Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus-castus) is a 10-15 feet tall, vase-shaped, deciduous shrub or a small 15-20 foot tree. The species is native from southern Europe and Asia. Often mistaken as a purple-flowering crapemyrtle, vitex is grown where wintry weather is not severe (USDA hardiness zones 6-9). Its palmately compound grayish-green leaves, composed of 5-7 lance-shaped leaflets, are […]
Archive for the ‘Native Plant’ Category
Three July Blooming Trees (Other Than Crapemyrtles)
Posted by Hugh on June 25th, 2018
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, compact shrub, compact tree, compost, container shrub, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Environmental issues, Golden Raintree, Landscape ideas, Medium sized Tree, mulching, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Sourwood (Oxydendrum), Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Vitex (Chaste tree), watering tips, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Three July Blooming Trees (Other Than Crapemyrtles)‘Herbstsonne’ Rudbeckias Fill Their Spot
Posted by Hugh on June 20th, 2018
For an old fashion plant ‘Herbstsonne’ (Rudbeckia laciniata) still pops up in many modern day gardens. It is a tall upright growing, clump-forming perennial black-eyed Susan (USDA hardiness zones 5 to 9). This vigorous North American perennial grows 4-7+ feet tall and 2-3 feet wide. ‘Herbstsonne’ is also synonymous with the cultivar ‘Autumn Sun’. Formerly […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, Attracting birds, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Black eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rudbeckia 'Herbstonne', Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Staking, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Wildflowers, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Herbstsonne’ Rudbeckias Fill Their SpotAmerican Basswood Tree
Posted by Hugh on June 12th, 2018
American basswood (Tilia americana) is a common deciduous native tree in midwestern and eastern U.S. forests (USDA hardiness zones 2-11). This large majestic tree is remarkably fast-growing but not weak wooded. Basswood is planted as a large residential shade tree, street tree along wide avenues, or tall privacy screen. A mature specimen may grow 50 […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Heat Tolerance, Insect (Pest) Problems, Japanese beetles, Landscape ideas, Large Shade trees, Linden (Tilia), Mites, mulching, mulching trees, Native Plant, Planting tips, Powdery mildew, Propagation (Seed), Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Street tree, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on American Basswood TreeTwo Native Cardinal Flowers Add Up To A Stunning Combination
Posted by Hugh on May 21st, 2018
Great lobelia or blue cardinal flower (Lobelia siphilitica) is a native perennial USDA hardiness zones 4-8). They bloom about a month later than cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis). They’re part of the late summer perennial bloom season that includes turtlehead (Chelone obliqua), asters (Symphtrictum), ‘Henry Eilers’ black eyed Susan (Rudbeckia subtomentosa). and dahlias (Dahlia spp.). Add […]
Posted in Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Container garden, Disease resistant, Flowers, Hummingbird, Landscape ideas, Lobelia (cardnial flower), Native Plant, Perennials, Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Water Gardens Comments Off on Two Native Cardinal Flowers Add Up To A Stunning CombinationBenefits Of Mulching
Posted by Hugh on April 22nd, 2018
Mulching benefits garden soil and enhances the landscape appearance. Here is how: Prevents weed seeds from germinating, thereby reducing hand weeding. Mulching keeps plant roots moist and cool in summer. Fall mulching acts like a thermal blanket and aids newly set plants to establish their roots quickly. Reduces the need to water the garden as often. […]
Posted in acidic soil, acidify soil, alkaline soil, Azalea (deciduous), Azaleas (evergreen), Camellia, Garden Maintenance, Mountain laurel (Kalmia), Mulch Quality, mulching, mulching trees, Native Plant, organic gardening, plant nutrition, Rhododendrons, Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Stewartia pseudocamellia, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on Benefits Of MulchingFour Large Street Trees With A Narrow Vertical Look
Posted by Hugh on March 26th, 2018
