To begin, I must thank South Carolina nurseryman, Mr. Ted Stephens, who gifted me a Chinese paperbush (Edgeworthia chrysantha) 12 years ago. Most plant authorities rate its winter hardiness to USDA zones 7 and 8, but no one told this to my edgeworthia in zone 6-b. People who see it blooming in my early March […]
Archive for the ‘Southern Appalachian Region’ Category
Give Edgeworthia A Try In Your Winter Garden
Posted by Hugh on February 16th, 2014
Posted in acidic soil, compact shrub, compost, Disease resistant, Edgeworthia, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter flowering, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Give Edgeworthia A Try In Your Winter Garden‘Thunderhead’ Pine
Posted by Hugh on February 14th, 2014
Thunderhead Japanese Black Pine (Pinus thunbergii ‘Thunderhead’) is a dwarf compact form of Japanese black pine (USDA hardiness zones 5b-8). Expect this slow-growing conifer to reach 5 feet high and 4 feet wide in 10 years. Whereas Japanese black pine grows 60 to 80 feet tall, Thunderhead matures to 20 to 25 feet in height […]
Posted in acidic soil, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreens, Green Privacy Screen, Japanese Black Pine, Pine (Pinus spp.), Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Thunderhead’ PineHepaticas Bloom In The Early Spring Garden
Posted by Hugh on February 12th, 2014
Hepatica (Hepatica spp), from the Latin word “Hepaticus” meaning liver, is sometimes cataloged as “Liverleaf” or “Liverwort” (USDA hardiness zones 4 – 9). It is one of the first spring wildflowers to bloom (March-April). H. americana, native to the eastern U.S. and Canada, bear showy white flowers that are sometimes tinged pink or blue. H. […]
Posted in acidic soil, compost, Disease resistant, Hepatica, Native Plant, Perennials, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Wildflowers, winter hardiness Comments Off on Hepaticas Bloom In The Early Spring GardenChristmas Ferns Are Easy To Grow
Posted by Hugh on February 1st, 2014
On a woodland hike in the eastern U.S., lush colonies of evergreen Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) flourish along the moist slopes (USDA hardiness zones 3 to 8). This native perennial fern favors either a deep or light shade environment. A vigorous clump may grow 18 – 24 inches in height and width. Set new plants […]
Posted in acidic soil, compost, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Ferns, Ground cover, Native Plant, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Christmas Ferns Are Easy To GrowWinter Sap Bleeding From Trees Not Harmful
Posted by Hugh on January 28th, 2014
Winter can be a cruel period for trees. Day-night temperatures may wildly fluctuate and drying winds tend to injure tender buds. Maples (Acer spp.), flowering dogwoods (Cornus florida), birches (Betula spp.), yellowwoods (Cladrastis kentukea), walnuts (Juglans spp.) and elms (Ulmus spp.) are “bleeders”. The sap pressure inside branches is highest during the winter months. If any […]
Posted in Birch (Betula spp.), Dogwood (Cornus), Elms (Ulmus), Maples (Acer), Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, Walnut, watering tips, Yellowwood Comments Off on Winter Sap Bleeding From Trees Not HarmfulEuropean Hornbeams Serve As Great Garden Sentinels
Posted by Hugh on January 17th, 2014
Upright European hornbeams (Carpinus betulus cvs.) are versatile small to medium-sized deciduous trees that fit most landscape settings. Depending on which cultivar you select, the tree stands with a narrow vertical profile. It grows 35-40 feet tall and 15-20 feet wide. It’s cookie cutter by design as a street tree or tall narrow hedge. Hornbeams […]
Posted in acidic soil, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Hornbeam (Carpinus), plant nutrition, Privacy Screen, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter bark Comments Off on European Hornbeams Serve As Great Garden SentinelsAre Your African Violets Looking OK?
Posted by Hugh on January 14th, 2014
African violets (Saintpaulia ionantha) are easy to grow flowering house plants. Modern day varieties sold at supermarkets and plant shops often bloom 8-9 months a year. Lighting needs are minimal, either from indirect sunlight from an east-facing window or under special “grow lights” 12 hours daily. African violets prefer water at room temperature (65-75 °F). […]
Posted in African violet (Saintpaulia), Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Insect (Pest) Problems, Interior (house) Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips Comments Off on Are Your African Violets Looking OK?For Dry Sites Try Arizona Cypress
Posted by Hugh on January 11th, 2014
Arizona cypress (Cupressus glabra) is silvery blue needled medium-sized evergreen (USDA hardiness zones 6 to 9). This southwest U.S. native demands full sun and excels in droughty, infertile, and well-drained soils. Conversely, Arizona cypress does not tolerate shade, poor air circulation and flooded soil. Arizona cypress is mostly disease and pest free unless too crowded […]
Posted in acidify soil, alkaline soil, Cupressus (cypress), Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Evergreens, Green Privacy Screen, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter bark, winter hardiness Comments Off on For Dry Sites Try Arizona CypressShagbark Hickory
Posted by Hugh on January 8th, 2014
Most tree lovers don’t plant U.S native shagbark hickory (Carya ovata) (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). Instead, they often inherit one when purchasing property. Shagbark hickory is notoriously difficult to transplant and grows very slowly in its early years. Like oaks (Quercus spp.) and beeches (Fagus spp.), hickories are long-lived, often standing tall in an open […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting birds, Butterflies, Drought tolerant, Hickory (Carya spp.), Large Shade trees, Native Plant, Nut Producer, Propagation (Seed), Southern Appalachian Region, Transplant problem, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter bark, winter hardiness Comments Off on Shagbark HickoryMoving Large And Mature Trees
Posted by Hugh on January 5th, 2014
Perhaps tree lovers can’t plant wonderful trees such as shagbark hickory (Carya ovata), American beech (Fagus grandifolia), or white oak (Quercus alba). They can purchase property with the tree(s) growing on them. Most nurseries do not grow these difficult species or guarantee their success after planting. But, all is not lost! Modern nurseries, backed by […]
Posted in American Beech (F. grandifolia), Beech (Fagus spp.), Black gum (Nyssa), Garden Maintenance, Hickory (Carya spp.), Japanese maple, Large Shade trees, Native Plant, Oaks (Quercus spp.), Planting tips, Southern Appalachian Region, Transplant problem, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on Moving Large And Mature Trees
