but eventually develop into a small tree with contorted stems, smooth, cinnamon-colored young bark and flaky mature […]
Posted in acidic soil, Black Titi (Cyrilla), Butterflies, Disease resistant, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Discovering Native Swamp Titi TreeAlternative Choices For Bradford Pears
Posted by Hugh on June 24th, 2026
A number of U.S. states have designated the Bradford Pear (Pyrus calleryana) as an invasive tree species. This once popular small to medium-sized tree blooms in mid- to late-March. Introduced by the USDA in the 1960’s, following extensive 40+ year breeding trials, it became extremely popular across the country. Note that Callery pear is actually […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Bradford Pear, Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana), Deciduous, Fall Garden Interest, Flowering, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, Medium sized Tree, mulching, Non-native, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on Alternative Choices For Bradford Pears‘Axminster Gold’ Comfrey
Posted by Hugh on June 7th, 2026
Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) is an aggressive grower and herbal member of the Borage family (Boraginaceae). For several centuries it has been grown for its medicinal herbal value with purported healing properties for treating joint pains and wounds. Leaves are poisonous if ingested and can cause skin irritation. Plant grows up to 5 feet tall and […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, Bees and other pollinators, Comfrey (Symphytum), deadheading, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Flower Arranging, Fruits poisonous, Heat Tolerance, Herb, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Perennials, Planting tips, Powdery mildew, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Slugs, Snails, Soil drainage, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Axminster Gold’ ComfreyEastern Prickly Pear Cactus
Posted by Hugh on November 7th, 2025
Prickly pears are a subgroup of Opuntia, identified by their wide, flat, branching pads. They are also called nopal cactus or paddle cactus. Most prickly pear plants are found in warm, dry climates like the Southwestern U.S., although there are some cold-hardy species such as the Eastern prickly pear (O. humifusa). (USDA hardiness zones 4-9). Prickly […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Cactus, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, Mealy bugs, Native Plant, Native Plant, Opuntia spp, Ornamental fruit, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Scale, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Eastern Prickly Pear CactusScarlet Rose Mallow
Posted by Hugh on August 16th, 2025
Swamp hibiscus (Hibiscus coccineus), aka scarlet rose mallow, is a hardy perennial plant that grows in swamps, marches and roadside ditches in the Southeastern U.S. (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). It can grow 6 to 8 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide. The 5- to 6-inch-long palmate leaves are 3 – 7 lobes and have jagged […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Hibiscus (mallow) sawfly, Hibiscus coccineus, Hummingbird, Japanese beetle, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rust diseases, Soil drainage, Staking, Summer flowering, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Scarlet Rose MallowGrowing Tropical Hibiscus
Posted by Hugh on July 8th, 2025
Tropical Hibiscus(es) (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) are a non-hardy group from southeast Asia. They require temperatures above 50°F year-round (USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 9–12) and will likely be injured at temps below 35°F. They are evergreen cousins of the very hardy deciduous shrub group —Althea (H. syriacus) and herbaceous perennial favorites like Rose Mallow (H. moscheutos) and […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, Downy mildew, Evergreen, Heat Tolerance, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Hummingbird, Insect (Pest) Problems, Interior (house) Plants, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Powdery mildew, Propagation (Cuttings), Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Scale, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Thrips, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, White flies, Wind protection, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Growing Tropical HibiscusWild Indigo (Hybrid Baptisias)
Posted by Hugh on May 19th, 2025
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 […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Baptisia (wild indigo), Bees and other pollinators, Breeding Plants, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Flower arrangments, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Wild Indigo (Hybrid Baptisias)
