Lantanas (Lantana camara) are garden favorites for their small, lovely blooms in dense, 2-inch (5-cm) wide clusters, (USDA hardiness zones 7-11). Floral colors range from red, purple, pink, orange, yellow, and white, often flower clusters in multiple colors. This woody annual/perennial is in the verbena botanical family (Verbenaceae) family and is native to the West […]
Archive for the ‘Summer heat tolerant’ Category
Four Perennial Lantana Varieties
Posted by Hugh on May 25th, 2026
Posted in acidic soil, Annuals, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Container garden, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Flowers, Fruits poisonous, Ground cover, Hummingbird, Invasive species, Landscape ideas, Lantana, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness 
No Comments »Surprise! Resurrection Lilies
Posted by Hugh on May 14th, 2026
The beautiful colorful large flowers of Surprise Lilies (Lycoris spp.) pop up out of nowhere in mid-summer garden. In the South surprise lilies are popular passalong plants. These members of the Amaryllis family are called spider lilies, resurrection lilies, and hurricane lilies. Their bloom time coincides with summer storm season, hence the name “hurricane lily”. Other colloquial […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Landscape ideas, Light requirement, Lycoris (Spider lily), Lycoris (Surprise lily), mulching, Non-native, Perennials, Planting tips, Poisonous or toxic, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips No Comments »Tough Colorful Lantanas
Posted by Hugh on May 7th, 2026
Lantanas are popular flowering perennials in USDA hardiness zones 9 to 11 and are heavily planted as annuals in zones 7 and 8. In areas where growing seasons are long, native lantanas are also dependable shrubs in Florida, South Texas, or Southern California. Lantana shrubs may reach up to 6 feet tall in tropical climates. In […]
Posted in acidic soil, Annuals, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Ground cover, Hummingbird, Landscape ideas, Lantana, mulching, Native Plant, Non-native, Planting tips, Poisonous or toxic, Powdery mildew, Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection No Comments »Rex Begonia Vine
Posted by Hugh on April 20th, 2026
Rex begonia vine (Cissus discolor), also called tapestry vine, is a colorful tropical vining plant that is native to Southeast Asia. This vine flaunts a similar leaf shape and color as rex begonias plants; however, it is tropical vine that belongs in the grape family (Vitaceae). If a 1-gallon plant is set out mid-June may […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Cissus discolor (Rex vine), Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Interior (house) Plants, Landscape ideas, Mealy bugs, Mites, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Staking, Summer heat tolerant, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), Vine, watering tips Comments Off on Rex Begonia VineSunfinity™ Sunflowers
Posted by Hugh on April 15th, 2026
Sunfinity™ Sunflowers are clearly a generational change in U.S. gardens. Compare them with single huge old-fashioned 9-12 foot ‘Mammoth’ sunflowers that bloomed in mid- to late summer and done by fall. Sunfinity sunflowers are sturdy stemmed, multi-branched flowers. After 9 to 12 weeks in the garden, flowering rates begin to decrease, and eventually the plant […]
Posted in acidic soil, Annuals, Bees and other pollinators, Breeding Plants, Butterflies, deadheading, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Sunflowers, watering tips Comments Off on Sunfinity™ SunflowersTuff Stuff™ Lacecap Hydrangeas
Posted by Hugh on April 7th, 2026
Tuff Stuff™ Mountain Hydrangeas (H. serrata) are a stunning lacecap series of Mountain Hydrangea). This species is indigenous to the cooler mountainous altitudes of Korea and Japan. They produce almost nonstop blooms from early summer right into autumn. Tuff Stuff are exceptionally cold hardy compared to big-leaf hydrangeas (H. macrophylla) (USDA hardiness zones 4-9). Their […]
Posted in acidic soil, acidify soil, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, compact shrub, Container garden, container shrub, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Flowering, Hydrangea arborescens, Hydrangeas, Landscape ideas, Mountain hydrangea (H. serrata), mulching, Native Plant, Non-native, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rabbit/deer Protection, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Tuff Stuff™ Lacecap HydrangeasSuperior ‘Wolf Eyes’ Kousa Dogwood
Posted by Hugh on March 31st, 2026
Kousa dogwood is indigenous to eastern Asia (Korea, China, and Japan) (USDA hardiness zones 5 – 8). ‘Wolf Eyes’ Kousa dogwood is an exceptional small landscape tree with variegated leaf color. Tree grows 15 – 20 feet tall and 20 feet wide. Hundreds of cream and green flowers appear in spring. Its narrow leaves are […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Balled and Burlapped (b&b), Bees and other pollinators, Borers, Chinese (kousa) dogwood, compact tree, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flowering, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Pesticide recommendations, Planting tips, Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Superior ‘Wolf Eyes’ Kousa DogwoodA Look At Pampas Grass
Posted by Hugh on March 19th, 2026
Pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana) is a tough, tall-growing grass that forms dense, substantial clumps (tussocks) featuring arching, finely serrated, narrow green leaves that are topped in fall by huge, feathery, silvery white plumes. First introduced into the U. S. in 1848, this giant ornamental grass is indigenous to southern South America. It has been a […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Flower arrangments, Landscape ideas, Non-native, Ornamental Grasses, Pampas Grasss (Cortaderia), Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Uncategorized, winter hardiness Comments Off on A Look At Pampas GrassBaker’s Dozen Of My Favorite Redbuds
Posted by Hugh on March 14th, 2026
Redbuds (Cercis canadensis) are small flowering landscape tree. Most varieties grow up to 20 to 30 feet tall and 20 to 35 feet wide, but there are a number of compact patio forms. It is generally a small understory tree that is often found growing beneath taller trees. Redbuds may tolerate full sun to part shade, […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Flower Arranging, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Redbud, Small landscape tree, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Baker’s Dozen Of My Favorite RedbudsStachyurus – Early Spring Delight
Posted by Hugh on February 22nd, 2026
Stachyurus (Stachyurus praecox) is a deciduous woodland shrub that makes an eye-catching statement from early to mid-spring when daffodils are in bloom. Flowers appear before the leaves emerge. (USDA 6-8). Floral buds form in autumn and overwinter on the shrub in pendant, catkin-like racemes that hang from the leaf axils. This distinctive chains of yellow […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Breeding Plants, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Flower Arranging, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Propagation (Cuttings), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Staking, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on Stachyurus – Early Spring Delight
