The stunning purple berries of beautyberry (Callicarpa spp.) are eye-catching in late summer. White fruited varieties are also sold, but the purple forms are most popular. This 6-8 foot shrub has medium green, 3-5 inch long foliage spring thru summer. Autumn leaf color adds little, the deciduous leaves turning purple to pale yellow, shriveling, and abcising. The purple fruit clusters are electifying, perhaps […]
Archive for the ‘Trees & Shrubs’ Category
Beautyberry Deservedly Becoming More Popular
Posted by Hugh on September 20th, 2013
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting birds, Autumn Fruiting, Beautyberry (Callicarpa spp.), Disease resistant, Heat Tolerance, Invasive plant, mulching, Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Wildlife attractant 
Comments Off on Beautyberry Deservedly Becoming More PopularArrowwood Viburnum Very Tough U.S. Native Shrub
Posted by Hugh on August 22nd, 2013
Arrowwood Viburnum (Viburnum dentatum) is an easy to grow deciduous shrub that handles most landscape conditions, including soil types (USDA hardiness zones 5 to 8). It grows best in full sun and in a well-drained soil. Clusters of tiny, creamy-white flat-topped flowers appear from late spring into summer. A bountiful crop of dark blue berries […]
Posted in Aggressive grower, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, compact shrub, container shrub, Disease resistant, Insect (Pest) Problems, Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Privacy Screen, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Viburnum beetles, Viburnums, winter hardiness Comments Off on Arrowwood Viburnum Very Tough U.S. Native ShrubPest Alert: Inspect All Garden Roses For Rose Rosette
Posted by Hugh on August 9th, 2013
Rose rosette is a serious virus disease of roses (Rosa spp.). Over the past 3 years ago gardeners have experienced losses of popular shrub roses. The disease continues to gain ground across the U.S. Rose nurseries are working feverishly to find a solution. Landscapers and gardeners should inspect all garden roses, including hybrid tea, grandiflora, […]
Posted in Disease prone, Planting tips, Pruning, rose rosette disease, Roses, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, Virus diseases Comments Off on Pest Alert: Inspect All Garden Roses For Rose RosetteSmall (Dwarf) Crape Myrtles Becoming The Vogue
Posted by Hugh on July 27th, 2013
‘Tightwad Red’ Crape Myrtle Over the past quarter century crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia spp.) have become the quintessential flowering shrubs of summer along with hydrangeas (Hydrangea spp.), altheas (Hibiscus syriacus), and chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus). Crape myrtles are grouped into four distinct size categories: trees, large shrubs, medium shrubs and dwarf sizes. A spate of new dwarf […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, compact shrub, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flowering, Heat Tolerance, mulching, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, watering tips Comments Off on Small (Dwarf) Crape Myrtles Becoming The VogueLong Blooming Colorful ‘Kaleidoscope’ Flowering Abelia
Posted by Hugh on July 15th, 2013
Abelia (Abelia x grandiflora) is a popular shrub in the Southeastern U.S. (USDA hardiness zones 6–9). Foliage is evergreen in USDA Zone 7 and south. The cultivar ‘Kaleidoscope’ is a form of abelia that can be utilized as a 2 to 3 feet tall by 3 to 4 feet wide compact shrub or low spreading […]
Posted in Abelia, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, compact shrub, Drought tolerant, Evergreens, Fertilizing plants, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Planting tips, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on Long Blooming Colorful ‘Kaleidoscope’ Flowering AbeliaTroubled Pines… And Some Good Ones To Grow
Posted by Hugh on July 12th, 2013
Mugho, aka mugo pine (Pinus mugo), and Scots pine (P. sylvestris) are two troubled pines which gardeners in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA Hardiness zones 6 and 7) have shied away from planting. Both have become problem growers over the past quarter century. Scots pine suffers from several devastating foliar diseases. Once a popular Christmas […]
Posted in Christmas tree, Disease prone, Disease resistant, Evergreens, Firs (Abies), Fraser fir (Abies), Garden Problems, Mugo pine (Pinus mugo), Pine (Pinus spp.), Pines (Pinus spp.), Planting tips, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on Troubled Pines… And Some Good Ones To GrowSilver Linden Foliage Shimmers On A Windy Day
Posted by Hugh on July 8th, 2013
Silver linden (Tilia tomentosa) is a rarely planted large shade tree. Native to southeastern European, silver linden demonstrates better heat and drought tolerances in the southern U.S. than most lindens. It grows to 50 to 60 feet in height over 25-30 years with a moderate annual growth rate. A newly planted tree exhibits a narrow […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Large Shade trees, Ornamental fruit, Silver Linden (Tilia), Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on Silver Linden Foliage Shimmers On A Windy DayPest Alert: Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
Posted by Hugh on July 2nd, 2013
In recent years Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (Halyomorpha halys), aka BMSB, has become serious pests of fruits, vegetables, and farm crops in the Mid-Atlantic and Southern Appalachian regions. BMSB are likely to spread to other areas in the U.S. They feed on all parts of plants (fruit, stems, leaves). They may also become a major […]
Posted in Apple tree, Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Cherries, Corn (Sweet or Field), Dogwood (Cornus), Fruits & Vegetables, Garden Problems, Insect (Pest) Problems, Peach, Pesticide recommendations, Pests, Raspberries, Regional, Sanitation, Strawberries, Tomato Comments Off on Pest Alert: Brown Marmorated Stink Bug“Red Sells”: Red Flowering Crape Myrtles
Posted by Hugh on July 1st, 2013
In the Southern U.S. crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia spp.) provide summer long flowering. In the garden center business there is a popular saying: “red flowers sell”. Among crape myrtles red flowering cultivars generally outsell all others. Probably the most popular red variety is Dynamite®, a Carl Whitcomb introduction. Dr. Whitcomb followed with other red introductions of different […]
Posted in acidify soil, alkaline soil, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, compact shrub, compact tree, container shrub, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Winter bark Comments Off on “Red Sells”: Red Flowering Crape MyrtlesStop Ignoring And Start Planting Hophornbeam
Posted by Hugh on June 28th, 2013
Hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana) is a medium sized tree native to the eastern half of North America (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). The tree is practically ignored by landscape designers and installers. Few nurserymen grow it. Hophornbeam is often confused with the true hornbeams (Carpinus spp.). Both are called “ironwood”, referring to the hard muscular wood of […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Hophornbeam (Ostrya), Medium sized Tree, Native Plant, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter bark, winter hardiness Comments Off on Stop Ignoring And Start Planting Hophornbeam
