Vanilla Strawberry™ hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata) is a new peegee hydrangea selection introduced from France and it is really catching on with U.S. gardeners (USDA hardiness zones 4-9). This exceptionally cold hardy hydrangea blooms from late June thru early September. Blooms are enormous and stand upright. Following a heavy summer shower, saturated floral trusses temporarily bow down under their sheer weight, but gradually recover. Flower color […]
Archive for the ‘Trees & Shrubs’ Category
Vanilla Strawberry™ Hydrangea
Posted by Hugh on June 18th, 2015
Posted in acidic soil, acidify soil, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Fertilizing plants, Hydrangeas, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (layering), Pruning, Rabbit/deer Protection, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Vanilla Strawberry™ HydrangeaSwamp Azalea Deserves More Garden Space
Posted by Hugh on June 12th, 2015
Swamp Azalea (Rhododendron viscosum, formerly R. serrulatum) is very different among deciduous azaleas. Most rhododendrons (azaleas) do not care for soppy, poorly drained soils. This U.S. native is an exception, indigenous to swamps, bogs, stream edges and wet lowlands from southern Maine to northeastern Ohio south to Florida and […]
Posted in acidic soil, Azalea (deciduous), Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Fragrant, Heat Tolerance, Hummingbird, mulching, Native Plant, Planting tips, Poisonous or toxic, Pruning, Rhododendrons, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Swamp Azalea Deserves More Garden SpaceWinter Damage On Crape Myrtles
Posted by Hugh on June 2nd, 2015
Extremely cold winters of 2013-14 and 2014-15 have damaged many cultivars of crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia x indica). Don’t assume that new crape myrtles are hardy; many are rated hardy only to zone 7. Several of the U.S. National Arboretum cultivars are hardy in zone 6. Gardeners living in the […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, compact tree, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Planting tips, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness, winter injury Comments Off on Winter Damage On Crape MyrtlesModern Day Clematis Bloom Freely
Posted by Hugh on May 29th, 2015
The old-fashioned clematis(es) in grandma’s garden bloomed one time in spring or summer and bore huge showy flowers (USDA hardiness zones 3-7). Vines took up lots of space in the garden. Old cultivars grew 8-9 feet tall; many bore one single large flower at the end of each growing […]
Posted in acidic soil, Clematis 'Rooguchi', Clematis spp., Fertilizing plants, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (layering), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Staking, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Vine, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Modern Day Clematis Bloom FreelyFlame Azalea Favorite Among Native Azaleas
Posted by Hugh on May 26th, 2015
Flame azalea (R. calendulaceum) is a spectacular sight when it flowers in early May through June (depending on location). The mountainsides across the Appalachian region seem to be afire with their yellow, orange or red flowers (USDA hardiness zones 5 thru 8). Its native habitat is in open, dry sites in woods, on the hillsides, and […]
Posted in acidic soil, Azalea (deciduous), Bee Favorite, Butterflies, compost, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flame azalea (R. calendulaceum), Flowering, mulching, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Shade Gardening, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Flame Azalea Favorite Among Native AzaleasRed Abyssinian Banana For Tropical Looking Landscapes
Posted by Hugh on May 24th, 2015
Red Abyssinian banana (Ensete maurelii ‘Red Abyssinian’) is a tropical banana from high in the mountains of Ethiopia in eastern Africa. Its enormous reddish to purplish foliage and red – burgundy trunk adds a tropical presence to any garden. Compared to hardier banana genus Musa, Ensete does not produce root suckers […]
Posted in acidic soil, Banana (Ensete spp.), Container garden, Container growing, Fertilizing plants, Foliage plant, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Staking, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, Winter Protection Comments Off on Red Abyssinian Banana For Tropical Looking LandscapesAmerican Yellowwood Deserves To Be Planted More
Posted by Hugh on May 19th, 2015
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 […]
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 Impatiens
