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 […]
Archive for the ‘Southern Appalachian Region’ Category
Vitex ‘Shoal Creek’
Posted by Hugh on June 9th, 2010
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’Catalpa Both Loved And Hated
Posted by Hugh on June 8th, 2010
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 HatedGrowing Tomatoes in Containers
Posted by Hugh on May 10th, 2010
Apartment renters and townhouse and condominium owners till the soil in containers on their patio and deck. For containers the shorter growing determinate type tomatoes are a better choice. Spread out the harvest interval, by not planting all your tomatoes at one time. Start your last tomatoes from seed for June planting and harvest beginning […]
Alternatives to Italian Cypress
Posted by Hugh on May 7th, 2010
Those of us who live north of Atlanta, GA (USDA zone 7-b) can not enjoy Italian cypress (Cupressus sempervirens), which are not hardy in most of the Southern Appalachian region (zone 6-a to 7-a). If you are designing a Mediterranean look in your garden, choose among select cultivars of these columnar evergreen shrubs: Japanese […]
Posted in Chamaecyparis, Ilex (hollies), Juniper, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on Alternatives to Italian CypressGrowing Blueberries
Posted by Hugh on May 5th, 2010
Both the highbush and rabbiteye blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) are hardy in the Southern Appalachian region (zone 6-b to 7-a). A hot summer is a nemesis for highbush and an extremely cold winter limits where you can grow rabbiteye within zone 6-b. Blueberry bushes grow 8-15-feet tall, requiring annual pruning. Its dark green foliage turns brilliant […]
Posted in acidic soil, acidify soil, Bees and other pollinators, Blueberries, Container garden, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Fruits & Vegetables, Landscape ideas, Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering Comments Off on Growing BlueberriesLo and Behold ‘Blue Chip’ Buddleia Is Late Summer Gem
Posted by Hugh on March 21st, 2010
photo taken at JC Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh, NC in June 2009 Lo & Behold® ‘Blue Chip’ is a very dwarf butterfly bush (buddleia) for the summer garden. Its compact 3 x 4 foot height and width is an excellent choice planted in a garden bed or in a container on a sunny patio deck or patio. […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Buddleia (Butterfly bush), Butterflies, compact shrub, Container growing, container shrub, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, mulching, Planting tips, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on Lo and Behold ‘Blue Chip’ Buddleia Is Late Summer GemAucuba — Major Shade Garden Shrub
Posted by Hugh on March 6th, 2010
On a recent trip to the Knoxville Botanical Garden, I was re-introduced to a plant not used as much as it should be – gold dust shrub (Aucuba japonica). Hardy to USDA hardiness zones 6b-10, aucuba prefers a partial sun to heavy shaded area of the garden. Direct sunlight, even in the mostly cloudy winter may scorch some leaves. Over the past 20 years […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aucuba, Drought tolerant, Pruning, Shade Gardening, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on Aucuba — Major Shade Garden Shrub‘Bosque’ Lacebark Elm – a Better Choice
Posted by Hugh on February 20th, 2010
Recent storm damage has caused a re-evaluation, whether to continue to plant the cultivar Allee®, also called ‘Emerald Vase’. Urban foresters around the state of Tennessee report that limb breakage and clean up around Allee elms is greater than around other cultivars. Bosque seemed to fare much better. Lacebark elm (Ulmus parvifolia) is a beautiful […]
Posted in Certified Arborist, Landscape ideas, Medium sized Tree, Native Plant, Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on ‘Bosque’ Lacebark Elm – a Better ChoiceU.S. Native Viburnums And Viburnum Beetle Susceptibility
Posted by Hugh on February 16th, 2010
photo -Arrowwood viburnum in late summer A trip to Carolina Native Plants Nursery in Burnsville, NC gave me this idea to list those viburnums which are U.S. natives (USDA Hardiness zones 6 and 7). All are worthy for planting in your landscape in full sun except where noted. All attract birds and other wildlife to […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Insect (Pest) Problems, Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Pesticide recommendations, Privacy Screen, Rabbit/deer Protection, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, Viburnum beetles, Viburnums Comments Off on U.S. Native Viburnums And Viburnum Beetle SusceptibilityPrivacy Screening – Avoid Using Leyland Cypress
Posted by Hugh on February 11th, 2010
‘Green Giant’ arborvitae and Cryptomeria (Japanese cedar) have proven more dependable over the years than Leyland cypress across Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Leyland cypress is susceptible to three serious foliar diseases. Some people love the faster growth of Leyland cypress. Leyland cypress may be weak-wooded, as reported by some gardeners this current […]
Posted in acidic soil, Arborvitae (Thuja spp.), Bagworms, Disease prone, Evergreen, Evergreens, Ilex (hollies), Landscape ideas, Leyland cypress, Privacy Screen, Southern Appalachian Region, Viburnums, watering tips Comments Off on Privacy Screening – Avoid Using Leyland Cypress
