Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) is a member of the poppy family Papaveraceae. This botanical family includes about 825 species, including bleeding hearts (Dicentra spp. and Lamprocapnos spectabilis), Corydalis, and opium poppy (Papaver). Bloodroot is native to the eastern half of North America continent from Canada south to Florida. Bloodroot typically rises 6-10 inches tall and spreads over time to […]
Archive for the ‘Native Plant’ Category
Bloodroot In The Spring Garden
Posted by Hugh on February 1st, 2026
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, bloodroot (Sanguinaria), Container garden, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Environmental Conservation, Fragrant, Ground cover, Landscape ideas, Native Plant, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Wind protection, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Bloodroot In The Spring GardenEastern Prickly Pear Cactus
Posted by Hugh on November 7th, 2025
Prickly pears are a subgroup of Opuntia, identified by their wide, flat, branching pads. They are also called nopal cactus or paddle cactus. Most prickly pear plants are found in warm, dry climates like the Southwestern U.S., although there are some cold-hardy species such as the Eastern prickly pear (O. humifusa). (USDA hardiness zones 4-9). Prickly […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Cactus, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, Mealy bugs, Native Plant, Native Plant, Opuntia spp, Ornamental fruit, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Scale, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus‘Blackhawks’ Grass – 2026 Perennial Pant Of The Year
Posted by Hugh on October 23rd, 2025
Big bluestem grass (Andropogon gerardii) is a tall, native, perennial, warm season grass that is a dominant species in a large part of the Midwestern U.S. (zones 3-9). Its attractive foliage that changes color seasonally, its good architectural height, and its interesting flower/seed heads have caught the eye of plant breeders. ‘Blackhawks’ (PP27,949) was introduced […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Big bluestem 'Blackhawks', Deciduous, Drought tolerant, Erosion control, Fertilizing plants, Landscape ideas, Native Plant, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Blackhawks’ Grass – 2026 Perennial Pant Of The YearAmerican Elm Continues To Be Planted
Posted by Hugh on September 11th, 2025
American elm (Ulmus americana) is a medium to large deciduous tree, typically growing to 60-80 feet tall with a vase-shaped, broad-rounded crown. It is native to eastern and central North America. Once widely planted as a street and lawn tree, its populations have been decimated by Dutch elm disease (DED) over the past century. Numerous […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Breeding Plants, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Elms (Ulmus), Landscape ideas, Large Shade trees, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation(grafting), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Street tree, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on American Elm Continues To Be PlantedNative Hypericums
Posted by Hugh on July 17th, 2025
St. John’s Wort (Hypericum spp.) is a genus of about 400 species of annuals, perennials or shrubs which are noted for producing showy bright yellow flowers with a central mass of bright yellow stamens. Hordes of bee species love hypericum flowers. In midsummer, this U.S. native produces yellow flowers with distinctive clusters of puffball of stamens […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flowering shrub, Ground cover, Japanese beetle, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Non-native, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, St. John's Wort (Hypericum), Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Native HypericumsFirecracker Plant (Cuphea)
Posted by Hugh on July 10th, 2025
Planting Cupheas should set off fireworks in your summer flower garden. Cupheas are dependable, low-maintenance flowers that easily cope with the heat and humidity of the South. They’re exceptionally long blooming, attract bees, wasps, butterflies and hummingbirds like magnets, and are versatile enough for container plantings or in-ground beds. (See list below). Currently, the most […]
Posted in acidic soil, Annuals, Aphids, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, Cupheas, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Flower Arranging, Ground cover, Hummingbird, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Thrips, White flies, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Firecracker Plant (Cuphea)Gauras For Summer Flower Power
Posted by Hugh on June 24th, 2025
Lots of TN, VA, and KY gardeners don’t know Gauras, a tough beautiful Texas native perennial that performs equally well in our area. After countless trips to Biltmore Estates and the NC Arboretum in Asheville, I have gained an appreciation for its long summer blooming habit. Gaura (Oenothera lindheimeri) is a low-maintenance perennial native to […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Aphids, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Gaura, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Powdery mildew, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rust diseases, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, White flies, winter hardiness Comments Off on Gauras For Summer Flower PowerWild Indigo (Hybrid Baptisias)
Posted by Hugh on May 19th, 2025
Wild indigo, false indigo, or Baptisia (Baptisia spp.) is a long-lived U.S. native perennial (USDA hardiness zones 4-9). Plants are deeply tap-rooted and will reward you for many years of multi-seasonal beauty. They’re sometimes mistaken for Carolina lupine (Thermopsis caroliniana). Modern day cultivars are hybrids of 8 Baptisia species. Top four species are purple (B. australis), lavender […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Baptisia (wild indigo), Bees and other pollinators, Breeding Plants, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Flower arrangments, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Wild Indigo (Hybrid Baptisias)Hardy Begonias
Posted by Hugh on May 8th, 2025
Hardy begonia (Begonia grandis) is an herbaceous perennial flowering plant native to Southern China, Japan, and Malaysia. It is a member of the Begonia (Begoniaceae) family (USDA hardiness zones 6-9). From summer into early fall, hardy begonia displays loose arching clusters of bright pink fragrant blooms. It is monoecious, e.g. both male and female flowers are […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, Begonia, Container garden, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Ground cover, Hardy begonia (B. grandis), Hummingbird, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Powdery mildew, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Shade Gardening, Slugs, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Hardy BegoniasMayapples
Posted by Hugh on April 27th, 2025
Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) is a native herbaceous perennial wildflower that forms dense mats. It is an early spring riser in the shade garden (USDA hardiness zones 3-8). Mayapples are exceptionally hardy woodland plants found in most of eastern North America and as far south as the State of Texas. They’re typically found in colonies in open woodlands, […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Ground cover, Landscape ideas, Mayapple (Podophyllum), mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Non-native, Perennials, Planting tips, Poisonous or toxic, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Slugs, Slugs, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on Mayapples
