Two new hybrid anise (Illicium) shrubs have been released by the NCSU Mountain Crop Improvement Lab in Mills River, NC. These new star anise shrubs, bred by Dr. Tom Ranney, are hybrids between Illicium floridanum and I. mexicanum. These native evergreen shrubs are low-maintenance and adapt to a wide range of growing conditions (USDA hardiness zones 6b-9a […]
Archive for the ‘Heat Tolerance’ Category
New Compact Anise Hybrid Shrubs
Posted by Hugh on May 1st, 2021
Posted in acidify soil, Anise tree (Illicium), Autumn flowering, Autumn Fruiting, Bees and other pollinators, compact shrub, compost, container shrub, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Evergreens, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs 
Comments Off on New Compact Anise Hybrid ShrubsPlanting A Tropical Look In Your Temperate Garden
Posted by Hugh on April 26th, 2021
This summer, whether you garden in Florida or Michigan, you can enjoy the tropical look in your garden with these 5 leafy plants, which are classified as “foliage annuals” because they are hardy in zones 10-12. Caricature Plant (Graptophyllum pictum) in its natural tropical habitat grows 6-9 feet tall, typically 4-5 feet tall in zone […]
Posted in Alocasia, Banana (Ensete spp.), Banana (Musa spp.), Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Canna lily, Canna lily, Caricature Plant (Graptophyllum), Chlorosis (yellowing), Colocasia, Container garden, deadheading, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Elephant ears (Colocasia), Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Tapioca plant (Manihot), Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Planting A Tropical Look In Your Temperate GardenFive Hardy Evergreen Ferns
Posted by Hugh on April 11th, 2021
In the southeastern U.S., ferns are important additions to shady perennial and woodland gardens. Ferns can be used as a ground cover to soften the hard edges of water features, rocks and paths, and make wonderful filler for mixed container plantings. Ferns do not flower or seed, but instead, reproduce by spores that usually form […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn fern (Dryopteris), Container garden, Container growing, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Ferns, Flower arrangments, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Holly Fern (Cyrtomium), Japanese Holly fern (Cyrtomium), Korean Rock fern (P. tsus-simensis), Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Root rotting, Shade Gardening, Slugs, Snails, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Tassel fern (P. polyblepharum), Wind protection, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Five Hardy Evergreen FernsNew Soiree Kawaii® Vincas
Posted by Hugh on April 6th, 2021
Vinca (Catharanthus), also called Madagasar periwinkle, is a popular summer flowering bedding plant. Soiree Kawaii® series of catharanthus hybrids from Suntory (C. roseus) continue among the favorites at California Spring Trials since their introduction three years ago. Vincas start blooming, and continuously thereafter, from spring planting to the first frost in autumn. Soiree Kawaii vincas perform […]
Posted in acidic soil, Annuals, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Phytophthora ramorum, Planting tips, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on New Soiree Kawaii® VincasGrowing Crinum Lilies
Posted by Hugh on March 1st, 2021
Crinum Lilies, aka “River lilies”, “Cape Coast lilies”, and “Creole lilies”, are native to Southeast Asia. Crinum lilies are more akin to Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) than true lilies (Lilium). Considered to be an old staple in Southern gardens, crinum lilies are seen growing around old cemeteries, old farmsteads, and in ditches (zones 7-10). Over time long-lasting […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Bulb Crops, compost, Container garden, Crinum lily, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Failure to Bloom, Fertilizing plants, Flower arrangments, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Growing Crinum LiliesPersimmon – Native Fruit Tree
Posted by Hugh on November 11th, 2020
Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) is a deciduous U.S. native that grows 35 to 60 feet tall and 25-35 feet wide (USDA hardiness zones 4 to 9). Mature trees have a rounded oval crown. Ovate to elliptic, 2-6 inch long leaves, alternative along the stem, are glossy dark green above. Autumn leaves turn yellowish-green, infrequently reddish purple. […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Dioecious, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Edible fruits, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, Medium sized Tree, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Persimmon (Diospyros), Planting tips, Pollination needs, Propagation (Seed), Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Shade tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter bark Comments Off on Persimmon – Native Fruit TreeStandout Ornamental Grasses Inflorescences
Posted by Hugh on November 6th, 2020
Ornamental grasses standout in the landscape most of the year. These six ornamental grasses showoff spectacular seed heads (inflorescences) in late summer or fall. These grasses are also beautiful and effective landscape screens. PAMPAS GRASS (Cortaderia selloana) – are seen planted at the beach, city parks or in your neighbor’s yard. The big feathery plumes […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting birds, Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, Calamagrostis, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, Miscanthus grass, mulching, Native Plant, Pampas Grasss (Cortaderia), Pennisetum spp., Perennials, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Switchgrass (Panicum), winter hardiness Comments Off on Standout Ornamental Grasses InflorescencesDeciduous Holly For The Fall/Winter Landscape
Posted by Hugh on October 22nd, 2020
While deciduous hollies (Ilex spp.) are well known among home gardeners, surprisingly few plant them (USDA hardiness zones 3-9 variable by species). In the fall, their branches and twigs are covered in bright red berries. Orange and yellow berried varieties are additional choices. Birds love them, too. Deciduous hollies do not have prickly leaves like […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Breeding Plants, Container growing, container shrub, Deciduous, Deciduous holly, Dioecious, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Environmental Conservation, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Flower arrangments, Heat Tolerance, Ilex (hollies), Inconspicious, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness, Winterberry holly Comments Off on Deciduous Holly For The Fall/Winter LandscapeProtect Your Home Against Artillery Fungus
Posted by Hugh on September 6th, 2020
If you notice tiny black specks covering your home or garage siding or coating your auto parked nearby. The problem may be artillery fungus, also called shotgun or cannonball fungus (Sphaerobolus). Tiny fungal spores, barely 2 millimeters wide, propel themselves up to 20 feet away from the ground onto vertical surfaces. The fungus generally targets […]
Posted in Artillery fungus, compost, Environmental issues, Garden Problems, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Mulch Quality, mulching, Planting tips, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Uncategorized, Weed management Comments Off on Protect Your Home Against Artillery FungusSix Architecturally Tall Perennials
Posted by Hugh on August 11th, 2020
Here are six showy architectural gems to grow in your garden. All six are “big guys” and are valued for their bold presence, disease-free foliage, and their attractive flowers, that are also great pollinators. Queen of the Prairie (Filipendula rubra) is a U.S. native perennial that mimics an astilbe on steroids. This tall, upright, clump-forming […]
Posted in acidic soil, Annual rudbeckia (R. hirta), Annuals, Biennial, Butterflies, Compass Plant (Silphium), compost, Container garden, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Environmental Conservation, Fall sunflower (Helianthus spp.), Fennel (Foeniculum), Fertilizing plants, Filipendula, Fragrant, Heat Tolerance, Hibiscus coccineus, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rosinweed (Silphinum), Rudbeckia 'Herbstonne', Soil Conservation, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Staking, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Transplant problem Comments Off on Six Architecturally Tall Perennials
