Chinese Emmenopterys (Emmenopterys henryi) is rare in the wilds of China, and may be even rarer in cultivation (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). Discovered in 1907 by renowned botanist and plant hunter, Ernest H Wilson. He described it as: “…one of the most strikingly beautiful trees of Chinese forests.” It should grow 30 + feet tall, […]
Archive for the ‘Butterflies’ Category
Very Rare Chinese Emmenopterys Tree
Posted by Hugh on July 25th, 2018
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Emmenopterys tree, Fragrant, Landscape ideas, Large Shade trees, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Very Rare Chinese Emmenopterys TreeNew Angelface Angelonias Produce Larger Flowers
Posted by Hugh on July 20th, 2018
Angelonias, aka summer snapdragons, (Angelonia angustifolia) hail from Mexico. Angelonias are top performing summer flowering annuals (USDA zones 9 -11). The AngelFace® series were recently developed by Proven Winners (PW). Plants are covered with snapdragon-like blooms up and down the floral stems, 18-24 inches high and 12-18 inches wide. Angelface series boast slightly larger green leaves and bigger blooms than […]
Posted in acidic soil, Angelonias, Annuals, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, compost, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Flowers, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on New Angelface Angelonias Produce Larger FlowersColorful ‘Sugar Tip’ Althea ( Rose Of Sharon)
Posted by Hugh on July 15th, 2018
Rose of Sharon or shrub althea (Hibiscus syriacus) is a vigorous, upright, multi-branched, deciduous shrub that generally grows 8-12 feet tall and 4-6 feet wide. Althea is native from eastern to central Asia (USDA hardiness zones 5-8). Sugar Tip® is a patented variety that features variegated creamy-white and blue-green foliage and soft pink double flowers. Leaf […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Hibiscus syriacus, Japanese beetle, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Scale, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, White flies, winter hardiness Comments Off on Colorful ‘Sugar Tip’ Althea ( Rose Of Sharon)Heat Loving Annuals For Containers
Posted by Hugh on July 6th, 2018
Not all annuals grow well in containers. An aggressively growing annual may not be a suitable companion plant in containers. Small containers dry out quickly. Large containers, a minimum of 16 inches across, should be your beginner size. For an eye-catching container garden, utilize plants that require the same care but differ in colors, heights, […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, Angelonias, Annuals, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, compost, Container garden, deadheading, Dichondra, Disease resistant, Euphorbias, Fan flower (Scaevola), Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Globe amaranth (Gomphrena), Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, Lantana, Marigold, Mexican sunflower (Tithonia), mulching, Overcrowding, Pentas (Egyptian star flower), Persian shield (Strobilanthes), Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Scaevola, Setcreasea 'Purple Heart', Soil drainage, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Sweet potato vine, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Heat Loving Annuals For ContainersSmaller Alternatives To Limelight® Panicle Hydrangea
Posted by Hugh on July 2nd, 2018
Beautiful panicle hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata) are among the best hydrangea choices for the summer garden (USDA hardiness zones 3 to 8). Flowers of some cultivars age gracefully with floral heads turning lightly pink. They are perfect for use in containers or in groupings or masses, shrub borders, hedges, and screens. Panicle hydrangeas are suitable as fresh […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, compact shrub, Container garden, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Green Privacy Screen, Hydrangeas, Landscape ideas, Large shrub, mulching, Panicle hydrangea, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on Smaller Alternatives To Limelight® Panicle HydrangeaThree July Blooming Trees (Other Than Crapemyrtles)
Posted by Hugh on June 25th, 2018
Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus-castus) is a 10-15 feet tall, vase-shaped, deciduous shrub or a small 15-20 foot tree. The species is native from southern Europe and Asia. Often mistaken as a purple-flowering crapemyrtle, vitex is grown where wintry weather is not severe (USDA hardiness zones 6-9). Its palmately compound grayish-green leaves, composed of 5-7 lance-shaped leaflets, are […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, compact shrub, compact tree, compost, container shrub, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Environmental issues, Golden Raintree, Landscape ideas, Medium sized Tree, mulching, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Sourwood (Oxydendrum), Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Vitex (Chaste tree), watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Three July Blooming Trees (Other Than Crapemyrtles)Two Native Cardinal Flowers Add Up To A Stunning Combination
Posted by Hugh on May 21st, 2018
Great lobelia or blue cardinal flower (Lobelia siphilitica) is a native perennial USDA hardiness zones 4-8). They bloom about a month later than cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis). They’re part of the late summer perennial bloom season that includes turtlehead (Chelone obliqua), asters (Symphtrictum), ‘Henry Eilers’ black eyed Susan (Rudbeckia subtomentosa). and dahlias (Dahlia spp.). Add […]
Posted in Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Container garden, Disease resistant, Flowers, Hummingbird, Landscape ideas, Lobelia (cardnial flower), Native Plant, Perennials, Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Water Gardens Comments Off on Two Native Cardinal Flowers Add Up To A Stunning CombinationBerggarten Salvia Favors Both Gardeners And Culinary Afficiendos
Posted by Hugh on May 13th, 2018
Common sage (Salvia officinalis), a member of the mint family (Lamiaceae), is the culinary sage familiar to most cooks (USDA hardiness zones 5 to 8). The species grow 1.5 – 3 feet high and wide. Multitudes of showy two-lipped, 1-inch long, violet-blue flowers arise on short, upright spikes in late spring. Flowers attracts numerous bees […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Container garden, Culinary, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Foliage plant, Fragrant, Heat Tolerance, Herb, Honey bees, Mealy bugs, Mites, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Sage (Salvia), Salvia, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, White flies, winter hardiness Comments Off on Berggarten Salvia Favors Both Gardeners And Culinary AfficiendosSimple Care of Crape Myrtles
Posted by Hugh on April 13th, 2018
Crape Myrtle Hardiness: Know how hardy the cultivar is. USDA hardiness zones 6 to 9). Site Location: Crape myrtles love sunlight. Flower numbers decline in light to medium shade. Plant in average soil that is well-drained. Select the right cultivar that fits the allotted planting space. Mulch plant and water as needed the first growing season. […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Aphids, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Cercopora leaf spot, compact shrub, compact tree, Container garden, Container growing, container shrub, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Crape myrtle aphid, Crape myrtle bark scale, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Insect (Pest) Problems, Landscape ideas, mulching, mulching trees, Pesticide recommendations, Planting tips, Powdery mildew, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Street tree, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Simple Care of Crape MyrtlesLandscape Ideas Using Crape Myrtles
Posted by Hugh on April 10th, 2018
If you live in zone 7 and points southward, you are likely growing crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia indica x fauriei). Additional hybrid cultivars (varieties) are hardy in zone 6. Crape myrtles are loved for their spectacular summer flowers, colorful fall foliage, and exquisite peeling bark over trunks and branches. Cultivars range in size from dwarf selections […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Breeding Plants, Butterflies, compact shrub, Container garden, Container growing, container shrub, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, Medium sized Tree, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on Landscape Ideas Using Crape Myrtles
