Russian sage (Perovskia spp.) is a popular garden and landscape plant valued for its lavender-blue flowers and long bloom period. Leaves are silvery green leaves. Long cultivated as an herbaceous perennial, Russian sage is technically a subshrub, a plant with a woody base that produces herbaceous stems. Perovskia spp. has recently renamed Salvia yangii and is a member […]
Archive for the ‘winter hardiness’ Category
Hawthorn Trees In The Landscape
The world of hawthorns (Crataegus spp.) includes several outstanding landscape trees that exhibit four-season ornamental interest: 1. spring flowering, 2. disease-free summer foliage, 3. variable fall leaf color, and 4. colorful fruits for wildlife in the fall and winter months. World-wide, hawthorns are native to temperate regions of North America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, […]
Perennials With Great Autumn Leaf Color
In addition to foliage changes seen in landscape trees and shrubs, a select number of perennials contribute to the autumnal leaf colors. Here is a select list of popular perennials endeared for their autumnal foliage hues. Arkansas bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii) – stunning golden foliage beginning in late September. Bloody cranesbill (Geranium sanguineum) – geranium ground […]
Tips On Overwintering Outdoor Containers
Containers filled with shrubs and perennials, doesn’t necessarily ensure their winter survival. Without adequate cold protection plants may succumb to cold injury—turning them into dead annuals. To over-winter perennials in containers, you need to know their root and shoot temperature hardiness. Often, plant hardiness ratings is listed on the label. Roots and shoots of several […]
Forms of Western Arborvitae
Here is a partial listing of cultivars of Western arborvitae (Thuja plicata), as found in the U.S. nursery industry. Several are good choices for dwarf conifer collectors, in rock gardens, and in large containers. Winter hardiness of some cultivars is variable. Note: some are dwarf forms of ‘Green Giant’ arborvitae (Thuja standishii x plicata) which […]
Coral honeysuckle
Coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), aka trumpet honeysuckle, is a vigorous twining flowering vine that is primarily native to the southeastern U.S. (USDA hardiness zones 4 -8). Cultivars are available in shades of red, orange. and yellow. The colorful flowers appear in spring and summer, and colorful berries decorate in late summer and autumn. Invite hummingbirds […]
Bald Cypress For A Small Landscape
Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum) is well-known as a deciduous conifer native to the southeastern U.S. (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). Pyramidal in form, bald cypress towers over 70 feet tall with a spread up to 50 feet. Bald cypress is naturally found in southeast U.S. swamps, marshlands, lakes, ponds, and other wetlands. On marshy ground, you […]
‘Goshiki’ Holly Tea Olive
Holly Tea Osmanthus, also called holly tea olive and false-holly (Osmanthus heterophyllus) is a large (15 feet tall), dense, upright, oval-rounded evergreen shrub. The species blooms in late fall and the tiny inconspicuous white flowers are sweetly fragrant. Small numbers of fruits ripen the following year, and often go unnoticed. Osmanthus heterophyllus ‘Goshiki’ is a […]
Clump Type Ornamental Grasses Excel In Autumn
City gardeners want low maintenance. These ornamental grasses are what you’re looking for. They achieve their intended growth heights in summer, and produce flowers (inflorescence). Foliage of some change color as temps start cooling in late summer. Five of six listed grass species are winter hardy and overwinter outside in large containers or tubs in most regions […]

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