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 […]
Archive for the ‘Bees and other pollinators’ Category
Woody Trees and Shrubs That Bees Like Most and Least*
Posted by Hugh on March 20th, 2018
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*Native Serviceberry
Posted by Hugh on March 17th, 2018
Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea) is a medium-sized native tree. Its native range stretches from Ontario to the Gulf Coast (USDA hardiness zones 4-9). However, it performs well across the Western and Central U.S. Serviceberry is regionally known by many names, including shadbush, shadblow, sarvisberry, sarvis tree, and Juneberry. The latter refers to the small greenish-blue, ripening […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Cold tolerance, Container garden, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Serviceberry (Amelanchier), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter bark, Winter flowering, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Native ServiceberryJazz Up Shady Garden Areas
Posted by Hugh on March 14th, 2018
From brilliant green to rich gold hues, fabulous foliage and flowers can wake up any dark or colorless, shade area. See below a list of great plants that wake up a blah area of your shade garden. Plant list is suitable for gardens in plant hardiness zones 5-8. Exciting colorful and/or tropical-like foliage or showy flowers. Hostas, […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aralia 'Sun King', Autumn fern (Dryopteris), Bees and other pollinators, Bleeding Hearts (Dicentra), Boxwood (Buxus), Brunnera 'Jack Frost', Carex (Sedges), Container garden, Disease resistant, Doghobble (Leucothoe), Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Hakone grass, Heat Tolerance, Heuchera (coralbells), Heucherella (foamy bells), Hosta, Landscape ideas, Ligularias, Liriope, Mayapple (Podophyllum), mulching, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Pulmonaria, Purchasing Plants, Rodgersia, Sacred Lily (Rohdea), Sedges (Carex), Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Solomon's seal, Southern Appalachian Region, Spurge (Euphorbia), St. John's Wort (Hypericum), Summer heat tolerant, Sweet flag (Acorus), Tiarella (foam flower), Variegated Solomon Seal, watering tips Comments Off on Jazz Up Shady Garden AreasBaptisias – Long-Lived Native Perennials
Posted by Hugh on March 10th, 2018
Wild indigos or Baptisias (Baptisia spp.) are long-lived native perennials. Baptisias are tap rooted perennials that will reward you for many years. They’re sometimes mistaken for Carolina lupine (Thermopsis caroliniana). Modern day cultivars are hybrids of 4 Baptisia species: purple (B. australis), lavender blue (B. minor), white (B. alba), bright yellow (B. sphaerocarpa). Several bicolors are also […]
Posted in acidic soil, Baptisia (wild indigo), Bees and other pollinators, compost, deadheading, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, Messy Fruits, mulching, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Staking, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Baptisias – Long-Lived Native PerennialsTen Grow Facts About Perennials
Posted by Hugh on March 4th, 2018
Before purchasing and planting perennials, here are ten helpful tips to assist you in garden planning: Perennials die back to the ground in fall or winter and regrow from plant crowns or roots the following spring. Most perennials should be divided when they are dormant: Spring bloomers in the fall and Fall bloomers in the […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Black eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), Blanket flower (Gaillardia), Butterflies, Columbine (Aquilegia), Container garden, Coreopsis, Daylilies, Delphinium, Fertilizing plants, Hosta, Iris, Iris (Tall bearded), Landscape ideas, Monarda (Beebalm), mulching, Peony, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum), Soil pH, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness, Yarrow (Achillea) Comments Off on Ten Grow Facts About PerennialsWhy No Fruit On My Tree?
Posted by Hugh on March 1st, 2018
Why trees fail to bear fruit or only produce fruit every other year? There are 8 common reasons: Excessive Tree Vigor – Primary cause is over-fertilizing and/or over-pruning fruit trees. Heavy applications of nitrogen will stimulate excessive growth at the expense of flower production. A nearby fertilized lawn may supply too much nitrogen to adjacent fruit […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, Apple tree, Asian Pears, Bees and other pollinators, Biennial bearing, Cherries, Dwarf rootstocks, Edible fruits, Fertilizing plants, Fruits & Vegetables, Insect (Pest) Problems, Landscape ideas, Peach, Pear (Pyrus spp.), Pesticide recommendations, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Plum, Pollination needs, Pruning, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Why No Fruit On My Tree?Fifteen Garden Perennials Which You Can’t Kill (Or Almost)
Posted by Hugh on February 26th, 2018
Here is a list of flowering perennials that need little care after planting. Ornamental grasses and ferns are not listed here. One steadfast rule that you must follow if this group of plants are to work for you: “choose the right plant for the right site”. Shady plants in full sun and terrestrial plants in swampy ground […]
Posted in acidic soil, Astilbe (false spirea), Baptisia (wild indigo), Barrenwort (Epimedium), Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Container growing, Coreopsis, Cranesbill (Geranium), Daylilies, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Hellebores, Italian arum, Landscape ideas, Liriope, mulching, Native Plant, Nepeta (catmint), Ornamental Grasses, Peony, Perennials, Planting tips, Purchasing Plants, Russian sage (Perovskia), Siberian iris (I. sibirica), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Stonecrop sedums, Summer flowering, Variegated Solomon Seal, watering tips, Winter flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on Fifteen Garden Perennials Which You Can’t Kill (Or Almost)Select A Good Street Or Landscape Tree
Posted by Hugh on February 20th, 2018
First of all, there is no perfect tree, either for a street or landscape planting. However, many excellent cultivars are now available at local nurseries and retail garden centers. Select one that matches your site requirements. Site factors include: amount of sunlight daily, soil type, soil pH (acidity or alkalinity), and soil drainage. What kind of […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Chinese (kousa) dogwood, compact tree, compost, Crabapple, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Disease resistant, Dogwood (Cornus), Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flowering, Fullmoon maple, Ginkgo biloba, Invasive plant, Invasive species, Japanese maple, Landscape ideas, Large Shade trees, Maples (Acer), Medium sized Tree, mulching, Native Plant, Oaks (Quercus spp.), Pear (Ornamental), pin oak, Planting tips, Poplar (Populus spp.), Propagation(grafting), Purchasing Plants, Red oak (Quercus), Redbud, river birch, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Soil Testing, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Staking, Street tree, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Sweetgum (Liquidambar), Sycamore (Platanus), Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, watering tips, willow oak, Willows (Salix), Wind protection, winter hardiness Comments Off on Select A Good Street Or Landscape TreeWinter Blooming Winter Jessamine
Posted by Hugh on February 17th, 2018
Carolina jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) is one of the most beautiful native vines in the South (USDA Zones 6 to 9). In February and March, its bright yellow flowers are commonly seen growing along roadsides in the Southeastern U.S. It is frequently mistaken for forsythias a shrub that rarely blooms in winter. Vines grow vigorously, 20 feet […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, container shrub, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Flowering, Fragrant, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Jessamine (Gelsemium), mulching, Native Plant, Planting tips, Poisonous or toxic, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Vine, watering tips, Winter flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on Winter Blooming Winter JessamineGet An Early Start On Spring With Dawn Viburnum
Posted by Hugh on February 10th, 2018
Viburnum x bodnantense (cross between V. farreri and V. grandiflorum) is a hybrid viburnum that was developed at Bodnant Garden in Wales in 1934-1935 (USDA zones 5-9). Also called Pink Dawn, this shrub is cherished for exceptional three-season interest – fragrant pink flowers in spring, clean, blemish-free summer foliage, and above average fall color. ‘Dawn’ […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Viburnum x bodnantense, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, Winter flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on Get An Early Start On Spring With Dawn Viburnum
