If you live in the Southeastern U.S., another variety of liriope probably will not impress you. Here we call it “monkeygrass”. PeeDee Ingot liriope (Liriope muscari ‘PeeDee Ingot’) is no ordinary ground cover (USDA hardiness zones 6-10). ‘Peedee Ingot’ liriope is named after the Peedee River in South […]
Archive for the ‘Ground cover’ Category
‘PeeDee Ingot’ Liriope Brightens Dark Areas
Posted by Hugh on July 6th, 2015
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Bee Favorite, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Ground cover, Liriope, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Uncategorized, watering tips, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on ‘PeeDee Ingot’ Liriope Brightens Dark AreasWonderful Bellworts For Woodland Gardens
Posted by Hugh on April 18th, 2015
The soft yellow bell-shaped flowers of bellworts (Uvularia spp.), aka merrybells, contribute to spring’s awakening in U.S. woodlands and shade gardens (USDA hardiness zones 3-9). On both U. grandiflora and U. perfoliata, flower stems pierce (pass through) the center of the leaves. A third species, (U. sessilifolia), nicknamed Wild Oats, […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, compost, Drought tolerant, Ground cover, mulching, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Slugs, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Uvularia (bellwort), watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Wonderful Bellworts For Woodland GardensBasic Hosta Facts
Posted by Hugh on March 8th, 2015
Hostas are the most popular shade perennial in the U.S. They prefer a moist, compost-rich, well-drained soil. In northerly areas (USDA hardiness zones 4-5), where summers are cooler, most hardy cultivars grow in full sun. In warmer zones those in full sun must be irrigated frequently. Blue leaf cultivars look their best only in shady areas; the white waxy coating, responsible […]
Posted in acidic soil, Fertilizing plants, Foliage plant, Ground cover, Hosta, Irrigation, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Rabbit/deer Protection, Sanitation, Shade Gardening, Slugs, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Voles, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness, Winter Protection 1 Comment »Fairy Wings (Epimediums) Carefree Shady Groundcovers
Posted by Hugh on February 26th, 2015
Fairy wings, aka barrenwort (Epimedium spp.) thrive in shady spots. Fairy wings continue to be a plant collector’s dream. There are over 70 cultivars to choose and new hybrid selections coming along every year. No two cultivars are alike in flowering, foliage size and color. Species will vary from 6 to 20 inches in height […]
Posted in acidic soil, Barrenwort (Epimedium), Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Perennials, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Fairy Wings (Epimediums) Carefree Shady GroundcoversBergenias (Pigsqueak) Gaining More Respect
Posted by Hugh on February 8th, 2015
Heart-leaved bergenia (Bergenia cordifolia) is a clump-forming perennial indigenous to Russia (USDA hardiness zones 3-9). It has been coined the name “pig squeak” because of the noise produced by rubbing a leaf between your thumb and finger. Bergenias are planted most effectively enmasse as a ground cover. They spread slowly by rhizomes and tends to seed-in […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bergenia (pigsqueak), deadheading, Disease resistant, Ground cover, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Shade Gardening, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Bergenias (Pigsqueak) Gaining More Respect‘Biokova’ Cranesbill Dependable Year-Round Ground Cover
Posted by Hugh on February 5th, 2015
Biokova is not a new geranium, aka cranesbill (Geranium x cantebrigiense ‘Biokova’). Its exceptional landscape performance has earned the 2015 Perennial Plant of the Year designation. Cranesbills are highly dependable perennial ground cover for partial sun to partial shade landscape sites (USDA hardiness zones 5-8). Among the better choices of cranesbills, ‘Biokova’ has proven exceptionally reliable here […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Cranesbill (Geranium), Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Ground cover, Perennials, Planting tips, Pruning, Shade Gardening, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Biokova’ Cranesbill Dependable Year-Round Ground CoverMt. Cuba Center Evaluates Heuchera (Coralbells) Cultivars
Posted by Hugh on January 16th, 2015
Over the past quarter century, gardeners have enjoyed the wonderful heuchera revolution (USDA hardiness zones 4-9). A great many hybrid cultivars have been introduced with more arriving every spring. Unfortunately, the flood of new cultivars has given us a huge number of poor selections. As I talk with […]
Posted in acidic soil, compost, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Ground cover, Heuchera (coralbells), mulching, Native Plant, Perennials, Propagation (dividing), Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Mt. Cuba Center Evaluates Heuchera (Coralbells) CultivarsTall Sedum – The New Mailbox Plant
Posted by Hugh on August 7th, 2014
Tall sedums (Sedum x spectabile) are a popular late summer blooming perennial often nicknamed “showy stonecrops” (USDA hardiness zones 3-9). Members of the succulent plant family, tall sedums have thick round leaves and are recognized for their drought resistance. Star shaped flowers are clustered in colors ranging from whites, pinks, and reds, depending on the […]
Posted in Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Perennials, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Stonecrop sedums, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Tall Sedum – The New Mailbox PlantVersatile Long-blooming Catmints
Posted by Hugh on July 20th, 2014
Catmint (Nepeta spp.) is a favorite of cats who like to roll around in it, sometimes to the detriment of the plant(s) (USDA hardiness zones 3-8). There are several species of catmint. Most popular are the gray-green leafed N. x faassenii and hairy gray heart-shaped leafed N. racemosa. Depending on the cultivar selected, this versatile […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fragrant, Ground cover, Nepeta (catmint), Perennials, Planting tips, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Versatile Long-blooming Catmints‘Going Bananas’ Daylily Blooms Continuously
Posted by Hugh on June 15th, 2014
‘Going Bananas’ is an extended-blooming daylily. This diploid cultivar flowers a three month long continuous blooming cycle (rather than stopping and starting again) from early summer into fall. Each bloom stays open longer, at least 16 hours per day. Each trumpet-shaped flower opens wider, a new genetic trait in daylilies. Going Bananas features slightly fragrant, […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, compost, Container growing, Daylilies, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Ground cover, mulching, Perennials, Propagation (dividing), Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on ‘Going Bananas’ Daylily Blooms Continuously
