American yellowwood (Cladrastis kentukea) is a beautiful native tree which is rarely planted in U.S. landscapes (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). Yellowwood is a tree for all seasons. It is both a lovely shade and flowering specimen. Long white wisteria-like flowers appear in mid- to late-May. It eventually matures into a lovely 35 to […]
Archive for the ‘Trees & Shrubs’ Category
American Yellowwood Deserves To Be Planted More
Posted by Hugh on May 19th, 2015
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Disease resistant, Failure to Bloom, Fragrant, Native Plant, Propagation (Seed), Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Transplant problem, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter bark, winter hardiness, Yellowwood 
Comments Off on American Yellowwood Deserves To Be Planted MoreChinese Fringetree Gains In Popularity And Availability
Posted by Hugh on May 9th, 2015
Chinese fringetree (Chionanthus retusus) When in bloom in mid-spring (May), the fringetrees (Chionanthus spp.) definitely will catch your eye. Chinese fringetree (C. retusus), is one of the finest small to medium sized flowering trees, not to be confused with the U.S. native fringetree (C. virginicus) (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). Both produce spectacular white lacy flowers […]
Posted in acidic soil, compact tree, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Flowers, Fragrant, Fringetree (Chionanthus), Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on Chinese Fringetree Gains In Popularity And AvailabilitySiebold Viburnum Makes Wonderful Small Tree
Posted by Hugh on May 3rd, 2015
The genus Viburnum is no stranger to U.S. gardens. Many species and cultivars of viburnums are popular. Siebold viburnum (V. sieboldii) is a large spring flowering species from eastern Asia (USDA hardiness zones 5-7), but is under-planted in today’s gardens. This multi-trunk large shrub to 12 to 15 feet high or 25 […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Drought tolerant, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Viburnum sieboldii, Viburnums, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Siebold Viburnum Makes Wonderful Small TreeGood News About Garden Impatiens
Posted by Hugh on May 1st, 2015
Gardeners no longer have to give up growing garden impatiens (Impatiens walleriana). No, the worldwide disease outbreak of downy mildew on garden impatiens is not over. But new disease resistant cultivars of impatiens are arriving at garden centers this spring. Two of the newest are: SunPatiens® Spreading Shell Pink and Bounce® Pink Flame (‘Balboufink’). […]
Posted in acidic soil, Container garden, Container growing, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Impatiens, mulching, New Guinea impatiens, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Good News About Garden ImpatiensSooty Mold Is Symptom Of Aphid Feeding
Posted by Hugh on April 29th, 2015
Aphids are small (1 to 10 mm long) and pear shape. Infestations are often worse during wet cool days of spring; they are frequently feed on new growing shoots and leaves. Actively growing weeds also harbor aphids and may migrate over to favorite garden plants. Summer feeding aphids should never […]
Posted in Aphids, Flowers, Insect (Pest) Problems, Interior (house) Plants, Perennials, Pesticide recommendations, Pests, Roses, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, Vine, Virus diseases Comments Off on Sooty Mold Is Symptom Of Aphid FeedingAmerican Fringetree – A Spring Flowering Treasure
Posted by Hugh on April 28th, 2015
American fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus) is one of the finest spring flowering trees (USDA hardiness zones 4-9). Individual flower heads are large and billowy, snowy white, and very fragrant in the early evening hours. Flower panicles peak through the large leaves, and are large and showy compared to Chinese fringetree (which I also like). Leaf sizes […]
Posted in acidic soil, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fragrant, Fringetree (Chionanthus), Irrigation, mulching trees, Native Plant, Propagation (Seed), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on American Fringetree – A Spring Flowering TreasureNew ‘Pam’s Mountain Bouquet’ Kousa Dogwood
Posted by Hugh on April 25th, 2015
‘Pam’s Mountain Bouquet’ is a new Chinese dogwood (Cornus kousa) cultivar from the plant scientists from the University of Tennessee Dogwood Working Team (USDA hardiness zones 5-8). Mountain Bouquet is a near-white flowering form whose petal-like bracts fuse into near perfect squares. The cultivar blooms slightly later than other flowering dogwoods, helping to extend dogwood’s […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Chinese (kousa) dogwood, compact tree, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Ornamental fruit, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation(grafting), Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, Winter bark Comments Off on New ‘Pam’s Mountain Bouquet’ Kousa DogwoodJapanese Kerria Beautiful Old-fashioned Shrub
Posted by Hugh on April 23rd, 2015
Japanese Kerria (Kerria japonica) is an old fashioned shrub that never seems to go out of style (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). Some call it the “Yellow Rose of Texas”, although kerria originates from eastern Asia. Its showy yellow buttercup-like flowers bloom in spring, after the forsythias have […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, Bee Favorite, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flowering, Kerria, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter bark, winter hardiness 1 Comment »Many New Beebalm Cultivars Continue to Roll Out
Posted by Hugh on April 21st, 2015
Bee balms, aka bergamots or Oswego tea (Monarda spp.) are native to eastern North America (USDA hardiness zones 4-9). Plants are easy to grow, bloom beautifully, and multiply rapidly. They are treasured for their raging colored flowers and medicinal properties. Numerous bee pollinators as well as butterflies and hummingbirds favor the summer blooms. The native […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Container growing, Deer resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Hummingbird, Monarda (Beebalm), Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Powdery mildew, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Soil drainage, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Many New Beebalm Cultivars Continue to Roll OutGomphrena (Globe Amaranth) For Summer Easy Color
Posted by Hugh on April 15th, 2015
Gomphrena, aka Globe amaranth, is an annual bedding plant that blooms profusely in the summer heat and sun. Small ball-shaped flowers are clove-like in appearance. Many gardeners tend to ignore them at the garden center for showier flowering annuals. By mid-summer, a peek into your neighbor’s yard may cause to rethink that decision. Gomphrenas […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Butterflies, Container growing, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower arrangments, Flowers, Globe amaranth (Gomphrena), Mites, mulching, Planting tips, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering Comments Off on Gomphrena (Globe Amaranth) For Summer Easy Color
