Phytophthora disease (Phytophthora spp.) is the fatal cause of root rots, stem cankers and crown rots. Several hundred species of plants are susceptible, including redbuds, dogwoods, rhododendrons, camellias, white pines, firs, yews (Taxus spp.), and fruit trees. It thrives in warm moist saturated soils. Phytophthora may lie dormant in the soil for several years, waiting for a […]
Archive for the ‘Evergreen’ Category
Foster Holly Has It All
Foster holly (Ilex x attenuata) is an old holly favorite which has not lost its sizzle. While many new holly cultivars have entered the landscape scene, do not assume that Foster holly is now passé. It is utilized in a number of landscape options in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7), including in containers in zones […]
Thujopsis: Semi-Dwarf Evergreen Shrub
Hiba or false arborvitae (Thujopsis dolobrata) is a slow to moderate growing evergreen shrub or tree. It is also called elkhorn cedar and deerhorn cedar, referring to the shape of its scale-like leaves. Tall 50-80 feet tall tree forms arefound in the forests of Japan. This native of Japan and China has a pyramidal form and beautiful dense foliage, similar […]
Reference Conifer Gardens in the Southeastern U.S.
The American Conifer Society (ACS) supports public conifer gardens around the U.S. Reference Gardens offer plant professionals and home gardeners an opportunity to evaluate conifers growing in a landscape or garden setting within their geographic region. You can compare the unique foliage colors, shapes, and growth habits which conifers offer. You can select conifer(s) which work as […]
‘Snow Flurry’ Zone 6 Hardy Camellia
‘Snow Flurry’ camellia is a broadleaf evergreen shrub with good plant vigor. It was one of the first zone 6 cold hardy camellias hybridized by Dr. William Ackerman and released by the U.S. National Arboretum in 1986. Snow Flurry grows into a 4 feet tall by 6 feet wide shrub over a 10 year […]
Irrigate Evergreens This Winter
Fall slowdown in the garden brings many of us back indoors to prepare for the winter holidays ahead. A number of serious canker diseases attack evergreens in the fall and winter if soil moisture is not plentiful. These diseases include botryosphaeria, cytospora, phomopsis, and seiridium cankers. Each organism is capable of causing branch dieback or […]
Alaska Cedar Is Awesome Weeping Evergreen
Over the past decade, gardeners have been planting different evergreen trees in their Southern Appalachian landscapes (USDA zones 6 and 7). One of the newbies is Alaska cedar (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis), a wonderful medium-sized evergreen tree from the west coast of North America. Alaska cedar matures into a graceful pyramidal tree form. Long pendulous flattened sprays of bluish green needles drape from […]
Sacred Lily (Rohdea) Brings Good Fortune
Depending on where you garden, Sacred Lily (Rohdea japonica) is either an evergreen or herbaceous perennial groundcover. It is slow growing and prospers in a moist shady woodland environment. Small clumps of long, strap-like leaves emerge from an underground crown to about 15” in height. Foliage is comprised of 18 inch long strap- like leaves […]
Privacy Screening – Avoid Using Leyland Cypress
‘Green Giant’ arborvitae and Cryptomeria (Japanese cedar) have proven more dependable over the years than Leyland cypress across Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Leyland cypress is susceptible to three serious foliar diseases. Some people love the faster growth of Leyland cypress. Leyland cypress may be weak-wooded, as reported by some gardeners this current […]