The native plant research team at Mt Cuba Center in Hockessin, DE has recently published the results of a 3-year Carex (sedge) study in which they evaluated 70 species and cultivars. The study included a number of under-planted Carex species and varieties. One grouping was grown in full sun and a second planting was tested […]
Archive for the ‘Native Plant’ Category
2023 Carex Evaluation From Mt Cuba
Posted by Hugh on July 18th, 2023
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Ground cover, Landscape ideas, Lawn Care, Native Plant, Native Plant, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Sedge (Carex), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on 2023 Carex Evaluation From Mt CubaGoatsbeard
Posted by Hugh on June 19th, 2023
Goatsbeard (Aruncus dioicus) or “goat’s beard” is a North American perennial that produces feathery plumes of cream-colored flowers in late spring or summer. Goatsbeard is also indigenous to western Europe. This clump-forming woodland plant is hardy in zones 3-7a (?) and appears to flounder under the intense summer heat in Georgia and the Carolinas. The […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Flower arrangments, Goatsbeard (Aruncus), Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on GoatsbeardNative 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 BeautyberryWestern 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 GardensCrossvine
Posted by Hugh on April 15th, 2023
Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata) is a heavy flowering, vigorously growing vine in the Bignoniaceae (trumpet creeper) botanical family. It is native to the Southeastern and South-Central states including Texas. Once established, this vine stretches 30 to 50 feet high and spreads from 6 – 9 feet wide. A cross section of its stem reveals a marking resembling the […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Crossvine (Bignonia), Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Fall Garden Interest, Fragrant, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Staking, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Vine, Vine, watering tips Comments Off on CrossvineNative Irises
Posted by Hugh on April 9th, 2023
In the World of Iris, U.S. gardeners are highly partial to planting Siberian (Iris sibirica) and German (I. germanica) irises. Currently, in recent years there has been a sway to our native species called “flag irises”. Top of the list is Crested iris (I. cristata), a low-growing, rapidly spreading species that typically 3-6 inches tall. […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Borers, Container garden, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Flower arrangments, Ground cover, Iris, Iris spp. Native, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Wind protection, winter hardiness Comments Off on Native IrisesRed Buckeye – Delightful Small Flowering Tree
Posted by Hugh on April 3rd, 2023
Red buckeye (Aesculus pavia), aka Firecracker Plant, is a southeastern U. S. native that is a large understory shrub or small tree. A member of the Sapindaceae (maple) family, this lovely spring flowering beauty grows 15 to 25 feet tall in 30 years and is a perfect fit in small yards. It is native from […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Hummingbird, Landscape ideas, mulching, mulching trees, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Red buckeye (Aesculus), Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Red Buckeye – Delightful Small Flowering Tree
