On a recent trip to the Knoxville Botanical Garden, I was re-introduced to a plant not used as much as it should be – gold dust shrub (Aucuba japonica). Hardy to USDA hardiness zones 6b-10, aucuba prefers a partial sun to heavy shaded area of the garden. Direct sunlight, even in the mostly cloudy winter may scorch some leaves. Over the past 20 years […]
Archive for the ‘Summer heat tolerant’ Category
Aucuba — Major Shade Garden Shrub
Posted by Hugh on March 6th, 2010
Posted in acidic soil, Aucuba, Drought tolerant, Pruning, Shade Gardening, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs 
Comments Off on Aucuba — Major Shade Garden ShrubFerns in Your Garden
Posted by Hugh on January 22nd, 2010
I recommend adding ferns in your shade garden. Ferns offer very fine textured foliage. Plant’em in clumps of three or more. Select the proper fern by your garden site, e.g whether it is likely dry or moist soils. Some grow surprisingly well in full sun, but most prefer partial to full shade. Don’t buy a […]
Posted in Autumn fern (Dryopteris), Ferns, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Shade Gardening, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on Ferns in Your GardenBig Begonias
Posted by Hugh on January 4th, 2010
The Benary ‘Big Begonia’ series are a hit, “begonias on steroids”, some gardeners may say. Individual flowers are twice that of other bedding begonias. Colors are vivid with three cultivars currently available . ‘Big Rose Bronze Leaf’ is my personal favorite. (pictured) Begonias grow best in well drained, humus-rich garden soil. Provide tender -loving care […]
Posted in Begonia, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Flowers, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on Big BegoniasPrincess Lilies — Hardy in Zone 6
Posted by Hugh on December 29th, 2009
Not all alstroemerias are alike. I have been enjoying my Princess lilies (alstroemeria hybrids from Holland) over the past 6 years. They have been surprisingly winter hardy in zone 6-b where I garden. Further south in zones 7 and 8, Princess lilies prefer part sun to partial shade. I grow’em on the east side of […]
Posted in acidic soil, Alstroemeria (Peruvian lily), Flowers, Heat Tolerance, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on Princess Lilies — Hardy in Zone 6Planting Leyland Cypress May Be Big Mistake
Posted by Hugh on December 23rd, 2009
If you live in USDA Plant Zone 6-b – 7, planting leyland cypress (x Cupressocyparis leylandii) could eventually turn into a maintenance diseaster in your landscape. Leyland cypress is a green behemoth, too fast and aggressive for most folks to handle. Ask yourself, “do you really need a 60-70 foot evergreen privacy screen around your […]
Reawaken Your Garden In The Fall
Posted by Hugh on September 16th, 2009
Traditionally Labor Day signals the return to school, football season. Here are ten plants that have or will start blooming shortly: >Sedum “Autumn Joy’, ‘Matrona’, ‘Autumn Fire’ >Goldenrod (Solidago) >Toadlily (Tricyrtis) >Fall anemone >Fall mums, especially old fashioned types like ‘Ryan’s Pink’ and ‘Sheffield Pink’ >Fall Sunflower (Helianthus spp.) >Asters ‘October Skies’, ‘Raydon’s Favorite’, ‘Purple […]
Posted in Aster, Autumn flowering, Colchicum, Goldenrod (Solidago), Native Plant, Pansies, Southern Appalachian Region, Stonecrop sedums, Summer heat tolerant, Toadlily (Tricyrtis) Comments Off on Reawaken Your Garden In The Fall
