Camassia is native to the mountains and prairies of western North America, where it is called Indian quamash. In earlier times several native North Americans tribes commonly cooked this edible bulb, particularly of species C. quamash. Camassia tolerates moist wet soils. It may be planted along the edges of ponds or in the front of […]
Posted in Camassia, Featured, Flowering Bulb, Flowers, Native Plant, Perennials, Southern Appalachian Region 
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Rough-stemmed goldenrod (Solidago rugosa) grows in low woods, meadows and bogs in the eastern half of North America. ‘Fireworks’ (USDA zones 4–8) has a more compact plant habit than the species. This early blooming cultivar provides a long floral display starting in mid-August and lasting through Thanksgiving, weather permitting. Flowers spikes are numerous and held in […]
Posted in Autumn flowering, deadheading, Goldenrod (Solidago), Native Plant, Perennials, Southern Appalachian Region Comments Off on Goldenrod –Set Off Some Fireworks This FallCoppicing is a form of renewal pruning because the entire shrub is lopped off to the ground. It is a drastic pruning technique primarily used on shrubs that flower and fruit on new or summer wood, those that flower in late June or later. Coppicing is renewal pruning but is so simple that gardeners is […]
Posted in Aggressive grower, Garden Maintenance, Ilex (hollies), Mountain laurel (Kalmia), Pieris japonica, Pruning, Rhododendrons, Southern Appalachian Region Comments Off on Coppicing – Renewal Pruning for Old Rhododendrons
Several camellias bloom reliably either in the fall and or early spring in most areas of Tennessee within USDA hardiness zone 6. In the colder higher elevations above 2000 feet, hardy camellias require some additional shelter to successfully bloom over 6 – 8 weeks. Flower colors range from white, many shades of pink, and red. […]
Posted in acidic soil, Camellia, Evergreens, Featured, Fertilizing plants, Flowering, Regional, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter flowering 
Tags: Camellia Comments Off on Hardy Camellias for Southern Appalachian RegionPlumleaf azalea (Rhododendron prunifolium) has been blooming in my garden for the past ten days. This species is a late July – early August bloomer in northeast TN. The bright orange-red flowers of this native azalea light up any garden spot whether in full sun or partial shade. Provide some additional shade in southern climes […]
Posted in Azalea (deciduous), Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Hummingbird, mulching, Native Plant, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on Plumleaf Azalea Is Showy Summer Blooming ShrubDaylily ‘Buttered Popcorn’ (Hemerocallis ‘Buttered Popcorn’) produces buttery yellow 6″ flowers from late June thru mid-July. The 32-inch tall floral scapes are well branched and flowers are mildly fragrant. Bud count on each scape may average 10 or more. This tetraploid cultivar is also well known for its incredible fall re-bloom. In the Southern Appalachian […]
Posted in Daylilies, Flowers, Perennials, Regional, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, watering tips Comments Off on ‘Buttered Popcorn’ Daylily- Performs In The Mid-SouthCreate a hot splash in your garden this summer. Threadleaf coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata) ‘Route 66’ is a new selection by Itsaul Nursery in Atlanta, Georgia (USDA zone 4 to 9). Coreopsis ‘Route 66’ originated in Pennsylvania (zone 5). Perennial gardeners have been planting yellow- flowered ‘Moonbeam’ and ‘Zagreb’ cultivars for over a quarter of a […]
Posted in Coreopsis, deadheading, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Uncategorized Comments Off on Coreopsis ‘Route 66’ – A Riot of ColorMidwest native Culver’s root (Veronicastrum virginicum) starts the summer flowering season in my perennial garden. It naturally grows in open woods and meadows and thrives in fertile to moist soils. However, this deep rooted plant hasn’t complain about the current dry period in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6-7). Be aware that culver’s root […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, alkaline soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Butterflies, Culver's Root (veronicastrum), deadheading, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Goldenrod (Solidago), Heat Tolerance, mulching, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Culver’s Root (Veronicastrum)Chastetree (Vitex agnus-castus) is an 8-10 foot deciduous shrub or 12-15 foot tall small tree (hardiness zone 6-b thru 8). Branching habit is dense and vase-shaped (upright). It blooms over most of the summer, from June thru late August. Its 12-18 inch long blue-violet flower spikes exude a slight herbal fragrance. ‘Shoal Creek’ is a […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Flowering, Landscape ideas, Small landscape tree, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Trees & Shrubs, Vitex (Chaste tree) Comments Off on Vitex ‘Shoal Creek’Northern catalpa or Indian cigar tree (Catalpa speciosa) has enormous presence in any landscape setting (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). Finding a 70 – 80 foot tree with a massive trunk and thick sinuous limbs is not unusual from Ohio south thru Tennessee. In summer its huge heart –shaped, pale green leaves may be easily reach […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Hummingbird, Large Shade trees, Native Plant, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on Catalpa Both Loved And Hated
