Crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia x indica) are small flowering trees and shrubs that are native to Asia and have naturalized in the Deep South of the U.S. Back in the 1970’s thru the 1990’s, plant breeders at the U.S. National Arboretum released 35 winter hardy varieties, named after North American Indian tribes. They varied in sizes […]
Archive for the ‘Winter Garden Interest’ Category
Varieties Of Crape Myrtles
Posted by Hugh on February 18th, 2023
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, compact shrub, container shrub, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Crape myrtle aphid, Crape myrtle bark scale, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Flowering shrub, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter bark, Winter Garden Interest 
Comments Off on Varieties Of Crape MyrtlesSelecting and Pruning Crape Myrtles
Posted by Hugh on February 14th, 2023
Crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia x indica) are small flowering trees and shrubs. Indigenous to Asia, they have naturalized in our U.S. Deep South. Winter hardiness is a key concern (USDA Hardiness Zones 6-9). Back in the 1970’s thru the 1990’s, plant breeders at the U.S. National Arboretum released 35 winter hardy varieties, named after North American […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn foliage color, Bees and other pollinators, compact shrub, compact tree, Container garden, container shrub, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Deciduous, Deer resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Selecting and Pruning Crape MyrtlesNewGen Boxwoods
Posted by Hugh on December 15th, 2022
Boxwoods (Buxus spp.) are the quintessential shrubs, primarily utilized as a foundation plant, a formal medium hedge, or for low privacy screening. Over the past half century, many new boxwood varieties have been introduced into nursery commerce. Boxwoods work in most landscape situations and are deer resistant. Only a few years ago, boxwood production at […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Boxwood (Buxus), Boxwood blight, Container garden, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Green Privacy Screen, Insect (Pest) Problems, Landscape ideas, Leaf diseases, Leaf miner, mulching, Non-native, Pachysandra, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on NewGen BoxwoodsPurple Beautyberry
Posted by Hugh on November 14th, 2022
Purple beautyberry (Callicarpa dichotoma) is a compact, deciduous, woody shrub with showy ornamental fruits that may last long after the shrub has dropped its leaves in fall. Beautyberry is among the finest ornamental fruiting shrubs and easy to care for. Purple beautyberry is a native of China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam and is in the […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Beautyberry (Callicarpa spp.), Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, compact shrub, Container garden, Container growing, container shrub, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Fall Garden Interest, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Purple BeautyberryDeciduous Hollies Dazzle In Your Winter Landscape
Posted by Hugh on October 1st, 2022
While deciduous hollies (Ilex spp.) are well-known among home gardeners and landscapers, surprisingly few grow them (USDA hardiness zones 3-9 variable by species). In the fall, their branches and twigs are covered in bright red berries. Orange and yellow berried varieties are also available. Birds love them as a winter food source. Deciduous hollies do […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Deciduous holly, Deer resistant, Dioecious, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Ilex (hollies), mulching, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Root suckering, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, Wildlife attractant, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Deciduous Hollies Dazzle In Your Winter LandscapeA Late Season Blooming Tree
Posted by Hugh on July 10th, 2022
Seven Son Flower (Heptacodium miconioides) is a large, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub that grows 15-20 feet tall and 10-12 feet wide at maturity. This rare unique specimen is catching on in the U.S. because of its year-round appeal (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). It is an excellent choice for a lawn specimen or plant several in a […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Fall Garden Interest, Flowering, Flowering shrub, Hummingbird, Landscape ideas, mulching trees, Non-native, Planting tips, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Seven son flower (Heptacodium), Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Trumpet vine (Campsis), watering tips, Weak branching, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on A Late Season Blooming TreeCinnamon Clethra
Posted by Hugh on May 27th, 2022
Japanese clethra (Clethra barbinervis) is a large, upright, deciduous shrub or small tree (USDA 5-8). As a small tree it generally grows 10-20 feet tall and features horizontally drooping, terminal racemes (4-6 inches long); the white flowers are pleasantly fragrant. Its bloom period continues over several weeks from mid to late summer. In autumn, its […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Clethra, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Flowering, Flowering shrub, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Cinnamon ClethraWhale’s Tongue Agave
Posted by Hugh on May 21st, 2022
Whale’s Tongue Agave Over the past 10-15 years, interest in growing agaves has really caught fire, whale’s tongue agave (Agave ovatifolia) in particular. It grows to 3 to 4 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide in 5 to 8 years, especially with summer water. Like many agaves, whale’s tongue blooms after 15-20 years, […]
Posted in acidic soil, Agave, alkaline soil, Bees and other pollinators, Cold tolerance, Container garden, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Landscape ideas, Perennials, Planting tips, Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Soil drainage, Summer flowering, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Whale’s Tongue AgaveChinese Fringetree
Posted by Hugh on May 6th, 2022
Chinese fringetree (Chionanthus retusus) is native to China, Korea and Japan (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). As with the native U.S. species (C. virginicus), this plant is noted for its fragrant white flowers. Gardeners first fall in love with this large, multi-stemmed, deciduous large multi-branched shrub. Some nurseries are also offering the Chinese form as a […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, compact tree, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Dioecious, Disease resistant, Fall Garden Interest, Flowering, Fringetree (Chionanthus), Landscape ideas, Medium sized Tree, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Shade tree, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Chinese FringetreeThree Standout Panicle Hydrangeas
Posted by Hugh on April 6th, 2022
For over a decade the cultivar ‘Limelight’ has been among the best selling panicle hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata) (USDA hardiness zones 3-8). It bears large greenish-white floral trusses on 6- 8 feet tall branches; beautiful for use as cut (fresh or dried) flowers. Here are three panicle hydrangeas that are also very popular. Vanilla Strawberry™ hydrangea […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, container shrub, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower arrangments, Flowering, Hydrangeas, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Panicle hydrangea, Planting tips, Propagation (layering), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Sand Dune Protection, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Three Standout Panicle Hydrangeas
