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 […]
Archive for the ‘Ground cover’ Category
‘Biokova’ Cranesbill Dependable Year-Round Ground Cover
Posted by Hugh on February 5th, 2015
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‘Stella D’Oro’- First And Last Daylily To Bloom
Posted by Hugh on June 13th, 2014
For over a quarter of a century, wherever daylilies (Hemerocallus spp.) grow, you will find the very popular gold-flowered ‘Stella d’Oro’ daylily (USDA hardiness zones 2-9). It’s one of a few daylilies that blooms 3 out of 4 seasons. Its small size makes it an ideal choice as a ground cover. This short clump growing […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Daylilies, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Ground cover, mulching, Perennials, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Stella D’Oro’- First And Last Daylily To BloomDoghobble for Shady Landscape Areas
Posted by Hugh on May 30th, 2014
Mountain doghobble (Leucothoe fontanesiana) is native to woodland areas in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7). Florida coast leucothoe (L. axillaris) is another regional favorite, native from Virginia south to Florida. Over time it grow tall, usually 3-4 feet high as a rambling ground cover. Every 3 to 4 years hand pruning […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Disease resistant, Doghobble (Leucothoe), Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Fragrant, Ground cover, mulching, Native Plant, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Doghobble for Shady Landscape AreasAllium ‘Millennium’ Outstanding Summer Blooming Ground Cover
Posted by Hugh on May 26th, 2014
Allium ‘Millennium’ is a rhizomatous type allium (onion) introduced by plant breeder Mark McDonough over a decade ago (USDA hardiness zones 5-8). In nursery catalogs it is sometimes listed Allium nutans‘Millennium’. Fleshy strap-like 12-inch long glossy green foliage emits a slight oniony smell when crushed. ‘Millennium’ is a rhizomatous (clump growing) long-lived perennial. Individual plants […]
Posted in acidic soil, Alliums (onion), Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Flowers, Ground cover, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Allium ‘Millennium’ Outstanding Summer Blooming Ground CoverIce Plant – A Cool Plant For Dry Sunny Spots
Posted by Hugh on May 1st, 2014
From the extreme heat and dry climates of east and Southern Africa come the hardy ice plants (Delosperma spp.). There are two popular species, Purple ice plant (D. cooperi) and Orange-yellow iceplant (D. nubigenium), plus hybrid cultivars galore. Ice plants are dependable zone 6 winter hardy succulents. They’re excellent candidates for roof top and rock […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Container garden, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Ice Plant (Delosperma), Perennials, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Ice Plant – A Cool Plant For Dry Sunny SpotsJoin The Brunnera Revolution
Posted by Hugh on April 10th, 2014
Over the past decade heartleaf brunnera (Brunnera macrophylla), aka Siberian Bugloss and Alkanet, has become a popular spring flowering perennial in U.S. and Canadian gardens (USDA plant hardiness zones 3 – 8). Native to Russia brunnera need little care when properly sited. Sprays of tiny blue-petalled /yellow centered forget-me-not flowers explode into a blue haze […]
Posted in acidic soil, Brunnera 'Jack Frost', compost, Flowers, Ground cover, mulching, Nematodes, Perennials, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Join The Brunnera Revolution
