Torch lilies (Kniphofia spp.) are easy to grow long-lived perennials from South Africa that are remarkably (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). They go by a number of common names including red hot poker and tritoma. The colorful floral spikes (and a little imagination) resemble fiery torches or sizzling pokers, visited often by hummingbirds, bees and butterflies. […]
Archive for the ‘Flower Arranging’ Category
Torch Lilies (Kniphofia)
Posted by Hugh on July 1st, 2020
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, deadheading, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Flower Arranging, Flower arrangments, Hummingbird, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Red hot Poker (Kniphofia), Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Torch lily (red hot poker), watering tips, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Torch Lilies (Kniphofia)Gaura (Wand Flower)
Posted by Hugh on June 21st, 2020
Gaura (Gaura lindheimeri), also known as wand flower, whirling butterfly, and bee blossom (Gaura lindheimeri) is one tough perennial that blooms through the summer into fall. Gaura is native to Texas and Louisana and is hardy to USDA plant zones (5)6-9. It lives many years in hot humid climates and requires very little care after […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Container garden, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Gaura, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Perennials, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Gaura (Wand Flower)Queen Of The Prairie Or Meadowsweet
Posted by Hugh on June 6th, 2020
Q “Tall and pretty spectacular” very much describes Queen of the prairie (Filipendula rubra) (USDA hardiness zones 3 to 8). Twelve species comprise this genus of U.S. perennials (USDA hardiness zones 3-8). Best known species are meadowsweet (F. ulmaria).dropwort (F. vulgaris), both native to Europe, and queen-of-the-forest (F. occidentalis) and queen-of-the-prairie (F. rubra), both native […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, alkaline soil, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Filipendula, Flower Arranging, Foliage plant, Fragrant, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching trees, Native Plant, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Powdery mildew, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Rust diseases, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Queen Of The Prairie Or MeadowsweetSix Easy Perennials To Grow
Posted by Hugh on June 1st, 2020
Rozanne (‘Gerwalt’) Cranesbill (Geranium X ‘Rozanne’) – low growing flowering groundcover that forms a 20 inch tall by 24 inch wide mound; blooms almost non-stop from mid-spring to early fall. For a cranesbill, its 5-petaled, violet-blue flowers are huge (2.5 inches wide) with off-white centers; in bloom from late spring to early summer. (Zones 5-8). […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Alliums (onion), Aster, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, Cranesbill (Geranium), Deciduous, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Flower arrangments, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Platycodon (Balloon flower), Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Sage (Salvia), Sedum (Groundcover types), Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Six Easy Perennials To GrowCalibrachoas (Million Bells*)
Posted by Hugh on May 16th, 2020
Gardeners have discovered Million Bells* (Calibrachoa x hybrida), a small flowering cousin of the petunia. Million Bells are prolific bloomers and produce one-inch mini-blossoms. They were first marketed to home gardeners in the 1990’s. They’re native to Peru, Brazil, and Chile, and are commonly grown as annuals in the U.S. Over the past twenty years […]
Posted in acidic soil, Annuals, Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, Calibrachoa (Million bells), Chlorosis (yellowing), compost, Container garden, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Flower arrangments, Hummingbird, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Calibrachoas (Million Bells*)Loads Of Hybrid Baptisias Available
Posted by Hugh on April 11th, 2020
Wild indigo or Baptisia (Baptisia spp.) are a wonderful group of U.S. native perennials (USDA hardiness zones 4-9). A few species have remained outside the gardening scene until recent years. Breeders are creating several hybrids that offer a grand color palette and superior plant form. Baptisia, belong to the Pea family, new growth emerges in […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Baptisia (wild indigo), Bees and other pollinators, Breeding Plants, Container garden, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Flowering, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Poisonous or toxic, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Uncategorized, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Loads Of Hybrid Baptisias AvailableSiberian Wallflowers – Tough Winter Annuals
Posted by Hugh on March 26th, 2020
In areas of the U.S. where winters are mild, Siberian Wallflower (Erysimum cheiri), (formerly Cheiranthus cheiri), is an early flowering favorite in the late winter garden. The species hails from Southern Europe (USDA hardiness zones 7-9). Many books list them as biennials and a few as “tempermental perennials”. Wallflower is a woody-based herbaceous perennial subshrub in the mustard […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Biennial, Failure to Bloom, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Flowers, Landscape ideas, mulching, Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Siberian Wallflower (Cheiranthus), Soil drainage, Spring flowering, Uncategorized, Wallflower (Erysimum), watering tips, Winter flowering Comments Off on Siberian Wallflowers – Tough Winter AnnualsFebruary Blooming Hybrid Witchhazels
Posted by Hugh on January 26th, 2020
Witchhazels (Hamamelis spp.) are somewhat coarse, loosely-branched, medium to large, deciduous shrubs that typically grow 12-20 feet tall. (USDA hardiness zones 5-8). They are particularly noted for their strapped shape, often fragrant, mid- to late winter flowers which appear before the spring leaves emerge. Five cultivars were selected by Mr. Tim Brotzman, an Ohio nurseryman […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Caterpillars, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Flower arrangments, Flowers, Fragrant, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Pollination needs, Privacy Screen, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter flowering, winter hardiness, Witchhazel (Hamamelis) Comments Off on February Blooming Hybrid WitchhazelsPeony Care in the Fall
Posted by Hugh on September 6th, 2019
October and November are ideal for fall herbaceous peony bed cleanup and to get ready for winter. Fall is the ideal time to dig up and divide old clumps of peony roots and to plant new plants. Old yellow and brown foliage comes off easy with hand clippers. Don’t pull or yank off the foliage! […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, applying sulfur, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Container garden, Deciduous, Downy mildew, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Landscape ideas, mulching, Peonies, Peony, Perennials, Planting tips, Powdery mildew, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Sanitation, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Soil Testing, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Uncategorized, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Peony Care in the FallZone 6 Hardy Camellias – Plant Now!
Posted by Hugh on September 1st, 2019
More and more people gardening in zones 6 and 7 have discovered that they can successfully grow camellias. Once considered an exclusively Southern plant, many camellia varieties are very cold hardy where winter temps drop to 0 to 5°F. Their floral buds burst open with bright whites, pink and red shades, and spotted color blends. […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Camellia, compost, Container garden, Disease resistant, Environmental issues, Evergreen, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Flower arrangments, Flowering, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Scale, Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter blooming, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Zone 6 Hardy Camellias – Plant Now!
