Back in bloom for a second time in two months! This is my way of describing seven-son flower (Heptacodium miconioides), a small 15-20 foot tree or large shrub from China. Seven-son’s creamy white petals open in late August and finish up in early September. By late September, the petals have fallen, and the small green sepals (calyces) have […]
Archive for the ‘Regional’ Category
Seven-Son Flower Is Flowering Again
Posted by Hugh on October 10th, 2012
Posted in Autumn flowering, Drought tolerant, Pruning, Root suckering, Seven son flower (Heptacodium), Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant 
Comments Off on Seven-Son Flower Is Flowering AgainDon’t Forget The Sassafras
Posted by Hugh on October 7th, 2012
A common woodland tree, sassafras (Sassafras albidum), aka mitten tree, is a small tree which grows 20 to 40 feet tall; some may top out at over 60 feet. Tree spread is two-thirds its height. Sassafras’ mitten shaped leaves, are easy to identify with one, two or no lobes. All three leaf shapes may be […]
Posted in acidic soil, Butterflies, Disease resistant, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Pruning, Root suckering, Sassafras albidum, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Wildlife attractant, winter injury Comments Off on Don’t Forget The SassafrasPeonies Require Very Little Care Ever
Posted by Hugh on October 4th, 2012
Lovely White Flowering Peony (P. lactiflora) Grandma’s peonies (Paeonia lactiflora) are back in vogue. There are single- or double- flowered varieties. The single petalled types appear to Southern U.S. heat better (USDA hardiness zones 3-8). May blooming peonies come in red, pink, purple, yellow, or white colors. Depending on variety, plants grow 3 to 4 feet high and wide. […]
Posted in Bee Favorite, Heat Tolerance, mulching, Peony, Perennials, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, watering tips Comments Off on Peonies Require Very Little Care EverSuccess With Blue/Pink Mophead Hydrangeas
Posted by Hugh on October 1st, 2012
Mophead hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla), the blue/pink flowering species, have been the gardening rage since the early 1990’s. Endless Summer® hydrangea started a wave of new repeat blooming (remontant) cultivars. They bloom on both new season’s as well as old wood from the previous year. These hardier cultivars extended the flowering time by 8 to 10 more weeks and bloomed in cooler climates formerly unable to […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Failure to Bloom, Hydrangea, Hydrangeas, mulching, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, watering hydrangeas, watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Success With Blue/Pink Mophead HydrangeasStunning Fall Color of Golden Larch
Posted by Hugh on September 29th, 2012
Golden larch (Pseudolarix amabilis) is a rare find in U.S. landscapes. This deciduous conifer is native to eastern China. It is not a true larch (Larix spp.) and is relatively under-planted in the U.S. Golden larch appears to prosper in warm humid areas and should flourish in the southeast U.S. (USDA hardiness zone 6). Golden […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn foliage color, Disease resistant, Heat Tolerance, Pseudolarix amabilis, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on Stunning Fall Color of Golden LarchAutumn Clematis – Be Careful What You Ask For
Posted by Hugh on September 25th, 2012
Autumn clematis (Clematis terniflora) is a late summer flowering twining vine with dark green foliage. The sweetly fragrant white flowers bloom for 4-5 weeks. The four petal (sepal) blossom is 1 inch across, borne in clusters, and mature into puffy plume-like seed heads. Its deciduous foliage is leathery in feel and remains mostly […]
Posted in Aggressive grower, Autumn flowering, Clematis (Autumn), Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Vine Comments Off on Autumn Clematis – Be Careful What You Ask ForDecorate With Fall Mums
Posted by Hugh on September 21st, 2012
Dendranthemums (mums) are favorite plants for outdoor decorating in the autumn season. Fall mums come in a variety of colors from white, yellow, pink, orange, red, bronze, and purple. Blooms attract numerous bees and butterflies. Plant heights vary, depending on the degree that the greenhouse grower has sheared or sprayed (with growth retardants) the mums. As perennials, mums are […]
Posted in Aster, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Chrysanthemum, Fall sunflower (Helianthus spp.), Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Perennials, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Staking, watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Decorate With Fall MumsEmerald Spreader® Yew Exciting New Ground Cover
Posted by Hugh on September 16th, 2012
Emerald Spreader® (Taxus x media ‘Monloo’) is a short wide-spreading Japanese yew. Emerald Spreader grows slowly, and may reach 2 ½ feet in height and 8 to 10 feet in spread over 20 years. The short 5/8 inch long, fine textured needles retain their rich dark green color through the winter months in USDA hardiness zones […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Evergreens, Fertilizing plants, Ground cover, mulching, Poisonous plant, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Protection, Yews (Taxus spp.) Comments Off on Emerald Spreader® Yew Exciting New Ground CoverMuhly Grass Pink Color Emblazens The Autumn Season
Posted by Hugh on September 12th, 2012
For most of the season Muhly grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris) grows pretty much unnoticed. Muhly exhibits a semi- erect growth habit, 3-4 feet in height and 3-4 feet in spread. Walking past a pink billowy inflorescences of Muhly on a brisk sunny October morning is nothing short of “wow”. For 10- 12 weeks, from early September thru late November, a pink haze arises […]
Posted in Autumn flowering, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Muhly grass, Native Plant, Ornamental Grasses, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, winter hardiness Comments Off on Muhly Grass Pink Color Emblazens The Autumn SeasonLeyland Cypress For Fast Growing Evergreen Privacy
Posted by Hugh on September 9th, 2012
Leyland Cypress Leyland cypress (xCupressocyparis x leylandii) is winter hardy in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7). It is frequently regarded as “the” conifer for Southern states. Its growth rate, compared to other evergreen conifers, is horrendously fast, with young established plants growing 3 feet or more annually. A young 2-3 foot specimen may reach […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, Disease prone, Evergreen, Evergreens, Green Privacy Screen, Heat Tolerance, Leyland cypress, Planting tips, Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on Leyland Cypress For Fast Growing Evergreen Privacy
