In 2016 Mt. Cuba Center in Greenville DE enlisted a team of trained volunteers to monitor the visitation of hummingbirds, moths, and butterflies in the 40 cultivar beebalm (Monarda) trial. Their goal was to systematically observe and note the cultivars that were most frequently visited by these pollinators. Below is a listing of the five […]
Archive for the ‘Heat Tolerance’ Category
Beebalm (Monarda) Varieties Attract Hummingbirds, Butterflies And Moths
Posted by Hugh on July 16th, 2020
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, compost, Container garden, deadheading, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Downy mildew, Flower arrangments, Heat Tolerance, Hummingbird, Landscape ideas, Monarda (Beebalm), mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Powdery mildew, Purchasing Plants, Re-Bloomers, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering 
Comments Off on Beebalm (Monarda) Varieties Attract Hummingbirds, Butterflies And MothsCompass Plant – Prairie Giant
Posted by Hugh on June 26th, 2020
Compass Plant (Silphium laciniatum) are impressive prairie plants that look like – but are not – sunflowers. Native to the central U.S. (USDA hardiness zones 3 to 8), these sturdy prairie giants grow upwards of 5-8 feet in height (1.5 – 3 feet wide) on stiff, hairy, resinous stems. The group (Silphiums) are also called […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Compass Plant (Silphium), Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Uncategorized, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Compass Plant – Prairie GiantGaura (Wand Flower)
Posted by Hugh on June 21st, 2020
Gaura (Gaura lindheimeri), also known as wand flower, whirling butterfly, and bee blossom (Gaura lindheimeri) is one tough perennial that blooms through the summer into fall. Gaura is native to Texas and Louisana and is hardy to USDA plant zones (5)6-9. It lives many years in hot humid climates and requires very little care after […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Container garden, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Gaura, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Perennials, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Gaura (Wand Flower)Four Landscape Shrubs That Are Early Summer Stars
Posted by Hugh on June 16th, 2020
Bottlebrush buckeye (Aesculus parviflora) is one of our finest early summer native flowering shrubs for sun or shady sites. It is a dense, mounded, suckering, deciduous, multi-stemmed shrub which grows 6-12 feet tall and 15-18 feet spread. It flaunts unique palmate green leaves (5-7 leaflets) and white 10-12 inch tall floral candles. The dynamic bottlebrush […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Bottlebrush buckeye, Butterflies, Buttonbush (Cephalanthus), compact shrub, Container growing, container shrub, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flowering shrub, Heat Tolerance, Hummingbird, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Root suckering, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Summersweet (Clethra), Trees & Shrubs, Vitex (Chaste tree), Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Four Landscape Shrubs That Are Early Summer StarsQueen Of The Prairie Or Meadowsweet
Posted by Hugh on June 6th, 2020
Q “Tall and pretty spectacular” very much describes Queen of the prairie (Filipendula rubra) (USDA hardiness zones 3 to 8). Twelve species comprise this genus of U.S. perennials (USDA hardiness zones 3-8). Best known species are meadowsweet (F. ulmaria).dropwort (F. vulgaris), both native to Europe, and queen-of-the-forest (F. occidentalis) and queen-of-the-prairie (F. rubra), both native […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, alkaline soil, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Filipendula, Flower Arranging, Foliage plant, Fragrant, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching trees, Native Plant, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Powdery mildew, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Rust diseases, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Queen Of The Prairie Or MeadowsweetThe Mountain Mints – The Pollinators’ Favorite
Posted by Hugh on May 11th, 2020
Mountain mints (Pycnanthemum spp.) are clump-forming native perennials. They typically grow 1-3 feet tall depending on species (USDA hardiness zones 4 – 8). About 20 species of mountain mints are found in the southeastern U.S. As their name suggests, they belong to the mint family, very evident by their square stems and aromatic leaves when […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Butterflies, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fragrant, Garden ecology, Ground nesting bees, Heat Tolerance, Honey bees, Landscape ideas, Mountain mints (Pycnanthemum), Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Uncategorized, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on The Mountain Mints – The Pollinators’ FavoriteGrowing Coneflowers
Posted by Hugh on May 6th, 2020
No question, coneflowers have changed greatly over the past quarter century. Varieties are now available in many color shades and plants demonstrate improved longevity. Current cultivars grow alot shorter. However, some hybrid forms have been disappointing, barely surviving 1-2 years. When choosing coneflowers, Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) is my #1 favorite for dependability (USDA hardiness […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Container garden, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering iris, Wildflowers, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Growing ConeflowersGrowing Angel Trumpet (Brugmansia)
Posted by Hugh on April 26th, 2020
Angel trumpet (Brugmansia) is tropical plant native from Venezuela to Peru (USDA hardiness zones 7-b to 10). Plants are surprising hardy outdoors in zone 6-b in protected areas. This beautiful perennial/shrub, grown in tree form, reaches heights of 6-10 feet. It is a member of the Solanaceae family which includes tomato, potato, petunia, nicotiana and other great garden plants. They’re […]
Posted in acidic soil, Angel trumpet (Brugmansia), Attracting Butterflies, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Fruits poisonous, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Poisonous plant, Potting Mix, Propagation (Cuttings), Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), Uncategorized, watering tips, Wind protection, winter hardiness Comments Off on Growing Angel Trumpet (Brugmansia)Double Take® Flowering Quince
Posted by Hugh on April 2nd, 2020
D Flowering quince (Chaenomeles spp) is an early spring flowering shrub treasured for its brightly colored blooms (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). Old fashioned quince shrubs produced small amounts of fruits (quince) which were gathered and made into yummy jelly in the autumn kitchen. Old fashioned varieties often grew 10-12 feet tall shrubs and produced small sharp thorns which made […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, compact shrub, Container growing, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Flowering, Flowering quince (Chaenomeles), Flowering shrub, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on Double Take® Flowering QuinceSmoketrees 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 Appeal
