Some native U.S. landscape shrubs are not only great spring/summer flowering shrubs, but their fall foliage color(s) are an added attraction. Here are ten of my favorites listed alphabetically by genus: Bottlebrush Buckeye (Aesculus parvifolia) – foliage of this summer flowering shrub turns bright yellow in fall. (zones 4-8) Red Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia) – under-planted native shrub that […]
Archive for the ‘Trees & Shrubs’ Category
Ten Native Shrubs Possessing Great Fall Leaf Color
Posted by Hugh on October 1st, 2018
Posted in acidic soil, Arrowwood (V. dentatum), Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn foliage color, Autumn Fruiting, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Blackhaw viburnum (V. prunifolium), Blueberry (Vaccinium), Bottlebrush buckeye, Chokeberry (Aronia), compost, Cranberry bush (V. trilobum), Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Flowering, Fothergilla, Fragrant, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, Large shrub, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Oakleaf hydrangea (H. quercifolia), Purchasing Plants, Soil Conservation, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Viburnum beetles, Viburnums, Virginia sweetspire, winter hardiness, Witherod (Viburnum nudum 
Comments Off on Ten Native Shrubs Possessing Great Fall Leaf ColorOsage Orange As A Landscape Tree
Posted by Hugh on September 20th, 2018
Osage orange (Maclura pomifera) has been declawed and neutered (USDA Zones 5-9). A member of the mulberry family (Moraceae), this tough prairie tree species is native to east Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. It grows fast @ 2 ½ to 3 feet per year. It is also called Bois D’Arc (pronounced “bow-dark”). Osage orange is a […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, alkaline soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Dioecious, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Fencing, Fertilizing plants, Fruits poisonous, Heat Tolerance, Inconspicious, Landscape ideas, Medium sized Tree, Messy Fruits, mulching, Native Plant, Osage Orange (Maclura), plant nutrition, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (layering), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil Conservation, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, Wind protection, winter hardiness Comments Off on Osage Orange As A Landscape TreeSuccess In Growing Franklinia Tree
Posted by Hugh on September 10th, 2018
Franklinia (Franklinia altamaha) is a uniquely different large shrub or small tree. Great plant for the “I can grow anything crowd”. 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 6 to 7. Success with growing franklinia hinges on […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, compact tree, compost, Environmental issues, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Flowering, Fragrant, Franklinia, Landscape ideas, Large shrub, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Root rotting, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Transplant problem, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter bark, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Success In Growing Franklinia TreeWorking With Poorly Drained Soils
Posted by Hugh on September 8th, 2018
As a rule, yews (Taxus spp.), Japanese hollies (Ilex crenata), azaleas (Rhododendron spp.), blueberries (Vaccinium spp.), and roses (Rosa spp.) are common examples of landscape plants that fail in poorly drained soils. Holly cultivars like ‘Hoogendorn’ and ‘Soft Touch’ fair better in clay soils that most other Japanese hollies in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA hardiness […]
Posted in Azalea (deciduous), Azaleas (evergreen), Disease prone, Evergreen, Ilex (hollies), Native Plant, Rhododendrons, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, winter hardiness Comments Off on Working With Poorly Drained SoilsNot New –Still Top Landscape Performers
Posted by Hugh on September 6th, 2018
A senior gardener knows that many new plant cultivars (varieties) are often no better than what had come before. Many “superstar” shrubs, some released a decade or more ago, are still topnotch performers in many parts of the U.S. Here are six which I continue to recommend highly. ‘Low &Behold® Blue Chip Jr.’ Butterfly Bush is a super compact 18-30 […]
Posted in Abelia, acidic soil, Althea (Hibiscus), Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, Buddleia (Butterfly bush), Butterflies, compost, Cornus sanguinea, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Dogwood shrubs (Cornus), Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Flowering, Hydrangeas, Landscape ideas, mulching, Panicle hydrangea, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Spirea (Spiraea), Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter blooming, winter hardiness Comments Off on Not New –Still Top Landscape PerformersFavorites Among The Rose Of Sharon (Althea) Shrubs
Posted by Hugh on August 15th, 2018
Rose of Sharon, aka shrub althea, (Hibiscus syriacus) is a woody hibiscus shrub that is hardy in temperate northern areas of the U.S. (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). This summer flowering shrub is exceptionally easy to grow. At one time, it was a great pass-along shrub that fell out of favor. However, old fashioned varieties frequently reseeded […]
Posted in acidic soil, Althea (Hibiscus), Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, compact shrub, Container garden, container shrub, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Green Privacy Screen, Heat Tolerance, Hibiscus syriacus, Japanese beetles, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (layering), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Favorites Among The Rose Of Sharon (Althea) ShrubsKorean Sweetheart Tree
Posted by Hugh on August 1st, 2018
The late Dr. J. C. Raulston, N.C. State University horticulture professor emeritus, discovered Korean sweetheart tree (Euscaphis japonica) in 1985 on the Korean Peninsula while participating in a U.S. National Arboretum collection expedition (USDA hardiness zones 6-8). Dr. Raulston brought seeds back to the N.C. State Arboretum for assessment and evaluation. The species common name “sweetheart […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, compost, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Landscape ideas, mulching, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Sweetheart tree (Euscaphis), Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Korean Sweetheart TreeNative Plumleaf Azalea Blooms In Late July
Posted by Hugh on July 28th, 2018
Plumleaf azalea (Rhododendron prunifolium) is a native deciduous azalea that grows in the Chattahoochee River Valley on the Georgia-Alabama line (USDA hardiness zones 6-9). It is one of the signature plants of Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia. Their bright orange-red flowers surprise in late July into early Augusta and blooms may last for 2 weeks or […]
Posted in acidic soil, Azalea (deciduous), Bees and other pollinators, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Planting tips, Plumleaf azalea, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rhododendrons, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Native Plumleaf Azalea Blooms In Late JulyVery Rare Chinese Emmenopterys Tree
Posted by Hugh on July 25th, 2018
Chinese Emmenopterys (Emmenopterys henryi) is rare in the wilds of China, and may be even rarer in cultivation (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). Discovered in 1907 by renowned botanist and plant hunter, Ernest H Wilson. He described it as: “…one of the most strikingly beautiful trees of Chinese forests.” It should grow 30 + feet tall, […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Emmenopterys tree, Fragrant, Landscape ideas, Large Shade trees, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Very Rare Chinese Emmenopterys TreeColorful ‘Sugar Tip’ Althea ( Rose Of Sharon)
Posted by Hugh on July 15th, 2018
Rose of Sharon or shrub althea (Hibiscus syriacus) is a vigorous, upright, multi-branched, deciduous shrub that generally grows 8-12 feet tall and 4-6 feet wide. Althea is native from eastern to central Asia (USDA hardiness zones 5-8). Sugar Tip® is a patented variety that features variegated creamy-white and blue-green foliage and soft pink double flowers. Leaf […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Hibiscus syriacus, Japanese beetle, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Scale, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, White flies, winter hardiness Comments Off on Colorful ‘Sugar Tip’ Althea ( Rose Of Sharon)
