From Canada to Mexico, gardeners are called upon to halt the decline of the Monarch butterfly populations across North America. The best way you can help is to fill your garden with Monarch’s favorite flowering nectar plants and milkweeds (Asclepias spp.). Plants should be sited in open full sun and moist well-drained soil. Avoid spraying […]
Archive for the ‘Heat Tolerance’ Category
Attracting Monarch Butterflies To Your Garden
Posted by Hugh on April 1st, 2014
Posted in Aster, Black eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), Buddleia (Butterfly bush), Butterflies, Cosmos, Drought tolerant, Eupatorium 'Gateway', Eupatorium rugosum 'Chocolate', Flowers, Heat Tolerance, Lantana, Liatris, Marigold, Milkweeds (Asclepias), Monarda (Beebalm), Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Star zinnia, Stonecrop sedums, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Zinnia 
Comments Off on Attracting Monarch Butterflies To Your Garden‘Blackout’ Heuchera Exceptionally Vigorous Type
Posted by Hugh on March 18th, 2014
A floral bouquet full of tiny flowers stand tall above the high gloss ebony foliage of Blackout coralbells (Heuchera x ‘Blackout’) (USDA hardiness zones 4 to 8). The foliage holds its color and sheen most of the summer. The foliage is evergreen through the winter in zones 6 thru 8. Airy spikes of cream colored […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Container garden, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Heuchera (coralbells), mulching, Native Plant, Perennials, Potting Mix, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Blackout’ Heuchera Exceptionally Vigorous TypeHypearls® St. John’s Wort Worth The Hype
Posted by Hugh on March 15th, 2014
St. John’s Wort’s (Hypericum spp.) are terrific landscape shrubs and ground covers with bright yellow flowers in late spring and colorful berry fruits starting in late summer (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). Bees and birds are attracted to flowers and fruits respectively. Hypearls® are a new series of hypericums. Cultivars are available in four compact growing […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, compact shrub, Container growing, container shrub, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Ornamental fruit, Southern Appalachian Region, St. John's Wort (Hypericum), Summer flowering, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips Comments Off on Hypearls® St. John’s Wort Worth The HypeRe-starting Summer Flowering Shrubs After Winter Injury
Posted by Hugh on March 9th, 2014
Some non-hardy shrubs can be treated as hardy perennials. Crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia indica) and chastetree (Vitex agnus-castus) may emerge in poor condition after an unusually cold winter. Shrubs like butterfly bush (Buddleia spp.), and blue mist (Caryopteris spp.) often emerge in a ragged state, but recover quicker if cutback near the ground several weeks before […]
Posted in Blue mist (Caryopteris), Buddleia (Butterfly bush), Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Heat Tolerance, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, Vitex (Chaste tree), winter hardiness Comments Off on Re-starting Summer Flowering Shrubs After Winter InjuryPlant Native Allegheny Spurge More
Posted by Hugh on March 6th, 2014
Japanese pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis) is a popular ground cover for partly shaded landscape areas. Our native pachsandra, called Allegheny spurge (P. procumbens), is less known and utilized. The glossy dark evergreen leaves are wider than Japanese pachysandra. Clusters of white bottlebrush flowers emerge 2-4 inches high in early spring; flowers mature pale pink as […]
Posted in acidic soil, Deer resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Pachysandra, Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Plant Native Allegheny Spurge MoreEarly Spring Flowering Okame Cherry
Posted by Hugh on March 3rd, 2014
‘Okame’ Cherry is a hybrid between Taiwan Cherry (Prunus campanulata) and Fuji Cherry (P. incisa) (USDA hardiness zones 6-8). Okame is the first ornamental cherry to bloom in the Southern Appalachian Region (USDA hardiness zones 6 and 7). In the midst of a mild winter, Okame often starts blooming a few days after Valentine’s Day […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, compact tree, Disease resistant, Heat Tolerance, Okame cherry (Prunus), Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Street tree, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter bark, Winter flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on Early Spring Flowering Okame CherryPrune to Rejuvenate Old Foundation Shrubs
Posted by Hugh on February 18th, 2014
Eventually, old foundation shrubs around your home grow too tall and spindly and need to be started over. Rather than digging them up, most deciduous and a few broadleaf shrubs respond to rejuvenation pruning. Sorry, evergreen conifers do not respond to this form of pruning. Get started with a sharp pair of pruning loppers or tree […]
Posted in acidic soil, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Nandina, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on Prune to Rejuvenate Old Foundation ShrubsFor Dry Sites Try Arizona Cypress
Posted by Hugh on January 11th, 2014
Arizona cypress (Cupressus glabra) is silvery blue needled medium-sized evergreen (USDA hardiness zones 6 to 9). This southwest U.S. native demands full sun and excels in droughty, infertile, and well-drained soils. Conversely, Arizona cypress does not tolerate shade, poor air circulation and flooded soil. Arizona cypress is mostly disease and pest free unless too crowded […]
Posted in acidify soil, alkaline soil, Cupressus (cypress), Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Evergreens, Green Privacy Screen, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter bark, winter hardiness Comments Off on For Dry Sites Try Arizona CypressPast Winners of the Perennial Plant of The Year Award
Posted by Hugh on January 1st, 2014
Each year PPA members choose a Perennial Plant of the Year™. Since 1990 24 great plants have been selected. Some of the selection criteria include: • Suitable to a wide range of climatic conditions • Low Maintenance • Pest and disease resistant • Availability at garden centers • Multiple seasons of color (beauty) The list […]
Posted in Astilbe (false spirea), Black eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), Brunnera 'Jack Frost', Calamagrostis, Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Coreopsis, Cranesbill (Geranium), Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Heuchera (coralbells), Perennials, Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum), Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer phlox (P. paniculata) Comments Off on Past Winners of the Perennial Plant of The Year Award2014 Perennial Plant Of the Year: ‘Northwind’ Switchgrass
Posted by Hugh on December 29th, 2013
Northwind switchgrass (Panicum virgatum ‘Northwind’) is a 4 to 5 feet tall native prairie grass (USDA hardiness zones 4–9). There are many fine switchgrass varieties, but its Northwind’s vertical form and steel blue foliage that makes it a standout. Northwind switchgrass has been selected the 2014 Perennial Plant of the Year. By mid-summer its lacy soft pinkish […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Ornamental Grasses, Perennials, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Sand Dune Protection, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Switchgrass (Panicum), watering tips, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on 2014 Perennial Plant Of the Year: ‘Northwind’ Switchgrass
