Chinese fringetree (Chionanthus retusus) is native to China, Korea and Japan (Zone: 6 to 9a). Related to native U.S. species (C. virginicus), fringetrees are noted for their profuse spring bloom of fragrant white flowers. It is most often seen in cultivation as a large, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub growing to 15 – 20 feet tall with a […]
Archive for the ‘Pests’ Category
Chinese Fringetree Is Versatile Landscape Tree
Posted by Hugh on May 8th, 2017
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Borers, compact shrub, compact tree, Container growing, container shrub, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fragrant, Fringetree (Chionanthus), Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, Mites, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Scale, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Chinese Fringetree Is Versatile Landscape TreeU.S. Native Bleeding Hearts Dazzle In Woodland Garden
Posted by Hugh on May 5th, 2017
One of nature’s delights in the late spring – early summer garden is the wonder of bleeding hearts (Dicentra spp.) in bloom (USDA hardiness zones 3-9). Fringed bleeding heart (D. exima) is a U.S. native to the Appalachian Mountains. Fringed bleeding heart exhibits deeply-cut, fern-like, grayish-green foliage on 10-15 inch tall plants. Dangling bright pink pendant (or heart) flowers […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Aphids, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bleeding Hearts (Dicentra), compost, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Hummingbird, mulching, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Slugs, Snails, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Wildflowers, winter hardiness Comments Off on U.S. Native Bleeding Hearts Dazzle In Woodland GardenBigroot Geranium
Posted by Hugh on May 3rd, 2017
Bigroot geranium (Geranium macrorrhizum), aka “cranesbill”, is a clump-forming perennial ground cover from Southern Europe (USDA Zones 3–8). It is one of the easiest geraniums to grow. Plants spread by thick rhizomes to form a dense ground cover. Individual plants grow 12 to 18 inches high and 18-24 inches spread. The 1-inch wide, 5-petaled dark […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Cranesbill (Geranium), deadheading, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Ground cover, Perennials, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Bigroot GeraniumKorean Maple Substitute For Fullmoon Japanese Maple
Posted by Hugh on April 30th, 2017
At first sight Korean maple (Acer pseudosieboldianum), aka Korean fullmoon maple, is very similar in appearance to fullmoon Japanese maples (A. japonicum var. Acontifolium). If you live in a northern U.S. such as the upper Midwest, growing Japanese maples will likely become an unfulfilled wish. Korean maple is a hardier choice for northern locales (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, Borers, compact tree, compost, Container growing, container shrub, Disease resistant, Korean maple, Mites, mulching, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Scale, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips Comments Off on Korean Maple Substitute For Fullmoon Japanese MapleGardenias Continue To Disappoint In The Mid-South
Posted by Hugh on April 24th, 2017
The lure of fragrant white flowers have mid-South gardeners (zones 6 and 7) wanting to grow gardenias (Gardenia jasminoides). New cultivars, supposedly hardier than previous ones, hit garden centers every spring. Unfortunately, zones 6 and 7 winters usually prove them wrong. Recent purchases of new cultivars ‘Frostproof’ and Pinwheel® and older selection ‘Kleim’s Hardy’ have […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, applying sulfur, Bacterial diseases, Botrytis disease, compact shrub, compost, Container garden, Container growing, container shrub, Environmental issues, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Flowering house plant, Flowers, Fragrant, Gardenia, Insect (Pest) Problems, Insect suseptible, Interior (house) Plants, Leaf diseases, Mites, Planting tips, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Sanitation, Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Thrips, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, White flies, Wind protection, winter hardiness, Winter Protection 1 Comment »Sweet 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 VinesPartridgeberry – Evergreen Groundcover For Deep Shady Areas
Posted by Hugh on March 28th, 2017
Partridgeberry (Mitchella repens) is grown for its evergreen foliage, spring flowers and winter berries. This native low-growing groundcover can be found in moist woodlands and along stream banks in the Eastern and Midwest U.S. It is a good choice for planting in deep shaded garden areas (USDA hardiness zones 4–8). In the spring woodlands, small […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Ground cover, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Partridgeberry (Mitchella), Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Shade Gardening, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Partridgeberry – Evergreen Groundcover For Deep Shady AreasWinter 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 ChallengeAutumn Ferns Offer Lush Tropical Touch
Posted by Hugh on March 7th, 2017
Ferns are fine textured lacey-leaf groundcovers. Many kinds of ferns add a tropical accent to the shade garden. Autumn fern (Dryopteris erythrosora), aka Japanese wood fern, has evergreen or semi-evergreen arching foliage, depending how cold winter is (USDA hardiness zones 5 to 8). Its common name is misleading. Best fronds color is in spring; fronds unfurl with […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn fern (Dryopteris), compost, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Ferns, Fertilizing plants, Ground cover, mulching, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Shade Gardening, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Wind protection, winter hardiness Comments Off on Autumn Ferns Offer Lush Tropical TouchEnjoy 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 Cherry
