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 […]
Archive for the ‘Southern Appalachian Region’ Category
‘Red Volunteer’ – Outstanding Veteran Red-flowering Daylily
Posted by Hugh on June 24th, 2012
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 VariegationEasy To Grow Dahlias
Posted by Hugh on June 16th, 2012
According to the American Dahlia Society there are 18 classes of dahlias, from the popular small flowered dahlietta types to the large flowered dinner plate type. Dahlias hail from South of the Border, down Mexico Way, and are not reliably winter hardy north of USDA zone 7-b. Dahlias are easy to grow. They want a compost […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, compost, Dahlia, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Southern Appalachian Region, Staking, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on Easy To Grow DahliasTorenia (Wishbone Flower) Blooms In Part Shade
Posted by Hugh on June 14th, 2012
The list of summer flowering annuals for shady spots in the garden is not long. Garden impatiens (Impatiens x wallerana) is the first choice, seconded by begonias (Begonia x semperflorens-cultorum). Today, wishbone flower (T. fournieri) is now available. Torenia blooms from spring to frost. It is best grown in a moist, organically rich, well-drained soil and […]
Posted in acidic soil, Disease resistant, Flowers, mulching, Planting tips, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Torenia (wishbone flw.), watering tips Comments Off on Torenia (Wishbone Flower) Blooms In Part ShadePowdery Mildew: The Bane of Beebalm
Posted by Hugh on June 9th, 2012
Beebalm (Monarda spp.) is one of our great native perennials and herbs. Native Americans used beebalm as a tea, brewing it for colds, minor bronchial and digestive complaints, and also as a poultice to soothe insect stings. During the Boston Tea Party, rebellious colonists utilized beebalm as a tea substitute, calling it “Oswego tea”. […]
Posted in Bee Favorite, Butterflies, deadheading, Disease prone, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Heat Tolerance, Herbs, Hummingbird, Monarda (Beebalm), Native Plant, Planting tips, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on Powdery Mildew: The Bane of Beebalm‘Lady Francis’ Ivy Wakes Up A Shady Patch
Posted by Hugh on June 6th, 2012
On a recently trip to the Ohio State University Horticultural Gardens in Columbus, I discovered ‘Lady Frances’, a relatively tame miniature ivy. The American Ivy Society classifies Hedera helix ‘Lady Frances’ as non-invasive, and it received the first “Ivy of the Year” award in 2001. It grows slowly and works as a ground cover or topiary […]
Posted in Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Ground cover, Interior (house) Plants, Ivy (Hedera), Planting tips, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Uncategorized, Vine, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Lady Francis’ Ivy Wakes Up A Shady PatchJapanese Beetle Traps – Useful Monitoring Tool
Posted by Hugh on June 4th, 2012
A decade ago garden centers sold thousands of Japanese beetle traps until somebody questioned why anyone would want to lure this summer pest into their garden. Yes, the traps do work and may catch hundreds per week. You also attract hundreds more to feed on your plants’ flowers and leaves and, later in the year, the larvae will feed in […]
Posted in Crabapple, Insect (Pest) Problems, Japanese beetles, Lawn Care, Roses, Southern Appalachian Region, Uncategorized Comments Off on Japanese Beetle Traps – Useful Monitoring ToolDwarf Southern Magnolia Cultivars
Posted by Hugh on June 1st, 2012
Small 5-6 Year Old ‘Little Gem’ Magnolia Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) is remarkably hardy in USDA zone 6. This evergreen magnolia prefers a moist well-drained, slightly acidic soil, and planted in a partial to full sun location. It is a long-lived large 70-80 feet tall tree, best suited to large commercial and residential properties, golf […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Butterflies, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Heat Tolerance, Magnolia grandiflora, Medium sized Tree, Native Plant, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant Comments Off on Dwarf Southern Magnolia Cultivars‘Helene Von Stein’ Lamb’s Ear Is More Behaved
Posted by Hugh on May 30th, 2012
Stachys byzantina is a dense gray woolly perennial ground cover, which earns it the common name “lamb’s ear”. ‘Helene Von Stein’ is the single best cultivar, displaying larger leaves, and is more heat and humidity tolerant. Sometimes listed as ‘Big Ears’, it rarely produces flowers which may tarnish its lovely silvery gray foliage appearance. Lamb’s ear grows […]
Posted in Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Lamb's ears (Stachys), Perennials, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, watering tips Comments Off on ‘Helene Von Stein’ Lamb’s Ear Is More Behaved
