Helenium, named for Helen of Troy from Greek mythology, is U.S. prairie perennial. In times past powdered disk flowers and leaves of some heleniums were used as snuff, hence the common name. It’s difficult to sell ‘sneezeweed” and many garden catalogs now list it as “helenium”. A number of good hybrid selections have been introduced […]
Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
Summer Flowering Heleniums Should Not Make You Sneeze
Posted by Hugh on April 18th, 2013
Posted in Butterflies, deadheading, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Helenium, Native Plant, Perennials, Pruning, Rabbit/deer Protection, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, watering tips 
Comments Off on Summer Flowering Heleniums Should Not Make You SneezeA Marigold Revival
Posted by Hugh on April 14th, 2013
Over the past 2-3 years marigolds are regaining their popularity. Marigolds are easy to grow and come in vibrant shades of yellows and oranges. Tall African type marigolds grow 24-42 inches tall and belong in garden beds. Intermediate (15-24 inch height) and dwarf French types (10-12 inch height) are suited for both bedding and container plantings. Plant marigolds in […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Disease prone, Flowers, Heat Tolerance, Insect (Pest) Problems, Marigold, Mites, mulching, plant nutrition, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, watering tips Comments Off on A Marigold RevivalU.S. Native Pagoda Dogwood Wonderful Woodsy Tree
Posted by Hugh on April 11th, 2013
Pagoda dogwood (Cornus alternifolia), aka alternate leaf dogwood, is a small deciduous tree or large multi-stemmed shrub. It typically grows 15-25 feet tall and spreads slightly wider than tall. It exhibits a very distinctive layered horizontal branching. Small creamy white non-bracted flowers appear as flattened cymes in mid to late spring, about 3-4 weeks after […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Butterflies, Cornus alternifolia, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Dogwood (Cornus), Native Plant, Planting tips, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on U.S. Native Pagoda Dogwood Wonderful Woodsy TreeHardy or Not– Grow Agapanthus
Posted by Hugh on April 8th, 2013
Lily-of-the-Nile (Agapanthus praecox orientalis) is native to South Africa (USDA Zones 8–11), and is not reliably hardy in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zone 6 and 7). However, many gardeners are successfully growing it as a “tender perennial”. Agapanthus grows in an outdoor flower bed or in a container. The ball shaped light blue or white […]
Posted in acidic soil, Agapanthus (Lily of-the Nile), deadheading, Heat Tolerance, Mite susceptible, Mites, Perennials, Planting tips, Repotting plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Uncategorized, watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Hardy or Not– Grow AgapanthusSilverbell Tree Are Great Additions To Your Garden
Posted by Hugh on April 6th, 2013
Carolina silverbells (Halesia spp.) bloom as the last bracts of flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) have fallen. Clusters of white or pale pink bell-shaped flowers open along the branches. Flowers appear first and medium green leaves emerge a few days later. Silverbells vary tremendously in the wild. Some grow large shrub-like, or as small multi-trunked trees […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Silverbell (Halesia), Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips Comments Off on Silverbell Tree Are Great Additions To Your Garden‘Appalachian Spring’ Dogwood Highly Disease Resistant
Posted by Hugh on April 1st, 2013
This may be old news, but definitely worth repeating. Twenty five years ago a dreaded dogwood disease threatened to eliminate our beautiful spring flowering tree from our gardens. Appalachian Spring flowering dogwood (Cornus florida ‘Appalachian Spring’) was found at the Camp David Presidential Retreat atop Catoctin Mountain in Maryland. Currently, Appalachian Spring is the only dogwood cultivar […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Dogwood (Cornus), Dogwood borer, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, mulching, Ornamental fruit, plant nutrition, Spring flowering, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Appalachian Spring’ Dogwood Highly Disease ResistantGolden Hakone Grass Is Worth The Extra Care
Posted by Hugh on March 29th, 2013
Awaken dark zones in your shade garden with this wonderful golden treasure from Japan. Golden hakonegrass (Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’) grows 12-18 inches tall and 18-24 inches wide in a cascading mound form. Very thin green stripes (veins) line the mid-rib of the ½ inch wide golden leaf blades. Tiny, relatively ininsignificant, floral spikes (inflorescences) appear for […]
Posted in acidic soil, Deer resistant, Ground cover, Hakone grass, Ornamental Grasses, Perennials, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, watering tips Comments Off on Golden Hakone Grass Is Worth The Extra CareShredded Umbrella Plant Handles Dry Shade
Posted by Hugh on March 27th, 2013
Shredded umbrella plant (Syneilesis aconitifolia) is a non-aggressive woodland ground cover which is native to dry hillsides in China, Japan, and Korea (USDA hardiness zones 4 thru 8). It has a medium green lacy foliage which you will treasure in the shade garden. While its flowers may be tiny and inconspicuous, the circular umbrella foliage […]
Posted in acidic soil, compost, Disease resistant, Ground cover, mulching, Perennials, Shredded umbrella (Syneilesis), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Shredded Umbrella Plant Handles Dry ShadeTiger Eyes® Sumac Far Less Aggressive
Posted by Hugh on March 25th, 2013
I’m uneasy to recommend our native invasive sumac in a home landscape, but Tiger Eyes sumac (Rhus typhina ‘Bailtiger’), known as Tiger Eyes®, is far less aggressive (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). Its brightly colored cut-leaf foliage will definitely catch your attention in the summer. Leaves turn maroon-red in the autumn. This small deciduous tree or […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, alkaline soil, container shrub, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Sumac (Rhus), Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter bark, winter hardiness Comments Off on Tiger Eyes® Sumac Far Less AggressiveSomething New to Grow – Esperanza, Yellow Bells
Posted by Hugh on March 22nd, 2013
Esperanza or Yellow Bells (Tecoma stans) is a 6 foot tall perennial shrub that grows in South Texas and Mexico (USDA zones 8-10). Esperanza means “hope” and it is destine to become a popular flowering annual in more U.S. Southeastern gardens. It demands a well drained soil […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Esperanza (Tecoma), Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Planting tips, Repotting plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on Something New to Grow – Esperanza, Yellow Bells
