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 […]
Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
Double Take™ Flowering Quinces
Posted by Hugh on April 8th, 2011
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 CornelEdgeworthia Deserves A Try
Posted by Hugh on February 21st, 2011
Edgeworthia flowering in March garden First, I must thank South Carolina nurseryman, Mr. Ted Stephens, who gifted me a Chinese paperbush (Edgeworthia chrysantha) nearly 6 years ago. Most plant authorities rate its winter hardiness to USDA zones 7 and 8. It struggled through its first winter and spring in my zone 6-b garden, but has never disappointed. […]
Posted in compact shrub, Disease resistant, Edgeworthia, Flowering, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, Winter Protection Tags: Edgeworthia Comments Off on Edgeworthia Deserves A TryOpening Show in February- The Witchhazels
Posted by Hugh on February 15th, 2011
First, not to confuse you, our North American native witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana) blooms in the fall. Our native vernal witchhazel (H. vernalis) has been flowering for the past few weeks. In February, the showiest witchhazels are opening now – species from China, Korea and Japan. Two of the very best are a Chinese species/cultivar called […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Chinese witchhazel, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowering, Garden Maintenance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, Wildlife attractant, Winter flowering, winter hardiness Tags: Alberta spruce, Chinese witchhazel Comments Off on Opening Show in February- The WitchhazelsCrabapple Shopping List
Posted by Hugh on February 10th, 2011
For those of you tired of the monotony of Bradford pears, go shopping for ornamental crabapples (Malus spp.). Most crabapple cultivars mature into long-lived small flowering trees less than 20 feet in height at maturity. Most fit under utility lines. Worldwide, there are over 400 cultivars of crabapples in nursery commerce. Most are susceptibility to […]
Posted in Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Crabapple, Disease resistant, Landscape ideas, Ornamental fruit, Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Sanitation, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, Winter bark, Winter Garden Interest Comments Off on Crabapple Shopping List
