Cosmos, indigenous to Mexico and South America, are one of the easiest-to-grow flowering annuals. They start blooming in early summer and are at their best in late summer and early autumn. Two most popular species are Cosmos sulphureus and C. bipinnatus. Flower heads are composed of disc and ray flowers. Cosmos is a member of the aster […]
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Cosmos For Sunny Gardens
Posted by Hugh on May 15th, 2015
Posted in alkaline soil, Attracting birds, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Container garden, Cosmos, deadheading, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Failure to Bloom, Fertilizing plants, Flower arrangments, Flowers, Hummingbird, mulching, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Southern Appalachian Region, Staking, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips 
Comments Off on Cosmos For Sunny GardensFill Flower Gardens & Containers With Sweet Alyssums
Posted by Hugh on May 12th, 2015
Sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima) is one of the easiest annuals to grow. A member of the mustard family (Brassicaeae), it is native in the Mediterranean region and the Canary and Azores Islands (AHS heat zones 3-8). Modern day cultivars possess exceptional heat, humidity, and drought tolerance in summer months once fully established. Alyssums may be utilized in mixed […]
Posted in acidic soil, Alyssum (annual), Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, deadheading, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Fragrant, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Fill Flower Gardens & Containers With Sweet AlyssumsChinese Fringetree Gains In Popularity And Availability
Posted by Hugh on May 9th, 2015
Chinese fringetree (Chionanthus retusus) When in bloom in mid-spring (May), the fringetrees (Chionanthus spp.) definitely will catch your eye. Chinese fringetree (C. retusus), is one of the finest small to medium sized flowering trees, not to be confused with the U.S. native fringetree (C. virginicus) (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). Both produce spectacular white lacy flowers […]
Posted in acidic soil, compact tree, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Flowers, Fragrant, Fringetree (Chionanthus), Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on Chinese Fringetree Gains In Popularity And AvailabilityCardinal Flower Attracts Hummingbirds and Butterflies
Posted by Hugh on May 6th, 2015
With their vibrant red colored blooms in July and August and a strong vertical growth habit, you visually can’t miss with our native cardinal flowers (Lobelia cardinalis) (USDA hardiness zones 3-9). Hummingbirds and butterflies won’t pass them by either. Cardinal flowers are also called scarlet lobelias. Their vibrant red single raceme flowers single them out […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Deer resistant, Hummingbird, Lobelia (cardnial flower), mulching, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Cardinal Flower Attracts Hummingbirds and ButterfliesPampas Grass – Have We Learned A Lesson?
Posted by Hugh on May 4th, 2015
Many areas in the mid-South and northeast U.S. (USDA hardiness zones 6 and 7a) learned a hard lesson in the harsh cold winter of 2013-14. Over the past decade gardeners had been lulled into zone bending, insisting on planting species from a warmer zone. One of them was pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana). Very few clumps survived here […]
Posted in Autumn flowering, Disease resistant, Ornamental Grasses, Pampas Grasss (Cortaderia), Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, winter hardiness, winter injury, Winter Protection Comments Off on Pampas Grass – Have We Learned A Lesson?Siebold Viburnum Makes Wonderful Small Tree
Posted by Hugh on May 3rd, 2015
The genus Viburnum is no stranger to U.S. gardens. Many species and cultivars of viburnums are popular. Siebold viburnum (V. sieboldii) is a large spring flowering species from eastern Asia (USDA hardiness zones 5-7), but is under-planted in today’s gardens. This multi-trunk large shrub to 12 to 15 feet high or 25 […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Drought tolerant, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Viburnum sieboldii, Viburnums, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Siebold Viburnum Makes Wonderful Small TreeSooty Mold Is Symptom Of Aphid Feeding
Posted by Hugh on April 29th, 2015
Aphids are small (1 to 10 mm long) and pear shape. Infestations are often worse during wet cool days of spring; they are frequently feed on new growing shoots and leaves. Actively growing weeds also harbor aphids and may migrate over to favorite garden plants. Summer feeding aphids should never […]
Posted in Aphids, Flowers, Insect (Pest) Problems, Interior (house) Plants, Perennials, Pesticide recommendations, Pests, Roses, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, Vine, Virus diseases Comments Off on Sooty Mold Is Symptom Of Aphid FeedingAmerican Fringetree – A Spring Flowering Treasure
Posted by Hugh on April 28th, 2015
American fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus) is one of the finest spring flowering trees (USDA hardiness zones 4-9). Individual flower heads are large and billowy, snowy white, and very fragrant in the early evening hours. Flower panicles peak through the large leaves, and are large and showy compared to Chinese fringetree (which I also like). Leaf sizes […]
Posted in acidic soil, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fragrant, Fringetree (Chionanthus), Irrigation, mulching trees, Native Plant, Propagation (Seed), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on American Fringetree – A Spring Flowering TreasureNew ‘Pam’s Mountain Bouquet’ Kousa Dogwood
Posted by Hugh on April 25th, 2015
‘Pam’s Mountain Bouquet’ is a new Chinese dogwood (Cornus kousa) cultivar from the plant scientists from the University of Tennessee Dogwood Working Team (USDA hardiness zones 5-8). Mountain Bouquet is a near-white flowering form whose petal-like bracts fuse into near perfect squares. The cultivar blooms slightly later than other flowering dogwoods, helping to extend dogwood’s […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Chinese (kousa) dogwood, compact tree, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Ornamental fruit, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation(grafting), Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, Winter bark Comments Off on New ‘Pam’s Mountain Bouquet’ Kousa DogwoodJapanese Kerria Beautiful Old-fashioned Shrub
Posted by Hugh on April 23rd, 2015
Japanese Kerria (Kerria japonica) is an old fashioned shrub that never seems to go out of style (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). Some call it the “Yellow Rose of Texas”, although kerria originates from eastern Asia. Its showy yellow buttercup-like flowers bloom in spring, after the forsythias have […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, Bee Favorite, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flowering, Kerria, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter bark, winter hardiness 1 Comment »
