Japanese clethra (Clethra barbinervis) is a large, upright, deciduous shrub or small tree (USDA 5-8). As a small tree it generally grows 10-20 feet tall and features horizontally drooping, terminal racemes (4-6 inches long); the white flowers are pleasantly fragrant. Its bloom period continues over several weeks from mid to late summer. In autumn, its […]
Archive for the ‘Regional’ Category
Cinnamon Clethra
Posted by Hugh on May 27th, 2022
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Clethra, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Flowering, Flowering shrub, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Cinnamon ClethraAdding Compact Summer Flowering Shrubs
Posted by Hugh on May 24th, 2022
Yes, to reduce annual garden maintenance some gardeners are switching to space-saving flowering shrubs. Patio gardeners are popping compact shrubs into containers such as spireas, hydrangeas, crape myrtles, chaste tree, weigelias, and buddleias. They’re looking to add color and reduce their maintenance workload. Numerous new [rose] varieties have been created that are relatively resistant to the […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Buddleia (Butterfly bush), Container garden, container shrub, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Deciduous, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Hummingbird, Hydrangeas, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Purchasing Plants, Roses, Roses (Shrub type), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spirea (Spiraea), Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Vitex (Chaste tree), Weigela Comments Off on Adding Compact Summer Flowering ShrubsSilk Tassel Sedge
Posted by Hugh on May 17th, 2022
‘Silk Tassel’ Japanese sedge is an outstanding Japanese sedge cultivar of Carex morrowii temnolepis. It is ornamentally grown in shade areas for its narrow (1/8 inch wide) variegated foliage (USDA hardiness zones 5 to 9). This dense, grass-like clump grows 12 inches high and 1 to 1 ½ feet spread. Let’s start with an old […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Carex (Sedges), compost, Container garden, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Silk Tassel SedgeLion’s Tail
Posted by Hugh on May 11th, 2022
Lion’s tail (Leonotis leonurus) is a tropical plant native to south Africa (USDA hardiness zones 8-11). I have seen used as a late summer – fall blooming annual in public gardens. Lion’s tail’s bright burnt orange flowers are standouts and receive great notice. The common name “Lion’s Ear” comes from the flowers resembling the color […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Flowers, Heat Tolerance, Hummingbird, Landscape ideas, Lion's Tail (Leonotis), mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Lion’s TailChinese Fringetree
Posted by Hugh on May 6th, 2022
Chinese fringetree (Chionanthus retusus) is native to China, Korea and Japan (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). As with the native U.S. species (C. virginicus), this plant is noted for its fragrant white flowers. Gardeners first fall in love with this large, multi-stemmed, deciduous large multi-branched shrub. Some nurseries are also offering the Chinese form as a […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, compact tree, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Dioecious, Disease resistant, Fall Garden Interest, Flowering, Fringetree (Chionanthus), Landscape ideas, Medium sized Tree, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Shade tree, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Chinese Fringetree10 Drought Tolerant Perennials
Posted by Hugh on May 1st, 2022
Once established, these ten drought-tolerant plants can cope with hot sun and humidity with low amounts of supplemental water. If you garden in a drought-prone area, or growing in fast-draining raised beds, these drought-resistant plants are a great choice for your garden. Perhaps you wish to reduce your water bills. Plan to keep plantings adequately […]
Posted in acidic soil, Agastache (Hyssop), Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Black eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), Butterfly weed (Asclepias), Calamagrostis, Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), deadheading, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Landscape ideas, Lavender (Lavandula), mulching, Native Plant, Pennisetum spp., Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Red hot Poker (Kniphofia), Russian sage (Perovskia), Sedum (Groundcover types), Sedum (Shrub type), Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Switchgrass (Panicum), watering tips, winter hardiness, Yarrow (Achillea) Comments Off on 10 Drought Tolerant PerennialsNext Generation Of Kousa Dogwoods
Posted by Hugh on April 16th, 2022
‘Scarlet Fire’ is a 2017 introduction from Rutgers University with 4-5 inch wide, fade-proof, dark pink floral bracts. This Kousa dogwood tree is also heat and drought tolerant and highly disease resistant. ‘Wolf Eyes’ is a compact tree (10-20 feet tall) or multi-branched shrub form; creamy white variegated foliage is scorch-resistant. Wolf Eyes flaunts eye-catching gray-green […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Chinese (kousa) dogwood, Container garden, Container growing, container shrub, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Dogwood (Cornus), Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Foliage plant, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation(grafting), Purchasing Plants, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on Next Generation Of Kousa DogwoodsRoof Iris in Springtime
Posted by Hugh on April 11th, 2022
Roof iris (Iris tectorum) is indigenous to China. This beardless iris is part of the crested iris group. Leaves stand 15 inches tall, fanned at the base and are ribbed. The clean green fan-like leaves remain mostly blemish-free most of the growing season. Plants give rise to purple-blue flowers with white and darker purple flecks starting […]
Posted in acidify soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Chlorosis (yellowing), Container garden, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower arrangments, Ground cover, Iris, Iris tectorum, Landscape ideas, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Virus diseases, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Roof Iris in SpringtimeThree Standout Panicle Hydrangeas
Posted by Hugh on April 6th, 2022
For over a decade the cultivar ‘Limelight’ has been among the best selling panicle hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata) (USDA hardiness zones 3-8). It bears large greenish-white floral trusses on 6- 8 feet tall branches; beautiful for use as cut (fresh or dried) flowers. Here are three panicle hydrangeas that are also very popular. Vanilla Strawberry™ hydrangea […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, container shrub, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower arrangments, Flowering, Hydrangeas, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Panicle hydrangea, Planting tips, Propagation (layering), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Sand Dune Protection, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Three Standout Panicle HydrangeasGlobe Amaranth (Gomphrena)
Posted by Hugh on April 1st, 2022
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 […]
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)
