Ice plants (Delosperma spp.) are perennial evergreen succulents from South Africa. Two species are most popular in U.S. gardens starting with hardy ice plant (D. cooperi) (zones 6b – 9) and yellow ice plant (D. nubigenum) (zone 4 – 10). There are also many hybrid cultivars sold at garden centers and on-line. North of zone […]
Archive for the ‘Ground cover’ Category
Ice Plants (Delosperma)
Posted by Hugh on June 23rd, 2017
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Ice Plant (Delosperma), mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Root rotting, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection 
1 Comment »Bigroot Geranium
Posted by Hugh on May 3rd, 2017
Bigroot geranium (Geranium macrorrhizum), aka “cranesbill”, is a clump-forming perennial ground cover from Southern Europe (USDA Zones 3–8). It is one of the easiest geraniums to grow. Plants spread by thick rhizomes to form a dense ground cover. Individual plants grow 12 to 18 inches high and 18-24 inches spread. The 1-inch wide, 5-petaled dark […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Cranesbill (Geranium), deadheading, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Ground cover, Perennials, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Bigroot GeraniumSweet Potato Vines
Posted by Hugh on April 9th, 2017
Ornamental sweet potato vines (Ipomoea batatas) have been around since the late 1980’s, but their popularity have soared over the past decade. These sweet potatoes aren’t for the table. The colorful vines thrive in the intense heat of U.S. summers from May through September (zones 5-11). These easily grown plants work well as a low-growing bedding plant, […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Caterpillars, Container garden, Disease resistant, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Sweet potato vine, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), Uncategorized, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Sweet Potato VinesPartridgeberry – Evergreen Groundcover For Deep Shady Areas
Posted by Hugh on March 28th, 2017
Partridgeberry (Mitchella repens) is grown for its evergreen foliage, spring flowers and winter berries. This native low-growing groundcover can be found in moist woodlands and along stream banks in the Eastern and Midwest U.S. It is a good choice for planting in deep shaded garden areas (USDA hardiness zones 4–8). In the spring woodlands, small […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Ground cover, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Partridgeberry (Mitchella), Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Shade Gardening, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Partridgeberry – Evergreen Groundcover For Deep Shady AreasGalax- Popular Mountain Plant For Your Woodland Garden
Posted by Hugh on March 13th, 2017
Galax (Galax urceolata) is an under planted perennial wildflower native to the southern Appalachian mountains and eastern U.S. (USDA hardiness zone 5). Galax foliage is frequently collected from the wild for use in the winter floral decorations. Unfortunately, over-harvesting on public lands has jeopardized wild populations. Galax grows 6 to 12 inches tall and is […]
Posted in acidic soil, compost, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Galax, Ground cover, mulching, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Rabbit/deer Protection, Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Wildflowers, winter hardiness Comments Off on Galax- Popular Mountain Plant For Your Woodland GardenAutumn Ferns Offer Lush Tropical Touch
Posted by Hugh on March 7th, 2017
Ferns are fine textured lacey-leaf groundcovers. Many kinds of ferns add a tropical accent to the shade garden. Autumn fern (Dryopteris erythrosora), aka Japanese wood fern, has evergreen or semi-evergreen arching foliage, depending how cold winter is (USDA hardiness zones 5 to 8). Its common name is misleading. Best fronds color is in spring; fronds unfurl with […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn fern (Dryopteris), compost, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Ferns, Fertilizing plants, Ground cover, mulching, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Shade Gardening, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Wind protection, winter hardiness Comments Off on Autumn Ferns Offer Lush Tropical TouchFour Very Different Annuals You Should Try
Posted by Hugh on February 23rd, 2017
I asked three regional horticulturists to identify an under-planted drought tolerant annual. Here are four (4) that they recommended: Drumstick flower or “Billy Buttons” (Craspedia globosa) produces a golden-yellow display of spherical flowers that often reach the size of golf balls (USDA plant hardiness zones 8-11). The silvery-gray foliage reaches about 2 feet tall and wide, […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Container garden, Drought tolerant, Drumstick flw. (Craspedia), Evolvulus, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Hummingbird, mulching, Planting tips, Plectranthus, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Salvia, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Four Very Different Annuals You Should TryExceptionally Hardy ‘Margarita’ Carolina Yellow Jessamine
Posted by Hugh on February 21st, 2017
Carolina yellow jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) is a lovely ignored native vine. It is native from Virginia to Texas to Florida, easily spotted growing in a sunny location growing on trees (USDA zones 6-9). It is the state flower of South Carolina. Grow it as a trellised vine or as a low shrub-like mound (ground cover). Flowers often serve as an early call […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Ground cover, Jessamine (Gelsemium), Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Staking, Summer flowering, Trees & Shrubs, Vine, winter hardiness, Winter Protection 
Tags: Vines Comments Off on Exceptionally Hardy ‘Margarita’ Carolina Yellow JessamineLandscaping Plantings Around A Garden Railroad
Posted by Hugh on January 18th, 2017
Garden railroad layouts are becoming more popular. A number of dwarf and compact growing plants play a major role in landscaping around the layout. Many miniature forms of taller varieties are available. Here are several great plant choices to add the your garden railroad: Trees and Shrubs – offer scale or tall canopy […]
Posted in acidic soil, Angelonias, Carex (Sedges), compact shrub, compact tree, Container growing, container shrub, deadheading, Drought tolerant, DWARF CONIFERS, Elms (Ulmus), Euphorbias, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Fullmoon maple, Ginkgo biloba, Globe amaranth (Gomphrena), Ground cover, Hemlock (Tsuga), Hosta, Ilex (hollies), Impatiens, Landscape ideas, Lantana, Moss rose (Portulaca), mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Pruning, Salvia, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spruces (Picea spp.), Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness, Yews (Taxus spp.) Comments Off on Landscaping Plantings Around A Garden RailroadShopping Tips When Purchasing Plants
Posted by Hugh on January 4th, 2017
Spring and fall are excellent planting times and buying opportunities. A trips to a garden center can be very costly unless you go prepared. Here are some practical tips to make those shopping trips more enjoyable and a lot less expensive. Create your landscape plan first before buying plants. First, visit garden centers to pick up great landscaping ideas […]
Posted in Attracting Butterflies, Container growing, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Flowers, Foliage plant, Fruits & Vegetables, Garden Maintenance, Garden Problems, Ground cover, Interior (house) Plants, Landscape ideas, Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Perennials, Pesticide recommendations, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Poisonous or toxic, Privacy Screen, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Roses, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, Vine, Water Gardens, watering tips, Winter Protection Comments Off on Shopping Tips When Purchasing Plants
