American fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus) is one of the finest spring flowering trees (USDA hardiness zones 4-9). Individual flower heads are large and billowy, snowy white, and very fragrant in the early evening hours. Flower panicles peak through the large leaves, and are large and showy compared to Chinese fringetree (which I also like). Leaf sizes […]
Archive for the ‘Native Plant’ Category
American Fringetree – A Spring Flowering Treasure
Posted by Hugh on April 28th, 2015
Posted in acidic soil, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fragrant, Fringetree (Chionanthus), Irrigation, mulching trees, Native Plant, Propagation (Seed), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on American Fringetree – A Spring Flowering TreasureMany New Beebalm Cultivars Continue to Roll Out
Posted by Hugh on April 21st, 2015
Bee balms, aka bergamots or Oswego tea (Monarda spp.) are native to eastern North America (USDA hardiness zones 4-9). Plants are easy to grow, bloom beautifully, and multiply rapidly. They are treasured for their raging colored flowers and medicinal properties. Numerous bee pollinators as well as butterflies and hummingbirds favor the summer blooms. The native […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Container growing, Deer resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Hummingbird, Monarda (Beebalm), Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Powdery mildew, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Soil drainage, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Many New Beebalm Cultivars Continue to Roll OutWonderful Bellworts For Woodland Gardens
Posted by Hugh on April 18th, 2015
The soft yellow bell-shaped flowers of bellworts (Uvularia spp.), aka merrybells, contribute to spring’s awakening in U.S. woodlands and shade gardens (USDA hardiness zones 3-9). On both U. grandiflora and U. perfoliata, flower stems pierce (pass through) the center of the leaves. A third species, (U. sessilifolia), nicknamed Wild Oats, […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, compost, Drought tolerant, Ground cover, mulching, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Slugs, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Uvularia (bellwort), watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Wonderful Bellworts For Woodland Gardens‘Cherokee Brave’– Outstanding “Red” Flowering Dogwood
Posted by Hugh on April 3rd, 2015
Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) is the most beautiful of U.S. native flowering trees (USDA hardiness zones 5 to 9). It typically grows 15-30 feet tall, but larger forms are known. The tree is broadly-pyramidal at a young age, branching is low, and matures with a rounded canopy. Spring bloom time usually overlaps with redbud (Cercis […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, compact tree, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Dogwood (Cornus), Drought tolerant, mulching, Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Powdery Mildew, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter bark, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Cherokee Brave’– Outstanding “Red” Flowering DogwoodNew Redbuds With Striking Foliage Abound
Posted by Hugh on March 21st, 2015
Over the past decade Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis) has undergone a real facelift. This native spring flowering tree can no longer be solely identified by its green heart-shaped leaves. New foliage color choices will decidedly catch your eye and win you over. With some reservations most redbud cultivars fall within USDA hardiness zones 5-9. […]
Posted in acidic soil, compact tree, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Redbud, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on New Redbuds With Striking Foliage AboundLittle Bluestem – Beautiful And Environmentally Correct
Posted by Hugh on March 12th, 2015
Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) grows in old fields, meadows and prairies, and along roadsides across the United States and Eastern Canada (USDA hardiness zones 3-8). It forms dense clumps 2- 3 feet tall and 12 -18 inches wide. This warm season grass prefers a well-drained soil and […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Butterflies, Caterpillars, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Landscape ideas, Little Bluestem, Native Plant, Ornamental Grasses, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Little Bluestem – Beautiful And Environmentally CorrectSpicebush – The Native Plant And The Butterfly
Posted by Hugh on March 1st, 2015
U.S. native spicebush (Lindera benzoin) is a beautiful landscape plant (USDA hardiness zones 4-9) for an open or woodland garden. Spicebush matures into a 12-15 feet tall and wide large shrub or small tree over many years. Light green deciduous leaves, 3 to 5 inches long, are delightfully fragrant when-crushed. Leaves is the preferred food for the […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Edible fruits, Fragrant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Southern Appalachian Region, Spicebush (Lindera benzoin), Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Spicebush – The Native Plant And The ButterflyTake A Second Look At Canadian Hemlock
Posted by Hugh on January 18th, 2015
Canadian hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) is a native evergreen species which is available in many forms: prostrate, globose, weeping, fastigiate and variegated (USDA Hardiness Zones 3-7). Its tremendous versatility as a hedging tree or shrub in planting sites is also a great reason to continue to include hemlock in the landscape. Hemlock may […]
Posted in Attracting birds, compact shrub, container shrub, DWARF CONIFERS, Evergreen, Hemlock (Tsuga), Insect (Pest) Problems, Native Plant, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation(grafting), Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Wildlife attractant, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Take A Second Look At Canadian HemlockMt. Cuba Center Evaluates Heuchera (Coralbells) Cultivars
Posted by Hugh on January 16th, 2015
Over the past quarter century, gardeners have enjoyed the wonderful heuchera revolution (USDA hardiness zones 4-9). A great many hybrid cultivars have been introduced with more arriving every spring. Unfortunately, the flood of new cultivars has given us a huge number of poor selections. As I talk with […]
Posted in acidic soil, compost, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Ground cover, Heuchera (coralbells), mulching, Native Plant, Perennials, Propagation (dividing), Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Mt. Cuba Center Evaluates Heuchera (Coralbells) CultivarsEmerald™ Arborvitae
Posted by Hugh on December 4th, 2014
Emerald™ or ‘Emerald Green’ arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis ‘Smaragd’) is not new shrub or cultivar. More than 3 generations of gardeners have used this unique form of eastern arborvitae as their “go to” evergreen shrub up and down the eastern coast and through the Midwest (USDA hardiness zones 3-7). Emerald is a semi-dwarf evergreen shrub with a […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Arborvitae (Thuja spp.), Bagworms, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Green Privacy Screen, Landscape ideas, Mites, mulching, Native Plant, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation(grafting), Rabbit/deer Protection, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering evergreens, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Emerald™ Arborvitae
