Summersweet clethra (Clethra alnifolia), aka sweet pepperbush, is a deciduous summer blooming shrub that ranges from coastal Maine to Florida (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). This delightful shrub grows 3-6 feet, although some cultivars grow 8 feet or higher. Flower colors (depending on variety) range from white, pink, and rose pink. The sweetly fragrant flower clusters ( 4- 6 inches […]
Archive for the ‘Native Plant’ Category
Summersweet Shrub – Underplanted And Underappreciated
Posted by Hugh on June 11th, 2019
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, compost, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Summersweet (Clethra), Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Summersweet Shrub – Underplanted And UnderappreciatedTry Maple-leaf Viburnum In Woodsy Areas
Posted by Hugh on May 16th, 2019
Maple-leaf Viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium) is a small to medium deciduous shrub that is indigenous to many areas of the Eastern U.S. (USDA hardiness zones 3-8). This underutilized native viburnum is at its finest in a dappled shady woodland landscape. Slow-growing at first, a single plant may reach heights of 4-6 feet and 2-4 feet in […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, compost, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Viburnum Maple-leaf (V. acerifolium), Viburnums, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Try Maple-leaf Viburnum In Woodsy AreasSelecting A Good Landscape Shade Tree
Posted by Hugh on January 15th, 2019
Medium to large shade trees increase the value of your property. Their summer shade and wintry wind protection may also reduce utility bills by 20 to 25%. Trees attract wild birds for nesting, protection, and as a food source. Some deciduous species will brighten up the landscape with dazzling fall color. Choosing a fast growing tree, yet some may not […]
Posted in Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Birch (Betula spp.), Black gum (Nyssa), Butterflies, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Dioecious, Disease resistant, Elms (Ulmus), Ginkgo biloba, Golden Raintree, Green ash (Fraxinus), Hackberry (Celtis), Honeylocust (Gleditsia), Hornbeam (Carpinus), Japanese Pagoda Tree (Styphnolobium), Kentucky coffeetree, Landscape Construction, Landscape ideas, Large Shade trees, Linden (Tilia), Maples (Acer), Medium sized Tree, Native Plant, Oaks (Quercus spp.), pin oak, Purchasing Plants, Shade tree, Silver Linden (Tilia), Silver maple (Acer saccharinum), Street tree, Sweetgum (Liquidambar), Sycamore (Platanus), Trees & Shrubs, Tulip tree (Liriodendron), willow oak, Willow oak (Quercus), Yellowwood, Zelkova Comments Off on Selecting A Good Landscape Shade TreeTen Native Shrubs Possessing Great Fall Leaf Color
Posted by Hugh on October 1st, 2018
Some native U.S. landscape shrubs are not only great spring/summer flowering shrubs, but their fall foliage color(s) are an added attraction. Here are ten of my favorites listed alphabetically by genus: Bottlebrush Buckeye (Aesculus parvifolia) – foliage of this summer flowering shrub turns bright yellow in fall. (zones 4-8) Red Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia) – under-planted native shrub that […]
Posted in acidic soil, Arrowwood (V. dentatum), Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn foliage color, Autumn Fruiting, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Blackhaw viburnum (V. prunifolium), Blueberry (Vaccinium), Bottlebrush buckeye, Chokeberry (Aronia), compost, Cranberry bush (V. trilobum), Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Flowering, Fothergilla, Fragrant, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, Large shrub, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Oakleaf hydrangea (H. quercifolia), Purchasing Plants, Soil Conservation, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Viburnum beetles, Viburnums, Virginia sweetspire, winter hardiness, Witherod (Viburnum nudum Comments Off on Ten Native Shrubs Possessing Great Fall Leaf ColorSuccess In Growing Franklinia Tree
Posted by Hugh on September 10th, 2018
Franklinia (Franklinia altamaha) is a uniquely different large shrub or small tree. Great plant for the “I can grow anything crowd”. Rated hardy in USDA hardiness zones 5-8, I’ve never seen a landscape quality specimen in zone 5 and find that the tree performs best in zones 6 to 7. Success with growing franklinia hinges on […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, compact tree, compost, Environmental issues, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Flowering, Fragrant, Franklinia, Landscape ideas, Large shrub, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Root rotting, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Transplant problem, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter bark, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Success In Growing Franklinia Tree‘Henry Eilers’ Coneflower (Rudbeckia)
