Plants with golden foliage can brighten up almost any drab garden patch. Sun King golden aralia (Aralia cordata ‘Sun King’) is no exception, hardy in USDA hardiness zones 3-9. It is also known as Japanese spikenard and mountain asparagus. Under ideal conditions this thornless, rhizomatous, herbaceous perennial grows rapidly to 3-5 feet tall and as […]
Archive for the ‘Attracting Butterflies’ Category
‘Sun King’ Aralia Named 2020 Perennial Plant Of The Year
Posted by Hugh on January 1st, 2020
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Aralia 'Sun King', Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Container garden, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Sun scald, Uncategorized, watering tips, winter hardiness 
1 Comment »There Is Nothing “Minor” About These Bulbs
Posted by Hugh on November 1st, 2019
Companion bulbs, often called “minor bulbs”, are early signs that spring is coming. Three of the most reliable are snowdrops, winter aconites and Glory of the snow. They bloom before crocus in winter. Winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) returns with floral beauty less than three months after planting. Plants poke through the ground, grow and flower 3 to 6 […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Bulb Crops, Chionodoxa (Glory of the Snow), compost, Container garden, Disease resistant, Flowering Bulb, Garden ecology, Ground cover, Landscape ideas, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Rabbit/deer Protection, Snowdrops (Galanthus), Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Winter aconite (Eranthis), Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on There Is Nothing “Minor” About These BulbsWood’s White Aster Are Woodland Favorites
Posted by Hugh on August 26th, 2019
It’s late August and across the Southern Appalachian region White Wood Aster (Eurybia divaricata) are blooming. Their small daisy flowers are often seen blooming in shady woodlands in late summer. They start blooming a week or two later in the New England states and Canada (USDA hardiness zones 3-8). In a natural woodland Wood’s Aster […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aster, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Container garden, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, Native Plant, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, White Wood Aster (Eurybia), Wildflower, winter hardiness Comments Off on Wood’s White Aster Are Woodland FavoritesSix Perennials To Include In Your Garden
Posted by Hugh on August 16th, 2019
I continue to report to you on plants that perform. I am quick to eliminate plants that don’t live up to expectations.Here are six topnotch perennials you will enjoy in your garden for many years. Arkansas bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii) grows into a 2-3 feet tall arching clump of soft, feathery green leaves. Blue starry flowers […]
Posted in acidic soil, Alliums (onion), Amsonia (blue star), Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Black eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), Butterflies, Coreopsis, Coreopsis 'Gold Standard, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Flowers, Heat Tolerance, Hummingbird, Landscape ideas, Muhly grass, mulching, Native Plant, Perennials, Phlox, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Summer phlox (P. paniculata), watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Six Perennials To Include In Your GardenJuly Blooming Plumleaf Azalea
Posted by Hugh on July 28th, 2019
Plumleaf azalea (Rhododendron prunifolium), a deciduous azalea native to Georgia and Alabama, is a particular summer favorite (USDA hardiness zones 6-9). It’s hardy even in Boston, NY City, and Philadelphia. Its bright orange-red blooms surprise in late July to early August. Compared to many fragrant spring blooming native species, flowers emit no scent. Its autumnal […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Azalea (deciduous), Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Breeding Plants, Butterflies, Container garden, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Landscape ideas, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rhododendrons, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on July Blooming Plumleaf AzaleaSix Flowering Perennials For Downtown Areas
Posted by Hugh on July 3rd, 2019
Here is what some downtown areas in the Southeast and Midwest U.S. were planting this spring: Rudbeckia lacinata ‘Herbstonne’ aka ‘Autumn Sun’ is a long-blooming butterfly favorite with clusters of bright yellow ray flowers with large green cones from mid to late summer. Leaves are large, glossy, deep green, deeply cut along the stems. Black Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Biennial, Black eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), compost, Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Container garden, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Ground cover, Heuchera (coralbells), Landscape Construction, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Perennials, Propagation (Cuttings), Purchasing Plants, Rudbeckia 'Herbstonne', Sage (Salvia), Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum), Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Switchgrass (Panicum), winter hardiness Comments Off on Six Flowering Perennials For Downtown AreasThree High Performance Coneflower Series
Posted by Hugh on June 28th, 2019
Coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea) are very popular perennials (USDA hardiness zones 4-9). Their colorful flowers will attract a multitude of beneficial pollinators to your garden. Some cultivar series come in a myriad of colors. For the best and biggest flowers, coneflowers perform at their best in full sun and in well-drained soils. After planting echinaceas grow […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Butterflies, Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Container garden, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Wildflowers, winter hardiness Comments Off on Three High Performance Coneflower SeriesJune Blooming Japanese Tree Lilac
Posted by Hugh on June 23rd, 2019
Chinese tree lilac (Syringa reticulata) is an under-planted small multi-trunked tree or large flowering shrub (USDA hardiness zones 3-7). In tree form, it grows 20- 30 feet tall and 15- 20 feet wide with a rounded crown. Mature 70 year old plus specimens at Biltmore Estates in Asheville, NC are 50 feet or taller. Its […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Balled and Burlapped (b&b), Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Flower Arranging, Fragrant, Landscape ideas, Lilac (Syringa), mulching, Planting tips, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Shade tree, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Street tree, Summer flowering, Trees & Shrubs, Winter bark, winter hardiness Comments Off on June Blooming Japanese Tree LilacAttractive Butterfly Weed
Posted by Hugh on June 18th, 2019
Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa), aka milkweed, is a long-lived summer blooming perennial. In the wild milkweed may be found growing in dry/rocky open woodlands, prairies, farm fields, and along roadsides in the southeastern U.S and mid-western U.S. and Canada (USDA hardiness zones 3 -9). Established plants typically grow as a clump to 2- 3 feet high and 1 […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Butterflies, Butterfly weed (Asclepias), Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Flower Arranging, Garden ecology, Landscape ideas, Milkweeds (Asclepias), mulching, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Uncategorized, winter hardiness Comments Off on Attractive Butterfly WeedSummersweet 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 Underappreciated
