Oleander (Nerium oleander) is an attractive evergreen shrub for warm climates. Indigenous to the Mediterranean region, it is popular in warm regions of the U.S., namely in western, coastal, and southern states (USDA hardiness zones 8-11). Oleander prefers moist, well-drained soil and a sunny landscape site. Established shrubs withstand dry and windy conditions along coastal areas. Brightly colored […]
Archive for the ‘Regional’ Category
Colorful Oleanders For Hot Summer Climes
Posted by Hugh on July 9th, 2015
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, Aphids, compact tree, container shrub, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Insect (Pest) Problems, Oleander (Nerium), Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Scale, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, watering evergreens, watering tips, winter hardiness, winter injury, Winter Protection 
Comments Off on Colorful Oleanders For Hot Summer Climes‘PeeDee Ingot’ Liriope Brightens Dark Areas
Posted by Hugh on July 6th, 2015
If you live in the Southeastern U.S., another variety of liriope probably will not impress you. Here we call it “monkeygrass”. PeeDee Ingot liriope (Liriope muscari ‘PeeDee Ingot’) is no ordinary ground cover (USDA hardiness zones 6-10). ‘Peedee Ingot’ liriope is named after the Peedee River in South […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Bee Favorite, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Ground cover, Liriope, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Uncategorized, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘PeeDee Ingot’ Liriope Brightens Dark AreasMy Search Continues For A Hardy Gardenia
Posted by Hugh on July 3rd, 2015
The longer you garden, many plant species keep improving, including their winter hardiness. A few years ago, growing gardenias (Gardenia jasminoides) in a U.S. zone 6 garden was a dream. Today, hardy gardenias are a safe bet in zone 7 or in zone 6 in a protected area of […]
Posted in acidic soil, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Gardenia, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness, winter injury, Winter Protection Comments Off on My Search Continues For A Hardy GardeniaHummingbird Favorite Plants
Posted by Hugh on July 1st, 2015
Many lists of hummingbird plants available in books, on the internet, and at garden centers aren’t very good hummer plants (e.g. petunias, daylillies). Inclusion of whole genera (e.g. Penstemon or Aquilegia) is not correct as only a few species supply ample quality nectar to hummingbirds. Creating a definitive […]
Posted in Hummingbird, Invasive plant, Native Plant, Perennials, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, winter hardiness Comments Off on Hummingbird Favorite PlantsDelightful Dragonflies And Damselflies
Posted by Hugh on June 27th, 2015
Watch them flitter… Dragonflies and damselflies, also called “darning needles” and “dining needles”, are common spring/summer inhabitants in many U.S. gardens, particularly around water gardens, streams and other water features, where they reproduce. Adults lay eggs on the plants around the water’s edge; the nymphs hatch from the […]
Posted in Beneficial Insects, Damselflies, Dragonflies, Southern Appalachian Region, Water Gardens Comments Off on Delightful Dragonflies And DamselfliesObedient Plant For Late Summer Blooming
Posted by Hugh on June 21st, 2015
Obedient plant (Physostegia virginiana) is native from the Central to Southern U.S. and northern Mexico (USDA hardiness zones 3-9). It is called “obedient plant” because each tubular flower will, upon being pushed in any one direction, stays in new position. From July to September obedient plant is valued for its late season pink or white […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, compost, deadheading, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Obedient plant (Physotegia), Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Soil drainage, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Obedient Plant For Late Summer BloomingVanilla Strawberry™ Hydrangea
Posted by Hugh on June 18th, 2015
Vanilla Strawberry™ hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata) is a new peegee hydrangea selection introduced from France and it is really catching on with U.S. gardeners (USDA hardiness zones 4-9). This exceptionally cold hardy hydrangea blooms from late June thru early September. Blooms are enormous and stand upright. Following a heavy summer shower, saturated floral trusses temporarily bow down under their sheer weight, but gradually recover. Flower color […]
Posted in acidic soil, acidify soil, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Fertilizing plants, Hydrangeas, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (layering), Pruning, Rabbit/deer Protection, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Vanilla Strawberry™ HydrangeaLots Of Stokes Asters To Pick
Posted by Hugh on June 15th, 2015
Stokes aster (Stokesia laevis) is an underutilized herbaceous perennial. It is indigenous to the southeastern United States (USDA hardiness zones 5-9 and AHS heat zones 4-11). Many attractive cultivars are now available (see below). Most stokes asters produce mostly blue and purple colored floral cultivars, but violet, yellow, white, and blended color forms are also […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Stokesia, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Lots Of Stokes Asters To PickSwamp Azalea Deserves More Garden Space
Posted by Hugh on June 12th, 2015
Swamp Azalea (Rhododendron viscosum, formerly R. serrulatum) is very different among deciduous azaleas. Most rhododendrons (azaleas) do not care for soppy, poorly drained soils. This U.S. native is an exception, indigenous to swamps, bogs, stream edges and wet lowlands from southern Maine to northeastern Ohio south to Florida and […]
Posted in acidic soil, Azalea (deciduous), Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Fragrant, Heat Tolerance, Hummingbird, mulching, Native Plant, Planting tips, Poisonous or toxic, Pruning, Rhododendrons, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Swamp Azalea Deserves More Garden SpaceJapanese Hydrangea Vine Worth The Wait
Posted by Hugh on June 10th, 2015
Japanese hydrangea vine (Schizophragma hydrangoides) ‘Moonlight’ is a deciduous woody vine (USDA hardiness zone 5 to 8). It is closely related to climbing hydrangea vine (Hydrangea anomala ‘Petiolaris’). This ornate climbing vine is valued for its silvery, silvery-green, heart-shaped foliage and large, flat-topped, lace cap hydrangea-like clusters (8-10 […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Bee Favorite, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Foliage plant, Japanese hydrangea vine, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (layering), Pruning, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Uncategorized, Vine, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Japanese Hydrangea Vine Worth The Wait
