The cheerful golden yellow flowers of Happy Days sunflower (Helianthus ‘Happy Days’) should brighten your garden during the waning days of summer (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). This perennial sunflower has a long 4 to 6 week blooming period. In its first season new plants grow 24-30 inches tall and almost as wide. In subsequent years, tack on an additional 12-18 inches in […]
Archive for the ‘Trees & Shrubs’ Category
Mid-Summer Blooming ‘Happy Days’ Sunflower
Posted by Hugh on September 4th, 2015
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, compost, Container growing, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Sunflower (Helianthus), Sunflowers, watering tips, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Mid-Summer Blooming ‘Happy Days’ SunflowerCrape Myrtles With Awesome Bark
Posted by Hugh on August 24th, 2015
Many cultivars of crape myrtles are hybrids that combine the large, colorful flowers of common crape myrtle (L. indica) with the mildew-resistance and cold hardiness of Japanese crapemyrtle (L. faurei). Many U.S. National Arboretum hybrid releases excel with beautiful year-round ornamental bark. Among the tree forms are ‘Natchez’ (my favorite), ‘Apalachee’, ‘Lipan’, ‘Muskogee’, and Tuscarora’. Natchez possesses extraordinary cinnamon brown winter […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, Winter bark, winter hardiness Comments Off on Crape Myrtles With Awesome BarkPurple Heart Tradescantia
Posted by Hugh on August 15th, 2015
Purple Heart tradescantia (Setcreasea pallida ‘Purple Heart’), formerly Tradescantia purpurea), is an annual trailing groundcover with purple stems and violet-purple foliage. This flowering vine is primarily grown for its vibrant foliage. Purple Heart is utilized in garden beds, large containers or hanging baskets. By summer’s end individual plants may grow 8-12 […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Aphids, Container garden, Container growing, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Ground cover, Interior (house) Plants, Mites, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Setcreasea 'Purple Heart', Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), Virus diseases, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Purple Heart TradescantiaRebloomers Need Your Help
Posted by Hugh on August 12th, 2015
Re-bloomers are specific cultivars that bring on a repeat floral show – two and sometimes three in one season. In my garden re-blooming iris and re-blooming daylilies return for another round of bloom in late summer and fall. Also, deadheading some perennials will cause them to flower again. You, the gardener, must supply needed […]
Posted in Autumn flowering, Azaleas (evergreen), Black eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Coreopsis, Daylilies, deadheading, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Iris, Iris (Tall bearded), Liatris, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Pruning, Re-Bloomers, Red hot Poker (Kniphofia), Sempervivens, Southern Appalachian Region, Stokesia, Summer flowering, Summer phlox (P. paniculata), Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on Rebloomers Need Your HelpList Of Conifer Reference Gardens In Southeastern U.S.
Posted by Hugh on August 1st, 2015
American Conifer Society Reference Gardens in the Southeastern Region March 2015 Want to learn about which evergreen and deciduous conifers grow well in your area. The American Conifer Society (ACS) has established a reference garden network across the U.S. If you are developing dwarf conifer collection […]
Posted in Bald cypress (Taxodium), Cryptomeria (Japanese cedar), DWARF CONIFERS, Evergreens, Ginkgo biloba, Pines (Pinus spp.), Southern Appalachian Region, Spruces (Picea spp.), Trees & Shrubs, Yews (Taxus spp.) Comments Off on List Of Conifer Reference Gardens In Southeastern U.S.Long Blooming Tennessee Coneflower
Posted by Hugh on July 27th, 2015
Dependable Tennessee coneflowers (Echinacea tennesseensis) bloom almost all summer (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). That’s three months long. Plants are covered with pale pink, flat ray flowers; blooms measure 2 to 3 inch across with greenish-brown centers or cones. It is a great addition to hot dry sites, […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Container growing, deadheading, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Staking, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Tennessee Coneflower, watering tips, Wildflowers, winter hardiness Comments Off on Long Blooming Tennessee ConeflowerSensuous Begonia boliviensis
Posted by Hugh on July 24th, 2015
Bolivian begonias (Begonia boliviensis) are tuberous rooted types indigenous to the Andes Mountains in Bolivia and Argentina (USDA hardiness zones 9 to 11). Plants grow rapidly and bloom non-stop from late spring to early fall. No deadheading of spent flowers is necessary. Bright red to orange flowers feature four […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering bulbs, Begonia, Begonia boliviensis, Container garden, Container growing, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Hummingbird, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Propagation (Cuttings), Repotting plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Sensuous Begonia boliviensisNew Compact Russian Sages Arriving
Posted by Hugh on July 21st, 2015
Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) is a long-lived easy care summer flowering perennial or sub-shrub. It grows in dry to medium moist, well-drained soil and, first and foremost, in full sun. It holds up to summer’s heat, drought, and humidity (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). The Perennial Plant Association designated Russian Sage as the Perennial Plant of the […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, compact shrub, Container growing, container shrub, deadheading, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Ground cover, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Russian sage (Perovskia), Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, winter hardiness Comments Off on New Compact Russian Sages ArrivingEnjoy Summer Fragrance Of Oriental Lilies
Posted by Hugh on July 18th, 2015
Oriental lilies (Lilium x orientale) grace summer gardens with brightly colored fragrant blooms (USDA hardiness zones 4-9). Long tubular (trumpet) flowers measure 6-8 inches across and come in a limited color choices. From one year to the next, flower numbers increase. Oriental lilies prefer a compost-rich, well-drained soil where they will delight over several summers and in […]
Posted in acidic soil, compost, Container growing, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Fragrant, Lily (Lilium), mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Staking, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Wind protection, winter hardiness Comments Off on Enjoy Summer Fragrance Of Oriental LiliesARS Selects ‘Oso Easy Lemon Zest’ Rose For Award of Excellence
Posted by Hugh on July 13th, 2015
The American Rose Society (ARS) announced at the 2015 National Conference that Proven Winners received the Award of Excellence for its Oso Easy Lemon Zest shrub rose. To receive this honor, a rose must prove its toughness and beauty in six different no-spray trial locations across the U.S.(USDA hardiness zones 5-9). “Oso Easy Lemon Zest rose is a […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Container growing, container shrub, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowering, Flowers, mulching, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Roses, shrub roses, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, winter hardiness Comments Off on ARS Selects ‘Oso Easy Lemon Zest’ Rose For Award of Excellence
