Three important objectives of area gardeners are: 1. Inviting more pollinators, 2. Growing more natives, and 3. Reducing garden maintenance. Gomphrenas, aka Globe amaranths, are becoming more recognized as outstanding annual flowering plants for Tennessee/Virginia/North Carolina gardens. Gomphrenas are North American natives (Texas, New Mexico, and northeastern Mexico) and are blooming machines in the heat, the […]
Archive for the ‘Native Plant’ Category
Globe Amaranth (Gomphrena)
Posted by Hugh on April 1st, 2022
Posted in Annuals, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Container garden, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Flower arrangments, Flowers, Globe amaranth (Gomphrena), Heat Tolerance, Honey bees, Landscape ideas, Mites, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips 
Comments Off on Globe Amaranth (Gomphrena)Coneflower Variety Trials At MT. Cuba Center
Posted by Hugh on March 26th, 2022
Coneflowers (Echinacea spp) are immensely popular native flowering perennials prized for their summer floral beauty. Nine species of Echinacea are native in North America and are found primarily in the central and southeastern U.S. Additionally, some populations of Echinacea angustifolia extend from the U.S. northwards into southcentral Canada. Since the 1990s, a boom in Echinacea breeding has resulted in large numbers of new […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Breeding Plants, Bumble bees, Butterflies, Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Container garden, deadheading, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Honey bees, Hummingbird, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Perennials, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Wildflower, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Coneflower Variety Trials At MT. Cuba CenterFive Redbuds With Dynamite Seasonal Foliage
Posted by Hugh on March 11th, 2022
Here are five notable redbuds (Cercis canadensis) possessing colorful summer foliage. Of note, the first 3 of 5 varieties are the creation of noted plant breeder Dr. Dennis Werner of NC State University in Raleigh. Flame Thrower® has stunning eye-catching foliage color breakthrough in the world of redbuds. It is marketed as Eternal Flame® in Europe. […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Chlorosis (yellowing), Container garden, Container growing, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rabbit/deer Protection, Redbud, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Street tree, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Five Redbuds With Dynamite Seasonal FoliageBigleaf Magnolia
Posted by Hugh on March 6th, 2022
Bigleaf magnolia (Magnolia macrophylla) is a deciduous, native tree that reaches 30-40 feet tall. This unusual pyramidal tree magnolia is rarely found in the wild, inhabiting a few rich wooded areas in river valleys in the southeastern U.S. (USDA hardiness zones 5-8). With age, the tree develops a spreading rounded crown. Bigleaf magnolia is a […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Bigleaf hydrangea (H. macrophylla), Deciduous, Disease resistant, Landscape ideas, Medium sized Tree, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Propagation (layering), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Staking, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Bigleaf MagnoliaMore Cool Small Flowering Shrubs
Posted by Hugh on January 23rd, 2022
For many urban gardeners, landscape space is very limited. Here are several showy shrub choices along walkways and perennial border, and in deck and patio containers. Each year the list of dwarf shrubs continues to get longer. They are low maintenance, including very little annual pruning. Shrub Roses – like Drift™ and Flower Carpet™ roses- […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Bumble bees, Butterflies, compact shrub, Container garden, Container growing, container shrub, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Flower arrangments, Flowering, Flowering shrub, Honey bees, Hummingbird, Hydrangea arborescens, Hydrangeas, Landscape ideas, mulching, multi-flora rose, Native Plant, Native Plant, Ninebark, Non-native, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, rose rosette disease, shrub roses, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Trees & Shrubs, Vitex (Chaste tree), Weigela Comments Off on More Cool Small Flowering ShrubsSo Many Great Amsonias
Posted by Hugh on January 11th, 2022
Amsonias, commonly called blue star, are a group of easy-to-grow, long-lived native perennials. These highly dependable plants offer three-seasons of landscape interest: showy, long-lasting blooms in spring (mostly in May); threadlike green foliage in summer; and yellow foliage in fall. Amsonias are native primarily to North America and belong to the dogbane plant family (Apocynaceae). This clump-forming perennial has […]
