Umbrella pine (Sciadopitys verticillata) is an outstanding evergreen large shrub or medium-sized pyramidal tree. Initially, umbrella pine grows slowly, only 6 to 8 inches annually, but growth rate picks up after 4-5 years. A young 3-foot tall plant may reach 20 to 30 feet tall in 25 years and double that at maturity. Its leaves […]
Archive for the ‘Evergreen’ Category
Japanese Umbrella Pine Is Unique Among Evergreens
Posted by Hugh on December 6th, 2013
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Evergreens, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, Umbrella pine (Sciadopitys), winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Japanese Umbrella Pine Is Unique Among EvergreensTop Conifers Picks By Southeast Reference Gardens
Posted by Hugh on November 28th, 2013
In 2011 poll conducted at the SE Region meeting in Athens, GA, the top favorite conifer picks from SE Reference Gardens. Georgia Lockerly Arboretum, Milledgeville Cryptomeria japonica ‘Elegans Nana’ Juniperus virginiana var. silicicola ‘Brodie’ Platycladus orientalis ‘Aurea Nana’ Thuja occidentalis ‘Rheingold’ Smith Gilbert Garden, Kennesaw Cedrus deodara ‘Gold Cone’ Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Verdon’ Platycladus orientalis ‘Morgan’ […]
Posted in Arborvitae (Thuja spp.), Chamaecyparis, compact tree, Cryptomeria (Japanese cedar), Disease resistant, Disease resistant, DWARF CONIFERS, Evergreen, Evergreens, Heat Tolerance, Hemlock (Tsuga), Juniper, Pine (Pinus spp.), Platycladus orientalis 'Morgan', Privacy Screen, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Thujopsis, Trees & Shrubs, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Top Conifers Picks By Southeast Reference GardensChina Fir Deserves A Look
Posted by Hugh on November 9th, 2013
To begin, China fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) is not a true fir (genus: Abies). Branches are broadly pyramidal when young, and open up to become slightly pendulous as the tree ages. China fir grows broad at the base and spire-like on top. The tree often grows multi-stemmed to 75 feet in height and 20 to 30 […]
Posted in acidic soil, acidify soil, China fir (Cunninghamia), Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Planting tips, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter bark, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on China Fir Deserves A LookThree New Spreading Junipers Waking Up Landscapes
Posted by Hugh on November 9th, 2013
In times past Chinese junipers (Juniperus chinensis) were popular foundation shrubs and ground cover (USDA hardiness zones 4-9). They were popular choices in sunny locations for erosion control and around seashore areas. Three exciting cultivars have arrived on the landscape scene and should bring junipers back in vogue. Angelica Blue Chinese juniper (J. chinensis ‘Angelica […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Bagworms, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Ground cover, Insect (Pest) Problems, Juniper, Planting tips, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering evergreens, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Three New Spreading Junipers Waking Up LandscapesShiShi Gashira Camellia So Far Holding Up to Zone 6-b Winters
Posted by Hugh on October 11th, 2013
Camellias bloom at a time when most trees and shrubs are not flowering. Growing them is no longer a dream for gardeners who do not live in the deep South. A number of “designated zone 6 hardy” cultivars prosper in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA hardiness zones 6 and 7). ‘ShiShi Gashira’ camellia (Camellia hiemalis) […]
Posted in acidic soil, acidify soil, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Camellia, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness, winter injury, Winter Protection Comments Off on ShiShi Gashira Camellia So Far Holding Up to Zone 6-b WintersThree New Hardy Fall Blooming Camellias
Posted by Hugh on October 10th, 2013
Three Zone 6 winter hardy camellias are becoming more available. A recent visit to a local camellia grower found these three fall bloomers: ‘Long Island Pink’, ‘Londontowne Blush’, and ‘Sweet October’ in full floral regalia. The first two are reliably hardy in USDA zone 6 and a third nearly so. ‘Long Island Pink’ was found […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Camellia, compact shrub, Container growing, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, mulching, Planting tips, Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter flowering, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Three New Hardy Fall Blooming Camellias‘Silberlocke’ Korean fir Gets Lots of Favorable Comments
Posted by Hugh on June 16th, 2013
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 […]
Posted in acidic soil, compact shrub, container shrub, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Evergreens, Fertilizing plants, Korean fir (Abies koreana), mulching, Planting tips, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, Winter Protection Comments Off on ‘Silberlocke’ Korean fir Gets Lots of Favorable Comments‘Green Giant’ Arborvitae: A Terrific Green Privacy Screen
Posted by Hugh on February 23rd, 2013
Western arborvitae (Thuja plicata) is a large native evergreen tree from the Western U.S. (USDA hardiness zones 5-7). As many as 30 cultivars are available among dwarf, weeping, and variegated leaf forms. One of the most popular selections is ‘Green Giant,’ a hybrid between T. plicata and T. standishii, a Japanese arborvitae. In its native […]
Posted in acidic soil, Arborvitae (Thuja spp.), Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Evergreens, Native Plant, Privacy Screen, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Green Giant’ Arborvitae: A Terrific Green Privacy ScreenMore Winter Hardy Encore Azaleas Now Available
Posted by Hugh on February 21st, 2013
For spring 2013, 22 of 32 Encore™ Azalea varieties are cold hardy in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA hardiness zones 6 and 7). Thirteen (13) varieties are reliably cold hardy throughout Zone 6-a&b. They are: Autumn Amethyst, Autumn Carnation, Autumn Cheer, Autumn Jewel , Autumn Lilac, Autumn Lily, Autumn Royalty, Autumn Ruby, Autumn Sangria, Autumn […]
Posted in acidic soil, acidify soil, Autumn flowering, Azaleas (evergreen), Evergreen, Flowers, mulching, Planting tips, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on More Winter Hardy Encore Azaleas Now Available‘Vanderwolf Pyramid’– Reliable Mid-sized Limber Pine
Posted by Hugh on February 6th, 2013
Limber pine (Pinus flexilis), native to the Rocky Mountain region, has proven to be a reliable landscape evergreen tree in the Midwest and is gaining new fans in mid-South gardens (USDA hardiness zone 7-a). ‘Vanderwolf Pyramid’(VP) is a beautiful dwarf pine being planted by conifer collectors. It is hardy in USDA zone 5, and displays […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Native Plant, Pine (Pinus spp.), Privacy Screen, Trees & Shrubs, watering evergreens, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Vanderwolf Pyramid’– Reliable Mid-sized Limber Pine
