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 […]
Archive for the ‘Slugs’ Category
‘Sun King’ Aralia Glows In the Summer Heat
Posted by Hugh on July 1st, 2024
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 HeatFive Hardy Evergreen Ferns
Posted by Hugh on April 11th, 2021
In the southeastern U.S., ferns are important additions to shady perennial and woodland gardens. Ferns can be used as a ground cover to soften the hard edges of water features, rocks and paths, and make wonderful filler for mixed container plantings. Ferns do not flower or seed, but instead, reproduce by spores that usually form […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn fern (Dryopteris), Container garden, Container growing, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Ferns, Flower arrangments, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Holly Fern (Cyrtomium), Japanese Holly fern (Cyrtomium), Korean Rock fern (P. tsus-simensis), Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Root rotting, Shade Gardening, Slugs, Snails, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Tassel fern (P. polyblepharum), Wind protection, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Five Hardy Evergreen FernsThree Really Cool Shade Plants
Posted by Hugh on March 16th, 2021
What three wildflowers can handle intense woodland shade. To most gardeners, hostas, Solomon seal, coral bells (Heuchera spp.), brunneras, and ferns are popular favorites. Expand your plant choices with these three shady favorites which are long-lived, low-care gems – Fairy wings (Epimedium spp), bellworts (Uvularia spp.), and shredded umbrella plant (Syneilesis). Fairy wings (Epimedium spp.), aka barrenworts, […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting Butterflies, Barrenwort (Epimedium), Bees and other pollinators, compost, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Heuchera (coralbells), Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Purchasing Plants, Shade Gardening, Slugs, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Syneilesis aconitifolia, Uvularia (bellwort), watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Three Really Cool Shade PlantsTall Stonecrops (Sedums)
Posted by Hugh on August 1st, 2019
Stonecrops (Hylotelephium spectabile) are tall clumping sedums. They are frequent seen in their habitat growing on rocks or stony ledges. Also written as Sedum spectabile, many varieties grow 1.5 to 2 feet high. Approximately 33 species of these drought-tolerant herbaceous perennials are found to Asia, Europe and North America (USDA hardiness zones 3-9). Stonecrop make excellent […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting birds, Autumn flowering, Balled and Burlapped (b&b), Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Butterflies, Container garden, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Heat Tolerance, Honey bees, Landscape ideas, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Purchasing Plants, Scale, Sedum (Shrub type), Slugs, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Stonecrop sedums, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Uncategorized, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Tall Stonecrops (Sedums)Enjoy Two Kinds Of Stachys In Your Summer Garden
Posted by Hugh on April 26th, 2019
Many gardeners are acquainted with the wooly leaf perennial called lambs ears (Stachys byzantina). But the genus Stachys is also home to betony (S. officinalis) / (S. monieri). Alpine betony (Stachys monieri) is native to Europe and Asia (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). ‘Hummelo’ betony is very different in appearance from its gray velvety leaf relative […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Betony (Stachys), Butterflies, compost, Container garden, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Hummingbird, Lamb's ears (Stachys), Landscape ideas, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Re-Bloomers, Sanitation, Slugs, Snails, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Enjoy Two Kinds Of Stachys In Your Summer GardenBleeding Hearts Delight In The Spring Garden
Posted by Hugh on March 10th, 2019
Bleeding hearts (Dicentra spp.) are truly one of nature’s glorious delights in the spring garden (USDA hardiness zones 3-9). Old fashion bleeding hearts (D. spectabilis), indigenous to Asia, grow taller and wider compared to their North American counterparts – wild bleeding heart (D. exima) and Dutchman’s breeches (D. cucullaria). Old fashioned bleeding bear larger (and showier) flowers […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Aphids, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Bleeding Hearts (Dicentra), Butterflies, compost, Deer resistant, Fertilizing plants, Hummingbird, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Perennials, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Re-Bloomers, Slugs, Slugs, Snails, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Syneilesis aconitifolia, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Bleeding Hearts Delight In The Spring GardenFill Summer Flower Beds With Annual Rudbeckias
Posted by Hugh on July 10th, 2018
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) is a native wildflower. Annual or biennial forms are also called gloriosa daisy and brown-eyed Susan. In recent years public urban gardens are growing annual types. From summer into early autumn, brown-eyed Susans produce showy daisy-like blossoms up to 3-inches across with light or deep yellow rays and brownish-purple centers (“buttons”). Their cut flowers will decorate households. This coarse weedy […]
Posted in acidic soil, Annual rudbeckia (R. hirta), Annuals, Aphids, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Biennial, compost, Container garden, deadheading, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Flower arrangments, Flowers, Landscape ideas, Leaf/needle spots, mulching, Native Plant, Planting tips, Powdery mildew, Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rust diseases, Slugs, Snails, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Fill Summer Flower Beds With Annual RudbeckiasBuild A Hotel To Invite Beneficial Insects
Posted by Hugh on May 29th, 2018
Insect hotels are intended for most (not all) sorts of pollinators. They’re easy to construct from new or recycled materials. These structures should be weatherproof as they serve as year-round shelters for bees, wasps, ladybugs, and others that may hibernate over winter. Insect hotels are essentially the same as “wildlife walls” as they invite multiple […]
Posted in Aphids, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Beneficial Insects, Bumble bees, Caterpillars, Container garden, Environmental issues, Fruits & Vegetables, Ground nesting bees, Insect (Pest) Problems, Lacebugs, Ladybugs, Landscape ideas, Millipedes & centipedes, Slugs, Snails, Southern Appalachian Region, Wildflowers Comments Off on Build A Hotel To Invite Beneficial InsectsControlling Slugs and Snails
Posted by Hugh on February 4th, 2018
Slugs and snails are common pests of many common garden plants. They are particularly troublesome in shady woodland areas. They crawl across leaves and leave a slimy residue over the leaf surface. They feed primarily at night. Ecologically, their niche is to decompose organic matter. During the daytime hours they hide under leaves, mulch, rocks, stepping stones, […]
Posted in Broccoli, Brunnera 'Jack Frost', Cabbage, compost, Delphinium, Environmental Conservation, Herbs, Herbs, Hosta, kale, Landscape ideas, mulching, Perennials, Pesticide recommendations, Planting tips, Pulmonaria, Purchasing Plants, Slugs, Slugs, Snails, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Strawberries Comments Off on Controlling Slugs and SnailsThistle-like Bear’s Breeches
Posted by Hugh on July 13th, 2017
Spiny bear’s breeches (Acanthus spinosa) is a clump-forming perennial treasured for its attractive thistle-like foliage and architecturally bold flower spikes (USDA hardiness zones 5b-9). Plant requires little maintenance and is long-lived. Deeply-cut, arching, glossy green, spiny, thistle-like leaves attain 2-3 feet in length on older plants and remain attractive through the growing season. Leaves bear mostly hidden spines on […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, Attracting Butterflies, Bear’s breeches (Acanthus), Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, compost, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Slugs, Snails, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Thistle-like Bear’s Breeches
