Spider flowers (Cleome x hybrida) are top performing summer flowering annuals. Each year plant breeders introduce compact varieties to beautify flower beds and container gardens. Select among vegetative and seed produced types. Spider flowers ask for weekly watering and full day sunlight (best) to achieve maximum blooming potential. They will grow in a partially shaded beds but bloom less and the plants tend to […]
Archive for the ‘watering tips’ Category
Spider Flowers Excel In Summer’s Heat And Humidity
Posted by Hugh on July 21st, 2016
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, compost, Container garden, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Flowers, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spider flower (Cleome), Spring flowering, Staking, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Spider Flowers Excel In Summer’s Heat And HumidityDo Not Call Them “Weeds” Any Longer
Posted by Hugh on July 18th, 2016
Some plants deserve more respect. Over the years several U.S. native species have been tamed or domesticated. Yet, they retain their common name “weed”. Four popular former “weeds” are: butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) ironweed (Vernonia lettermannii ‘Iron Butterfly’), sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale), and Joe-Pye weed (Eupatorium spp.). Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Butterfly weed (Asclepias), Container garden, deadheading, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Eupatorium 'Gateway', Eupatorium rugosum 'Chocolate', Fertilizing plants, Helenium, Ironweed (Vernonia), Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Staking, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Do Not Call Them “Weeds” Any LongerComparing Oriental Lilies To Asiatic Lilies
Posted by Hugh on July 13th, 2016
Both Asiatic and Oriental lilies (Lilium spp.) are popular lilies in U.S. gardens. Hybrid cultivars share traits of both species. Lilies grow in a wide variety of soil types and are not pH sensitive. They flower in full to part partial sun (5 hours minimum of sunlight). Both prefer a well-drained soil and mulch to keep roots […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Bulb Crops, Butterflies, deadheading, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Fragrant, Hummingbird, Lily (Lilium spp.), Lily (Lilium), mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rabbit/deer Protection, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering bulbs, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Comparing Oriental Lilies To Asiatic LiliesSpice Up Dark Garden Spots With Heucherellas
Posted by Hugh on July 10th, 2016
Here come the heucherellas (x Heucherella), also called “foamy bells”. Heucherellas are hybrids that result from crossing two U.S. native genera: foamflower (Tiarella spp.) and coral bell (Heuchera spp.). Terra Nova Nurseries, a wholesale grower in Oregon, were the first to develop these hybrids. They possess the awesome foliage from both species parents. One […]
Posted in acidic soil, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Heucherella (foamy bells), mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Shade Gardening, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Spice Up Dark Garden Spots With Heucherellas‘Silk Tassel’ Sedge Shimmers In Shady Gardens
Posted by Hugh on July 1st, 2016
‘Silk Tassel’ Japanese sedge (Carex morrowii var. temnolepis) is an ornamental sedge from Japan (USDA hardiness zones 5 to 9). It is grown in shady areas for its narrow, variegated foliage. It grows slowly as a dense, grass-like clump to 12 -15 inches high and up to 2 feet spread. Foliage bubbles up like a shimmering […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, Carex (Sedges), Container garden, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Ground cover, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Purchasing Plants, Sedges (Carex), Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Silk Tassel’ Sedge Shimmers In Shady GardensYarrows Come In Many Size And Colors
Posted by Hugh on June 28th, 2016
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a rhizomatous spreading perennial (USDA hardiness zones 3 to 9). The species originates from Europe and Asia and was introduced to America in colonial times. Today, yarrow is frequently seen naturalized along roadsides, fields, and gardens throughout the U. S. Yarrow has fern-like, aromatic, foliage. […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, deadheading, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Hummingbird, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness, Yarrow (Achillea) Comments Off on Yarrows Come In Many Size And ColorsButterfly Weed – Long-lived Flowering Perennial That Nourish Monarchs
Posted by Hugh on June 21st, 2016
Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa), aka butterfly weed, is a tuberous rooted perennial native in the Eastern and southern U.S. (USDA hardiness zones 3 to 9). It grows in dry/rocky open woodlands, prairies, farm fields, and along roadsides. Individual plants typically grow as a clump to 1- 3 feet high and 1 ½ feet wide. Unlike many of […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Butterfly weed (Asclepias), Deer resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Milkweeds (Asclepias), Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Poisonous or toxic, Propagation (Seed), root injury, Rust diseases, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, watering tips, Winter Protection Comments Off on Butterfly Weed – Long-lived Flowering Perennial That Nourish MonarchsJapanese Snowbells Worth A Try
Posted by Hugh on June 10th, 2016
Japanese snowbells (Styrax japonicus) is a graceful, slow growing, low branched spring flowering tree. At present snowbells are not popular with U.S. gardeners , mostly because of unavailabliity (USDA hardiness zones 5-8). Snowbells are lovely understory trees, similar to our native dogwoods (Cornus florida). Small, pendulous, slightly fragrant, bell-shaped white flowers appear in May. Small white […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, compact tree, Fertilizing plants, Firewood, mulching, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Propagation(grafting), Purchasing Plants, Small landscape tree, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Styrax, Transplant problem, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter bark, winter hardiness, winter injury Comments Off on Japanese Snowbells Worth A TryThree Native Landscape Grasses To Try
Posted by Hugh on June 7th, 2016
These three native grasses are easy to establish in average, dry to medium moist, well-drained soils and in full sun. They tolerate a wide range of soils including dry rocky sites, and are exceptionally drought tolerant. Figure on 1 to 2 years for each to become fully established. Blue Lyme Grass (Leymus arenarus ‘Blue Dune’) is a vigorous spreading cool […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting birds, Autumn flowering, Blue Lyme grass (Leymus), Cold tolerance, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fragrant, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, Mexican Feather Grass (Nassella), Ornamental Grasses, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Sand Dune Protection, Soil Conservation, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Three Native Landscape Grasses To TryThree Native Flowering Shrubs For Your Summer Landscape
Posted by Hugh on June 1st, 2016
Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica) flowers in late spring with dark green, pest-free summer foliage that turns brilliant red in fall (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). It thrives in full sun to partial shade, and in moist mildly acidic soils. It is also highly drought tolerant once established. Fertilize […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, compost, Container growing, container shrub, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flowering, Hummingbird, mulching, Native Plant, Planting tips, Plumleaf azalea, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Summersweet (Clethra), Trees & Shrubs, Virginia sweetspire, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Three Native Flowering Shrubs For Your Summer Landscape
