Gardeners are waking up to the tough as nails Chinese fringetree (Chionanthus retusus). (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). It has gorgeous foliage, showy snow-white flowers in the spring, and exfoliating bark. Native to Korea, China, and Japan, this low maintenance multi-stemmed large shrub or small deciduous tree is becoming easier to purchase at U.S. garden centers […]
Archive for the ‘Landscape ideas’ Category
Chinese Fringetree
Posted by Hugh on April 7th, 2024
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Dioecious, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flowering, Fragrant, Fringetree (Chionanthus), Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rabbit/deer Protection, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Street tree, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Chinese FringetreeLacebark Pine – A Year-round Treasure
Posted by Hugh on April 1st, 2024
Native to China, lacebark pine (Pinus bungeana) is an excellent, low-maintenance evergreen treasure. Winter-hardy in USDA hardiness zones 4-8, this specimen pine struggles in the summer heat and humidity of the Southern U.S. Best specmens are found growing in arboretums and botanical gardens north of zone 8. This 3-needle pine offers 4-seasons of ornamental interest. […]
Posted in acidic soil, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Fall Garden Interest, Lacebark pine (P. bungeana), Landscape ideas, Medium sized Tree, mulching, Non-native, Pine (Pinus spp.), Planting tips, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Lacebark Pine – A Year-round TreasureThree Native Azaleas That Should Be Included In Mid- Atlantic and Southern Gardens
Posted by Hugh on March 25th, 2024
About Native Azaleas: Flowers appear from April to September depending on species. Flower clusters (called “trusses”) appear just before the leaves emerge. Each truss may bear 3 – 12 blooms, which open 1.5 – 2 inches wide. Flower colors vary among native species from white, pink, orange and red shades. In many spring blooming species, the open petals […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Balled and Burlapped (b&b), Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Container garden, Deciduous, Deciduous Azaleas, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fragrant, Hummingbird, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rhododendrons, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Three Native Azaleas That Should Be Included In Mid- Atlantic and Southern GardensTen Favorite Viburnums
Posted by Hugh on March 18th, 2024
Viburnums are versatile landscape shrubs that flower, fruit, and fall color. Several species have fruit that attracts birds and may persist most of the winter. To have the best cross-pollination and fruit display plant in groups rather than as specimens. Viburnums tend to prefer slightly acid soil. They have few pest or disease problems and need […]
Posted in acidic soil, Arrowwood (V. dentatum), Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Non-native, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Viburnum beetles, Viburnums, winter hardiness Comments Off on Ten Favorite ViburnumsWoodland (Snow) Crocus
Posted by Hugh on March 13th, 2024
Snow Crocus, aka early crocus (Crocus tommasinianum) is a late winter to early spring blooming bulb (corm) that is native to southeastern Europe into Asia. These tiny crocus are generally the first to pop its leaves above the ground and even bloom when there is snow on the ground, hence its common name. Snow crocus are […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, Corms, Crocus, Crocus, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Dwarf (reticulate) iris, Forcing, Galanthus (snowdrops), Landscape ideas, Non-native, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering bulbs, Summer heat tolerant, Winter flowering, Winter Garden Interest Comments Off on Woodland (Snow) CrocusTulip Poplar
Posted by Hugh on March 7th, 2024
Tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), aka yellow poplar and tulip tree, is a large stately deciduous tree of eastern North America (USDA hardiness zones 4-9). This fast growing native typically grows 60-90 feet tall and it is not unusual to see tulip trees over 100 feet. It is also an important timber tree. A member of the magnolia family, […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Environmental Conservation, Fall Garden Interest, Hummingbird, Landscape ideas, Large Shade trees, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Propagation(grafting), Purchasing Plants, Shade tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Street tree, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Tulip tree (Liriodendron), watering tips, Weak wooded, winter hardiness Comments Off on Tulip PoplarWonderful Carolina Silverbells
Posted by Hugh on March 1st, 2024
To start, the botanical literature is a little confusing regarding the two silverbell species. Mountain silverbell (Halesia tetraptera; formerly H. carolina) and two-winged silverbell (H. diptera) are native to the Appalachian Mountains of Tennessee, North Carolina and Georgia. (Zones 6-9). Silverbells are either small- to medium-sized deciduous trees or large, multi-stemmed shrubs. It blooms in the spring (late-March […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Chlorosis (yellowing), Deciduous, Deer resistant, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Silverbell (Halesia), Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Transplant problem, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter bark, winter hardiness Comments Off on Wonderful Carolina SilverbellsEaster Cactus
Posted by Hugh on February 26th, 2024
A native of southeastern Brazil, Easter cactus (Schlumbergeri gaertneri), formerly Hatiora gaertneri, is a tropical succulent cactus. It is often confused with Thanksgiving (Schlumbergera truncata) and Christmas Cacti (S. x buckeyi) both of which have very difference flattened stems with rounded or spiney-edged scalloped foliage. In the wild, this tropical grows almost shrub-like on trees or rocks. […]
Posted in acidic soil, Easter Cactus, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Interior (house) Plants, Landscape ideas, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Spring flowering, Succulents, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips Comments Off on Easter CactusCranesbills (Hardy Geraniums)
Posted by Hugh on February 19th, 2024
Cranesbills (Geranium spp.) comprise a large genus of super hardy herbaceous perennials. (USDA hardiness zones 5-8). These are not your annual geraniums which is the genus Pelargonium. They grow happily in partial sun to full shade and in moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil. Cranesbills tolerate full sun in cool northerly areas. Plants may produce fewer flowers in […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, Cranesbill (Geranium), deadheading, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Ground cover, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Non-native, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on Cranesbills (Hardy Geraniums)Seven Winter Blooming Shrubs
Posted by Hugh on February 12th, 2024
If you live where winter temperatures are generally moderate in the low teens, a number of shrubs bloom in winter. In the Delmarva and mid-South regions (USDA hardiness zones 6-7), these seven plants bloom reliably for 2-3 weeks before spring officially arrives. 1. Winter honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima), aka fragrant honeysuckle, are covered with small fragrant […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Autumn foliage color, Bees and other pollinators, compact shrub, compact tree, container shrub, Cornus officinalis, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Edgeworthia, Evergreen, Flower Arranging, Flowering, Flowering shrub, Honeysuckle (Lonicera), Japanese cornel, Jessamine (Gelsemium), Landscape ideas, Large shrub, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Non-native, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Purchasing Plants, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Sweetbox (Sarcococca), Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, Winter bark, Winter flowering, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness, Wintersweet (Chimonanthus), Witchhazel (Hamamelis) Comments Off on Seven Winter Blooming Shrubs
