Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) is an upright, broad-rounded, suckering, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub. In the wild oakleafs may grow 20 feet tall, but popular landscape cultivars typically grow 4-8 feet) tall. It is a wonderful shrub with multi-season interest. This Southeastern U.S. native shrub tolerates hot, humid weather and is not as winter hardy as some […]
Archive for the ‘Winter Garden Interest’ Category
Oakleaf Hydrangeas
Posted by Hugh on April 11th, 2025
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, compact shrub, Container garden, container shrub, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Flowering, Hydrangea, Hydrangeas, Landscape ideas, Large shrub, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Oakleaf hydrangea (H. quercifolia), Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (layering), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness 
No Comments »Winter Honeysuckle Totally Ignored In U.S. Landscapes
Posted by Hugh on March 10th, 2025
Winter honeysuckle, aka fragrant honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima) is a treasured heirloom shrub (USDA hardiness zones 4 to 8). Plantings of this late winter blooming large woody shrub are still found in historical (older) urban neighborhoods and city parks planted prior to the 1960’s. This tough, durable shrub can reach 10+ feet tall and wide. You […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fragrant, Green Privacy Screen, Heat Tolerance, Honeysuckle (Lonicera), Invasive species, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Scale, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, White flies, Winter bark, Winter flowering, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Winter Honeysuckle Totally Ignored In U.S. LandscapesChinese Paperbush (Edgeworthia)
Posted by Hugh on February 10th, 2025
If you garden in winter hardiness zones USDA zones 7 -10, Chinese paperbush (Edgeworthia chrysantha) should be a must-have winter flowering shrub. In my zone 6-b garden, my shrub struggled through its first winter and spring, but paperbush has never disappointed over its past 20 + years. A few gardeners living near me are also […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, compact tree, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Edgeworthia, Fragrant, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Purchasing Plants, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter flowering, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Chinese Paperbush (Edgeworthia)Winter-blooming Snowdrops
Posted by Hugh on November 26th, 2024
Snowdrop (Galanthus spp.) are grown in both cold and moderate winters. In the U.S. snowdrops thrive where winters are cool (USDA hardiness zones 3-8). There are about 19 species of Galanthus – in the amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae). They’re native to the cool woodland and mountainous regions of southern Europe and Asia Minor. They tend to struggle in […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Galanthus (snowdrops), Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Snowdrops (Galanthus), Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering bulbs, watering tips, Winter flowering, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Winter-blooming SnowdropsTemple of Bloom® Seven Son Flower
Posted by Hugh on October 21st, 2024
Few woody plants can matched for year-round beauty of Seven son flower. Temple of Bloom® is an outstanding selection from Proven Winners™ (PW) is a beautiful, easy to grow this deciduous small tree or large shrub. It grows 10 -20 feet tall and 6-10 feet wide. In spring, the handsome leaves emerge, each sporting dramatically deep […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Fragrant, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Seven son flower (Heptacodium), Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest Comments Off on Temple of Bloom® Seven Son FlowerTriggering Holiday Cactus To Bloom
Posted by Hugh on October 12th, 2024
Thanksgiving and Christmas cacti are not desert plants. They’re indigenous to the tropical rain forest environment in South America. Holiday cacti thrive in bright indirect sunlight along with other house plants. Set them near an east-facing window when indoors over fall and winter or shaded under trees outdoors in the spring and summer months. Indoors, […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera), Fall Garden Interest, Mealy bugs, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Soil drainage, Thanksgiving cactus, watering tips, Winter flowering, Winter Garden Interest Comments Off on Triggering Holiday Cactus To BloomAmerican Beautyberry
Posted by Hugh on September 26th, 2024
American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana), also called French mulberry, is a fast-growing deciduous shrub native to the southeastern U.S. It grows 4-6 feet tall and has an open branching form with arching branches. The genus name Callicarpa comes from Greek words meaning “beautiful fruit”. Starting in July, the plant bears clusters of small, pale pink flowers […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Beautyberry (Callicarpa spp.), Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Flower arrangments, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (layering), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on American BeautyberrySummer – Fall Care Of Oakleaf Hydrangeas
Posted by Hugh on August 25th, 2024
Oakleaf hydrangea is an upright, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub that is native in the Southeastern U.S. (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). Oakleaf hydrangea should be planted in a sheltered location and winter protection (e.g., mulch, burlap wrap) in northerly areas USDA Zone 5, particularly when not fully established. Oakleaf grows in moist, fertile, well-drained soil in sun […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Flower arrangments, Hydrangeas, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Oakleaf hydrangea (H. quercifolia), Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Wildlife attractant, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Summer – Fall Care Of Oakleaf HydrangeasSweetbay Magnolia Cultivars
Posted by Hugh on April 19th, 2024
Sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) is a U.S. native tree that is finally catching on with landscape designers. Sweetbay often grows 20-30 feet tall and 15-20 feet wide as a large shrub or multi-stemmed small tree. Discovering a 50-60 feet sweetbay near by a lake or pond is not unusual to find (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Chlorosis (yellowing), Deciduous, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Flower arrangments, Fragrant, Landscape ideas, Large shrub, Leaf retention, Magnolia virginiana, Medium sized Tree, mulching, Native Plant, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation(grafting), Purchasing Plants, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Sweetbay Magnolia CultivarsLacebark Pine – A Year-round Treasure
Posted by Hugh on April 1st, 2024
Native to China, lacebark pine (Pinus bungeana) is an excellent, low-maintenance evergreen treasure. Winter-hardy in USDA hardiness zones 4-8, this specimen pine struggles in the summer heat and humidity of the Southern U.S. Best specmens are found growing in arboretums and botanical gardens north of zone 8. This 3-needle pine offers 4-seasons of ornamental interest. […]
Posted in acidic soil, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Fall Garden Interest, Lacebark pine (P. bungeana), Landscape ideas, Medium sized Tree, mulching, Non-native, Pine (Pinus spp.), Planting tips, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Lacebark Pine – A Year-round Treasure
