Shredded umbrella plant (Syneilesis aconitifolia) is a non-aggressive woodland ground cover which is native to dry hillsides in China, Japan, and Korea (USDA hardiness zones 4 thru 8). It has a medium green lacy foliage which you will treasure in the shade garden. While its flowers may be tiny and inconspicuous, the circular umbrella foliage […]
Archive for the ‘winter hardiness’ Category
Shredded Umbrella Plant Handles Dry Shade
Posted by Hugh on March 27th, 2013
Posted in acidic soil, compost, Disease resistant, Ground cover, mulching, Perennials, Shredded umbrella (Syneilesis), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, watering tips, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Shredded Umbrella Plant Handles Dry ShadeTiger Eyes® Sumac Far Less Aggressive
Posted by Hugh on March 25th, 2013
I’m uneasy to recommend our native invasive sumac in a home landscape, but Tiger Eyes sumac (Rhus typhina ‘Bailtiger’), known as Tiger Eyes®, is far less aggressive (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). Its brightly colored cut-leaf foliage will definitely catch your attention in the summer. Leaves turn maroon-red in the autumn. This small deciduous tree or […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, alkaline soil, container shrub, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Sumac (Rhus), Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter bark, winter hardiness Comments Off on Tiger Eyes® Sumac Far Less AggressiveFall Color Calendar For Red Maple
Posted by Hugh on March 20th, 2013
Red maple (Acer rubrum) is commonly planted as a 40-60 feet tall street or shade tree (USDA hardiness zones 3-9). Tiny red flowers burst open early, often in early March throughout the Southern Appalachian region (USDA hardiness zones 6 and 7). Flowers give way to reddish double winged samaras. Its glossy dark green 3-5 lobed […]
Posted in acidic soil, Heat Tolerance, Large Shade trees, Maples (Acer), Native Plant, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on Fall Color Calendar For Red MapleLittle Girl Magnolias Avoid Early Spring Frosts
Posted by Hugh on March 17th, 2013
The early flowering deciduous magnolias, namely star (Magnolia stellata) and tulip (M. soulangeana) magnolias, are often susceptible to late winter-early spring frosts. In the 1980’s the U.S. National Arboretum released the series of 8 shrub-type cultivars called the “Little Girl Magnolias”. They were crosses between M. liliiflora and M. stellata. Over ten years these deciduous […]
Posted in acidic soil, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Garden Maintenance, Magnolia liliiflora, Magnolia stellata, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (layering), Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on Little Girl Magnolias Avoid Early Spring FrostsEarly Blooming Cornelian Cherry In The March Garden
Posted by Hugh on March 9th, 2013
Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas) is a multi-stemmed, low-branched dogwood tree or shrub. It typically grows 20-25 feet tall and slightly less in overall width (USDA hardiness zones 4-7). Tiny, golden yellow flowers appear in late winter, around March 1st in my east Tennessee garden, and remain in bloom through most of the month despite cold […]
Posted in Attracting birds, compact tree, Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas), Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Dogwood (Cornus), Drought tolerant, Green Privacy Screen, Heat Tolerance, Ornamental fruit, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on Early Blooming Cornelian Cherry In The March GardenA Variegated Ornamental Grass Is ‘River Mist’ Sea Oats
Posted by Hugh on March 5th, 2013
River Mist Northern sea oats (Chasmanthium latifolium ‘River Mist’), formerly Uniola latifolia, is a recent plant introduction with striking green and white variegated foliage on slightly arching stems. River Mist grows shorter than the species, 30-36 inches tall and 24-36 inches wide. Northern sea oats is one of the more shade tolerant of the ornamental […]
Posted in Container growing, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Northern sea oats (Chasmanthium), Ornamental fruit, Ornamental Grasses, Perennials, plant nutrition, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on A Variegated Ornamental Grass Is ‘River Mist’ Sea Oats‘Green Giant’ Arborvitae: A Terrific Green Privacy Screen
Posted by Hugh on February 23rd, 2013
Western arborvitae (Thuja plicata) is a large native evergreen tree from the Western U.S. (USDA hardiness zones 5-7). As many as 30 cultivars are available among dwarf, weeping, and variegated leaf forms. One of the most popular selections is ‘Green Giant,’ a hybrid between T. plicata and T. standishii, a Japanese arborvitae. In its native […]
Posted in acidic soil, Arborvitae (Thuja spp.), Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Evergreens, Native Plant, Privacy Screen, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Green Giant’ Arborvitae: A Terrific Green Privacy ScreenMore Winter Hardy Encore Azaleas Now Available
Posted by Hugh on February 21st, 2013
For spring 2013, 22 of 32 Encore™ Azalea varieties are cold hardy in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA hardiness zones 6 and 7). Thirteen (13) varieties are reliably cold hardy throughout Zone 6-a&b. They are: Autumn Amethyst, Autumn Carnation, Autumn Cheer, Autumn Jewel , Autumn Lilac, Autumn Lily, Autumn Royalty, Autumn Ruby, Autumn Sangria, Autumn […]
Posted in acidic soil, acidify soil, Autumn flowering, Azaleas (evergreen), Evergreen, Flowers, mulching, Planting tips, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on More Winter Hardy Encore Azaleas Now AvailableLungworts- Perfect Shade Companion With Hostas
Posted by Hugh on February 18th, 2013
The lungworts (Pulmonaria spp.) are very popular in shade gardens with hostas, astilbes, Solomon seals, and ferns (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). Their green or silver-colored foliage may be dusted with green, silver or white spots. Lungworts are divided into two distinct foliage forms: narrow long-leaf (P. longifolia) and silvery or speckled oval leaves (P. saccharata). […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Downy mildew, Flowers, Ground cover, Hummingbird, mulching, Perennials, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Pulmonaria, Slugs, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Lungworts- Perfect Shade Companion With Hostas‘Vanderwolf Pyramid’– Reliable Mid-sized Limber Pine
Posted by Hugh on February 6th, 2013
Limber pine (Pinus flexilis), native to the Rocky Mountain region, has proven to be a reliable landscape evergreen tree in the Midwest and is gaining new fans in mid-South gardens (USDA hardiness zone 7-a). ‘Vanderwolf Pyramid’(VP) is a beautiful dwarf pine being planted by conifer collectors. It is hardy in USDA zone 5, and displays […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Native Plant, Pine (Pinus spp.), Privacy Screen, Trees & Shrubs, watering evergreens, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Vanderwolf Pyramid’– Reliable Mid-sized Limber Pine
