For most of the season Muhly grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris) grows pretty much unnoticed. Muhly exhibits a semi- erect growth habit, 3-4 feet in height and 3-4 feet in spread. Walking past a pink billowy inflorescences of Muhly on a brisk sunny October morning is nothing short of “wow”. For 10- 12 weeks, from early September thru late November, a pink haze arises […]
Archive for the ‘winter hardiness’ Category
Muhly Grass Pink Color Emblazens The Autumn Season
Posted by Hugh on September 12th, 2012
Posted in Autumn flowering, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Muhly grass, Native Plant, Ornamental Grasses, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Muhly Grass Pink Color Emblazens The Autumn SeasonThis Korean Maple Deserves To Be Planted More
Posted by Hugh on September 4th, 2012
Ullung-do Island Korean maple (Acer pseudosieboldianum ‘Takeshimense’) is a small deciduous tree which will grow to be 20 -25 feet tall tree, with a spread of 15-18 feet. It tends to branch low to the ground. It originates from the Ullung-do Island in the sea of China. Korean maple is one of the best maples […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn foliage color, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Korean maple, Maples (Acer), Ornamental fruit, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on This Korean Maple Deserves To Be Planted More‘Northwind’ Switchgrass Is Environmentally Tough and Beautiful
Posted by Hugh on August 28th, 2012
Young Clump of ‘Northwind’ Switchgrass Northwind switchgrass (Panicum virgatum ‘Northwind’) is a medium sized 5 to 6 feet tall ornamental grass. This tall native prairie grass grows best in full sunlight for most of the day. Its tight narrow posture seems to fall apart in shade. There are many good switchgrass varieties. Northwind makes […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting birds, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Green Privacy Screen, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Ornamental Grasses, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Switchgrass (Panicum), winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Northwind’ Switchgrass Is Environmentally Tough and BeautifulWinter Hardiness of Crape Myrtles
Posted by Hugh on August 25th, 2012
If you garden in USDA zone 6, certain crape myrtle cultivars are rated as reliably winter hardy perennials. Most dependable are the U.S. National Arboretum cultivars released starting in the 1980’s to date. Each one is named for an Indian tribe. Most of the National Arboretum cultivars are selected for cold hardiness as well as for disease and insect resistance. Among the […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, compact shrub, compact tree, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on Winter Hardiness of Crape MyrtlesStrong Vertical Presence of Serbian Spruce
Posted by Hugh on August 17th, 2012
Serbian spruce (Picea omorika) rises as a tall spire in the urban landscape. A mature tree may reach 50 to 60 feet high and it creates a narrow footprint of 15 to 25 feet wide. Lateral branches uniquely bend downward while the growing tips sweep gracefully upward. Annual growth rate is slow at 12-15 inches. Two-thirds of the short dark green needles lay […]
Posted in acidic soil, Evergreens, Green Privacy Screen, Heat Tolerance, Serbian spruce, Southern Appalachian Region, Spruces (Picea spp.), winter hardiness Comments Off on Strong Vertical Presence of Serbian SpruceOstrich Fern Likes It Moist And Cool
Posted by Hugh on August 6th, 2012
For sheer toughness ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris) handles most landscape situations (USDA hardiness zones 2-7a). Ostrich fern is commonly seen growing naturally in cool moist river bottom soils, 3-5 feet in height and spreading aggressively. Roots have a clumping rhizomatous nature. The fronds grow upright with a slightly arching form, typically to 2-3 feet in […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, alkaline soil, Disease resistant, Foliage plant, Native Plant, Ostrich fern (Matteuccia), Perennials, Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Uncategorized, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Ostrich Fern Likes It Moist And Cool‘Morning Grace’ Spiderwort Is A Delicate Beauty
Posted by Hugh on July 26th, 2012
Morning Grace spiderwort (Tradescantia rosea ‘Morning Grace’) is a short growing spiderwort native from Maryland south to Florida. Its small size and clumping nature makes it a wonderful rock garden plant. It grows into 8″ tall x 8″ wide clump of narrow medium green leaves. At first glance this spiderwort’s foliage appears very grass-like. […]
Posted in Butterflies, Native Plant, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Tradescantia (Spiderwort), winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Morning Grace’ Spiderwort Is A Delicate BeautyNo Scorch ‘Verdoni’ Dwarf Hinoki Cypress
Posted by Hugh on June 22nd, 2012
For a small urban garden many dwarf evergreen conifers are a good fit. There are so many to choose from and Verdon hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Verdoni’) is one of the finest. Its fan shaped gold-edged green foliage will light up almost any garden locale. It makes a great garden companion with short growing perennials, […]
Posted in acidic soil, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, DWARF CONIFERS, Evergreen, Heat Tolerance, plant nutrition, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Verdon hinoki cypress, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on No Scorch ‘Verdoni’ Dwarf Hinoki Cypress‘Color Guard’ Yucca Hold Gold Variegation
Posted by Hugh on June 19th, 2012
Architecturally, yucca (Yucca filamentosa), aka Adam’s needle or Spanish bayonet, makes a strong landscape statement. Yucca is often difficult to fit with with other shrubs, except perhaps other xerophytic plants. Yucca is frequently used in an arid-looking or in a courtyard setting in gravel mulch. Yucca prospers in full sun and a well-drained soil. This […]
Posted in Drought tolerant, Evergreens, Native Plant, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, winter hardiness, Yucca Comments Off on ‘Color Guard’ Yucca Hold Gold Variegation‘Lady Francis’ Ivy Wakes Up A Shady Patch
Posted by Hugh on June 6th, 2012
On a recently trip to the Ohio State University Horticultural Gardens in Columbus, I discovered ‘Lady Frances’, a relatively tame miniature ivy. The American Ivy Society classifies Hedera helix ‘Lady Frances’ as non-invasive, and it received the first “Ivy of the Year” award in 2001. It grows slowly and works as a ground cover or topiary […]
Posted in Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Ground cover, Interior (house) Plants, Ivy (Hedera), Planting tips, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Uncategorized, Vine, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Lady Francis’ Ivy Wakes Up A Shady Patch
