The late winter / early spring period are ideal times for pruning many (not all) flowering shrubs. At this time, shrubs are leafless, and you are better able to see the overall shape of the shrub and easily identify dead, damaged, diseased wood, and structural defects. Pruning also stimulates new growth. Spring flowering shrubs (those […]
Archive for the ‘Summersweet (Clethra)’ Category
Pruning Times for Flowering Shrubs
Posted by Hugh on February 7th, 2023
Posted in Azalea (deciduous), Azaleas (evergreen), Barberry (Berberis), Beautyberry (Callicarpa spp.), Bigleaf hydrangea (H. macrophylla), Blue mist (Caryopteris), Burning bush (Euonymus), Camellia, Clethra, common boxwood, Container garden, Deciduous, Evergreen, Flowering shrub, Forsythia, Fothergilla, Fringe flower (loropetalum), Hedges, Hibiscus syriacus, Honeysuckle (Lonicera), Kerria, Landscape ideas, Ligustrum (Privet), Lilac (Syringa), Native Plant, Non-native, Pearlbush (Exochorda), Pieris japonica, Planting tips, Plumleaf azalea, Pruning, pruning climbing roses, Purchasing Plants, Rhododendrons, Roses, Roses (Shrub type), shrub roses, Southern Appalachian Region, Spirea (Spiraea), Spring flowering, Sumac (Rhus), Summer flowering, Summersweet (Clethra), Sweetshrub (Calycanthus), Trees & Shrubs, Weigela 
Comments Off on Pruning Times for Flowering ShrubsAttracting Hummingbirds
Posted by Hugh on June 16th, 2021
In early spring many area gardeners rush to set out hummingbird feeders filled with a sugary solution to encourage these feathery critters to visit. However, the sugary drink also attracts ants, bees, and wasps. The solution does not furnish vitamins, minerals, and carotenoids that hummingbirds pick up from pollinating flowers and eating insects. In addition, […]
Posted in acidic soil, Agastache (Hyssop), Annuals, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Campsis grandifolia 'Morning Calm', Canna lily, Climbing honeysuckle (Lonicera), Container growing, container shrub, Cupheas, Daylilies, Environmental Conservation, Flowering, Foxglove (Digitalis), Hibiscus syriacus, Hummingbird, Impatiens, Landscape ideas, Lantana, Lobelia (cardnial flower), Monarda (Beebalm), Morning glory (Ipomoea), Native Plant, Native Plant, Nepeta (catmint), Penstemon, Pentas (Egyptian star flower), Perennials, Phlox, Purchasing Plants, Rhododendrons, Sage (Salvia), Salvia leucantha, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Summersweet (Clethra), Trees & Shrubs, Trumpet vine (Campsis), Weigela, Wildlife attractant, Zinnia Comments Off on Attracting HummingbirdsShorter Version Of Six Landscape Shrubs
Posted by Hugh on June 11th, 2021
Sugar Shack™ Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis Sugar Shack™) – Full Sun (6+ hours), Part Sun (4-6 hours), Full Shade (up to 4 hours). 3 to 4 feet tall and wide. cut the size in half and added colorful red fruit and glossy foliage. Add in cool looking, fragrant white flowers and you’ve got a delightful plant […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Buddleia (Butterfly bush), Butterflies, Buttonbush (Cephalanthus), Chokeberry (Aronia), compact shrub, compost, Container garden, Container growing, container shrub, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Ground cover, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spirea (Spiraea), Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Summersweet (Clethra), Trees & Shrubs, Virginia sweetspire Comments Off on Shorter Version Of Six Landscape ShrubsMarginal Plants For Wet Areas
Posted by Hugh on August 16th, 2020
