Back in bloom for a second time in two months! This is my way of describing seven-son flower (Heptacodium miconioides), a small 15-20 foot tree or large shrub from China. Seven-son’s creamy white petals open in late August and finish up in early September. By late September, the petals have fallen, and the small green sepals (calyces) have […]
Archive for the ‘Trees & Shrubs’ Category
Seven-Son Flower Is Flowering Again
Posted by Hugh on October 10th, 2012
Posted in Autumn flowering, Drought tolerant, Pruning, Root suckering, Seven son flower (Heptacodium), Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant 
Comments Off on Seven-Son Flower Is Flowering AgainDon’t Forget The Sassafras
Posted by Hugh on October 7th, 2012
A common woodland tree, sassafras (Sassafras albidum), aka mitten tree, is a small tree which grows 20 to 40 feet tall; some may top out at over 60 feet. Tree spread is two-thirds its height. Sassafras’ mitten shaped leaves, are easy to identify with one, two or no lobes. All three leaf shapes may be […]
Posted in acidic soil, Butterflies, Disease resistant, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Pruning, Root suckering, Sassafras albidum, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Wildlife attractant, winter injury Comments Off on Don’t Forget The SassafrasSuccess With Blue/Pink Mophead Hydrangeas
Posted by Hugh on October 1st, 2012
Mophead hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla), the blue/pink flowering species, have been the gardening rage since the early 1990’s. Endless Summer® hydrangea started a wave of new repeat blooming (remontant) cultivars. They bloom on both new season’s as well as old wood from the previous year. These hardier cultivars extended the flowering time by 8 to 10 more weeks and bloomed in cooler climates formerly unable to […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Failure to Bloom, Hydrangea, Hydrangeas, mulching, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, watering hydrangeas, watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Success With Blue/Pink Mophead HydrangeasStunning Fall Color of Golden Larch
Posted by Hugh on September 29th, 2012
Golden larch (Pseudolarix amabilis) is a rare find in U.S. landscapes. This deciduous conifer is native to eastern China. It is not a true larch (Larix spp.) and is relatively under-planted in the U.S. Golden larch appears to prosper in warm humid areas and should flourish in the southeast U.S. (USDA hardiness zone 6). Golden […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn foliage color, Disease resistant, Heat Tolerance, Pseudolarix amabilis, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on Stunning Fall Color of Golden LarchEmerald Spreader® Yew Exciting New Ground Cover
Posted by Hugh on September 16th, 2012
Emerald Spreader® (Taxus x media ‘Monloo’) is a short wide-spreading Japanese yew. Emerald Spreader grows slowly, and may reach 2 ½ feet in height and 8 to 10 feet in spread over 20 years. The short 5/8 inch long, fine textured needles retain their rich dark green color through the winter months in USDA hardiness zones […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Evergreens, Fertilizing plants, Ground cover, mulching, Poisonous plant, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Protection, Yews (Taxus spp.) Comments Off on Emerald Spreader® Yew Exciting New Ground CoverLeyland Cypress For Fast Growing Evergreen Privacy
Posted by Hugh on September 9th, 2012
Leyland Cypress Leyland cypress (xCupressocyparis x leylandii) is winter hardy in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7). It is frequently regarded as “the” conifer for Southern states. Its growth rate, compared to other evergreen conifers, is horrendously fast, with young established plants growing 3 feet or more annually. A young 2-3 foot specimen may reach […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, Disease prone, Evergreen, Evergreens, Green Privacy Screen, Heat Tolerance, Leyland cypress, Planting tips, Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on Leyland Cypress For Fast Growing Evergreen PrivacyThis Korean Maple Deserves To Be Planted More
Posted by Hugh on September 4th, 2012
Ullung-do Island Korean maple (Acer pseudosieboldianum ‘Takeshimense’) is a small deciduous tree which will grow to be 20 -25 feet tall tree, with a spread of 15-18 feet. It tends to branch low to the ground. It originates from the Ullung-do Island in the sea of China. Korean maple is one of the best maples […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn foliage color, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Korean maple, Maples (Acer), Ornamental fruit, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on This Korean Maple Deserves To Be Planted MoreGrowing Full Moon Maple in the Southeast U.S.
Posted by Hugh on September 1st, 2012
Simply put, golden full moon maple (Acer shirasawanum ‘Aureum’) is a stunner (USDA hardiness zones 5-7). It is a slow growing maple, eventually reaching 18-20 feet in height and spread at maturity. It tends to be a long-lived tree if properly cared for. Leaves are circular with 9-13 short pointed lobes. Each lobe does not […]
Posted in acidic soil, Disease resistant, Fullmoon maple, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter bark, Winter Protection Comments Off on Growing Full Moon Maple in the Southeast U.S.Winter Hardiness of Crape Myrtles
Posted by Hugh on August 25th, 2012
If you garden in USDA zone 6, certain crape myrtle cultivars are rated as reliably winter hardy perennials. Most dependable are the U.S. National Arboretum cultivars released starting in the 1980’s to date. Each one is named for an Indian tribe. Most of the National Arboretum cultivars are selected for cold hardiness as well as for disease and insect resistance. Among the […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, compact shrub, compact tree, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on Winter Hardiness of Crape Myrtles‘Senorita Rosalita’ – A Welcome Spider Flower Addition
Posted by Hugh on August 23rd, 2012
Cleome or spider flower (Cleome hassleriana) is the 5-6 foot flowering annual that your grandmother grew in her garden. Long stamens extending from the flowers look like spider legs, hence the common name. The old fashioned varieties produced lots of seed pods which meant lots of weed seed in next year’s garden. As summer temperatures […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Butterflies, Container growing, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Southern Appalachian Region, Spider flower (Cleome), Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on ‘Senorita Rosalita’ – A Welcome Spider Flower Addition