Posted by Hugh on September 1st, 2018
Called “sweet coneflower” (Rudbeckia subtomentosum), this U.S. Midwest prairie species is a long-lived perennial that grows in a variety of soils (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). Sweet coneflower prefers full or partial sun (6 hours minimum) and a moist well-drained loamy soils. It is highly drought tolerant after its first year in the garden. Established plants emerge in mid-spring as a […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Butterflies, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Fragrant, Landscape ideas, Native Plant, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Powdery mildew, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Henry Eilers’ Coneflower (Rudbeckia)‘Herbstsonne’ Rudbeckias Fill Their Spot
Posted by Hugh on June 20th, 2018
For an old fashion plant ‘Herbstsonne’ (Rudbeckia laciniata) still pops up in many modern day gardens. It is a tall upright growing, clump-forming perennial black-eyed Susan (USDA hardiness zones 5 to 9). This vigorous North American perennial grows 4-7+ feet tall and 2-3 feet wide. ‘Herbstsonne’ is also synonymous with the cultivar ‘Autumn Sun’. Formerly […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, Attracting birds, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Black eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rudbeckia 'Herbstonne', Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Staking, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Wildflowers, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Herbstsonne’ Rudbeckias Fill Their SpotShort Grasses For Small Places
Posted by Hugh on May 25th, 2018
Many gardeners have small sunny or partially shaded places where select ornamental grasses thrive, including using them as companion plants in containers. Enjoy their winter architecture. Perennial grasses should be cut back to 3- to 6 inches in late winter. Here are an assortment of six of the very best along with several varieties that you should […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, alkaline soil, Annuals, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Calamagrostis, Carex (Sedges), compost, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Environmental Conservation, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Ground cover, Hakone grass, Landscape ideas, Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium), Native Plant, Northern sea oats (Chasmanthium), Ornamental fruit, Ornamental Grasses, Pennisetum spp., Pennisetum spp., Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Short Grasses For Small PlacesPest Alert -Laurel Wilt Disease
Posted by Hugh on April 1st, 2018
Laurel wilt (Raffaelea lauricola) is an invasive deadly vascular wilt disease of red bay laurel and other trees in the Lauraceae family. The fungal disease is carried from tree to tree by a small beetle called the redbay ambrosia beetle (Xyleborus glabratus). This Ambrosia beetle bores into the wood and the fungus disease infects the […]
Posted in acidic soil, Ambrosia beetle, Environmental issues, Garden ecology, Garden Problems, Insect (Pest) Problems, Landscape ideas, Laurel Wilt disease, Magnolia virginiana, Mountain laurel (Kalmia), Native Plant, Pesticide recommendations, Pests, Planting tips, Purchasing Plants, Rhododendrons, Sassafras albidum, Southern Appalachian Region, Spicebush (Lindera) Comments Off on Pest Alert -Laurel Wilt DiseaseKey Landscaping Tips
Posted by Hugh on January 11th, 2018
To develop a successful landscape plan, first do a walk-a-round before you start digging and planting. Record your landscape’s sun patterns, soil types, wind and water movement. This information will help you select the kinds of plants that will prosper under existing conditions. Sun exposure shifts daily and seasonally. Observe the garden at different times to gain […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting birds, Bulb Crops, Camellia, Container garden, Daphne odora, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Environmental Conservation, Evergreens, Fertilizing, Green Privacy Screen, Landscape ideas, mulching trees, Native Plant, Pieris japonica, Planting tips, Purchasing Plants, Rabbit/deer Protection, Rhododendrons, Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Soil Testing, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, Wind protection, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Key Landscaping Tips
