For small garden spaces, including large containers, patio peach (Prunus persica) is a gem. This miniature tree bears long narrow lush green (or reddish) foliage. Site selection is crucial to ward off potential disease and insect problems. In the mood for tasty peach cobbler? Patio peach is a genetic dwarf and may be grown in a large container on […]
Archive for the ‘Aphids’ Category
Patio Peach
Posted by Hugh on April 7th, 2025
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Borers, Container garden, Deciduous, Dwarf peach, Fertilizing plants, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Ornamental fruit, Peach, Planting tips, Propagation(grafting), Pruning, rabbit damage, Scale, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, Wind protection, winter hardiness 
No Comments »Winter Honeysuckle Totally Ignored In U.S. Landscapes
Posted by Hugh on March 10th, 2025
Winter honeysuckle, aka fragrant honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima) is a treasured heirloom shrub (USDA hardiness zones 4 to 8). Plantings of this late winter blooming large woody shrub are still found in historical (older) urban neighborhoods and city parks planted prior to the 1960’s. This tough, durable shrub can reach 10+ feet tall and wide. You […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fragrant, Green Privacy Screen, Heat Tolerance, Honeysuckle (Lonicera), Invasive species, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Scale, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, White flies, Winter bark, Winter flowering, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Winter Honeysuckle Totally Ignored In U.S. LandscapesSnake Plant – Ideal House Plant For Home & Office
Posted by Hugh on February 14th, 2025
Snake plants, aka mother-in-law plant, mother-in-law’s tongue, (Sansevieria trifasciata) are one of the most popular houseplants. (USDA hardiness zones 9-11). Native to Africa, the Asian subcontinent, and Madagascar, these hard to kill plants are beloved for their architectural shape, tolerate neglect, and filter stale room air (NASA study). Snake plants are remarkably drought- and low […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Interior (house) Plants, Mites, Non-native, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Scale, Snake plant (Sanservieria), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Tropical Plants (non-hardy) Comments Off on Snake Plant – Ideal House Plant For Home & OfficeChristmas Rose
Posted by Hugh on December 22nd, 2024
Christmas roses (Helleborus niger), aka Christmas roses, are early winter flowering lenten roses. They bloom around Christmas time if winter temps are generally still mild. Based on the severity of winter temps, start of bloom date will vary considerably between H. niger and the more popular Helleborus x hybridus (H. x orientalis). (USDA hardiness zones […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Aphids, Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, Christmas rose (H. niger), Cold tolerance, Container garden, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Flower arrangments, Fruits poisonous, Ground cover, Honey bees, Landscape ideas, Leaf/needle spots, Lenten rose (Hellebore), Non-native, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, root injury, Shade Gardening, Slugs, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Wind protection, Winter flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on Christmas RoseObedient Plant – A Native Autumn Favorite
Posted by Hugh on September 20th, 2024
Obedient plant (Physostegia virginiana) is a member of the mint family (Lamiaceae), and like garden mint, it spreads easily by rhizomes and easily self-seeds; the plant is not “obedient” in behavior. It is called “obedient plant” because each tubular flower will, upon being pushed in any one direction, stays in its new position. It grows in […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, deadheading, Fall Garden Interest, Flower Arranging, Landscape ideas, Mites, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Obedient plant (Physotegia), Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Purchasing Plants, Rust diseases, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Obedient Plant – A Native Autumn Favorite‘Sun King’ Aralia Glows In the Summer Heat
Posted by Hugh on July 1st, 2024
Plants with golden foliage can brighten up almost any drab garden patch. Sun King golden aralia (Aralia cordata ‘Sun King’) is no exception, hardy in USDA hardiness zones 3-9. It is also known as Japanese spikenard and mountain asparagus. Under ideal conditions this thornless, rhizomatous, herbaceous perennial grows rapidly to 3-5 feet tall and as […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Aphids, Aralia 'Sun King', Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Landscape ideas, Light requirement, Mealy bugs, Mites, mulching, Non-native, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Slugs, Slugs, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Sun King’ Aralia Glows In the Summer HeatSuccessful Gaura Growing Tips
Posted by Hugh on May 3rd, 2024
Gaura (Oenothera lindheimeri) is a low-maintenance perennial native to the southern U.S. (Zones 5-9) and is a durable plant for gardeners. Its waving wands are dotted with dozens of whitish to pinkish flowers don’t stop blooming until summer temps climb above the 90°F range. Gaura is often called “whirling butterflies” because the flowers appear to […]
Posted in acidify soil, Aphids, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Gaura, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, White flies, winter hardiness Comments Off on Successful Gaura Growing TipsUniquely Different Weeping Mulberry
Posted by Hugh on October 3rd, 2023
Common (White) mulberry (Morus alba) is a fast-growing, medium sized, deciduous tree that typically grows to 30-50 feet tall and wide. It usually develops a wide-spreading rounded crown with age. This native to China is utilized either as a landscape shade and/or a fruit tree. (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). White Mulberry prefers a rich, moist, […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Aphids, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Dioecious, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Landscape ideas, Mulberry (Morus), mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Scale, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Weeping habit, winter hardiness Comments Off on Uniquely Different Weeping MulberrySwamp Hibiscus
Posted by Hugh on September 5th, 2023
Swamp hibiscus (Hibiscus coccineus), aka scarlet rose mallow, is a hardy perennial plant that grows in swamps, marches and roadside ditches in the Southeastern U.S. (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). It can grow 6 to 8 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide. Its 5- to 6-inch-long leaves are palmately lobed into 3, 5, or 7 parts. […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, Aphids, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Hardy hibiscus, Hibiscus (mallow) sawfly, Hummingbird, Japanese beetles, Landscape ideas, Leaf/needle spots, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Staking, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, Wind protection, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Swamp HibiscusMountain Hydrangeas
Posted by Hugh on July 9th, 2023
Mountain hydrangeas (Hydrangea serrata) look very much like big leaf hydrangea (H. macrophylla) except shrubs are smaller, more compact in growth habit with smaller flowers and leaves. They are native to the cool moist woodland valleys in Japan and Korea mountains. (USDA hardiness zones 6-9). These unique hydrangeas fare better in cool climates in zones 5 […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Aphids, Bacterial diseases, Bees and other pollinators, compact shrub, Container garden, Container growing, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Hydrangeas, Landscape ideas, Mountain hydrangea (H. serrata), mulching, Non-native, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Mountain Hydrangeas
