Franklinia (Franklinia altamaha) is a uniquely different large shrub or small tree. Although rated hardy in USDA hardiness zones 5-8, I’ve never seen a landscape quality specimen in zone 5 and find that the tree performs best in zones 7. Success with growing franklinia hinges on purchasing a quality nursery plant, proper siting, and annual care, […]
Archive for the ‘Trees & Shrubs’ Category
America’sHappy 250th Tree- Franklinia
Posted by Hugh on July 2nd, 2026
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, compost, Deciduous, Fertilizing plants, Franklinia, Landscape ideas, Medium sized Tree, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Phytophthora ramorum, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness 
No Comments »Discovering Native Swamp Titi Tree
Posted by Hugh on June 29th, 2026
Black Titi (Cyrilla racemiflora), aka Swamp cyrilla is an evergreen, semi-evergreen or tardily deciduous tree that is native to Southeastern U.S. and indigenous in coastal areas from Virginia south into Texas. (USDA hardiness zones 5-11). Young plants are shrubby but eventually develop into a small tree with contorted stems, smooth, cinnamon-colored young bark and flaky mature […]
Posted in acidic soil, Black Titi (Cyrilla), Butterflies, Disease resistant, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness No Comments »Alternative Choices For Bradford Pears
Posted by Hugh on June 24th, 2026
A number of U.S. states have designated the Bradford Pear (Pyrus calleryana) as an invasive tree species. This once popular small to medium-sized tree blooms in mid- to late-March. Introduced by the USDA in the 1960’s, following extensive 40+ year breeding trials, it became extremely popular across the country. Note that Callery pear is actually […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Bradford Pear, Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana), Deciduous, Fall Garden Interest, Flowering, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, Medium sized Tree, mulching, Non-native, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness No Comments »Japanese Stewartia
Posted by Hugh on June 1st, 2026
Underplanted in U.S. gardens are stewartias (Stewartia spp.) and the most popular is the lovely Japanese stewartia (S. pseudocamellia). This small 20-30 foot small slow-growing tree or multi-trunked shrub is indigenous to Japan and Korea. Specimens in the wild can reach 50-60 feet in height. In U.S. gardens, it typically matures in landscapes to 20-40 […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Fall Garden Interest, Flowering, Landscape ideas, Non-native, Purchasing Plants, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Stewartia pseudocamellia, Summer flowering, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on Japanese StewartiaAshe Magnolia – A Very Special Small Tree
Posted by Hugh on April 27th, 2026
Ashe magnolia (Magnolia ashei) is a small 10-20 feet deciduous tree with enormous size flowers and leaves (zone (5)6-9). Each white flowers may measure 6- 12 inches across with a purple blotch at the base of 3 inner petal-like tepals. Ashe magnolia blooms in late May – early June here in Tennessee, Virginia and North […]
Posted in acidic soil, Ashe magnolia (M. ashei), Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, compost, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Fragrant, Landscape ideas, Magnolia, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Scale, Small landscape tree, Snails, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Thrips, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Ashe Magnolia – A Very Special Small TreeTuff Stuff™ Lacecap Hydrangeas
Posted by Hugh on April 7th, 2026
Tuff Stuff™ Mountain Hydrangeas (H. serrata) are a stunning lacecap series of Mountain Hydrangea). This species is indigenous to the cooler mountainous altitudes of Korea and Japan. They produce almost nonstop blooms from early summer right into autumn. Tuff Stuff are exceptionally cold hardy compared to big-leaf hydrangeas (H. macrophylla) (USDA hardiness zones 4-9). Their […]
Posted in acidic soil, acidify soil, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, compact shrub, Container garden, container shrub, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Flowering, Hydrangea arborescens, Hydrangeas, Landscape ideas, Mountain hydrangea (H. serrata), mulching, Native Plant, Non-native, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rabbit/deer Protection, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Tuff Stuff™ Lacecap HydrangeasSuperior ‘Wolf Eyes’ Kousa Dogwood
Posted by Hugh on March 31st, 2026
Kousa dogwood is indigenous to eastern Asia (Korea, China, and Japan) (USDA hardiness zones 5 – 8). ‘Wolf Eyes’ Kousa dogwood is an exceptional small landscape tree with variegated leaf color. Tree grows 15 – 20 feet tall and 20 feet wide. Hundreds of cream and green flowers appear in spring. Its narrow leaves are […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Balled and Burlapped (b&b), Bees and other pollinators, Borers, Chinese (kousa) dogwood, compact tree, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flowering, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Pesticide recommendations, Planting tips, Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Superior ‘Wolf Eyes’ Kousa DogwoodGolden Shadow Dogwood
Posted by Hugh on March 24th, 2026
Alternate leaf dogwood (Cornus alternifolia), aka Pagoda dogwood, is a small native deciduous tree or large multi-stemmed shrub (USDA hardiness zones 3-8). This U.S. native species is indigenous to central and eastern Canada and central and the eastern and central areas of the U.S. Pagoda dogwood typically grows 15-25 feet high with distinctive tiered/layered horizontal branching. The […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Borers, Canker disease, Cercopora leaf spot, Chlorosis (yellowing), Container garden, Cornus alternifolia, Deciduous, Fertilizing plants, Landscape ideas, Large shrub, Leaf miner, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Powdery mildew, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Root rotting, Scale, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Sun scald, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Wind protection, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Golden Shadow DogwoodBaker’s Dozen Of My Favorite Redbuds
Posted by Hugh on March 14th, 2026
Redbuds (Cercis canadensis) are small flowering landscape tree. Most varieties grow up to 20 to 30 feet tall and 20 to 35 feet wide, but there are a number of compact patio forms. It is generally a small understory tree that is often found growing beneath taller trees. Redbuds may tolerate full sun to part shade, […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Flower Arranging, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Redbud, Small landscape tree, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Baker’s Dozen Of My Favorite RedbudsRosebay Rhododendron
Posted by Hugh on March 7th, 2026
Luxuriant and bold, rosebay rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum) is a stunning broad-leaved evergreen for a large garden or naturalized in the woodland landscape. This multi-stemmed, upright spreading shrub typically grows 8 to 15 feet tall… but can reach to 30 feet in Appalachian Mountains where it is native. In early summer, mature branches produce large floral […]
Posted in acidic soil, Anthracnose, Attracting birds, Azalea (deciduous), Bees and other pollinators, Botrytis disease, Christmas fern, Columbine (Aquilegia), Evergreen, Ferns, Fertilizing plants, Flower arrangments, Heuchera (coralbells), Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Phytophthora ramorum, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (layering), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rosebay Rhododendron (R. Maximum), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Tiarella (foam flower), Trees & Shrubs, Uvularia (bellwort), Wild ginger Comments Off on Rosebay Rhododendron