There is an old saying that they’re not making more land. This is particularly true in urban downtown areas where room to grow street trees is very limited. Here are four tall trees that also have a striking vertical accent. Their branching is upright. Because of their tall stature, they are particularly suitable planted along wide […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn foliage color, Bees and other pollinators, Deer resistant, Dioecious, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Ginkgo biloba, Landscape ideas, Large Shade trees, mulching, mulching trees, Native Plant, Oaks (Quercus spp.), Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Street tree, Sweetgum (Liquidambar), Trees & Shrubs, Tulip tree (Liriodendron), watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Four Large Street Trees With A Narrow Vertical LookFavorites For The Shade
Posted by Hugh on March 23rd, 2018
Here are ten of my favorite perennial plants for shady areas (USDA hardiness zones 4-7). All prosper in 1-2 hours of early morning sunlight and in humus-rich, moist, well-drained soil. Mulch to conserve moisture and suppress weeds. Hosta – unquestionably the shade favorite of U.S. gardeners. A low maintenance plant that returns every spring with lush […]
Posted in acidic soil, Astilbe (false spirea), Attracting Butterflies, Autumn fern (Dryopteris), Barrenwort (Epimedium), Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Bleeding Hearts (Dicentra), Brunnera 'Jack Frost', Bugbane (Actae), Container garden, Cranesbill (Geranium), deadheading, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Ferns, Fragrant, Ground cover, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Solomon's seal, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Tiarella (foam flower), watering iris, winter hardiness Comments Off on Favorites For The ShadeWoody Trees and Shrubs That Bees Like Most and Least*
Posted by Hugh on March 20th, 2018
Recently, I saw this listing of woody trees and shrubs that are good pollinators. I grow a number of these great plants in my garden and will vouch for the accuracy of this list. The source is HRI Research and data was collected in the Ohio Valley region of the U.S. (includes Tennessee, Kentucky, southern Indiana and […]
Posted in Autumnalis flowering cherry, Bee Bee Tree (Tetradium), Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Bigleaf hydrangea (H. macrophylla), Black gum (Nyssa), Bumble bees, Buttonbush (Cephalanthus), Cherry Laurel (Prunus), Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas), Crabapple, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Deciduous Azaleas, Deutzia, Firethorn (Pyracantha), Flowers, Fothergilla, Golden Raintree, Honeysuckle (Lonicera), Hornbeam (Carpinus), Hydrangea, Hydrangeas, Ilex (hollies), Lilac (Syringa), Linden (Tilia), Native Plant, Ninebark, Ornamental cherry (Prunus), Panicle hydrangea, Pollination needs, Pyracantha (firethorn), Redbud, Roses, Seven son flower (Heptacodium), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summersweet (Clethra), Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, Viburnums, Vitex (Chaste tree), winter hardiness, Yellowwood Comments Off on Woody Trees and Shrubs That Bees Like Most and Least*Native Serviceberry
Posted by Hugh on March 17th, 2018
Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea) is a medium-sized native tree. Its native range stretches from Ontario to the Gulf Coast (USDA hardiness zones 4-9). However, it performs well across the Western and Central U.S. Serviceberry is regionally known by many names, including shadbush, shadblow, sarvisberry, sarvis tree, and Juneberry. The latter refers to the small greenish-blue, ripening […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Cold tolerance, Container garden, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Serviceberry (Amelanchier), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter bark, Winter flowering, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Native ServiceberryJazz Up Shady Garden Areas
Posted by Hugh on March 14th, 2018
From brilliant green to rich gold hues, fabulous foliage and flowers can wake up any dark or colorless, shade area. See below a list of great plants that wake up a blah area of your shade garden. Plant list is suitable for gardens in plant hardiness zones 5-8. Exciting colorful and/or tropical-like foliage or showy flowers. Hostas, […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aralia 'Sun King', Autumn fern (Dryopteris), Bees and other pollinators, Bleeding Hearts (Dicentra), Boxwood (Buxus), Brunnera 'Jack Frost', Carex (Sedges), Container garden, Disease resistant, Doghobble (Leucothoe), Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Hakone grass, Heat Tolerance, Heuchera (coralbells), Heucherella (foamy bells), Hosta, Landscape ideas, Ligularias, Liriope, Mayapple (Podophyllum), mulching, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Pulmonaria, Purchasing Plants, Rodgersia, Sacred Lily (Rohdea), Sedges (Carex), Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Solomon's seal, Southern Appalachian Region, Spurge (Euphorbia), St. John's Wort (Hypericum), Summer heat tolerant, Sweet flag (Acorus), Tiarella (foam flower), Variegated Solomon Seal, watering tips Comments Off on Jazz Up Shady Garden Areas
