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 […]
Archive for the ‘watering tips’ Category
Tough Colorful Lantanas
Posted by Hugh on May 7th, 2026
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 »Ashe Magnolia – A Very Special Small Tree
Posted by Hugh on April 27th, 2026
Ashe magnolia (Magnolia ashei) is a small 10-20 feet deciduous tree with enormous size flowers and leaves (zone (5)6-9). Each white flowers may measure 6- 12 inches across with a purple blotch at the base of 3 inner petal-like tepals. Ashe magnolia blooms in late May – early June here in Tennessee, Virginia and North […]
Posted in acidic soil, Ashe magnolia (M. ashei), Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, compost, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Fragrant, Landscape ideas, Magnolia, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Scale, Small landscape tree, Snails, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Thrips, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness 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 No Comments »Sunfinity™ 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 No Comments »Tuff 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 HydrangeasGolden Shadow Dogwood
Posted by Hugh on March 24th, 2026
Alternate leaf dogwood (Cornus alternifolia), aka Pagoda dogwood, is a small native deciduous tree or large multi-stemmed shrub (USDA hardiness zones 3-8). This U.S. native species is indigenous to central and eastern Canada and central and the eastern and central areas of the U.S. Pagoda dogwood typically grows 15-25 feet high with distinctive tiered/layered horizontal branching. The […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Borers, Canker disease, Cercopora leaf spot, Chlorosis (yellowing), Container garden, Cornus alternifolia, Deciduous, Fertilizing plants, Landscape ideas, Large shrub, Leaf miner, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Powdery mildew, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Root rotting, Scale, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Sun scald, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Wind protection, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Golden Shadow DogwoodBaker’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 Redbuds“Witchhazel” Winter Time
Posted by Hugh on February 9th, 2026
Add flowering and fragrance to your winter garden. Witchhazels (Hamamelis spp.) are prized for their strap-shape petalled flowers which bloom mid- to late winter. Depending on species and cultivar, blooming begins in late January and many possess fragrant blooms. Witchhazels are medium to large deciduous shrubs, typically 12-20 feet tall. Foliage texture is somewhat coarse. […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Caterpillars, Chlorosis (yellowing), Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fragrant, Japanese beetles, Landscape ideas, Leaf/needle spots, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter flowering, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness, Witchhazel (Hamamelis) Comments Off on “Witchhazel” Winter TimeNew Redbuds From Dr. Dennis Werner
Posted by Hugh on January 7th, 2026
Despite his retirement from NC State University, Dr. Werner, the redbud breeder of varieties like ‘Flamethrower’ and ‘Ruby Falls’, has introduced two more new varieties. Both cultivars are the beginning of the new compact redbud series. The two newest redbud releases from NCSU are ‘Pom Poms’ and ‘Amethyst’ are two new compact redbud trees. (Zone […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Breeding Plants, Cold tolerance, compact tree, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Redbud, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips Comments Off on New Redbuds From Dr. Dennis WernerRestart Your Amaryllis Bulb
Posted by Hugh on December 27th, 2025
Amaryllis is native to Cape Province in South Africa, and as with other bulbs native to this region. They benefit from a period of dry dormancy before reblooming again. In the autumn season, many temperate zone gardeners bring potted amaryllis bulbs indoors and dry out potting soil to induce dormancy. By withholding water, amaryllis leaves […]
Posted in acidic soil, Amaryllis, Amaryllis (Bulb), Container garden, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowering Bulb, Forcing, Light requirement, Non-native, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Root rotting, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, watering tips, Winter flowering, Winter Garden Interest Comments Off on Restart Your Amaryllis Bulb