Most perennials demand well-drained soil. They perform poorly or die out when in ground that is constantly wet and soggy. However, a small number of perennials tolerate and even thrive in moist soils. Most plants listed here are all hardy within zones 5-8, and grow best in moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil. Most are okay getting their feet (roots and crown) wet for […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Baneberry (Actaea), Bayberry (Myrica), Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Bin bluestem (Andropogon), Birch (Betula spp.), Brunnera 'Jack Frost', Butterflies, Calamagrostis, Canna lily, Carex (Sedges), Container garden, Cornus sanguinea, Cornus sericea, Dawn redwood (Metasequoia), Deciduous, Eupatorium 'Gateway', Eupatorium rugosum 'Chocolate', Farfugium, Ferns, Filipendula, Ground cover, Hakone grass, Hardy begonia (B. grandis), Hellebores, Hibiscus coccineus, Hibiscus moscheutos, Hosta, Hummingbird, Hydrangea arborescens, Ilex (hollies), Iris, Kerria, Landscape ideas, Lobelia (cardnial flower), Magnolia virginiana, Maidenhair fern (Adiantum), Milkweeds (Asclepias), Muhly grass, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Nepeta (catmint), Northern sea oats (Chasmanthium), Obedient plant (Physotegia), Ornamental Grasses, Papyrus, Perennials, Planting tips, Purchasing Plants, river birch, Rodgersia, Sedges (Carex), Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Summersweet (Clethra), Switchgrass (Panicum), Toadlily (Tricyrtis), Tradescantia (Spiderwort), Trees & Shrubs, Virginia sweetspire, watering tips, Weigela, Winterberry holly Comments Off on Marginal Plants For Wet AreasFavorite Native Shrub Pollinators
Posted by Hugh on July 21st, 2020
These eight (8) shrubs amaze me by the numbers of bees and other pollinators that their flowers attract when blooming. Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica) is an erect, rounded, broad-spreading, deciduous shrub with arching branches. Itea grows 3-4 feet (less frequently to 5 feet) tall with similar spread. Fragrant, tiny white flowers borne in cylindrical, drooping racemes […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn foliage color, Autumn Fruiting, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Blue mist (Caryopteris), Bottlebrush buckeye, Chokeberry (Aronia), Container garden, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Drought tolerant, Elderberry (Sambucus), Environmental issues, Fertilizing plants, Fothergilla, Landscape ideas, Large shrub, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Propagation (layering), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Summersweet (Clethra), Trees & Shrubs, Virginia sweetspire, Wildlife attractant, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness, Witchhazel (Hamamelis) Comments Off on Favorite Native Shrub PollinatorsFour Landscape Shrubs That Are Early Summer Stars
Posted by Hugh on June 16th, 2020
Bottlebrush buckeye (Aesculus parviflora) is one of our finest early summer native flowering shrubs for sun or shady sites. It is a dense, mounded, suckering, deciduous, multi-stemmed shrub which grows 6-12 feet tall and 15-18 feet spread. It flaunts unique palmate green leaves (5-7 leaflets) and white 10-12 inch tall floral candles. The dynamic bottlebrush […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Bottlebrush buckeye, Butterflies, Buttonbush (Cephalanthus), compact shrub, Container growing, container shrub, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flowering shrub, Heat Tolerance, Hummingbird, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Root suckering, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Summersweet (Clethra), Trees & Shrubs, Vitex (Chaste tree), Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Four Landscape Shrubs That Are Early Summer StarsSummersweet Shrub – Underplanted And Underappreciated
Posted by Hugh on June 11th, 2019
Summersweet clethra (Clethra alnifolia), aka sweet pepperbush, is a deciduous summer blooming shrub that ranges from coastal Maine to Florida (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). This delightful shrub grows 3-6 feet, although some cultivars grow 8 feet or higher. Flower colors (depending on variety) range from white, pink, and rose pink. The sweetly fragrant flower clusters ( 4- 6 inches […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, compost, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Summersweet (Clethra), Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Summersweet Shrub – Underplanted And UnderappreciatedFall – Winter Pruning Dos and Don’ts
