Up for a challenge. Dove tree (Davidia involucrata) is a medium-size tree from China. Mature dove trees are 30-40 feet in height and 20-30 feet in width. A young tree exhibits a pyramidal form and forms a rounded canopy at maturity. The coarsely textured 4 – 5 inch circular leaves are bright green with no significant fall color, dropping either pale […]
Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
Take Flight With The Unique Dove Tree
Posted by Hugh on April 27th, 2011
Posted in Dove tree (Davidia), Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized 
Comments Off on Take Flight With The Unique Dove TreeWolfeyes Chinese Dogwood
Posted by Hugh on April 20th, 2011
Chinese dogwood (Cornus kousa), a favored spring-flowering tree, reaches 20-25 feet in height and blooms two weeks subsequent to our native flowering dogwood (C. florida). The ‘Wolf Eyes’ cultivar forms a compact tree or large shrub, standing 8–10 feet tall and nearly twice as wide. lowly reaches 10 to 20 ft. tall and wide; largest […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Chinese (kousa) dogwood, compact tree, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Landscape ideas, Light requirement, mulching, Non-native, Propagation(grafting), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Wolfeyes Chinese DogwoodThree Mid-sized Ornamental Grasses for Small Gardens
Posted by Hugh on April 14th, 2011
For their sheer architecture alone, ornamental grasses provide 4- seasons of landscape excitement. Within a small garden space three mid-sized (4 – 6 feet tall) ornamental grasses with awesome vertical stature excel. All are highly rated for long garden life and low annual maintenance. ‘Karl Foerster’ Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora ) forms silvery […]
Double Take™ Flowering Quinces
Posted by Hugh on April 8th, 2011
Photo credit: Dr. Tom Ranney, NCSU Research Horticulturist Flowering quince (Chaenomeles spp) is an early spring flowering shrub, treasured for its brightly colored blooms (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). Old fashioned quince shrubs produced small amounts of fruits which were gathered and prepared into yummy jelly in the autumn kitchen. These often large 10-12 foot tall shrubs produced small sharp […]
Posted in Bee Favorite, compact shrub, Fertilizing plants, Flowering, Flowering quince (Chaenomeles), Propagation (Cuttings), Soil drainage, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on Double Take™ Flowering QuincesUpdate On New Heuchera Hybrids
Posted by Hugh on March 31st, 2011
The best of the villosa cultivars are ‘Caramel’, ‘Citronella’, ‘Mocha’, and my newest favorite ‘Bronze Wave’. Blooms are tall and mostly insignificant. I often remove them to accent the foliage. All villosa cultivars are long lived and heat and humidity tolerant. Heucheras prefer a moist, well-drained, compost-rich soil. Plants are heat and humidity tolerant in the […]
When To Prune Spring Flowering Shrubs
Posted by Hugh on March 25th, 2011
Seven reasons why you prune: eliminate dead, diseased, insect riddled branches control plant height and spread shaping such as topiary, espaliered or pollardized trees increase or decrease the numbers of flowers and fruits rejuvenate an old shrub or tree remove low branches over walkways remove water sprouts and root suckers Flowering shrubs bloom from late February thru […]
Posted in Disease resistant, Failure to Bloom, Garden Maintenance, Pruning, shrub roses, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on When To Prune Spring Flowering Shrubs‘Jeana’ Phlox– no powdery mildew
Posted by Hugh on March 18th, 2011
Photo credit: North Creek Nurseries, Landenberg, PA, USA Our native summer phlox (Phlox paniculata) continues to be challenged here in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7) by powdery mildew disease (p-m-d). Over the past decade gardeners have tried new, reportedly disease resistant cultivars. Many have disappointed. To date, the cultivars ‘David’ (white, 3-4 […]
Posted in Disease resistant, Flowers, Native Plant, Perennials, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer phlox (P. paniculata) Comments Off on ‘Jeana’ Phlox– no powdery mildewPulmonarias: Wonderful In The Shade Garden
Posted by Hugh on March 6th, 2011
Although my multi-year addiction for hostas has never waned, I remain equally passionate about the lungworts (Pulmonaria spp.). Lungwort is also called Bethlehem sage and Jerusalem sage. Their uniquely splotched or variegated foliage wakes up a dark patch in any shade garden. Lungworts are planted as ground covers and for color accents. In early spring (March), lungworts send up […]
Posted in acidic soil, Container garden, Ground cover, Landscape ideas, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pulmonaria, Purchasing Plants, Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Sun scald, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Pulmonarias: Wonderful In The Shade GardenWinter Jasmine Rising
Posted by Hugh on March 1st, 2011
Is the worst of winter behind us? Winter jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum) is often confused with forsythia shrubs which bloom 3-4 weeks later in the spring. This hardy winter blooming vine from China frequently blooms in late February and March when daytime temperatures climb into the mid-50s for a week or more. Evening chilling temps down into the […]
‘Sunsphere’ Japanese Cornel
Posted by Hugh on February 24th, 2011
Japanese cornel (Cornus officinalis) is a tall shrub or small tree dogwood which matures to 20-25 feet in height and 15 feet in width. ‘Sunsphere’ Japanese cornel was discovered by Mike Stansberry, owner of Beaver Creek Nursery in Knoxville, TN. Japanese cornel is the official start of spring in my garden, even though the calendar reads late […]
Posted in Disease resistant, Flowering, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs 
Tags: 'World's Fair cornelian cherry Comments Off on ‘Sunsphere’ Japanese Cornel
