Heart-leaved bergenia (Bergenia cordifolia) is a clump-forming perennial indigenous to Russia (USDA hardiness zones 3-9). It has been coined the name “pig squeak” because of the noise produced by rubbing a leaf between your thumb and finger. Bergenias are planted most effectively enmasse as a ground cover. They spread slowly by rhizomes and tends to seed-in […]
Archive for the ‘Summer heat tolerant’ Category
Bergenias (Pigsqueak) Gaining More Respect
Posted by Hugh on February 8th, 2015
Posted in acidic soil, Bergenia (pigsqueak), deadheading, Disease resistant, Ground cover, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Shade Gardening, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Bergenias (Pigsqueak) Gaining More Respect‘Biokova’ Cranesbill Dependable Year-Round Ground Cover
Posted by Hugh on February 5th, 2015
Biokova is not a new geranium, aka cranesbill (Geranium x cantebrigiense ‘Biokova’). Its exceptional landscape performance has earned the 2015 Perennial Plant of the Year designation. Cranesbills are highly dependable perennial ground cover for partial sun to partial shade landscape sites (USDA hardiness zones 5-8). Among the better choices of cranesbills, ‘Biokova’ has proven exceptionally reliable here […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Cranesbill (Geranium), Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Ground cover, Perennials, Planting tips, Pruning, Shade Gardening, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Biokova’ Cranesbill Dependable Year-Round Ground CoverWinter Blooming Flowering Apricot
Posted by Hugh on January 28th, 2015
Flowering apricot (Prunus mume) is native to southeastern Asia(USDA hardiness zones 6-8). It is primarily grown for its mid to late winter bloom of pink flowers. This small 15-20 feet tall tree grows in average well-drained, acidic soils in full sun to partial shade. Avoid planting in heavy or wet soils. Most abundant flowering occurs in full sun. In the […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, compact tree, Disease prone, Drought tolerant, Edible fruits, Flowering, Flw. apricot (Prunus mume), Fragrant, Harvest Time, Heat Tolerance, Planting tips, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rabbit/deer Protection, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter flowering, winter flowering tree, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Winter Blooming Flowering ApricotTake A Second Look At Canadian Hemlock
Posted by Hugh on January 18th, 2015
Canadian hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) is a native evergreen species which is available in many forms: prostrate, globose, weeping, fastigiate and variegated (USDA Hardiness Zones 3-7). Its tremendous versatility as a hedging tree or shrub in planting sites is also a great reason to continue to include hemlock in the landscape. Hemlock may […]
Posted in Attracting birds, compact shrub, container shrub, DWARF CONIFERS, Evergreen, Hemlock (Tsuga), Insect (Pest) Problems, Native Plant, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation(grafting), Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Wildlife attractant, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Take A Second Look At Canadian HemlockMt. Cuba Center Evaluates Heuchera (Coralbells) Cultivars
Posted by Hugh on January 16th, 2015
Over the past quarter century, gardeners have enjoyed the wonderful heuchera revolution (USDA hardiness zones 4-9). A great many hybrid cultivars have been introduced with more arriving every spring. Unfortunately, the flood of new cultivars has given us a huge number of poor selections. As I talk with […]
Posted in acidic soil, compost, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Ground cover, Heuchera (coralbells), mulching, Native Plant, Perennials, Propagation (dividing), Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Mt. Cuba Center Evaluates Heuchera (Coralbells) CultivarsWhat Roses Need
Posted by Hugh on January 13th, 2015
A goal of most rose gardeners (rosarians) is to grow them almost maintenance free. The improved shrub roses introduced almost two decades ago have brought this too reality. Rose series such as Knockout®, Home Run®, Drift®, OSO Easy®, Carefree® and Meidiland™ are among the best. No matter the pedigree of the rose, selecting a […]
Posted in acidic soil, Disease prone, Disease resistant, Environmental issues, Fertilizing plants, Flowering, Insect (Pest) Problems, mulching, Planting tips, Pruning, rose rosette disease, Roses, shrub roses, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Weeds, Winter Protection Comments Off on What Roses NeedBlue Atlas Cedar Becoming Very Popular In Urban Landscape
Posted by Hugh on January 10th, 2015
Blue Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica ) hails from the Atlas Mountains in northern Morocco and Algeria (USDA hardiness zone 6). The cultivar ‘Glauca’ has been the popular choice because of its blue green foliage. Blue Atlas grows to 40-60 feet in height, but individuals over 70 feet are hard to find. Mature forms, those 50 […]
Posted in acidic soil, Atlas cedar (Cedrus), Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreens, Heat Tolerance, Large Shade trees, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Staking, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter bark, winter hardiness Comments Off on Blue Atlas Cedar Becoming Very Popular In Urban LandscapeMany Shapes and Sizes Of Cryptomerias
Posted by Hugh on January 7th, 2015
Japanese cedar, aka cryptomeria, (Cryptomeria japonica) is the national tree of Japan and is also indigenous to China (USDA hardiness zones 5 to 8). Cryptomeria cultivars vary greatly from very dwarf to rounded shrubs to large tree forms. Needle-like foliage may be dark green, medium green, golden or contorted leaves. Cryptomerias tolerate hot humid summers and […]
Posted in acidic soil, Cryptomeria (Japanese cedar), Deer resistant, Drought tolerant, DWARF CONIFERS, Evergreen, Landscape ideas, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Many Shapes and Sizes Of CryptomeriasHoliday Poinsettia Requires Basic Care
Posted by Hugh on December 24th, 2014
Gifts have been opened and a great dinner served. The holiday season may be waning, but your beautiful poinsettia plant (Euphorbia pulcherrima) will require some minimal care. Generally, the same weekly care that you provide your house plants will keep your poinsettia looking beautiful most of the winter. Here are some basic tips: Place poinsettia in bright natural light […]
Posted in acidic soil, Fertilizing plants, Interior (house) Plants, Landscape ideas, Poinsettia, Poinsettia, Purchasing Plants, Summer heat tolerant, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips Comments Off on Holiday Poinsettia Requires Basic CareNew Christmas Roses (Hellebores) Greatly Improved
Posted by Hugh on December 18th, 2014
Christmas roses (Helleborus niger) is a winter flowering perennial. It is native to central and southern Europe (USDA hardiness zones 4-8) and is not as winter hardy as lenten rose (Helleborus x orientalis). Christmas rose tends to flower 1 to 4 weeks earlier, around the Christmas holidays in southern climes (zones 7-8). New selections of H. niger are better […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Container garden, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Hellebores, Perennials, Planting tips, Poisonous or toxic, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Slugs, Slugs, Snails, Soil drainage, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Winter flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on New Christmas Roses (Hellebores) Greatly Improved
