Carolina allspice sweetshrub (Calycanthus floridus), aka strawberry bush, bubby bush, sweet Betsy, et al., is a trouble-free medium size spring flowering shrub. This dense rounded deciduous shrub is native to Eastern North America (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). As its common name hints, flowers emit a sweet fruity fragrance. Intensity of floral fragrance is highly variable […]
Archive for the ‘Fragrant’ Category
Carolina Allspice Sweetshrub
Posted by Hugh on March 22nd, 2016
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, container shrub, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Green Privacy Screen, mulching, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Sweetshrub (Calycanthus), Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Carolina Allspice SweetshrubFothergillas Are Topnotch
Posted by Hugh on March 17th, 2016
In the Eastern U.S. two species, dwarf fothergilla (F. gardenii) and large fothergilla (Fothergilla major), are native. They are also labeled “witch alder”. Both species appear almost identical, except for flower and leaf size, and overall shrub size. Large fothergilla is indigenous to the mountain and Piedmont Regions […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, compact shrub, container shrub, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Flowering, Fothergilla, Fragrant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Fothergillas Are TopnotchPatio Peach Blooms In Early Spring
Posted by Hugh on March 12th, 2016
For small garden spaces patio peach (Prunus persica) is a gem. This miniature tree bears long narrow lush green (or reddish) foliage. Site selection is crucial to ward off potential disease and insect problems. Patio peach is a genetic dwarf and may be grown in a large container on your deck or patio. Tree height averages 6-8 feet tall […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, Bacterial diseases, Bee Favorite, Disease prone, Fertilizing plants, Flowering peach (Prunus), Fragrant, Insect (Pest) Problems, Mites, Peach, Pesticide recommendations, Planting tips, Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Rabbit/deer Protection, Scale, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Patio Peach Blooms In Early SpringNative Partridgeberry
Posted by Hugh on February 28th, 2016
Partridge berry (Mitchella repens) is cherished for its evergreen foliage, spring flowers and fall-winter colorful berries (USDA Zones 4–8). This native groundcover is frequently spotted in moist woodlands along banks of streams and on dry slopes in the eastern and central North America as far west as Minnesota and south to northern Texas and Florida. This […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Edible fruits, Evergreen, Fragrant, Ground cover, Interior (house) Plants, Landscape ideas, Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Partridge berry, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Southern Appalachian Region, Vine, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Native PartridgeberryGrowing Calamondin Orange
Posted by Hugh on December 18th, 2015
Calamondin (Citrofortunella mitis) hails from China and is hardy to 20 ºF in temperate regions. It prospers outdoors in Florida, central and southern Texas, and Southern California gardens. Its sweetly fragrant flowers develop into edible ornamental fruits beginning in late fall. Small 1-2 inch diameter orange fruits are highly decorative as an indoor house plant. Calamondin can be […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, Bee Favorite, Calamondin Orange, Container garden, Container growing, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Mealy bugs, Mite susceptible, Mites, Ornamental fruit, Pesticide recommendations, Planting tips, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Scale, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Growing Calamondin OrangeNew ‘Black and Bloom’ Salvia Lovely Touch To Late Summer Garden
Posted by Hugh on October 16th, 2015
Blue anise sage (Salvia guaranitica) is native to central South America (USDA hardiness zones 7-10). It primarily utilized as a garden annual in the U.S., but is rated a tender perennial in protected locations with winter mulch cover in zone 6. Plants exhibit a shrubby, somewhat open habit with upright branching, to 3-5 feet tall as a perennial and 2 ½ […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Blue anise sage, Butterflies, container shrub, deadheading, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Hummingbird, Overcrowding, Perennials, Planting tips, Powdery mildew, Propagation (Cuttings), Purchasing Plants, Sage (Salvia), Salvia, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on New ‘Black and Bloom’ Salvia Lovely Touch To Late Summer GardenFall Planting of Peonies
Posted by Hugh on September 1st, 2015
Fall is the perfect time to plant peonies either from bare-root plants or from pre-potted plants at garden centers. Fall planted peonies will adapt to their new garden spot over the winter and usually will bloom in the spring. There are three types of peonies: herbaceous, tree, and intersectional (hybrids of herbaceous and tree types). […]
Posted in acidic soil, compost, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, mulching, Peony, Perennials, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Spring flowering, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Fall Planting of PeoniesCalamint: Tough Reliable Perennial Ground Cover
Posted by Hugh on August 18th, 2015
Calamint (Calamintha nepeta subsp. nepeta) is low mounding subshrub or perennial native to southern Europe; its primary use is as a low growing ground cover (USDA hardiness zones 4 to 8). It is a member of the Lamiaceae family. Foliage grows only 15-18 inches tall. The subspecies, var. nepeta, is the preferred choice because it produces more flowers per inflorescence. Calamint tolerates most soil […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Calamint, deadheading, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Fragrant, Ground cover, Landscape ideas, Perennials, Planting tips, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on Calamint: Tough Reliable Perennial Ground CoverEnjoy Summer Fragrance Of Oriental Lilies
Posted by Hugh on July 18th, 2015
Oriental lilies (Lilium x orientale) grace summer gardens with brightly colored fragrant blooms (USDA hardiness zones 4-9). Long tubular (trumpet) flowers measure 6-8 inches across and come in a limited color choices. From one year to the next, flower numbers increase. Oriental lilies prefer a compost-rich, well-drained soil where they will delight over several summers and in […]
Posted in acidic soil, compost, Container growing, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Fragrant, Lily (Lilium), mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Staking, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Wind protection, winter hardiness Comments Off on Enjoy Summer Fragrance Of Oriental LiliesMy Search Continues For A Hardy Gardenia
Posted by Hugh on July 3rd, 2015
The longer you garden, many plant species keep improving, including their winter hardiness. A few years ago, growing gardenias (Gardenia jasminoides) in a U.S. zone 6 garden was a dream. Today, hardy gardenias are a safe bet in zone 7 or in zone 6 in a protected area of […]
Posted in acidic soil, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Gardenia, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness, winter injury, Winter Protection Comments Off on My Search Continues For A Hardy Gardenia