Posted in acidic soil, Amsonia (blue star), Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Container garden, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Flower Arranging, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on So Many Great Amsonias2022 Perennial Plant Of the Year – Little Bluestem
Posted by Hugh on January 3rd, 2022
2022 Perennial Plant Of the Year – Little Bluestem The Perennial Plant Association (PPA) has named its 2022 Perennial of the Year — Little Bluestem (Schizachrium scoparum) (USDA hardiness zones 3-9). This ornamental grass was chosen because it is suitable for a wide range of growing climates, is low maintenance, and offers multiple-season interest. This North […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, Little bluestem (Schizachrium), Little bluestem (Schizachrium), Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium), Native Plant, Native Plant, Perennials, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on 2022 Perennial Plant Of the Year – Little BluestemBird Friendly Trees And Shrubs
Posted by Hugh on December 16th, 2021
Birds visit trees, shrubs, and vines for five things: fruits (berries), sweet nectar (flowers), insects (particularly caterpillars), nuts and seeds, and shelter. This list is a compilation from the North Carolina and Tennessee chapters of the Audubon Society of ornamental plants common in the Southern Appalachian region. Trees and Shrubs (26) Maples (Acer spp.) Downy Serviceberry […]
Posted in acidic soil, Arrowwood (V. dentatum), Attracting birds, Autumn Fruiting, Azalea (deciduous), Beautyberry (Callicarpa spp.), Beech (Fagus spp.), Black gum (Nyssa), Blackhaw viburnum (V. prunifolium), Blueberry (Vaccinium), Campsis grandifolia 'Morning Calm', Coral honeysuckle (Lonicera), Crabapple, Crossvine (Bignonia), Deciduous, Deciduous Azaleas, Dogwood (Cornus), Dogwood shrubs (Cornus), Elderberry (Sambucus), Environmental Conservation, Environmental issues, Evergreen, Hawthorn (Crataegus), Hickory (Carya spp.), Hornbeam (Carpinus), Magnolia virginiana, Mapleleaf viburnum, Maples (Acer), Native Plant, New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus), Oaks (Quercus spp.), Pines (Pinus spp.), Red Cedar (J. virginiana), Red oak (Quercus), Rhododendrons, river birch, Sassafras albidum, Serviceberry (Amelanchier), Southern Appalachian Region, Spicebush (Lindera benzoin), Trumpet vine (Campsis), Vine, Wild Plum (Prunus), Willows (Salix), Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Bird Friendly Trees And ShrubsEnormous Leaves On Sapling Trees
Posted by Hugh on November 11th, 2021
Some fast-growing trees like Royal Empress tree (Paulownia tomentosum) smoketree (Cotinus coggygria), and basswood linden (Tilia americana). There are lots more arboreal candidates. Keep the young tree saplings vegetative by practicing “Renewal Pruning”. To create an accent tree, single or multi-stemmed, wait until the plant has been in the ground for a few years, then begin […]
Posted in Basswood (linden), Flower Arranging, Landscape ideas, Linden (Tilia), Magnolia, Magnolia macrophylla, Native Plant, Paulownia (Empress tree), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Redbud, Smoketree (Cotinus), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on Enormous Leaves On Sapling TreesPlants That Attract Birds To Your Property
Posted by Hugh on November 6th, 2021
Birds visit trees, shrubs, vines and perennials for five things: fruits (berries), sweet nectar (flowers), insects (particularly caterpillars), nuts and seeds, and shelter. This list is a compilation from the North Carolina and Tennessee chapters of the Audubon Society of ornamental plants common in the Southern Appalachian region. Trees and Shrubs Maples (Acer spp.) Downy […]
Posted in American Beech (F. grandifolia), Appalachian dogwood series, Arrowwood (V. dentatum), Ash (Fraxinus), Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Basswood (linden), Bee Favorite, Beech (Fagus spp.), Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Blackhaw viburnum (V. prunifolium), Bur oak (Q. macrocarpa), Columbine (Aquilegia), Container garden, Coreopsis, Coreopsis 'Gold Standard, Cotoneaster, Crabapple, Deciduous holly, Dogwood (Cornus), European beech (F. sylvatica), Goldenrod (Solidago), Hawthorn (Crataegus), Hemlock (Tsuga), Ilex (hollies), Inkberry Holly (Ilex), Juniper, Landscape ideas, Linden (Tilia), Lobelia (cardnial flower), Magnolia virginiana, Monarda (Beebalm), Mountain ash (Sorbus), Native Plant, Ornamental cherry (Prunus), Ornamental fruit, Penstemon, Possum haw (Ilex decidua), Purchasing Plants, Pyracantha (firethorn), Red oak (Quercus), Rudbeckia 'Herbstonne', Sage (Salvia), Sedum (Shrub type), Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer phlox (P. paniculata), Symphyotrichum (asster), Vine, White Wood Aster (Eurybia), Wildlife attractant, Willows (Salix), Winter Garden Interest, Witherod (Viburnum nudum, Yarrow (Achillea) Comments Off on Plants That Attract Birds To Your Property
