Tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), aka yellow poplar and tulip tree, is a large stately deciduous tree of eastern North America (USDA hardiness zones 4-9). This fast growing native typically grows 60-90 feet tall and it is not unusual to see tulip trees over 100 feet. It is also an important timber tree. A member of the magnolia family, […]
Archive for the ‘Bees and other pollinators’ Category
Tulip Poplar
Posted by Hugh on March 7th, 2024
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Environmental Conservation, Fall Garden Interest, Hummingbird, Landscape ideas, Large Shade trees, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Propagation(grafting), Purchasing Plants, Shade tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Street tree, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Tulip tree (Liriodendron), watering tips, Weak wooded, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Tulip PoplarWonderful Carolina Silverbells
Posted by Hugh on March 1st, 2024
To start, the botanical literature is a little confusing regarding the two silverbell species. Mountain silverbell (Halesia tetraptera; formerly H. carolina) and two-winged silverbell (H. diptera) are native to the Appalachian Mountains of Tennessee, North Carolina and Georgia. (Zones 6-9). Silverbells are either small- to medium-sized deciduous trees or large, multi-stemmed shrubs. It blooms in the spring (late-March […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Chlorosis (yellowing), Deciduous, Deer resistant, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Silverbell (Halesia), Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Transplant problem, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter bark, winter hardiness Comments Off on Wonderful Carolina SilverbellsCranesbills (Hardy Geraniums)
Posted by Hugh on February 19th, 2024
Cranesbills (Geranium spp.) comprise a large genus of super hardy herbaceous perennials. (USDA hardiness zones 5-8). These are not your annual geraniums which is the genus Pelargonium. They grow happily in partial sun to full shade and in moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil. Cranesbills tolerate full sun in cool northerly areas. Plants may produce fewer flowers in […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, Cranesbill (Geranium), deadheading, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Ground cover, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Non-native, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on Cranesbills (Hardy Geraniums)Seven Winter Blooming Shrubs
Posted by Hugh on February 12th, 2024
If you live where winter temperatures are generally moderate in the low teens, a number of shrubs bloom in winter. In the Delmarva and mid-South regions (USDA hardiness zones 6-7), these seven plants bloom reliably for 2-3 weeks before spring officially arrives. 1. Winter honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima), aka fragrant honeysuckle, are covered with small fragrant […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Autumn foliage color, Bees and other pollinators, compact shrub, compact tree, container shrub, Cornus officinalis, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Edgeworthia, Evergreen, Flower Arranging, Flowering, Flowering shrub, Honeysuckle (Lonicera), Japanese cornel, Jessamine (Gelsemium), Landscape ideas, Large shrub, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Non-native, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Purchasing Plants, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Sweetbox (Sarcococca), Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, Winter bark, Winter flowering, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness, Wintersweet (Chimonanthus), Witchhazel (Hamamelis) Comments Off on Seven Winter Blooming ShrubsFoamflowers For Your Shade Garden
Posted by Hugh on February 6th, 2024
Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia) is a low-growing, clump-forming woodland perennial groundcover. It grows naturally in moist forests, coves, and well-drained bottomlands where it spreads by slender runners (stolons) to form dense, 1-2 feet wide clumps of foliage or colonies. Small spikes of creamy white spring flowers and its attractive bright green foliage are solid pluses in […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Perennials, plant nutrition, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Shade Gardening, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Tiarella (foam flower), watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Foamflowers For Your Shade Garden‘Jeana’ Phlox 2024 PPOY
Posted by Hugh on January 1st, 2024
The Perennial Plant Association (PPA) has selected ‘Jeana’ the 2024 Perennial Plant of the Year (PPOY). This exceptional garden phlox is recognized for its impressive flower show, tall sturdy plant habit, and pollinators’ delight. (USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 8). Dense, domed lavender-pink flowers stand atop long sturdy stems from midsummer to early fall. Individually, […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Flower arrangments, Fragrant, Hummingbird, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Perennials, Phlox, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rabbit/deer Protection, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on ‘Jeana’ Phlox 2024 PPOYVines Worth Growing
Posted by Hugh on December 19th, 2023
Vines add a vertical dimension in your garden. With many vines, you don’t need to construct expensive arbors and trellises for them to climb. Borrowing an idea from nature, vines love to ramble or attach readily onto shrubs and trees. Some vines like periwinkle (Vinca minor) and English ivy (Hedera helix) make attractive ground covers […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Clematis 'Rooguchi', Coral honeysuckle (Lonicera), Crossvine (Bignonia), Deciduous, Disease resistant, Dutchman's pipe, Fertilizing plants, Ground cover, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Non-native, Perennials, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Vine, Vine, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Vines Worth GrowingRecent PHS Gold Medal* Perennial Picks
Posted by Hugh on December 12th, 2023
Each year the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society (PHS) recognizes six outstanding plants that a group of nursery owners, horticulturists, expert gardeners, and professional growers singe out as among the best performing and most beautiful for inclusion into the Mid-Atlantic Region Gold Medal program. All seven perennials perform equally well in the mid-South (Tennessee, Virginia, Kentucky and Northern Counties […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Ground cover, Heuchera (coralbells), Indian pink (Spigelia), Iris tectorum, Ironweed (Vernonia), Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Non-native, Perennials, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Summer phlox (P. paniculata), Tiarella (foam flower), Turtlehead (Chelone), watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Recent PHS Gold Medal* Perennial PicksSnowdrops (Galanthus)
Posted by Hugh on December 6th, 2023
Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis) are one of the first flowers to bloom in the spring. Depending on the region where you live, snowdrops appear in the early days of spring; often snow still blankets the ground. Snowdrops are tiny plants (3 – 6 inches tall) that produce multiple small showy, white, bell-shaped flowers, which hangs off the ends […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Bulb Crops, Cold tolerance, Container garden, Fertilizing plants, Galanthus (snowdrops), Ground cover, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Perennials, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Snowdrops (Galanthus), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Winter flowering, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Snowdrops (Galanthus)Foster Holly
Posted by Hugh on November 30th, 2023
Foster holly (Ilex x attenuata) is an old holly favorite which has not lost its sizzle. Cultivars of Foster Hollies were selected by E.E. Foster of Foster Nursery in Bessemer, Alabama in the 1950s. It is utilized in a number of landscape options across the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7), including in containers in […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Foster holly, Green Privacy Screen, Ilex (hollies), Landscape ideas, Large shrub, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Foster Holly
