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 […]
Archive for the ‘Summer heat tolerant’ Category
2014 Perennial Plant Of the Year: ‘Northwind’ Switchgrass
Posted by Hugh on December 29th, 2013
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‘Summer Cascade’ Is A Very Different Weeping River Birch
Posted by Hugh on December 22nd, 2013
Summer Cascade is a new weeping river birch (Betula nigra Summer Cascade™ (PPAF). Its pendulous branching habit represents a unique change for river birch. Its strong weeping nature creates a divine focal point planted next to a pond, deck, or patio. Left unstaked, Summer Cascade’s strong pendulous habit naturally grows into a shrub mound or […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, compact tree, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Planting tips, Pruning, river birch, Southern Appalachian Region, Staking, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter bark, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Summer Cascade’ Is A Very Different Weeping River Birch‘Grey Owl’ Juniper Is Tough Carefree Evergreen
Posted by Hugh on December 18th, 2013
Some people rate junipers as over-planted or bygone landscape plants. Juniperus virginiana ‘Grey Owl’ is a cultivar of our native Eastern Red Cedar (USDA hardiness zones 3 to 9). Eastern red cedar is actually a juniper. This flat spreading evergreen develops into a reliable ground cover not plagued with disease and pest problems observed on […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Ground cover, Juniper, mulching, Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Grey Owl’ Juniper Is Tough Carefree Evergreen‘Ogon’ Dawn Redwood Offers 4-Seasons Interest
Posted by Hugh on December 9th, 2013
Dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides ‘Ogon’ (aka ‘Gold Rush’) is a stunning foliage color variant (USDA hardiness zones 5 to 8). Metasequoia was thought to be extinct until the mid-1940’s when rediscovered in China. Its leaves were commonly found imprinted in fossil rocks. When developing your landscape plan, place Ogon where it will become a focal […]
Posted in acidic soil, Dawn redwood (Metasequoia), Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Green Privacy Screen, Heat Tolerance, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Ogon’ Dawn Redwood Offers 4-Seasons InterestLandscape Shrubs Rarely Damaged By Deer
Posted by Hugh on December 1st, 2013
Deer will eat or nibble on any landscape plant, particularly when they’re starving. Abnormally high deer populations, starved by a shortage of their favorite foods (mast), will feed or browse on almost any plant. This is a survival reaction. To truly protect plants when deer numbers are unusually high, a tall fence or reinforced netting […]
Posted in Abelia, Arborvitae (Thuja spp.), Aucuba, Bottlebrush buckeye, Boxwood (Buxus), Buddleia (Butterfly bush), Cherry Laurel (Prunus), common boxwood, Contorted filbert (Corylus), Cotoneaster, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Cryptomeria (Japanese cedar), Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Doghobble (Leucothoe), Dogwood (Cornus), Enkianthus, Firethorn (Pyracantha), Flowering quince (Chaenomeles), Foster Holly (Ilex), Fringetree (Chionanthus), Heat Tolerance, Invasive plant, Juniper, Magnolia stellata, Mugo pine (Pinus mugo), Osmanthus 'Goshiki', Pieris japonica, Southern Appalachian Region, Spirea (Spiraea), St. John's Wort (Hypericum), Sumac (Rhus), Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Wildlife attractant Comments Off on Landscape Shrubs Rarely Damaged By DeerTop Conifers Picks By Southeast Reference Gardens
Posted by Hugh on November 28th, 2013
In 2011 poll conducted at the SE Region meeting in Athens, GA, the top favorite conifer picks from SE Reference Gardens. Georgia Lockerly Arboretum, Milledgeville Cryptomeria japonica ‘Elegans Nana’ Juniperus virginiana var. silicicola ‘Brodie’ Platycladus orientalis ‘Aurea Nana’ Thuja occidentalis ‘Rheingold’ Smith Gilbert Garden, Kennesaw Cedrus deodara ‘Gold Cone’ Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Verdon’ Platycladus orientalis ‘Morgan’ […]
Posted in Arborvitae (Thuja spp.), Chamaecyparis, compact tree, Cryptomeria (Japanese cedar), Disease resistant, Disease resistant, DWARF CONIFERS, Evergreen, Evergreens, Heat Tolerance, Hemlock (Tsuga), Juniper, Pine (Pinus spp.), Platycladus orientalis 'Morgan', Privacy Screen, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Thujopsis, Trees & Shrubs, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Top Conifers Picks By Southeast Reference GardensRanking Four Popular Evergreens As Privacy Screens
Posted by Hugh on November 25th, 2013
If you are searching for a tall evergreen conifer as a privacy screen, the four most popular in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA hardiness zones 6 and 7) are: # 1 is Leyland cypress (x Cupressocyparis leylandii) which rapidly grows 40-50 feet tall and 20-25 feet wide in less than 25 years…if they live long […]
Posted in acidic soil, Arborvitae (Thuja spp.), Cryptomeria (Japanese cedar), Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Evergreens, Green Privacy Screen, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Ranking Four Popular Evergreens As Privacy ScreensMexican Feather Grass
Posted by Hugh on November 21st, 2013
The ultra-fine soft foliage of Mexican feather grass (Nassella tenuissima) will grab your interest. Just a slight breeze will create wave movement in your garden (USDA hardiness zones 7 to 10). It grows 1½ feet high (2 feet tall in flower) and 1½ to 2 feet in width. Mexican Feather Grass is a cool season […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, alkaline soil, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Invasive plant, Mexican Feather Grass (Nassella), Ornamental Grasses, Perennials, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Mexican Feather GrassPyramidal Forms Of Cryptomeria
Posted by Hugh on November 19th, 2013
Cryptomeria, aka Japanese cedar, (Cryptomeria japonica) is an evergreen conifer native to China and Japan. It rated to be very long-lived (USDA hardiness zones 6 to 10). Some cultivars may be hardy in 5-b as well. There are many forms of cryptomerias, ranging from dwarf globe-shaped shrubs to narrow pyramidal trees. Needle foliage may be […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bagworms, Cryptomeria (Japanese cedar), Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreens, Privacy Screen, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on Pyramidal Forms Of CryptomeriaChina Fir Deserves A Look
Posted by Hugh on November 9th, 2013
To begin, China fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) is not a true fir (genus: Abies). Branches are broadly pyramidal when young, and open up to become slightly pendulous as the tree ages. China fir grows broad at the base and spire-like on top. The tree often grows multi-stemmed to 75 feet in height and 20 to 30 […]
Posted in acidic soil, acidify soil, China fir (Cunninghamia), Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Planting tips, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter bark, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on China Fir Deserves A Look
