Archive for the ‘Bees and other pollinators’ Category

About Penstemons

Some 40 years ago, Dr. Dale Lindgren, plant breeder at the University of Nebraska released ‘Husker Red’ penstemon (Penstemon digitalis). This pioneering variety has purple-green foliage and white flowers. New penstemon varieties continue through the breeding pipeline with larger and colorful blooms, more compact habit, or dark foliage. (Z 3-8). Penstemons (Beardstongue) belong to the […]

Why Crape Myrtles Is Not Blooming

No flowers On Your Crape Myrtles? Look at these five common problems: 1. Not Adequate Sunlight Crape myrtles need 6-8 hours of full sun a day. Too much dry heat will cause poor flowering as well as leaf scorch.  2. Too much /Too Little Soil Moisture Crape myrtles are tolerant of moderate drought, dry weather spells […]

Summerific Hibiscus Are Awesome

Among my favorite summer flowering perennials are the hardy herbaceous hibiscus (Hibiscus moscheutos). During the early days of August, Walters Gardens, a premier perennial plant breeder, requests garden writers to celebrate and promote their awesome product line of Summerific hardy hibiscus. Last week, the first week of August, was dubbed Summerific Week. It’s never too […]

Summer Blooming Trees

Other than crape myrtles, few trees bloom in July and August. Here are four exceptions: Chaste tree, Sourwood, Golden Raintree, and Franklinia. Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus-castus) is a 10-15 feet tall, vase-shaped, deciduous shrub or a small 15-20 feet tree. The species is native from southern Europe and Asia. It is often mistaken as a purple-flowering […]

Vintage Large-Growing Oakleaf Hydrangeas

Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) is an upright, broad-rounded, suckering, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub that typically grows 4-6 feet (less frequently to 8 feet) tall. It is a wonderful flowering shrub with multi-season interest. It is native to the Southeastern U.S. and tolerates hot, humid weather. Oakleaf hydrangeas aren’t quite as cold-hardy as other hydrangea species (USDA […]

2023 Carex Evaluation From Mt Cuba

The native plant research team at Mt Cuba Center in Hockessin, DE has recently published the results of a 3-year Carex (sedge) study in which they evaluated 70 species and cultivars. The study included a number of under-planted Carex species and varieties. One grouping was grown in full sun and a second planting was tested […]

Mountain Hydrangeas

Mountain hydrangeas (Hydrangea serrata) look very much like big leaf hydrangea (H. macrophylla) except shrubs are smaller, more compact in growth habit with smaller flowers and leaves. They are native to the cool moist woodland valleys in Japan and Korea mountains. (USDA hardiness zones 6-9). These unique hydrangeas fare better in cool climates in zones 5 […]

Colorful Bugleweed As A Groundcover

Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans), aka “carpetweed” and “carpet bugle”, is a fast-growing evergreen perennial ground cover in the Lamiaceae (mint) family. The species name “reptans” means creeping. It is native to Europe, northern Africa, and southwestern Asia. Cultivars are hardy in USDA hardiness zones 3-9 (unless otherwise noted). Most bugleweed cultivars demonstrate aggressive plant vigor that helps to […]

Goatsbeard

Goatsbeard (Aruncus dioicus) or “goat’s beard” is a North American perennial that produces feathery plumes of cream-colored flowers in late spring or summer. Goatsbeard is also indigenous to western Europe. This clump-forming woodland plant is hardy in zones 3-7a (?) and appears to flounder under the intense summer heat in Georgia and the Carolinas. The […]

Bergenia Or Pigsqeak For Sun Or Shade

Bergenia (Bergenia spp), aka “pigsqeak”, is a herbaceous perennial with distinctive glossy, rounded leaves. Bergenias are native to the forest and alpine zones of China and Siberia. Eight species are available including heartleaf Bergenia (B. cordifolia), leather bergenia (B. crassifolia), and fringed bergenia (B. ciliata). Hybrid selections are also available. (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). Bergenia’s […]