Bergenia (Bergenia spp), aka “pigsqeak”, is a herbaceous perennial with distinctive glossy, rounded leaves. Bergenias are native to the forest and alpine zones of China and Siberia. Eight species are available including heartleaf Bergenia (B. cordifolia), leather bergenia (B. crassifolia), and fringed bergenia (B. ciliata). Hybrid selections are also available. (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). Bergenia’s […]
Archive for the ‘Landscape ideas’ Category
Bergenia Or Pigsqeak For Sun Or Shade
Posted by Hugh on June 9th, 2023
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Bergenia (pigsqueak), Butterflies, Container garden, deadheading, Deer resistant, Hummingbird, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Sanitation, Slugs, Snails, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, watering tips, Wind protection, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Bergenia Or Pigsqeak For Sun Or ShadeNative Catalpa Trees
Posted by Hugh on June 2nd, 2023
Catalpa Tree Northern catalpa or cigartree (Catalpa speciosa) overpowers most private landscapes by their enormous presence (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). This 40-60 feet large native tree commonly grows along roadsides, particularly on bottomlands from Illinois and Missouri south thru Arkansas and Tennessee. Catalpa is not a tree seen planted in most residential neighborhoods because of […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Catalpa, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fragrant, Heat Tolerance, Hummingbird, Landscape ideas, Large Shade trees, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Shade tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Weak wooded, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Native Catalpa TreesAmerican Beautyberry
Posted by Hugh on May 28th, 2023
American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) is a deciduous shrub native to open meadows, fence rows, or woodlands in the southeastern U.S. and northern Mexico (Zones 6-11). This vigorous shrub grows to 4-8 feet high and wide and belongs in the Lamiaceae (mint) family. American beautyberry, also called French mulberry, has an open growth habit and arching […]
Posted in acidic soil, Beautyberry (Callicarpa spp.), Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, compact shrub, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Fall Garden Interest, Flower Arranging, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Wildlife attractant Comments Off on American BeautyberryWatering Newly Planted Trees And Shrubs
Posted by Hugh on May 21st, 2023
Proper watering of a newly planted tree or shrub starts the day it is planted. This is the final crucial step! Dig a wide shallow hole that will accommodate the roots of the new tree. Adding soil amendments is generally not necessary unless the shrubs are moisture-loving, acidic-loving types such as azaleas (Rhododendron spp.), blueberries […]
Posted in Deciduous, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Landscape ideas, mulching, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, watering evergreens, watering tips Comments Off on Watering Newly Planted Trees And ShrubsWestern Sunflower
Posted by Hugh on May 16th, 2023
Western sunflower (Helianthus occidentalis) is actually native to eastern and central North America, not western North America (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). It is one of the shortest of the many sunflowers found in the U.S. You have seen this Midwest native growing in glades, prairies, dry meadows, fields and rocky open woodlands. It grows equally […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Flower arrangments, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, Native Plant, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Sunflower (Helianthus), watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Western SunflowerSweet Azalea
Posted by Hugh on May 15th, 2023
Sweet azalea (Rhododendron arborescens), aka smooth azalea, produces fragrant flowers in June. The native deciduous species grows along streams on woodland slopes and moist shrubby balds in the Appalachian Mountains from southern Pennsylvania and eastern Kentucky to North Georgia and Alabama. Here in Tennessee, you may spot this sweetly fragrant white blooms while hiking at […]
Posted in acidic soil, Azalea (deciduous), Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, compost, Deciduous, Flowering, Flowering shrub, Fragrant, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rabbit/deer Protection, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Sweet azalea (R. arborescens), Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Wind protection, winter hardiness Comments Off on Sweet AzaleaSix Mini-Shrubs For Small Gardens
Posted by Hugh on May 10th, 2023
Many green thumbers and veteran senior gardeners have opted to grow in small garden beds. Here are six (6) small flowering shrubs that add lots of seasonal color from early spring to late summer. All six are easy to maintain; check the easy-care info at the end. Plants can also be grown in 12 inches […]
Posted in acidic soil, Althea (Hibiscus), Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, Container growing, container shrub, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower arrangments, Flowering, Forsythia, Hummingbird, Hydrangea arborescens, Hydrangeas, Landscape ideas, Lilac (Syringa), mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Non-native, Panicle hydrangea, Planting tips, Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Viburnums, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Six Mini-Shrubs For Small GardensMay Blooming Beauty Bush
Posted by Hugh on May 1st, 2023
Beauty Bush (Kolkwitzia amabilis) is closely related to two other flowering shrubs – Weigela and Diervilla – and belong in the honeysuckle family (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). It is primarily grown for its outstanding spring flowering in May. This deciduous shrub grows 6-10 feet tall with an arching, vase-shaped shrub habit. Beauty Bush is an old-fashioned shrub planted […]
Posted in acidic soil, Beauty Bush (Kolkwitzia), Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Flowering shrub, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on May Blooming Beauty BushFalse Spirea (Sorbaria)
Posted by Hugh on April 27th, 2023
Ural false spirea (Sorbaria sorbifolia) is a vigorous suckering deciduous shrub. It typically grows 5-10 feet tall and wide depending on variety and soil quality. (USDA hardiness zones 2 -7). False spirea has coarse leaf textured foliage that resembles mountain ash (Sorbus sp.), hence the scientific name. It is listed in the rose (Roseacea) family. Jungle-like […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, False spirea (Sorbaria), Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rabbit/deer Protection, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on False Spirea (Sorbaria)Chinese Fringe Flower
Posted by Hugh on April 22nd, 2023
Chinese fringe flower, aka Loropetalum (Loropetalum chinense) is related to witchhazels (Hamamelis spp) and is native to China, Japan, and the Himalayas (USDA 7-10). In the southern U.S., fringe flower is usually evergreen or semi-evergreen, and is deciduous in 6b-7a. For those who garden in areas that occasionally are hit cold winter snaps, plant them […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, compact shrub, Container garden, container shrub, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowering shrub, Fringe flower (loropetalum), Heat Tolerance, Hedges, Landscape ideas, Large shrub, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Chinese Fringe Flower
