Arborvitae Fern (Selaginella braunii) is not a true fern, but it produces spores. This ancient plant is called a club moss and spikemoss. A diverse group of over 700 species, spikemoss is native to China. Its thick lacy fern-like foliage resembles Arborvitae or Cedar. Spikemoss (S. braunii) is a hardy landscape selection that forms a low-growing matting […]
Archive for the ‘watering tips’ Category
Arborvitae Fern
Posted by Hugh on September 29th, 2025
Posted in acidic soil, Container garden, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Ferns, Fertilizing plants, Ground cover, Landscape ideas, Non-native, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spikemoss (Selaginella braunii), Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Arborvitae Fern‘Jindai’ Japanese Aster
Posted by Hugh on September 23rd, 2025
Tatarian aster (Crinitaria tataricus) / (Aster tataricus) is an herbaceous perennial wildflower indigenous to eastern Europe, Siberia, and Mongolia (USDA hardiness zones 3-9). Its stiff sturdy stems support showy abundant flower clusters comprised of 1 inch (2.5 cm) across, with deep lavender to blue rays and yellow centers. The flat-topped clusters add late season color […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, Aster, Attracting birds, Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, Botrytis disease, Butterflies, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Flower Arranging, Flower arrangments, Jindai aster (Aster tataricus), Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Overcrowding, Perennials, Planting tips, Powdery mildew, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Staking, Summer heat tolerant, Tatarian aster (Crinitaria), watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Jindai’ Japanese AsterScarlet Rose Mallow
Posted by Hugh on August 16th, 2025
Swamp hibiscus (Hibiscus coccineus), aka scarlet rose mallow, is a hardy perennial plant that grows in swamps, marches and roadside ditches in the Southeastern U.S. (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). It can grow 6 to 8 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide. The 5- to 6-inch-long palmate leaves are 3 – 7 lobes and have jagged […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Hibiscus (mallow) sawfly, Hibiscus coccineus, Hummingbird, Japanese beetle, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rust diseases, Soil drainage, Staking, Summer flowering, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Scarlet Rose MallowGrowing Rose Mallow (Hardy Hibiscus)
Posted by Hugh on August 6th, 2025
Summerific® Hibiscus are all Perennial Hibiscus, primarily tracing their parentage back to Hibiscus moscheutos. This species is native to North America, specifically the central and eastern regions of the U.S. Perennial Hibiscus are hardy from zones 4-9 and dieback to the ground each year. They produce exceptionally large flowers in an increasingly wide color range. All […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Hardy hibiscus, Hibiscus (mallow) sawfly, Hummingbird, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Poisonous or toxic, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Growing Rose Mallow (Hardy Hibiscus)Hardy Cyclamen
Posted by Hugh on August 1st, 2025
Hardy cyclamens are tuberous perennial that bloom according to species. They are native to Europe, around the Mediterranean region and parts of Asia and Africa. Two popular hardy species in U.S. gardens are spring-blooming Cyclamen coum and fall-flowering ivy-leaf Cyclamen hederifolium. Leaves remain evergreen through much of the winter season. Non-hardy florist cyclamens (C. persicum) […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, compost, Container garden, Cyclamen, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Ground cover, Hardy cyclamen, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Perennials, Planting tips, Poisonous or toxic, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Root rotting, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Hardy CyclamenChartreuse In Summer Shade – ‘Sun King’ Aralia
Posted by Hugh on July 28th, 2025
Plants with golden foliage can brighten up almost any drab garden patch. Sun King golden aralia (Aralia cordata ‘Sun King’), called Japanese spikenard and mountain asparagus, is no exception (USDA hardiness zones 3-9). Under ideal conditions this thornless, rhizomatous, herbaceous perennial starts out slowly to reach 3-5 feet tall and wide in its third summer. […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, Aralia 'Sun King', Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Slugs, Snails, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Chartreuse In Summer Shade – ‘Sun King’ AraliaNative Hypericums
Posted by Hugh on July 17th, 2025
St. John’s Wort (Hypericum spp.) is a genus of about 400 species of annuals, perennials or shrubs which are noted for producing showy bright yellow flowers with a central mass of bright yellow stamens. Hordes of bee species love hypericum flowers. In midsummer, this U.S. native produces yellow flowers with distinctive clusters of puffball of stamens […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flowering shrub, Ground cover, Japanese beetle, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Non-native, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, St. John's Wort (Hypericum), Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Native HypericumsGrowing Tropical Hibiscus
Posted by Hugh on July 8th, 2025
Tropical Hibiscus(es) (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) are a non-hardy group from southeast Asia. They require temperatures above 50°F year-round (USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 9–12) and will likely be injured at temps below 35°F. They are evergreen cousins of the very hardy deciduous shrub group —Althea (H. syriacus) and herbaceous perennial favorites like Rose Mallow (H. moscheutos) and […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, Downy mildew, Evergreen, Heat Tolerance, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Hummingbird, Insect (Pest) Problems, Interior (house) Plants, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Powdery mildew, Propagation (Cuttings), Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Scale, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Thrips, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, White flies, Wind protection, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Growing Tropical HibiscusTall Growing Daylilies
Posted by Hugh on July 1st, 2025
Tall daylilies (Hemerocallis altissima) are a group of late season fragrant daylilies that are native to southwest China, singled out for their tall 5-6 feet floral spikes. Blooms open in late afternoon and are classified as “nocturnal bloomers”. In spring, this deciduous perennial starts out with 2-feet tall grass-like foliage. In summer they produce tall flower spikes 4 – […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Daylilies, Deciduous, Drought tolerant, Flower Arranging, Fragrant, Hummingbird, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Staking, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Tall Growing DayliliesGauras For Summer Flower Power
Posted by Hugh on June 24th, 2025
Lots of TN, VA, and KY gardeners don’t know Gauras, a tough beautiful Texas native perennial that performs equally well in our area. After countless trips to Biltmore Estates and the NC Arboretum in Asheville, I have gained an appreciation for its long summer blooming habit. Gaura (Oenothera lindheimeri) is a low-maintenance perennial native to […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Aphids, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Gaura, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Powdery mildew, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rust diseases, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, White flies, winter hardiness Comments Off on Gauras For Summer Flower Power