Posted by Hugh on October 30th, 2018
Pruning is a chore that you don’t need to put off until spring. Many trees and shrubs may be pruned this autumn. However, NOT all landscape trees and shrubs are pruned. Here are some pruning guidelines to follow: WAIT to prune spring flowering deciduous shrubs such as Forsythia, Lilac, Bridal Wreath & Vanhoutte Spireas, Quince, Viburnums, Fothergilla, […]
Posted in Bigleaf hydrangea (H. macrophylla), Blue mist (Caryopteris), Buddleia (Butterfly bush), Chinese (kousa) dogwood, compact shrub, Crabapple, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Daphne odora, Dogwood (Cornus), Dogwood shrubs (Cornus), Flowering, Flowering quince (Chaenomeles), Forsythia, Fothergilla, Garden Maintenance, Hibiscus syriacus, Hybrid teas, Hydrangea arborescens, Hydrangeas, Landscape ideas, Large Shade trees, Large shrub, Mahonia, Maples (Acer), Mountain laurel (Kalmia), multi-flora rose, Panicle hydrangea, Pieris japonica, Pruning, pruning climbing roses, Purchasing Plants, Re-Bloomers, Rhododendrons, river birch, Roses, Shade tree, Small landscape tree, Spirea (Spiraea), Spring flowering, Street tree, Summer flowering, Summersweet (Clethra), Vitex (Chaste tree), Weigela, Winter flowering, Yellowwood Comments Off on Fall – Winter Pruning Dos and Don’tsWoody Trees and Shrubs That Bees Like Most and Least*
Posted by Hugh on March 20th, 2018
Recently, I saw this listing of woody trees and shrubs that are good pollinators. I grow a number of these great plants in my garden and will vouch for the accuracy of this list. The source is HRI Research and data was collected in the Ohio Valley region of the U.S. (includes Tennessee, Kentucky, southern Indiana and […]
Posted in Autumnalis flowering cherry, Bee Bee Tree (Tetradium), Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Bigleaf hydrangea (H. macrophylla), Black gum (Nyssa), Bumble bees, Buttonbush (Cephalanthus), Cherry Laurel (Prunus), Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas), Crabapple, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Deciduous Azaleas, Deutzia, Firethorn (Pyracantha), Flowers, Fothergilla, Golden Raintree, Honeysuckle (Lonicera), Hornbeam (Carpinus), Hydrangea, Hydrangeas, Ilex (hollies), Lilac (Syringa), Linden (Tilia), Native Plant, Ninebark, Ornamental cherry (Prunus), Panicle hydrangea, Pollination needs, Pyracantha (firethorn), Redbud, Roses, Seven son flower (Heptacodium), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summersweet (Clethra), Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, Viburnums, Vitex (Chaste tree), winter hardiness, Yellowwood Comments Off on Woody Trees and Shrubs That Bees Like Most and Least*Flowering Shrubs of Summer
Posted by Hugh on August 7th, 2017
In several areas of the U.S. (USDA hardiness zones 6-9), summer landscapes along the east and west coast and Southern U.S. are filled with these botanical beauties: Panicle hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata) – so many great choices of these hydrangeas, mostly with lime white flowers starting in July into August. Most popular cultivars are ‘Limelight’, ‘Little Lime, […]
Posted in Abelia, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bigleaf hydrangea (H. macrophylla), Blue mist (Caryopteris), Buddleia (Butterfly bush), Butterflies, compact shrub, Container growing, container shrub, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Disease resistant, Flowering, Fragrant, Ground cover, Hibiscus syriacus, Hummingbird, Hydrangeas, Landscape ideas, Panicle hydrangea, Plumleaf azalea, Purchasing Plants, Rhododendrons, Southern Appalachian Region, Summersweet (Clethra), Trees & Shrubs, Vitex (Chaste tree) Comments Off on Flowering Shrubs of Summer
