Slipper orchids (Paphiopedilum spp.) are a type of terrestrial orchid known for their pouch-shaped petals that resemble a dainty slipper. Paphs are low light tropicals. Unlike epiphytic orchids, which grow in trees in the humid tropics, these orchids grow on the floor of forests in their native Southeastern Asia. Paphs are relatively easy to grow […]
Archive for the ‘Landscape ideas’ Category
Slipper Orchids (Paphiopedilum)
Posted by Hugh on January 28th, 2025
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Disease resistant, Failure to Bloom, Fertilizing plants, Flowering house plant, Interior (house) Plants, Lady slipper orchid (Paphiopedilum), Landscape ideas, Mealy bugs, Non-native, Orchids, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Scale, Slugs, Soil drainage, Summer heat tolerant, Tropical Plants (non-hardy) 
No Comments »2025 Hosta OF The Year: ‘Skywriter’
Posted by Hugh on January 26th, 2025
Hosta ‘Skywriter’ has been selected as the 2025 Hosta of the Year. by the American Hosta Growers Association. ‘Skywriter’ is a blue hosta with a semi-upright habit that shows off the white undersides of the leaves and the purple stems (scapes). (USDA Hardiness Zones 3 -8). It is a medium-sized hosta, that grows approximately 18 inches […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, compost, Container garden, Deciduous, Hosta, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, rabbit damage, Rabbit/deer Protection, Shade Gardening, Slugs, Snails, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Wind protection, winter hardiness No Comments »Other Wild Gingers For Your Landscape
Posted by Hugh on January 13th, 2025
Although wild gingers, Asarum and Hexastylis species, can be found the world over, most are indigenous to the shaded woodlands of Asia, Europe, and North America. Wild gingers are members of the Aristolochiaceae (Birthwort family). Several species of Hexastylis and Asarum grow exceptionally well in the Southern Appalachian region (Zones 5b-7b). New varieties continue the marketplace. Wild gingers are frequently planted as […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, compost, Container garden, Deciduous, Evergreen, Fragrant, Ground cover, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Non-native, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Shade Gardening, Slugs, Snails, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Wild ginger, winter hardiness No Comments »Wild Ginger
Posted by Hugh on January 6th, 2025
Wild ginger (Asarum canadense) is a U.S. native spring wildflower which grows in rich garden and woodland soils. Wild ginger is a stemless 4-8-inch-tall plant (8 -10 inches wide) which features distinctive downy, basal, dark green foliage. Leaves are heart-shaped to kidney-shaped, and delicately veined, and up to 6 inches wide. Cup-shaped, purplish brown, 3 […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, compost, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Ground cover, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Slugs, Slugs, Snails, Soil drainage, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Wild ginger, winter hardiness No Comments »2025 Perennial Plant Of The Year – Clustered Mountainmint
Posted by Hugh on January 1st, 2025
Clustered mountain mint (Pycnanthemum muticum), aka “blunt mountain mint” or “short-toothed mountain mint”, is a tough and adaptable perennial native to meadows and open woodlands across much of the eastern U.S. west to Texas. (USDA Hardiness Zones 4 – 8) (AHS Heat Zones 4 -10). It is not a true mint (Mentha spp.) but belongs to […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Fragrant, Landscape ideas, Mountain mints (Pycnanthemum), mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness No Comments »Christmas Rose
Posted by Hugh on December 22nd, 2024
Christmas roses (Helleborus niger), aka Christmas roses, are early winter flowering lenten roses. They bloom around Christmas time if winter temps are generally still mild. Based on the severity of winter temps, start of bloom date will vary considerably between H. niger and the more popular Helleborus x hybridus (H. x orientalis). (USDA hardiness zones […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Aphids, Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, Christmas rose (H. niger), Cold tolerance, Container garden, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Flower arrangments, Fruits poisonous, Ground cover, Honey bees, Landscape ideas, Leaf/needle spots, Lenten rose (Hellebore), Non-native, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, root injury, Shade Gardening, Slugs, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Wind protection, Winter flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on Christmas RoseThermonasty – What Is It?
Posted by Hugh on December 16th, 2024
How cold did it get overnight? Perhaps you should check out your rhododendrons outside. The leaves of some rhododendron species (Rhododendron spp.) and Redneck Rhody (Daphniphyllum macropodum) droop down and/or curl up during really cold nights. Plant scientists believe that this reaction may be a plant’s way of reducing water loss through stomata cells on […]
Posted in Cold tolerance, Daphniphyllum macrophyllum, Evergreen, Landscape ideas, Native Plant, Non-native, Rhododendrons, Rosebay Rhododendron (R. Maximum), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Thermonasty, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Wind protection, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Thermonasty – What Is It?Russian arborvitae (Microbiota)
Posted by Hugh on December 1st, 2024
Russian arborvitae, aka Siberian cypress (Microbiota decussata), is a conifer ground cover that originates from frigid Siberia; it is exceptionally cold hardy to -40° F (USDA hardiness zones 2-7). Microbiota prospers in the cooler parts of the Mid-South (Kentucky, East Tennessee, Virginia, and Western North Carolina). Growth rate is slow to medium. This amazing groundcover shows […]
Posted in acidic soil, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Ground cover, Landscape ideas, Microbiota, Non-native, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on Russian arborvitae (Microbiota)Winter-blooming Snowdrops
Posted by Hugh on November 26th, 2024
Snowdrop (Galanthus spp.) are grown in both cold and moderate winters. In the U.S. snowdrops thrive where winters are cool (USDA hardiness zones 3-8). There are about 19 species of Galanthus – in the amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae). They’re native to the cool woodland and mountainous regions of southern Europe and Asia Minor. They tend to struggle in […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Galanthus (snowdrops), Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Snowdrops (Galanthus), Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering bulbs, watering tips, Winter flowering, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Winter-blooming SnowdropsSummer Snowflakes (Leucojum)
Posted by Hugh on November 21st, 2024
Summer snowflakes originate from Europe and northern Africa and are carefree spring-blooming bulbs. They belong to the Amaryllis (Amaryllidaceae) botanical family and are critter proof. (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). Flowers and foliage are similar to snowdrops, but snowflakes grow twice as tall and bloom about 2-3 months later, usually just after most daffodils. Pure white, […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Flower Arranging, Flowering Bulb, Fragrant, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Perennials, Planting tips, Purchasing Plants, Snowflake (Leucojum), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer snowflake (Leucojum), watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Summer Snowflakes (Leucojum)
