Hollyhocks (Alcea rosea) are old-fashioned perennials (and biennials) which are currently finding a new audience. There are numerous cultivars differing in plant height from 5 to 9 feet and spread of 1 to 3 feet. Flowers come in single and double forms and in many color shades. Hollyhocks are hardy to USDA hardiness zone 4. […]
Archive for the ‘Regional’ Category
Hollyhock Rust Prevention Tips
Posted by Hugh on July 19th, 2012
Posted in Disease prone, Disease resistant, Flowers, Hollyhock (Alcea), Japanese beetles, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering 
Comments Off on Hollyhock Rust Prevention Tips‘Sunburst’ Golden St. John’s Wort
Posted by Hugh on July 16th, 2012
Our native golden St. John’s wort (Hypericum frondosum) deserves more planting space in U. S. gardens (USDA hardiness zones 5-8). ‘Sunburst’ is the leading cultivar and exhibits superior traits over the species. Golden St. John’s wort forms a small, dense growing deciduous shrub, noted for its showy golden yellow flowers and attractive blue-green foliage. Sunburst grows more compact […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Butterflies, compact shrub, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreens, Flowering, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, St. John's Wort (Hypericum), Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Winter bark Comments Off on ‘Sunburst’ Golden St. John’s Wort‘Brigadoon’ Hypericum Wakes Up a Garden Bed
Posted by Hugh on July 13th, 2012
The bright chartreuse (almost golden) foliage Brigadoon St. John’s wort (Hypericum calycinum ‘Brigadoon’) can brighten up almost any dull garden spot. This Euro-Asian ground cover thrives in any well-drained soil under full to partial sunlight (USDA zones 4-7). Full sun may burn the summer foliage in zone 7. ‘Brigadoon’ grows 12 to 16 inches tall and spreads […]
Posted in Butterflies, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Planting tips, Pruning, Root suckering, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, St. John's Wort (Hypericum), Summer flowering Comments Off on ‘Brigadoon’ Hypericum Wakes Up a Garden BedSelecting The Right Ivy For Your Garden
Posted by Hugh on July 5th, 2012
Have you taken the “No Ivy Pledge”? I have not. In an effort to slow defections from growing ivy, the American Ivy Society has developed a list of non-invasive cultivars. It includes several dwarf English ivy cultivars (Hedera spp.). Add a little water and fertilizer and these mini-ivies do not miss a beat. Mini- ivies […]
Posted in Aggressive grower, Evergreens, Ivy (Hedera), Planting tips, Southern Appalachian Region, Vine, watering tips Comments Off on Selecting The Right Ivy For Your GardenPromising Hemlock Adelgid Research
Posted by Hugh on July 2nd, 2012
Proper care of hemlock trees is important for their survival. Hot dry summer weather appears to slow population growth. During periods of severe drought, shallow rooted hemlock trees should be irrigated. Prune dead and dying branches from trees to promote new growth. Also, limit the amount of nitrogen fertilizers to hemlock(s), as it promotes heavier […]
Posted in Evergreens, Hemlock (Tsuga), Hemlock woolly adelgid, Native Plant, plant nutrition, Southern Appalachian Region, watering tips Comments Off on Promising Hemlock Adelgid ResearchPest Update – More Pesticide Options Available Against Hemlock Adelgid
Posted by Hugh on June 29th, 2012
You may be able to prevent or save tree and shrub hemlock(s) from woolly adelgid. This serious pest has two generations per year. The first generation hatches in March and April from overwintering adults (as many as 300 eggs per adult) in white cottony masses on the small twigs. The crawlers (nymphs) hatch and feed in […]
Posted in Hemlock (Tsuga), Hemlock woolly adelgid, Insect (Pest) Problems, Native Plant, Southern Appalachian Region Comments Off on Pest Update – More Pesticide Options Available Against Hemlock AdelgidVintage ‘Strawberry Candy’ A Sensational Daylily Performer
Posted by Hugh on June 26th, 2012
Some vintage daylily varieties are timeless performers. Strawberry Candy daylily (Hemerocallis x ‘Strawberry Candy’) is a daylily classic, one of the first to open in June in Southern Appalachian gardens (USDA hardiness zones 6 and 7). Its grass-like foliage is semi-evergreen here. The 4- inch diameter flowers open strawberry pink with a prominent rose red eye […]
Posted in Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Daylilies, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Hummingbird, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, watering tips Comments Off on Vintage ‘Strawberry Candy’ A Sensational Daylily Performer‘Red Volunteer’ – Outstanding Veteran Red-flowering Daylily
Posted by Hugh on June 24th, 2012
In the gardening world new does not always mean better. Red Volunteer daylily (Hemerocallis x ‘Red Volunteer’) is not new, introduced by Oakes Daylily Nursery, near Knoxville, TN in 1984. Daylily catalogs describe it as a “candle red self with a golden yellow throat”. It is a mid-season bloomer and the foliage is semi-evergreen. The […]
Posted in Daylilies, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, watering tips Comments Off on ‘Red Volunteer’ – Outstanding Veteran Red-flowering DaylilyNo Scorch ‘Verdoni’ Dwarf Hinoki Cypress
Posted by Hugh on June 22nd, 2012
For a small urban garden many dwarf evergreen conifers are a good fit. There are so many to choose from and Verdon hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Verdoni’) is one of the finest. Its fan shaped gold-edged green foliage will light up almost any garden locale. It makes a great garden companion with short growing perennials, […]
Posted in acidic soil, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, DWARF CONIFERS, Evergreen, Heat Tolerance, plant nutrition, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Verdon hinoki cypress, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on No Scorch ‘Verdoni’ Dwarf Hinoki Cypress‘Color Guard’ Yucca Hold Gold Variegation
Posted by Hugh on June 19th, 2012
Architecturally, yucca (Yucca filamentosa), aka Adam’s needle or Spanish bayonet, makes a strong landscape statement. Yucca is often difficult to fit with with other shrubs, except perhaps other xerophytic plants. Yucca is frequently used in an arid-looking or in a courtyard setting in gravel mulch. Yucca prospers in full sun and a well-drained soil. This […]
Posted in Drought tolerant, Evergreens, Native Plant, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, winter hardiness, Yucca Comments Off on ‘Color Guard’ Yucca Hold Gold Variegation
