Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica) is a native shrub that touts showy white raceme flowers in late spring and brilliant reddish purple foliage in fall (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). Flowers are very fragrant and attracts hundreds of bees and other pollinators. VA sweetspire excels in moist, humus-rich, mildly acidic soils (pH 5.2-6.5). In its native habitat, […]
Archive for the ‘Soil drainage’ Category
Virginia Sweetspire — A Standout Native Shrub
Posted by Hugh on April 12th, 2017
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Container garden, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Virginia sweetspire, watering tips, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Virginia Sweetspire — A Standout Native ShrubSweet Potato Vines
Posted by Hugh on April 9th, 2017
Ornamental sweet potato vines (Ipomoea batatas) have been around since the late 1980’s, but their popularity have soared over the past decade. These sweet potatoes aren’t for the table. The colorful vines thrive in the intense heat of U.S. summers from May through September (zones 5-11). These easily grown plants work well as a low-growing bedding plant, […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Caterpillars, Container garden, Disease resistant, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Sweet potato vine, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), Uncategorized, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Sweet Potato VinesNight Blooming Plants For Temperate Climates
Posted by Hugh on April 6th, 2017
If you are working away from home all day long, you might consider growing a few plants that bloom at night. Here’s a short list of plants whose flowers will add beauty to your evening garden: Evening Primrose (Oenothera glazioviana) – this biennial grows 1-5 feet tall. Plant(s) are basal growing in year one and produce sturdy floral […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Catchfly (Silene), Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Evening primrose (Oenothera), Flowers, Four O' Clocks (Mirabilis), Fragrant, Moonvine (Ipomea), mulching, Native Plant, Night Blooming Cereus (Epiphyllum), Night Blooming Jasmine (Cestrum), Perennials, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Tropical Waterlilies (Nymphaea), watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Night Blooming Plants For Temperate ClimatesLate Rising Perennials
Posted by Hugh on April 3rd, 2017
As air temperatures rise in the spring, most garden perennials and wildflowers are emerging from the ground. With the sudden appearance of 80°F temperatures, many seem to blast through the still cold soil in 1-2 days, and in full bloom a few weeks later. Yet, through the month […]
Posted in Baptisia (wild indigo), Bulb Crops, Crocosmia (Montbretia), Eupatorium 'Gateway', Eupatorium rugosum 'Chocolate', Ferns, Gaura, Hardy begonia (B. grandis), Hibiscus coccineus, Hibiscus moscheutos, Indian pink (Spigelia), Landscape ideas, Milkweeds (Asclepias), Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Red hot Poker (Kniphofia), Russian sage (Perovskia), Soil drainage, Solomon's seal, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Spring flowering bulbs, Summer flowering, Wildflower, Wildflowers, winter hardiness Comments Off on Late Rising PerennialsTips On Growing Azaleas
Posted by Hugh on March 31st, 2017
Evergreen azaleas (Rhododendron spp.) are actually small-flowered rhododendrons. Depending on where you garden, azaleas enjoy a long bloom period from late March (zone 8) to June (zone 4) in the U.S. Many cultivars bloom for two weeks or more. Fall blooming types like Encore® and Bloom-a thon® series are also available. Azaleas have shallow root systems […]
Posted in acidic soil, acidify soil, Azaleas (evergreen), Bees and other pollinators, compost, Container growing, container shrub, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, mulching, Pesticide recommendations, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (layering), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Soil Testing, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Wind protection, winter hardiness, winter injury, Winter Protection Comments Off on Tips On Growing AzaleasWinter Daphnes Can Be A Rewarding Challenge
Posted by Hugh on March 20th, 2017
Native to China and Japan, winter or fragrant daphnes (Daphne odora) open to light pink or white flowers in winter and early spring in the southeastern U.S. and Pacific Northwest (USDA hardiness zones 7-9). Their welcome floral fragrance will pervade through your garden for nearly two weeks starting in late winter. Winter daphnes grow 3 to 4 […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, Bees and other pollinators, compact shrub, container shrub, Daphne odora, Disease prone, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, root injury, Root rotting, Scale, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Transplant problem, Trees & Shrubs, Winter flowering, winter hardiness, winter injury, Winter Protection Comments Off on Winter Daphnes Can Be A Rewarding ChallengeGalax- Popular Mountain Plant For Your Woodland Garden
Posted by Hugh on March 13th, 2017
Galax (Galax urceolata) is an under planted perennial wildflower native to the southern Appalachian mountains and eastern U.S. (USDA hardiness zone 5). Galax foliage is frequently collected from the wild for use in the winter floral decorations. Unfortunately, over-harvesting on public lands has jeopardized wild populations. Galax grows 6 to 12 inches tall and is […]
Posted in acidic soil, compost, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Galax, Ground cover, mulching, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Rabbit/deer Protection, Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Wildflowers, winter hardiness Comments Off on Galax- Popular Mountain Plant For Your Woodland GardenCool Plant Combos For Containers
Posted by Hugh on March 10th, 2017
As more and more urban gardeners are growing in small spaces, including decks and patio of condos and town houses, container gardens are becoming more significant. They’re creating large mixed containers that include miniature trees and shrubs rather than their big cousins. For design containers may include thrillers (tall or spiky), fillers, and spillers (weepers). […]
Posted in acidic soil, Begonia boliviensis, Calibrachoa (Million bells), compact shrub, compact tree, compost, Container garden, Container growing, container shrub, Disease resistant, DWARF CONIFERS, Euphorbias, Fan flower (Scaevola), Ferns, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Flower arrangments, Fountain Grass (Pennisetum), Globe amaranth (Gomphrena), Hosta, Landscape ideas, Moss rose (Portulaca), Pansies, Perennials, Planting tips, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Scaevola, Sedges (Carex), Sedum (Groundcover types), Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Sweet flag (Acorus), Sweet potato vine, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection, Zinnia Comments Off on Cool Plant Combos For ContainersEnjoy The Double Soft Pink Flowers of Kwanzan Cherry
Posted by Hugh on March 4th, 2017
Kwanzan cherry (Prunus serrulata ‘Kwanzan’) is a commonly planted Oriental cherry in the U.S. (USDA hardiness zones 5 – 8). It’s most often utilized as a small 25 to 35 foot tall flowering deciduous tree in an open lawn, patio. and deck setting for its cool summer shade. It is a […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, Bacterial diseases, Caterpillars, Flowering, Insect (Pest) Problems, Japanese beetle, Japanese beetles, Kwanzan cherry, Ornamental cherry (Prunus), Planting tips, Powdery mildew, Pruning, Scale, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, Virus diseases, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Enjoy The Double Soft Pink Flowers of Kwanzan CherryNative Red Buckeye Tree Delights in Landscape
Posted by Hugh on March 1st, 2017
Red buckeye (Aesculus pavia) is a southeastern U. S. native that has become more recognized as a wonderful small landscape tree (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). In its native habitat it is an understory large shrub or small tree frequently surrounded by taller trees or structures. A mature specimen may grow […]
Posted in acidic soil, Butterflies, Deer resistant, Fertilizing plants, Hummingbird, mulching, Native Plant, Planting tips, Poisonous or toxic, Propagation (layering), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Red buckeye (Aesculus), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Native Red Buckeye Tree Delights in Landscape
