When purchasing trees and shrubs for their yard, many gardeners should avoid species that drop lots of litter (fruits and/or leaves) all spring and summer long. Landscape trees, among them crabapples, mulberries and Chinese (kousa) dogwoods produce fleshy or pulpy fruits that mess lawns, walkways and stained & sticky parked cars. Many, not all, are […]
Archive for the ‘Disease resistant’ Category
List Of Messy Trees To Avoid
Posted by Hugh on February 28th, 2026
Posted in acidic soil, American hornbeam, Attracting birds, Beech (Fagus spp.), Bees and other pollinators, Bradford Pear, Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana), China fir (Cunninghamia), Chinese (kousa) dogwood, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Flowering, Ginkgo biloba, Green ash (Fraxinus), Hackberry (Celtis), Kentucky coffeetree, Landscape ideas, Magnolia grandiflora, Messy Fruits, Mulberry (Morus), mulching, Native Plant, Non-native, Norway spruce (Picea), Oaks (Quercus spp.), Osage Orange (Maclura), Pines (Pinus spp.), Poplar (Populus spp.), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Spruces (Picea spp.), Sweetgum (Liquidambar), Sycamore (Platanus), Trees & Shrubs 
No Comments »Stachyurus – Early Spring Delight
Posted by Hugh on February 22nd, 2026
Stachyurus (Stachyurus praecox) is a deciduous woodland shrub that makes an eye-catching statement from early to mid-spring when daffodils are in bloom. Flowers appear before the leaves emerge. (USDA 6-8). Floral buds form in autumn and overwinter on the shrub in pendant, catkin-like racemes that hang from the leaf axils. This distinctive chains of yellow […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Breeding Plants, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Flower Arranging, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Propagation (Cuttings), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Staking, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter flowering, winter hardiness No Comments »“Witchhazel” Winter Time
Posted by Hugh on February 9th, 2026
Add flowering and fragrance to your winter garden. Witchhazels (Hamamelis spp.) are prized for their strap-shape petalled flowers which bloom mid- to late winter. Depending on species and cultivar, blooming begins in late January and many possess fragrant blooms. Witchhazels are medium to large deciduous shrubs, typically 12-20 feet tall. Foliage texture is somewhat coarse. […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Caterpillars, Chlorosis (yellowing), Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fragrant, Japanese beetles, Landscape ideas, Leaf/needle spots, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter flowering, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness, Witchhazel (Hamamelis) No Comments »Daphniphyllum
Posted by Hugh on November 27th, 2025
Daphniphyllum macropodium is a rounded understory broadleaf evergreen shrub or small tree native to forested lands in Japan, Korea and China. Daphniphyllum, aka “false daphne”, is recognized for its attractive foliage and unique flowering habit. It stands out for its bold rhododendron-like leaveage. It typically grows to 15-25 feet tall in cultivation; add on 5-10 feet if plant […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Daphniphyllum macrophyllum, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Fall Garden Interest, Flower Arranging, Flowering, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on DaphniphyllumGround Covers Maybe You Should Avoid
Posted by Hugh on October 10th, 2025
Some varieties of groundcovers make good lawn substitutes because they’re vigorous and aggressive growers. Many garden centers and box stores sell many of these garden thugs. Yes, the selling point for these plants is their rapid, low-growing groundcovers that fill in spaces between steppingstones or may be utilized as a lawn alternative. Some non-native species […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, alkaline soil, Bees and other pollinators, Chameleon plant (Houttuynia), Container garden, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Ground cover, Invasive plant, Landscape ideas, Non-native, Periwinkle (Vinca spp.), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Shade Gardening, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant Comments Off on Ground Covers Maybe You Should AvoidAngel Wings (Senecio)
Posted by Hugh on September 15th, 2025
For unique foliage texture or color, look no further than Angel Wings Senecio (Senecio candicans). It is a fast-growing succulent flowering plant of the Asteraceae family that is native to South America (Patagonian region of Chile). Its big furry foliage is white and wavy. Introduced by Concept Plants, Angel Wings works well in mixed containers […]
Posted in Aphids, Bees and other pollinators, Disease resistant, Foliage plant, Landscape ideas, Mealy bugs, Mites, Non-native, Purchasing Plants, Senecio Angel Wings, Southern Appalachian Region Comments Off on Angel Wings (Senecio)American Elm Continues To Be Planted
Posted by Hugh on September 11th, 2025
American elm (Ulmus americana) is a medium to large deciduous tree, typically growing to 60-80 feet tall with a vase-shaped, broad-rounded crown. It is native to eastern and central North America. Once widely planted as a street and lawn tree, its populations have been decimated by Dutch elm disease (DED) over the past century. Numerous […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Breeding Plants, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Elms (Ulmus), Landscape ideas, Large Shade trees, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation(grafting), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Street tree, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on American Elm Continues To Be PlantedSomething New – El Niño™ Chitalpa
Posted by Hugh on September 4th, 2025
A new large shrub or small tree, called EL Niño Desert Orchid is a very special North American native hybrid. Hardy to USDA hardiness zones 6-9, it is as easy to grow as it is beautiful. El Niño produces large rose pink, orchid-looking blooms that appear in early summer. NCSU’s Dr. Ranney is credited for […]
Posted in Bees and other pollinators, Breeding Plants, Butterflies, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Landscape ideas, Native Plant, Purchasing Plants Comments Off on Something New – El Niño™ ChitalpaScarlet Rose Mallow
Posted by Hugh on August 16th, 2025
Swamp hibiscus (Hibiscus coccineus), aka scarlet rose mallow, is a hardy perennial plant that grows in swamps, marches and roadside ditches in the Southeastern U.S. (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). It can grow 6 to 8 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide. The 5- to 6-inch-long palmate leaves are 3 – 7 lobes and have jagged […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Hibiscus (mallow) sawfly, Hibiscus coccineus, Hummingbird, Japanese beetle, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rust diseases, Soil drainage, Staking, Summer flowering, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Scarlet Rose MallowGrowing Rose Mallow (Hardy Hibiscus)
Posted by Hugh on August 6th, 2025
Summerific® Hibiscus are all Perennial Hibiscus, primarily tracing their parentage back to Hibiscus moscheutos. This species is native to North America, specifically the central and eastern regions of the U.S. Perennial Hibiscus are hardy from zones 4-9 and dieback to the ground each year. They produce exceptionally large flowers in an increasingly wide color range. All […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Hardy hibiscus, Hibiscus (mallow) sawfly, Hummingbird, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Poisonous or toxic, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Growing Rose Mallow (Hardy Hibiscus)
