Archive for the ‘Disease resistant’ Category

Arrowwood Viburnum Very Tough U.S. Native Shrub

Arrowwood Viburnum (Viburnum dentatum) is an easy to grow deciduous shrub that handles most landscape conditions, including soil types (USDA hardiness zones 5 to 8). It grows best in full sun and in a well-drained soil. Clusters of tiny, creamy-white flat-topped flowers appear from late spring into summer. A bountiful crop of dark blue berries […]

Russian Sage More Shrub-like Than Perennial

Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) is low maintenance woody-based perennial. It grows in a dry to medium moist average soil and, first and foremost, in full sun. It’s a long-lived perennial which stands up to summer’s heat and humidity (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). Branches tend to flop or take on a droopy appearance in late summer. […]

Troubled Pines… And Some Good Ones To Grow

Mugho, aka mugo pine (Pinus mugo), and Scots pine (P. sylvestris) are two troubled pines which gardeners in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA Hardiness zones 6 and 7) have shied away from planting. Both have become problem growers over the past quarter century. Scots pine suffers from several devastating foliar diseases. Once a popular Christmas […]

Silver Linden Foliage Shimmers On A Windy Day

Silver linden (Tilia tomentosa) is a rarely planted large shade tree. Native to southeastern European, silver linden demonstrates better heat and drought tolerances in the southern U.S. than most lindens. It grows to 50 to 60 feet in height over 25-30 years with a moderate annual growth rate. A newly planted tree exhibits a narrow […]

“Red Sells”: Red Flowering Crape Myrtles

In the Southern U.S. crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia spp.) provide summer long flowering. In the garden center business there is a popular saying: “red flowers sell”. Among crape myrtles red flowering cultivars generally outsell all others. Probably the most popular red variety is Dynamite®, a Carl Whitcomb introduction. Dr. Whitcomb followed with other red introductions of different […]

Stop Ignoring And Start Planting Hophornbeam

Hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana) is a medium sized tree native to the eastern half of North America (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). The tree is practically ignored by landscape designers and installers. Few nurserymen grow it. Hophornbeam is often confused with the true hornbeams (Carpinus spp.). Both are called “ironwood”, referring to the hard muscular wood of […]

‘Silberlocke’ Korean fir Gets Lots of Favorable Comments

In any season visitors to your garden should immediately take notice of ‘Silberlocke’ korean fir. Korean fir (Abies koreana) is a densely branched pyramidal evergreen tree. Growth is slow in the beginning, eventually reaching 50 feet or more in mature height. The wide 3/4 inch long needles are dark green and glossy above and silvery […]

Pest Alert – Gardeners Should Avoid Planting Garden Impatiens

Downy mildew in impatiens (Plasmopara obducens) infects garden impatiens, double impatiens and balsam. However, New Guinea impatiens, SunPatiens™, and most annual summer flowering plants are not susceptible. Impatiens are the favorite flowering annual used in shady garden areas. Double impatiens and balsam are favorites in hanging pots and other types of containers. U.S. greenhouse growers […]

‘Florida Sunshine’ Anise Tree

Florida Sunshine anise tree (Illicium parviflorum ‘Florida Sunshine’), aka Ocala yellow star, is a southeast U.S. native which grows well on moderately shaded sites. Its evergreen, chartreuse colored, spring-summer foliage turns golden yellow in the fall. As its common name hints, the evergreen foliage emits a licorice scent. The overall fall-winter show is nothing short […]

Floral Fragrance Of Native Fringetree Fills The Spring Air

Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus) is treasured for its billowy masses of fragrant white flowers in the spring. It commonly grows as a large 15-20 foot tall shrub, but can be easily trained into a 20-25 foot multi-stemmed small tree. Most gardeners call this native “fringe tree” or fringetree. Regionally, it goes by a number of colloquial […]