Franklinia (Franklinia altamaha) is admittedly a very finicky large shrub or small tree. Pure white, five-petal, 2 ½ – 3 inch camellia-like flowers bloom sporadically from August thru mid-October. Flowers are slightly fragrant. In the fall glossy green leaves gradually transition to blends of red, orange and burgundy hues. Franklinia grows best on an eastern exposure […]
Archive for the ‘Summer heat tolerant’ Category
Franklinia Will Survive If…
Posted by Hugh on September 22nd, 2011
Posted in acidic soil, acidify soil, Autumn flowering, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Franklinia, Japanese beetles, mulching, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Transplant problem, Trees & Shrubs, Wind protection, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Franklinia Will Survive If…Ornamental Peppers Sizzle In Autumn
Posted by Hugh on September 19th, 2011
Some gardeners call them “Christmas peppers”. In the late summer garden all eyes turn away from most flowering annuals and to the colorful fruits of ornamental peppers (Capsicum annuum). Many are dwarf red hot chili peppers. (No!…not the rock band). Fruits are cylindrical or ball shaped and the brilliant colors range from white, yellow, […]
Tags: ‘Chocolate’ White Snakeroot Is A Better Choice
Posted by Hugh on September 7th, 2011
White Snakeroot (Eupatorium rugosum) is native to moist woodland areas in most eastern and midwestern states (U.S.). It grows in average, moist, well-drained soil in full sun to light shade. It is a long-lived and an aggressive perennial. ‘Chocolate’ (E. rugosum ‘Chocolate’) earns its namesake for its chocolaty or burgundy tinted foliage. ‘Chocolate’ white […]
Posted in Aggressive grower, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Disease resistant, Eupatorium rugosum 'Chocolate', plant nutrition, Poisonous plant, Root suckering, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Uncategorized, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Chocolate’ White Snakeroot Is A Better Choice‘Autumn Bride’ Started A Heuchera Evolution
Posted by Hugh on September 1st, 2011
Autumn Bride heuchera (Heuchera villosa ‘Autumn Bride’) is blooming now. This native ground cover, aka “hairy alumroot”, displays wide lime-green foliage which is not as colorful as many new H. villosa hybrids introduced in recent years. However, the white flowers on Autumn Bride are showier and more numerous. Heucheras prefer a moist, well-drained, compost-rich soil. Plants are heat and humidity […]
Gaillardia Survival Depends On Winter Soil Drainage
Posted by Hugh on August 29th, 2011
In recent years several hybrid cultivars of blanket flowers (Gaillardia x grandflora) have been introduced. Some are annuals and others perennials. This North American prairie native is hardy in USDA zone 5 hardy. Gaillardias should thrive in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7), but they don’t! Soggy winter clay soil is their […]
Posted in Blanket flower (Gaillardia), Butterflies, Disease resistant, Flowers, Heat Tolerance, Perennials, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Uncategorized, watering tips Comments Off on Gaillardia Survival Depends On Winter Soil DrainageSunpatiens Worth The Hype
Posted by Hugh on August 26th, 2011
Sunpatiens™ live up to all their hype, with a caveat. They are still impatiens, which means they love (and can’t go without) water. In the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7), Sunpatiens prosper in direct full day sun to part shade, but can’t go without weekly watering. The flower bed should be mulched […]
Posted in compost, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Heat Tolerance, mulching, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Sunpatiens, watering tips Comments Off on Sunpatiens Worth The HypeKousa Dogwood Not Summer Heat Tolerant
Posted by Hugh on August 23rd, 2011
Chinese (Kousa) dogwood (Cornus kousa) rates four stars (out of four) as a beautiful small flowering landscape tree. Since the 1970’s, a deadly anthracnose (Discula spp.) fungus disease has threatened to eradicate our native flowering dogwood (C. florida). Kousa dogwood rates as a highly disease resistant alternative. Its Achilees’ heel is its less than stellar foliar heat […]
Posted in Chinese (kousa) dogwood, Disease resistant, Heat Tolerance, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips Comments Off on Kousa Dogwood Not Summer Heat Tolerant‘Gateway’ Joe-Pye Fits Most Gardens
Posted by Hugh on August 22nd, 2011
On hot clammy August days, towering 6-8 feet in height, there is Joe-Pye* weed (Eupatorium purpureum) to enjoy. It is visually hard to miss when driving along rural roads in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7). Joe-Pye’s flowering sends me a timely message that autumn is only six weeks away. For gardens the cultivar […]
Posted in Aggressive grower, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Disease resistant, Eupatorium 'Gateway', Fertilizing plants, Native Plant, Perennials, Root suckering, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on ‘Gateway’ Joe-Pye Fits Most GardensSummer Leaf Drop From Trees
Posted by Hugh on August 20th, 2011
It’s late summer in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7). Outdoor temperatures continue to hit 90°F almost daily, and weekly precipitation is low. Over the past 3-4 weeks leaves have been dropping prematurely from landscape trees. Tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), river birch (Betula nigra), willow (Salix spp.), sycamore (Platanus x acerifolia), […]
Posted in Birch (Betula spp.), Elms (Ulmus), Garden Problems, Hackberry (Celtis), Large Shade trees, Premature leaf drop, Redbud, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Sycamore (Platanus), Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Willows (Salix) Comments Off on Summer Leaf Drop From TreesOld-Timey ‘Royal Standard’ Hosta Still Rules
Posted by Hugh on August 14th, 2011
Kingwood Center is a wonderful public garden in Mansfield, Ohio with several top notch beds of hostas. One glorious bed of ‘Royal Standard’ hosta blooms their heads off from mid-August into September. With over 35,000 registered hostas available, why look back at this vintage variety. Royal Standard was patented and introduced in 1965 by Wayside Gardens […]
Posted in compost, Hosta, Perennials, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Uncategorized, winter hardiness Comments Off on Old-Timey ‘Royal Standard’ Hosta Still Rules
